epigrams of that most wittie and worthie epigrammatist mr. iohn owen, gentleman. translated by iohn vicars epigrammata. english. selections owen, john, ?- . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) epigrams of that most wittie and worthie epigrammatist mr. iohn owen, gentleman. translated by iohn vicars epigrammata. english. selections owen, john, ?- . vicars, john, or - . [ ] p. printed by w[illiam] s[tansby] for iohn smethwicke, and are to be sold at his shop in s. dunstanes church-yard vnder the dyall, london : . in verse. printer's name from stc. signatures: a-g. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams, english -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - ben griffin sampled and proofread - ben griffin text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion epigrams of that most wittie and worthie epigrammatist m r. iohn owen , gentleman . translated by iohn vicars . epig. . lib. singu . authours haue auctours of good-name or shame , as readers lookes to writers bookes doe frame . london , printed by w. s. for iohn smethwicke , and are to be sold at his shop in s. dunstanes church-yard vnder the dyall ▪ . to the most high , hopefvll and happy charles , prince of wales . epig. . lib. ter. priorum sex. great britaines great hope , parents sprouting vin fathers and mothers halfe , by princely line , wel-nigh vn-pattern'd patterne of rare parts , whō , though few equall , all loue in their harts : these princely parts , whence had they this great growth from fathers loines or mothers paps ? from both. be still , ( as th' art ) parents idea right ; let none thee equall in such princely light : that being vertues prince and principall , heauen may thee blesse with blisse angelicall , most heartily desireth your graces most humbly deuoted , iohn vicars . the translator to the most worthy and wel-deseruing author . true imitation of mens worthy deedes from loue of them ( as i suppose ) proceedes : yet many-times ambitious emulation may in such actions staine true imitation . but vnto me , loue was the golden-spurre , if otherwise , i might iust shame incurre : for what i should i could not ; what i could i heere haue done , though farre from what i would . thy wit therefore braue epigramatist , to prayse condignely , in me can't consist . yet that i * may not enuious bee deem'd , not caring though i be a foole esteem'd . some thus i prayse , and thus their praise doe write , i 'le none disprayse , most vndone passe my might . excuse heerein ( kind sir ) what 's mis-committed , and pardon mee , if ought be ill-omitted . thine in the vnlimited limits of loue , io. vicars . to the courteous readers . antèus-like i long haue fought a fight : but , find in conflict a superiour might . oft haue i wrastled , but still foild and fell'd by ▪ my competitor am farre excell'd . witnesse my weaknesse in this last assault , forc'd heere and there to tyre , retyre and hault . and marueile not , ( kind readers ) though i sweat , hauing to doe with this alcides great . whose policie and power i haue found such , as ere to equallize is too-too-much : but heer 's my comfort , though those champions fought with ire most dire to th' death to fight it out , yet our contention is with sweet desire , my authors loue and thine how to acquire : which if i gaine , as t is my hope i shall , i 'le not thus flie , but trie another fall . thine i. v. epigrams . to the prince . i , not for fashion , but for fauours sake , from thee prime prince my proeme here do take . out of the first booke . epig. . lib. . sex librorum . epig . . to the lady nevil . that this my book , where 't comes , may patrons find ; to th' readers it , my-selfe to thee 's assign'd . epig . . to the reader . reader , do●n't prayse , nor disprayse all i write ; lest so i blaze thy want of wit , or spight . epig . . to iohn hoskins , i. c. of his booke . my booke 's the world , my verses people bee ; there 's few good-men , heere , few good straines you 'l see . epig . ▪ to the lady mary nevel . if that opinion of pythago●as be true , that spirits one t' another passe ; then , venus , iuno's , pallas , soules most rare , by beauty , state and learning , in thee are : such three in one are seldome seene or found , many are rare for one ; three haue thee crown'd . epig . . to the same lady . as phoebus faire , shewes , shines i th' ayre ; as light i th' sunne most bright : so in thy face , with princely grace , dwels vertue with delight . for , whosoere but comes thee neere , to looke on thee , thee loues ; thy beauty , bounty , wond'ring at , so precious hee approues . epig . . loue. loues first approch , delights sweet sōg doth sing ; but in departure shee woes sting doth bring : so , the sweet streames of springs to sea which hie , mixt with salt-waters , taste vnsauerily . epig . to master thomas nevel , sonne to the foresaid lady . in thee , doe shine such gifts worth admiration ; that , thogh all-t●ue , they pas●e al true relatiō . who childrē praise , their hope 's not hap do praise , thy hap , not hopes , thy wit , thy worth doth blaze . epig . . to the lawyer . if he be blest , that knowes of things the cause ; o ▪ what is he that pleades a cause by lawes . epig . . to degenerous , generous avlvs . i gnoble , noble , aulus , owes all , to 's progenitours ; and his successours , sure , i thinke , will neuer bee his debtours . epig . . against hernick . hernick , thou boughtst a foole for ▪ pound : to buy thee at that rate , i 'de not be bound . epig . . to d. gilbert . dost say , the earth stands not ? that 's admirable ; thou wast at sea , sure , when thou writ'st this fable . epig . . to phisicians and lawyers . ovr sores and sicknesse , galen made thee wise , and thee iustinian , our great fooleries . epig . . to linvs . th' ast bookes good store , but thee more learn'd i'de-hold , if th' adst such store of bags full cram'd with gold. epig . . to a noble young gent. friends wish their friends long liues to liue , but , none their death desire ; as one should wish a sore dis-ease , but ne're would cure requi●e . epig . . against marcvs . wh●t meant'st thou marcus , stifly to maintain , that nought in nature empty do●h remaine ? since thou thy selfe hast such a huge great head , of wit most voyd and wholly emptyed . epig . . to phyllis . if loue be firy ( as louers say and hold ) thy fiery loue is then ( alas ) most cold . epig . . prophets , poets . prophets , doe truly things to come fore-know ; poets , things past in fictions false doe show . epig . . of life and death . as riuers pleasant so●rce to th' salt-sea hastes ; so , day by day life vnto death still wastes . t is sweet to liue , but ( oh ) t is dire to dye , thus sweet with bitter ends mortalitie . epig . . of life and loue. though euery action to an end doth bend ; yet life and loue doe hate their proper end. epig . . the housband , and the cuck-old-maker . housband . fye on this life , i tooke a wife , her loue another got ; so , you poore bees with hony-knees , your paines are oth●rs lot. cuck old-maker . o , this is braue , i sonnes should haue , yet others take my * due ; so , you poore birds doe hatch yong broods , for others , not for you . epig . . new rhetorike . who so wants gold , in vaine doth hold an argument with any ; he 's best linguist , that hath his fift well fill'd with make-way mony : not sillab'lls , but siluer-bells , now , make the rarest ring ; homer , ar't poore ? then stand at doore , though thou canst sweetly sing . epig . . against borbonivs the poets trifles . what thou call'dst trifles , but not thought'st so much , i call not trifles , but i thinke th' are such . epig . . to the true statesman . though for thy country it be prayse to dye ; yet , for her good to liue , 's more dignitie . epig . . the courtier . if thou be good , better in time , not greater , thou mayst bee : if thou be great , thee greater then , not better , time may see . epig . . a secret against hoary-haires to bithynicus . that , in old-age thy haire may not waxe - gray , baldnesse in youth ( ô rare ! ) is the right way . probatum est . epig . . against pontia . all cuck-olds , cast i th' sea , pontius would haue : learne first to swim ( quoth's wife ) thy selfe to saue . epig . . venus . loue comes and goes , retyres , returnes , as sea's doe ebbe and flow , how comes it loue 's so like the sea ? how ? venus thence did g●ow . in venus is varietie , sometimes shee nill , shee will ; therefore with mouing-planets plac'd , not with starres standing still . epig . . woman . woman as weaker or more * soft is said , yet eue o' th' bone of mā , not flesh was made . epig . . affinity twixt lawyers and phisicians . the lawyers and phisicians case haue neere affinitie ; for , others ruines make them rich , no doubt most lawfully . these sucke the sicke , for potions , pounds , for law those lands purloyne : these promise health , and so get wealth , those quietnesse for coyne . epig . . of the day . the day , with one-eye farre moe things espies , than night can see with more than argos-eies . epig . . a good-man . things that be rare , are euer deare , and of great price esteemed : then sure ( i thinke ) an honest-man , most precious may be deemed . epig . . against pavlinvs . paulinus , when thy friend askes ought of thee , thine answer is , tomorrow come to me . wou'dst haue mee giue thee thankes for what i borrow ? for thy good-turne i le giue thee thankes to morrow . epig . . a machiuilian . cogge , counterfeit , as thou shalt see both time and place require , that when occasion's offered , thou mayst haue thy desire : yea , now hee 's wise can temporize , his hoped prey to catch ; for gold and gaine , who will refraine ? all seasons well to watch . epig . . death . what death is , dost thou aske of me ? till dead i doe not know ; come to me when thou hear'st i 'm dead , then what t is i' shall show . epig . . a client . the client going-home , may sing by th' way , and needs not feare the theefe to bid him stay : for lawyers doe for fees so filch their coyne , that many times , they scarce know where to dine . epig . . children and fooles tell true. children & fooles ( our prouerbe saith ) tell true , as who shuold say , th' are fooles the truth that shew . if thus they 'le haue it , yet th' are knaues that lie ; i 'le be truths foole , let them loue knauerie . epig . . against ball'd-pates . ball'd-pate , my haires i ne're could numerate , nor thou thine owne , ther 's none left on thy pate . epig . . backe-biters , flatterers . a naxagoras was wont to say , that snow was blacke , more blacke was anaxag'ras hart. many such enuious elfes this age doth know : the flatt'ring foxe , with his dissembling art , praysed the whitenesse of the cole-blacke crow ; such fawning foxes are ( alas ) too many , who , for aduantage prayse and dis-prayse any . epig . . an herculean labour . to curbe the courage , and wiues tongue keep-vnder , may wel be call'd , hercules thirteenth wonder . epig . . of bardella a theefe . the theife bardella being iudg'd to dye , a fryer gaue him ghostly exhortation : good-brother ( saith he ) dye most ioyfully : for thou shalt sup in heau'ns blest habitation . sir ( quoth bardella ) i must fast this day ; take you that supper in my sted i pray epig . ● . answere to cynthiaes epistle . thy paper white , thy letter blacke came to me , this thy foule-hart , that thy white skin doth shew me . epig . . to sextillian sp. sextillian , when thy father thee begot , to get thee , then , his minde ( i thinke ) 't was not ; himselfe to recreate , not thee create , was all ( i iudge ) he then did cogitate : if , more the gift , than giuers minde be praysed , then , sure , thy life to him is not ingaged . epig . . saturnes three sonnes . diuines are doubtfull , lawyers lew'd and ill , physicians foule ; yet these the world rule still : if such ill gouernours the people nurse , no maruel , then , though all grow worse & worse . epig . . against pomponia . pomponia did a fickle feather weare vpon her head ; feathers doe souldiers fit . true , and shee this for mars his loue did beare . this shewes , that mars in venus lap may sit : thogh on their heads our hellēs feathers haue , marueile not , for , t is paris fauour braue . epig . . vertue in the middle . a gallant dame , scarce of good name , i th' midst twixt two men went , vertue , as heere it may appeare , her place had lost or lent . epig . . to his absent loue. i burne poore wretch , and so much more am burnt with loues desire ; by how much i am further off , from my loue-burning fire . epig . ● . a probleme of hornes . when wiues defile their husbands marriage bed , why weares the harmeles husband hornes ? hee 's head. epig . . to the reader , of himselfe . my breuity , though some may sloth esteeme ▪ yet to be briefe , most labour i doe deeme : much madly i speake not , with vulgar sort ; though mine perhaps be foolish , yet t is short . epig . . of himselfe . aske and receiue , so iames th' apostle sayes , o that king iames to me would vse that phrase ▪ finis . epigrams . out of the second booke . epig . . to the lady mary nevell . in tables faire , our fading formes are painted , that what 'i th face would fade , in them may dure ; to paint in tables i am vnacquainted , my verse shall pourtray what power can procure , that what frames cannot , verse may keepe vntainted , yet , none but rare apelles that can do ; and , none but great apollo this can show . epig . . a true troian . the troians troy being brought t'annoy , grew wise ; himselfe , this troian , who doth not agnize ? epig . . to the lord high treasurer of england . a faithfull treasurer thou art vnto thy king and state ; than all rich treasures , i , thy faith more precious estimate . epig . . to richard vaughan , once bishop of london . those preachers are to be esteemed best , which doe the things they teach ought to bee done ; thou wast a bishop learned best and blest , doing what thou hadst taught men should not shun . epig . . to sir philip sidney . he which doth deeds in bookes to be exprest , or things worth reading rarely doth indite , is blest ; but thou who didst both these more blest , thou , deedes worth writing , workes to reade didst write : thy writings doe thy learning intimate , thy vertuous deeds thy vertue demonstrate . epig . . to the right honourable lucy , countesse of bedford . the light to thee ( sweet lu●y ) giues a name , which through the wo●ld shines to thy datelesse fame . the lustre of illustrious parēts wrought-thee thy wit , thy vertue , to this light haue brought thee ▪ epig . . an honourable gold-ring : to henry goodyeer , knight . nobilitie's the gold , vertue the stone ; for euer may'st thou by this ring be knowne . epig . . to d. b. if he liue-well , that liues a quiet life , if wisedome 't be , that wisedome bee concealed , then thou liu'dst-well , whose wit and wisedome rife the more thou hidst , the more thy worth reuealed . epig . . the strength of england to the prince . englands safe gates , are her cinque-ports ; her stately ships , her walls ; her camps , the sea ; bulwarkes , her corps ; her heart , her generalls . epig . . the terrestriall globe . the earth and sea one globe doe make , and who would this suppose ? earth firme remaynes , the sea remooues , earth's fast , sea ebbes and slowes . epig . . vn-healthy healths . by how much more thou healths dost drinke , so much lesse health thou haste ; thousand such healths take thou , for mee , that health by healths wilt waste : to wisemen , that , is healthiest , to drinke no healths at-all ; what health can be in drinking healths ? w●en men like beasts must crawle . epig . . the diuine , the politician , the diuine . what profits it that thou dost know , vnlesse another know it ? politician . what boots thy knowledge vnto thee ? if thou to others show it . epig . . the louer . vnconstant - hope , most constant - feare : vaine - pleasure vanishing ; ioy and annoy , hony and gall , loue bitter-relishing . epig . . the german-death to polynicus . death , 's not to be ; so seneca doth thinke , but dutch-men say t is death to cease to drinke . epig . . the niggard , the prodigall . prodigalls , are fre●-hearted rhetoricians , niggards are hold-fast-close and slye logicians : the clutch-fist churle by logicke vnderstand , by rhetorike the spend-thrifts open-hand . epig . . the earle of dorset his adagie , neyther furiously , nor fearefully . doubt all things wisely , wisely hope for all ; of all take-heed , that thou mayst feare no fall . epig . . sir henry neuill his adagie . wish no vaine thing . no vaine , nor vile thing wish to haue , this counsell is both wise and graue : for , base things are of base esteeme , and wisemen , vaine things , nought worth deeme . epig . . to his friend . i will not be a foe to any , nor be familiar with too many : a●d twice i will not loue my friend , but whom i loue , i 'le loue to th' end . epig . . money ouercomes all . serpents that crawle , fish in the sea , yea beasts and birds of th' ayre ; from males and females and all things , loue , once , did conquest b'are : but gold the king with 's siluer queene , and wealth their eldest-sonne ; with power , now rife , to winne the prize , and it from loue haue wonne . epig . . adulterie and fornication . th' adult'rer and the cucko●l , diff●rent bee , as comedy is from a tragedy . epig . . of hercules to c. d. whom , neuer force nor fence of strongest arme ▪ could fell or quel , is vāquisht by loues charme ; who ? prou'd so strong to wrong al●●des great ? 't was loue , but not by force but foule deceit : he flew leaena , lena could not tame , monsters could ne're ; his mistresse wrought his shame . epig . . erasmus fooleries . that old erasmus , foolishnesse , did prayse ; that , foolishnesse , his wits fame much did rayse . epig . . against vnfaithfulnesse . trusting false words , i learned to distrust : false hope hath forc't me feare , & that most iust . epig . . wisedome . who 's wealthy ? wisemen ; who are poore ? rude dolts , and sots vnwise ; if i be wise then , qui●kly , i to riches may arise : but tell me , now , what man is wise ? the rich ; who fooles ? the poore ; then , if not rich , though wise , i may goe begge from doore to doore . epig . . against a certaine drunkard . if gold could be as eas'ly drunke , as for it most men thirst ; sellers of gold their paunch would be stuft , till their bellies burst . epig . . anger or wrath. it seemes , that aristotle vs'd to ●all wrath , vertues spurre ; because it spurres , spurnes vertuous men , as being enuies curre . epig . . to a certayne dyer waxing-old . thy beard , which once was blacke , is now turn'd white : but that 's by nature , not by arts be●t slight . epig . . against a great clerke . sicke - stomakes , much doe swallow downe , but little doe dig●st ; so , thou know'st much , but yet , in thee small wisedome is exprest . epig . . against an harlot . oh , i could wish thou wert lesse faire , or else wert better giuen ; for , worser things than harlots faire , there are not vnder heauen . epig . . to claudius , and linus . vngodly claudius , to be good , wants nothing but a will : lewd linus , also , wanteth nought but power to be ill. epig . . against couetous and lame alanus . if thou to lame al●nus , gi●e , than thankes , ●xpect no mor● ; in thankes , th●n ▪ like centimanus hee 'le be ; though lame before : but if thou giue , and some reward expectest for the same ; then , though in power centimanus , hee 'le bee most weake and lame ▪ epig . . against marcus a lawyer . the lawyer pleades his owne not clients cause , yet clients mon●y he to london drawes ; not for himselfe , but for his lawy●rs fees , this lawyers get how ere the client lees : the law is plaine , the po●re mans cause in doubt , thus lawyers gaine must hold the client out . epig . . sir francis drake his epitaph . though pop'ry should ( which heau'n forbid ) re-raigne , they could not ( noble drake ) dig vp thy graue ; thy bones to burne , as once with fell disdaine , they did against good luther rage and raue : thou need●● not feare ( i say ) romes wrath , for why ? thy bones i th' bottome of the sea do lye . epig . . the king , the people . as , when the head with wine 's orecome , the f●et trip to and fro ▪ so princes that illiterate be , their subiects ouerthrow . epig . . the senate . the king doth raigne himselfe alone , why then rules he not all ? he which both rules and ruled is , rule others better shall . epig . . of dyet , to i. h. knight . if thou old-age with healthfull-dayes , desirest to enioy ; vse food as phisike , phisike a● food , neither of both t' annoy : for phisike , taken as 't were food , the health doth strangely wrong ; but , food , as phisike wisely vs'd , doth life in health prolong . epig . . the fiue senses . the senses fiue , as seruants waite on man , to please his will , or winne his will to pleasure , who vse them with or without wisdomes measure , their profit or dis-profit publish can . epig . . the obiects of the senses . my hearing , sight , my smell , my taste , my touch , doe me affect and me infect as much . epig . . the phoenix , the viper . the phoenix , dying doth her yong regaine ; the vipers brood doth breed her forced-bane . epig . . the silke-worme . my art drawes-out my heart ; my toombe , my toile ; my worke workes-out my life ; i spin my spoile . epig . . manuring of the ground . though vile thou be , yet vsefull th' art , and for manuring good ; for thou vnto our aliment , art nutriment , though mud. epig . . the parret . if lawfull't be , of things t' inuert the name ; with prattling parret , prater is the same . epig . . the souldier . warres wounding weapons hurt not so my he●●t , as vnarm'd venus pierceth with her dart. epig . the louers teares . as wood sends forth much sappe , when burnt i th' fire : so , louers weepe , when crost in loues desire . epig . . eccho . no art can graue or paint mans voice in table , eccho reflected sounds t' expresse , is able . epig . . the looking-glasse . not famous phidias , nor apelles rare , can carue or paint motion , thou 'lt it declare . epig . . eccho and the looking-glasse . eccho hath nothing but a voice to liue , the mirreur nothing wants , if voice you giue . finis . epigrams . out of the third booke . epig . . to the lady mary neuil . thou , who vn-borne , the burthen wast of thy then parient-stemme ; now , being borne , her beauty art , euen parents ioyfull iemme . epig . . to the reader of his booke . i feare ( kind reader ) lest my verse displease thee , carpe thou ( fond momus ) it shall ne're disease mee . epig . . basilicon doron , to the king. what need wee pen this pen-mans prayse , or write his workes rare worth ; whose prayse the worke , whose worke th' author t' each other full set-forth ? epig . . of vertue . true vertue , prayse , doth nothing prize ▪ though honour her attend ; as shaddowes on the body waite , when 's ra●es sol forth doth send ▪ ●or , ●ertue is substantiall , glory , but glittering shew ; as bodies are essentiall , shaddowes no substance true . epig . . vnion . vnion's diuine ; diuision 's diuellish found , for , ther 's one god , but diuels doe abound . epig . . three tempters . ovr life , three subtill sophisters retaines , the world , the flesh , satan , who ore thē raignes : satan's an old logician ; th' other two are rhetoricians , and much skill can shew . epig . . man to man 's a god , a wolfe . man vnto man a god , a wolfe is knowne , the one in chris● , in adam tother 's showne ▪ for , christ both god and man , to man 's a god , adam a wolfe to man , gods plaguing rod. epig . . the misery of this life . long-life , though weake and wretched , man desires ; that is , to be a wretch he long requires : weake , wretched irus dyes against his will ; that is , he would haue liu'd most wretched , still . epig . . of nature and grace . a gloomy-moone-light , is our natures light : but grace doth glister , like the s●n most bright . epig . . a catechisme . twice sixe beleeue , for se●en things pray , ten things performe , and li●e for aye . this catechisme vse aright , and thou shalt see heau'ns glorious light. epig . . the rich-man . what is the cause , few rich , to h●au'n doe goe ? 't's a costly-iourney , they 'le not much bestow . epig . . the holy-ghost . as , pigeons li●e on houses white , and there-about abide : so , god aboue , pure - hearts doth loue , and with them will reside . epig . . of the king. a light-lesse sunne , is law , without a king ; a king without a law , is nothing lesse : men marke the king , kings men by lawes redresse : thus , lawes and people , kings in order bring . epig . . god-man . god could not feele , nor man alone death quell , christ , god and man , did both ; as scriptures tell . epig . ● . death . the bad flye from , the good doe death attend ; death 's th' end of woe , or woe without an end. epig . . a miracle . let others , wonders wond'rously admire : i , god their author most t' extoll desire . epig . . adams fall , mans thrall . by adams fall , mans soule did fall , i th' power of the preacher ; his flesh to phisike , and his goods to th' lawyer , that gold-reacher . epig . . to adam . the diuell , deaths-dam , eue and adam with apple did deceiue ; with his all-haile , their ioyes did faile , and edens blisse them leaue . epig . . the tempter . as , mice make holes in walls to get their prey : so , satan finde● or makes i th' heart a way . epig . . mortification . that thou mayst liue when dead thou art , to dye , yet liue must be thy part ; learne first to dye , then , ere thou dye ; this , sinfull-flesh will mortifie . epig . . against thee-onely haue i sinned psalme . svbiects , 'gainst god , the king , the lawes , offend ; kings , onely god , because kings all transcend . epig . . prayer . as , christ did heau'ns vn-op't gates penetrate : so , prayer by faith must pierce heau'ns fast bard gate . epig . . mary magdalens teares . her wand'ring eyes , which view'd each vanity , shee bleares with teares , and weeps most bitterly ; the cause ( i iudge ) such brinish teares to bring , was , that the eye was sinnes first fount and spring . epig . . methusalem is dead . to liue-long , is not life , to liue is life : what is 't to liue-long , then ? to dye from strife . epig . . of law and iustice. the iudge , not iustice , hath the most resort : 't is strange ; since lawes-way's long ; iustice path short. epig ▪ . intemperance . since , most desire a long life to enioy ; by luxury , why doe we life destroy ? we faine would liue , yet will the meanes refuse ; we wrong our health , and then phisicians vse . epig . . liberty . if he be well , which hath what he can wish , why then doe men for stinging serpents fish ? true liberty , 'mongst vertues beares the bell ; he may liue as he will , which will liue well . epig . . the crosse of christ. the crosse bore christ , & christ the crosse did beare ; it him , he , it bore , vs to rid from feare . epig . . of religion . religion , is a tree , fruitfull and faire , and must be planted in each good mans heart ; the root , is labour , and the fruit most rare , is honour , euery godly-mans desert . and , well is 't said , men first were gods by feare ; for , to feare god is piety's first part : religions root is b●●ter , bet●er on high , for , feare 's her fount , her riuer's charity . epig . . marryed-folke . man , loue thy wife , thy housband , wife , obay , wines are our heart , we should be head alway . epig . . study . some men grow-mad , by studying much to know : but , who growes-mad , by studying good to grow ? epig . . the blessed virgine . her makers mother , gods deare spouse , the daughter of her childe ; a mayde , yet wise ; mother , yet mayde ; was blessed mary milde . epig . . liberty of speech . some , hold it th' onely liberty to prate , but that 's true freedome speech to moderate . epig . . a probleme to marcus. what profits it , or good or bad to bee ? since , little difference twixt them both we see , for , bad are punisht iustly as by force ; the good by might , as if by lawfull course . epig . . to christ. ovr hold-fast anchor , and safe ship of faith , our sea of loue ; earths sauory salt , coelestiall sun , our soules-health from aboue : thy crosse hath crossed deaths great rage , by thy death , death lyes dead ; and is 't not strange that death should dye , or ere be vanquished ? epig . . selfe-loue . they , which the faults of others quickly spye ; but at their owne wil winke with selfe-loues eye : how euer , such , to some may seeme full wise , yet , greatest folly this in them descryes . epig . . a prayser . by praysing , good-men better bee , prayse , bad-men worse doth make : wise-men doe grow mor● cautulous , fool●s greater pride doe take . epig . . al-wayes the same . one-god , there euer was and ere shall bee , why then one-faith amongst vs haue not wee ? one-faith , as doth one day , the world should light : as one-god's in the world , and sunne most bright . epig . . christs wounds . christs wounds , to vs , were rather salues than sores , for , our lost-healt● , by them , he t 'vs restores . epig . . christ the way . would'st walke the way which leades to life eternall ? 't was sent , 't is seene , in christ thy king supernall . epig . . patience or content . thou 'dst dye , or not dye ; death or stayes , or comes ; yet take thy lot : t is ill to nill , as bad to will , when thou shouldst dye , or not. epig . . man. the heart 's a hurt , procur'd by care , our corps , corruption dry ; w' are borne , but how ? oft to be sicke , we liue , why ? oft to dye . epig . . eloquence . not many weedes , but whol●some herbes , the fertile grounds declare : they 're eloquent which well can speake ; not those which babblers are . epig . . o times and manners ! why thus doe men , m●nners and times accuse ? when m●n themselues , manners and times abuse ; w' are bad in the● , they wors● by vs do grow , yet , wee complaine that helpe to make them so . epig . . of strife or contention . o , i could wish , i might so happy bee , men , striue to loue , not loue to striue , to see . epig . . marryed-folke . a house , vs both in discord can't contayne , in bed , we both in concord doe remayne . epig . . christ. as morning is nights end and dayes beginning : so christ is deaths end and saluations spri●ging . epig . . of sleepe . if sleepe be death , then death than sleepe can be estee●'d noug●t els ; the more thou slee●'st then , lesse thou liu'st , this , playne ●xperience tels , a●d is our death but like a sleepe ? when men haue slept , they wake ; then courage christian , feare ô wretch ; thee heauen , thee hell shall take . epig . . against epicures . oft haue i heard both yong and old complaine , that loue & life don't long-enough remaine : lifes pleasure , pleasures life is short soone spent ; he 's wise therefore can leaue both , with content . epig . . workes . good-men to heau'n , their good-deedes follow well ; the wicked's ill-deeds , follow them to h●ll . epig . . sence , reason , faith , loue , god. sence , voyd of reason , silly is , reason's bad , without faith ; faith's nothing-worth , if loue it lacke , loue 's good , if god it hath . epig . . wisedome , fortitud● . t is wisedome , euils to beware , to beare them 's fortitude ; the wise not beares , nor valiant feares , harmes borne and well eschew'd . epig . . labour . he which by sweat , would haue men eate , and by their labour liue ; if they take paine , with him to raigne , heau'ns dainties will them giue . epig. . christian aduerbes . not adiectiues but aduerbes best can doe : not , what-good , ho●-well god hath care vnto . epig . . time. time all consumes , both vs and euery thing , we time consume , thus , both one song doe sing ▪ epig . . much admonition to his friend michael heydon . doe nothing rashly , faintly ; all with heed , too-late , too-soone doe nothing ; all with speed : nature , thee faint , wisedome thee valiant makes , who ? feares things fearefull , which , heed of them takes . epig . . honesty , dishonesty . good-men hate vice , because they vertue loue , that there 's few-good , this , then , doth plainely proue . dishonesty is now so high ascended , and honesty so low , so vilipended ; that in these sin-full , sin-foule dayes well-nigh , t is counted vicious , to liue vertuously . epig . . of the soule . mans soule coelestiall is aboue the skies : for , with the body if it rise , it dies . epig . . hell. as , blacke by no meanes can be dyed white , from hell to heau'n , so , none can take their flight . epig . . man. man cryes in 's birth , what ioy 's then to be borne ? why weep we at mens deaths as men forlorne ? epig . . wise simplicitie . like harmelesse doue , to liue in loue , to all men doth belong : like serpents wise , liue , i aduise , that none may doe thee wrong . epi● . . vpon the death of charles blunt , earle of deuonshire . whether sad-passion , or sweet prayse to vse , an elegie or elogie to choose , i doubt deuise , such is my loue , thy losse ; oh , greedy death to take gold , leaue vs drosse . now thou art dead many tr●ke much of thee , good , best ; bad , worst ; this , is well prays'd to bee . finis . epigrams . out of one sole booke . epig . . against marcus. nature hath giuen two-hands , one tongue to men , they should performe more than they promi●e then thou 'lt promise much , nought giue , but all delay , as though thou hadst two tongues , no hands to pay . epig . . the romish masse-priest , and geneuian minister . mass●-priest . for adultery no man should dye , thus baals priest still cryes ; his neighbours wife , he loues a life , himselfe hath none ; he 's wise. geneuian minister . for adultery 't's fit men should dye , thus the geneuian cryes : but what 's the cause hee 'd haue such lawes ? his wife is faire ; hee 's wise. epig . . against a couetous clyent . what ? doft thou grudge , because the iudge is deafe and will not heare ? thy - selfe 's to blame , who to him came , and feeling didst forbeare . epig . . against linus . thou wast my debtour when i lent thee coine , pay mee mine owne , and then i will be thine . epig . . man is a stage-player . mans life 's a tragike comedie , hope is his argument ; the prologue faith ; the acts are loue , the stage earths continent . and in this manner , when , to day , kings and meane-men doe end their play ; to morrow , others take their roomes , whiles they doe fill vp graues and tombes . epig . . neyther in this world , nor in the world to come . against damiane . whether things present or to come , i mind , than thou , more wretch , i th' world i cannot find , the world to come auailes thee nought , th' art bad , and being a foole , no good can heere be had . epig . . against byting momus or carping zoilus . back-byter , why doest thou thy brother bite ? in enuying what he hath well effected , in carping-at what he hath ill-neglected , brothers , each others slips let-slip , not smite . epig . . against a selfe-louer . vnto thy neighbour , be as kinde as to thy - selfe thou art ; thou 'lt say i am , how 's that ? my selfe am neerest mine owne heart ▪ epig . . learning most neglected . learned apollo , once , vnshaued went , but now , hee 's cut , sho●ne , torne and all-berent ; space : his louely face is , now , in such a case , as scarce it smiles , once , in a twelue-moneths alas , he dreames that deemes parnassus pleasant , honour ( arts hope ) is giuen to euery pesant , to play on phoebus lute , 's to play the lout , learning goes lame ( now ) and is sicke o' th' gout : when d●l●s haue lucke on honours step to stay , let schollers burne their bookes and goe to play ! epig . . 't is better to giue , than to receiue . mans propertie's to take , and gods to giue , too few such giuing-gods in these dayes liue. epig . . against ponticus the clyent . clyent , art sicke of the c●thâgran-gout , and nothing on thy lawyer wilt bestow ? o' th' podagra he 's ill then , cann't stirre out , a lazie lamenes then doth on him grow ; for if he be not both oft pray'd and pay'd , thy caus● for this cause shall be long delayd . epig . . philautus and philaristo . philautus . thou do'st expect ( my philarist ) that i , a gift should send ; except my selfe , gift haue i none , this , i to thee commend . epig . . philaristo . you sent a gift , and nothing 't was , i , nothing send to you : you gaue your selfe , your selfe to you i send-backe ; so adieu . epig . . to sir henry fanshaw , knight . if fortune had alotted thee by lot , augustus empire or mecoenas store ; this age had seene poetick-maro's more , but , no mecoenas , maro is forgot . epig . . a heauenly archer . faith , is our shaft ; our bow-string , hope ; our bow , is well-bent loue ; our length and height is heau'n on high , our marke , is god aboue . epig . . to a litigious debtor . th' art much perplext and troubled day by day , not how thou mayst , but how thou mayst not pay. epig . . couetous liberality , against acerra . acerra giues to take ; to giue takes not : to take's his marke ; to giue 's his shaft and shot . epig . . against the romish catholike . if any one would thy religion know , 't's catholike , apostolike , thou'lt say ; catholike loue , ( i thinke ) to all thou'lt show , but why do'st not for catholike faith pray ? epig . . the soules eclipse . as , earth is interpos'd , betweene the sunne and moones thicke shade ; so sinne betwixt me and my god , hath sep●ratio● made . epig . . from the wombe to the tombe . as , beasts i th' fields to be our food doe fate ; so worm●ling-man is borne to be wormes-meate . epig . . womens tyre . your high-horn'd laces , are more like a house-top than a tyre ; to build , not beautifie their heads , is womens fond desire . epig . . all-things are nothing . he which made all of nought , himselfe is all : and what god made of nought , wee nought may call . epig . . funerall sermons . we wrong men liuing , prayse them being dead : o pleasant death , ô gloomy-life so led ! epig . . anger and patience . as water cooles the fires hot flame , and fire , cold-water warmes : so patience peaseth angry mindes , wrath moues the dull to armes . epig . . the bodie bids the soule fare-well . for thee ( ô soule ) my mother earth i left , and now , i must of thee be thus bereft . the soule bids the bodie fare-well . and i , fond foole , did god my father leaue for thee ; who now to heauen will me receiue , i must to him , thou must to her depart , from heau'n am i , from earth deriu'd , thou art : there , till wee meet , we must disioyn'd remayne , till earth mee thee ; god thee mee giue againe . epig . . hot-waters . ovr trickling teares expresse our priuate loue ; loue causeth teares ; strange , fire should water proue . epig . . poore comfort to his rich friend . vnconstant fortune changeth in short space , hence growes my hope , thy feare , ●uch is thy case . epig . . to his friend waxing-old . thou lately wast a yong-man , i a childe , my selfe a yong-man now , thee , old i see : death , shortly , lookes for thee , old-age for mee , thy lot's most sure , but i may bee beguilde . epig . . to pontilian . pontilian , art thou iealous o're thy wife ? th' art wise ; but , art not ? then i say th' art wise ; watch her , or not , in vaine is all thy strife , for , if shee list , shee 'le foole thee 'fore thine eyes : but , shee 's a ●ife most louing , wise and iust , who , though she could , ne're wrongs her housbands trust . epig . . london to i. w ▪ citizen and gold-smith . even as , the thames , small spring● and streames drinkes in , so , london , wealth , from poorer towns doth win ; but , though the thames to sea runnes euery tide , siluer and gold at london still abide . epig . . to william cawley , a london marchant . debtour and creditour . though in my booke , thy name heere bee , yet , mine in thine , thou canst not show ; for , more than loue , thee nought i owe , this , i 'le expect , and pay to thee . epig . . a marriage-song . i th' day , thou art the obiect of mine eyes ; i th' night , loues subiect thou shalt be likewise . epig . . to his beloued . i loue thee well , now-knowne , i lou'd th' vn-kowne , thy fame did first , thy forme now hath me taken ; loue , now i know ; i loue , not lou'd , forsaken , i know what 's , i loue , not i'm lou'd ; ô moane . epig . . a younger brother . i 'm poore , t is true ; my parents , me blame not , who 'fore my brother haue not me begot . epig . . to old ponticus . thou , which didst neuer doe good - deed , but still adde sinne to sinne ; when wilt thou these bad courses leaue , and to be good beginne ? o when i dye , i 'le leaue ( sayst thou ) to th' poore my whole-estate ; he that 's not wise , vntill he dyes , i thinke is wise too late . epig . . a black-moore in white clothes . o rare seene bird ! much like a swan most white , thy clothes as snow , thy skin like pitch in sight . epig. . gold out of doung . virgil , from ●innius doung , did gold extract , and our phisicians doe the selfe-same act. epig . . to his couetous friend . what ric●-m●n haue , t is all , their-owne , from friends , themselues , they 'le spare : but yet they haue-●ot , what they haue , this is the misers share . epig . . christ-masse and mid-sommer . iohn baptist , came i th' sommers prime , and christ i th' winter season ; they , fire and water , both , fore-show , and both , for holy reason : how well these contrarie● concurre , iohn's fire , christs water pure ; gods fire our sinnes to purifie , christs water , sinne to cure. epig . . aesops tongue . of all mans members , than the tongue , there 's none , more noble-good , more nimble bad be knowne . epig . . hard'ned wickednesse against linus . good-wine ( they say ) makes vineger most tart : thou , the more witty , the more wicked art . epig . . against ponticus a selfe-louer . neyther the minde nor eye themselues doe see , that thou thy - selfe shuldst loue then , how may 't bee ? epig . . a querê . o would to god , that , that which christ enquired of his disci●les ; what men of him spake : the same of prince , priest , people were desired , of their good-name and fame suruey to take : if euery one would this desire to know , hee 'd know hee 's bad and better , striue to grow , epig . . report , errour . errours by errour , tales by tales great grow , as small snow-balls by rowling too and fro . epig . . of himselfe . some men there be , which say of mee , that i am not a poet ; they say well , why ? i doe not lye , i write the truth , i know it . epig . . the worlds dungeon . this world 's a prison , heau'n as walls doth stand , the ●aylour's sinne , women our iron-band . epig . . the bagge . as , birds with bird-lime commonly are caught ▪ so , wide-bags are with wealth wel fil'd & fraught . a bagge and bird li●e are m●●●h like in vsing , this hangs , that holds , birds , gold , both safe from losing . epig . . to the lady arbella stuart . if fame or vertue did consist in words , in thy praise i might thousand-verses write : my muse cannot promote thy glory bright , thy vertue rather grace to it affords . epig . . euery one thinkes his owne fairest . cic. tuscul. quaest. lib. . thy neighbours wife to the● , to him thine 's fairest : then , that 's not true , that all thinke their owne rarest . epig . . mans condition . till one foot falls , the tother doth not rise ; so one mans wracke , another magnifies . epig . . two contrary courtiers . at court these copesmates dwell , though not the same , momus who all , gnatho who nought will blame ▪ finis . epigrams . out of the sixe last bookes . the first booke . to the reader . do'st maruell , why ( since now adayes men vse verses in prayse of th' authour ) i't refuse ; my verses need no patron to protect them , if good th' are good ; if bad th' are bad , neglect them . epig . . to the prince . thy heart ( in brest , hea●ts chest ) sense , reason , will , thy head , thy wit , in thee their parts fulfill , for , reason , sense ; thy wit , thy will doth guide ; thy head is by thy heart well rectifide . wales had three princes stiled-great ; thy brother made-vp the fourth ; i th' fift place thou art th' other . epig . . orpheus . orpheus , his wife redeem'd from hels hot flame , who e're knew wife , for husband do the same ? epig . . whether saint peter were at rome . whether or no , saint peter were at rome , is disputable ; ●ut yet that simon hath beene there , is most vn-refutable . epig . . honours etymo logic . honours genea logic . ebricians , hon ; french , or ' ; doe riches call , hence then we see hon-ors originall . and since that wealth is honors pedegree , no maruell , though rich-asses honour'd bee . epig . . a regular woman . a woman , to a gen'rall-rule , we fitly may compare ; why so ? those rules doe oft deceiue , and so doe women faire . epig . . salomons wish . why did the wisest king for wisdome craue ? he had bin wise t' haue wished wealth to haue . hee wisht not wealth , wisdome was his best prize , wisdome hee wisht , why ? 'cause he was not wise. epig . . blessed are the power makers . blessed are the peace makers . great britaines tott'ring state , affaires , munite ' vnited bee ; king iames our gracious peace-maker , power-maker blest is hee . epig . . irregularitie . what i require , i can't acquire , and what i can , i nill ; thus all mans life , is nought but strife , now nill , anon hee will. epig . . to a batchelour . a wife is good , better 's a good ; but best is none at-all : i wish the best may be my lot , and none to thee may fall . epig . . three delta's . that , i th' worlds-sea thou mayst not ship-wracke make , these delta's three , as rockes , see , thou forsake : dis ( worldly riches ) diuels and delight , these three to th' spirit beare a mortall spight . epig . . a payre of gallowes to p. l. a thiefes hope is a rope , death is his due , the gallowes all such fellowes doth pursue , but many scape ? true , yet their fates attend them ; and at the last , the horrid hempe will end them . epig . . whether bacchus be a god. to a drunkard . seest thou not when th' art drunke with dulcid wine ? how bacchus makes thy head to th' foot decline : since , he low feet exalts , high heads brings downe , this shewes that he 's thy god of high renowne . epig . . the priest , the people . the priests doe pray both night and day , the lay-men they take paines ; these plough the soyle , those plough the soule , these teach , those tithe their gaines . epig . . to the most learned king iames. to be a poet-good , ( me thinkes ) is much , to be a good-man , is ( me thinkes ) as faire : to be a good-king , ( i suppose ) few such ; thou art good poet , man and king , most rare . epig . . against quintus a dreamer . i oft haue seene thee , quintus , in sad plight , and mourne i th' morne , when thou from sleep didst rise ; because thy dreames did neuer fall out , right , and maruell not , for , daily thou tell'st lyes : how then can dreames the truth to thee declare , when all the day to forge-lyes is thy care ? epig . ● . deaths indifferencie . flouds fight with flouds : so man with mā 's at strife : the ocean striues in 's motion , man in 's life : riuers once run to sea , haue the same sauour , death equals all ( as waues waues ) without fauour . epig . . against cinna a phisician . cinna cures sicknesse , how ? he kils the sickly , and what he doth , he ( iudas-like ) doth quickly : happy , thrice happy are his patients , sure ; a tedious sicknesse they shall ne're indure . epig . . to the prince . all night i dreame of nought but gold and gaine , thus am i rich all nigh● , a wre●ch all day : with gold make-good my dreames sweet prince i pray . so , reall-royall-rich i shall remaine . epig . . a court louse . the smoo●h-boote flatt'rer runs about the court , and vn●o prince and peeres doth most resort : so la●ines name the louse for 's many-feet , lice , much to th' body , most to th' head doe fleet . epig . . against galatèa . harts , yeerely , change their snaggie hornes they say : thy husbands hornes are changed euery-day . epig . . against gellia . with papists , gellia , thou didst e're take part : worse art thou now , how ? catholike thou art . epig . . against aulus . when aulus is a little sicke in bed , or hath the tooth-ach , or distemp'red head , o would to god i were in heauen , hee 'le say ; so , th' heyre for 's father , would to god , doth pray . epig . . against festus . festus , th' art old , and yet wouldst marryed bee : ere thou doe so , this counsell take of mee ; looke into lillies grammar , there thou 'lt finde cornu a horne , a word still vndeclin'd : this counsell's good ; take it not as a mocke , for sure , i thinke , few old-men scape this rocke . epig . . against cornelius . although corn-elius know himselfe cornute , yet hee with pacience , holds his peace , is mute ; therefore , i thinke , hee 's not cornelius , but fitlier may be termed tacitus . finis . epigrams . out of second booke . epig . . what loue is . a iocund-iayle , a wanton-warre , a most vnpleasant pleasure ; a tottering trust , a bitter-sweet is loue ; mirth without measure . epig . . a mathematicall instrument , called a iacobs-staffe , to mathematicks . thy iacobs-staffe take vnto thee , i le * iacobs-ladder choose ; these steps , more than thy staffe can show , if i them well will vse . epig . . death's epitaph , to the death of death . deaths los●e , was in christs crosse , thence ne're more rising : christs death , deaths death , christs crosse , deaths tombe comprizing . epig . . of god and man. god is the word , and by his word , god , all i th' world hath wrought : man vtters words , words mans chiefe marke , than words , man else is nought . epig . . of fasts . popes in the yeere , as may appeare , doe many fasts ordayne ; for to declare , that * peters chaire they rightly doe retayne . epig . . socrates wisedome . when i was yong , i thought i all-things knew : the more i now-know , more my wants i rue . epig . . earths body . earths sinewes , are her mettels rich ; her bones , are stones most strong ; water 's her bloud ; her superfice , her skinne ; grasse , her haire long . epig . . the religious man. what 's well-done , 's ill-done , if too - publikely . politician . what 's ill-done , 's well-done , if none doe it spie . epig . . an english proteus . in clothes , we thrift and honesty refuse ▪ for pride and pleasure 's all , nought , long , wee vse . epig . . a shrow tamed . would'st tame thy wife ? first , tame her tongue , as dumbe : who thus his wife comes-o're , shall ouer-come . epig . . pride of life . man swe●s , although his gran-dame is the earth ; ear●h swels , although from nothing it had birth : so , man , as mou●d ; him , past himselfe doth raise , mould sw●ls with mounts ; mans minde his p●ide d●splayes . epig . . eues and the serpents meeting . eves and the serpents prattling , wrought our sin : oh would to god ; hee dumbe , shee deafe had bin . epig . . neyther too great a good one , neyther too little a bad one . a giant-like , tall , stammell-wife , though ex●'lle●t , i 'de not choose ; a bad-condition'd , though a dwarfe , i will as soone refuse . epig . . loue is blinde . like one another , drunkennesse , and loue , are , in eff●ct ; drunkennesse blindes the bodies eyes , loue blinds the mindes aspect . epig . . an amorous epistle . no loue is hopelesse , this makes louers free : the thing , not hope , i loue ; no-thing but thee . epig . . a christian zodiacke . th' apostles goodly fellowship , are my twelue heauenly signes ; my zodiacke , is perf●ct faith ; my sunne , in iesus shines . epig . . to the reader . i leaue narcissus when i verses write ; when thou do'st reade them , banish him thy sight ▪ finis . epigrams . out of the third booke . epig . . god the beginning of all things . god was the first , i th' first god did reside , before the first , after the first shall bide ; first without firsts , and from this first , each thing , that first was made , did first-beginning bring . epig . . the art of memory . simonides , found th' art of memory , but none the art of wit could ere descry . epig . . satan o' th' woman bought-vs ; christ re-bought-vs ; adam impure , but christ most-pure hath wrought-vs . epig . . the prayse of liberalitie . what e're we giue , doth euer liue , gifts follow him that giues ; the giuer and the taker both , by gifts the better liue. epig . . to queene anne . wife , daughter , sister , mother to a king , what rarer titles may wee to thee bring ? with these foure titles , thou foure vertues hast , with what more glory may a queene be grac't ? epig . . a new-man . driue what thou didst deriue from th' old-man-sinne , soone , to refresh thy flesh , from sinne , beginne . epig . . health . even from my heart , much health i wish , no health i 'le wash with drinke : health wish't , not wash't , in words , not wine , to be the best i thinke . epig . . forbidden-fruit . when adam ate forbidden-meate , deluded by the diuell ; he was not euils primitiue , but , worse than th' apple of euill . epig . . troians and greekes . the troian sayes , i much doe feare the greekes , when they bring gifts . who is the greeke ? the poore-man . who are troians ? rich-make-shifts . epig . . n. a. n's first ; a , followes ; nought than all 's more old : that god of nought made all , all truth doth hold . epig . . holinesse is healthfulnesse . no man can long ; well , all men may ; yet no man will , liue , well : if thou 'lt liue long , endeuour then in vertue to excell . a bride is a ship. epig . . the taile 's the sterne ; fore-deck● the beake ; the keele , the belly is ; her wings , the sayles ; a bird , a barke is then , not much amisse . epig . . against pannicus a rich-asse . that fortune fauours fooles canst thou not see ? bele●ue thy selfe , if thou 'lt not credit mee . epig . . homer . maruell not much though homer blind tell lyes , since he by heare-say went , not sight of 's eyes . epig . . little , nothing , too-much , enough . the poore haue little , beggers none , the rich too-much , enough not one. epig . . to the right honourable , william earle of pembrooke , &c. not old in yeeres , nor young in each rare part , one of the kings and kingdomes props thou art , that on thee this great grace thy king doth lay : or should i ioy thy merit ? beth i may . epig . . humility . as , low-dales beare more fertile grasse , more sterill mountaines-high ; in wisedome , so , meeke minds doe passe selfe-flated subtilty ; the mind 's a mount , our will 's a hill ; the mounts top is wils wit : each highest hill is sterill still , and nimblest wit vn-fit . epig . . the clyent . if to thy cause the iudge shall helpe apply , thy knees to him , clyent , in-cline wisely . epig . . the serpent , eue , adam . the subtill serpent , heed-lesse eue deceiu'd , was not deceiued ; not adam her , shee him made fall , both thus of ioy bereaued : both actiuely and passiuely , shee therefore thus did sin ; deceiu'd her-selfe , deceiueth him , snar'd , snares him in deaths grin . epig . . to polydore . o polydore , to men most poore , the datiue-case is best ; your ablatiue doth them depri●e of comfort , ease and rest : giuers than takers better are . true , but these ablatiues , this age doth see too frequent bee , seld ' seene are rich-datiues . epig . . to — . alas , poore creature-seruing two , thou art in wofull state : one-master , nothing hath to giue , thy tother is ingrate . epig . . three-fold continency . when thou dost any ill-thing heare or see , thy windowes , eares and eyes fast shut let bee ; and that thou speake-not vnaduisedly , locke-fast thy doores , thy lips ; thy tongue fast tye . epig . . saturnes three sonnes . three sonnes had saturne , poets faine , and of especiall fame ; hell was ones place , riches his grace , nummi-potent by name : the second had i th' sea abode , his name amni-potent ; to th' third was giuen his seat in heauen , call'd ioue omni-potent . epig . . the old-man speakes to the yong-man . my life is short , and liue i cannot long ; thine shortly will bee short , though now th' art strong . epig . . to an angry-man . let wrath and anger with the day decay , yet let them not with phoebus next day rise ; but as from thy horizon titan flyes , vnto th' antipodes ; there let them stay . epig . . the lord loueth liberality . thy benefits , it not-be-fits , when giuen to count and tell : god will them both remunerate , and ruminate full well . epig . . heauen . heauen is gods spacious , sp●cious throne of grace , the lords all-potent and all-patent place ▪ epig . . against pontilianus . dogges on th●ir masters fawne and leape , and wag their tailes apace ; so , though the flatt'rer want a taile , his tongue supplyes the place . epig . . to distrust . let none distrust ( though dust ) heau'ns light to see , nor none despaire , though's soule a shaddow be ▪ our flesh is dust , true , but o' th very same , the glorious body of christ iesus came . and though our soule in vs a shaddow bee , yet 't is th' idea of the deitie . epig . . the rich-man . that man 's most ' retch which is most rich , th' are oft defil'd that play with pitch ; men to be great , not good ; desire greatnesse , not goodnesse most acquire . epig . . to the iewes . the law , is your religion , and ours is faith most pure ; you , to beleeue , will not be-led , nor we good-workes inure . epig . . riches . gold 's th' onely-god , rich-men beare rule ▪ mony makes maiesty ; rich-pluto , not plaine-plato , now , speakes with applause most high . epig . . three genders . a wife , although most wise and chaste , is of the doubtfull gender ; a queane , o th' common ; foeminines , are women small and tender . epig . . st . st . a signe of silence . st , st , men say , silence to signifie : s , silence no●es : t , taciturnity . epig . . where i doe-well , there i dwell . that , is my country , where i 'm fed , not bred , not where i 'm borne , but where i 'm best-bested . where i may haue sufficient sustenance , and liue in loue , ther 's my inheritance . epig . . actaeon . actaeons dogs , his flesh , bones , skinne , ate cleane : his hornes remayne in london to bee seene . epig . . a paradox of dreames . dreames which be bad , are very good , dreames that be good , are bad : for , if my dreames be good , i grieue , but , being bad , i 'm * glad . epig . . scoffing , prudence . wit without wisedome , is salt without meate ▪ rude-literature , meate without salt , to eate . epig . . against a tedious oratour . when thou hast said all thou wilt say , 't remaynes to say , i 'ue said ; this onely-word would please mee more , than all the speech th' ' ast made . finis . epigrams . out of the three last bookes . the first booke . epig . . lawyers and phisicians . vnlesse the one deale-●raftily , the other desperate bee ; they both may eate on beggers meate , and li●e in penury . epig . . against tomasinus . the prayse , of prayse-lesse-asses , some haue writ , in these our dayes : amongst the rest , haue beene exprest , o tom-asine , thy prayse . epig . . against fabianus . some-men are bald without , thou inwardly ; those want their haires , thy brain-pan 's almost dry ▪ epig . . dalilah . samsons deceitfull dalilah , his strength in 's haire destroyed ▪ in these dayes , by such dalilahs are many-men annoyed . epig . . birth . to present things w' are borne , re-borne to things to-come , we are ; though that be p●ime , yet principall is this , and better farre . epig . . against paetus , a probleme . father , nor fath'r-in-law , thou art , t' all those , which thy wife bare thee ; then , what th' art who knowes ▪ epig . . against pontiliana . why wedded●t thou th' ele●'nth day of decemb●r : because , than this no day's more short , night longer . epig . . against festus , an vn-iust iudge . what iudas or what pilate did doe thou , thou iudge vn-iust ▪ with iudas if thou wilt not hang. with pilate wash thou must . epig . . against colinus , dying intestate . whiles thou didst liue , thou nought wouldst giue , thou leau'st all , now thou canst not liue ; like greedy hogge thy life was led , like greazie porke , thou now ly'st dead . epig . . from bad to worse . he 's dasht 'gainst scylla , from charibdis flying , which hopes to salue hi● sore , by phisike dying ▪ fooles voyding vice , the contrary commit , are those to shunne strife , which on lawyers hit . epig . . against a foolish-writer . o , i could wish thy paper were all-blacke ; or that it did least spot of blacknesse lacke epig . . females . yong-wenches coy , and wanton are ▪ faire-maides , are infamous : witty are wily , full of craft ▪ lustfull , lasci●ious ▪ epig . . foure law-termes . the lawyers haue foure termes , to which they frame a most significant and proper name : first ▪ michelmasse , from th' angell * michael , for lawyers purses then with angels swell . the next is hill●ry a name most fit : for this terme make● the lawyer m●rry , sit . and easter-terme , like churc●-mens ●aster-booke ▪ much gold and gaine then to themselues they hooke . trinity-terme , so call'd , because the law three persons alwayes doth together draw ; to wit , ●he iudge , lawyer , and clyent poore , who trauailes vp to pay the lawyers-score . epig . . to faustine . that my booke 's good ( thou faustine ) saidst to me , if it be good , would i my booke might be . epig . . a widdow . he which for 's wife a widdow doth obtayne , doth like to those which buy-clothes in long-lane ; one cote 's not fit , another's too-too-old , their faults i know not , but th' are manifold . epig. . doctor ios. hals vowes and meditations . thou vowed'st vowes , fit to be vow'd , worth reading workes dost write : he 's blest that reades thy vowes , if hee to doe them take delight . epig . . the forsaken louer . even as hell-fire doth burne , but doth not shine : so thine not shines , but sorely burnes my heart : but towards thee , like heau'nly fire is wine , it shines on thee , not burnes thee , that 's my smart : oh if thy loue still burne and giue no light , my shining flame , it selfe will waste out quite . epig . . the epitaph of c●oesus and irus . vnder this stone , lyes croesus buryed ; wher 's irus then ? here , all are poore when dead . epigrams . out of the second booke . epig . . wheele-greace . men , th' axeltree doe greaze , that they may n't screake ; but , lawyers must be greaz'd to make them speake . epig . . against a certaine drunkard . mvch prattling causeth greatest thirstinesse , thy wife talkes more then thou , why drinkes shee lesse ? epig . . veni , vidi , vici . christ. into this world , coelestiall caesar came ▪ mans mis●ry with mercies-eye hee saw ; he , death o're-came to his immortall fame , then , him , to 's throne of mercy did with-draw ; he came , o're-came , he saw , fore-saw all things , all this he did , that we might raigne as kings . epig . . a pure sacrifice . this world was on●e the temple of the lord ; the c●osse , the ●l●tar ; christ the sacrifice ; chri●t , god and m●n , our high-priest paid the price , to th' altar like a lambe fast bound with cord. epig . . of the king , law and people . the king 's the she●heard ; men , are sheepe ; lawes , are their pasture faire ; the flocke being ill , the king● great skill , by 's lawes their hurts repaire . epig . . the deuils force and fraud . the diuell , like a lion fierce , runnes all the world about ; each wand'ri●g soule that he may slay , like wind his rage flyes-out : yea , like a foxe most f●audulent , satan spreads priuate nets ; thus whom by force he cannot force , by subtill snares he gets . epig . . precept , practice . the learned preachers words , though plaine , to plaine-men truth may preach ; but pastours pious practice , doth a holy-life them teach : th●t doctour is diu●ne , indeed , whi●h by good-workes , proues words ; more harme doe ill-examples breed , than good-words , good affords . epig . . against couetous-men . sell all that thou hast , and giue it to the poore . ah , killing-letter , out-alas , what 's this ? thus diues cryes ; what meanes the holy-ghost ? sayes hee , sell all ? can such be wise ? what meanes the holy ghost ? thou wretch , he meanes , what thou ne're thought ; he will giue all vnto the poore , and thou wilt giue them nought . epig . . man , a hunter , a fisher , a fowler . man , hunts for wealth and riches store , spreads nets for dignities ; and like a fisher , sounds the dep●h of deepest mysteries ; but whiles , fond man doth fish to know , with pride , preferments watcheth ; and auaricious , riches seekes , he shame and blame oft catcheth . epig . . christ a diuine , a phisician , a lawyer . christ , a diuine , phisician , was whiles heere ; in heau'n he shall a iudge most iust appeare . epig . . baptisme , to a iew. baptisme doth wash , but circumcision wound : the lawes dire launch , christs washing makes most sound . finis . epigrams . out of the third-booke . epig . . matrimoniall rule . the nightly gouernment , is due vnto the female kind ; and vnto masculines , to rule i th' day , it is assign'd : and this we see experience prooues , for cynthia rules the night : and phoebus rayes his rule displayes , who in the day shines bright . epig . . against a certaine proud-woman . a feather o're thy head thou ha●t , and corke vnder thy feet ; both these declare , though thou be faire , thee to be fond and fleet . epig . . faith. my eyes i th' skies the twinkling starres , the pole , opinion spyes : so with mine eye i view heauen high ; my faith , my god descryes . epig . . contempt of the world. wouldst liue a good-life ? then , this life despise ; 't's a wretched life this life highly to prize . epig . . knowledge , loue. two things there be , which i must know ▪ and two things i must loue ; god and my-selfe , god and my friend , these , knowledge , loue , approue . epig . . of god and the world. god is not in this world , the world 's in god : we are i th' world , o , would we were in god epig . . the right of first-fruits and tithes . god's al●ha and omega , therefore hee must of thy goods the tithes and first-fruits , see . epig . . grauity , leuity . though , grossenes , lightnes , cleane contrary bee , a light-head , grosse-head , i 'd not wish to mee ; both which are ●ad ▪ and such a wife i hate , a light or lewd , a grosse or grieuous mate . epig . . schoole-diuines . what profits all thy learned-skill ? if vertue thou neglect ; leaue off to search the truth of things , and good things more affect . epig . . democritus , heraclitus . democritus , mens falls and faults , in his times , did lament ; hera●litus , mens foolishn●sse , did laugh-at with contempt : and euer more such wretches vile , and fooles will still remayne : that , if they liu'd , from laughes and teares , they neuer could refraine . epig . . against arrogant , ignorant linus . a two-fold ignorance hath thee o linus , captiuated , thou knowest nought , yet nought to know , thou wilt not be conceited . epig . . against a couetous niggard . to count thy coyne is nothing worth , t' encrease the heape's as small ; as much to multiply ; deuide ; then i 'le thee wealthy call . epig . . against the writers of this age. we crop the to●s of others crop , old-writers workes most rare : the most of vs which now doe write , old-writers eccho's are . the authours desire . a good-mans desire . epig . . with wealth i wish-not bags and chests to stuffe to●-much , too-little's ill ; enough 's enough . epig . . christs life and death . mvch hath christ done and much endur'd , all , for vn-worthy m●e , his passions shew'd him to be man , his actions , god to bee . epig . . the wise-mens starre . a starre to math'mat●cks vnknowne , at christs birth shining bright , the gent●le-typing wise-men led to christ the lord of light : this heau'nly guide di● w●th them ●ide , till they found christ their ki●● , heau'n grant i pray , faith , my starre , may , me also to him bring . epig . . of the deluge and worlds-end . the crying crimes of noah● times for foule-lust-burni●g loue , were drown'd & drench't , that heat wa● quench't , with water from aboue : this freezing age of frosty loue , and key-cold charity , will in due time , for this cold crime , make all with fire to fry by compositions , thus phisicians make contraries to cure , and heau'ns phisician , frost with flames , water with fire can pure . epig . . of the iust and vniust . pleasure , the good ; but paine attends the bad : this frights th' vniust ; tother the iust makes glad . epig . . our redeemer . worth sight , but thee , i th' world i nothing see , and i am wise in nothing but in thee ; my sunne thou art , by grace shine in my heart , thou , thou , alone my sole , sweet sauiour , art . epig . . a paradox . to hell , though euery wretched atheist goes , in hell's no atheist ; there , he , hell well knowes . epig . . difference betwixt a good king and a tyrant . a good - king marks what 's godly , iust and right , a tyrant mindes his strict command & might ; i , good - kings power preferre 'fore tyrants pray , th' ones threates are treates , the others pay's , decay . epig . . against a certaine — . for mad-men bedlem ; bride well's for a knaue , choose , wheth'r of these two , thou hadst rather haue . epig . : life-bloud . moses the life of all , i th' bloud did place : my life , in christs bloud hath his onely grace . epig . . against a foolish writer . thy booke 's aeternall ( if such bookes may bee ) beginning none , nor end of it i see . epig . . vpon the death of prince henry . . dead is that prince , whom dead we may lament , with flouds of teares , till teares last drops bee spent , our albions hope , glory of britaines king , arts prop , warres piller , vertues hopefull spring . to whom none e're came neere , but his deare brother , saue his sweet sister , neuer such another . a prince much honour'd liuing ; lou'd when dead , hi● nations light , delight , whiles li●e hee led . whiles i these things wich teare-swolne eies sigh-out , from both my springs teares gush-●orth all about . beleeue me ( reade● ) if what 's griefe thou know , sighes stop my speech ; i weepe , teares ouer-flow . his epitaph . herr● lyes ( dry eyes , reade not this epitaph ) kings , queenes , prince , princesse , peoples hopeful staffe . omnis gloria deo debita . finis . to the excellent translatour of the epigrams of master iohn owen , master iohn vicars . owen doth owe thee much , that thou hast so transplanted these his plants , & made th●m grow within our soyle : and we owe much to eyther , t' him that them set , to thee that brought'st them hither . idem ad lectorem . wouldst thou know where wits quintessence doth lye ? read these few leaues thou 'lt see it by-and-by . nathaniel hall , gent. notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e * epig. . lib. pri. notes for div a -e * be their fathers . * mulier , quasi mollior . * genesis . . * who was a fisher * being awakened . * because on our eng●●sh gold was stamped the image of the angell michael . parnassi puerperium: or, some well-wishes to ingenuity, in the translation of six hundred, of owen's epigrams; martial de spectaculis, or of rarities to be seen in rome; and the most select, in sir. tho. more. to which is annext a century of heroick epigrams, (sixty whereof concern the twelve cæsars; and the forty remaining, several deserving persons). / by the author of that celebrated elegie upon cleeveland: tho. pecke of the inner temple, gent. pecke, thomas, b. . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text in the english short title catalog (thomason e _ ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing p thomason e _ this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; :e [ ]) parnassi puerperium: or, some well-wishes to ingenuity, in the translation of six hundred, of owen's epigrams; martial de spectaculis, or of rarities to be seen in rome; and the most select, in sir. tho. more. to which is annext a century of heroick epigrams, (sixty whereof concern the twelve cæsars; and the forty remaining, several deserving persons). / by the author of that celebrated elegie upon cleeveland: tho. pecke of the inner temple, gent. pecke, thomas, b. . martial. more, thomas, sir, saint, - . cottrel, james, fl. - . [ ], , [ ] p., [ ] leaf of plates : port. by james cottrel, for tho. bassett in st. dunstans church yard in fleet-street, printed at london : . martial's, more's, and pecke's epigrams each have separate divisional title pages; pagination and register are continuous. f.l. = latin address the bishop of exeter, signed by pecke; "the printer to the reader", (verse) signed: j.c. [i.e. james cottrell]; an advertisement for basset; a perpendicular half-title which reads: peck's epigrams; "upon cottrell, the printer" (verse, by pecke), errata and "to the reader" (verse). "when pecke read cottrell's verses, .. which ask the charity of the peruser for the errors in printing and claim the authorship of some of the contents, he was apparently sufficiently concerned to insist that basset allow him to add a reply which in a few copies is found inserted in an unsigned leaf at the end"--pforzheimer catalogue. annotation on thomason copy: "july". reproduction of the original in the british library. eng epigrams, english -- early works to . a (thomason e _ ). civilwar no parnassi puerperium: or, some well-wishes to ingenuity,: in the translation of six hundred, of owen's epigrams; martial de spectaculis, or pecke, thomas c the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the c category of texts with between and defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion parnassi puerperium : or , some well-wishes to ingenuity , in the translation of six hundred , of owen's epigrams ; martial de spectaculis , or of rarities to be seen in rome ; and the most select , in sir tho. more . to which is annext a century of heroick epigrams , ( sixty whereof concern the twelve caesars ; and the forty remaining , several deserving persons . ) by the author of that celebrated elegie upon cleeveland : tho. pecke of the inner temple , gent. ista tamen mala sunt . quasi nos manifesta negemus : haec mala sunt : sed tu , non meliora facis . mart. l. . ep. . my stock of wit is small ; let them who flout my poverty ; be pleas'd , to bear me out . printed at london by j. cottrel , for tho. bassett in st. dunstans church-yard in fleet-street , . to the ingenious readers . that a chain of gold , could be fastned to the neck of a flea ; was heretofore such a rarity , that it obtain'd a memorial in the chronicle ; and could not purchase belief , at an easie rate , untill it was rendred undeniable , by the verdict of quotidian experience . the facetious epigrammatist , can boast a wit , capring hither , and as fast retreating ; conscious of no greater crime , then under 〈◊〉 fictitious name , to flea-bite some particular persons : and draw● after it such a golden chain of invention , as challengeth not onely applause from the most cynical morosity ; but is irradiant with the two poetical jewels ; profit , and pleasure . in the translation of owen , it was not necessary to be curious , in electing here and there an epigram ; by reason he carries an even strain : and if i had omitted some in the first three books ; i could not have inserted more ingenious . i made it my devoir to be brief ; perspicuous . and i hope from six hundred pen-fulls of ink , not many blots have fallen upon my author . out of ●artial , i selected his most heroick ●●ok , of rarities to be seen at ●●me . and because variety is delectable ; i have subjoyned fourty out of sir tho. more ; and a century of my own . although no part of poetry , but is at my command : i have made choice of epigrams , as the very nerves of this exquisite art . for if a poem be good , it consists of nothing else , but various epigrams ; cemented by a dexterous sagacity . and not onely verse , but prose , is dull , and languishing , unlesse the sparkling genius of the epigrammatist , be artificially interwoven . that plaudit , the world were pleased to vouchsafe my elegie , upon the unparalleld poet mr. cleeveland ; forbids me to complain of that carping humour , notoriously predominant in english men ; in relation to any authors of their own countrey . the candid acceptance granted me then , i have no reason to suspect now ; from ingenious , and deserving persons of all sorts . and as for a generation of sciolists , that make it their recreation to slight others , either natural , or acquired endowments ; i crave at their hands , to give the world as ample a testimony of their abilities , as i have done of mine . and then if they think my epigrams routed ; i shall desire them to trie their valour , upon my satyrs . t. p. amico mihi magnopere colendo juvenique tam propter morum suavitatem acutissimam ingenii indolem , & prosapiae antiquissimae generositatem honorando dom. thomae pecko armigero , &c. in poemata , &c. quis tua maeonio roravit pectora succo peckiadum gentilis honos ? quae musa per auras enthea sydereas te sustulit , alta sonantem , atque inspiratos afflavit fulmine sensus ? dum teneros annos meditor , canumque cerebrum impubes mihi nestor eris , virtutibus annos qui superas , calamoque senes , sic gaudet apollo imberbi comes ire pater , dum spectat ephebum , et vix vestitas rosea lanugine malas . quòd si ver tenerum tot jam produxit amoenos florum fasciculos , quae tum maturior aestas incrementa dabit , nostroque obsonia seclo , et nascendorum delectamenta nepotum ? scilicet auspiciis primum foelicibus orsus cleevelando monumenta struis , musaque parentas manibus , altisono gradiens super astra cothurno . nec veluti nostri juvenes , proh tempora ! perdis crescentes sine fruge dies : quodcunque sopori temporis eximitur , studiis adjicitur , unde concoquis authores , lectosque in sanguinis usum et succi convertis edax . testabitur orbi illud opus sapido , quantum praecesseris . ipse historicas , quantumque tumens maeonidis aestro ebrius aeonios dudum potaveris amnes . i decus aeonidum , famamque extende per anglos pecke tuos , ut te felix norfolcia natum vendicet , utque itidem te doctus chamus alumnum jactet , uti patulus quandam discordibus orbis vocibus , indigenae cunas jactabat homeri . haec in amicitia tesseram profudit p. piscator . owen's epigrams : the first book . . to the most illustrious , the lady mary nevill , my ever honoured patroness . i want no patrons , for to vouch my books ; no places rudeness , denies gracious looks . my papers to the reader , i shall vow ; the dedication of my self , take you . . to the reader . if you applaud what ever i have writ , i must deride your indigence of wit : if you praise nothing , ( then the cause stands thus ) your epithite shall be , the envious . . to counsellor hoskins concerning his book . this book is the mad world ; these verses men : choose man or verse ; scarce one found good in ten . . to the lady mary nevill . suppose pythagoras the white did kiss , when he talkt of a metemsychosis ; the proof is facile , that you are the same with pallas , juno ▪ and the lemnian dame . for three rich vertues shine in you , alone ; when many threes , cannot lay claim to one . . to the same . as phoebus revels in the arched skie , and with him light , quarters her majestie : so ador'd vertue proclaims it a grace ; that shee 's incumbent to your charming face . whoever tell-tale fame invites to see your ladyship , bowes to captivity : if he evade your beauties fetters ; yet , inward endowments cast a faithful net . . to her ladyships son , mr. tho. nevill . your genius is so eminent , that due belief is banish't ; though the story 's true . he that will praise a childe , doth hope commend , and not the merits ; which must crown the end : not hope , but real worth doth magnifie the happy torrent , of the ingenie . . to her ladyships daughter caecilia . the mother you are like : when i say this , avant as useless , all periphrasis . . nosce teipsum , upon harpalus . to some this ( know your self ) were good advice ; but in the application , be you nice : you are not worthy knowledge ; seek abroad , something that is , may once fall in thy road . . to the lawyer . if he be happy that can causes scan , you ken to plead our causes : oh brave man ! . vpon john protus . i well remember protus , you did threat , that shortly , nothing should your wedding let : your latine phrase , in my brest creates strife ; it signifies to marry ; lead a wife . vvhen ale hath crippled you , but in small stead you 'l stand , your vvife , or any one to lead : nay , shun such thoughts ; and get a sober spouse ; vvho in the dark may lead you ; find your house . . upon aulus , an ignoble nobleman . for honour ( sordid aulus ) which you share , to predecessors , you indebted are . but your base spirit hath contriv'd to let posterity , from living in your debt . . vpon hernicus . you hernicus , did disburse twenty pounds to buy a fool , what squander without bounds ? in time , thy lavish error , prethee see ; i would not give , such a large price for thee . . venus . sowre is the exit , though sweet the address , of the salacious cyprian emperess . she dresses up the first salutes with joy ; till the sad parting proves her a decoy . so sweet and dulcid rivers , when they thrust themselves on neptune , borrow salt disgust . . to doctor gilbert . you say the earth doth move ; what wonders slip from your sage mouth ! writ you this in a ship ? . to the physicians , and the lawyers . our sickness is thy health , o galen : prise our folly plowden ; for that makes ye wise . . o times ! o reformation ! renowned scaliger , in the worlds eye , was the refiner of chronologie : the shrivel'd face of time is washt . the man that will correct the manners ; finde who can . . the judgment of paris . when pallas , juno , venus , did refer their cause to paris , chose him arbiter ; at first , his dazled eyes could not descry , which radiant beauty , did the rest outvy . the majesty of juno , yet at last , and pallas wisdom , mist the winning-cast . the golden apple's venus trophie . love , on earth is victor ; rules the gods above . were judgment now reverst , the golden lump would win : and juno money turn up trump . . the german truth . merry democritus , affirm'd truth did in some deep hogs-head ( from mens view ) lie hid . grant but the adage true , that truth 's in wine ; upstarts the dutch-man , and swears , truth is mine . . to linus . linus hath his study fill'd ; but what then ? not books , but bags , make the most learned men . . to a certain young noble-man . that until hoary hairs you spin out breath , all your acquaintance wish ; but none your death : conjoynt desires , will afford a disease ; as for the cure , to wish that none will please . . to a certain poor medic. you who of late came to our city poor , now cleanse the pores ; ( 't is not as heretofore ) physick you give the sick ; the sick gives gold : you cure his new disease ; and he , your old. . vpon a certain woman . your beauty begot fame : but soon , alas , the mother , by the daughter , murder'd was ; whilst a loose carriage , threw ink on your name ; and a good face , was scratch'd , by a bad fame . . vpon marcus . why durst you offer marcus to aver , nature abhorr'd a vacuum ? confer but with your empty skull ; then you 'l agree , nature will suffer a vacuitie . . vpon the writers of our times . to the reader . whether our scriblers vent more lies , would'st know , in an octavo , quarto , folio ? thousands of lies are nothing ; in an age , time bound in the decimo-sexto page : if that the sixteenth part , such knacks can do ; what can a sheet's , gigantine folio ? . vpon phyllis . the world can't bribe phyllis to kiss ; but she will receive millions ; if they profer'd be : for cunning tricks , pray let this lass alone ; give , and receive , she understands all one . . vpon the same . if love be fire , ( as proverbs talkt of old ) accurst am i ! 'cause your fire burns so cold . . the impious atheist . snatch instant time ; use things whilst in their prime ; the time wil be , when thou shalt have no time . resume let grammar , have been , shall be ; i , to secure is , will fix my industry . . the epitaph of the atheist . he died , as if there were no future state ; and liv'd , as one invincible by fate . . the optative mode . the mode call'd optative's the same welnigh , with that mode , cousin to infinity : instance in those , of most contented minde , yet such , an end of wishing , ne'er could finde . . vpon alanus . all the day-long alanus , now a wife ; rails like a bedlam , at a wedded life . after so many brawlings ; in the night , they that think marriage a fine thing , think right . . prophets , poets . the prophets predict true , what is to come : poets , in fictions sing , what hath been done . . upon life , and death . life hurries on to death ; the foaming floud of neptune , so , is rivers period : we ruminate on life , as a sweet notion ; but to all tastes , death is a bitter portion . . of vulcan . most glorious armour , was by vulcan made , for the fierce god of war ; mars drives a trade , and gives him no less famous horns : how now , take horns for steel ? not such a fool , i trow . . the grammar in english . things only proper unto males ; the female sex claim , as their vales. . free will . free will , the nurse of sublunary strife ; a man is cheated of , by his own wife . . of life , and venus . all actions labour , to atchieve their ends ; but life , and venus , are to it no friends . . the elysian fields . grand-sire aenaeas , ( thank poets ) did come , and view the levels of elysium : but in those times , he gave elisa due benevolence ; the fiction proved true . . the cuckold , and cuckold-maker . the cuckold . this wife i married ; she doth me forsake : not for your selves , o bees ! you hony make . cuckold-maker . these boyes i got ; another reaps the praise : not for your selves , o birds ! do you nests raise . . the new rhetorick . hee that wants mony , labours but in vain , in disputations for to squeeze his brain : not he , who knows to speak ; but who , to give ; under the roof of rhetorick , shall live . . upon cotta , lately turn'd a monk . cotta , vext with his treble-tongued wife ; betook himself to a monastick life : to see this hour , 't is happy you were born ; if putting on a hood , you put off horn . . the arms of geneva . geneva bears the eagle ; and the key : the first proclaims , emperial majesty ; unto the last , the mitre , is right heir , which is successor to st. peter's chair . of pure geneva's arms , what will become , if caesar takes the eagle ; the key , rome ? . vpon the poet borbonius his toyes . you call your verses trifles ; be they so ? ask your self privately , and you 'l hear , no . i shall refrain my verdict ; yet i may take leave to think , what you thought good to say . . faith . fides , for fiddle-strings , is plural ; when it faith denotes , 't is singular ; say then , our predecessors were emphatical : they held a single faith ; that faith was all . . upon paulinus the physician . call you a sick-man patient , since hee is so impatient , of his pains , and thee ? with much adoe , you are endur'd : you may , that he 's your patient , positively say : his spirits by his sickness , are much spent ; but 't is the doctor , which doth him torment . . upon cottula . if delphos did not flatter socrates ; the attribute of wise , claim when you please ; proud plato's master may stand in your row : you know for certain , that you nothing know . . upon fabiana . land bearing much , was fruitful call'd of yore ; good fabiana ! thou hast born great store . . a joque , upon the covetous . vvhat foolish humour , makes men so intent , natures contentedness to complement ? whilest on the other side , but few are nice , to cast stones at flint-hearted avarice . but little nature craves ; well , you 'l grant us , that nothing will suffice the covetous . . to a lover of his countrey . 't is honour to dye for my countrey ; fit : suppose death may my countrey benefit . yet to live for my native countrey , i humbly conceive more pleasant , then to dye . . the world . no certainty ; the world 's turn'd upside down : what wonder then , that there no good is known ? . vpon aretine . things have their scantlings ; but out trials find , a measure hateful to fair venus mind . lust hath invented tricks ; a part , may nature challenge ; but the greater , art . . vpon silius . papists you might not be ; nor could you love the protestants ; thus atheist did you prove . . upon atheists . no house stands without owner ; and will you , unto the worlds great house , no lord allow ? . the physician . sir mountebank will take gold , but none gives ; physick will give , himself , without it lives . the paunch quack empties ; his pouch the diseas'd ; one thing , to crave anothers help , is pleas'd . . the counsellor . lawyers by law , are jurisprudents named ; by their great wisdom , bumkin's title 's lamed ; let who will smart , they for themselves provide ; no greater prudence , in the world beside . . the courtier . if you be good already , then in time , you will be better ; but scarce higher climbe : if you be great already , in time you , may become greater ; but scarce better grow . . upon one-ey'd marc. one-eye wants honest marc ; one may suffice ; discern more things , not better , can two eyes . i have two ears ; yet with those never cou'd hear truth of things : two eyes ; yet see no good . . upon paul . lest that your name should perish , edifie you will a tomb , fond man ! that tomb , must die . . a receipt against baldness . to bithynicus . no fear in age you should be bald-pate cal'd ; your youth ( o happy man ) hath made you bald. . upon theodorus theodore marrying , was of the minde , that now he heavens narrow way should finde . after experiment , the owl could say , he found the road to hell : the curst , broad-way . . apollo and the muses females are the muses ; apollo male : nine muses can he single , counter-vale . . upon alanus now grown old . alanus wishing his cold limbs no harm , desires his wife to turn ; his place is warm . here 's wit at will ; girls must not at age spurn : but last night alan's wife had a good turn . . new-years-day . to the rich , olus sends no new-years-gifts ; lest they should think he were put to his shifts . sending the poor 't is prudence to neglect ; from them , requital he can scarce expect . quintus to send , makes it his yearly task : what he 's asham'd to beg , his gifts shall ask . . upon pontia . his wife told pontius , there was a law , all cuckolds should be thrown , where surges aw the mariner ; pontia in love to him , cry'd out , for god-sake husband ! learn to swim . . the work of darkness . to preserve species from wing'd decay , then individuums what 's fitter pray ? yet nothing more mischievous is , then these soft individuums , to species . . you lie . beware to souldiers , lest you give the lie ; there 's no disgrace like this indignity . you lie , it seems , is a detested phrase : to lie , you love ; that 's little , no disgrace . . upon an hypocrite . all swearers , superstitious you 'l controul ; yet lie all weathers ; a religious soul ! . vpon an hermaphrodite . androgynus may boast himself the race of mercury , and venus , by his face . not male nor female ; ( bless me ! ) what 's he then ? ask maids , a man ; a woman , ask but men . . venus . love hath his flux , and reflux ; venus bred was in the soyl where tethys layes her head . no credit venus merits ; her descry you may , 'twixt sol , and seduc'd mercury . the planets are her cronists : none so far can scout from sense , to call her fixed star . . vpon rivals . all sutors , phyllis would appropriate : call you it love ? 't is envy at this rate . . a woman . in that rich language , which victorious rome , bequeath'd to those , caesars did overcome ; a woman drew her name from softness ; 'cause mans brawny hardness they excell ; by th' lawes of benign nature . why so ? 't is well known , eve was not adams flesh , but his hard bone . . the relation betwixt physicians and lawers . the lawyer , and physician , for their pains ; pick out of others losses , legal gains . the medic , heals the body : lawyers prate , to cure the falling-sickness of estate . both will assist each moment , whilst you live ; if you subsist , each moment to give , give . . to philip concerning pamphilus . nature defies a vacuum : we see how sweetly she and pamphilus agree . . to bald-pate . trees regain hair ; & fields the verdant grass : but when will your head leaf'd be , as it was ? . nilus in my eyes , aetna in my brest . a briny nilus overflowes my eyes ; whilst with aetnaean flames , my scorcht heart fryes . rivers of tears , quench not my ardent heat : nor my loves fire , dries up my brains salt sweat . water and fire , in temper disagree ; yet will accord , so they may torture mee . . if all things be alike . vpon camilla . two swashes did the fair camilla court ; the one was handsome , but in stature short ; the other features could not boast at all ; but ( like a may-pole ) was exceeding tall . camilla being question'd , which would do ? exactly view'd them both , from top to toe . observing in the one , a roman nose ; long legs , long arms , she prudently him chose : and modestly reply'd , none can mislike the proper man , if all things be alike . . of gyants and dwarfs . two monstrous creatures , land at natures wharf ; the gyant , is an oxe ; a dolt , the dwarf . . upon the spurious off-spring of an abbot . vvhen you pray with the covent ; o how true is abba father , when pronounc'd by you ! . to parsons . a priest , by marriage , did himself great wrong : for wifes before did to his tithes belong . . a participle . a verb is eras ; mus , a noun ; pray pass your censure reader , what erasmus was . . a cause for the lawyers . a goatish man , led his own wife by chance , ( supposing her his neighbours ) cupid's dance : admit a childe the product of this fate ; is it a bastard , or legitimate ? . the morning . is it a wonder , light breaks forth before , phoebus begins , to blazon mountains or ? light as an elder brother , did out-run , by three daies journey , the life-giving sun . . of day . let night with argos have an hundred eyes : yet more with one , a duskish day descryes . . of night . hath night no other gown , but black aray ? alas poor widow ! dead 's her husband-day . were not stars lanthorns , to the mourning night ; we likewise might be vext , before day-light . . vpon marcus . your verses praise me , marc ; i know these wayes ; you are so kind , that i , your verse might praise . . death . petty theeves may restore ; nay high-way men : death never will ; what a jade is she then ! . to his friend . half you , your mistress claims ; your self i fear , the other half ; what part fals to my share ? i reade you mine , in complements thick sown ; but are you mine , when you are not your own ? . a good man . if scarcity will estimation bring ; beleev 't , a good man is a precious thing . . vpon a certain old man . your beard , once black , cold age hath frosted gray ; your mind , once white , is turn'd to black , they say . . upon paulinus . whatever old acquaintance beg of you ; yes , yes , to morrow ; paulin will it doe . must i be grateful , for the gifts you send ? my thanks , until to morrow ; i 'le suspend . . upon painted dames . you who delight to paint , need not forbear to cry with horace ; shadowes , dust , we are . . vpon cotta . cotta his wife is wholy ; but not sole : camilla soly his ; i can't say , whole . . the politician . dissemble what you know ; let falshood range ▪ to finde the yeelding grain of every change . feel the pulse of all times ; that all may bee , to thy desires subservient ; good to thee . . upon venus . venus and mars , play the unlawful game ; because in lawful sporting , vulcan's lame . . upon two masters . no man can serve two masters ; i confess , marinus saith , i serve two mistresses . . vpon marc. your beard grows fast , hairs fall off ; thence is it , your beard becomes so long ; so short your wit . . to jo. hoskins . at winchester , a boy ; at oxford , i being a youth ; found your fidelity . in doubtful matters , you shew'd sincere love : and sans deceit , to your trust true did prove . of sending this small gift , love was the ground ; to me , love ty'd you ; me to you hath bound . . of death : to epicharmus . epicharm will not die ; yet his own breath wishes exhal'd ; would die ; but not by death . sorrows bring death ; death sorrows makes to fly : far worse then death , is grating misery . . vpon phyllis . the parthians flying , backward cast their darts : by flying , phyllis wounds her lovers hearts . . vpon hallus the grammaticastre . hallus , whilst hungry , cry'd , i 'm hugely fam'd ; i 'm hugely full ; when his guts were reclaim'd . . of the load-stone . as from all iron , load-stones do exact coition : so , lords all the gold , attract . courtiers i ask ye nothing : for ye are stingy in giving ; what ye ask , ne'r care . you give for your own ends ; i cannot see gifts retrograde ; i shall scarce ask of yee . . death . ask me what death is ? pray stay till i die ; come ask me then , your suit i sha'nt denie . . the client . clients returning , before theefs may sing : for back from london they can't money bring . . vpon zoilus . i blame bad manners ; zoilus you repine ; perhaps misdoubting , that , i aim'd at thine . then all the world , you are more fearful grown ; when i chide vices , i may mean my own . . children and fools tell truth . the english proverb , cals such fools , as tell the very truth ; a liar bears the bell . therefore if you speak truth , to english men ; you may be for your labour , fool cal'd , then . . vpon bald-pate . you had a thing , call'd forehead , when shook down , the leaves were not , from your well-shaded crown . but since the hair fel off ; ( with reverence , ) 'twixt head , and fore-head , there 's no difference . in jumbling head and face , age hath mistook : no credit can be given to your look . . to the same . how many hairs i have , i can't divine : nor you , ( for all are lost ) canst number thine . . an apology for fortune . bad fortune is a fancy ; she is just : gives the poor , hope ; & sends the rich , distrust . . vpon cotta . cotta went to a bawd , to be befriended ; but did not return with his business ended . . vpon procillus . a noble . if you , procillus ! would no liars hear : that hellish brood , your presence would revere . . to paul , the lawyer . your practice eats the year ; your worships salf , if for your own , you register , one half your wife will claim vacations ; by all lawes , you must be vacant , to attend her cause . the other part 's ingrost ; when as a quirk , non-suits your wife ; succeeds your clients work . the years most busie months , are cal'd aright , a term : they terminate your wifes delight . . to the same . a lawyer , terms ; vacations , never sees : but alwaies findes the leisure to take fees . . to marinus . as oft as your abused wife , bewails your impotency ; you shall feel her nails . in vain you flatter ; good words nothing can ; she must , and will have satisfaction , man ! . the chirurgion . my trade will flourish ; jove send peace , send war : venus , and mars , both my kinde patrons are . . the venereal disease . born an italian ; bred in france ; quoth fame , which country strives , to give the pox a name ? . calumniators . flatterers . old anaxagoras , that snow was black , related ; most like him , love truth to wrack . old reynards suffrage , the crow white decreed : how many thousand foxes , our age breed ! . vpon ponticus . you have repented : i sha'nt credit it ; none can repent , but they must have some wit . . an herculean labour . if strong alcides , his wifes tongue could tame ; a thirteenth labour , might augment his fame . . war , death . war brings forth famin ; famin is the cause , that thrusts poor mortals , on the plagues sharp jaws : then plague , or famine , two-edg'd war is worse : the humane glutton , supreme jove's choice curse . war is the alpha , of succeeding wo ; death the omega of all trouble : so , when canons thunder , to fly mars counts cheap , from alpha , to omega , at one leap . . upon cynthia . the gods conform your nature , to your shape : and to your lilly-hand , be your minde , ape . . vpon gellia . you sin unseen ; that is a feign'd pretence : you never sin , but some give evidence . . upon albinus . o albin ! felix cry'd , your neighbor burn ; home , home , with speed ; for next will be your turn . albin surpris'd his horn-maker , at home ; and cry'd , wise felix ! faith my turn is come . . vpon claudius , the raw philosopher . good , hath three species ; which are inclin'd , to sojourn in the body , estate , mind . sick , poor , and silly , claudius we see ; he cannot challenge one , among these three . . vpon bardella , the mantuan thief . a monk , bardella , to be hang'd cheer'd up ; and said , to night in heaven thou shalt sup . bardel reply'd ; this , i keep fasting-day , if you please to accept my place , you may . . upon lascivious flora . you tell of all your bed-fellows ; and so , more hurt by prating , then by acting , do . . upon quintil. quintil's friend can get nothing ; quintil's lass , hath got himself ; and what e'r worth he was . . to aulus ; concerning old quintius . can't quintius marry , at decrepit years ; but aulus , you must sting him , with your jeers ? why epigrams ? epitaphs , best befit , old doting lovers , that have lost their wit . an elegie , ( in all haste ) let him have ; for he hath dig'd already , his own grave . . upon costus . scotfree he sins ; that 's all costus can plead : but this fail'd , when , you know what lost its head . . an answer to cynthia's letter . you sent white paper , but black was your letter : your heart , and body ; nothing express better . . to sextilianus , a spurious brat . your father , never purpos'd to create you , sextil ! but himself , to recreate : if we not gifts , but donors mindes , respect ; to thank him for your life , you may neglect . . upon portia , an hypocrite . fie ! fie ! your wit is bawdy : good now grant my book that ; which your husband must not want . . saturn's three sons . the corrupt lawyer ; dubious divine ; cheating physician ; the whole world enshrine . . of single-life , to a certain married man . the wisest king , saith , wo to him alone : follow st. paul , and wives ye shall have none . the wedded man , cries , wo to us ; whilst he , who staies a batchelor , cries , wo to me : our wo is single ; but yours is not so : you , and your wife , must share a double wo. . vpon corneus . hear , see , say nothing ; observe for thy life : since thou hast got a wag-tail to thy wife . . upon caius . when lean informers , caius did espie , to have two wives ; the court they certifie . caius confest ; and resolute , them told , what they condemn'd , he did most lawful hold : one wife , st. paul , a bishop will allow ; i hope then , i , a lay-man , may have two . . upon pomponia . pomponia sets her self to farm ; who 's able to praise her joyning sweet , to profitable ? . upon pinotus , sick of the cholick . pinotus regain'd health ; by losing winde : a life , in that , which others kils ; you finde . . upon pomponia . look how the feather , daunces on her hat ; 't was mars his badg ; but venus now gives that . 't is to grace mars ; venus it deigns to wear : this shews how friendly , mars , and venus are . the crow thinks her young ones fair . cicero juscul . quaes . lib. . . to h. l. your neighbours wife , best contents you ; and he , counts yours most fair ; thus nobly ye agree . tully to prove his words , may now despair ; some birds ( it seems ) think their own chick's not fair . . venus . you may hire wenches , as well as buy wines : why hath then bacchus ; and not venus , signs ? . things of worth , are hard to come by . to marinus . if that fair girls are nice , i 'l choose the coy . you may take leave , the coming to enjoy . . upon theodorus . to marry , gospel will not you allow : not a pin-matter ; the old law will though . but you have transgrest moses law , before : your last wife was a widow ; first , a whore . lev. . , , . . new-years-day , to germanicus . i send you verses , instead of a gift : return me gifts ; verses , you off may shift . . sara . she that will let her husband kisse her maid ; we shall scarce match , ( good sara ) i 'm afraid . . to d. t. you are your very scholars servant ; and as your lords school-master , you may command : whilst thus you serve as low ; command as high ; your titles i both pity , and envy . . vpon paula , the atheist . a maid , two husbands , or a man two wifes , whether should have ; to solve it paula strives : if you grant not a maid two husbands ; how , can in one flesh consist , the plural two ? . vertue consists in a mean . a superb woman , praunc'd betwixt two men ; vertue her medium had banisht then . . vpon acerra . to 's father acer , single did aver ; happy is he , whom others horns deter . . to pinotus . vvhat lass is for my mony ? such an one , as all would buy , but vendible to none . . vpon quintus , and quintina . quintus kneels to his wifes commands , as though commission from the gods , she could avow . her words are laws ; poor quintus trots about ; thinks himself blest , his eyes are not scratcht out . 't is against nature , manners , vulgar speeches ; good priscian never give , women , the breeches . . a paradox . to his absent friend . i burn in love ; the more flames my desire ; by how much further , i go from the fire . . vpon paulina . paulina her first husband , made a stag ; nor had the last , any great cause to brag . she was as hard as horn , to first , and last ; but all the interregnum , she was chaste : yet not for vertues love , but her own sake ; knowing her tinder , would but touch and take . although most urgent gamesters , came apace ; in her vacation , she would give no place . . upon gellia . if to take gifts for benefices , be , ( or such like things ) accounted simonie ; then you are guilty ; who no fault at all , count to sell love : for love's spiritual . . vpon a certain woman . with wondrous speed , in stature , large you grow : omicron the last year ; omega now . . a riddle . to finde this creature , whither should i sail , whose father is a woman ; mother , male ? . to ponticus . it startled me , when your two eyes , i spy'd : since that your father , mother , were one-ey'd . . vpon mr. calf . i shall not say that horns sprout on your skull ; but this i 'le swear to ; that you are a bull : what though a bull ? i shall not call you mad ; although of late , your cow , calves hath had . . to a certain man , concerning a dactyl . would'st latin verses to thy mris. show ? 't is worth the while , what foot will please to know . all women love , men should in dactyls court ; which have one long syllable , and two short . . love descends . love begins in the eye , by th' mouth descends ; until at last , she in her centre ends . . vpon a stammering woman . balba took leave , of phi-phi-philip , thus ; make quick return , and cuc-cuc-comfort us . . a problem for the lawyers , concerning theft . to take a thing without the lords consent , is theft ; what if the lady be content ? . to ponticus . you promis'd fair , but nothing will give me : galen gives nothing ; yet cries , recipe . . upon cerellia , married to gallus , an eunuch . had not we ( fools ) the spartan fashion loath'd ; then parties naked , should have bin betroth'd . cerel in thought , had married a game-cock ; but cock , prov'd capon ; craven'd by a smock . . of horns : a problem . a wife is light , her husband wears the horn ; why so ? he is her head ; it must be born . . on new-years-day , to germanicus . your gifts , or else my verses , let me have : upon that same condition i them gave . . christ-church colledge in oxford . imperfect you were left , in wolsey's daies ; yet you may claim , a quadrangle of praise . . vpon phyllis . phyllis with pleasure , doth my rythms rehearse ; but she loves venus , better then a verse . . of himself . i spend the time in trifling ; and lest those years of my life , should perish ; i them lose . . to the reader , concerning himself . i think this brevity , my fame can't hurt ; 't is not a little labour , to be curt . the vulgar talk much , to small purpose ; i , perhaps talk idle ; yet use brevity . . vpon thraso , the braggadocio . don't thrasos gingling heels , make a fierce show ? glory to all , is an huge spur ; you know . . of himself . james the apostle saith , ask , and receive : o that k. james to me , would grant like leave . . the court-musick for two voices . one courtier cry'd , when others climbe , i shall my self advance . t'other reply'd , my rise must be , a favourites mischance . . to the reader . let not my book , tobacco light ; but rather , let it the refuse , of your close-stool , gather . . to his book . my life perhaps , may my books years , out-vie ; the son , before the father oft doth die . but whether it dies first , or sees me rot ; i understand , a mortal , i begot . owen's epigrams : the second book . . to the reader . let my verse not please fools ; the world is full ; i would not be the darling , of a gull. few readers will suffice ; grant me but one ; if no body me like , i 'm pleas'd with none . . to the lady mary nevill . others renown , is but the poets praise . your splendid glory , your own merits raise . . to the same . if you have enemies , they need not fear ; to oblige friends , you make your chiefest care : this you observe ; friends , never to forget : ne'r to remember , with foes , to cry quit. . to the same . that a fair face , might beauty keep alive ; the curious pencil , helps it to survive . i though a stranger , to the limners trade ; to keep your fame alive , in verse essay'd : although apelles pencil , one divine , should draw : apollo's verses her enshrine . . to mr. j. h. no whit portentous , but a poet i : you are no poet ; but a prodigie . . what newes ? all that know me , my patience thus abuse ; good mr. owen ! hear you any news ? i answer , i know none ; and tell them true : of all i know , for i know nothing new . . the court . he , who to all mens humours , can't stoop down ; hath got a foolish humour ; for his own . . vpon aulus . why were you made a knight ? because that more , your wife might love you , then she did before ? but you mistook your self ; sir aulus , she , will love her self , the better ; but not thee . former expence must double every yeer : you shall have cause , to call your lady , deer . . upon the chymist . it is the silly chymists doting fate , to seek for gold , and lose his whole estate . none must elixar have , but he alone ; till all away is squandred ; stick , and stone . . a trojan . after troy's burning , the trojans grew wise : in this , true trojan , who himself denies ? . the cure of love . by frequent fastings , take wood from the fire : let not a ladies glance kindle desire . if still , your fervour will not let you rest ; a wife will quench the flame . probatum est . . troynovant . to the londoners . no phoenix beautifies , the gilded east ; before sol lights her mothers fragrant nest : so decimated troy , the grecians burn : majestick london , sprouts from troy's pale urn . . the lawyers god . a deity cal'd term , rome did adore : but now at westminster he 's worshipt more . . the earth . to charm our tongues , the middle hath a spell ; for there we think , the golden mean doth dwel . therefore in play for praise , earth throws an ace , above the heavens : here 's the middle place . . to king james , de. of the faith you are faiths chiefest guardian ; to intrust , her , with your sacred self , envy thinks just . . to the lord treasurer . a treasurer , whom vertue makes to hold , vulturian talons , from the regal gold : is himself greater treasure , then can shine , in the rich womb of an exchequers mine . . to the kings chief secretary . the secrets of three florid nations lie , committed to your tested secrecie . the kings thoughts are not safe , till in the chest , they be lockt up ; of your most tacid breast . . to the venetians . a fair laid your foundations , at the first . neptune , turn'd foster-father ; and them nurst . nor shall mute fish , the sea monopolize ; your palaces , make proud waves pay excize . the sea now fetter'd , gives a city birth ; art baffling nature , water turn'd to earth . your empire survives time ; waves ebb , and flow : yet never dare unconstant prove , to you . it is not strange , venice her self , loves lawes ; since she , the out-law'd ocean , over-awes . . to the lord chancellor . lest that the quirks , or rigour of the laws , should accidentally , injustice cause ; deservedly it in your power doth lie , to bridle common-law , with equitie . . to the lord richard sacvil , earl of dorchester . your ancestors were noble ; you , we see , the glory of renew'd nobilitie . for you , ( which was a wonder in old time , seems now prodigious , to our vicious clime ) rewards attending merits , disrespect ; love prudent lawes ; devasting arms neglect . to prefer vertue , before power , think good ; and learning's jewel , before noble bloud . . cecil lord treasurer . . arms abroad are invalid ; unless that prudence at home , and cecil , steer the state . cecil , is atlas brother ; born above : cecil , props up elisa ; atlas , jove . . vpon the lord william cecil's motto . virtute duce , comite fortuna : vertue my leader , fortune my companion . divine elizabeth , fortune did grace , ( your wisht companion ) with an earls high place : since there was none , her pleasure durst rebuke ; why made she not , vertue your leader , duke ? . to richard vaughan , bishop of london . you british honour ! are the first from wales , arriv'd at londons sea ; through happy gales . . to the same . those doctors alwaies pleas'd me , who account , their good lives , their good sermons to surmount . most learned bishop ! you , not only teach , others their duty , but by life do preach . . to tho. bilson , bishop of winchester . you were my school-master ; let who will , know ; all these i write , i to your precepts owe . . the life of william of wicham , formerly bishop of winchester ; publisht in latine , by tho. martin , doctor of the civil law . that a dead man , a person should have freed , from deaths black dungeon ; few wil make their creed . had you not don this work , in lethe's brook you had bin drown'd ; now both , live by this book . . winchester colledge . europe's chief school , our winchester appears ; where i was honour'd to spend younger years ▪ to give her the first place , zoilus is bound ; suppose he knows , great wicham , did her found . . sir philip sidney . because old homer did his praises sing , achilles was thought happy , by the king , of large aemathia , poor wretch am i , whose muse can't divine philip , deifie . . to the same . vvho acts things , worthy to be writ , or writes , things worth the reading ; on no small bliss lights . no plummet sounds your repute ; who alone , by a rare genius make these two , but one . readers your writings covet ; ev'ry act , might all historians table-books , exact . your writings prove you learned ; deeds attest , that prowess anchors , in your noble brest . . upon the marriage of william earl of pembrook ; and mary , daughter to the earl of salisbury , . for nature , wisdom , beauty , age , estates , nobility , ye are most equal mates : yet sir , i this confess ; you have not wed so nobly , as deserv'd , your bridal-bed . and i acknowledge madam ; that you are , worthy a husband , yours , excelling far . . to elizabet , countess of rutland , daughter to sir philip sidney . rare philip's praise , did not on error trip ; since he was father , to your ladiship . that was his honour : yours is for to be daughter , to such heroick chivalrie . . to lucia countess of bedford . light gave ( as god-mother ) your honour name ; that through the world might shine , your lucid fame , you for your birth , to noble parents owe ; but wit , and vertue , you the light , did show . . the knights ring . to sir henry goodyear . let honour be the gold , vertue the stone ; until that ring , your finger leaves alone . . to mr. j. h. your verses deserve well , yet want applause : some writers are much prais'd , for little cause . . to d. b. if he who keeps things close lives well , then you : you hide your faculties , they greater show . . to th. m. the princes tutor . to a decorum , you the prince do bring , will make him of himself ; as britains king , rule of himself , all other will out-vie ; this one , excels the four-fold soveraigntie . this one laid in the balance , will weigh down babylon , persia , grecia , romes proud crown . . to the same . now age makes our prince docil , his green youth imbibes grave precepts from your learned mouth : o teach him so ! that future times may say , our king is great , good , learned ; which bears sway ? . to mr. walter gwyn . you make the princes happiness compleat , by prophesies * , flourish in arthur's seat . nature hath given parts ; let fortune be as much profuse , in her indulgencie . and as the prince grows bigger , i wish you , may swell in honour , and still greater grow . . francis drake . . drake hath embrac'd the word ; and did espy , both polar tenter-hooks , which hold the sky . if men be silent , stars will blaze thy fame : and so● will trumpet , his dear comrades name . drake did but bait at calpe ; and may cry , great was alcides ; true , but greater i. . britains strength . to the prince . havens , are england's gates ; the navy , wals ; sea , tents ; works , bodies ; and hearts , admirals . . the terrestrial globe . water , & earth , make but one globe ; 't is strange ; for earth moves not ; the waters , always range . . the mad way to health . the more healths in your belly swim ; the less shall your drown'd body , dwell with healthfulness : i envy not your thousand healths ; to me , a single health , is a sufficiency . it is the only health , no healths to drink : in drinking healths , there is no health ; i think . . the divine . your knowledge , is a cypher , without you , to light your brothers candle , it allow . the politician . my brother shall be hang'd first , before i , reveal one tittle , of my mystery . . all things desire that which seems good . doth optimus from opto steal its name ? the best , to wish ; in latin ne'r the same . why may not this be so , since none can rest from wishing ; ( except fools ) what they think best ? . a black swan . a maid of burgundie , lean as a rake made by green-sickness ; was advis'd to take sedum minus m. which some vow , as rare an herb , as can in gardens grow . the pious maid , her doctor did deny : chose before sin , sins wages ; and would die . . democritus , and heraclitus . democritus , laught at what e'r befell : plague , famine , murders ; stil the world went well . at feasts , at weddings , brewing brinish tears ; sad heraclitus , with sore eyes appears . shall we weep for heraclitus ? or thus , shall we laugh at merry democritus ? . vpon langa . langa a papist , wedded to a man , that did profess himself a lutheran . to prevent future strife , husband ! said shee , i 'l make ( for once ) this fair offer , to thee : grant me but free will ; and then there 's an end : about the other points , i sha'nt contend . . king arthurs round table . vvhy did heroick arthur , so much care for a round table ; and rejected square ? not without reason ; for gods work is round : but humane heads , the quadrature have found . . to theophila . b. c. he must be zealous ; in brains no whit dull ; who can ye love ; or praise unto the full . . vpon hernicus . his soul to heaven , body , to the grave , commended hernicus ; about to leave this sinful world : but hearing that his wife , would quickly period her widows life ; in very anger , he recal'd his breath : but before that , he was resolv'd for death . . of love , and faith . love , and faith , are divorc'd ; we know it thus ; faith is suspected ; love , suspicious . . the lover . uncertain hope , short pleasures , constant fears , joy-grief , sweet pains , fall to poor lovers shares . . the golden age . when to fill bags with gold , men did not rage ; why did they call such times , the golden age ? . vpon alana . nature ordain'd you , to lie under ; yet , at table uppermost , be sure , you 'l sit . thus man , and wife , finde out pacifique waies ; he rules the rost , by night ; she rules the daies . . the german death . to polynicus . not to be , death ; grave seneca did think : but germany supposeth , not to drink . . vpon philodemus . of scarce commodities you hate the price ; but to take common ( if cheap ) are not nice . i 'le tell you what , ( because a friend of mine ) a cheap costs more , then a dear concubine . . vpon long-tongue . battus talks like a fool ; and then of course comes out ; pray pardon sir , my long discourse . no want of pardon , should to you belong ; if you could learn the art to hold your tongue . . the gordian knot . was the strain'd gordian knot , rather unty'd by the kings wit ; or did his sword divide ? without wit you may untye this knot : but , were alexander here ; he could not cut . . love . war , peace ; peace , war ; such faults are found in love : for love , from strife ; doth seldom far remove . . the laws . the loss of quiet . to the lawyers . strife , breeds laws ; laws , strife ; without strife , no man useth to live ; without the laws none can . . the covetous , and the prodigal . the prodigal affects high , polisht strains ; nothing but rhetorick , coms neer his brains . the covetous , in logick , takes delight : and scrapes up syllogisms , day , and night . for avarice , logicks close fist , we call suadas broad palm , denotes the prodigal . . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . labour , or trouble . pain , was scarce labour ; to most active rome : to idle greece , labour was troublesome . . a good man , valiant , wise . good men , have seldom wealth ; or stout men , wit : and to beleeve a wise man , few think fit . . the order , of the golden-fleece . from philip duke of burgundie , saith fame ; the order of the golden-fleece , first came : his heir , now wears , rich peru's regencie : this was no order , but a prophesie . . tho. earl of dorchester's motto . nec temere , nec timide . not rashly , not cowardly . wisely despair of all things ; boldly hope : beware of all things ; yet scorn fear to cope . . sir tho. nevil's motto . ne vile velis . scorn baseness . let not vain , or vile things thy honour stain : vile things are worth but little ; nothing vain . . to sir phil. sidney , concerning his arcadia . you did at death , ( witness your wife ) command , that your arcadia , through some bloudy hand , should give a treat , to the impartial flame : and like a phoenix nest , perfume thy name . but if the crime be fatal , that hot fires , were by it kindled , in lovers desires ; those queint lines , by more justice had been sent a present , to the watry element . but let your book be sentenc'd ; ev'ry vote , proclaims your wit , shall reach times highest note . . to the most learned gentlewoman , mris. jane owen . i never heard of , nor did ever see , those sisters , a fifth father , gave to thee . therefore how many , and how qualifi'd ; by unacquaintance , could not be descry'd . yet what they are , ( dear jane ! ) i full well know ; if 't be their happiness , to be like you . . to his friend . though i hate none , i 'll not be twice a friend : my friendship once begun , shal ne'r have end . . the vsurers grammar . take bird , beast , fish , or any creeping thing ; this , that , all these , acknowledge love their king . yet mr. gold , dame plate , a thing call'd cash ; compar'd with love ; proves that proud victor , trash . . to one , like neither of his parents . why do you neither parent represent ; since both at your conception , gave consent ? not fathers , mothers features , can you show : for both , strove joyntly , when they begot you . . to two concealing their names , at their return from venice . you went to venice , to seek four-fold gains , to fill your purses ; and reward your pains . since ye got good ; your friends were wel content , that ye return'd ; though to their detriment . . adultery , and fornication . the idle fornicator , pray , how far , differs he from the loose adulterer ? i shall resolve this question , if i can : as much as comick , and tragoedian . . concerning hercules . to c. d. no monster could alcides hurt ; yet love , trampled upon him ; and sate queen above . a lion could not ; a lass made him yeeld : not beasts with four , but two legs , won the field . . a friendly salute . i desire phyllis , three kisses to have ; at least as many as your lips , i crave . she lends me one ; is paid ; yet denies two : take thine , or give me mine ; why this adoe ? . a problem to the naturalist concerning a kiss . either a kiss , to taste , belonging is ; or why most proper , by the mouth , to kiss ? . to labiemus . this is promotion ; heaven , waites on me ; quoth labiemus , at the gallow-tree . . vpon alexander . to philip's son , a world , gave not content : though he rul'd north , south , west , the orient . though we the world , vastly dilated finde ; it was too narrow , to contain his minde . to philip's son , the world prov'd much too vast ; for his long arms to clasp it in the wast . though he was great , by actions ; great , by birth : yet this great man , was lesser then the earth . . to firmicus , against aulus . you beleeve none ; yet firmicus , i see no man such sceptic , but will beleeve , thee . what others tell , you aulus , suck all in : but for your news , no man would give a pin. . vpon a certain versifier . you drink , as if , none could a poet be ; without from ale , they learn the mysterie . you swill , as if , the muses lend an hand to none ; but those , whom beer forbids , to stand . when drunk , you rhythm , without all wit , or fear : you may love drink ; your self , an hogs-head are . . upon certain lying letters . i frequenly receive lines you endite : but seldom , never , do you gospel write . . physician , heal your self . to gilbert . i bid you , minde your self ; yet might neglect : you for your self , have singular respect . . vpon a certain vsurer . in a good mood , you lent an hundred pound , to flava ; now ask use ; but on what ground ? if you get principal , 't is an abuse , to require more ; her body , paid you use . quod non habet in aere , luat in corpore . . upon an hypocrite . quite through your life , you dissemble ; or feign : though fiction is a labour ; th'other , pain . . erasmus his encomium moriae . erasmus was the first , writ folly's praise : folly requited , and his fame did raise . . the anagrammatist . what a stir here 's with vowels ? here , and there , the letters fly ; to light , i know not where . so by augustus favour ; to their coats , thyrsis drove sheep ; and corydon , the goats . . to a certain silly doctor . beardless of late , and very weak , in parts ; you seem'd a master , of the seven arts . but now you are a doctor ; no beard want : but yet hang him , that is more ignorant . . love is naked . nature cloathes fields , with grass ; and beasts , with hair : birds have their plumes ; sheep , warm in fleeces are . what ever animal , is born ; or bred ; by nature ; or by art , is covered : but why should love , to nakedness , be sold alone ? because it naked , feels least cold . . concerning the exchequer . to sir will . pits . money collected , runs into the chinks , of the exchequer ; so sea , rivers drinks . money disperst , flies from 't as fast ; as though , a thousand rivers , from the sea should flow . and yet the sea , is not full satisfy'd : nor lavish streams of crystall rivers dry'd . . upon one perfidious . i was too creculous ; that made me heir , to unbelief : false hopes , taught me despair . . the sin of the silver age . all saturn's gilded reign , whores did defie : till jove was king ; the world , woo'd purity . . a baud . your body is all sold ; and you much scoul , because you want a chapman , for your soul . who buys a soul ! but none is so unwise , ( except don beelzebub ) to give your price . . vpon self-love . he 's the third person ; second , thou ; first , i : no third , but loves the first's , supremacy . . wisdome . who 's rich ? a wise man ; who is poor ? unwise : therefore if i have wit ; my bags will rise . who 's wise ? a rich man ; who 's a fool ? one poor : either i must be rich , or fool , therefore . . the etymologie of venus . venus , a veniendo , * tully sayes ; because to all she comes , without delayes . but in another sense , her name i hold ; 'cause she comes oft to markets ; to be sold . . to a certain pox-catcher . if gold were as much drunk , as coveted ; thy guts would make a royal mine ; indeed ! . to polla . you deny kisses unto none ; none kiss : but to their mouths , your cheek , reverted is . the name of new , and old , is not the same : your new-found kissing , should have a new name . . a friend . a wife . souls are most dear ; hence friends , love not to part : but how comes thy wife , so ? she 's thy deer heart . . anger . because it vertue spurns , i conjecture ; the stagyrite miscall'd it , vertues spur. . the roman flora . taxes on the whole world , were by rome laid ; yet this great city to the tribute paid . for what , for hackney-hire , was given you ; was but as tribute , to your beauty due . . the etymologie of anger . one angry , is perplext ; so saith the name : anger , and an-gor , are almost the same . . of himself . vvhilst light things , i touch soberly ; i may be rightly said ; to study ; as i play : whilest i write sober things , with a light pen ; my play , may be to study compar'd , then . . womens titles of honour . let an earl take to wife , a countrey girl ; she is a countess ; because he , an earl . but let a countess marry meanly ; she , adds not one atom , of gentilitie . so phoebus gilds , the lady of the night ; but scorns to vapour , in a borrow'd light . . upon zoilus . he that will others praise , and bears an heart , brim-full with love ; shall himself , help to part the stakes , with men belov'd ; & prais'd : commend ; thou canst not want requital ; in the end . . the middle age is unknown . before the last line of our life shall trace the grave ; no line , designs the middle space , what to be cal'd the middle age , is grown , through custom ; before death , cannot be known . . to a dyer waxing gray . your beard was black ; but now 't is turn'd to gray : not art , but nature , found out this fine way . . to the courtier . proud rome , superbus , to disgrace did bring ; what wonder ? pride , did never love a king . kings have not many friends ; a reason why ? because the scepter , detests parity . . bed . what english call a bed , the welch call grave : a bed , and tomb , death , sleep ; resemblance have . . rider's bibliotheca . conceited rider , merited great blame ; when he his book , a library did name . one book , can't make a library ; grave on his heap of words , the title , lexicon . . money . doth latine , from {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , greek ; to derive nummus , and numisma , seek ? nummus denotes money told out ; upon this fancy , number , will give etymon . but i can derive't better ; money is , in all mens thoughts ; the chief of goddesses : this once premis'd , it fals into our road ; nummus à numine ; as gold , from god . . upon covetous i. s. your gates are iron ; you in iron , hoard your gold ; your house is iron ; iron , its lord . . of roman flora . to the grammarians . to flora , rome , did flowers sacrifice ; and her the goddess of flowers , devise . but she , of a good name , was prodigal ; and therefore never brought forth fruit , at all : but being wanton , in her youthful flower ; flower , and fruit , that canker did devour . . upon john protus . as tepid autumn , by severer blasts ; trees verdent beauty , on the low ground , casts : so calvus had a trick , to shake his crown ; till he shak'd fair ; for ev'ry hair , fell down . . vpon theodorus . when as king david was , threescore , & ten ; a florid virgin warm'd his cold sides , then . you to do like him , who a prophet was ; have clapt at your old back , a plump young lass . . to a certain gentlewoman . were fortune to you so propitious , as nature profuse , in your endowments was : had your commands , troy fastned to the stake ; it would have kiss'd the flames ; 'cause for your sake . . the great pestilence . . so many souls , this sickness , sent to styx ; there is scarce room , for a new plague to fix . . vpon a perjured person , convicted , by his own hand-writing . in vain by oath , did you confirm a lie ; since your hand detects , which you can't denie , that deeds , might exceed words ; god only gave your bodies form , to challenge one mouth leave . since god gave but one tongue ; and yet , hands two : what makes hand , single ; your tongue double so ? . upon cottula , the grammaticastre . the greek word labyrinth , you well expound ; by telling us , labour-in-it is found . . the anagram of roma . to the carthaginians . hannibal took not luck , when 't was his course : not well considering , the roman force . the way to conquer , was known to this man ; but ( though he were a subtle african ) he was found ignorant , to use his lot . so , many strike not whilst the iron's hot . roma , by mora ; little delay , more then fit ; made rome as great , as once before . . to a certain great clerk . vvhere is concoction , in a sick mans feast ? you know much , i confess ; nothing , digest . . vpon one davis . to boast your self of cockney , you think good ; lest som should say , you were of british bloud . you refuse that , ( which would a wise man grace ) to procure descent , from an obscure race . you , and your countrey , ill ; yet well , agree : you are asham'd of that ; and that , of thee . . upon aulus . fools , count thee wise ; wise men , a fool i' th' height : what art i prethee , in thine own conceit ? . upon doctor linus . you wholly act formalities ; but why , do you slight learning ? form gives entity . if any dare , this axiom's truth invade ; i prove it thus ; form , linus , doctor made . . upon thais . vvould handsomeness were less ; or goodness more : nothing is worser , then a beauteous whore . . upon a great scribler , ashamed to affix his name . when cruel hunger , did gag up thy jawes ; and untam'd thirst , to cry fire , gave the cause ; you like a mad man , idle pamphlets made : what 's your excuse ? ah! hunger , did perswade . curst poverty , makes you like tereus sup ; you beget children ; and then , eat them up . . vpon mr. no-hair . on this side , that side , before , and behinde ; i search your head : yet not one hair can finde . since ev'ry hair , hath its plantation fled ; what can you next lose calvus ? what ? my head . . to claudius , and linus . nothing wants to make claudius good ; but wil : nothing but power ; to make linus , ill. . to george . if you will be in my book , which you see , guilty enough of lazy poetrie ; case nom. if the praise of your family , i take case gen. for theme ; of you i 'll seldom mention make : or if to give ye thanks , my verse should strive ; to you ( as you deserve ) i cannot give . my love , and liking do to you belong ; case dat. 'cause you are not accus'd in any song . case accu . or noble george ! shall i upon you call ? case voc. then you must sit , inferiour to all . and to spin out longer discourse , with you ; case abl. my muse is willing : but she knows not how . . every lover , is a souldier . vvenches to souldiers , aulus did compare : men please mars arm'd ; venus , when naked are . . the military oath . the latines call that oath , a sacrament ; which to new leaders , times of war present . if that a sacrament , be but just so ; the pope is right : for there are more then two . . upon covetous and cripled alanus . are gifts to maim'd alanus , gratis sent ? he then , briareus can represent . but if you think , a recompence to see ; his hundred hands , prove lame ; immediately . . the condition of kings . one loves not to tell truth ; another fears : this greatest misery , fals to kings shares . . vis. jus . the anagram of jus , the law , is vis , force . the law disgusteth force ; force , law ; both bee in name , good friends ; but natures disagree . . vpon marcus . vvith wifes , with widows , chamber-maids , your life is lewdly spent ; but a fig for your wife . let who will ask , your back , scorns to say no : any thing , but what 's lawful ; you will do . . desperate debt . men are bound to their wifes ; but who dares say , he hath enough , the total sum to pay ? for though some to have paid , may make pretence ; yet they still owe , a due benevolence . . vpon culianus . a wise man is a * miracle ; but now , they are all ceas'd ; our times no wise man know . but culian you have wit ; i can't devise , if miracles be ceas'd ; you should be wise . . upon beautiful marc. venus did fire , your tenement of lust : in all spectators eyes , you are venust , . upon adrian the fifth . your silly epigrams ; your dull verse , fears it should endure the sting , of acute jeers . though they are not facetious ; readers smile , and laugh to see no wit come , all the while . . i , thou , he. self-love's the quarry , at which all birds flie from hence the first of persons , must be , i. you can both flatter , and back-bite ; thus see , he stands next , thou ; and thou , the nearest mee . . ask , and you shall receive . we read in scripture ; ask , you shall receive : but 't is perform'd only to those , who give . give your acquaintance , first ; then they 'l give you : no chinke , no drink ; nothing is gratis now . give , and it shall be given you . . husband , and wife ; parents , children . husband , & wife , are both one flesh ; although , before the sacred union , they were two . father , and son , were both one body ; yet , they can't their horses , in one stable set . . vpon marc the lawyer . you plead your own , in your poor clients cause : he bags no gold ; for all 's seiz'd by your claws . to you the law is certain ; not to him : he is as sure to sink ; as you to swim . . to his father . by how much man , surpasseth woman ; i , by being male , excel the female fry . . the italian . the latine like a lord , commands his wife ; and forceth her , to lead a prisoners life . this man , or none ; acts gods curse o'er again : o woman ! i will multiply thy pain . . what kinde of wife . let vertue , beauty , be in her conjoyn'd ; let her be courted ; yet bear a chaste minde . rivals i like in love : for i , alone ; should be a fool , to fancy any one . . to one complaining , that he could beget no children , like himself . first get a wife , in visage , much like thee : then draw thy picture , on posteritie . . to husbands concerning conjugal affection . when happy adam , took eve for his bride ; he lov'd her more , then the whole world beside . he was the first , of husbands ; and the best : to serve eve , in his room ; now , love is prest . . the epitaph of sir francis drake . suppose queen maries reign , once more return ; you may rest certain ; malice , can't you burn. you did complot , your corps from fire to save ; when you elected such a watry grave . . an epitaph , upon a youth , dying before father's or grand-father . death 's no logician ; not methodical : to make young sons , before old parents , fall . . the epitaph of maurus . thy soul , doth want a body ; body , soul : you nothing have , but name : you , want the whole . . the epitaph of pyramus , and thisbe . grief did contrive your death , death like a friend , reveng'd the wrong ; and brought grief to its end . . sir tho. more at his execution . vvhat though head was , from body severed ? more would not let body be cut from head . . three languages were crucified . the grecian tongue , porter of wit , and art : the regal roman : that , god did impart . . don antonio , king of portugal . a late divorce , the kingdom from you rent ; though to the bill , you never gave consent . you may well say ( now from the throne you 're hurl'd ) , with christ ; my kingdom , is not of this world . . alexander , and aristotle . the greatest king ; the man , to wonder , wise ; under their notions , these two names comprise . great was macedo ; but the stagyrite , as much outshin'd ; as bright day , cypress night . the sages learning did direct the king : but the kings greatness , could no honour bring . . plato . those bees , which chose thy sweet mouth for their hive ; to gather honey from thy works , survive . . virgil's georgicks . those verses , which you sent , to hold the plough ; the readers fallow wits , both till , and sow . . the poet persius . i read your satyrs ; but can't understand : an oedipus fetch , readers ! out of hand . . tacitus . vertue , made you speake true ; nature , made wise ; shortness , obscure ; and gravity , concise . . to martial . you lov'd to speak of things ; but persons spare : your jests want spleen ; & sweet as hony are . . to petrarch . whilst laura may be view'd ; thy burnisht strains ; start boundless disputes , in the gazors brains ; whether fair laura , is more due to thee ; or the prostration , of the laurel-tree . . pliny translated into english by doctor holland . pliny is long , 'cause many things he writes ; pliny is short , much matter , he endites . holland is longer ; shorter ; because he , hath writ more full ; hath shun'd obscuritie . . concerning cicero . to catullus . none could of falshood , catullus convict ; nor that , which he of tully , did predict . . to the historians of our age . because of old , historians would not lie ; they were rewarded with an eulogie . but now he all competitors outvies ; whose pen is fertil , with the rampant lies . what one protests , others defie ; how can posterity confide , in this ; that man ? no sciolist to blot his species spares : scarce any modern author , truth reveres . . the king . his subjects . a prince , imprudent ; subjects will confound ; as the feet stumble , when the brains are drown'd . . the parliament . the king , is king , alone ; unto him sole , why not affairs , committed in the whole ? because of justice , this makes him the fount ; that though he rules ; he must give an account . . to the historian . you noting story , without harm , commence . expert in things ; which sad experience , the learned taught . what would be long to try ; is quickly known from classick history . . concerning diet. to j. h. if you would shun old age ; be sure to use , moderate physick : or not to abuse your self , with feastings . if you should like meat , take physick ; 't is the way , not long to eat : but if ; as upon physick , you meals make ; thin diet 's healthful : and there 's no mistake . . the peers of france . not at all equals ! yet sometimes , we see unequal concord ; equals disagree . . publius magnus . cato major . fabius maximus . the greatest was less , then the great ; yet still , made the greater , under wing keep his bill . now you have read the riddle , answer me ; which was the very greatest , of the three ? . to t. s. my wit , and judgment , serve not to rehearse , thy rare endowments , in a polisht verse . your judgment , wit ; over all arts prevail : unless both wit , and judgment , in me fail . but though my wit , and judgment , little be : yet i have judg'd the truth ; concerning thee . . of himself . no wonder that my epigrams , are lead : i never bite my nails , nor scratch my head . . the five senses . do the five servant-senses , more assist us , in our wils , and pleasure ; or resist ? . seeing . to pleasing objects , sight , conveys the minde ; and as her vassal , doth it strongly binde . . hearing . sweet sounds , make in our ears , but little stay ; they come like air ; like air , they fly away . . smelling . the nose is plac'd betwixt the mouth & eyes : in bodies ; spirits ; doth sent exercise . . tasting . that you may disgust nothing , you should eat : let hunger , give the hogoo , to your meat . . feeling . a touch may tickle ; or give bare delight : the first , is young ; the last , is old mens right . . the objects of the senses . the things i see , hear , smell , taste , touch ; pretence , make to affect ; but do infect , my sense . . touch and taste . some are devoid of smell ; some deaf , we finde : and 't is no rarity , to see men blinde . but with want of taste , touch ; the fates ne'r strike : by taste i live ; by touch , beget my like . . an epigram . a satyr . an epigram may aptly stiled be , the long-ledg'd satyrs , brief epitomie . a satyr bears equal respect ; and is an epigram , with a periphrasis . satyrs , without their stings ; are hiss'd by all : so epigrams , if not satyrical . . vpon one dumb . he moves his lips , yet speak i can't him hear : fetch apollonius , for interpreter . . the blinde , and deaf . the one , his sight ; the other , hearing prise : one sees with ears ; the other hears with eyes . . dentes , the teeth ; lingua , the tongue . dens , quasi edens ; 'cause it helps to eat : lingua , quod lingit ; 'cause it licks the meat . thus to derive these words , grammarians please ; from special duties ; distinct offices . . the phoenix , and the viper . the melancholy phoenix when she dies ; brings forth a daughter in her obsequies . the fatal viper , when she brings forth young , dies gnawn , run through ; with poysonous teeth , and tongue . . the silk-worm . i perish by my art ; dig mine own grave : i spin my thread of life ; my death , i weave . . the right hand . if give , receive , i still use my right hand ; my right hand acts ; my left , shan't understand . . the left hand . the left hand had its name ; because one day , all right hands wrought , whilst left , left work , for play . . sunday . in the first day , there was no sun at all : then what makes people sunday , it to call ? . terra di lavoro . of old , campania , was a pleasant land : why now , doth labour old demerits brand ? . cloathes . the modes now in request , were once thrown by : old fashions revive , for their novelty . . wine . over a glass of wine , who can be sad ? 't is that unchains my soul ; makes my heart glad . . a sheep . flesh , skin , lambs , dung , dice , lute-strings , milk , and wooll : the harmless sheep , affords us to the full . . the dunging of arable land . dung is not useless , though base excrement : for it helps forward , my best nutriment . . harmony . discords make sweetest musick : by this fate , husband , and wife , do children procreate . . a parret . if to invert the name , you 'l leave give mee ; then parret turn'd a prater you shall see . . ink , and paper . ink's black patch , to affect the readers sight ; useth to borrow , from the paper , white . . a comedie . what we act secretly , comes to the stage : fiction , hits true , the vices of our age . . a man in a cloke . though i trample the earth ; my vaulting cloke , scorns goodwife tellus , durty cheeks to stroke . a scholar in a gown . though my gown kiss the ground , thoughts come not near . they make a foot-stool of old saturn's sphear . . a satyr . vice begot satyrs ; vice begot the law : the end of both , is to keep men in awe . . an eunuch . though i want what some have ; yet brag i can ▪ ther 's a false-witness left , to prove me , man . . the hour-glass . the cheating hour-glass , at time right may guess ; because its hole is bigger , & sand , less . . the merchant . i can't call him rich , or poor ; whose estate , upon deluding waters , fluctuate . . lasciviousness . that in the night , deform'd seem fair ; you must not blame the dark ; but fault your stone-blind lust . . donna . none keep their wifes more under ; yet none less forget , then he ; to call them mistresses . . a souldier . though armed mars , is cruel without bounds ; yet naked venus , gives thee deeper wounds . . what an army usually is . a multitude , disloyal , rude , hair-brain'd ; and perhaps hands , with guiltless bloudshed stain'd . . the tears of lovers . as from the wood , sap is expell'd by fire : so tears , are from the head , by hot desire . . the stars . love you imparity ? beleeve me ; god , when he created stars ; created odd. . venice . as waters make the sea ; as stars , the sky : so riches , the venetian seignory . . the lute . can there be many strings ; and yet no jars ? and are not men asham'd of dismal wars ? . the fowler . what must the fire , be on your errand sent ? your will's observ'd , by ev'ry element . . the eccho . ask art to paint a voice ; you it confound : the eccho can limn voice ; on hollow ground . . a looking-glass . apelles could not depaint motion ; you excell his colours : to give you , your due . . the eccho and the looking-glasse . no sign of life , but sound ; to eccho grant : mirrors would live ; did they not voices want . . musick . the muses , name to musick , do impart ; but scorn to grace so much another art . . albion . to the king . the saxons had their heptarchie . a while , nine large partitions did dissect this isle . but albion , olbion , you have made to be ; happy in her dear sisters , unitie . owen's epigrams : the third book . . to the lady mary nevill . though i delight to praise you ; greatest spight , cannot convict me , for a parasite . madam , all sorts commend ; yet you express , by humble carriage ; that none wish it less . applause you seek not , though desert soars high : of all your praise , this is the summary . . to the same lady . you were a burden , to your mothers womb : now her great weight of glory , are become . . to the reader . i dread the candid , may dislike my book . i fear that fools , may giv 't a scornful look . . the off-spring of the virgin-queen elizabeth . . england , and scotland's , blessed unity ; the issue was , of your virginity . she is more glorious , who unites two states , then she , who like the vulgar generates . so you , great queen ! a virgin pleas'd to die : and happy mother , to posteritie . . to the hollander , . that minerva did help you ; must be said , whilst england's pallas , did your hogans aid . thus were you happy ; but now fate throws down ▪ your haughty actings , with a churlish frown . of late death , death ; ulysses did become : and stole your pallas , and palladium . . to king james . now are the golden daies ; long since foretold : when one kings head , brute's double crown , should hold . our islands ; thought the by-blow , of the world : by peace , have now , their golden tresses , curl'd . so that who hate stern mars ; must eccho this ; that the cold * north , is donour of their bliss . . to the prince . o you great britain's hope ! lord of a part , both of a king , and queens , most royal heart . nobilities exemplar ; although few , can write after so rare a copy , true . but though select devoirs , you are above ; your subjects crave a pardon , with their love . did great james this , ex traduce , infuse ? or fair annes milk ? i can't tell which to choose . . basilicon doron . to the king . no need to give the author , or book , praise : for here 's reciprocation , of the bayse . . to the lady mary nevill . the glass , attests you fair ; modest , cries fame : your glass speaks true ; and report doth the same : though fame be a swift evil ; yet it spares your ladiship : not to vent slanders , dares . . of caecilia , daughter to that lady . no limner can , qualities shadow forth : and yet you have , a picture , of your worth . . to the candid reader . what i make good , you praise ; my worst wit , may pass for indifferent : thus you please to say . . to the envious reader . if i make any bad ; none can be worse : if tolerable ; them , you likewise curse . hercules his two waies . most men can err in four waies ; some , in three : alcides lost his way in two ; we see . . concerning vertue . vertue , slights praise ; yet praise , resolves to be , constant retainer , to her familie . glory , waits upon merit ; as the shade ▪ upon that body ; which it , perchance made . vertue is real ; honour is not ; thus , substance are we : not the shade , waits on us . . lifes dial. my daies verge upon west ; lost are the best : nor shall i see again , the vanisht east . i had my birth last night ; live , just this day : finde me to morrow , in the grave ; you may . . of god . thy omnipresence , euclid's rules confutes : plato's scholar ; knew not , thy attributes . . the atheist . that there 's no god ; the psalmists fool avers : but the most simple , to beleeve it fears . if no , fool denies god ; what creature 's he , call'd atheist ? one that wish , no god should be . . charity . no wife is faithful , but love makes her so : where faith resideth ; charity dwels too . . dives , and lazarus . dives is put i' th' gospel , without name : but poor , were then call'd lazers ; still , the same . . encrease , and multiply . poor man created was at first , alone : but shortly after , woman added one . when adam married eve ; then , as before ; the world was rul'd by one ; and not one more . after creation , man did multiply : god conjoyn'd eve : so came posterity . . vnion . from hell sprung discord ; union , is divine : god is but one . hells quotient , none assign . . the three tempters . the world , and flesh , will flatter ; devil , lie : they oratory use ; he sophistry . . the spirit and the flesh . what the spirit command , the flesh controul : thus grace , and sin , divide my wretched soul . would flesh , and spirit , but conclude a peace ; revenge , jars , wars ; quite through the world should cease . . a man was a god to another : is now a wolf . man , like a god his brother did defend : man , like a wolf , his brother now will rend . christ , to be god , to man , came from on high : but adam practis'd , wolfish cruelty . . gods word . praescience belongs to god ; to man , mistakes : vain man talks much , god only one word makes . . the narrow way . to the broad streets of heaven , scripture hath commanded us ; to choose the narrow path. the straight way , leads to heavens palaces : or broad way , puts ye , in hells little-ease . . st. john the baptist . as the suns approach , is foretold by light : john before christ , saluted mortals sight . . of autumn . autumn shakes off the leaves , and brings fruit too : i wish we could , like gelid autumn doe . . the miseries of life . all wish to live , though they be sickly , poor ; small griefs , will not suffice ; they wish for more . the forlorn irus , desires not , to die ; that is ; is loath to part with miserie . . of nature , and grace . nature dispelleth darkness , like the moon : but grace , is like the sun ; at exact noon . . a catechism . twelve articles of faith , you must believe ; that you may not , the holy spirit grieve . if you desire , effectually to pray ; christ's seven supplications ; use , you may . duties incumbent on all sorts of men : have their sum total , in the number ten. . the rich man . why go few rich to heaven ? why ? because , they grieve for breaking sums ; but not god's laws . . o treacherous hope ! rather fallacious world ; for hope will stay , till extream ruine , sign our fatal day . . vpon our redeemer . as one mans sin , did death on all entail : so one mans death , our souls from hell did bail . the falsest calumnies were meekly born : adam offended ; christ was made a scorn . . the holy ghost . to white dove-houses , pigeons take their flights : in candid hearts , god's spirit , much delights . . valour . the wise man knows , the just will render right : he which joyns courage , is the man of might . . of the king . laws , without king , in a parallel run , with duskish light , discarded by the sun . king without laws , is phoebus in the night ; what though there be a sun ? we see no light . the people chose their king ; they both made laws . hence laws ; hence lords ; the royal scepter awes . . the welsh . wales is not sole heir , to the british name : for england , scotland ; answer to the same . . the english-scot . these nations differ in their customs ; how came they espoused to an union , now ? the law , predominant , in ev'ry land ; ( the kingdom's safety ) joyn'd them , hand in hand . . roses were united by henry : kingdoms by james . to the king . the superb red , and white rose ; might revie fraternal wounds ; with cadmus progenie . like leda's twins ; they disdain'd to appear consuls of the same convex hemisphere . but as the argent day , routs sable night ; then the earth's shadow captivates the light : york should no longer , an occasion have ; then till lancastrian prowess , could enslave . until the isle of man , ( whence british bee , ambitious to derive their pedigree ; ) until this high-priz'd isle , ( which vaunts a name , by tacitus , put in the rolls of fame ; ) so happy was , as to bring thewder forth : a {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} ; both by name , and worth . this gift of god , to him was neer allied ; who in a gordian knot , two houses tied . whose red-rose birth , ( thanks hymen ) did unite the ●lister'd discord , of the red , and white . but les● disgust should think divorce to sue : henry , betrothed roses ; kingdoms , you , . john napiers revelation . ninety , and two years hence , the world shall end : is it at your disposal , my good friend ? but why would you , no shorter time devise ? what , to be call'd a liar ? you are wise . god , and man . god could not suffer death ; and man could not , over the crave , a victory have got : but christ could die , and vanquish ; because , he , had god-head ; joyned to humanity . . death . death , sought by good ; shun'd by such as offend : ends evils ; or brings those which have no end . . god . god is immense ; because nothing can fly , commensuration , by omnisciency . numbers perfection , is by him , outgone : the dual , begins number ; god's but one . . a miracle . the vulgar admire miracles ; to mee , nothing is marveilous ; o god! but thee . . adam's disobedience . galen , justinian , aquinas , and all : might have been spar'd , but that for adam's fall . . to adam . the devil , to deceive thee , lent eve skill : she gave good morrow ; but did mean to kill . . to the divine . the countrey horologe , first claps his wings ; before he news , of grateful day-light brings : thou that wouldst have , thy preaching take effect ; what thy own life is , first of all ; reflect . . the tempter . as nibling mice , use to deal with old chests : the devil finds , or makes waies ; into brests . . mortification . unless sin dies , no hope of life ; then try in time , to make it facile , for to die . . to day . this instant time , men yesterday did call , to morrow : what strange name will it befal , to morrow ? the name of yesterday , then shall be put on it ; by all kinde of men . cras is neer , yet never comes : i shall say upon these thoughts ; to morrow , is to day . . against thee only have i sinned a subject sins , against god ; law , and king : none , but a prince ; can such an excuse bring . . prayer . as christ came in , although the doors were shut : so into heaven ; fervent prayers get . . vpon mary magdalen . what faults her eyes were guilty of , in years of wantonness ; she blots out , with her tears . a faculty to weep , resides in eyes : for by their treachery ; most sins surprize . . concerning hope and fear . riches , and fears , are huge concomitants ; hope a companion , unto him that wants : yet hope is thought , a comfortable thing ; but fear darts through the soul a forked sting . hope belongs to the poor ; to wealthy , fears : you may take hope ; i fancy , golden cares . . methusalem is dead . not to have liv'd , but to live ; life , implies ! if man lives many years ; at last he dies . . of lawes , and justice . men the laws path , more then astraeas track : yet justice they find quick ; and the law , slack . . intemperance . the universal wish , is to live long : yet luxury , may freely , lead us wrong . we destroy , what we wish for ; life must be , a debtor to physicians ; not to thee . . to ponticus . 't is hard to become rich ; since you are poor . if you were rich , 't were nothing , to get more . . the pharisees . their life was foul , speech fair ; our age likewise ; to cloud hypocrisie ; are grown precise . but if you credit , what grammarians tell ; faith comes from fio ; delights to do well . . liberty . 't is happiness , what i wish , to acquire ; why then do men , destructive things desire ? goodness , is the grand freedome ; only they live to content , whom vertue teach the way . . what countrey christ was of . conceiv'd a nazaret , born , bethlemite : but to two countrys ; nature , pretends right . . christ's crucifixion . christ was a life , to such sad souls , as knew the second death , was wages , to them due ; to sick , a cure ; a way , to them at loss ; death , unto death ; a torment , to the cross . . christ's cross . the cross bare christ ; christ the cross up did take : thus mercy mov'd him ; for distress'd mans sake , . upon religion . in pious hearts , a tree must grafted be ; whose fruit , is honour ; whose root , industrie . that fear made gods , i readily assent ; for godly fear , is graces instrument . although the root of piety , speaks gall ; yet she is hony , uppermost of all . fear is the fount ; the river which thence springs , is love : whose ev'ry drop , much sweetness brings . . vpon the prodigal , and covetous . the miser , not one farthing gives , till death : spend-thrift hath nothing to give ; more then breath . . man , and wife . let husbands love their wifes ; wifes , recompence their husbands love ; with strict obedience . as husband is the head ; let the wife be heart , to her head ; in meer humanity . . study . some lose their wits , by study ; but ne'r they grow mad ; who study vertue , night , and day . . memento mori . think on death . the hour of death is dubious ; and yet a certain time , by destiny is set . no man is far remote from west ; from east : yet when we think on them , 't is but in jest . . the virgin mary . god's spouse , her fathers mother might be styl'd a daughter , to her own coelestial child . she was a virgin , and yet married : she , a mother was ; yet kept virginitie . that which is rare , is not alwaies dear . a paradox . vice is a disease , epidemical ; yet 't is held dear : its price will never fall . though seldom humane eyes , vertue behold : yet for all that , at easie rates 't is sold . . a beast . on future things , not on those which are past ; is it the fashion , hopes anchor to cast . things vanishing , hope dies ; or , hopes appear ; but where is the enjoyment ? that 's not near . times past , the future ; both do tyrannize : the beast takes what is present ; he is wise . . reason . nature is mother ; reason , queen of things : nature begets ; reason , to order brings . . nature . reason , is natures childe ; and therefore saies : if you 'l be happy ; follow natures waies . . i must take leave to talk my minde . alas poor creature ! all your freedom 's gone ; for you no more , may rave against the throne . but liberty of tongue , will never cease ; if you can obtain leave , to hold your peace . . to marcus . a problem . what if you take a bad , or honest course ? for bad , by law are punish't ; good , by force . . upon antiquarians , and novators . 't is foolish envy , to pass all things by ; but what are moudly , with antiquity . 't is envious folly , all things to explode ; but what are adorn'd , with the newest mode . . what death is to a christian . through death , at life eternal , we arrive : 't is not an end , but beginning to live . . to christ . lord ! thou hopes anchor art ; which never fails ; a sea of love ; the ship , where our faith sails . thou art salt to the earth ; sun , to the sky : the ransom , paid for souls captivity . destruction was destroy'd ; death by thee slain : who thought , death could have suffer'd deadly pain ? . self-love . they who see others faults ; and not their own : for others , wise ; for themselves , fools are grown . . the lifes of saints . not to read lifes of saints , but such to live ; is that which in the end will profit give . to turn leaves over , no advantage brings : strive not to read , but relish , holy things . . a man's countrey . a good man alwaies is at home ; a wise , under the fear of banishment ne'r lies . a valiant son of mars , where e'r he be : converts that place , into his own countrey . where we can't thrive ; we there , as exiles dwell : my countrey is , where ever i am well . a good mans countrey , from him can't be rent . the wicked alwaies , are in banishment . . against the atheist . time past cannot avail ; future , can't ope to such a reprobate ; the door of hope . thy choyce desires , only on that reflect ; which for this moment ; doth the sence affect . . upon hereticks . from ennius dunghil , virgil scrapt up gold : hereticks dung ; from truths most precious mold . . the effect of praise . good men , are made better ; bad , worse by praise : crafty , more sly ; 't will the fools folly , raise . . not too fast . a good man is not quickly built ; take heed , though in plain way ; you make not too much speed : prudent advice those slight , which are in hast : first thy self collect ; then correct at last . . the envious , and the fool . the one wants honesty , the other wit : one cannot see ; the other , thinks not fit . . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . reason . 't is reason which god speaks ; and which we pray . thus god , and man ; both , rationally say . . opinion . none will beleeve ; as friendship ; so men try their reputations ; by utility . . art. god did in natures bosom , place the arts : that man might have a touch-stone for his parts . . adam's apologie . for sin's first author , men have flings at mee : did not eve pull the apple , from the tree ? . the serpents answer . this allegation prove you never can : to tempt you , ( but your self ) there was no man . . alwaies the same . god alwaies was , is , shall be thought but one : why came not faith down to the world , alone ? one faith , as well as day , gives light a birth : there 's but one sun , in heaven ; god , on earth . . cordial prayer . since your breast , is the church ; let it be pure : the holy ghost , for minister procure . and because god , for uprightness will look ; make a clean heart , thy devout prayer-book . . the five wounds . christ's wounds ; we soveragn emplaisters finde ▪ they heal the ulcers ▪ of a troubled minde . . friendship delineated . when sol puts on his splendid robes of state ; our bodies shadow turns associate . when solar beams , yeeld to a churlish sky ; our shadows vanish , with celerity . whilst fortune smiles upon ye , never fear the want of friends ; thou shalt have some to spare . when the stern fates , turn to storms , serene day ; friends will , as much as shadows , post away . . vertue . not talk , but actions , vertues pearls comprise : faith , hope , and love ; are real entities . . rachel . what weep , because children are from you torn ? had you not grief enough , when they were born ? . solomon . so many wise men , as the world can cull ; so many things are in it wonderfull . solomon died ; before greece , seven nurst : he was not the eighth wise-man ; but the first . . hope . i can't prevent , what must fall to my share : i 'l neither hope for good ; nor evils fear : yet hope will do me all the good she can : expectancy drawes out , my lifes short span. . humane ignorance . i scarcely know what life is ; how should i tell , what 't is to be born ; and what to die ? . christ is the way . canst not thou the streight way to heaven , see ? behold ! the way it self , comes down to thee . . of fame . do well ; and crouch not to plebeian fame : 't is but an empty adjunct to thy name . . faith . amongst opinions , faith had most respect ; from the tongue-tyed , pythagorean sect. for whatsoever the old samian knew ; an ipse dixit , did confirm it true . . indifferency . be death far off , be the fatal stroke nigh : 't is culpable to wish ; or fear , to die . . the freshest date . if i mistake not , i may boldly say ; that the first age , was the worlds new-years day . then studious reader , let me crave of you ; are the times we now live in ; old , or new ? . the will . would you be good ? vertue , you may acquire : he will inable ; who made you desire . . to the sun . twice eighty times , astronomies express , sol bigger then the earth ; yet seems much less . if you a pygmie , sol ! appear to me , a little worm ; how small seem i , to thee ! . probity . good men , are oft out-witted ; and what then ; since they excel in vertue , wiser men ? . a man . the chief ingredient to mans heart , is care ; foul , noysom carkasses ; our bodies are : birth , is but sickness ; and that life we have , frequently found a passage to the grave . . concerning loquacity . to the preacher . so many sermons your bad life denote : for what need words , if men your deeds ▪ might quote ? . death is both contrary , and according to nature . if you would follow nature , cruel death ! you should snatch parents , before childrens breath . to natures dictates , we obsequious be : for life , and death ; are both by her decree . . eloquence . great talkers are not alwaies eloquent ; a few neat fancies , auditors content . nor is that field thought fruitful ; whence proceeds , a thousand cart-loads full , of stinking weeds . . god . as clouds permit not , heaven to descrie ; so none see god , 'cause mists on their mindes lie . none have seen god ; but few , did ever hear : hence * faith is scarce ; but * love is much more rare . . to ponticus . you would think me unkinde , should i deny , to tell you how many years old , am i : since my age is , this moment ; i say none ; for the years i have liv'd , away are flown . . love and friendship . to charles . what space betwixt nature , and habits , lie ; so far is love , distant from amitie . . princes . hugely religious , ye seem to be ; and very zelots , as to pietie : 't is not love of religion , makes ye thus ; but thirst of honour , sanctimonious . . o the wickedness of our times ! let the worst vices happen to be nam'd ; innocent time , is certain to be blam'd . yet we can't prove him guilty of such crimes : men are not undone by ; but in the times . . philosophy . the world loves to know much ; but few things , will beleeve : hence comes great faith , & little skil . . evils are innumerable . vve die , a thousand waies ; are born but one : thousand diseases push at health , alone . . vpon controversies . will divines everlastingly contend ? would they were pleas'd , a judge , the strife might end . concerning who should be the judge , they brawl ; i wish sincerely , that dispute were all . might i contemplate once within my life ! as great a strife of love ; as love of strife . . christ upon the cross . betwixt two thiefs , christ fill'd the empty space : now vertue had , if ever , middle place . . the daughter of time . truth lies along time hid ; yet comes to light : greece cals her {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} ; 'cause she flies sight . . law and physick . if men would live , as prudent nature teach ; they should climb quickly , out of galen's reach : if men were wise , they would not so long jar ; till they are witnest fools , by the whole bar : but bartolus , should then despair to please ; and mice might comment , on hippocrates . . husband and wife . vvhen angry , a whole house can't us contain ; a bed can hold ; when we are friends again . . the shortest day . our lifes last day , doth the most short , appear ; quite through that day , the end is very near . . vertues complaint . love hath few servants ; who will vertue own ? credit , and honour ; extreme dear are grown . riches are sold ; mony , made merchandize : vertue , for her rewards ; must pay excise . . the rigid father . the avaritious father , is most free : the more he scrapes , the more he leaves to thee . . a prayer to god in time of sickness . natures great parent ! when as thou shalt please , my soul from flesh , her prison , to release ; let grace , with thy afflicting hand comply : when i want strength to live ; give will to die . . to the pleader . where judges favour not ; they invent flaws : 't is not your eloquence , secures a cause . throw reports by ; and study day , and night : what to turn lawyer ? no ; but favourite . . vpon brunonius . our ancestors ordained fasting-daies ; that flesh might obey spirit ; that god praise : your table turns fasts , into feasts , we see ; that spirit might serve flesh ; and flesh , serve thee . . time . time sweeps all things away ; as well as brings : as all things have their times ; time hath , all things . . upon miracles . is gods hand shortned , that miracles cease ? is it not rather caus'd by faith's decrease ? . to irus . you would live ever ; ever you can't live : yet you can wish you ever might survive . but since you are so poor ; i wonder , still : though you may wish to live ; that live , you will . . science . in my judgment , happy are they alone , who all things know : or they , who know not one . . christ . aurora expels night : and day , begins : christ was death's ruine ; a fount to purge sins . . who art thou ? my eyes fail , when they should themselves behold ; my minde , in mental scrutinies , is cold . if noblest parts pass unknown ; i may cry , to the next comer ; sir ! pray , who am i ? . the kingdome of heaven . though heaven's large ; most have an hellish doom : perhaps the straight way gives no elbow-room . . pain , and pleasure . present grief stabs ; future holds in suspence , the fearful soul ; yet delights , when gone hence . dolorous pleasures , please ; when smart is past : 't is sad ; if pleasure fades , whilst sorrows last . . st. peter . caiphas was last high-priest , in that place , where jehovah's temple , jury ▪ did revere . kephas was first high-priest , whose chair did rest ; where the emperial eagle , built her nest . . sleep . by metaphors of death , we sleep express : the more men sleep , 't is sure , they live the less . . rome . the world was scarce of age , when envious cain , his brother abel , in the field had slain . princely rome , was no sooner edified ; but remus bloud , her walls in crimson dyed . cain's cruel murder , did the world pollute : rome , the worlds mistress ; his steps prosecute . . mans perfection . 't is the perfection of every thing , to return to that , whence it first did spring . frail flesh , will my accomplishment adjourn ; till i to earth , and heaven shall return . . lord encrease our faith , luk. . our age shan't need , after this form to pray ; we rather , lord diminish , faith , may say . as numerous as men , religions are : though faiths be many , faithfulness is rare . lord decrease our faiths . . vpon a covetous person . hercules travel'd , till the furthest west , stopt his career ; & gave his wandrings rest . the covetous go further ; their desire , is alwaies errant ; and can never tire . . good transcends . no genus , no bounds , good , can comprehend : no mundane creatures , do to goodness tend . . omnia vanitas . all is vanity . vvhat showers of tears ! had heraclitus seen , our times : democritus had burst his spleen . but one democritus cannot suffice , to laugh at such mad tricks , as men devise . and heraclitus eyes approach not nigh ; due lamentations , for our misery . . upon the voluptuous . i often hear young men complain , how short the pleasures are , of the venereal sport . i often hear gray-headed sirs , thus cry ; o what a curse , is vital brevity ! lifes pleasure , pleasures life , are short : who prize them both at little , may be termed wise . . works . vertuous , and vitious persons , when they die ; carry their works with them , for company . . the beginning of wisdome . none desire heaven , but those who fear hell : dread of the worst , makes prudent men , hope well . . vpon one delighting in tautologies . how you torment good scholars , i let pass ; and how your tales , run quite beyond the glass . when you have kil'd your hearers , in this sort ; you exclaim ; but i see the time is short . return to oxford , and distinctions learn ; till you long prating , from short time discern . . upon the same . tully's orations , cannot be too long : who thy short sermons fault , their judgment wrong . . upon those who imagine many gods . o foolish people , have ye lost your wits ? over one world ; one god , as ruler sits . . concerning ingenuity and study . neglect of study , renders wit obtuse ; so swords will rust , by reason of disuse . study , wits ladder ; wits downfal , hath bin : as grind-stones sharpen knives ; they wear them thin . . know your self . none understand themselves : yet a young man , the years of child-hood , well remember can : and an old father , troubles much his tongue ; to relate what he did , when he was young . . art is long , and life is short . life is too short , to make us truly wise : death creeps behinde , and unawares surprise . . to old moranus . as you have many things , for to acquire ; so to unlearn : if goodness you desire . but how should you do either , since you lie ; under old ages incapacity ? . to d. t. cause you have happy been , you must needs lie under a double weight , of misery . happy is he who hath had heretofore , adversity ; for the storm is blown o'r . . every one as they like . the laick seeks not christ ; but his own gains : not to get christ , but tythes ; parsons take pains . . vpon brunonius . that plagues are gods sharp arrows , you confess ; whence comes then bruno ; your great health-fulness ? the reason's ready : for a plague like you ; your countrey disclaims , that she ever knew . . reflect upon your end . rather fore-see thy end ; reflect on birth : look up to heaven ; and look down on earth . . sense , reason , faith , charity , god . sense without reason , is worth little ; and reason's unruly ; unless faith command . what is faith , without love ? love cannot bee , advantage ; till , my god! it fix on thee . . of prudence . our actions are jejune ; unless address be made to prudence ; vertues school-mistress : she teaches what to choose ; what to eschue , in life : as in art , logick tels what 's true . . to my parents . dear father , i am part of you ; and part of you , dear mother ; cast lots for my heart . you two , yet but one flesh ; my body make : what dangers fear i ; be they for your sake ? . prudence , and fortitude . prudence foresees evils ; valour can bear : one seeks prevention ; the other slights fear . . in the sweat of thy face . he who commands labour , for daily bread ; will deny manna , to the drowzie head . . of faith , and charity . before there be a tree , who fruit expect ? above all vertues , we must faith respect . love joyn'd to faith , do life beget : the poor , can't live by hope ; but they must labour more . faith is the chieftain ; but love is the king : as well as faith ; we must affections bring ▪ . if thy right eye offend thee , &c. if as oft as they sin , men were inclin'd , to pluck out eyes ; the world would be stark blinde . . christian adverbs . not adjectives ; adverbs , please the most high : when we do good ; we must do 't cordially . . the shortness of life . to unborn infants , all things equall are : for what is past , grave seniors seldom care . if past , and future times , i should substract : what a small number ; present hours exact ! . lex talionis . to aulus . you peruse not , the ancient history : expect like justice ; from posterity . . time . time devours things ; his sithe our legs will hit . we have our pastimes : time and we are quit. . abundance of caution , hurts not . be not afraid , yet look , before you leap : be not rash ; count no opportune time , cheap . to fearful nature , prudence lends a shield : none dangers dread , who their ambush beheld . . sir , minde the matter in hand . vvhat though philosophers on the face fly ? one word will vanquish them ; say , i deny . . justification . doth god us justifie , by works , or faith ? by both together ; holy scripture saith . . the day of judgment . if all , this day ; their large accounts must clear ; st barnabie , will be too short , i fear . . to marianus . good men for vertues sake , do detest vice : but now a daies , there 's few that are so nice . goodness is so contemned , in our time ; that to be good , is thought an heinous crime . . mary magdalens sorrow . one mountain here , two well-fed springs can show : from whence , two rivers of salt water flow . . upon the soul . the soul is not infus'd ; for if it were , it would be mortal ; as our bodies are . . to marcus . vvhen to pray , you at any time shall please ; you institute your bed , chappel of ease . you might well think , heaven would exclude thence , prayers ; presented with irreverence . till wandring thoughts , rude gestures , you forbear : god audience gives ; but is not pleas'd to hear , . hell . who can reduce cloth dyed black to white ? what damned soul , enjoy'd again the light ? . to his poor friend . your bad estate , i wish worse for your sake : on extreme evils ; fate , may pity take . . europe , asia , africa , america . the worlds division , is into four parts : so many distinct * faiths possess mens hearts . . the causes of discord . when sense , and reason , be enslav'd to will ; they prove the source , of segregating ill . will , brethren sets at distance ; for we see ; when will consents , kindred do well agree . . the liberal man . the just , to ev'ry man , his own allow : let rich , have justice ; to poor , mercy show . . the temperate . who know things causes , who times supervise : bridle their passions , actions rule ; are wise . . a wise man . fate governs fools ; a wise man , curbs the stars : his wisdom shields him , from intended scars . . upon an infant dying before baptism . alas ! i dy'd , before pure water could , mark me , a lamb ; belonging to christs fold . the church implores , my saviour would not look , for name : lord ! write me nameless , in thy book . though i want name , yet am i known to thee ▪ for thy names-sake ; be merciful to me . . the flatterer , and envious . envy , and flattery , are both content ; to fall under , the same predicament . zoilus hates good mens vertue : gnatho will labour ; of goodness , to defraud the ill. . love , and friendship . with prudence , friendships knot may be unty'd , to purchase love ; but on the other side : it were a foolish fancy , to remove for fickle friendship ; a well-grounded love . . st. peter , and paul . empire , the sword ; wealth , the key signifies ; peter's richer then paul ; as i surmise : that paul was poor , his epistles record ; but peter's pen let slip , not one such word . . socrates . you nothing know ; and you know only this : to know , that you know nothing ; something is : yet that something , you understand ; i shall according to directions , nothing call . . a man . no sooner born , but you began to cry : since life 's no pleasure ; why is 't grief to die ? . to paulus , after burial . though you were at birth naked ; now you have , an holland sheet ; to sleep on in the grave ▪ you carry that away , you did not bring : thank not your mother earth ; for any thing . . to such courtiers , as shall please to read . most touch upon the schools ; but few them court . observe my humor , to divide my sport . . prudent simplicity . morality , endeavour to improve , to innocence ; as candid as the dove . but lest good nature , should to mischiefs lead ; to dovelike hands ; annex the serpents head . . the eyes of the common-wealth . law , and religion , are the nations eyes : one forbids sins ; the other , injuries . . to john gifford , doctor of physick . no wonder , gifford knows apollo's art : of his own body , he knows ev'ry part . though know your self , was not galen's command ; to that advice , apollo set his hand . . the daw . which sister of the grove , dares make pretence , to excel me ; in nimble eloquence ? the goose . for some things , i my self , may be turn'd loose : though you prate more ; you write less then a goose . . the afflictions of job . if you on riches , children , or health look ; the devil , ( by gods leave ) away these took . when all was gone , his wife was left behinde ; lest some small comfort , should refresh job's minde . . pauls , and westminster-abbey . the pleading place , exchequer , and white-hall ; are neighbours to st. peters-abbey , all . the learned preachers , make st. pauls to sound ; and furnisht stationers encompass round . the two apostles , very well agree : most gold , hath peter ; paul , divinity . . against the conspirators , upon tuesday , the fift of november , . to make low earth , challenge the lofty sky ; and sordid dust , oppose the deity ▪ what is this , but for to revoke the hour , and architecture , of confusions tow'r ? 't were to make wanton ilium , once more burn ; and antiquated chaos , should return . . upon the same . vvould ye have thrust fair troy into the fire ; and millions thrown upon the fatal pyre ? were ye bewitcht , to pitch on such a day ? tuesday was never made ash-wednesday . . the king , to his kingdoms . news of my death , swoln fame did lately bring : i am not dead ; by the word of a king . . to england , concerning the vnion . we shall enjoy thrice-happy peace ; since three , are married to , a lasting unity . wales is your wall ; ev'ry scot , is your scout : you are secure , o england ! without doubt . . to tho. nevill , an ingenious young gentleman . you are branch'd from , the noble nevil's race ; nature hath limn'd both parents , in your face : but what of that ? she likewise thought not fit , you should want mothers , vertues ; fathers wit . . upon the death of charles blunt , earl of devonshire . . shall i to pin upon thy herse , devise eternal praises ; or weep elegies ? fame hath of you , a double-tongu'd report : your death was good mens sorrow ; bad mens sport . . to the reader . my epigrams are short , and also few : from many short , longitude would ensue . reader , these few , are short ; for were they long ; few , would prove many ; and thy patience wrong . . the difference betwixt words , and writings . voice is alive ; writing 's inanimate : yet the tongue , before quill ; resigns to fate . libellus de spectaculis : or , an account of the most memorable monuments of the romane glory . composed by the ever-celebrated epigrammatist , m. val. martial : and now periphrastically translated into english verse ; by t. p. of the inner temple , gent. non cuivis lectori , auditorive placebo ; lector & auditor , non mihi quisque placet . owen . l. . printed at london , . libellus de spectaculis : or , an account of the most memorable monuments of the romane glory . . vpon the caesarean amphitheater . no more let sun-burnt cayro vaunt , that she , bequeaths her wonders , to eternitie . let not euphrates , in a superb style , brag her wall , girdle , unto sixty mile . who lends diana confidence , to tell ; her cedar-statues , scorn a parallel ? what if apollo's horned altar , stands unimitable , by lysippus hands ? let carian impudence , presume so far ; as to make mausoleum , kiss a star . dame tellus ! and thy prodigies confer ; they must kneel to the amphitheater . this miracle , grac'd by vespasian's name : hath the monopoly , of checquer'd fame . . vpon the magnificent structures built by caesar . here stands a regal coloss ; whose high head , is by the fixed stars , embellished . by sumptuous pageants , the streets are become accurate emblems , of elysium . curst nero's court , foyl'd the most serene daies ; by the emission of her golden rayes . and with reluctance , we did lately see ; the tyrants palace , romes epitome . that which was then an incommodious lake , is made a theater ; for the champions sake . where tepid baths , the sinews recreate ; was once a victim , to the monsters hate . claeudius porch , so celebrious for shade , of the last part , of the domo was made . romes resurrection , is ascrib'd to you ; great emperour ! your sports , plebeians owe . . the general congratulation used to caesar . most potent sir ! what region is so rude ; from whence , into your city , none intrude ? the rhodopeian farmer , leaves cold thrace ; and to banquet his eyes , elects this place . tartarians , who quaffe horses bloud at home ; are much impatient , till they have view'd rome . they who first give a welcome to the nile : and they , on whom , sweet zephyrus doth smile . both the arabia's , are in rapid hast : for perfum'd water , asia comes not last . shall we omit knot-hair'd sicambrians ; and natures frisled aethiopians ? their languages are discrepant ; yet all , the father of your countrey , can you call . . to the emperour titus , upon his banishing sycophants . those caterpillers of the commonwealth , the poor mans wolfe , whose livelihood was stealth ; growing too numerous , are ship'd away ; to feast the lions , of getulia : and those informers , who have many sent into exile ; now suffer banishment . . vpon the same occasion . the head of italy , caesar acquits from sycophants : new daies ; fresh benefits ! . vpon pasiphae . that minos lustful wife , trepan'd a bull ; now we have seen it , is not wonderfull : let not antiquity , her fictions boast : we fancy most , they should the stage accost . . the conflict of a woman , with a lion : as it was performed in the amphitheater . caesar's munificence , 't will not suffice ; that virile hands , should grasp the crimson price . delicate body , can't fair cypria shield : as well as mars , she conquers , or is kil'd . alcides kil'd a lion , and it is blown through the world by fame , with emphasis . be silent authors ! for caesar's command ; made this atchievement , of a female hand . . the punishment of laureolus . prometheus to cold caucasus is chain'd ; whilst by his entrails , vultures are sustain'd : wretched laureolus , a northern bear ; very sincerely , did asunder tear . every vein , to weep bloud was inclin'd : strict search in 's carkass , could no body finde . thus one that stab'd his master , must have dy'd ; or actors of infernal parricide . this torment is his due , who dares rome fire ; or who deflowres , the gods most sacred quire . obsolete mischiefs , resalute the stage : fables prove true ; in this our conscious age . . upon daedalus . since bears impartial teeth , thy bones must grinde ; i wish poor daedalus , his wings could finde . . the rhinocerite . and will the de bonair rhinocerite ; for caesar's pleasure rush into a fight ? o how excessive , is his anger 's flame ! 't was recreation , a mad bull to tame ! . upon a lion , that kil'd his keeper . with deep ingratitude , a lion flew at 's keepers throat ; thus his acquaintance slew . but he receiv'd his wages ; since he could endure no blows ; the hunting-spears , he should . men must be cau●elous in carriage ; since , beasts are taught morals ; by our gracious prince . . vpon a bear . a bear rol'd barrels on the bloudy sand ; and was arrested , at bird-limes command . there 's no more need to throw , the lethal spear ; or that a lance , should forbid coming near ▪ hunts-men may chase the birds , unto a bay ▪ if fowlers to catch beasts ; conceive fair play . . vpon a sow , who cast her pigs , by reason of a wound . amongst the various game , that caesar found ; a nimble spear , hapned a sow to wound . one of the wiser pigs , did make a shift to escape through the gash ; at a dead lift . these were hard throws ; yet the sow for her part ; to save her babies , wisht the other dart. who will dispute , tun-belli'd bacchus cut , from 's mother ; since a sow probatum put ? . on the same accident . a fatal javelin , dig'd through the sows side ; but in a sort , she liv'd ; as well as dy'd . o what unerring hand , gave such a blow ? none but lucina , could so certain throw . diana did here hunt ; yet was midwife : a pig was preserv'd ; the sow lost her life . . the third part , to the same tune . a sow , now great with pig , dy'd of a wound ; through which her litter , tumbled to the ground . when the dam stagger'd , that staid not behinde : distress will force a pig ; some wit to finde . . vpon the hunts-man carpophorus . can meleager , glory in his boar ; what may carpophorus , who dares do more ? his furbisht spear , did bore a deadly hole , in that bears heart ; known to the arctick pole . one of his trophyes , is a lions skin ; as large as that , alcides vapour'd in . a vaulting libard , was by his hand slain : and these , ( though wonders ) he can do again . . concerning hercules , riding to heaven , upon a bull . that the bull was snatch'd up into the sky ; seems not a pageant , but true piety . on a buls back , europa rid at ease ; but not to heaven ; as did hercules . let jove , and caesar's buls , for credit vie : jove's did but swim ; and caesar's bull could flie . . of an elephants kneeling down . that devout elephant , did ye adore ; o caesar ! which , worsted a bull before . none taught him homage ; but by instinct , he kneel'd down to you ; because a deity . . of a tyger , and a lion . a fierce hircanian tyger , which is rare ; used to lick his masters hands ; did dare , upon the dreaded king of beasts to fly : and to amazement , won the victory . in the thick woods , he never triumph'd thus : our company , made him magnanimous . . upon the fight of the bull , and elephant . vvhen the strong bull , enrag'd by fire , did eye puppies , like men ; he mounted them on high : but dreaming thus , an elephant to toss ; he was strook dead , by the flinty proboss . . of two fencing-masters . half the spectators , triumphus did crave ; half implor'd , they stout myrinus might have . caesar was pleas'd to tell them with both hands ; he condescended , to both their demands . vulgar resentments , were quench'd quickly , thus : o our great lords , accomplish't genius ! . upon orpheus . what ever haemus polisht vales comprise ; the theatre vouchsafes to caesar's eyes . the rocks creep from their place ; woods give the start : splendid as aegles , in the western part. the wolf , and lamb , the hound , and hare desist from enmity ; to hear this lutanist . rare philomel , and the cock-linnet , fly hither to learn , orphean harmony : yet he was rent , by an unthankful bear : let thrace choose fictions ; at rome , truths the●e are . . the rhinocerite . trembling keepers , prick the rhinocerite ; desirous speedy fury , to excite . when expectation began to tyre ; the beasts disturbed calmness , fell on fire : and shew'd his horns , could hoyst a bear at ease ; as buls toss untry'd mastives , when they please . . upon carpophorus . vvhat beast is so well arm'd , as not to fear ; young carpophorus , his approved spear ? his strange dexterity , two buls pull'd down ; two thick-skin'd buffs , had no more favor shown . he made a lion leap into the toyle : so much time lost , the vulgar can assoyl . . upon a sea-fight . foreign spectators , perchance present be ; whose eyes did never , caesar's bounty see : naval bellona , shan't equivocate ; in neptunes throne , ceres did sit of late . but want ye faith ? after the fight ; you 'l vow that is firm land , which was sea , even now . . vpon leander . leander wonder not , curl'd waves thee spare ; these inoffensive surges , caesars are . when tethys stopt , love-sick leander's breath ; and some few drops , would hurry him to death . thee poor wretch begg'd ; o waft me safe to ground : when i have seen my dear ; let me be drown'd . . upon the excellent swimmers . the docil crue of watry nymphs did vie to paint the waves ; with their vivacitie . a threatning trident , anchor , scalding oare ; a stately ship ; we beheld from the shore . castor , and pollux , the pilots delight ; and tumid sail-cloaths , gratifi'd our sight . to whose invention , should we this refer ; did thetis instruct us , or we , teach her ? . he flatters caesar . if the old world carpophorus had bred ; the worst of monsters must have hid its head . with greece , cretaean buls would have comply'd ; nor had nemaeas lion , terrifi'd . arcadia had contemn'd the tusked bore ; had he strook hydra ; she had ne'r stir'd more . the triple-form'd chimaera , at one blow ; had perished ; medaea should not show her sorceries , the fiery buls to charm ; hesio , and andromede , from harm ; by him alone , had been preserv'd . account hercules labours ; they twelve tantamount . but is that such a wonder ? at one play , twenty wilde beasts , carpophorus did slay . . vpon a sea-fight . the palm of glory , to augustus yeeld ; for framing sea , into a pitched field . how then may caesar triumph ? such beasts are , guests to the waves , as sea-green thetis scare . swift chariots track the main ; at whose approach , triton cri'd out ; here coms king neptune's coach . whilst nereus for the skirmishes provides ; and a whales back , victoriously bestrides . what caesar's pleasure , shall the circk command ; the flouds react ; as mimicks to the land . on claudius ; nero's lake ; let scorn reflect : domitian's shows , merit entire respect . . of the champions , pristus , and verus . when pristus , verus , did protract their fight ; characteriz'd by mars with equal spight : for their discharge , a joynt consent apply'd , it self to caesar ; by whom 't was deny'd . it wash the fashion so long to contend , till the vanquish'd made signs the fight should end . and to detain the people to the last , gifts were provided ; and a slight repast : even wounds the sword-players did engrave ; they fought alike ; on equal scores did leave . caesar acquitted both ; gave both the palm : thus prowess , for her cure , acquired balm . before your reign caesar , who thought to see ; when champions fight , that both should victors bee ! certain select epigrams , translated out of the works of that upright lord chancellor , and facetious poet , sr. tho. more , &c. did they acceptance finde , which went before ? to speak of wit ; these have fourty times more . printed at london , for thomas bassett , in st. dunstans church-yard in fleet-street . . certain select epigrams . . to king henry the eighth . plato asserts , that whatsoever was , did but revive ; shall come again to pass . as spring and winter , through the various climes , make their appearance , at appointed times : so after six and thirty thousand year , all things shal be the same , which once they were . after the golden , came the silver age : then came the brass ; and iron the last stage . the golden age is revolv'd , to your reign : i now conceive , that plato did not feign . . vpon the vnion of the york , and lancaster roses . the white rose was dy'd purple , by hot jars : the red grew pale , as let bloud , by fierce wars . but now the roses , mutually make one ; the strife was quenched , by this knack alone . both roses bud , and flourish , lively still : although subjected , to a single will . one species includes both ; and both agree copartnership , in beauty ; majesty . they who were parties unto either side ; shall need no more , well-wishes to divide . and he who envies , in the quag-mire sticks : astonish'd when he feels , the rose hath pricks . . upon an ignorant rhetorician . five absurd phrases , i let flaccus have ; to requite my good will , he fifty gave . take these in hand , said he ; beyond the seas , when i have been ; you shall have what you please . . upon suspicion . opinion bears great sway ; although i doe no hurt , i pay for 't ; if men count it so . so philolaus , was by grecians kill'd : although a tyrant , he was falsly held . . vpon the accurate picture , of a pitiful oratour . sextus is silent ; hark! his picture speaks : for oratory that his credit breaks . . vpon a blinde , and a lame begger . there 's nothing more commodious , then a friend ; who at a pinch , may his assistance lend . a begger who had lost his eyes , did frame a league of friendship , with another , lame . the blinde mans shoulders , lame giles did bestride : whose eyes directed , which way , he might ride . concord to cottages , sometimes resorts ; when it cannot be found , in princes courts . . the complaint of a ship , sunk in a storm . since when i grew , strong blasts could make me trip ; what fool devis'd , to slice me to a ship ? i could not promise safety , from the land ; how then could i , the raging sea withstand ? . upon a ships being burnt . the daunting ship , hath quit the foaming waves ; the churlish haven , it of life bereaves . now 't is on fire , ye might it water grant : before this time , it never us'd to want . . vpon a rabbet , who having escap'd a weasel , fell into the hayes . i but just now got from a weasel free ; and must i suffer worse captivity ? when from one danger , i did safe evade ; a prey to dogs , i dream'd not to be made . when tumblers teeth , force me to curse my birth . the tearing out my bowels , affords mirth . o ye hard hearts of men ! who in this sort , rage more then brutes ; what , make my death a sport ? . innocency , is obnoxious to injury . the fearful mouse , dares venture for to bite , the vicious man : tush ! proverbs say not right . a mouse dares bite the innocent ; a knave , out of a dragons mouth , himself can save . . vpon the quality of death . if all the kings , were by you captive led ; of all the lands , alcides travelled ; yet your victorious body , needs not have , more elbow-room , then is in irus grave . reflect on him ; for you as poor shall die : and in your heirs , not your own ground , must lie . . vpon a niggard . sir , sir ! you 're poor ; say others what they please : use , riches makes ; saith apollophanes . whilst you use your estate , so long 't is thine : that ceasing , your heir may cry ; this is mine . . the spiders hunting . a busie fly , laying aside due care ; was fast entangled , in a cobweb snare . the spider thanks good fortune , now she 's sure to have a dinner ; be not too secure . arachne's stomach , did her anger whet ; she leaps to seize the fly , and breaks the net . the spiders fall , making her very faint ; away flies spoyl-meat , from her loath'd restraint . under the very ax , hope may remain : a thousand guards , to wickedness ; are vain . . upon a cynick , indiscreetly abstinent . a stubborn , and grave cynick , set his best side outwards , by this carriage at a feast . none could perswade him , radishes to eat ; vertue abhors , such kinde of luscious meat . casting about his dull , unpleasant eye ; he chanc'd fine tender onions to espie : he snaps up those . though radishes a' nt good ; it seems that onions , are a vertuous food . . vpon a chamber-maid deceased . her body serv'd ; her soul was alwaies free kinde death hath set , that too ; at liberty . . upon a fisher-man , who was faln in love withall . a fisher , intent on the dropping net ; cast it so well , he did a sweet-heart get . it was a rich mans daughter ; so that he , prov'd master of much wealth , immediately . said he , our trade is gainfull ! in retort , his wife made answer ; who may you thank for 't ? . vpon mediocrity . pindar tells us , envy'd felicity , surpasseth passeth far , lamented misery . the rich are hated ; the poor scorn'd ; god grant , i either may abound , nor suffer want . avant extreams ! the mean is best of all : peasants are kick'd ; lords , can't prevent their fall . . fear is altogether unprofitable . and why so stupid , as to lend an ear , to the false alarms , of amazing fear ? if evils come not , then our fears are vain : and if they do ; dread , will encrease the pain . . a cause , finely pleaded . a certain cause , was come to tryal ; where , plaintiff , defendant , and the judge , deaf were . the plaintiff pleaded ; that he had much wrong ; his cash was due , five moneths since . all night long , said the defendant , my mill went . why strive , reply'd the judge ? your mothers are alive . . vpon the uncertainty , of the hour of death . i weep not for those , conquered by fate ; i weep the fear of death , should macerate . . upon the same . you would bewail , next moneth to meet chill death : and can you laugh ? next hour , may stop your breath . . upon a certain ridiculous astrologer . cvmaean sybils , could not more descry ; although enlightned from divinity ; then our astrologer : whose profound art , could through the stars , a thing , when past , impart . . upon the same . the prophet counsel'd by the stars ; did crye , no man so happy in a wife , as i ! looking again , when she was run away : he gravely foretold , that unlucky day . . on the same . saturns far distance , makes him think all hush : he can't discern a hare , from a brake-bush . thy bashfull moon , adventures not to see , actions ; improper , for virginity . great jove , europa lov'd . kind venus led , stout mars a captive , to her wanton bed . sol courted daphne . lovely in the eye , dame hyrce was , of craftie mercurie . thy wife securely , may spread forth her sailes : for their own honours , planets can't tell tales . . death not to be feared . what madness 't is for sickness , poverty , to refuse death ; the end of misery ? that only once , inflicts a short-liv'd pain ; and that endur'd , it troubles not again . but some diseases , are , so rude , that they , revisit ; where they lodg'd , but th'other day . . upon a certain covetous , and sordid bishop . if old methusalem i should outvie ; the bishops bounty , claims my memory . he 's vastly rich ; doth many cities owe : to his commands , an hundred servants bow . yet when , i of mean rank , did him approach ; he kindly spoke ; and chid not for encroach . nay more , he search'd both pockets , for the key of 's wine-cellar : saying , you may be dry . . upon the inconstancy of fortune . fortune observes no method ; for throughout humane affairs , her wheel is turn'd about with great inconstancy . low things arise ; high are confounded , by her quick surprize . good fortune , is transmuted into ill ; for to make evill , good ; is at her will . let not them grieve , who under hard fates lie : good fortune's near at hand : for shame don't die . . vpon death . they who brag themselves rich , shall quickly see ; when death casts their accounts ; how poor they bee . . upon a rabbet , that was catch'd twice . i fled from a mans hands , into a net : ah sad escape ! must i pay twice , a debt ? . concerning wifes . all men exclaim , they never in their lifes , met such great crosses , as their brawling wifes . talke , is , but talke ; for should the sixth wife die ; the seventh should succeed her , presently . . on the same subject . a wife afflicts ; yet she may usefull be : if shee 'l die quickly ; and leave all to thee . . upon an emperick , who sold a drop of balsam , very deer . sir q●ack , his patient told , nothing could cure ▪ the stubborn feaver ; did he not endure , to pay for precious balsam ; to be found , with none but him ; one drop , would cost ten pound . five i require , to have lay'd down , in hand : the other , when you 're well ; i shall demand . but about this , there scarce can be a strife : what is ten pound , to secure a mans life ? the bargain 's made ; from a well-cover'd glasse , a grain of this elixar , taken was . the sick crav'd all ; as willing to be sound : no ; the remainder 's worth , an hundred pound . besides the present dose , would stand instead : and so it did ; for he was quickly dead . unhappy bargain ! what won't the fates do ? life was not onely lost ; but balsam too . . vpon a picture , much resembling the party . your shadow , for your self , might almost passe : 't is not your picture , but your looking-glass . . vpon a picture , unlike . i going lately to a painters shop ; thy pourtraicture , my wandring eyes did stop . i am perswaded , that he did compact , you should sit three dayes ; for to mak 't exact . at the first view , i understood 't was you : for i believ'd the limner ; swearing so . . vpon a ridiculous prognostication . a fam'd astrologer , all ears did fill ; saying , this year , the king of france , lies still . new almanacks were scarcely come in date ; before the christian king resign'd to fate . the prophet persists in defence , of 's ill roving ; and askes , doth not france , now lie still ? the vulgar made his speech , a common jest ; often repeating , the french king 's at rest . this pill , the starres interpreter did choake ; therefore in anger , he them thus bespoke . ye simple souls ! are all your skulls of lead ? doth not the king lie still ; now he is dead ? . vpon a roman nose . proclus can't blow his nose ; but must confesse , though his hand 's great ; yet then his nose 't is lesse . nor when he sneezeth , can he himself hear : his nostrils are so remote , from his ear . . on a certain fool . flea-bitten morio , put out the light : lest fleas should see to finde him , ev'ry night . . aristotles judgement , concerning sleep . half of our lifes , to gratefull sleep we spare ; thus half their time , rich , and poor , equal are . croesus , and irus , rich alike , are found : when silken slumbers , have their sences bound . . the difference betwixt a good prince , and a bad. a good prince , like a shepherd , doth defend his flock : the bad , like wolfs their sheep do rend . . vpon a good king , and vertuous subjects . the kingdom is a man ; the king 's his head : subjects as members , to it fastened ; make the compositum . who knows what smart , 't is for a king , with one of 's limbs , to part ? the king 's requited ; for by filial dread : no single subject , but adores his head . accept this banquet ; and for it referre gordial thanks ; to the just lord chancellour . our entertainment , may please ev'ry guest : fourty choice dishes ; make a noble feast . heroick epigrams , upon some choice passages in the lives of the twelve caesars , and other worthy subjects . by t. p. gent. printed at london , for thomas bassett , in st. dunstans church-yard in fleet-street . . heroick epigrams . . caesar , quaesi celsus ; because he was cut out of his mothers womb . lvcretia's rape did such an odium bring ; that warlike rome , could not digest a king . vice undermines the greatest ; rome no place , ( much lesse a throne ) would grant the tarquin race . when the republick had regain'd her health ; consuls were chose , to steer the commonwealth . who , when the waves did rage , guided their ship , by the sure card , of a dictatorship . which was to last , till th' empresse of the night , six times had glori'd , in a globous light . onely thy sword , great julius ! seal'd to thee that honour , and its perpetuity . the picture of thy minde , was limn'd by strife ; thy body before birth , was cut to th' life . . vpon caesars epilepsie , or fallen-sicknesse . that emperour whose universal awe , prescrib'd both tybur , and the thames a law . he whose sword sent some myriads of souls , to that dark den , where cerberus grins , and houls . in spight of throne , was cast upon the ground ; his sence benighted , in a sudden swound . he who was victor , over what he pleas'd ; could not evade the title , of diseas'd : such physick was to 's tympany apply'd ; the fallen-sicknesse , is the scourge of pride . . upon his motto ; caesar , ex utroque . caesar was pleas'd , himself for to expresse ; by the heroick , and rever'd impresse ; of a sword , and a book . can it be thus , that tents , and studies , are synonimous ? he needs must triumph , over ev'ry part : who takes auxiliaries , from arms , from art . . venite huc . it is no news ; that some commanders will , onely in bushes , saw-pits , shew their skill . how stands our case ? as caesar did command , so from the hilt , he stirr'd not his own hand . what breast is so benumb'd , as to count light , the general should say ; come let us fight ? . veni , vidi , vici . though pompey , mithridates over-threw ; pharnax his son , began the wars anew . caesar entreated , by a gremial friend ; to certifie him , when stern mars did end : return'd this note ; i came , view'd , did confound ; after dispute , as by his promise bound . if thy eyes send forth deadly rayes ; sure then , the basilisk hath left his trade to men . . the most cowardly of caesars souldiers , were couragious , in defence of his honour . the trembling bucks , dread their own shadows ; but , who such bravado's , when they go to rut ? love scorns , that any remora should be : that 's the true sigil , moving gallantrie . . vpon caesars ambition . caesars aspiring minde , could not concurre ; with the dictates , of a superiour . it was more delight to have sole command , in a poor cottage ; and four acres land , then to have had such a disastrous fate , as might have dub'd him second , to the state . the world feeds many millions ; hath four parts : yet cannot breakfast , two ambitious hearts . . non rex sum , sed caesar . rome as a camerade to caesars fate ; by name of king , did him congratulate . they hit the grain , for prides humour delights ; in nothing more , then crouching parasites . one time the cry , remarkably was small ; caesar laugh'd at , the accidental fall : and demanded whence might the error spring ; my sirname's caesar ; gentlemen ! not king . . julio , & caesare , consulibus . caesar , and bibulus , elected were ; joyntly the weight , of consulship to bear . caesar's activity , brought it to passe ; that nothing , but by him , transacted was . and the swift torrent , of a flowing fame ; wash'd clean away , grave bibulus his name . some magistrates , void cyphers we may call : uselesse ; but to make others , decimal . . vpon caesars horsmanship . if we to histories submit our creed ; caesar with 's hands behinde , could run full speed . there needs no dispute , to confirm this true : that he rid faster , then romes eagle flew . . vpon his weeping over pompey's head . what did thine eyes embalm great pompey's head ? could it prove sorrow , to see a foe dead ? o admirable caesar ! very fine , thy brain should spend , unnecessary brine . yet the scal'd crocodile , out-weep thee can : nay 't is her practise ; but first kils the man . . upon his burning such letters as were found in pompey's trunks . equivocating fortune gave the day ; to caesar ; in the large pharsalia . among the spoyls , that beautifi'd the ground ; chests pack'd with letters , the brave victor found . who lest they should stir anger , was content , they should ( unseen ) feed vulcan's element . 't was hard to conquer ; but for to deny himself ; was the egregious victory . . mori malo , quam timere . caesar refus'd a guard ; nor did he care , to provide barricado's against fear . the devil , and his dam , can but cause death : why should dread gallop , upon humane breath ? . upon his robbing of the treasury . caesar in time of war , did set light by , the sacriledge of saturn's treasury . a heathen would not do 't , in times of peace : although some saints , can swallow it , at ease . . disficilius est mihi , hoc dicere ; quam facere . caesars necessity made his hands bold , to purge the inner treasury , of gold . metellus resolutely did resist ; caesar commanded quickly to desist , or he should cease to live . i can thee kill , with far more ease , young man ! then say , i will . caesar is dead , two thousand years ago : we finde it easier , for to say , then do . . caesar's wife , should not only be without fault , but without the least suspition of fault . vertues law is , man thy self regulate ; i can't prevent , being unfortunate . let my wife answer for her self ; shall i ; bear for her faults , the brand of infamy ? yes that you must ; and for your servants too : from the old cock , the chickens learn to crow . . caesarem vehis , & fortunam ejus . in a black storm , when hail-stones fell in crouds ; and hector boreas , chas'd the ruffled clouds ; caesar was in a pinnace , void of fear : although the water-man , conceiv'd death near : you silly boat-swain ! if neptune would drown , the earth's great master , he would spare his own . . caesar sacrificing , one of the beasts , wanted an heart . for many laurel wreaths , the prince of rome , the gods presented , with an hecatomb . the wise haruspex , searching ev'ry part ; found out one beast quite destitute of heart . the sacrifice , was counted ominous : no heart ? the gods will not be served thus . the ides of march are come , but not past . lillies great grand-father , would often say , caesar outlives not , marches fifteenth day . time being come , to run that middle race ; caesar said , in astrologies disgrace ; the ides of march are come : and so they bee , reply'd the prophet ; but you 'l something see ; before the ides be past . his words had grounds : before night , caesar , receiv'd twenty wounds . avant security ! i am a mark ; and providence , can hit me , in the dark : though dice be here ; who can predict my cast ? this day is come ; but this day , is not past . . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . caesar , by taking on him too much state ; and slighting senators , gave birth to hate . this fatal serpent , propagated more conspirators , then are found , in three-score . caesar was stab'd ; and tooke it silently ; till brutus , abhor'd damn'd impiety ; wrested out these few words , and thou my son ▪ what have the traytors , mine own bowels won ? — megaera must conclude : no sting but hers , shall bore , ingratitude . . upon the brightness of augustus caesar's countenance . phoebus did not so many rayes comprise ; as were resplendent in augustus eyes . no wonder light , in his face made abode : whose father by adoption , was a god . . vpon the styling of his freckles , stars . venus cheek hath her mole ; so fals it here ; innumerable freckles did appear , upon augustus skin : but such as far , excel'd the common , mimicks of a star . that flattery which made his eyes a sun , could make these stars ; by the same art 't was done . . upon one of his edicts . when the great god , descended from on high ; to take the vesture of mortality : when the bless'd jesus , was the angels theme ; whose carols well-com'd him , to bethlehem : unto augustus , it seem'd to be known ; for name of lord , he durst no longer own . this demy-god , the honour did confer , on the immortal , and true jupiter . jupiter , quasi juvans pator . . upon the ceasing of oracles , at the same time . if the emperial head , did chance to ake ; forthwith to delphos , rome did journeys take , to enquire who the successor should be ; to her redundant soveraignity . augustus did , on the same message send ; but hell was cop'd ; & could not stand his friend . . festina lente . augustus pleasing to reprove rash hast , us'd frequently this proverb ; not too fast . seventy six years , his lungs were seis'd of breath : perhaps he read that lecture unto death . . upon his magnificence . when rome was in her cradle , remus bloud , wash'd her foundation ; with a crimson floud . not to be lull'd by peace could she dispence ; as if bellona's , choicest residence . this made the city , far unfit to be , a chair of state , to supreme majesty . but in augustus reign , fierce mars did cease : and from mean houses he rais'd palaces . that which was lately , brick , now chang'd its pitch : and pharian columns , did the street enrich . rome now , or never , had atchiev ' her prime : augustus found materials , and peace , time . . vpon his impartiality . the commendamus , which augustus gave his sons ; was only this ; pray let them have my glorious crown ; provided that they be , worthy the diadem of majesty . the commonwealth keeps jubilee ; is blest : vvhen great men chiefly minde , her interest . . upon the temple of janus , being shut . the dove cal'd concord , had release a while ; from melancholy limits , in exile . swords became useless ; no sad clamour fils , the sublime convex , of the quirine hils . rome lockt up janus temple : what was he , the two-fac'd god , cited in poetry ? for looking back , perhaps he deserv'd praise : but looking forward , * he could see our daies . and let him exercise , both eyes , and minde ; his temple shut , he 's like no more , to finde . . upon his gaming . augustus was not spotted with much vice , yet he was proud , and hugely shak'd the dice . antony out-threw all , but him alone : who by a lucky passage , won the throne . . upon his humanity . the eagles talons did so gripe the jews , that to pay tribute , they durst not refuse . augustus wil'd the publicans to stay , from grudg'd collections , on the saturday : upon morality , men may dispence , with smaller lapses ; done in conscience . . upon tiberius caesar's speech ; thoughts , and words , should be free ; in a free state . the smallest dust , doth trouble much the eye ; the lightest blow , bruises a monarchy . how came tiberius to unbarre the tongue ? to coyn pretences , to hang old , and young . extensive freedom ! men may scot-free prate : not ev'ry man , but they who want estate . . a good shepherd onely shears his sheep , &c. none could perswade tiberius , to play the tyrant , for a while ; nor would he lay taxations on the provinces . the wool , a carefull shepherd clips ; kings must not pull , their subjects skins over their eares . 't is right ; but , who complements thus ? an hypocrite . . upon his forbidding kisses . tiberias by a promulg'd edict , prohibited salutes : what , what , so strict ? yes , yes , for he ador'd the stews . just so , mall must not kisse ; although her madam do . . tiberias was rare good at ex tempore . premeditated thoughts , quite lost their edge ; his nest was feather'd , though his words not fledge . gifted tiberias ! 't was no disgrace : dear st. revive : thou'lt have an elders place . . oderint , dum probent . rome was his ladder , to the regal throne : for to requite her love , let him alone , who likes her hatred . how ? none disapprove , but thee biberius ! their subjects love . . upon his using the laurel , as a shield , to protect him against lightning . when as a fiery exhalation ror'd ; and through the middle region , passage bor'd : tiberias fortifi'd his kingly brow ; with the prov'd helmet , of a laurel bough . the due possessor , laurel frees from harms : not envy's thunder-bolt , can pierce such arms . . it was a capital crime to name a goat , before caius caligula . a wanton hee-goat , hath not moyster pores ; then that shag'd monster , which proud rome adores . hence was it made high treason for to say , a goat ; in presence of caligula . a slight reflection , princes glory blots : before the moon , forbear to talk of spots . . vpon his wish , that some eminent mischief , might befall ; during his reign . caius had a mishapen body ; face , exceeding wan ; nor did fair vertue grace , his inward parts : yet the audacious clod , commanded worship , to himself ; as god . you needed not to wish calamity ; what plague can exceed , such a prodigie ? . upon his cruelty . caligula's bloud-thirsty soul , did rave , to send a man , to an untimely grave . through the mistake of name , a wrong was slain . mercilesse caius , did the fact maintain ; for he deserv'd it too . an apt pretence ! he merited the ax ; through innocence . . upon his dissimulation . caius a mediate descent could frame , from him , who yellow tyber gave a name . this cast foundations ; but the regal chaire , became his seat ; by leading life so faire . but when he felt the gratifying crown : deboshed clodius , could not put him down . whilest vices wings are clipt , it can't soare high : honour 's the touchstone , of morality . . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . a grecian lawyer 's impudence , did quote claudius dotage , and as fool him note . princes should not let loose the reins . a frog , trampled his king ; when jove threw down , a log . . vpon his ridiculous resolution . claudius was half resolv'd , by his edict ; to concede . leave , wind might no more afflict , the entrails ; detain'd by civility ; at feasts , at banquets , the guts might let fly . his nostrils alwayes wept : you might suppose , before i told you this ; he wanted nose . . vpon nero's feigned clemencie . the bloud-hound nero , when desir'd to set his hand to fatal warrants ; us'd regret . and to prevent th' incursions of hate ; in mercie wish'd himself , illiterate . whence was his quill , in writing obstructed ? the ink was black ; and he lik'd none but red . . upon his quinquennium . till sol had kiss'd the equinoctial line , ten times ; in nero , vertues rays did shine . after five years , he did degenerate ; and prov'd a vulture , to the roman state . most kings make good beginnings ; few endure : a murtherer , waits till he seems secure . . occidar modo imperet . when nero's embryo , did his mother fill ; she search'd the bowels of chaldean skill : would'st know his fortune ? thy issue shall be , a king ; thy life shall feel his tyrannie . pride swell'd her joy , that she could not refrain ; let my son kill me ; so my son may reign . her wishes took effect ; nero was kinde ; to observe punctualy , his mothers minde . . vpon his inhumane wish . nero hearing one say , that when he dy'd , he car'd not if the earth in fire were fry'd ; belch'd forth this wish ; o might i live to see , the world grone under , that catastrophe ! 't were frivolous alecto should so do : thy tyranny , may serve both her and you. . vpon his being deluded by the oracle . nero consulting delphos oracle , how long his soul might in her palace dwell ; receiv'd this answer : very carefull be ; to ten times seven , when there's added three . this age from nero far remote appears : his own were counted , and not galba's years . when on destruction , the gods are intent : they use security ; as instrument . . upon his inordinate delight in musick . blest agrippina ! your dear son can tell , to tune an harp ; and play a lesson well . why should his faculty incurre dislike ? as great as he , have learn'd to play mardike . . vpon sulpitius galba's deformity . galba long since , did lose becoming hair : extreamly crooked , both hands , and feet , were . 't is strange his honour , seven moneths should stand : who was defective in head , feet , and hand . . upon his studies . the study of the laws , did galba please ; better then other , charming sciences . when princes want the knowledge of the law : 't is tyranny , not reason , keeps in awe . . vpon salvius otho's perruck . deformed otho's hair , was spred so thin ; that to wear false , he accounted no sin . what did our fashions , lie in otho's road ? yes , if his perruck , were cut a la mode . . upon his curiosity . five hundred times a day , the looking-glasse , commended otho , for a cleanly face . this fool to make it fair , sops did apply : had he no wife , to learn him mercury ? . vpon the justice of aulus vitellius . those , who with galba's bloud had their hands stain'd ; to suffer death , vitellius constrain'd . he , who was thus precise , was no whit nice ; to plunge himself , into the mire of vice . one swallow makes no summer . vertuous call rulers , when vertue , is habitual . . upon his gluttony . two thousand fishes , and seven thousand fowl , once feasted this , epicurean soul . but he was granted , but eight moneths command : a compleat year , might have starv'd half the land . . vpon flavius vespasians vertue . vespasian during his privacie , led such a life , as was exemplary . the souldiers love , ordained him the chair : he grew more high ; and his demeanour fair . in the caesars , ( o how frail are men ! ) honour made but two better ; worser , ten. . vpon his avariciousnesse . none could vespasians impositions flie , but , who were troubled , with the strangurie . his manifest extortions , were so vile ; that rome was taxed , ev'ry pissing while . . upon titus vespasians sweet disposition . debonaire titus , rejoyc'd to confer benefits , on the sad petitioner . his love kept sentinels ; lest some by chance , might return , with dejected countenance . his subjects were his sons . they well assign'd . his epithite ; the darling of man-kinde . . upon his assiduity in goodnesse . the days bright father , had hid profuse light ; under the curtains , of a pur-blinde night ; when good vespasian publickly did say ; alasse my friends ! i did no good this day . fame take a note ; rome the like never bred. vespasian was a god ; and yet not dead . . upon flavius domitians timerousnesse . domitian the tedious day did passe , in galleries ; forging a looking-glasse ; by help of the phengites stone . his minde was hugely intent , to observe behinde . his cruelty , had run much on the score : he look'd behinde ; he should have look'd before . . upon domitians private recreation . childish domitian , no pastime did prise ; to the heroick turnament , at flies . let hercules nemaean lyons kill . or julius , with admiration fill , the worlds dimensions ; who , did disarray , the two and fiftieth , hot battalia . fierce meleager , vapours in a boare . let thy carpophorus , kill twenty score ; of short-neck'd bears . what should domitian trie , dangers so evident ? a flie , a flie . epigrams upon various subjects . . to his serene highnesse , richard , lord protector , &c. a vgustus was most lovely in the eyes , of romes grave senate ; who did eternise his fame ; and without arguings agree , to honour him ; with pater patriae . in a pacifick , and auspicious hour , you made an ingresse , to the supream power . your sweet demeanour gives , publick content : love , candor , finde but few , malevolent . your father julius was ; augustus be : your countreys father ; mecoena 's to me . . to the right honourable , the lord chief justice glyn. one of your predecessors , pleas'd to tell posterity , that the law , is a well . men are the thirsty buckets , which receive , more , or lesse water ; as , reason gives leave . there 's an eternal spring ; or else no doubt , you had long since ; drawn all the water out . . to the right honourable oliver . st. john , lord chief justice of the common pleas . where ever sol emits his innate light , on purpose to transport the drowzie night ; the english valour will endure the test : nor do her lions fear , the eagles nest . had britain many nestors like to you : she should be as renown'd , for wisdom too . . to the right honourable , the lord chief baron widdrington : and his brother , mr. vniversity-orator . and did the juncto of the gods agree , to make you sol ; your brother , mercury ? nature doth seldome so exhaust her store , of ingenuity ; as to makemore then one wise , in an house : ye needs must be , chronicl'd ; for an happy prodigie . you grace the law ; your brother's words dispence , to his admirers ; flowrs of eloquence . learning about to die ▪ these late sad wars : ordained yee , her co-executors . . to sir edmund prideaux , attorney-general . if law , if rhetorick , my muse avow ; in you enthron'd ; i sing , what all men know . of your great vertue , most are ignorant : how charitable unto those that want ! you have found out , the untrack'd path to bliss : to sue for heaven , in forma pauperis . . to those excellent conveyancers , sir orlando bridgman ; and the worthy mr. geofry palmer . wise greece , & rome , did both in this combine ; to make addresses , to the delphian shrine . and with divine apollo to advise ; was the preludium of an enterprise . few english men , dare purchase an estate ; unless your wisdom's unsophisticate the title vouch . ye can stop hymens way ; for portions , joyntures , both sexes must pay , due thanks . wise fathers , ranters keep in awe ; craving from ye ( the oracles of law ) help to entail their lands : whilst your selves be , tenants of riches , of renown , in fee . . to mr. recorder , of the celebrious city of london . your pupil london , did a great while long ; to have a learned head , and fluent tongue . now she vaunts happy fortune , for to you , all sorts those two , rare faculties allow : pallas , and suada , triumphant are seen : may you for ever flourish ; long be green . . to the learned lawyer , and eloquent pleader , henneage finch , esquire . the divine samian guess'd aright , in this ; that souls affect , a metempsycosis . the penetration of dimensions be ; not dissonant , from my philosophie . for two great finches souls , the sages know ; ( pardon the phrase , ) concorporate in you . . to his honoured cousin edward peck , of the inner temple , esquire . certain set forms , fixt in the memory ; almost accomplish , for the chancery . it matters not , in what your practice lies : your law , your love , are no formalities . . to a certain old barrister . grave monsieur plowden , elected a time , to tell my father , law 's not writ in rythme . ergo i must the two-topt mount defie , and give my vale unto poetry . were not thy skin good buffe ; my muse should send the long-nail'd furies ; which thy soul should rend . i have fierce satyrs , that can assault hell : dash out medaeas brains , in spight of spell . reclaim an unback'd impudence . make bleed , a rock : and stab the fell medusa's head . and dares thy empty skull , bandy at me ? lord paramount of gross stupidity ! . to his most indulgent grandmother , mrs. anne talbot . they who on aesculapius altars tend , to my slack memory , this notion lend ; that children who are sent abroad to nurse ; delight in them ; and love their mothers worse . if such affection , in cradles appears ; what love may you expect , from mature years ? your greatest study , was my life to save : your self was prompt , to bail me from the grave ; when tissical distempers , stopt my breath ; and my clog'd wind-pipe seem'd to whistle death . i beleeve nature , only gives me day ; that in some sort , i might strive you to pay . . to his honourable father . i must acknowledge my life did commence , from you ; ( dear father ) thanks to providence . who ordain'd you agent , for what was done : i could not choose a father ; you , a son . reflecting on the will , we actions call , vertues , or vices : yours was general . an heir was wish'd ; but you could not foresee , my sex ; my vvit , or my stupidity . for birth , my muse shall grateful hymns rehearse ; in praise of him who made the universe . my dutiful devoirs to you are ty'd : for my well-being , 'cause you thus provide . . to his honourable mother . mother-in-lawes , poets much vilifie ; you , did i never ; no , not secretly . when own mothers prove sowre , unnatural ; mother-in-laws ; sons , may them aptly call . she that is not by nature , yet may be an own mother , by sweet indulgency . i shall endeavour duty to improve ; according to the merits , of your love . you shall not lose those favours , you lend me : this is the time , for my retaining fee . . to his highly valued vncle , thomas pecke of spixworth , esquire . vvhen as it was my happy chance to lie , sucking sweet milk , from th' university : my happy fortune , prompted you to hold , fast my affection by the threads of gold . but now the scene is chang'd . you 'l not confer your cash , but on the sprightful traveller . what though you cannot push me into france ? though you cease piping ; still my love shall dance . . to the worthy mr. philips , late vsher of the free-school of norwich . when languishings gave leave , i went to school , to you kinde sir ! your favours made me whole . i cannot chide your passion , for a blow : not whipping then , makes me obsequious now . . to his very loving school-master , mr. tho. lovering . my weak endeavours you were pleas'd to prise ; as hating , over lads , to tyrannize . indulgence made my school-boyes life a sport ; you did not lash to study ; but me court . this , this , perswades him , to remain your friend ; who may perhaps prove witty , in the end . . to his endeared tutor , mr. will. naylour , senior fellow , of gon. and cai. colledge in cambridge . to your protection sir ! my muse doth flie ; as conscious of her imbecilitie . it were impiety , to question now ; the residence of candour , on your brow. frequent experiments made manifest ; she as queen regent , triumphs in your breast . i that am flint , to whatsoever threat ; and can't be anvil'd , to a base regret : from things displeasing to you , did refrain : nor were your moral lectures read in vain . the curb of tutor , did not chafe my will : this made me obey then ; and honour still . on pain of death , i durst not too much rove : lest i should seem a rebel , against love . . to the highly deserving dr. love , master of corpus christi colledge in cambridge . when first i read the orphean history , i conceiv'd it a gem of poetry . i must recant my error ; that is true : for very fresh-men , beadles , adore you . . to the learned doctor brown . rare oculist ! whose genius did devise , to cut the cataracts , from vulgar eyes . the sun-shine of your learning , brought the day : and chas'd the fogs of ignorance , away . your universal judgment , search'd about : and put gray-bearded errors , to the rout . yet modesty made you mistake . most true , a phoenix exists . the world , brown , doth owe . . to the celebrated doctor scarborowe . psyche close vail'd , from galen made escape ; nor could he view her entrails , in an ape . what dissect beasts ? you are far more precize : galen himself , you dare anatomize . . to the honourable john lord herbert . may my pen venture , to approach a name ; long since , espous'd to an immortal fame ? deslowr'd astraea , in a sable weed ; for your grand-father , did not weep , but bleed ; till she saw you , who are intent to awe ; audacious vice , and by your life , vouch law . . to the honourable lord richardson . our virgin-queen , beheld with great content ; our sister suffolk's , happy government : but till her progress ; she knew not the cause ; to be the gospels marriage unto lawes . when to meet her the justices did ride ; not one but had a chaplain by his side . to love the learned , pious clergy ; is , vertue describ'd , without periphrasis . you are the obadiah , who do feed the prophets of the lord : relieve their need. whilst you continue , in this devout way : my muse shall sing ; and let the clergy pray . . to those eminent members of parliament , sir horatio townshead ; and sir william doyle . our mother norfolk trusting in your care , as to heroick spirits , and sincere ; elected ye as guardians to us all : as good fathers , let not your children fall . ye who a splendid county represent ; must strive to give , the wiser sort content . a joynt consent , made ye our supreme parts : your vertues , attract to our heads ; our hearts . . to the noble sir william paston . your recreation , is to feed your eyes , with the most select things , the globe comprize . i know the medium to let you see a wonder ; englands choicest rarity . advance to the reflecting looking-glass : there you may view , the fam'd mecoena's face . . to his highly valued cousin , will . bloys , esq ; author of that celebrated book , call'd modern policy . i am a servant to morality ; and ( thanks your worth ) cousin to policy . i must be vertues page ; lest i fall on the tortures , of your colasterion . . to the grave and wise gentleman , mr. tuthill . to select you from others of your name ; the epithite of lord , the vulgar frame . let them call lord , i shall style you a king : who to subjection all your passions bring . to the fair lady , his daughter . acquaintance with your father , me commands ; humbly to kiss your ladiships snow-hands . i dare not approach nigh ; accept my muse : as she 's a virgin , you cannot refuse . i shall not muster up hyperboles ; to make you rival , to the deities . pallas , your soul ; juno , your fortune grace : venus sits smiling , on your lovely face . you need no poetry : these great truths are ; that , madam ! you are vertuous , wise ; rich , fair . . to that profound grecian , mr. duport , president of trinity coll. in cambridge . the witty limner , ancient poets fed ; with that which admir'd homer vomited . your curious palat , hated that crude meat ; homer himself , you disjoynted ; and eat . and lest his children , should the fact reveal ; you devour'd them too : the succeeding meal . . to his worthy friends work , john sherman , b. d. author of that pious work , styl'd white salt . rather then be ungrateful , i express my high respect , in this so rude a dress . what though my muse is lame , my love shan't halt : nor shall she vend , a cornel of bay-salt . . to the egregious poet , sir will. davenant . that ben , whose head , deserv'd the roscian bayes ; was the first gave the name of works , to playes . you his corrival , in this waspish age ; are more then atlas , to the fainting stage . your bonus genius , you this way display : and to delight us , is your opera . . to his adopted vncle , james howel esquire . vvhen first propitious stars conceded me , the sweet enjoyment , of your company ; i was adopted : your pity thought fit , i at these years should be alli'd to wit . lest i should shame your choice , i will improve ▪ and fall to study , in dodona's grove . . to the lover of ingenuity , tho. stanly esq ; . nature in the unfathom'd stagyrite , compos'd a body , abject to the sight . fortune is more close-fisted ; for we finde , few poets rich ; but only in the minde . nature , fortune , in you cooperate : your parts are great ; plentiful , your estate . a poet , rich , a mecoenas you be : can our age parallel in one , these three ? . to his loving friend , mr. payn fisher . how few are english poets ! but a brain , that can reach ela , in the latine strain ; is no small wonder . rare in both you be : an ambodexter in true poetrie . . to mr. john ogilbie . your sparkling genius i then did prise ; when you poor aesop , pleas'd to manumise . i sacrifice these lines , lest i alone , should prove the cock ; & slight a precious stone . were maro now alive , he must you prise : and by you , homer , shall regain his eyes . . to his loving friend edmund wharton , m. a. and fellow of gon. and cai. coll. in cambridge . over three lustrums , time hath almost flown ; since your acquaintance , i desir'd to own . when age adopted , you were at expence , of time , and brains ; to purchase eloquence . nor would you let profound philosophy , be exempt from a serious scrutiny . run on the race ; be ever fortunate : i wish you egresse , at honoris gate . . vpon home-spun , one of the ordinary sort of preachers . buy a gold chain , you must entreat true weight : and 't is a favour , not to meet deceit . if sheets of vulgar lead , you please to buy : ask a pound over , plummers can't deny . chrysologus will stand , but just his hour : battus cries out , my lungs will hold for four . . an epigram , that should have been inserted , into a book of the authors , called advice to balaams asse : under the emblem of a dog , barking at the moon . when phoebe's glory , the curre did espy ; he flash'd out lightning from a threatning eye . and what 's the reason ? what ? you may guesse soon : people kick him , while they admire the moon . just so our momus , snarls at osborns prayse : 'cause his own merits cannot reach the bayes . . there was also intended for that book , the picture of an asse , ( in reference to the title , ) with this epigram . we burthen not the dumb asse , which you see : our pen must scourge , lavish garrulitie . no shame to teach a prating brute : alasse , it was an angels task ; to stop an asse . . vpon the parliament , that voted down the universities . vvhen infant vipers to the light do come , they kill their dams ; by knawing of their womb . a generation , bald-pate time ne're ey'd : that durst concurre , in voting matricide . such vipers as could not their stings refrain : had not a pia mater , to their brain . . upon owen . fertilis autumno , pinguescat vallis opimo : aurea saxosis , mons habet exta locis . anglia doctrinae , laetis ditescat aristis : jactat odoenum , wallia siccà tagum . let crouded wheat , the humble valleys line : the steril mountains bowels , with gold shine . let england boast sagacity : since wales , can with her golden owen turn the scales . verses made ex tempore , and writ in a ladies book ; occasioned by a friends recital , of that well-known fancy of doctor corbets ; little lute , when i am gone , &c. and referring to the covers of a singing book , painted with slips of flowers , to several statues , which were there view'd ; and bitter cherries , tasted of by the author . the lady being absent , &c. . when my voracious eyes first lent a look , unto the florid covers of thy book ; i fondly thought this happy hour , might blesse me with my wished flower . . but since my hopes deluded me ; i went , and some sad musings , in the garden spent . where i , 'cause thou wert absent , ( dearest love ) became the statue of a mourning dove . . my sights swift wheels rapidly roul'd about , that it some friendly moisture , might find out , to quench my flaming brest . alasse , thou hid'st thy rayes ▪ and i dim-sighted was . . at last , a smiling cherry , did invite th' embraces of , my gasping appetite ; my taste expected bitternesse did meet : in all the world , for onely thou art sweet . reverendiss . in christo patri , johanni , exoniae episcopo ; & celeberrimo templorum magistro , ejusdem authoris epistola . spectatissime antistes , scythae , ( licet genus hominum , ab omni mansuetudine , alienum ) piis affectibus , sacrificiis , necnon assiduis ; solem coluerunt . ego ( licet oratione impolitus , ) saluberrimum tui adventus jubar , demisse congratulor . non lydium immensae tuae eruditionis lapidem , incomptus stylus aggreditur . non ad eminentiam vestram , tenella musa prorepit . sed haec carmina eucharistica , ●unt veluti mea , optimatum tesseris interposita ; ne vocali , & sonoro , communi gaudio ; ego solus edormire viderem . quae ( ut a discipulo integerrimo lusa , ) colendissime magister ! exonorandus es ; aequi , bonique consulere . adsis grandisono foecunda thalia cothurno ! adsis ! insolito quonam sum persitus aestro ? aurea confectum renovarunt secula cursum . nostraque laetitiae , stagnant praecordia rivis . jupiter iratus , miseros combusserit anglos . fulmine solenni ; cum per sua viscera , dudum , ardebat civile nefas ; propriasque cruenta sanguine fraterno , terras madidavit erinnys . horresco , referens tabidae fera vulnera dextrae ; marcida quando suis confossa est anglia telis . sancitae populo leges , tacuere frementi : mordax pierides , timor & crutiavit inermes . sic exporrectas calcat neptunus arenas , ( pascua terribili tundens vicina tridente ) martem cum cereri , crudeliter ingerit almae . cur nugas decanto leves ? quid sanguis ? & horror ? non sacra viscosas vulgi delubra ruentis , evasere manus . non inculpata tuetur , vita . fides , pietas , sunt & doctrina , peremptae . saevas bellonae lacerata ecclesia sensit plagas : et claris flevit viduata patronis . nunc vero expansis , plaudit concordia palmis : et pax , pullato detersit nubila coelo . tu ( venerande pater ) redüsti tutus in ulnas nostras ; a brevibus gyaris : manicasque fugasti ; praesulis immerito quas plebs injecit honori . saepius absentes doluit meditasse penates : sed juvat antiquae vidisse crepuscula formae . primaevo retulit fulgori templa , tiara , nos sub vexillo vestro , pugnamus ovantes : et themis exultat , talem sortita magistrum . cal. maii an. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . tui favoris cultor studiosissimus , tho. pecke , è soc. interioris templi . the printer to the reader . if you demand what kinde of fate there 's in 't , that printers cann't be faultless when they print : one cause why this misfortune to them comes , is by the multitude of individuums vs'd in composing . what faults are slipt here , to curious readers obviously appear . for which i pardon crave ; especially for one escap'd through inadvertencie . some poems said to be mr. tho. pecke's ; which stile , on him , may cast absurd reflex . whose modesty to clear , and honour quit , i say , i , not he , was framer of it . j. c. a catalogue of some books printed for , and are to be sold by t. basset , in st. dunstans church-yard , in fleetstreet . the exact law-giver , faithfully communicating to the skilfull , the firm basis and actioms of their profession ; to the ignorant , their ancient and undoubted birth-rights and inheritances : being as a light unto all the professors of the law , as well counsellors , as atturneys , clerks , solicitors , scriveners , &c. a survey of the law , containing directions how to prosecute and defend personal actions , usually brought at common-law ; with the judges opinions in several cases . by william glisson , and anthony gulston esquires , baristers at law . a short view of the life and reign of king charles , the second monarch of great britain , from his birth to his burial , by p. heylin . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text machine-generated and other supplemental data notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- * in an anagram , that mr. gwyn made in scotland , before the union of it , with england . * de nat. deorum . lib. . * cicero de diu. lib. . notes for div a e- * owen tewder , the grand-father of henry the ▪ came out of north wales : king james , out of scotland ; the north part of great britain . * faith comes by hearing . * love by sight . * the jewish , christian , mahometan , pagan . notes for div a e- * janus was accounted the god of war , as well as mars . epigrams of martial, englished with some other pieces, ancient and modern. epigrammata. english. selections martial. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing m estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) epigrams of martial, englished with some other pieces, ancient and modern. epigrammata. english. selections martial. killigrew, henry, - . [ ], p., leaf of plates. printed for henry bonwicke ..., london : . running title: martial's epigrams. errata: p. . translated by henry killigrew. originally published under title: select epigrams of martial, translated into english ... london, . reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams, latin. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion m. val. martialis . london . printed for henry bonwicke . epigrams of martial , englished . with some other pieces , ancient and modern . dicitur & nostros cantare britannia versus . mart. lib. ix . ep. . on the frontispiece . whose chance it is , to take in hand this book , in the satyric-mirror let him look ; wherein , if wise , with much delight he 'll see , from what fond vice his nobler soul is free : if foolish , he 'll astonish'd be to find , a stranger better knew , than he , his mind : and if he flys from so severe a school , to wink , boots not , when others see the fool. london , printed for henry bonwicke at the red lyon in st. paul's church-yard , . to the reader . on translation in general . he that translates , than he that writes , does more ; for he must please upon a double score ; that of his author first , then on his own , hold out compar'd , be good when read alone . when he that from his brain does first endite , has paid all debts , if well he does but write . translation then a comment ought to be , not only change the tongue , but author free from darkness ; clear his sense , sometimes improve : for if the second pen soar not above his lowest stoops , 't will ne're that grace repay , which in the work , too oft , will slip away . but then , who will translate to this degree , be held the author's second self to be , must not cleave servilely to ev'ry phrase , and think , therein , he has deserv'd the bays : sometimes , 't is true , a word 's an epigram , there he must sweat , till he express the same with like felicity : but on each word who equal pains and travel shall afford , and thinks't a mastery the same to hit , will oft spend cost on weakness ' stead of wit ; make his verse strut , and pride it in that part , which was the author's shift , perhaps , not art. some things will bear , some will require a change and the chief purpose will appear less strange i● new terms , than its own . a nobler aim he will pursue , if he shall seek a name , by keeping of the force , not words ; the wit and grace , and evermore the genius hit , that powerful thing so hard 't is to expound , but in whatever is well writ , is found . but then no law with them will e're dispense , who wildly ramble from the author's sense ; not only shift his phrase , but leave his way ; follow not his , but their own phancies sway ; little regarding what they undertook , namely , to english , not to write a book . to such we say , martial we hop'd to see , his epigrams , not those were writ by thee . obj. but th' author seems sometimes to droop & drowz . ans. if there a brisk but wary touch do rowz his vein , the well-plac'd judgment all will praise , and with his worth your own you 'l joyntly raise . but when he 's exc'llent , if you balk or range , write what you will , none will accept the change , but rigidly the author's sense require . as he that of a painter shall desire to copy some much-lov'd or honour'd face , unlikeness will not please with better grace . altho' , alas , what some more graceful deem , meer blunders , and not master-strokes do seem . how rash must he be then , who nothing fears , to change a work approv'd a thousand years ? but , when he faithfully shou'd the text express , preferrs to shew himself a beau in verse ; and with such confidence does act this part , as if his error were a rule of art. others there are , who to this work address , with more pretence , but with as small success : who , when it is their province to explain the author's excellence and noble vein , his beaut'ous schemes to best advantage show , their pains in searching manuscripts bestow ; to criticize upon the text affect , the poet not t' illustrate , but correct ; think if their toyl retrieve from mould and rust , some various reading long obscur'd in dust , th 'ave reach'd the highest point , tho' nought it tend t' improve the sense , or any grace to lend . what boots it , how the words are understood , if the exchange produces nothing good ? these mens abilities their margents speak , their notes are learn'd , their version dull and weak . dost ask , if i have all these laws obey'd ? th 'ave been my aim , however i have stray'd . to the reader . on the present translation . who , for the public view , employs his pen , writes to as many iudges , as to men ; to those know more than he , to those know less ; to those are skill'd , to those can only guess ; he must submit ( altho' he lose his cause ) to trifling phancies , as to equal laws : nay , and as if th' objections were too few , himself , against himself , must find out new and curious ones , such as much pains have taught , and great experience only could have brought : and answ'ring all , he 's yet not freed from fear : for when thus arm'd at ev'ry point , ev'n where he least does think of wounds , the fatal steel ( tho' like achilles dipp'd ) will find his heel . thus i am charg'd — cens. — from th' author thou dost range , his sense abridge , enlarge , and sometimes change . trans . if , as thou say'st , i did not sometimes stray , i oft should lose the end , to keep the way ; and tho' the author , to translate , might boast , his wit would vanish , and his drift be lost . again , where he does blaze , tho' tax , that sin , the heathen world was so engulphed in , if any scap'd the knowledge of 't before , i like'd not that my pen should teach them more . cens. but while this sin thou fondly dost detest , thou slight'st his smartest epigrams and best . trans . who shall translate martial's licentious rage , unless he also could translate the age in which he liv'd , with vice 't would him oppress , who never 'gainst decorum did transgress . but this so little we observ'd do find , men speak the author's words without his mind : for whereas he with gall the vice did press , they set it forth exalted in their verse ; no scruple make to bring it into vogue , brand not and lash , but glorifie the rogue ; bold nomenclators they delight to show themselves of vice , but little good to know ; and if we rightly their performance state , 't is their lewd selves , not others , they translate . cens. yet with some looser touches you dispense . trans . conclude not that i break my rule from thence : but as a painter , that will likeness take , must not refuse i' th' face a scarr to make , if such he finds : so i engag'd to draw martial's resemblance , fetter'd by this law , some tracts must take , which not so comely be , that those who see the piece , may say , 't is he ; and tho' i his obsceneness do omit , have merry , tho' not wanton , martial hit . cens. you might have let the work wholly alone . trans . o candid censor ! in amends for one default , how many noble precepts shine , how many sharp reproofs enrich each line ? when the flat preacher does exhort in vain , a thousand vices by his verse are slain , and vertues taught ; men rather would be dead , than in his poem branded and ill-read . cens. oft thou insertest verses of thine own , ambitious that the author them should own . trans if in some parts i have the text enlarg'd , my margent's fair , and with few notes is charg'd : nor do i rove from the prescrib'd intent , but plainer shew what 't was the poet meant : which glosses , tho' not children of his brain , yet for his childrens children may be ta'en . and who the latin , vainly shall contend , in as few english words to comprehend ; against this evil he will never fence , but render oft a cramp'd abortive sense ; and when his author and himself h 'as vext , his version shall be dark , tho' clear the text. heaps of dry names , in part too , i omit , when more they clog , than they advance the wit ; customs , again , i change , when exolete , coins , names of fishes , fowls , and various meat , of which best criticks doubt , altho' they treat : for in those times , tho' these were known to all , now for a tedious comment they do call ; which no more grateful way i could prevent , than by a modern pat equivalent . censure not then the changes that i make , if they illustrate , from the sense not take ; in zeal to martial load me with dispraise , where he himself , alive , wou'd give me bays . when to speak english , is impos'd my task ; 't is foolish to affect a roman mask . and , learned censor , thou wert not my care in this , who can'st th' original compare , but who their mother-tongue do only know , and further than i lead them , cannot go . cens. epigrams thou disorderd'st without cause . trans . nor for their order know i any laws : if fancy place a few , reason can none ; beside , of fifteen books , i make but * one. cens. thy verse is rough and harsh — trans . — with this dispense , i forfeit number oft , to give thee sense , and metre too , it fuller to impart , tho' i poclaim thereby my want of art. and oft the craggy epigramick strain will not allow a smooth maronian vein : and who a flowing verse shall here affect , the sting , the force , the genius , must neglect . cens. then to this paradox we must agree , epigrammatist and poet none can be . trans . no ; but this truth , by whomsoever spoke , martial and virgil t is in vain to yoke . cens. all who this work have hitherto essay'd , martial have not translated , but betray'd ; debas'd his muse , and all the good th 'ave done , th 'ave forestall'd others , and no glory won . trans . the vain attempts of such as go before , the generous and brave encourage more ; and more illustrious still is his renown , vvho takes , when many are repuls'd , the town . but here is no forestalling in the case , ev'ry new pen may start , and shew , new grace . the wits of old would share among a score one epigram , and thought their pains so poor , that tryal yet was left for hundreds more . and if thou 'lt shew the age , by doing better , nought yet is done , it will be still thy debtor . cens. thou but few epigrams , and not chosen well , dost to the world present — trans . — those that excel to nobler pens i leave ; which i wish may far out-do mine , and ev'ry weak essay the vvorld has known . nor shall i grieve to see , on this account , my leaves condemn'd to be mantles for soap and spice , carpets for pyes , vvhile in the desk th' illustrious version lyes , adorn'd with art and cost , rich gilt and strung , th' applause and ioy of ev'ry ear and tongue . to the judicious reader . that with no verses i come usher'd forth , proceeds not from opinion of my vvorth : but for such grace i did forbear to sue , 'cause friends write all they can , not what is due ; and in these cases it is always known , they shew not th' author's merit , but their own . but if that thou , on prospect of my book , shalt martial take , and on the latin look , and say , a just translation i have made , diluted not the force , nor grace betrai'd . such vvords , without hyperbole of praise , vvill heap upon me a whole grove of bays . epigrams of martial englished . lib . spectac . epigr. . on caesar's amphitheatre . egypt , forbear thy pyramids to praise , a barb'rous work up to a wonder raise ; let babylon cease th' incessant toyl to prize , which made her walls to such immensness rise ; nor let th' ephesians boast the curious art , which wonder to their temple does impart . delos dissemble too the high renown , which did thy horn-fram'd altar lately crown ; caria to vaunt thy mausoleum spare , sumptuous for cost , and yet for art more rare , as not borne up , but pendulous i' th' air : all works to caesar's theatre give place , this wonder fame above the rest does grace . ep. . on the publick works . where the etherial coloss does appear , the towring machin to the stars draw near , the hated court , which so much blood did spill , late stood ; one house the city seem'd to fill ! where the stupendious theatre's vast pile is rear'd , there nero's fish-ponds were e'er-while . here , where the baths , a great , yet speedy , gift , all men admire , ( the people left to shift for dwellings ) late was a proud ample space , reserv'd to boast an insolent state and grace . where now a goodly tarras does extend , the city both with shade and walks befriend , was but the courts fagg and expiring end. rome's to it self restor'd ; in caesar's reign , the prince's pleasures now the people gain . ep. . to caesar , exhibiting shows . what land 's so barb'rous , caesar , so remote , whose natives come not to admire thy court ? rough thracians hither from mount hemus speed , fierce tartars , who on flesh of horses feed ; who the nile drink at the first spring and head , britains from utmost thule hither led ; arabs make haste , cilicians posting come , and in their saffron show'rs are drench'd at rome ; germans with rolling locks in knots up furl'd , ethiops after a diff'rent manner curl'd . various their voices sound , but hearts , we see , and the whole jargon , does in one agree , when father of thy country all style thee . ep. . to caesar , upon his banishing informers . the hateful crew to peace and sweet repose , informers , anxious wealth 's molesting foes , ( the lions not sufficing to destroy the num'rous caitives , that did all annoy ) to th' isles , and furthest africa are sent , and those that caus'd , now suffer , banishment . thus while from rome , sad exiles , they do stray , even life , 'mong caesar's boons , we reckon may . ep. . to caesar , on a woman's fighting with a lion. 't is not enough , in this our martial age , that men , but women in fierce combate gage . among the noblest acts fame does resound , alcides laid a lion on the ground . let fables cease : caesar , at thy command , this hath been acted by a female hand . ep. . on a lion that hurt his keeper . a trait'rous lion on his keeper flew , in him that fed him , durst his teeth embrew : but vengeance worthy of his crime , he found , who bore not stripes , was forc'd to bear * a wound . to such a prince what manners ought men show , who beasts commands a gratitude to know ? ep. . on a sow that farrow'd through a wound she receiv'd . i' th' publick huntings caesar did allow , a jav'lin swift transfixt a pregnant sow . straight from the wounded dam the litter sprung . lucina , call'st thou this , to bring forth young ? the dying sow wish'd that her wounds were more , that issues had been made for all her store . who denies bacchus from the womb was torn ? a god might well , when beasts were this way born . ep. . on the same . a pregnant sow , pierc'd with a deadly blow , her life at once did lose , and life bestow . how sure an aim did the dire steel command ! lucina , 't was believ'd to be thy hand : for dying both thy deities she found , the huntress , and the midwife , in her wound . ep. . on the same . a sow , her litter ready to have laid , was by a fatal stroke a mother made ; the young , not staying birth , ran forth the wound . how quick a wit in sudden streights is found ! ep. . on carpophorus . a boar meleager which gave thee a name , adds little to carpophorus his fame ; who a vast bear , rushing upon him , flew , the northern clime a fiercer never knew ; a lion , which became alcides hand , of immense bulk he laid upon the sand ; also a pard : and when the prize was won , he still was fresh , and could yet more have done . ep. . to caesar , on hercules carry'd to the clouds upon a bull. that from the stage a bull t'wards heav'n did fly , was not th' exploit of art , but deity . a bull europa through the surges bore , but with alcides now 'bove clouds doth soar . the fact of caesar , and of iove compare , which of the two shall we pronounce most rare ? suppose the burdens even ; were that true , the lighter loaded swam , the heavier flew . ep. . on an elephant's kneeling to caesar. that thee an elephant suppliant did adore , who stroke with terror a fierce bull before , to 's keeper's art , cannot imputed be ; we must ascribe it to thy deity . ep. . on a tyger's killing a lion. the rare-seen glory of th' hircanian land , a tyger , wont to lick his master's hand , in pieces tore a lion in his rage , a thing not known before in any age. he durst not this attempt in forests high , beasts among men learn greater cruelty . ep. . on the fable of orpheus acted in the theatre . what in the thracian mount's of orpheus told , thy theatre , great caesar , did unfold , the rocks were seen to move , the woods to run , when to his harp the wondrous minstrel sung ; together with the trees the beasts were led , and hov'ring birds circled his sacred head. at last a bear the prophet piece-meal tore , acted in truth , what fabled was before . ep. . on leander . leander , cease t' admire the seas did spare thy last-nights passage , caesar's seas they were . while to enjoy loves sweets thou didst address , and boist'rous waves thee threaten'd to oppress , thus , wretch , the raging seas thou didst implore , drown me returning , waft me safely o'er . ep. . on the representation of the sea and sea-gods . the feigned sea-gods sport i' th' waves with ease , figuring with various forms the yielding seas ; one shakes a trident , while another rides a fish , or in a fish-drawn chariot glides . barks mov'd with oares , sails swell'd with wind , we see , castor and pollux there appear'd to be . not real seas so gratifie the sense , thetis taught here , or fram'd her realm from hence . ep. . on carpophorus . if former ages had carpoph'rus known , beside himself , there would have needed none , the monsters through the world to have subdu'd , being , in truth , with all that might endu'd , which to the fab'lous heroes gave a name , rais'd iasons , perseus , meleager's fame . theseus , for th' minotaur , had ne'er been crown'd ; for th' nemean lion hercules renown'd ; the hydra , which so oft renew'd the fight , at first assault he would have slain out-right ; chimaera , of such various figures form'd , his pow'rful hand would all at once have storm'd ; the bulls , which from their nostrils breath'd a flame , without a charm , his courage knew to tame ; hesiones devouring orke to quaile , andromeda to rescue from the whale . let poets then their specious lies relate , how iove , a matchless hero to create , two nights did turn to one ; to him allow a term of life , twelve labours to go through . carpoph'rus glory yet does his excel , by whom , in one day , twenty monsters fell . ep. . on two gladiators . priscus and verus , while with equal might , prolong'd an obstinate and doubtful fight , the people , oft , their mission did desire ; but caesar from the law would not retire , which did the prize and victory unite , yet gave them what encouragement he might ; largess of meat and money did bestow , which also 'mong the people he did throw . i' th' end , howe'er , the strife was equal found , both fought alike , and both alike gave ground : so that the palm was upon each conferr'd , their undecided valour this deserv'd . under no prince before we e'er did see , that two should fight , and both should victors be . ep. . to caesar. my haste , tho' faulty , ought thee to appease , pardon his haste , who hasted thee to please . lib . i. epigr. . to cato . when thou the wanton rites of flora's feast didst know , the peoples license then exprest why cam'st thou in , four cato , 'mong the rout ? did'st enter only , that thou might'st go out ? ep. . martial to the reader . he whom thou read'st , is he by thee desir'd , martial , throughout the world known and admir'● for his keen epigrams : and unto whom th'indulgent reader did the laurel doom , while yet he liv'd , and could enjoy his fame ; when others after death scarce get a name . ep. . to his book . in publick hands thy self thou 'dst rather see , advent'rous book , than longer stay with me , thou knowst not , ah , the pride great rome will show , trust me , the sons of mars too much do know : no where both young and old so practise scorn , even children shew * rhinoceros's horn. while loud applauses , and reception fair , thou hope'st , they 'll scoffing , toss thee in the air. but thou impatient blots to undergo , and my pen's sharp corrections still to know , thou seek'st thro' the wide world , wanton , to rome : go then , but safer 't were to stay at home . ep. . to caesar. if my book , caesar , comes into thy hand , lay by those looks , which do the world command . when thou in triumph rid'st , thou dost submit , to be the subject of the soldier 's wit. my verses read with so serene a face , as * thymele and * latine thou dost grace . the censor does with harmless pastime bear , my leaves are wanton , but my life 's severe . ep. . to decian . consummate cato's , and great thrasea's strain , as far as prudence goes , thou dost maintain , and not thy breast on naked swords dost run ; what men judge best , that decian , thou hast done . he 's not approv'd , who cheaply dies for fame ; but without death , who gets a glorious name . ep. . on cotta . a pretty , and a great man , thou 'dst be deem'd ; but prettiness is littleness esteem'd . ep. . on gemellus and maronilla . gemellus , maronilla fain would wed , aspires by pray'rs , by gifts , unto her bed , by friends , by tears : so wond'rous fair is she ? nothing that lives can more deformed be . what is 't that pleases then , and takes his eye ? she 's rich , and coughs , and gives good hopes she 'll dye . ep. . on regulus . near hercules fane , and tibur's cooling streams , where alba vapours forth pale sulphurous steams . meadows , and lands , are seen , a sacred grove , four miles from rome , the muses care and love : a rude old portico , near to these high rais'd , for grateful shade , in heats of summer , prais'd , a monstrous fact committed had well nigh , as regulus in 's chariot passed by ; the ponderous fabrick rusht unto the ground , and him , and 's train did , only not , confound ; but fortune did our plaints , and curses fear , nor equal was the odious crime to bear . the ruin pleases now ; which did not prove while yet it stood , what care the gods above have of good men , their guardianship and love. ep. . on arria and petus . when arria to her petus gave the sword , with which her chast and faithful breast sh 'ad gor'd , trust me , said she , that i my self have slain , i do not grieve , 't is thy death gives me pain . ep. . to julius . iulius , who com'st not my best friends behind , if constant faith avail , a sincere mind ; the term of threescore years th' ast past almost , and but few happy days thou yet canst boast . ill thou deferr'st those joys may never come , and which , when past , thou only thine canst sum . evils on evils cease not us to ply , but joys return not , tho' they swiftly fly . use all thy force to hold them , yet you 'll find , you may as well embrace the waves or wind. that he will live , a wise man should not say , to morrow's late , he ought to live to day . ep. . to avitus . some things are good , indiff'rent some , some nought you read : a book can't otherwise be wrote . ep. . to titus . thou urgest me to plead , dost oft repeat , how great it is , a wrong cause to defeat ? that which the ploughman does , is also great . ep. . to tucca. tucca , what strange delight is this of thine , to mix the noblest with the vilest wine ? what so great good , from bad , didst e'er receive ? or of what good did thee the good bereave ? our throats to cut , may no great matter be : to slay falernum is a high degree of murder , rich campanian wine t' abuse , i' th' gen'rous grape rank poison to infuse . thy guests may possibly deserve their bane : such precious liquor , cannot , to be slain . ep. . on aelia . four teeth , as i remember , were thy store , one cough spit-out two , and one cough two more . now safely thou mayst cough thy whole life through , for the third cough has nothing lest to do . ep. . to caecilian . what brutishness is this ? when friends you treat , they looking on , alone you mushroms eat . what on such gluttony shall i implore ? mayst claudiu's mushroms eat , and ne'er eat more . ep. . on mucius scevola . when , for the king , his scribe bold mucius slew , in flames , instead of blood , he did embrew his erring hand . the foe , not steel'd to see 〈…〉 a prodigy so fell , bad him go free . what mucius , in contempt of pain , was bold to act , porsena fainted to behold . his failing hand thus greater glory found , had he not err'd , he had been less renown'd . ep. . on faustinus . at length , faustinus , let the world obtain , the polish'd pieces of thy learned brain : which the athenian schools would highly praise , and our old sages to the stars will raise ! dost doubt , t' admit fame standing at thy gate ? thy labours just reward to bear , dost hate ? that which will after , in thy time let live ; too late men praise unto our ashes give . ep. . to procillus . to sup with me , to thee i did propound , but 't was when our full cups had oft gone round . the thing thou straight concluded'st to be done , merry and sober words counting all one : th'example's dang'rous at the highest rate , a memorative drunkard all men hate . ep. . to fidentinus . 't is said , my books thou dost abroad recite , as if my verses thou thy self didst write . verses i 'll gratis send , let them be mine , otherwise buy them , that they may be thine . ep. . to sabidius . i love thee not , but why , i can't display , i love thee not , is all that i can say . ep. . on galla. galla , alone , her father's death ne'er weeps , when any come , in tears her cheeks she steeps . that , galla , is not grief , for praise is shown ; she truly grieves , that grieves when she 's alone . ep. . to cornelius . cornelius , thou complain'st , i verses write so loose and wanton , masters they affright from reading in the schools . but these my books , please , if not wanton , none who on them looks , more than the marriage-bed , without due rites , the sob'rest man , or chastest wife delights . thou may'st say too , a nuptial song endite , but in the nuptial language do not write . who e'er did flora gravely dress before ? or put a matron's stole upon a whore ? to epigrams much license is allow'd , nor please they , speaking always in a cloud . wherefore lay by thy grave and sourer mind , and judge my sportive muse in her own kind ; geld not my verse , for foul is his mistake , who a priapus , cybel's priest , would make . ep. to lucanus and tullius . if to thee tullius , or to , lucan , thee , castor and pollux fate allow'd might be , your pious strife both mutually wou'd show , each before other unto death wou'd go : and he whose lot it was to lead the way , live my time , brother , and your own , wou'd say . ep. . on fidentinus . the book , fidentine , which thou read'st , is mine ; but while thou read'st it ill , thou mak'st it thine . ep. . to decianus . if a rare friend i wou'd essay to show , so faithful , ages past did only know ; if one imbew'd with greek and latin lore , whom single goodness through all dangers bore ; guardian , and friend of truth , who would not fear ; that men , of what he asks the gods , should hear ; who leans alone on 's vertue great and sound , decian is he , in whom all these are found . ep. . to the envious . who read'st these lines , from ranc'rous spleen not free , may'st envy all , and none e'er envy thee . ep. . on cecilius . thou seem'st facetious , to thy self , to be , but others no such thing , in thee , can see . what then ? brutish buffoonery and rank , such as the cryers shew on tibur's bank. that which for wit among some people passes , chaffering for brimstone , matches , broken glasses . such as the sellers of warm pulse and meat , delight those with , who in the streets do eat ; such as from boys and butchers you shall hear , when pug goes by , the bag-pipe , and the bear ; from ballad-singers of the meanest strain , when people make a ring , t' applaud their vein ; such as old bauds do undertake to make , whose shameless impudence , for wit , some take . cease then , at length , fondly thy self to deem , what none , beside thy self , do thee esteem : that from * caballus thou dost bear the bell , in drollery , fam'd * galba , far excel . it is not given to all , to have a wit , true ralliery in the right vein to hit : who utters sottish jests , and scurrilous dross , sextus caballus acts not , but the horse . ep. . on porcia . when brutus death fame unto porcia brought , and friends with-held the arms , her sorrow sought . i thought , said she , my * father when he dy'd , taught ye , that death to none can be deny'd . she spoke , and greedily devour'd the fire : go now , officious throng , vainly conspire the weapons to deny , my grief desire . ep. . to stella . if twice the hares and lions sporting be a subject , stella , trivial unto thee , revenge thy self upon me with like fare , invite me twice , and set before me hare . ep. . to fidentine . i' th' book th' ast filcht from me , one page alone is thine , and to be thine is so well known , it all the rest proclaims to be purloin'd . so greasy home-spun cloth to scarlet joyn'd , its lustre , as it wrongs , and does defile it self , it also renders the more vile : so earthen cups , with chrystal set in place , the worse they suit , the more themselves disgrace : in consort thus ridiculous does show , among the milk-white swans a rascal crow : a chattring pies harsh notes in groves so sound , where quires of charming nightingales abound . i need no critick's aid for my relief , thy own vile verse rights me , and calls thee thief . ep. . to fuscus . if thou hast room t' admit a friend yet more , fuscus on all sides throng'd with friends before , i beg the place : and do not me refuse , because i 'm new , into the list to chuse . those that now boast , thy oldest friends they are , had once a time , when they but new ones were . look only thou , if he that now does sue to be thy friend , may prove an old and true. ep. . to fronto . wouldst thou know what my highest wishes are , fronto , the glory both of peace and war ? they are , to plough my own , tho' little , field ; small means to have , which may much leisure yield . will any wise , the morning ave pay to frozen marbles , e'er the break of day , who may unfold , before his fire , and warm , nets loaded from his small , but fruitful , farm ? or with his line may take the fish alive ? fetch amber honey from the dropping hive ? whose propt-up table by his hind is prest with his own cates , which unbought fewel drest ? may they not love this life , that love not me , but aged grow in city-drudgery . ep. . to flaccus . wouldst know what temper i to love would chuse ? what maid i like , and what i would refuse ; i neither like the facile , nor the coy ; the over-hard , nor easie to enjoy . a mean , 'twixt both , i rather do approve , she that nor racks , nor cloys , the sweets of love. ep. . on levina . levina chast as sabins were of old , than her strict husband yet more strict and cold : while in the common baths she did descend , and in those freedoms many hours did spend , she fell in love ; in the cold streams took fire ; and burning with a youth in loose desire , she left her husband , and her vertuous name , helen went thence , penelope that came . ep. . on celer . celer , to read my epigrams , does crave : but to recite his own 's the thing he 'd have . ep. . to fabulla . th' art fair and young , fabulla , it is true , and also rich , to give thee but thy due : but when of these thou dost so often vaunt , wealth , youth , and beauty , none so much does want ep. . to one that stole his verses . thou sordid felon of my verse and fame , so cheap dost hope to get a poet's name , as by the purchase barely of my book for ten vile pence eternal glory rook ? find out some virgin poem ne'er saw day , which wary writers in their desks do lay lock'd up , and known unto themselves alone ; not one with using torn , and sordid grown . a publish'd work can ne'er the author change , like one ne'er pass'd the press , that ne'er did range the world trimly bound up : and such i 'll sell , give me my price , nor will the secret tell . he that another's wit and fame will own , must silence buy , and not a book that 's known . ep. . to choerilus . thou blam'st me often , that i write too free ; i seem to do so when i write of thee . * ep. . on rufus . all rufus thoughts and actions nevia fills , his grief , joy , silence , all speak nevia still ; where'er he feasts , nevia's in●'s speech alone , he wants all powers , if nevia makes not one . meaning to wish his father the good day , nevia my light , ave , his tongue did say ! nevia read this , and closely smil'd thereon , why fool dost rave , nevia's not thine alone . ep. . to his book . go book , to proculus splendid seat resort , and , in my stead , make thy officious court. let not his state and grandure thee dismay , to th' learn'd no gate affords an op'ner way , to phaebus and the muses is more dear ; if he shall ask , why is himself not here ? reply , i could not ( were my verses slight ) attend the great , and e'en such mean ones write . ep. . on fidentine . for verses , fidentine , thou stealst from me , a poet fain thou wouldst reputed be ; old aegle so , well-tooth'd would yet be thought , when she a set of ivory teeth hath bought ; painted lycoris to her self seems fair , who only with a gypsie can compare , on like account , a poet thou art nam'd , and may'st , tho' bald , for youthful locks be fam'd . ep. . to flaccus . among my noblest friends , thou who hast place , flaccus , the offspring of antenor's race ; renounce the muses songs , and charming quire , not one of them enrich those they inspire . court not apollo , pallas has the gold , she 's wise , and does the gods in mortgage hold . what profit is there in an ivy wreath ? its fruits the loaden olive sinks beneath , in helicon there 's nought but springs and bays , the muses harps , loud-sounding empty praise . what with parnassus's streams hast thou to do ? the roman forum's rich , and nearer too ; there the cash chinks : but 'bout the poet 's chai● the smacks of kisses only fill the air. ep. . on festus . when a foul gangren seiz'd on festus face , and the black venom spread o'er all the place ; with unwet eyes , his weeping friends he told , th' infernal shades he purpos'd to behold . but then his pious throat he did not stain with poison , nor chuse famin's ling'ring pain : but by a roman death he did decree , ( the noblest way ) to set his spirit free . far more renoun'd was his , than cato's end ; cato was cesar's foe , but he his friend . ep. . on manneja . that thy dog loves to lick thy lips , th' art pleas'd he 'll lick that too , of which thy belly 's eas'd ; and not to flatter , and the truth to smother , i do believe , he knows not one from t' other . ep. . on quirinus , a roman knight . quirinus likes by no means to be wed , yet fruit desires , and has , o' th' marriage bed. how can this be ? his maids can solve the doubt , by whom he has of young slave-knights a rout to stock his farm and fields . truly may he be stil'd , the father of his family . ep. . on novius . novius so very near my neighbour is , that from my window my hand reaches his . who does not envy me , that in my pow'r , have thus a friend t' enjoy at ev'ry hour ? but rufus is not more remote to me , who now in egypt does command , than he . we never meet ; nor in the town there are , ( however near ) yet any two so far . 't is requisite , that either he , or i , further remove , but so to bring us nigh . for he that wishes novius ne'er to see , let him his neighbour , or his inmate , be . ep. . to fescennia . lest thy o'er-nights debauch thy breath disclose thou seek'st , fescennia , on us to impose , by eating rich pasteels , and amber plums , these fur thy teeth : but when the foul belch comes from thy crude maw , they help thee in no wise , but the stink's stronger made by this disguise , doubl'd , and trebl'd , and does further go . when thus , thy tricks discover'd , all do know , henceforth , to free us from this compound stink , be sober , otherwise avow'dly drink . ep. . an epitaph on alcimus . alcime , who didst in years yet blooming die , and , by a light turf cover'd , here dost lie . i rear no towring tombs of massie stone , a vain expence , that fame confers on none : but plant frail box and palms , whose verdant shade . drench'd by my tears , shall be immortal made . receive thou then the monument i give , a verse that will unto all ages live : and when my life is spun , and days expire , no nobler monument i my self desire . ep. . to cinna . cinna , th' art ever wisp'ring in the ear , and wisp'ring that which all the world may hear . thou laugh'st i' th' ear , weepst , quarrel'st , dost disput● , thou sigh'st in th' ear , dost hollow , and art mute : so far th' art gone in this disease , i swear , thou praisest caesar often in the ear. ep. . to laetius . thou blam'st my verses , and conceal'st thine own , or publish thine , or else let mine alone . ep. . on nevolus . when all a clamour make , at once contend , then thou art loudest too , dost most pretend t' have much to say : for this would'st learned seem . have all , a pow'rful patron , thee to deem . behold , the court is hush'd , now speak you may , but for thy client now th' ast nought to say . ep. . on diodorus . th' ast gouty feet , yet stoutly dost withstand at law , and pay'st no fees the courts demand . is not the gout , diodore , in thy hand ? ep. . to one that grew sordid upon obtaining great riches . when yet thou wert not worth an hundred pound , so generous , so noble , thou wert found , so sumptuous , that it was the wish of all , calenus , an estate might thee befall , suiting thy mind . the gods our pray'rs did hear , and less than in the compass of a year , vast wealth , by four dead friends , was to thee left : but thou ( as if of thousands now bereft , and not enrich'd ) so sordid strait dost grow , that in a solemn feast thou didst bestow ( which annual was , and seven old friends did treat ) a pound of leaden coyn , for all thy meat . what does this baseness bid us next to pray ? the gods would snatch their ill-plac'd wealth away ? no ; but to give thee many thousands more . that starve thou may'st out-right in so much store . ep. . on the like . thou saidst , when yet thou hadst not a knights-fee , if heav'n would grant four thousand pounds to me , oh , in what ease , what splendor , i would live ! the easie gods smil'd , and the sum did give . but then thy gown was sordid , cloke thread-bare , shoes , thrice and four-times clouted , thou didst wear ; of poor ten olives , some were still set up ; on the same meat thou used'st twice to sup ; lees of wine serv'd thee , which vientus bore ; a peny-worth of pulse , a peny whore. we 'll sue the cheat : live better , or refund unto the gods ; th' ast mock'd , four thousand pound . ep. . to lucius julius . oft , noble lucius , thou dost this repeat , th' art idle , martial , something write that 's great . then give me ease , such as mecenas gave , when the like work from virgil he would have ; i 'll frame a verse with such immortal flame , as to all ages shall preserve my name . the yoke does pinch that 's born in barren soyl , the rich ground tires , but sweeter is the toyl . ep. . to gallus . may thy fair farm ( tho beyond tibur site ) as it does now , thee more and more delight : my rooms v●psanian laurels do behold , in the which region i am now grown old ; a journey 't is , to give thee the good-morn , but such thou art , tho further , to be born : one gown-man more , yet were not much to thee , tho to detain this one , is much to me . my book shall th' early ave for me pay , and i 'll attend when ended is the day . ep. . on issa , a little bitch . issa's toyings wittier are , than those of lesbia's sparrow were . issa's caresses , and her loves , are purer than the billing doves . than virgins she 's more soft and nice , than richest gems of higher price . bitch issa is to publius dear , bitch issa has no where her peer . her whining you would speaking deem , she , her lord's cares to know , does seem . tho' in his neck , close to his ear she sleeps , no breathing he can hear . when she has need her self to ease , her lord she courts , that he would please to set her down , and gently scrapes ; be sure , no drop from her escapes . to venus she was ne'er inclin'd , and hard a husband 't were to find so soft a bride . least death's sad day should wholly ravish her away , publius caus'd her drawn to be , and issa you so like may see , ( do but the piece with her compare ) issa her self you 'ld think were there : so rare is arts and natures strife , both pictures seem , and both seem life . ep. . to velox . too long my epigrams , thou thinkest are ; thine , who writ'st none , velox , are shorter far . ep. . on priscus i stiled thee , lord , and king , while yet unknown , plain priscus , now 's the most that thou canst own . ep. . on lupercus . as oft as i , lupercus , thee do meet , with the same words thou me dost always greet . thy epigrams , dear martial , to me lend , when for them shall my boy on thee attend ? but to divert me , i shall read them o'er , and speedily again the book restore . out of the road , remote , three stories high , i , near the pidg'ons in a garret lie ; whither to send your boy , were him to tire , when nearer you may have , what you desire . in forum iulii is your daily way , where you will see atrectus shop display all poets names , your eye may run them o'er , inscrib'd , or pasted on his posts and dore. my book , from 's shelves he 'll hand you at first word , and for three shillings , bound and gilt afford . the price three shillings ? muttering low , dost say . the purchase will not , such my cost , repay . altho thy sordid nature i despise , i 'm forc'd to say , lupercus , thou art wise. ep. . to the reader . he who an hundred epigrams reads o'er , no ill 's enough for him , if he wants more . lib . ii. ep. . to his book . three hundred epigrams thou mightst contain , but who , to read so many , can sustain ? hear what in praise of brevity is said . first , less expence , and wast of paper 's made ; the printer's labour , next , does sooner end , and to more serious works he may attend ; thirdly , to whomsoe'er thou shalt be read , tho naught , not tedious yet thou canst be said ; again , in length , while thou dost not abound , thou mayst be heard , while yet the cups go-round . and when this caution's us'd , alas , i fear , to many , yet , thou wilt too long appear . ep. . to sextus . sextus says , nought he owes , and so i say . he only owes , who knows which way to pay. ep. . to decian . o decian , may i never happy be , if night and day i could not spend with thee : but two long miles unto thy house do lead , which are made four , when them i backward tread : oft thou art not at home , and oft deny'd ; to thy self vacant , or to business ty'd . to walk two miles , to see thee , is not much , but not to see thee , and walk four , i grutch . ep. . to the reader . if in my leaves ought , reader , to thee seem obscure , or which less latin thou dost deem . to th' printer these impute , not me : who while more books he hasts to vend , cares not how vile . if yet thou think'st not him , but me to blame , thou fear'st not want of candor to proclaim . but still my verse , for naught , thou dost decry , as if what 's manifest i would deny . naught be they then : but them for good ones take , till thou dost shew , that thou canst better make . ep. . on posthumus . that but with half a lip thou me dost kiss , i like ; and yet can spare the half of this : and wouldst thou unexpressible kindness show ? thy half-kiss keep , or elsewhere it bestow . ep. . to selius . that such a cloud you see in selius face , him treading late , alone , a mournful pace ; his pensive looks concealing grief profound , that bows him , till his nose even rakes the ground ; makes him oft beat his breast , and his locks tear : no death of friends has caus'd this sad despair , his wife 's in health , his sons are both alive , and longer than he would , like to survive ; by bayliff , tenant , he has had no loss , nor any way that 's known , receiv'd a cross. why droops he then , and makes so sad a moan ? alas ! he , uninvited , sups at home , ep. . on posthumus . why does thy breath always of amber smell ? and without foreign scents th' art never well . it justly , posthumus , may be presum'd , he ever stinks , who ever is perfum'd . ep. . on sextus . while sextus did refuse his debts to pay , both judge and advocate bore bribes away . now to discharge all scores , he makes no stay . ep. . on selius . nothing does selius unattempted leave , when , he 's to sup at home , he does conceive . he trots to th' * race ; where , paulus , he will swear , thy feet are swifter than achilles were . nothing here got , the place of votes * he tryes , if ought will come from the aesonides . where failing too ; to th' memphian * temple next , near the sad heifer , calves-head sits perplext . thence runs to th' porch a hundred props sustain , to pompey's arch and groves : nor does disdain the vulgar baths , which gryllus , lupus , keep , one on the hill , the other low and deep : where having bath'd in all , and all in vain , no pity'ng god fav'ring his glutt'nous pain , back to the race he flies , to see , if there some friend be yet , taking the evening air. th' adjoyning porch of various paintings full , shews fair europa bor'n upon a bull. iove , i adjure thee , by the virgn bright , make forlorn selius thy * own guest this night . ep. . on one that had a sore mouth . that when th' ast drunk , thou offer'st none thy glass ▪ ought not for pride , but for good breeding pass . ep. . on zoilus . zoilus is sick ; his rich stuff makes him so : if he were well , what should his scarlets do ? his bed from nile , his hangings dy'd at tyre ? he 's sick , we may his sottish wealth admire . dismiss the doctors , the * machaons all , to make him well , for my rug only call . ep. . to paullus . poems thou buy'st , and read'st them for thine own . what 's bought , is thine , can be deny'd by none . ep. . on posthumus . some thou dost kiss , to some extend thy hand . which grace seek i ? the last i do demand . ep. . on the same . phoebus farewell , farewell my merry muse your poet who adores ye , ye abuse . posthume with one kiss us'd to let me go , pleas'd with my verse , now many doth bestow . ep. . on the same . no ; tho' thou begg'st a thousand times to know , who 't is by name of posthumus does go , i will not tell . what need i to offend such kisses , and their fury 'gainst me bend ? ep. . to candidus . by unjust verdict wert thou guilty found , to thy misfortune i 'd be strictly bound . wert thou condemned thy native soyl to leave , thro' seas , thro' rocks , i 'd to the banish'd cleave . but thy lot's wealth : here shall i also share ? wilt thou give half ? 't is much , if ought thou spare . in suff'ring , i may be admitted one , but happy , candidus , thou 'lt be alone . ep. . on galla. galla to none makes good , to all says , i , if thou speak'st always false , to me deny . ep. . to bithynicus . that nevia coughs , and groans , and finds no rest , letting the slaver fall upon her breast ; thou hop'st , bithynicus , her hour is nigh : nevia but flatters , she do'nt mean to dye . ep. . on selius , to rufus . whether you plead , or any work recite , hoping to supper you will him invite , selius , your praises thus like nets does spread ; `` nothing can weightier , or more learn'd be said , `` more home , more smart , or yet with greater grace , `` so would i wish to speak , set in your place . such words alone can make his flatteries cease , y 'ave gain'd your point , for this time hold your peace . ep. . to rufus . see'st thou him , rufus , that does so frequent the nobles seat ? from whose bright gems are sent rays to this place , in twice-dipt purple goes , or garments whiter than the driven snows . costly amomum , from whose locks does flow , whose sleek blanch'd arms no hair upon them show ? the lunar-buckles were not his of old , nor sandals pinch'd his feet , garnish'd with gold. no secret pain his num'rous patches need ; look underneath , and him , a slave , you 'll read . ep. . on caius . to borrow of a friend , i did entreat a sum , which had he given , had not been great . 't was one , whose chests brim-full of unbag'd cash , being clapt to , do eccho with the lash . but he reply'd , would'st plead , enough thou'dst have . spare counsel , caius , give me what i crave . ep. . on ponticus . with balbus i 'm at law , thou nought dar'st do . licinius next ; but he 's a great man too . patrobas oft trespasses on my feild : he 's caesars freeman , 't is best here to yield . laronia my servant does deny : she 's rich , old , childless , ev'ry hour may dye . his patronage , it little boots , to crave . who to so many is himself a slave . ep. . on cecilianus . whate'er was serv'd of souce , thou didst purloin , a young sow's unctuous paps , a porker's chine , a fat heath-poult , for two design'd a dish , a pike , a mullet , half another fish , tame pigeons dropping fat , a hen with egg , a piece of lampry , and a capon 's leg. all which , sto'd in a clout , committed were unto thy boy , that home he them should bear . we , in mean time , the idle guests do sit , and of a costly feast scarce taste a bit . if any shame thou hast , restore our meat : to morrow i design'd not thee to treat . ep. . to linus . what my farm yields me , dost thou urge to know ? this , that i see not thee , when there i go . ep. on tongelinus . that tongelin is feav'rish many think : i know the man , he wants choice meat and drink . strait , for fat thrush and cocks , springes are set , for pike and carp's imploy'd the casting-net ; purveyance for old caecubum is made , such as the sound drink sparing and allay'd ; bathing , physicians , with one voice prescribe . to cure his feaver , fools , his belly bribe . ep. . on an old woman . laugh , lovely maid , laugh oft , if thou art wise . as i remember , ovid does advise : but this to ev'ry maid he never said , or if he did , 't was always to a maid ; 't was never spoke to wretched-aged-thee , to whom remains , of all thy teeth , but three , and those cole-black : therefore if this do pass for truth , inform'd the same by thine own glass , a smile thou ought'st t' avoid with no less dread , than gallants fear the wind for their curl'd head ; than painted madams fear a dashing shower , or when pomatum'd , the sun 's raging pow'r : rather old hecuba's sad mood put on , when troy was burnt , and all her glory gon . mimicks , and droles , a laughter-moving jest , what ever makes thee gern or gape , detest . mourn by your mother's side , your equal cross , your father's and your pious brother's loss ; your hours , in what is sad and serious , spend , an ear to tragick stories only lend . the counsel's good , if to it you can keep . weep , if you 're prudent , old mumps , often weep . ep. . on sextus . having some small commodity to buy , i'th● ' change ( the usurer sextus standing nigh , my old cam'rade , you know ) lest i should pray to borrow , for prevention thus does say , softly computing with himself , but so as i may hear him . i to secundus owe seven thousand , four to phoebus , eleven more to philet ; and i wretch , have not in store one doit , should now these men for money send : o wond'rous fetch of an old canker'd friend ! 't is hard , when one is ask'd , not to supply : but harder far , when not ask'd , to deny . ep. . on nevolus . as various flow'rs in spring paint hyblas field , which to the rifling bees much honey yield : so do thy various colour'd garments show , which thou , heap'd up in wardrobes , dost bestow . the woolthou , from more flocks than one , dost sheer , would a whole tribeclothe sumptuously each year . thy thin-clad friend , unmov'd , yet can'st behold ( o sin ! ) tatter'd , his sides pierc'd through with cold. unhappy wretch , how little wou'd it be , to givetwo garments , from moths , not from thee . ep. . to rufus . afford me but the requisites of life , plain food , and wholesome air , a pleasing wife , not many books , but such as i shall choose , a friend not wholly rude , my thoughts t' unloose , and let my station in a village be , all rome's magnificence i 'll leave to thee . ep. . on lesbia . lesbia talks baudy , and does water drink , thou dost well , lesbia , so to wash the sink . ep. . to maximus . thou but feign'st , maximus , thou'dst not be free : or if thou wouldst , by these means thou may'st be . thou shalt be free ; if thou at home canst dine ; if thou canst quench thy thirst with common wine ; if rich men thou can'st miserable deem , and such a thread-bare coat , as mine , esteem ; if in a cheap and vulgar form delight , a room , in which thou scarce can'st stand upright ; if thy desires , to this lure , thou canst bring , thou may'st live freer than the parthian king. ep. . to sextus . sextus , thou seek'st observance , when i 'd love ; i shall do that which thou dost most approve : but where i must observe , i cannot love. ep. . to gallus . gallus , thy wife is taxed for the vice ( among the lybians ) of foul avarice : but she is wrong'd , and all are lies they tell , none cheaper does her self both give and sell , ep. . on one that acted the great man. he , whom you see to walk in so much state , waving , and slow , with a majestick gate ; in purple clad , passing the nobles seat , my publius not in garments more compleat ; whose new rich coach , with gilt and studded reins , fair boys and gown-men follow in great trains , lately his very ring in pawn did lay , for four poor crowns , his supper to defray . ep. . on zoilus . zoilus , in 's nappy , scoffs my thread-bare , gown , 't is thread-bare , zoilus , but 't is yet my own . ep. . on hyllus . y' are o'er-familiar with a soldiers wife , while a boy 's mulct you fear , and not your life . woe to thee ! but , you say , upon what score ? the law forbids to castrate any more , allows it then to make a wife thy whore ? ep. . on taurus . while now to law , to rhetorick then thou'lt take , and know'st not what profession thine to make ; thou peleus , priams , nestors , years dost lose , and when thou shouldst give off , art still to choose . begin ; if either heart thou hast , or skill ; three rhetors chairs are void , one thou may'st fill : or if the schools dislike , the pleading-bars reek with the fervor of litigious wars ; so much , that marsya's statue that is nigh , may vocal plead , through th' obstrep'rous cry. courage , break-off delays , when shall we see ? thou wilt demur , till nothing thou canst be . ep. . to saleitanus . thouseem'st , saleitane , much to hang thy head. have i not cause ? thou say'st , my wife is dead . o heavy chance ! o sad decree of fate ! she , she ! the rich nicostrata so late deceas'd , who twenty thousand brought in dowre ? i wish th'adst never known this evil hour . ep. . on posthumus . who e'er thee , posthumus , does chance to meet , thou say'st , what dost thou ? thus thou all dost greet ten times an hour , if met : by which dost show , that thou thy self but little hast to do . ep. . to olus . that i salute thee by thy name , no more style thee my lord and king , as heretofore , it is not pride . my chains and cap i have redeem'd , with all the badges of a slave . a lord and master he should have alone , who , not being master of himself , does groan , like great men , after riches not his own . who can , without a servant , olus , be , may also from a king , olus , be free . ep. . on a smell-feast . unwillingly , thou supp'st abroad . i 'll die , if what thou say'st be not a splendid lie. in others treats apicius did delight , and , with regret , at home did pass the night . if thou unwilling art , why dost thou go ? th' art forc'd , thou say'st . all smell-feasts are forc'd so . melior invites thee to a sumptuous feast : where are thy braggs ? deny : now is the test. ep. . to cecilianus . there 's none , than thee , more candid can be said , who when some parcels in my book thou 'ast read , from marsus or catullus dost recite the like , to shew how much i better write , compar'd with them . thy good-will's to me known , but would , thou'dst read some verses of thine own . ep. . on a lion. a lion wont his keeper's stripes to bear , into whose mouth , his hand , without all fear , he us'd to thrust , such tameness he was taught : but suddenly so high his fury wrought , 't was 'bove what from the lybian clime he brought . for while two boys did rake the sandy floor , with savage rage he both in pieces tore , the theatre like crime ne'er knew before . romans may well say , treacherous beast forbear ; of romulus wolf young children learn to spare . ep. . to cosconius . thou think'st my epigrams in length exceed , to grease the charret-wheels , to make them speed . thou' rt only fit : who poems lengths dost rate by the foot-rule , not reason , wit , and weight . by the same law , colossus , thou mayst call too long , the figure of a child too small . of marsus , pedo , learn what you don't know , two pages , on one subject , they 'd bestow . that is not long , from which thou nought canst take , but , coscon , thou canst long a distick make . ep. . on fannius . when fannius from his foe did fly , himself , with his own hands , he slew . who e'er a greater madness knew ; life to destroy , for fear to dye . ep. . on ponticus . what vails it thee to make thy slave a mute ? of thy foul crimes much louder's now the bruit . ep. . to a friend . a summer gift that i in winter make , in evil part i wou'd not have thee take ; or , for my present hold me for a clown ; but , while 't is cold , send me a summer gown , ep. . to classicus . that i acrostick's glory not to write , in verses , backwards read , take no delight ; make not the eccho in my verses play , after the grecian poetastring way : nor yet soft melting numbers so respect , as more the chime , than ev'n the sense t' affect . so bad a poet , as these ways to take , i am not , classicus . what hire would make lada for swiftness fam'd , so meanly stoop , to leave the race , and tumble through a hoop ? disgraceful 't is unto a poet's name , difficult toys to make his highest aim ; the ●●bours foolish , that does rack the brains , for things have nothing in them , but much pains . let gallus chant , while the rout make a ring : to choicest ears i only joy to sing . ep. . on mamercus . thou wouldst a poet be , yet nought dost write , be what thou wilt , so nought thou dost indite . ep. . to gaurus . in profuse drinking , that thy nights are spent , gaurus , thou cato hast for president ; tully , for barb'rous verses thou dost write , as if the muses bore to thee a spight . antony , apicius , vomitings did use ; thy horrid lust no patron can excuse . ep. . to quintilianus . of giddy youth , thou guide of high renown , quintilian , glory of the roman gown , that i do haste , tho' poor , thy licence give , t' enjoy my life ; none haste enough to live . who aim t' encrease their father's wealth , to throng their courts with statues , this deferr too long . i only to these easie things aspire , a spring with natural turf , a shining fire , servants well fed , a plain unlearned wife , nights pass'd away in sleep , days without strife . ep. . to caesar. welfare and glory of the earth , while thee we safe behold , we gods believe to be : if my slight books did e'er thee entertain , and oft to read them , thou didst not disdain : what nature does deny , do thou bestow , for father of three children make me go . when my verse takes not , this will be an ease , a high reward , in case they thee do please . ep. . to his wife . he , father of three children , me has made , and all my muses labours richly paid , who only cou'd : thee , wife , i 'll not retain , least i the prince's bounty render vain . lib . iii. ep. . to the reader . this third book , good or bad , what e'er it be , gallia togata sends from far to thee . if , reading this , my former thou dost praise , both yet are mine , that which least claims the bays ▪ those must excel , born , rome , within thy wall , a slave of thine , above a free-born gaul . ep. . to his book . to whom shall i a present make thee , book ? speedily , for a patron , round thee look ; least cooks , as if waste-paper or astray , to wrap up spices ravish thee away . shall faustine thee protect , dost say ? th' art wise , now , richly bound , contempt thou mayst dispise ; twisted with silk and gold thy head-bands show luxuriously , all gilded over go . for if faustinus shall approve of thee , no critick fear , tho probus self he be . ep. . on an ill shap'd woman . thy face , that 's fair , thou vailst when thou dost go to bathe , an ugly body naked show , believe the water nymph , thee thus does pray , bath in thy clothes , or cast thy vail away . ep. . to his book book haste to rome . whence com'st thou ? if men say : reply , from th' track of the emilian way . if they demand the city where i dwell : imola or cornelii forum tell . if for what cause i 'm absent , they enquire : the follies of the city me did tire . if when i do return : a poet , say , i went ; when on a fiddle i can play . ep. . to his book . my book , while thee to rome alone i send , shall i to many friends , or one , commend ? one's enough , where no stranger thou'lt be found , iulius , whose name my tongue so oft does sound . the house , once daphnis , him does master call , you 'll find him strait in the first court of all : his wife will thee into her bosom store , altho , with highway-dust , all cover'd o'er , if them together , or apart , you meet , say only thus , you , marcus , bids me greet . this is enough . who letters brings , offends ; thinking he commendations needs to friends . ep. . on quintus . quintus loves thais . which ? thais the blind . as she wants one eye , he wants both , i find . ep. . on cinna . cinna , 't is said , does verses write 'gainst me . he does not write , whose verse none cares to see . ep. . on philomusus . thy father knowing thy luxurious way , assign'd thee an allowance for each day , such as thy table might both stint , and serve , that neither thou might'st riot , nor yet starve . but when he dy'd , he left thee heir of all. what greater mischeif cou'd to thee befall ? thy disinheriting , thou this may'st call . ep. . on quintus . if she thou lov'st , nor blind , nor thais be , what makes thee think last distich writ on thee ? if lais 't were , and her i 'd thais nam'd , for such resemblance i might well be blam'd : but what similitude do these two bear ? how do hermione and thais pair ? but thou art quintus , and that name i chuse ▪ be 't so : i always feigned names do use . i 'll change the lover's name if that please more , sextus , not quintus , thais loves , the whore. ep. . on fabullus . thy odours , i confess , were last night rare : but nought to feast thy guests thou didst prepare , of wit or folly call'st thou this a cast ? to give thy friends perfumes , and make them fast ? who are anointed only , and not fed , no treated like the living are , but dead . ep. . on nevia . while boar to carve , and mullets thou dost spare , will 't sooner cut thy father up , than hare : but , as if all were crude , thy cook dost beat , no crudities they 'll find , whom thou dost treat . ep. . on tuccius . starv'd tuccius from remotest spain did come , full of great hopes , plenty to find in rome : but at the very port being told the hard duty of clients , and their lean reward , he turned straight his horses head again , with switch and spur posted him back to spain . ep. . on codrus . none trusts so much as codrus , i do find , i' th' town . how so ? he 's poor . he loves , tho blind . ep. . on a cobler . an haughty enrich'd cobler durst bestow , a most profuse , and princely fencer's-show : what in his life he earned by the awl , at sword and buckler-fight he made fly all . sure thou wert drunk ; thou couldst not , cobler , play in any sober mood , thy hide away . enough of shows ; now to thy skins abide : fear what befel the ass i' th' lion's hide . ep. . on sabidius . at second course , where lately i did dine , hot tarts were serv'd , so hot , no hand but thine , * mutius , could touch : sabidius yet , than they , more hot in appetite , brooking no stay , blew often on them with his pois'nous breath , blasts of worse stench than rottenness and death . after the which , no man to touch them stirr'd : he cool'd the tarts , but turn'd them to a t — ep. . on a boy stung to death . in a sweet grove , where many shapes were made of savage beasts , t' adorn the pleasant shade , a carved bear with gaping jaws did stand , into whose mouth young hylas thrust his hand ; and , childish wise , provok'd the bear to bite . a viper , lurking in that secret night , quicken'd the stone with more than natural rage , and bit the lad , that fearless did engage . o hainous fact ! that a dead bear should do , what one alive could not be wrought unto . ep. . on canius . tell me my muse , how canius spends his time in lasting leaves , and in immortal rhime , does he the facts of nero rightly state , from malice and from flatt'ry free , relate ? light elegies , or grave heroicks write ? i' th' comick , or the tragick strain delight ? or in the poets school does canius sit , regaling all with his choice attick wit ? or else , being free from study , does he talk i' th' temples , and the shady porches walk ? bathes he ? or from the city toyl retir'd , are fields and rivers more by him admir'd , baias or lucrins sweet recess desir'd ? muse. how canius spends his time , wouldst have me show ? he laughs at all which most men , serious , do . ep. . on a cruel master . a branded slave unto his proscrib'd lord , in 's highest danger , safety did afford . while thus his goodness did the cruel save , envy with life unto his lord he gave . ep. . to faustus . if thy hot bath , faustus , thou seek'st to cure , 'bove what a paralitick can endure : let orator , sabinus , enter in nero's hot baths , he 'll make a cooling spring . ep. . on candidus . thy pleasant farm thou dost enjoy alone , thy money , plate , communicates to none . alone , thou , aged massick wine dost drink , alone thy self both wise and witty think : that all thou hast alone , i yet deny , thy wife is common , or the people ly . ep. . on gallus . that oft i thee , thou me dost never call to sup , i could forgive , if none at all tho didst invite : but , churle , thou dost afford to other guests a frequent well-serv'd board . w' are faulty both. in what , dost bid me name ? i for the want of wit , and thou of shame . ep. . to gargilianus . money no more , but meat the great bestow , for what thou stay'st at rome , i fain would know . how wilt thou buy a gown ? hire a dark cell ? pay for thy bath ? a thais keep , canst tell ? garg . to make a little serve , great head i 'll give . mar. scarce , as things stand , 't is worth the care to live. ep. . to rufus . thy land , i yield , seems boundless to the eye , and near the town thy pleasant farms do lye . numbers of debtors to thy lordly chest , croutch , with choice fare thy gilded table 's prest : disdain not , rufus , yet , all that are poor ; there 's greater rogues than thou that yet have more . ep. . to matrinia . dost ask , if an old woman i could wed ? an old i could , matrinia , not a dead , as thou art . even niobe i could take , and mother hecuba a mistress make : but then before they were transform'd so fur . one to a stone , the other to a cur. ep. . what wife he 'd chuse . a wife of high descent i first would wed , for want of such , one freed should share my bed , a slave the last , yet if she noble be in form ; i 'd chuse her first , of all the three . ep. . on chione , or madam snow . fit and unfit thy name to thee doth show , for black and cold thou art , snow and not snow . ep. . on fabianus . i would not have thee pleat or curl thy hair , through slovenly neglect , nor elf-locks wear ; let not thy skin with scurf be over run , nicely to blanch and sleek it , no less shun ; an eunuch's chin affect not , smooth and bare , nor such a horrid beard as pris'ners wear ; by a wise mean avoid the best you can , to appear less , or yet too much , a man. but while thy limbs we rough and brisly find , effeminate and wanton is thy mind . ep. . to sextus . mart. what cause , what confidence , sextus , does invite thee unto rome ? what hope , what aim ? recite . sext. than tully's self more pow'rfully i 'll plead , and none like me , shall the whole forum lead . mart. caius and atestinus ( both you know ) do plead , but pay not a poor house-rent so . sext. if nothing this way come , i 'll verses frame , you 'll say , that virgil did compose the same . mart. th' art mad : that cold and tatter'd crew you see , no less than ovid's all , and virgil's be . sext. great men i 'll court . mart. scarce two or three do speed that way , the rest are pale , and starve thro' need . sext. say , what then ? counsel to a friend advance , men live at rome . mart. the honest do by chance . ep. . on lycoris . one-ey'd lycoris love's more fair than he kept flocks on ida. how the blind can see ! ep. . on telesinus . for having lent , forsooth , an hundred pound , from full-cram'd chests , and wealth that does abound , thou think'st that thou much greatness hast display'd : but that the grandeur's mine , it may be said : who being poor , so great a sum repay'd . ep. . on polla . thou seek'st with fard to smooth thy wrinkl'd skin , bedaub'st thy self , and dost no lover win . simple decays men easily pass by , but hid , suspect some great deformity . ep. . on lentin . false-hair thou wear'st to make thee youthful show , a swan wer 't yesterday , to day a crow . thou cheats not all , proserpine knows thee grey , nor will thy term of death one hour delay , but when it comes , snatch wig and thee away . ep. . to ligurinus . that every one , to meet thee , is afraid , and where thou com'st , a solitude is made . would'st , ligurinus , know the reason why ? too much a poet , men do from thee fly . and this , i tell thee , is a dang'rous crime , a scorpion is not fear'd , like ceaseless rhime ; ●n adder , in the scorching sun , fresh sprung , tyger newly robbed of her young . ●or , prithee , who such tediousness can bear ? ●hou read'st to those that sit , that standing are ; ●o them that run , to them that are at stool ; to those are in the bath , at the fish pool ; ●hat here they cannot swim , nor wash them there ; ●or thee reciting verses in their ear. they haste to sup , the goers thou dost stay ; who 'd sup with thee , thou readest them away ; weary , and sick , they lay them down to sleep , thy verses rouse them , and then waking keep . wouldst know what mischief this to thee has bred ? thee , a good man , learned , just , all do dread . ep. . to the same . whether the sun thyestes table fled , i know not ; but all men thy table dread : and yet 't is sumpt'ous , serv'd with costly fare , but what can relish , thou reciting there ; hadst thou no turbut , were thy mullets less , bate oysters , mushroms , do but hold thy peace . ep. . to candidus . thou dost exact , that always i attend : tho' i go not , my freeman i do send . thou say'st , that 's not the same . but i think , more when i scarce follow'd , he thy litter bore . thou' rt throng'd : his boist'rous bulk o'erturneth 〈◊〉 my strength 's ingenuous , and my force but sma 〈…〉 causes thou plead'st : i silently stand by , he roars redoubl'd euge's to the sky . thou quarrel'st : shame forbids loud speech to 〈◊〉 but he 'll not stick to spend his mouth for thee . cand. there 's nought a friend then should be called 〈…〉 mart. yes , what a slave , candidus , cannot do . ep. . on ligurinus . but for one cause thou dost thy friends invite ▪ that thou thy verses mayst to them recite . we are but set when with the sallet's brought , a huge vast tome , full with thy poems fraught ; a second 's read , while yet the first course stays , a third and fourth the second course delays ; before we rise , a fifth book we do see ; wild boar , so often serv'd , would nauseous be . thy wicked verse condemn to wrap-up fish , ●r when thou supp'st alone , make 'em thy dish . ep. . to tongelinus . thy house was lately , tongeline , burnt down , chance too freequent in a populous town . ●hrice o'er thy loss has been repair'd by friends : ●id'st thou not fire thy house , to get amends ? ep. . on gellia . that shops of odours seem with thee to go , and rich perfumes thou dost around thee throw : think not this much , 't is not thy natural smell , a dog , like thee , embalm'd , would scent as well . ep. . to bassus , on faustinus farm faustinus farm , o bassus ! is not fraught with idle myrtles , into order brought ; there no trim'd box , or barren plane tree's found , to fill a vast unprofitable ground : but happy 't is in rude and fertile fields , which ceres gifts in every corner yield ; there vessels fragrant smell with autumn fruit ; and when november's past , and time does suit . the rough hew'd hind late grapes does homeward bring , while vallies round with lowing kine do ring , and lust , the yet unhorned herd , does sting . the straggling cohorts of the sordid pens i' th' yards are seen , cocks treading rhodian he 〈…〉 partridges speckled , peacocks gay and fair , who in their trains do seeming jewels bear ; phesants , which first from impious colchos came , the birds which to red feathers owe their name streak'd turkies , geese loud cackling and shrill , all with their noise and grateful numbers fill ; while the doves greeting from the tow'rs you he 〈…〉 sleek culvers mourning here , soft turtles there . the greedy swine pursue the housewife's pal 〈…〉 and full bagg'd ews , th' expecting lambs ne'er 〈◊〉 children surround the large fire shining brigh 〈…〉 which on the lares casts a chearful light. none here to labour , backward are , and ●oth , none pallid and unhealthy seen through sloth : but gins for birds , and lines for fish prepare , pitch toyls to catch the light-foot deer , or hare . the orchards plain the merry maids employ ; even boys of the best rank their tasks enjoy , obey the bayliff , not constrain'd by fear , but they delight some rural-work to share . the rustick there brings not a vain salute , but gifts his ave speak , while he is mute : presents ambrosian honey from the bees , a dormouse from the woods , or a cream-cheese ; ta'n from the shaggy goats a bleating kid , or else a capon , venus sports forbid . the homely country maids in baskets bear their mothers gifts , something that 's choice and rare . and when the day is past , and his work done , the welcom neighbour , a glad guest , does come , to the frank board , from which no meat 's set by , the next day's scant provision to supply . servants , well fed themselves , from envy free , grudge not , when they the guests full gorged see . but , bassus , thy trim villa joyns the town , and for its paint and spruceness seeks renown : no country useful sordures thee annoy , but neat and splendid want thou dost enjoy : from stately rooms , fair laurels strike thy eye , which fear not thieves , were no priapus by . and when to see thy farm , thou time canst find , with city meal thou feed'st thy country hind : and herbs , eggs , apples , cheese , from rome dost bear , all which thou ought'st , in reason , to find there . call not this toy thy country house for shame , let the remote forlorne house be its name . ep. . on ponticus . when now a guest , no hireling , as of yore , me , the same cheer , why sets thou not before , thou dost thy self ? oysters are serv'd to thee , fatted in lucrine lake , but unto me muscles , which in vileness as much excell , that cut my lips with their accursed shell ; and while the choicest mushroms are thy fare , for me thou poisonous toadstools dost prepare ; with a large trout , or turbut thou dost deal , but i , on sprats or pilchards , make my meal ; a well cram'd fowl regalios thee again , but me some carion-thing starv'd in the pen. when with thee , why not with thee do i eat ? my * dole is lost , not mended by thy meat . ep. . on cinna . what e'er thou begg'st , 't is nothing , thou dost cry , if it be nothing , nothing i deny . ep. . on quinctus . that with vast sums , boys in their beauty's prime thou buy'st , drink'st only wine of numas time , thy stuff , of dayly use , did hundreds cost , common with thee , but what a prince might boast . that thy gilt coach was purchast at the rate of a fair house ; one mule of an estate . think'st thou , a larger mind thou shew'st from hence ? they 're little souls delight in great expence , ep. . on cotilus men , cotilus , a gallant do proclaim : but say , who 's he deserves a gallant 's name ? a gallants one can order well his hair , and scatter round him a perfumed air , warble soft tunes of italy and france , with various graces move him in the dance ; of ladies chat sit umpier all the day , and still have something in their ear to say ; love-letters read to one , to others , write ; whom nought , like ruffling of his clothes affright ; runs to all feasts , can , who loves whom , arread ; tell pedigrees of horses , and their breed . is this , is this , a gallant then to be ? a gallant 's then a trifling thing , i see . ep. . on canius . the seamen's merry ruin , killing joy , the syrens , who with melody destroy , that sly ulysses had the pow'r to leave , when all besides , with charms , they did deceive . i wonder not : but this i should admire , from canius fett'ring tongue could he retire . ep. . on the kisses of a fair maid . as smells the fragrant fruit , when bit by thee , the flowring grapes first blooming on the tree , spring meadows , when fresh crop'd by cows they be the air , rich saffron beds , do from them yield ; a myrtile grove , arabian spicy field ; the flavour , musk and amber chaf'd respire : sabean gums , when they make pale the fire ; the fresh glebe sprinkl'd with a sumers show'r ; thy locks when on them thou choice nard dost pour : so redolent , coy maid , thy kisses are ! if freely given , what with them might compare ? ep. . on mark anthony . photin and anthony like crimes do stain , pompey by one , by th' other tully slain . tully , rome's tongue , deserv'dly might be said ; pompey , as justly , her triumphant head. yet antony o' th' two , thy guilt was more , he sinned on 's lords , thou sinn'st on thine own score . ep. . to his modest matron reader . to thee , grave matron , hitherto my book i write . tow'rds whom , dost ask , the rest doth look ? my self , the race , the baths ; retire thou then , we strip , forbear to look on naked men. well-soak'd , terpsichore weighs not what she says , niceness , 'mong cups and roses down she lays ; and tho' , without disguise , she plainly names , in broadest terms , what yearly roman dames to venus offer , cares not who her blames ; 't is that , i mean , our hinds in gardens place , and maids peep at , with hands before their face . if now i know thee , tho' my book before tir'd thee , thou'lt eager be to read it o'er . ep. . to cosconius . that all thy epigrams thou dost indite in cleanest terms , not one broad word dost write , i praise , admire ; how chast alone thou art ; such crimes my pages shew in ev'ry part , the which , the waggish youth and maids approve , the older too , who feel the sting of love. but yet , i must confess , thy holy verse deserves much more with children to converse . lib . iv. ep. . on caesar's birth-day . caesars bright birth-day's to be honour'd more than ioves , on ida's top by rhea bore . may rome this days return more often see , than aged nestor , thine was seen by thee . and , than the present , still more glorious be . may he on earth ( his head adorn'd with gold ) keep pallas feast ; as president behold the poets and the rhetors strife , and crown with 's mighty hand the highest in renown . may he the secular games , none twice e'er saw , behold ; be privileg'd beyond natures law. great things i ask , but which from heaven are due , for such a prince too much we cannot sue . ep. . to fabianus . mar. poor , and upright , whose tongue and heart agree , what dost propose , in coming rome to see ? canst act the baud , or boon-companions part ? know'st thou the criers or informers art ? canst thou debauch the wife of thy best friend ? thy strength on lustful aged madams spend ; canst sell court air ? flatter the upstart great ? canus and glaphyrus i' th' right-way treat ? how , wretch , wilt live ? fab. by faith's true square i 'll go . mar. thou dream'st , thou lt ne'er be * philomelus so . ep. . to euphemus . the two first hours o' th' great consumed are , the third in lawyers pleadings at the bar ; the trades of rome the fourth and fifth employ , the sixth some rest , the seventh all rest enjoy : from eight to nine in exercise is spent , the ninth on feasting all men are intent : the tenth hour's proper for my book and me . and euphem thou who dost the board o'er-see , and order our great lords ambrosian fare , when nectar has dissolv'd his publick care , his mighty hand the sober cup does hold , to introduce my mirth , thou may'st be bold . my muse forbears licentiously to rove , i' th' morn , when serious , to importune iove . ep. . to faustinus . while yet my book is new , its leaves scarce dry , but even the chary'st touch they fear and fly ; to faustin , boy , this little gift present , he first deserves my toys shou'd him be sent : but furnish'd with a sponge be sure to go ; my book , t is fit , shou'd be attended so . that if my verse faustinus cannot tend to purge , one blot may all my failings mend . ep. . on ant. saturninus . while thou wert proud to bear antonio's name , and that of saturninus didst disclaim ; thou arms in germany 'gainst caesar bore , as anthony in egypt did before . what fate attends that name didst thou not fear ? of his disgrace at actium never hear ? or did the rhene promise success to thee , tho' nile to him deny'd the victory ? that famous anthony , by rome's sword , did fall ; compar'd to thee , who caesar we might call . ep. . upon the marriage of pudens and claudia peregrina . this day my pudens to fair claudia's wed , swell the joys , hymen , of their nuptial bed. so musk with amber men do fitly joyn , so attick honey mix with massick wine , so elms , embrac'd by vines , do beauteous stand ; so reeds do waters grace ; so myrtles land ! concord , keep all between them ever fair , and equal love unite the equal pair ; let them not find their flame grows ever cold , or think each other , when they are so , old. ep. . to silius italicus . silius , the muses glory and renown whose weighty verse pow'rfully presses down the punique falshood , makes their barb'rous rage stoop to rome's valour , which it durst engage ; their elephants , to our eagles , quit the field ; hannibal's wiles , to scipio's honour yield . the time commands thou serious thoughts lay-by , now in december that the rattling die. in ev'ry place does make a loud report , and the most sage indulge unto the sport. my book , deep drench'd in mirth , thou may'st allow this month to read with a relaxed brow. catullus now may his slight * sparrow send to mighty maro , and the act defend . ep. . to cecilianus . ten pound thou begg'dst to borrow th' other day , which speedily , thou promis'd , to repay . i had it not ( as civil ) i did say . but thou , by a friends visit , much surpriz'd , to borrow of me silver plate devis'd . art thou a fool ? or me dost one suppose ? when ten i would not , fifty pound i 'd lose : ep. . on a boy kill'd by an icicle . at fountain-gate , whose stones do always drop , near to the porch an hundred columns prop ; a pond'rous stream , by cold , congeal'd to glass ; fell on a lad , as he the arch did pass : soon as the wretch the fatal blow had felt , the sharpen'd ice in the warm wound did melt . what can restrain thee , death ? where art not found ? when water , like a sword , can cut and wound ? ep. . on gellia and cerellia . cerellia , young , affects to say , she's old. old gellia , 'mong the girls , would be enroll'd . what either does , colinus , canst digest ? the young one plays the fool , the old the beast . ep. . on selius . selius affirms , in heav'n no gods there are , and while he thrives , and they their thunder spare , his daring tenet to the world seems fair . ep. . on lycoris . lycoris friends are rarely of long life , i wish she were acquainted with my wife . ep. . on posthumus . for not attending on thee a whole year , what i have lost thereby , posthumus , hear . five hundred pence , at least , upon this score . 't is much : a gown would yet have cost me more . ep. . to domitian . my books thou often gracest with thy praise , tho' malice it denies , thou oft givest bays ; nor only by thy words , this truth is known , but honours too , which thou , canst give , alone ; envy to black my fame , yet goes on still , caesar give more , till thou the envious kill . ep. . to pudens . the number of my books does them much wrong , the reader 's tir'd and glutted with their throng ; scarce things take most , first fruits please those are nice , roses in winter bear the highest price : reserv'dness recommends a beauteous whore , her opening , not to all that come , her dore. perseus one book 's more celebrated far , than marsus bulky amazonian war. reading a book of mine , feign there 's no more ; thus of my wit thou 't make the greater store . ep. . on hippodamus . that in my book th' art nam'd , thou'dst have it said , and think'st it there an honour to be read . may i not live , but grateful 't is to me , and in my verse , most gladly , `thou should'st ' be ; but that on thee a name men did impose , so harsh , that will with no soft numbers close . which phoebus , and the whole pierian quire , could not in musick sing , should all conspire . assume some name more sweetly then that sounds , hippodamus the muses all confounds . ep. . on a bee enclosed in amber . a drop of amber did a bee enclose hid from the touch but to the eye expose . thus it deserv'd , and thus desir'd to die , after much labour so entomb'd to lie . ep. . on sosibianus . thou say'st , th' ast poems by thee of great worth. why dost thou not , sosibian , bring them forth ; thy heirs , thou say'st , will cause them to be read , 't is pity 't is not done , and thy self dead . ep. . on deer fighting . the tim'rous deer against themselves make head , the fight forsake not , till they both lie dead : the dogs look'd on , huntsmen amaz'd appear , no prey , employment found for either here . in softest breasts what mov'd a rage so high ? bulls rush on bulls , and stoutest men so die . ep. . on afer . coranus does a hundred to me owe ; mancinus three ; albinus twice this ; so sabinus doth ; serranus ten ; i know a sixth , ten more : then from my lands do come , my flocks , and city rents , a vaster sum. this thou , whole days , relatest , and i retain with that exactness , as i do my name . say not , to what thy income does amount , but something tell , which turns to my account : i cannot hear thee , gratis , thus excite , be thy tales true or false , my needy appetite . ep. . on charinus . charinus , thou 'st a rare collection made of silver works , both massy and o'er-laid ; alone dost mirons , scopus pieces show , what mentor and praxetiles could do ; alone dost phidias noble gravings vaunt , alone the true grantianas dost not want ; enchased goblets of pure spanish oar , all double gilt , thy fathers table bore . what in these wonder 's to be wonder'd most , a penny current-coyn thou canst not boast . ep. . on posthumus . tho pisos stem speaks great nobility , seneca shews a threefold ▪ pedigree , and both their courts to my access are free ; yet my salutes to thee i first did bring , poor , and a knight , but unto me a king : ten years , twice told , in amity we led , one table serv'd us , and one common bed. thou' rt noble now and rich , canst throw away ; what to our ancient friendship wilt thou pay ? i may expect : but thou hast nought to say . grown old a patron i can't seek , tho' poor . on me , or faith , hast thou imposed more ? ep. . on a bad poet. when thou thy poems dost recite , for fear of catching cold , furr 'bout thy neck dost wear . this fitter were for th' ears of them that hear . ep. . to flaccus . if i could such obtain , as i desire , hear then what beauty , flaccus , i admire . one born in egypt , i' th' first place i 'd chuse ; such artificial charms none else do use ; i 'd have her skin white as the driven snow , from that swarth clime the fair do fairest show ; her eyes with stars should vie , her flowing hair fall on her neck , which i to curls prefer . her forehead should be smooth , well shap'd her nose , her lovely lips a rosie red disclose ; sometimes i 'd have her kind , and sometimes coy , in no man's courtship , but mine own , to joy ; young men to hate , even her own sex to fear , to others ice , to me a maid appear . now , flaccus , i foreknow , what thou wilt say . caelia , my caelia , thou dost here display , ep. on vesuvius . behold vesuvius green e'er while , and stor'd with vines which did the noblest juice afford . bacchus , this hill , ▪ bove nysas did advance , his satyrs , here , did most delight to dance . venus no seat , like this , did hold so dear , the herculian fane shon here without a peer . all now in cinders lies , and gods resent the loss ; their pow'r , they had to hurt repent . ep. . to flaccus . rightly of epigrams thou dost not deem , ho toys and sport , flaccus dost them esteem . he toys and trifles more , who does declare thyestes board , and tereus impious fare ; dedalus fitting waxen wings to fly ; and monster polyphemus with one eye . all tragick themes i banish from my muse , nor huffing buskin-language do i use . but these , thou say'st , men praise , admire , adore . praise these they may , but yet they read mine more . ep. . on a counterfeit cynick . he who i' th' temples , you so often meet , in publick porches , cosmus , and the street , with bag and staff , nasty , and antique dress'd , his hair an end , beard hanging down his breast ; who for a cloke , a coverlet does use , barkes for his meat , the givers of t' abuse ; a cynick to be thought , does make this stir ▪ but he no cynick is . what then ? a cur. ep. . on colinus . as thou colinus to thy high renown from all contenders , bor'st the oaken crown ; if wife , thy days in genial pleasures spend , as if each day determin'd were thy end. none with the parcae ever could prevail , their lives , one hour beyond their time , to bail ; altho more rich than crispus ; thrasea , bold ; than melior they a nobler port did hold ; the sisters web unchangeable doth run , and one still cuts , what t' other two have spun . ep. . on gargilianus . that thou large presents send'st the rich and old , would'st have it for thy glory to be told ? there 's none , like thee , deserves a sordid fame , who , thy vile snares , dar'st gen'rous presents name . call too a hook , by which the fish are ta'en , a gift ; the train by which wild beasts are slain . what 't is to give , dost thou desire to know ? on me , can nought return , thy wealth bestow . ep. . on a viper inclosed in amber . as 'mong the poplar boughs a viper crawls , the liquid gum upon him struggling falls : with drops alone , while wond'ring , to be held , he straight within the amber was congeal'd . then of thy tomb , proud * queen think not too high . a worm far nobler here entomb'd doth lie . ep. . on death . when leo rages with the summers sun , from pestilential climates never run ; since , in the wholesom'st , and the purest air , the destines croatius did not spare . when thy time 's come , death from no place is bound , * sardinia , in the midst of * tybur's found . ep. . on mancinus . two thousand pound lately to thee befell , thou with a fleering vaunting face didst tell . scarce four days pass'd , while thou and i did walk i' th' poets school , of hundreds thou didst talk in robes which rich pompilla to thee sent ; thou swor'st that bassa did to thee present a true sardonix , with it's triple lines ; and caelia gave thee two fair agmarines . i' th' theatre , as we did hear the song , more yet thou told'st , that did to thee belong ; even hasting , and in motion to depart , of a late heirship news thou dist impart . what have thy friends deserv'd of thee so ill , that them , with envy , thou delight'st to kill ? if pleasing things to blab , thou canst not hold ; some good to us , ill to thy self , unfold . ep. . on linus . a country life , linus , thou 'ast ever led , more mean , more homely , nothing can be said ; a curtail gown , on festivals alone , thou wor'st , and wor'st but every ten years one ; thy forest , unbought hare and boar , did yield , fat thrush , thy beaten woods and neighb'ring field ; thy river , fish afforded , being sought ; thy wine was all , from thine own vineyard , brought : no lovely boys from egypt did adorn thy board , but rustick , at thine own farm born : and if thy lust inflamed was with wine , the foulest drab thou never didst decline ; no loss thou hast receiv'd by sea or land , by gaming deep , and an unlucky hand ; when so thou wer 't dispos'd to pass the day , nuts thou didst stake , or else with nuts didst play say where 's the vast estate , th' immoderate sum thy mother left ? what is of all become ? all 's gone . 't is a hard thing that thou hast done . ep. . on a praetor . gaurus , in 's need , did of the praetor pray a hundred pound , grown in his friendship grey : and said , that sum would give him a just right to all the honours of a roman knight . but he reply'd : an hundred pound i use i' th' race to spend , nor this will me excuse : ah , shames it not , ingrate thy friend to slight ! to give a horse , what thou deny'st a knight ? ep. . to sextus . my mess cost cheap , thine the profusest sum ; to sup , not envy , sextus , i did come . ep. . to papilus . pure massick wine thou dost not only drink , but giv'st thy guests : tho some this do not think . four wives , 't is said , thy flaggon caus'd to die ; this i believe not , yet not thirst to try . ep. . on ammianus . nought t' ammianus did his father leave but a dry halter . who can now conceive , his fathers life he gladly would revive ; who wish'd him often dead , when yet alive ? ep. . to quintus . to give my books to thee , thou dost implore : but i have none ; the bookseller has store . thou say'st , none sober will such trifles buy , thou art not yet so mad. no more am i. ep. . on vestinus . vestinus drawing now his latest breath , and ready to resign his soul to death , the fatal sisters he did humbly pray , of his near end to make a little stay ; that dead t' himself , to others he might live. way to such pious vows the fates did give . then parting his vast wealth , he left the light , seeming now full of years to take his flight . ep. . upon deer fighting . see how the tim'rous herd in fight engage ! how fearful deer express the fiercest rage ! death from themselves they are not seen to fear ! caesar , set on the dogs , to save the deer . ep. . on nigrina . thou highest glory of a latian wife , blest in thy spouse , blest , nigrine , in thy life . him master of thy birth-right thou didst make , joying , in all thou hadst , he should partake . evadne perish'd in the fun'ral flame , nor cheaper did alceste purchase fame . but thou thy faith , by surer ways dost prove , and need'st not death to testify thy love. ep. . on a niggard friend ten pound i begg'd , with half thou didst me speed ; next time i 'll ask thee , twice what i have need . ep. . on zoilus . i ne'er begg'd riches from the gods before , well pleas'd with what i had and to be poor : but , want , now get thee hence , heav'n grant me store . whence comes this sudden new desire of pelf ? i 'd fain see envious zoilus hang himself . ep. . on varus . varus , did lately me to supper call , the table sumptuous was , the supper small ; loaden it was with weight of gold , not meat ; much to be seen was serv'd , little to eat ; varus , our mouths , not eyes , to feast w' are here ; take hence thy plate , or fill 't with better cheer . ep. . on afer . when thou no less than sixty years hast told , thy silver hairs and wan face spake thee old : yet thou art seen , through all the town to run restless , no youthful offices to shun ; at early morn thou great mens chairs dost meet , and them , with thy officious aves greet ; a tribune comes not forth , but thou attend●st ; thy service , unto both the consuls , lend'st . ten times a day thou climb'st the palace hill , none but * sigerios and * parthenios fill thy mouth ; those fav'rite names , which while thou vaunt'st thou think'st , that thou thy self no greatness want'st . this youth may do : but what so wretched tool , as a decrepid and ambitious fool ? ep. . to matho . thou 'ast bought my farm , where thou wert ever more my guest . th' art plainly cheated , on the score i 'ave sold thee that , which was thine own before . ep. . on matho . tho in a feaver , matho , thou dost plead : if this not madness seems , the more thou 'st need of hellebore : thou pleadest in a fit , hadst thou no other way to sweat , 't were wit. but great thou think'st it , feav'rish not to cease : see'st not , 't is greater then to hold thy peace . ep. . on nevolus . in prosp'rous state , none 's so ill-natur'd found ; in adverse , none in good does more abound ; when thou art safe , respect , regard , to none thou pay'st , none worthy of thy self thou'lt own : but in distress , to stoop thou canst endure , t' oblige . 't is pity thou shouldst be secure . ep. . on ponticus . thy cup 's of china , ours of glass . why so ? that we thy sordid usage may not know , one glass two sorts of wine , would plainly show . ep. . on bassa . bassa , a little child has ever near , which she does call her play-fellow and dear : for such yet cares not , if you 'll credit fame . how then ? she soists , and the child bears the blame . ep. . on his country life . when to my farm retir'd , how i do live if any ask , this short account i give . the gods at the first light , i do adore ; and place this care , all other cares before . my grounds i visit then , and servants call , and their just tasks i do impose on all . i study next , rouse my poetick vein , my body then anoint , and gently strain with some meet exercise ; exult in mind at ev'ry turn , my self both free to find from crimes and debts . last , i bath , sup , laugh , drink , jest , sing , rest , and on all that passes , think . a little lamp , the while sends , forth a ray , which to my nightly studies makes a day . lib . v. ep. . to caesar. whether i' th' alban mount thy station be , where thou the prospect hast , on one side , sea , diana's grove on th' other ; or before , this , if caietas bay delight thee more , the hill nam'd from the daughter of the sun , or where the anxurs wholesome streams do run . o health and safety of the publick state ! whose evils as our own , we deprecate ; and whom , when prosp ▪ rous and we happy see , grateful we then believe the gods to be . receive this little book , i to thee send , only a gracious hand vouchsafe t' extend ; i 'll think thou read'st it , tho' thou cast it by , pleas`d with a * gallick , rude credulity . ep. . to his readers . to matrons , virgins , and unriper boys , i dedicate these leaves of chaster toys ; those whom obscene , and wanton verse delight , and wit , not broadly bawdy , wholly slight ; my first four books , for them , i did indite . in this my fifth , so with rome's lord i drole , as he may read , and pallas not controle . ep. . to the muses . if what i ask , appears to you not great , o muses ! your parthenius thus intreat . may thy old age come late , and happy end : caesar be safe , and , to the last , your friend ; so above envy may you ever be , your son a scheme of all your vertues see . as you this tim ▪ rous bashful book shall grace when in the sacred presence 't is in place . to you the princes gracious moods are known , when with serenest looks , and most his own , he shines on all , who to his throne address , and measures bounty out to each distress . nor apprehend , this trifling gilded book , aims at high things , does for great matters look ; you need not offer 't , hold it in your hand , as one designing nothing to demand : if the nine sisters patron i do know , himself will you command the book to show . ep. . to vulcan . the phenix , when a thousand years expire , renews a glorious youth again by fire : so rome decay'd through age , a new does shine , and shews a countenance , like her lords , divine . digest old grudges , vulcan , we do pray , tho' mars's nation , we do also say w' are venus off-spring , so may she forget , the shame thou brought'st her by the lemnian net. with beauteous and with patient arms embrace , thy limping carcass , and thy sooty face . ep. . on phasis . while phasis in the theatre of late , phasis in purple shining did dilate on th' empe'ror's edict , which each order grac'd , and ' cording to their dignity them plac'd . these swelling words , big with conceit , he spake . at length we nobles here our ease may take , regard's had of us , and our seat's set out , w' are neither press'd , nor dirty'd , by the rout. while , lolling , thus he did the rout despise , the lictor bids his saucy purple rise . ep. . on symmachus . i droop'd ; straight symmachus to me does hie , an hundred quacks bearing him company ; an hundred frozen hands my pulse did crave , before i had no ague , now i have . ep. . on the fame of poets . what shall i say's the cause , that few do give honour to those , who in their days do live . ? from too much envy this proceeds alone , that we times-past extoll above our own ingrate oldmen catulus temple praise , and pompey's simple porch admire , and raise 'bove more stupendious fabricks of these days . ennius men read , when virgil did survive ; and homer was despis'd , while yet alive ; the stage , menander , seldom grace did show , but one corinna , divine naso , know . my books then patient be i' th' desk to lie , there needs no haste , for fame , if i must die . ep. . on stella . my stella does upon his fingers wear , em'ralds and diamonds , saphirs , rubies fair ; many bright gems upon his hands we see , more , and more radiant , in his verses be . the brillant fancies in his lines which stand , seem to proceed from his adorned hand . ep. . on calistratus . i 'm poor , calistratus , was ever so , but neither yet , in fame or title , low : i through the world am read , to all am shown , the praise , few urns receive , my life has known , but thy majestick roofs , which gold adorn , are by an hundred stately columns born ; thy chests are cram'd brim-full of unbagg'd cash , the lot of slaves that underwent the lash ; in egypt rich possessions thou dost hold , and shear'st vast flocks of the choice gallick fold . this is thy state and mine : wealth is thy share , glory and poverty my portions are . but what i am , thou ne'er canst rise to be , when any of the rout may equal thee . ep. . on nanneus . nanneus us'd in the first rank to sit , while so the sleeping edict did permit : but , that reviv'd , thrice routed , up he truss't his camp , and to the lowest seat was thrust , ev'n behind caius , lucius , straightly pent : where wrapping up his head , and there content illfavour'dly to see , but with one eye , the lictor did the wretch no sooner spy , but thence he chas'd him to the farthest space , between the cells ; were taking up his place , half standing , and half leaning 'gainst the end of the knight's form , which did his stress befriend . free from exceptions here on ev'ry hand , to some he boasts , to sit ; to some , to stand . ep. . to domitian . this is the fifth book of my drolling muse , yet none complain my verses them abuse ; but many given they have a noble name ; who by my pen enjoy immortal fame . what profits this , some say , tho so it be ? if none it profits , yet it pleases me . ep. . to his reader . when i could serious useful things endite , that i do only , what is pleasant , write , thou , reader , art the cause , who chant'st my prnise , but weigh'st not at what rate i buy thy bays . if to the law i did my study bend , and sell my words , the guilty to defend ; many a ship would bring me wares from spain , my lap would sordid be with frequent gain . whereas my book and i , trim guests , are now at feasts , and glory 's all that men allow . poets of old such pay did not content , when bright alexis was the least was sent . but well , thou cry'st , thou 'st writ , none can it mend . think'st this enough , to praise me without end . o'erseest my wants , forbear'st thy purse to draw . thou 'lt praise me out of poetry , to law. ep. . on quinctianus . now in december that the napkins fly about , spoons , candles , paper , plums , that i only my home-born books a present make , for rude or covetous thou mayst me take . but , know , i hate the vile insnaring trade , by which a gift a baited hook is made ; which is not cast , to feed the hungry fish , but for a prey to fill the fisher's dish . then , quinctianus , to his wealthy friend , a poor man's lib'ral , when he nought does send . ep. . to julius martialis . if , my dear martial , 't were allow'd to me , an undisturbed life to spend with thee ; our quiet , to what lik'd us best , to give , and both at leisu●e were truly to live : we'd never know the pow'rful in the state , within their courts , as do their statues , wait ; at the vexatious pleading-bar attend , but all our time , in books and converse spend , taking in shady groves or fields the air , in baths , in feasts , courting some gentle fair. these , our dear haunts and business , should be still , and both our spare and serious hours should fill . that now we live , alas , we cannot say , only we find the good suns post away , and that , tho' lost , imputed is each day . can those that know to live , to live delay ? ep. . on apollonius . instead of decimus thou didst quintus greet , and macrus name , when thou didst crassus meet ; what wonders we to labour may impute ! writing , and conning , thou canst both salute ! ep. . on hermes . hermes , the martial glory of the age , skilful in all the combats of the stage ; hermes , master of fence , and fencer too ; the cock and terror of the sword-men's crew ; hermes , whom helius fears , but fears alone , avolans yields to , yet to him but one ; hermes , that knows to conquer without blows , the second to himself against all foes ; hermes , the stages mint , and endless gain , the love and strife of all their female train ; hermes , that proudly shakes the warlike spear , and fiercely threat'ning does the trident bear ; hermes , when casked for the blind-fold fight , when mope'd and drooping seems , does then affright ; hermes engrosses all men's gifts in one , and trismegistus name deserves alone . ep. . on cherestratus . wanting a knight's estate , you want the style ; the lictor comes : stand up , void , stay a while . does any the degraded knight call back ? o noble deed ! is any friend not slack , out of vast wealth his title to restore , not lost by any vice , but being poor ? his gen'rous name we will commit to verse , which all succeding ages shall rehearse ! who 's thus resolv'd his better part to save , and not descend intire into the grave . and wer 't not nobler so great wealth bestow , than on a vain , ambitious , publick show ? on brass unfeeling statues it expend , altho' the artifice the charge commend ? o rich in vain ! o falsly seeming wise ! who read , approve , and yet true fame despise . ep. . on a counterfeit knight . for garb , for parts , all thee wou'd noble rate , if thou , plebean , were 't not in estate . to sit 'mongst knights 't is not a grace so high , to make thee pale , whene'er the lictor's nigh . ep. . on mamercus . mamercus good conceit , or word , to gain , the best endeavours , aulus , are in vain . excel the curii in a pious fame , 'bove nerva , rufus , get a courteous name , in justice macrus , mauricus out-do ; renowned regulus and paulus too for mirth and eloquence : yet all he bites with canker'd teeth , and to asperse , delights . you judge , perhaps , that envy 's his disease . i think , unhappiness , whom none does please . ep. . on gellia . when thou present'st me , gellia , with an hare , marcus , thou say'st , 't will make the seven days fair . if hare be such a beautifying meat , thou ne'er of one in all thy life didst eat . ep. . on children sporting upon the bulls . see how th' advent'rous boys insult secure , while the mild bulls their weight and sport endure : one hangs upon a horn , while others run o'er their broad backs , skirmish , assault , and shun each other's blows : the bulls , as frozen , stand ; combat they could not firmer on the land. the children , strive for th' palm , without all fear , the bulls , alone , solicitous appear . ep. . on crispus a glutton . crispus , one doit of 's wealth to none did leave . what came of 't then ? who did his land receive ? alive , to 's belly , he did all bequeath . ep. . on erotion . fronto , * flaccilla , who the parents were , of young erotion , to your tender care my darling i commit ; that no grim ghost , or three-mouth'd dog , that guards the stygian coast , the gentle soul affright ; but six years old , and those by six days had not fully told . with her old patron she wou'd sport , and game , when scarce her lisping tongue could speak my name . now earth to her a light interment give , to thee no burden when she here did live . ep. . on euclid . while euclid , clad in purple , loud did brawl , and near together by the ears did fall with lectius , bidding him his seat to leave . protesting proudly , that he did receive two thousand yearly patrimonial rent , and more , which his corinthian mannor sent ; produc'd an ancient goodly pedigree , deriv'd from leda , by which , all might see he was in truth a knight , rich , potent , great : an huge foul key , the badge of slaves , i' th' heat unfortunately from his bosom fell . did y' e'er , of such a spightful key , hear tell ? ep. . on erotion . than swans , o sweetest girl ! thou wer't more white ▪ than driven snow , than untouch'd lillies , bright ▪ than a galesian lamb more soft ; more smooth than sea-wash'd shells , th'elephants pollish'd tooth ▪ gems , with thy sparkling eyes , might not compare ▪ the baetick wool rival thy glist'ring hair ; nor germans yellow locks in curls up ▪ roll'd , or radiant fileings of the burnish'd gold ; thy breath , than roses , did more fragrant smell , the virgin wax , and amber chaf'd , excel ; the peacoak , had no beauty , set by thee , the phenix self but vulgar seem'd to be . such my erotion was at six years old , snatch'd hence by fates , scarce in her tomb yet cold ; my joy she was , my whole delight and love : yet petus , that i mourn , does not approve . he says , unmanly 't is to tare my hair , my breast to beat , for a young slave , tho' fair : he lost a wife rich , and of high renown , no heroine , like her , in all the town so stately great : yet he holds up his head , his whole content interrs not with the dead . of a great mind , so high a proof , who gives ? petus , by 's loss , has thousands gain'd , yet lives ! ep. . on calliodorus . calliador has a knights estate all know , the mischief is , he has a brother too , who claims one half , the fig in twain does split , and on one horse two knights are fain to sit . how can thy brother's aim and thine agree ? no pollux hadst thou , thou might'st castor be ; but being one , as two , if you take place , a soloecism's plainly in the case . leda's kind offspring imitate you may , sit knights by turns , not both on the same day . ep. . on carinus . 'bove thirty wills a year thou dost subscribe , oftner i send thee junkets for a bribe : i am exhaust , carinus , pity me , the bottom of the chest and purse i see . delude no more , make thy will once , and die , to shew thy cough was real , not a lie. tho i in wealth , like croesus , did abound , than irus , i should yet be poorer found , should'st thou , i say not tarts , daily devour , but of vile beans and pompions such a pow'r . ep. . to artemidorus . dost thou admire , when pallas is thy saint , that but a sorry venus thou dost paint ? when rigid vertue has thy study been , for wanton verse wouldst thou the laurel win ? ep. . what 's given , never perishes . a thief may force thy chests , and rob thy gold ; a fire thy house may level with the mold ; a debtor , principle and use , deny ; the corn that 's sow'd , without an harvest , die ; a crafty whore , thy casheer may surprize ; the sea o'erwhelm thy precious merchandize ; but what thou giv'st , no chance does undergo ; that wealth is always thine , thou dost bestow . ep. . on dento what is the cause ? what new thing 's fallen out ? that dento oft invited , is so stout ( beyond belief ) my table to refuse ? he , who through all the portico's did use , the baths , the theatres , to hunt me out , flies , when i call , and will not turn about . the myst'ry is , h' as found a fatter treat , like dogs , is drawn by strongest scent of meat . but soon as known , the great , he will disgust ; then for my scraps he 'll leap , and for a crust . ep. . on philo. thou say'st , thou never supp'st at home . t is right , that is , thou fast'st , when none does thee invite . ep. . on rufus . he whose left arm , loaden with books , you see , and throng ▪ d with busie clerks to that degree ; whose face compos'd attentively does hear causes and suits pour'd in at either ear , most like a cato , tully , or a brute , if put upon the rack , could not salute in latin , ave , or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the greek : and if thou doubt the truth , let 's to him speak . ep. . to labienus . i saw thee lately sitting all alone , and , that thou hadst been three , i durst have sworn , thy seeming num'rous heads so me deceiv'd , thy pate here lock'd , and there of hair bereav'd ; not with love-locks , which beaut'ous boys do wear , but some parts tufted were , much broader bare . thy various baldness stood thee late in stead , when caesar dol'd the people meat and bread ; for thou bor'st home what did belong to three ▪ the fam'd gerion sure was such as thee . * philippus portico , i advise thee flie : if hercules spy thee , thou art sure to die . ep. . on posthumus . thy gifts i bear in mind , and ever will. why don't i speak them then ? 'cause thou dost still : i can to none relate them , but they say , he told us all himself the other day . some things are ne'er done well by two : if i must celebrate thy deeds , make thou no cry . should'st , posthumus , the vastest gifts bestow , thy after boasting would them all o'erthrow . ep. . to bassus . why dost thou , bassus , of thyestes write ? niobe's tears , or of medea's flight ? a fitter subject of thy verse by far , phaeton's burning , or the deluge , were . ep. . on apollonius . extemporist thou' rt now , and of renown , calpurnius canst salute , not writing down . ep. . on cinna . thou lord and master call'd , thy self dost prize , slaves i oft term so , when i them chastise . ep. . to posthumus . to morrow still , to morrow , thou dost say , that thou wilt live . when will arrive the day ? how far 's this morrow off ? or where ? canst tell ? with parthians or armenians does it dwell ? old nestor's years it has already told ; say , may we purchase it for any gold ? thou 'lt live to morrow : 't is too late to day . he , posthumus , was wise , liv'd yesterday . ep. . to stella . that i , nor gold nor silver , to thee send , i this forbear , for thy sake , learned friend . who gives great gifts , expects great gifts again , my cheap ones to return will cause no pain . ep. . on a detractor . altho' thou bark'st at me yet more and more , and such thy currish snarlings ne'er giv'st o'er , decreed it is , thou never shalt acquire the fame , to which thou dost so much aspire , within my books , tho ill , but to be read : that once thou wer 't , why should it e'er be said ; no , wretch , thy fate it is , to die unknown . and yet , perhaps , there may be found some one or two , or more , about the town , who may in thy dog's hide fasten their teeth , and bay . but from such base engagements i 'll contain ; my nails , to scratch thy mange , does much disdain ▪ ep. . on marianus . who is this crispus , i so often see close to thy wife ? this crispus , who is he ? he leans his elbow nicely on her chair , and always wispers something in her ear , his slender fingers many jewels grace , not all his body for one hair has place . wilt thou not answer me ? thou say'st , 't is he does thy wife's buisness , and such must be free . in sooth , a sober man , of a sage mien , the grave solicitor in his face is seen ; * chius aufidius look'd not more austere . to be the sport of mimicks , dost not fear ? deserve to be the fable of the stage ; the noted wit-all of the present age ? he thy wife's business do ? that thing so fine ? he does not thy wife's business , but does thine . ep. . to ponticus . how i thy book , ponticus , do approve , to say , thou anxiously dost often move . amaz'd , astonish'd , nought i read so rare ! the best of wits cannot with thee compare ! pon. caesar and jove propitious to thee be , as thus thou think'st . mart. or rather unto thee . ep. . to his waiters . pour lusty wine , catistus , fill it up ; with summer snow , alcime , dilute the cup ; let my locks drop , with rich amomum spread , and with a wreath of roses crown my head. i 'm bid to live , by caesar's tomb that 's nigh , while it proclaim 's , the gods themselves do die . ep. . on mark anthony . so black , mark anthony , so foul's thy name , that , ev'n photinus guilt , thou dar'st not blame : in tully's gore alone more deeply dy'd , than all the sea of blood thou shedd'st beside . how durst thou , mad-man , sheath thy impious blade in rome's own throat ? in tully's life invade the commonwealths ? a crime , that put a stand to cat'lin's soul , and damp'd his daring hand . thou hir'dst a villain with accursed gold , to gagg the tongue that did thy life unfold ; what boots it thee , to silence , at such price , one divine tongue ? think'st so to hide thy vice ? for vertue now , and murder'd tully's sake , all tongues inveigh , and all philippicks make . ep. . on syriscus , a slave . in rambling only through base booths and huts , vile tap-houses , and cellars among sluts , syriscus full five hundred pound made fly , ( his lord 's vain gift ) i' th' twinckling of an eye . strange luxury , to consume all this deal , nor sitting for 't the time allow'd a meal ! ep. . to theodorus . that i may books do not to thee impart , altho thou su'st , and instant for them art , dost wonder ? for good cause i this decline , for fear , lest , theodore , thou give me thine . ep. . on pompey , and his sons . europe , and asia , pompey's sons intomb ; africk , himself , if he finds any room . no wonder , thus the world they quarter , slain ▪ what soil so great a ruin could contain ? ep. . on cinna . by th' often use of poison he did make , the pontick king , unhurt , could poison take , and , cinna , thou , by eating ill , tak'st care , neither to die by scant , or evil , fare . ep. . on zoilus . i' th' meal ten times thou from the board dost range and ev'ry time thou dost thy vestment change , for fear , lest , sweating , harm thy body get , between the air , and garments that are wet . why sweat not i , who sup with thee , thou fool ? who has no change of clothes , is strangely cool . ep. . to emilianus . if thou art poor , thou shalt be ever so . the rich do only on the rich bestow . lib . vi. ep. . to julius martialis . this my sixth book , iulius , to thee i send , dear 'mong the first , and my judicious friend ▪ if it shall pass approv'd thy learned ear , when 't is in caesar's hand , i less shall fear . ep. . to domitian . censor of manners is thy glory more , than prince of princes which thou had'st before . tho' for so many triumphs rome does owe , which , thy heroick valour did bestow , so many temples new , so many old , so many shows , and gods by thee enroll'd , so many cities won , or else laid waste ; yet more she owes , that thou hast made her * chast. ep. . to cecilianus . i lately purchas'd have a piece of ground . cecilian , lend me , pray , a hundred pound . dost say , i ne'er will pay ? and thereon pause ? to speak the truth , i borrow for that cause . ep. . on thelesina . since the law 'gainst adultery took place , and all are forced chastity t' embrace : in less than thirty days , thou hast been wed ten times , ten men admitted to thy bed. who weds so oft , not weds , but plays the whore : and than adultery offendeth more . ep. . to severus . no less than pretors two , and tribunes four , seven advocates , and poets half a score , were sutors lately to a certain maid ; her father of them all small reck'ning made , but on a crier did the girl bestow . wherein he play'd the fool , i do not know . ep. . to domitian . i late of iove a thousand crowns did crave , he 'll giv 't , says he , who me a temple gave . that he , 't is true , a temple gave to thee , but yet no thousand crowns bestows on me . i backward was our iove this way t' engage : but how serene ! how free from cloudy rage he read my suit ! with such a placid brow , to conquer'd kings their crowns he does allow ; and from the capitol returns and goes . o virgin ! who alone our great lord knows ; if with such looks , he does our sutes reject , say , with what mien he does them then accept . i pray'd . pallas ( her shield revers'd ) reply'd : what is not giv'n yet , thinkst thou fool , deny'd ? ep. . on marcus. thou wonder'st , friendship now 's no more renown'd , that no orestes , pylades , are found ! pylades ever , marcus drank o' th' same , nor fatter thrushes to orestes came ; each , better than himself , did th' other treat , no diff'rence made in beverage , or in meat . on lucrine oysters thou dost gormondize , while flashy of peloris me suffice : and yet my palat's as refin'd as thine , as skild in the best meats , and noblest wine . rich tyrian wool , to make thy garment's , sought , but mine the coursest which from gallia's brought : would'st have me love thee in a purple gown , while i am clad like some poor rustick clown ? if you expect i pylades should be , orestes you must shew your self to me . friendship by deeds , not words , must be approv'd , the man must love , that seeks to be belov'd . ep. . on the statue of julia. who would not think this peice by phidias wrought ? or to perfection by minerva brought ? the snow white marble seemeth even to speak , such life and grace does from the count'nance break it sporting holds loves girdle in its hand , and 'bove the god of love does love command . when venus would in mars lost flames renew , here for the charming cestus she must sue . ep. . on laberius . thou canst write exc'llent verse , as thou dost say , why then to write , laberius , dost delay ? who can do ought that 's excellent , and with-hold , among the greatest men may be enroll'd . ep. . on an emmet . under a poplar while an emmet goes , an amber drop did the small beast enclose . thus that which worthless was while it did live . it 's funeral now doth a high value give . ep. . on cinnamus . thou 'dst be call'd cinna , cinnamus is thy name such barb'rous practice many would defame . to be nam'd theseus , say it thee befell , and men should call thee thief , wou'd'st take it well ▪ ep. . on solinus . solinus sacred reliques rest in spain , few ghosts so noble 'mong the dead remain . 't were sin to mourn for him , that 's yet alive , whose body 's dead , but glory does survive . ep. . to his advocate . of murder , poison , war , th' ast nought to say , but of three goats , my neighbour stole away ; the judge requires , i this should make appear ; to th' pontick war thou mak'st excursions here , canna's fight , punick falshood ; thou , with might of hand and voice , dost roaring out recite of syllas , marius , mutius , various story . speak now to three goats , lost in so much glory . ep. . to phoebus . thou saying oft , wil 't nought of me command ? to borrow a small sum i did demand . but then thou humm'st , demurr'dst , thy self and me with long doubts vext . i nothing ask , th' art free . ep. . on proculina . that proculina's marry'd to her knave , and will her gallant , for her husband , have , fearing the iulian law : she does not wed , but now proclaims what life before she led . ep. . on charisianus . charisianus's vainer far than all the town . when others ma●querade , he 's seen in 's gown ▪ ep. . to marcellinus . thou gen'rous offspring of a noble race , bold marcellinus , who now holds the place , where horrid winter wars , no less than foes ; accept the vows thy father's friend bestows . thy courage still , be prudent ; brav'ry , wise ; who on affected danger runs , despise : delight in wounds , only in fools take place ; be thou thy countrey 's bulwark , and her grace . ep. . an epitaph on glaucia . melior's free-man far renown'd , who dying rome in sorrow drown'd , the short delight of 's patron dear , glaucia beneath this marble here , near the flaminian way's interr'd . tho' from chast laws he never err'd , a modest blush his face o'erspread . quick of wit , of wonderous grace , scarce thirteen years in him took place . who mourn'st such sad untimely loss , may'st never weep for thine own cross. ep. . on the same . none of the abject , prostrate , crew , which greedy bauds in cages mew , but fix'd all vices far above , and worthy of an honest love. when not yet sensible to know , what boon his patron did bestow , glaucia was melior's freeman made , to his endowments this was paid . for who more charming , who more fair ? more with apollo might compare ? the graces which in him did dwell , did those o' th' youthfull god excel . immod'rate virtue , 't is thy doom , but seldom to old age to come . to prevent sorrow's sharp disease , pray nought thou lov'st may too much please . ep. . on petus . if when ten pound you promis'd , you had paid , and giv'n it home with me , and not delay'd , i had your debtor for an hundred been : but petus , sending it , so tardy in , after seven months , i guess , or nine months time , i know not which to call 't , a gift , or crime . shall i what 's truer , even than truth , expound , instead of giving , thou hast lost , ten pound . ep. . on charidemus . oft with thy wife does the physician lye , thou knowing , charidem , and standing by . i see , thou wilt not of a feaver dye . ep. . on the death of otho . when yet the chance of war did doubtful stand , and otho might have had the upper hand ; war he renounc'd , maintain'd by seas of blood , and with his own , restrain'd the publick flood . tho cato's life , than caesar's , greater were ; otho , in 's death , exceeded cato far . ep. . on cinna . of thy marulla's sevenfold births , not one , cinna , is thine , or yet a free-born son : for not thy self , thy neighbour , or thy friend , to their begetting can at all pretend : but their dams stealths are shewn by ev'ry head , to be the work o' th' straw , and trundle-bed . he , who , moor-like , with woolly hair we see , of the cook santer does confess to be . but he with strutting lips , and a flat nose , the image of the wrestler does disclose , pannicus . the third , who 's ignorant to be the baker dama's , who does dama see , and know a bleer eye ? the fourth , fair to sight , shewing a wanton brow , thy catamite lygdus begot . he with a copped crown , and ears , like asses , bangling up and down , who can deny to gyrrah , the buffoon ? two girls , of fox this , that of blackbird hue , their sires , the piper crote , and carpus shew the hinde . compleat were now thy mungrel race , could thy two eunuchs gen'rate , as embrace . ep. . on a hoarse poet. verse to recite , tho hoarse , thou do'st not cease : which shews that thou canst speak , not hold thy peace . ep. . on thelesinus . when thelesinus did observance pay to honest men , he went in poor aray : but when to pimp he did himself apply , houses and land , he had wherewith , to buy . wouldst thou be rich ? be factor to some sin : honest employment brings but little in . ep. . on coracinus . of richest spices thou do'st ever scent , nor is the phoenix nest more redolent . despisest us , who don't in sweets excel : of nought 'tis better , than of odours smell . ep. . on baccara . thy chests , such store of winter-garments , hold , thou griev'st , and oft complain'st , for want of cold ; wishest dark days and short , sharp winds , and snow , and hates the season , if it milder grow . didst thou the worse for my thin gown e'er fare , borne from my back by ev'ry puff of air ? how much more humane , more sincere , 't were done , should'st thou in august winter-clothes put on ? ep. . on pompillus . peop. pompillus name is up , his work is done , his fame throughout the universe doth run . mart. so may our german foes successful be , and all , o italy ! that love not thee . peop. pompillus lines , for wit , yet have the name . mart. but trust me , that is not enough for fame . how many witty , learned , books do come to serve the kitchen , and to feed the worm ? 't is something else eternity does give , 't is not the wit , but * genius , makes books live . ep. . on an envious person . rome hugs my verse , and cries it up for rare , my books each hand and ev'ry bosom bear ; there 's one yet lowres , disdains , is ill at ease : i 'm glad ; my verses now my self do please . ep. . to marianus . you know y' are flatter'd , know the greedy knave , you know what 't is such flatterers would have : and yet you write him heir in your last deed , and will , that he , in all you have , succeed . what tho he sends great gifts ? 't is with an hook ; and do the fish the angler ever brook ? will this man mourn , when thou no more shalt live ? wouldst have him mourn ? then nothing to him give . ep. . on a detractor . when sprung of fabius race you no way are , nor curius , who himself to 's plow-men bare their dinner ; whose rough wife her child-bed made , under the covert of an oak's thick shade : but of a father born , trimm'd by a glass , a mother , for a courtesan , does pass ; and so effeminate you your self withall , your wife , tho nice she be , you wife may call . for you to dare my much-fam'd verse detract ! the momus , on my approv'd toys , to act ! my toys , i say , all rome attentive hear , to which both learn'd and noble lend an ear ; which deathless silius with regard does treat ; and regulus fluent tongue deigns to repeat ; which to revolve , caesar a time does spare , amidst the weight of all the publick care. but you know more , your wise discerning heart pallas has fram'd by the athenian art. may i not live , if th' heart and paunch we meet the garbage , guts , and the great dangling feet , which loaded butchers carry through the street , with no small terror unto ev'ry nose , do not a sharper wit than thine disclose . yet , with the waste of paper , against me verses you write , such as none read , or see : but if my chafed choler thee shall brand , the work will live , be read in ev'ry land ; 't is not thy barber's soap can cleanse the stain . take heed the outrage be not thine own bane , to urge a living bear , cease to presume , until his rage forth at his nostrils fume . tho calm , he 'll lick the hand , and strokings bear ; rous'd and provok'd , you 'll find him still a bear. thy teeth then fasten in some empty hide , or beast that 's dead , and will the wrong abide . ep. . on a cryer and a wench . gellian , the cryer , sought a wench to sell , of their repute , who in * saburra dwell . and when he saw his chapmen offer low her modesty to praise , and better show , he near him pull'd the struggling wench and nice , and forceably did kiss her twice or thrice . d' ye ask , what such his kisses did avail ? they cut off half was offer'd for her sale. ep. . on cotta . cotta has pass'd his threescore years and two , and ne'er remembers that he had to do with sickness , or yet once laid down his head ; for a distemper felt a tedious bed : but at physicians he durst point with scorn , at * dasius and * alcontus make a horn. if , like wise men , we do our years compute , raze or substract the days that did not suit with happy life , such as in pain are spent , gouts , feavers sharp , and the mind's discontent . we should but children be , that aged seem , and hugely they 're impos'd upon , who do deem , priam and nestor many years have told : not who live long , but happily , are old. ep. . on telethusa . when telethusa had been taught t' express to th' timbrel each lascivious address ; the high levalto , brisk morisco dance , whatever wanton baetis does advance ; able old pelias , to loves sports to draw , his strength renew , and frozen palsie thaw ; to make sad priam know a loose desire , even while he wep't at hector's fun'ral fire . her lord , who sold her lately for a slave , by these her charms besotted so does rave , that all he 'll give , his mistress , her to have . ep. . on afrus . when poorer yet than irus thou art deem'd , than parthenopaeus younger much esteem'd , stronger than wrestlers in their prime and might , why to be borne by six dost thou delight ? 't were a less jest , shouldst thou in publick go naked , a-foot , than with this pageant show . the state thou tak'st does more absurd appear , than if six slaves , a seventh , in pomp should bear ; a moor upon an elephant of like hue , would move less laughter 'mong the vulgar crew ; so on a mule as little as himself , mounted , we see , some pigmy little elf. wouldst know what scorn thy pride to thee has bred ? men grudge that six should bear thee , wert thou dead . ep. . on phrix . phrix , a stout drinker , who no goblet fear'd , tho one eye he had lost , and t'other bleer'd : who ( when physicians bid of wine beware , and threaten'd blindness , if he had not care , ) deriding , said , farewel my other eye ; and ten large cups bid fill him by and by , and more than once . wouldst know the end o' th' prank ? phrix soak'd good wine , but his eye poison drank . ep. . to lupus . th' art rich and sad ; take heed lest fortune see , and , as ungrateful , do proceed with thee . ep. . on winter roses . egypt did proudly winter roses boast , as the sole product of her fertile coast : but now at rome her merchants are surpriz'd , to see such store , the memphian are despis'd : where e'er they look , where e'er they take their way hedges of blushing roses do display . so does this glory of the spring excel , not pestan rosaries more fragrant smell even goddess flora seems in rome to dwell . let not thy winters , nile , then vie with ours , go plow , and send us corn , we 'll send thee flow'rs . ep. . to rufus . one , very strictly , me of late did eye , as those that slaves or fencers use to buy : and when he had survey'd me o'er and o'er with eye and finger too , behind , before . art thou , art thou , ( says then astonish'd he ) the famous merry martial , that i see ? whose wit not only duller climes admire , but those , who to the noblest arts aspire ? i , blushing , smil'd ; and , with a light assent , did not deny , i was the man he meant . how com'st thou then , says he , so meanly clad ? i did reply , because my verse are bad. lest , rufus , oft i 'm drove to say the same , send garments , suit not with my state , but fame . ep. . on philippus . philip , in health , eight men to bear him had . who thinks him in good health , himself is mad. ep. . on thais . thais stinks worse than a stale fuller's vat new broken in the way ; than a dead rat ; a lion's mouth ; a rutting goat's less rank , a carr'on dog cast upon tiber's bank ; a putrid chick that 's addl'd in the egg , stale pickled fish corrupted in the kegg . but then the drab ( her hautgout to disguise , when to the bath she goes , ) deals in this wise ; her self she husks under thick pastes , and guards with oyls , thrice and four times repeated fards . but when she , by these arts , hopes all is well , predominant thais does of thais smell . lib . vii . ep. . to domitian . caesar thy dread palladian breast-plate wear , which even the gorgon seems it self to fear : when on thee buckled , all the aegis know ; but when unarm'd , it doth plain armour show . ep. . to caesar. if with thee , caesar , the desires take place of people , senate , all the roman race : thy presence graciously to them afford , at their impatient suit , return their lord. rome her foes envies , that they thee detain , tho many laurels she thereby doth gain ; that barb'rous nations see her prince so near , enjoy that face , which they do so much fear . ep. . on cascelius . if thou at sixty but ingenious be , when shall we thee , cascelius , learned see ? ep. . to faustinus . may caesar still with the same gracious ear , and serene brow , my sportive verses hear , as they wrong none , not those i justly hate ; as fame i love not at the odious rate of others blushes . but what does 't avail ? if in blood-fetching lines others do rail , and vomit vip'rous poison in my name ; such as the sun , themselves , to own , do shame ? who know me , know , my verses harmless are : and by the muses sacred quire i swear , by th' genius of my prevailing fame , by thy ears , candid reader , and thy name , which hold the place of deities to me , from all malignant envy i am free . ep. . on a fragment of the ship argus . this piece thou see'st of rotten useless wood , was the first ship that ever plow'd the flood : which not the billows of cyanean seas of old could wreck , or scythian worse than these . age conquer'd it ; but in time's gulf thus drown'd , one plank's more sacred , than the vessel sound . ep. . on a soft poet. when all the epigrams are sweet , you write , more candid , than a face that 's painted white ; no grain of salt throughout them all is seen , or drop of gall ? fool , to be read , dost mean ? the choicest meat wo'nt down without all sauce , nor finds the face , that has no mole , applause . to children give fruits , that are luscious sweet , for men , what 's quick and poinant's only meet . ep. . to dexter , on a wild boar he sent him . a huge unweildy boar with much mast fed , that had laid waste the fields where he was bred , a monster , like to that meleager slew , in 's blood , bold dexter did his spear embrew . th'invidious prey before my fire doth lye , and with its chearful steam , my lares by bedews : while of much kindled wood the light my kitchen makes all festival and bright . the ranting cook demands a pow'r of spice , choice wines for pickle , of the highest price . back to thy lord return , thou blust'ring boar , my range , to entertain thee , is too poor . dreadful alive , destructive even when slain , no less the treaters , than the huntsman's , bain . mean food , and scant , i rather choose to bear , than such confounding , tho'voluptuous , fare . ep. . to regulus . the chian figs , the eggs , and laying hens , the hoarse-voic'd fowl , fat prisoners of the pens , the shaggy kid , the dam lamented , lost , olives preserv'd from injury of frost ; the hoary herbs bearing the morning dew , in my own farm , thou think'st , all bred , or grew . a pompous error ; there is no such store , but a starv'd owner nought it ever bore . whate'er thy umbrian hinde to thee does bring , or in thy tusculan or tuscan spring , markets afford , all i on friends bestow , suburra's the rich soil in which they grow . ep. . on cinna . when in a sordid gown thou lov'st to go , but shews as white , as the new fallen snow ; why 'bout thy feet , thy gown to wear , dost use ? fool , tuck it up , or it will foul thy shooes . ep. ● . to stella . when my craz'd house heav'ns show'rs cou'd not sustain , but floated with vast deluges of rain ; thou shingles , stella , seasonably didst send , which from th' impetuous storms did me defend : now fierce loud sounding boreas , rocks does cleave , dost clothe the farm , and farmer naked leave ? ep. . on caelius . caelius , impatient longer to abide the morning aves , and the great mens pride , from vagrant jants , and dirty toilsom pain , to free himself , began the gout to feign ; which while too much he sought , shou'd true appear , and swath'd his feet , and did with oyntments smear , walk'd as in pain , the more his grief to shew , see what great art and industry can do ! he feigns not now the gout , his gout is true . ep. . to castricus . if any in rich gifts with thee dare vie , his skill with thee , in verse too , let him try : i , poor in both , prepared am to yield , and find much ease , by quitting of the field . why then ill verses do i thee present ? dost think , none e'er alcinous apples sent ? ep. . to cinna . the best , when thou art ask'd , is to say , ay : the next is , cinna , quickly to deny . i love him gives ; him , that denies , not hate ; but thou both givest and deny'st too late . ep. . to q. ovidius , on the statue of cesonius . see thy cesonius lively figur'd here , who unto thee , ovidius , was so dear ; whom nero did condemn , but thou didst dare nero condemn , while thou his fate durst share , despising of thine own , and went'st along through seas , through rocks , great partner of his wrong . an exile , him to follow , thou didst chuse , tho' this , when consul , thou didst him refuse . if names shall live , commended by my verse , this fact to future ages they 'll rehearse , that the like faith from thee cesonius found , for which to seneca , himself was so renown'd . ep. . to priscus . while verses thou wilt have thy gift attend , which thou desir'st , like homer's , may be penn'd , thy self and me thou vexest day and night , and , to my grief , thy muse takes her delight . lofty and chiming verse to th'rich present , course useful gifts best to the poor are sent . ep. . to licinius sura . thou most illustrious of our learned men , whose style the ancients does retrieve again ; how great a gift did fates on us bestow , when , ready now to taste the waves below , they sent thee back ; when all gave way to tears , and had deposed both their hopes and fears . hells regent could not so much envy bear , but did himself thy thread of life repair . thou ●eest what grief , wer 't dead , would all annoy ; and may'st , thy after-life , in life , enjoy . live like one snatch'd from death , crop joy's brief flow'r , who from the grave 's return'd , should lose no hour . ep. . to urbicus . if you desire my sportive books to know , yet care not for them money to bestow ; pompeius auctus ( unknown ) from me greet , in mars revenger's temple him you 'll meet ; skill'd in all law and courts : on him i look , not as my reader , but my very book . by heart he has so perfect ev'ry line , that not a title can be lost that 's mine . so that the author he might claim to be , did he not favour both my fame and me. you may your self to him ( at ten ) invite , from business he is never free till night . his little supper will admit of two , he 'll read ; to eat , is all you have to do : and when you say , enough ; he 'll still go on ; nay , tho ▪ you 're tir'd , he will not yet have done . ep. . to auctus . reading my books to celer , pleases me , if what thou read'st , to him , as pleasing be . o'er spain , my native soyle , he does preside , such justice in that world did ne'er reside . so great a man my rev'rence does excite , not to a reader , but a judge , i write . ep. . on umber . all the saturnal five days to thee sent , in one vast gift , thou didst to me present ; twelve table-books , seven tooth-picks , and a cup , olives and beans in bull-rush frails made up ; even pace with these a spoon and napkin bore , a flaggon stain'd with wine , as black as gore ; dry'd plums , prunello's of the oldest date , a jarr of libyan figs , of massy weight . the price of all did of four shillings lack , which eight strong slaves yet bore upon their back . how easie , more commodious had it been , by a little boy t' have sent four guinea's in ? ep. . to nasidienus . there 's not a morn , that me thou dost not vex with idle dreams , that may my thoughts perplex : which , while to expiate , thou dost pretend , the wine of two years vintage to an end is brought ; salt , meal , whole heaps of gums are spent ; and from my dwindling flocks my lambs are sent : a pig , an hen , an egg , i cannot keep , watch , with a pox , or , at thine own charge , sleep . ep. . on rabirius , domitian's principal architect . when with such art , rabirius did design th'emperial palace , models all divine his soul conceiv'd , his soreing thoughts did fly up to the starry pole , and arched sky . phidias his iove were pisa now t'inshrine , no structure they 'd approve , but what were thine . ep. . on cecilianus . cecilian , without boar , did never eat . how well the eater's suited , and his meat . ep. . to jove . great rome , dread iove , and heav'n , obey thy nod , and all believe , when caesar's safe , a god. while others , for themselves , do thee adore , whate'er a deity can give , implore : that i alone do nought of thee desire , as pride in me , let it not move thine ire . that thou to caesar would'st propitious be , i only pray , and caesar unto me . ep. . to domitian . presumptuous traders did all rome possess , no bounds did set to such their mad excess : caesar the pester'd streets did open lay , where only was a path , he made a way ; ground for their huts , or vessels none might hire , to cause the praetor t●ead o'er shoes i' th' mire : and rogues encourag'd secret arms to bear ; cooks , barbers , vict'allers , all restrained are : thy edict , caesar , their encroachments stop ; rome's rome again , 't was lately one great shop . ep. . on a barber . when but a barber thou wert known to be , thy wanton dame rais'd thee to knights degree : but for thy crimes obnoxious to the law , to sicily thou thought'st fit to withdraw . in thy now useless age what art wilt court , thy wretched life how , sav'd by flight , support ? rhet'rick or grammar skill thou dost not own ; philosophy is more to thee unknown ; t' a forreign stage thy self thou canst not hire ; sir knight , to barb again , thou must retire . ep. . to gargilianus . ten winters , gargilianus , twice o'er told , thy single law-suit in three courts did hold . ah , wretch and mad-man ! twenty years to brawl , when in thy pow'r it was , to give up all . ep. . on labienus . fabius sole heir did labienus leave ; he yet complains , he did his hopes deceive . ep. . to rufus . my book , to shew thy father , friend , forbear ; perhaps he only likes those serious are ; my wanton verse , if they with him succeed , i dare to curius and fabricius read . ep. . on theophila . this is theophila , that learned she , the gods , my canius , have reserv'd for thee . whom , his disciple , plato's proud to name , the sto● doth as emulously claim . the works will live , that pass her learned test , so wise , so above woman , is her breast . not fair pantenis can to her aspire , tho' so illustrious in the muses quire. amorous sappho may admire her verse , greater in virtue , not in po'sie less . ep. . to maximus . houses in dian's mount , in esquilin , more i' th' patrician street of thine are seen ; hence cybel's fane , from thence thou may'st behold vesta's ; here iove's new temple , there his old . where may we find thee ? say , in what place ? tell. who ev'ry where resides , does no where dwell . ep. . to philomusus . our great ones strive , who first shall catch thee up , who carry thee to plays , to walk , to sup ; take high delight , as often as they may , to bathe with thee , to have thee on the way . do not for this , thy self too much admire , they do not love thee , but to laugh , desire . ep. . to lausus . thou thirty epigrams dost note for bad ; call my book good , if thirty good it had . ep. . on eutrapelus . eutrapelus , the barber , works so slow , that while he shaves , the beard a-new does grow . ep. . to his book . while my cecilius to the world would leave my picture ; and the rare piece seems to breath ; my book to peuce , and still ister go , held by secundus from the conquer'd foe . to him a small , but pleasing , gift thou'lt be , and in my verse , my perfect face he 'll see : which neither chance , nor pow'r of time , can rase , ev'n when apelles works they shall deface . ep. . to sabellus . that thou tetrastichs writes , not without wit , and distichs also prettily dost hit , i praise , but not admire : 't is no hard task verses to write ; a book more skill does ask . ep. . on sextus . when but a stranger , to thy birth-day feast , i ever , sextus , was a constant guest . what 's fallen out ? what did thy anger move , after so many years and proofs of love , that i , thy ancient friend , am passed by ? but i my self can tell the reason why . i sent no plate , no gift to thee i made ; for thou call'st that a treat , in truth's a trade ; profit thou seek'st , thou seek'st not , sextus , friends . my man forgot , thou say'st , his stripes shall make amends . ep. . on himself . if flaccus in an horned owl delight , and canius in an ethiope , black as night ; if publius much a little bitch does love , and cronius does an ape no less approve ; if marius a vile indian mouse affects , if , lausus , thou a pratling pye respect'st ; glacilla wreaths about her neck a snake , another for her bird a tomb does make ; why may not i admire a lovely face , when monsters , like to these , the others grace ? ep. . to creticus . matho objects , my books unequal are , if he says true , he praises e'er aware , calvin and umber write an equal strain , naught is the book that 's free from heights , and plain . ep. . on baccara . if need thou hast , thou need'st not me intreat , baccar , these words thou often dost repeat . my creditor's rage thou in his look dost read , thou seest , but know'st not , baccar , what i need . my rent , thou by , is call'd for in with speed , thou hear'st , but know'st not , baccar , what i need . i shiver in a tatter'd thread-bare weed , thou seest , yet know'st not , baccar , what i need . i need , that thou wert planet-struck with speed , no more that thou may'st say , what dost thou need ? ep. . on linus . 't is winter , and december's horrid cold , makes all things stark ; yet , linus , thou lay'st hold on all thou meet'st , none can thy clutches miss , but with thy frozen mouth all rome dost kiss . what could'st more spightful do , or more severe , had'st thou a blow o' th' face , or box o' th' ear ? my wife , this time , to kiss me does forbear , my daughter too , however debonaire . but thou more trim and sweeter art . no doubt , th'icicles , hanging at thy dog-like snout , the congeal'd snivle dangling on thy beard , ranker than th' oldest goat of all the herd . the nasty'st mouth i' th' town i 'd rather greet , than with thy flowing frozen nostrils meet . if therefore thou hast either shame or sense , till april comes no kisses more dispense . ep. . an epitaph on urbicus . i infant urbicus here bury'd lye , my name and birth great rome did dignifie . three years i had not full attain'd unto , when rigid fates my thread did cut in two . what serv'd my childhood , beauty , early speech ? to drop a tear , is all they can beseech . which if thou dost , may like chance from thee fly , and all thou lov'st , as ag'd as nestor dye . ep. . to his book . if book , cesius sabinus , ( the renown of hilly umbria , and of the town of my friend aulus pudens ) thou dost know , howe'er employ'd , yet boldly to him go ; tho' many urgent cares oppress his mind , a vacant time to read thee , he will find . for me he loves ; and deigns my verse the grace , next turnus noble works to hold the place . o , what great trophies are for thee prepar'd ! what num'rous friends ! what glories to be shar'd ! there 's not a mart , in which thou'lt not be found , a feast , a street , but will with thee refound , the baths , the portico's , ev'n ev'ry stall , to one thou' rt sent , but wilt be read by all. ep. . on castor . while all things thou didst buy , it thee befel , that all things , castor , thou dost likewise sell. ep. . to crispus . may'st thou the prince still gracious to thee find , and rome , no less than egypt , ever kind : if , when in court , my verses thou dost hear , ( for sometimes caesar deigns to them an ear ) thou me afford'st this free and candid praise , this man 's a glory , caesar , to thy days , yields not to marsus , pedo , or the best . this is enough ; to caesar leave the rest . ep. . on milo. while milo travels , fallow lyes his field , his wife , howe'er , a yearly crop doth yield . how comes she fruitful , and that barren ? say. his wife was plow'd , his land neglected lay . lib . viii . ep. . to his book . to th' princes laurell'd court , seeing thou' rt to go , learn , book , a chaste and modest speech to know . no place is left for wanton venus there , pallas , caesarian pallas , rule does bear . ep. . to janus . when ianus , lord of times , beheld of late th' emperial victor in triumphant state , tho' faces he had two , he thought them few , and wish'd that yet more eyes he had to view . with both his tongues he said unto our lord , nestor ' s four ages i 'll to thee afford . o father ianus ! thine own also give , that he not long , but may for ever live . ep. . to his muses . five had suffic'd , six books or seven do cloy , why dost as yet delight , my muse , to toy ? give o'er for shame : fame has not more to grace my verse , the business made in ev'ry place . and when proud tombs , in which for fame men trust , o'erthrown and broken lye reduc'd to dust , i shall be read , strangers will make 't their care , unto their sev'ral soils my works to bear . she of the sacred nine , ( when i had spoke ) whose locks with odours drop , thus silence broke . and wilt thou then thy pleasant verse forsake ? what better choice , ungrateful , canst thou make ? exchange thy mirthful for a tragick vein ; thunder harsh wars in an heroick strain ; which strutting pedants , till they 're hoarse , may rant , while the ripe youth detest to hear the cant : let the o'er-sowre and dull that way delight , whose lamps at midnight see the wretches write . but season thou thy lines with sharpest wit , that all may read their vices smartly hit . altho' thou seem'st to play but on a reed , thy slender pipe the trumpet does exceed . ep. . on ▪ euctus . than euctus antick plate , nothing can be more hateful ; earthen pots i wish to see , when he their raving ped'grees to relate , deadens the wine with his old rusty prate . this cup , laomedon ' s own table grac'd ; this was apollo ' s , when troy ' s walls he plac'd ; this , 'gainst the lapithes , did rhecus throw , see how 't is craz'd , and batter'd with the blow ! this , of odd make , was nestor ' s high delight , nestor ' s own thumb did wear this dove so bright . achilles , in this scyff , large draughts did pour to 's friends , having carous'd it off before . this bowl to bitias dido quass'd , that night she entertain'd ber lov'd dardanian knight ! while thus he boasts goblets of priam's age , wines of * astyanax our thirsts asswage . we'd rather of thy wine thou 'd'st crack the odds , give us the liquor , not the plate , o' th' gods. ep. . on cinna . is this to plead , the learned lawyer play , in ten hours , cinna , but nine words to say ? yet thou this time , four glasses didst increase . 't is a vast while that thou canst hold thy peace . ep. . on bassus . bassus a gown of richest purple die , but lately , for an hundred crowns did buy . o mighty bargain ! why ? so cheap d' you say ? yes , unto him , who never means to pay . ep. . to domitian . that caesar's come to rome , the rhine does know , so far , so fast , the peoples voices go ; their iterated shouts the scythians fright , all nations , whom their joy does not delight . while in the cirque their salve's welcom thee , the races they regard not , tho' they see . no prince , thy self , was e'er so lov'd before , rome if she would , she could not love thee more . ep. . on priscus . dost ask , why a rich wi●e i would not wed ? because i would be lord i' th' marr●'ge bed. priscus , the wife , should the inferior be : but wealth on her part , makes a parity . ep. . on a fool. i bought a fool , i thought , for twenty pound , restore my coyn , the fool his wit has found . ep. . on his cruel friend . least winter blasts shou'd th● choice fruitannoy , and keener air thy tender plants destroy , fences enclose them of transparent stone , which , without cold , admit the sun alone . but unto me thou giv'st an open cell , where boreas even himself wou'd fear to dwell . with friendship , cruel , how does this agree ? than be thy friend , 't were better be thy tree . ep. . to cirinius . such epigrams , cirinius , thou dost frame , as with , or before , mine , might get a name : but such regard to thy old friend thou 'ast shown , that my fame's dearer to thee , than thine own . thus odes , for horace sake , virgil forbore , altho' he pindar could have gone before . to varus left the proud cothurnal vein , tho' himself mightier was i' th' tragick strain . many will give their goods , their gold , their ground . but , that give place in wit , there 's few are found . ep. . on cinna . to pretend want , like rich men , thou art vain , poorer in truth , than thou thy self canst feign . ep. . on varus . thou heaps of verses daily dost devise , yet none recite ; both fool thou art , and wise. ep. . on the coming of caesar. phosphor , bring light ; why dost our joys delay ? caesar's to come ; phosphor , bring on the day . rome begs it . art drawn in bootes teem , thou mov'st so slowly with a lazy beam ? castor will not refuse that thou should'st mount his swift foot cillaron on this account . impatient titan why dost thou detain ? xanthus and ethon both desire the rein ; aurora waits : yet ling'ring stars there be , as if the moon th' ausonian king would see ! come , caesar , tho' in night , let stars delay : when thou art here , we shall not want a day . ep. . to domitian . if in this little book of modest brow , i ought do beg , and not too great , allow : or if thou grant'st not , caesar , let me sue ; incense and pray'rs ne'er iove's displeasure drew . not he that carves the form , in stone and oar , does make a god , but he that does adore . ep. . who disticks writes , to brevity does look : but where 's the brevity , if 't fills a book ? ep. . on the story of m. scaevola acted . in brutus time , what was rome's highest praise is as a pastime shew'd , in caesar's days : the presentation , the true story shames , his valiant hand so bravely grasps the flames , enjoys its torment , and derides their ire , frolicks and reigns in the astonish'd fire ! his own spectator he appears to stand , t' applaud , not feel , the fun'ral of his hand ! the altars gluts , and if not torn away , flesh'd only , and unwilling to obey , his other hand h 'ad thrust into the flame , fresh , when that fainted ; fierce , when that was tame ! after so brave a deed , invidious 't were , to search his life , or stock , or to impair his fame , by urging what he was before . what he has done's enough , i need no more . ep. . on dento . thou know'st not , dento , what thou dost give leave to men , pleasantly of thee to conceive : who begg'st that * grace , as soon as thou art wed , which should be giv'n thee from the marri'ge bed. but with requests , to tire the prince , forbear , and to thy long-left wife and home repair ; who , while at rome thou' rt suing on the score of having three sons , will have brought thee four. ep. . on a cup presented to him . a leaf of gilded bays your gift does seem , but nam'd a cup , to gain it more esteem . sure it was lacker , pageants does adorn , whereon the images of gods are borne , or else some bed-post , this rich plate , did yield , which , by thy knavish boy , from thence was peel'd . so light it is , the wind , that ev'ry fly makes with its wings , o'er-turn'd it passing by ; the vapor of a candle bore it up , one drop of wine abolish'd quite the cup. march-pains are spatter'd with such massy gold , when they for childrens new-years-gifts are sold ; sun-beams , that make blown lillies bow the head , more solid are ; the gossomer that 's spread upon the grass ; paint on a ladies face , which thinest laid , is held the greater grace . to jars and goblets , why dost thou pretend , when but a spoon or bodkin thou might'st send ? a spoon or bodkin ? i too much do say ; when to give nothing , in thy pow'r it lay . ep. . on an evil couple . when you so well agree in course of life , the vilest husband , and the vilest wife , 't is strange , that ever you should live in strife . ep. . to domitian . smile , caesar , at the pyramids loud fame ; memphis no more thy barb'rous wonders name ; th' egyptian works reach not the smallest part , of the parrhasian courts majestick art : no such illustrious piece the day does show ; nor sol in 's universal travels know . seven vast pavilions , like seven mountains , rise , pelion on ossa scal'd not so the skies ; thunder and clouds beneath , th' aspiring top enters the heavens , and 'gainst the stars does knock the sun salutes it with his early'st ray , on highest hills 't is night , when here 't is day . thy palace , 'bove th' olympian , tho' renoun'd , unto its lord is not yet equal found . ep. . to domitian . for those that eat the courts ambrosian fare , spacious enough the rooms not lately were . the structure now adds to the wine a grace , which ganymedes pour forth in ev'ry place . rome does implore , iove's guest thou late wou'd'st be or if impatient , that he 'd sup with thee . ep. . to priapus . priapus , ( not my vines or fruit to save , but a thin wood ) thy patronage i crave ; from whence thou cam'st , and may'st a new be made . let me advise thee , spoil the stealers trade , and for the owners fire reserve the stock ; if that shall fail , thy self art but a block . ep. . on fabius and chrestilla . fabius all wives , chrestilla husbands sped , torches triumphant shook , when they were dead . their fortune , venus , let these victors try , and on one bier doubtless they both will lye . ep. . to titullus . tho' late , enjoy thy life , thy short time rate ; hadst thou begun a boy , it had been late : but , wretch , even old , thou know'st not yet to live , t' attend the great , dost thy last periods give ; through all the law-courts thou dost swetting run , no kind of duty , hardship , slav'ry shun . scrape , heap , possess , thou all behind must leave ; thee , of thy present cash , death will bereave , of all in bank , or bond , that 's to thee due ; nor will thy flatt'ring heir to thee be true : but when he has confum'd thy mighty store , swear , after all , that thou didst die but poor : nor will his leudness that short time forbare , he does the fun'ra● bites for thee prepare ; but , in 's false tears , will with thy relick lie , the very day in which he saw thee die . ep. . on a chast boy . how great 's thy virtue , and thy form how rare ! theseus chast son cannot with thee compare . for all the glory of her virgin name , to bathe with thee , diana would not shame . and whom , might cybele alone enjoy , she would prefer before her phrygian boy . ganymede 's place didst thou to iove supply , iuno thou would'st redeem from jealousie . happy 's the maid , shall thy soft breast enflame , and give thee first a man's and husband's name . ep. . on crispinus's robe . when at the bath crispinus did undress , to whom he gave his robe , he cannot guess . restore the spoil , whoever has it , pray . not this crispinus , but the robe does say . a scarlet gown is not for all mens wear , who are not noble , this rich die forbare . if theft delights thee , a dishonest prize , avoid what will betray thee , if ●●ou ▪ rt wise. ep. . to domitian . as was that ovant feast , night swell'd with joy , after that iove the giants did destroy ; and vulgar gods , together with the great , benignly at his heavenly table treat ; and fauns and satyrs were allow'd to call freely for nectar i' th' olympian hall. such was that genial feast , triumphant state , when caesar did his laurel confecrate , and gods , as well as men , exhilerate . patricians , people , knights , all rome did eat with their great lord of his ambrosian meat , great things thou promis'd , greater didst bestow , not for a dole , but royal feast we owe. ep. . to domitian . like the amazing terrors which resound in libyan pastures , and adjoyning ground , when herds of lions rage in forrests nigh , and make the fiercest bulls and shepherds fly home to their holds , ready through fear to die : such was the roaring late i' th' place of game , a troop of lions seem'd to make the same ; it was but one , but one all else did dread , and paid subjection to his crowned head. o , what a horrid grace his neck did show ! down to his feet his curled main did flow : his large spread breast , for largest spears did call ; great was the fear , and triumph , at his fall. like glory libyan coasts ne'er sent before , nor ida ever saw in all her store : was 't not the same t' alcides gave renown , and by thy father from the * stars sent down ? ep. . to flaccus . when former ages glory stoops to ours , and rome is greater with her emperors , that maro's sacred vein is no where found , and none so deep the trump of war does sound , thou wonder'st , flaccus : whereas do but grant mecenas's , and thou 'lt not maro's want : nay , if thy farm alone thou wilt bestow , the world shall to thee for a virgil owe. the lands which near to sack'd cremona lay , the soldier shar'd , and drove the flocks away : * tityrus , alas , involved in the wrong , wept forth his losses in a feeble song . the * tuscan knight smil'd , when his fortune frown'd , and all the poets care in plenty drown'd . malignant want , parent of mean conceit . ( he , god-like , cry'd ) make hence thy swift retreat , and take thou wealth , and best of poets be , 'bove what the world e'er saw , or e'er shall see . my fair alexis too , ( you understand ) without a rival is at your command . the lovely boy , at his new master's board , with snowy hands the black * falernum pour'd ; so bright a fountain , and so rich a stream , was never poet's love , or poet's theme ! then with his rosie lips he took the say , had iove look'd on , h 'ad snatch'd the boy away . straight from th' astonish'd poet 's ravish'd heart , all former thoughts of his low rural art quite vanish'd , each course , rude spun idea , his sun-burnt thestilis and galate● ; and in his lofty high inspir'd mind , bright schemes of war , heroes , and nations , shin'd : who , late a gnat , could scarcely well inhearse , in the weak numbers of his ill-wrought verse . he drank heroick fancy with his wine , riches and love turn'd all his thoughts divine . what boots it me , to count the enrich'd store of noble poets ? marsus , varus , more ? whose names , a burden 't were , but to repeat . thou askest then , if me thou also treat mecenas way , should'st thou a virgil see ? if not a virgil , i 'll a * marsus be . ep. . to caesar. tho' thou great gifts hast giv'n , and wilt give more ; victor of kings , and thine own deeds before ; thou art not lov'd , 'cause thy rewards are free ; but thy rewards are lov'd , caesar , for thee . ep. . on a one-ey'd thief . seest him , who shifts so well with his one eye , under whose bold and brazen brow does lye the others gaping socket ? th' man forbear to scorn , there no where lives a snap so rare . autolycus's fingers never were such lime-twigs , nor might they with his compare . if he 's your guest , cautious you 'd need to be , for then he lays about him , and does see with both his eyes : and let the waiters watch with ne'er such circumspection , yet he 'll catch a cup , a spoon , e'er they 're aware entrap the vagrant napkins , hoarding all in 's lap : if from the back a cloak a little stray , 't is his , and double cloak'd he goes away . the lacquies flamboes , tho' on a light flame , he dares attempt , nor does he fear the shame . and if he lights upon no other prey , he 'll chouse his boy , steal his own shooes away . ep. . on carinus . vipers ne'er cease to gnaw carinus breast , anguish and grief his quiet to molest ; his envy rages to that high degree , to hang himself he only wants a tree . not 'cause my book 's now richly gilt and bound , my self and verse through all the world renown'd : but i 'ave a house near rome , and on the score , i 'm drawn with mules , not hir'd , as heretofore . what shall i wish , th' envious to repay ? i wish , on him that fortune also may a farm bestow near town , and men may tell , that mules he drives , and roots and herbs does sell. ep. . on clytus . that many presents friends to thee may send , eight birth-days in one year thou dost pretend . tho' fresher were thy looks and brighter shin'd , than the smooth stones upon sea-shores we find ; thy hair yet blacker than the blackest jet , and all that youth proclaims , in thee were met ; older than priam , nestor , thee i 'd hold , for they so many birth-days never told : for shame thy rapines then at length forbear , and let one day suffice thee in a year ; least men deny to thee a humane birth , believe thee some vile product of the earth . ep. . to domitian . were this refulgent temple we behold , * fortune return'd , her altar stood of old . great caesar made a stand first in this place , shewing , through dust of war , majestick grace , and darting beams of glory from his face . here rome , with laurels crown'd , with hand and voice honour'd their prince , and highly did rejoyce . the place an ovant arch does also show , and that , the dacians double overthrow : two char'ots , drawn by elephants , there stands upon the top , his hand their reins command ; his figure , carv'd in gold , 's seen both to ride , able , alone , two such vast teams to guide . caesar , this arch comports with rome's renown , the entrance should be such to mars's town . ep. . on cecilianus . when the fifth hour not yet is told by thee , thou com'st , cecilian , to sup with me ; the courts of law yet sit , the play 's not done . calistus , ho , to grillus bathes streight run , altho' unwash'd , my servant 's bid return , and lay the cloth. cecilianus , sit ; call'st for warm water ? cold 's not brought in yet , the kitchin-door is lock'd , the fire not li't . why didst thou stay so long , as five , to sup ? i' th' morning cam'st not , when thou first wer 't up ? or why not at an hour , that was too late ? come when thou wilt , it must be out of date . ep. . to entellus . those who so high alcinous orchards raise , with greater reason may thy villa praise . that winter's rage may not thy fruit lay waste , no chilling cold bacchus rich clusters blast ; transparent stone thy rarer plants enclose , guard from the frost , and to the eye expose : so virgins limbs their silken vestments show , and christal streams , the stones , o'er which they flow . nature , by help of art , will nought refuse , autumn , in depth of winter , she 'll produce . ep. . on vacerra . vacerra does the ancients only praise , thinks poets dead alone deserve the bays . forgive me , wise vacerra , if that i to have thy praise , do make no haste to dye . ep. . on gallicus . speak the truth , martial ; of all love , be bold ; there 's nothing i so gladly would be told . so , gallicus , thou urgently dost say , when thou recit'st thy books , and on the day thou publickly hast pleaded at the bar. 't is hard to hide , what thou dost press so far . then , gallicus , if thou the truth wou'd'st hear , there 's nothing , like the truth , that thou dost fear . ep. . on fabulla . all thy companions aged beldams are , or more deform'd , than age makes any , far : these cattel at thy heels thou trail'st always to publick walks , to suppers , and to plays . 'cause when with such alone we thee compare , thou canst be said , fabulla , young or fair. ep. . to caesar. our fathers deeds , caesar , thou dost revive , preserve the grayest ages still alive ; the antiquated latian games renew , the fight with simple fists , thy sands do shew ; temples , tho' old , their honour thou maintain'st , the mean , for th' sake of richer , not disdain'st . thus while thou new dost build , the old restore , we owe thee for thy own , and all before . ep. . on gellia . in gellia's vows no god or goddess share , she by their names , nor sacred rites , does swear , but by her pearls , which do so rarely pair . these she does hug and kiss , and often call her brothers and her sisters , ev'n her all ; her dearest children rates them far above , and to them shews a far more ardent love : and shou'd the wretch by any chance these lose , to live a minute longer she 'd refuse . oh , for a dext'rous cheat what would i give ? to ' reave a life , so ill deserves to live . lib . ix . ep. . to avitus . tho' thy learn'd breast , great poet , 's to me known , and that thy verse will raise me 'bove mine own ; yet this short title on my statue place , which 'mong no common authors thou dost grace . i 'm he , in sportive verse , none is above , who none astonish , yet all readers love ; in vaster works * vast uncouth things are said , my glory is , that i am often read . ep. . to domitian , on the temple built in honour of the flavian family . while summers , autumns , winters shall abide , emperial names shall o'er the months preside ; while great december's bright and glorious day , shall boast domitian made the rhene obey ; while the tarpejan rock shall fix'd remain , and iove within the capitol shall reign ; while roman matrons iulia shall adore , with frankincense the goddess mild implore ; the lofty temple of the flavian race , shall flourish with divine immortal grace ; like sun and moon , even like rome's empire , stand , a heaven is built by a victorious hand . ep. . on paulla . that , paulla , thou would'st priscus wed , thou' rt wise ; and he 's no fool , that he does thee despise . ep. . on afer . thee home return'd , from africk , i heard say , and five days aves did design to pay : but twice and thrice attending , it was said , thou wert employ'd , or else , thou wert in bed. enough ; thou lik'st not , that i wish thee well , 't is easier too for me to say , farewell . ep. . to bithinicus . fabius , ( to whom thy presents yearly brought , six thousand ) as i hear , has left thee nought . complain not ; he has bequeath'd more to none : six thousand 's left thee yearly of thine own . ep. . on cantharus . when , cantharus , thou' rt a slave to others meat ▪ men with reproofs and railings dost thou treat ? forbear the sharpness of a mind that 's free ; cynick and glutton both thou canst not be . ep. . on earinus . thy name the sweetest season in does bring , ( joy of the plund'ring bees ) the flow'ry spring ; which to decypher venus may delight , or cupid , with a plume from 's own wing , write ; which those , that amber chafe , shou'd only note , or be upon , or with a jewel wrote ; a name the cranes do figure as they fly , and boast to iove , as they approach the sky : a name that does with no place else comport , but where 't is fix'd , only in caesar's court. ep. . on a parasite . he on thy cheer and table does attend , can'st thou believe to be a faithful friend ? the boar , the mullet , souce he loves , not thee ; if i as richly far'd , my friend he 'd be . ep. . on cloe. cloe this tomb , upon seven husbands dead , caus'd to be rais'd , what can be truer said ? ep. . on sabellus . ponticus baths , who frankly thee did treat , thou praised'st in three hundred verse compleat : thy business was not here to bathe , but eat . ep. . to pastor . pastor , thou may'st suppose i wealth require , on like accounts the vulgar it desire : that in my setin or rich tuscan ground , the chains of many working slaves may sound ; that libyan teeth my tables may adorn , in-laid with iv'ry , and with iv'ry borne ; my beds may creek with plates of purest gold , falernian wine my large bright christals hold ; m' attendant maids may be of such a frame , as may the hearts of all my guests enflame , with hebes self contest a beaut'ous name ; that slaves in purple me a loft may bear , while num'rous clients throng about my chair . none of all these ( the gods i do attest ) have the least place within my temp'rate breast . dost ask , why riches i do wish for then ? to build , not houses , but deserving men. ep. . to carus , on the emperor's statue . what noble artist has such glory won ? in taking caesar's face , phidias out-done ? whose polish'd iv'ry is no way so fair , as with the latia● marble to compare . such with delight , we see heav'ns face , and wonder , when , without clouds serene , we hear it thunder . pallas not only gave thee th' olive wreath , but her own work , this statue , did bequeath . ep. . on afer . if we thy maid , presenting wine , behold , thy muddy looks thy jealousie unfold . what is the crime on a fair face to look , when this the stars , the sun , the gods do brook ? must we avert our eyes , if beauty shine , as if a gorgon skink'd to us the wine ? stern was alcides , yet he did permit hylas to open view : no jealous fit possesses iove , or does his peace annoy ▪ when mercury with ganymede does toy . if thou wouldst , none thy beauteous maid should see , thy guests must * oedipus and phineas be . ep. . to nerva . who verses dares to inspir'd nerva send , to cosmus too may some vile drug commend ; violets , where roses in their glory be , course corsick honey to the hyblan bee : yet in my slighter verse some grace is found , as olives p●ease , where choicest cates abound . nor wonder that my conscious muse does fear my weakness , and thy judgment does revere ; when nero , of no mean poetick strain , in 's youthful flights , dreaded thy stronger vein . ep. . an epitaph on latinus . the charming grace , the glory of the stage , th' applause , the darling , pastime of the age ; latin lies here , who cato would have made his fix'd spectator , sourness have allay'd in rough fabritius . his strict life ne'er drew the stages vice , its arts he only knew . dear to his lord he must , by vertue , be , his lord , whose eyes , the inward mind , do see . him , * phoebus parasite , cease , rome , to name , to be thy ioves domestick , he did claim . ep. . an epitaph on philenis . when nestor's years thou could'st but barely tell , poor hagg , so early , wert thou snatch'd to hell ? sibylla's age , all out , thou didst not see , her years thou sum'd'st , but months thou wanted st three . oh , what a voice is still'd ! a hundred scolds , when all a right pretend , when all their holds fasten at once , and yell , make not that din ; a pack of hounds , when all their throats set in , together with the huntsmen , and their horn ; a school of boys , conning at early morn . who now shall charm the moon down from her sphere ? so sagely who , th' adulterers letters bear ? oh sad mischance ! oh heavy fatal cross ! mischief was ne'er before at such a loss . lye lightly on her , earth , no weighty stones , that , with more ease , dogs may scrape up her bones . ep. . on nigrina . antistus fell in asia's cruel clime , which land does bear the odium of this crime . his bones nigrina in her bosom brought , and the dear burden made the way seem short . which when within the envy'd tomb she laid , twice she appear'd to be a widow made . ep. . on the flavian temple . when iove the flavian temple did behold , like heaven refulgent , darting beams of gold , he scorn'd his tomb in ida feign'd of old : and drench'd with nectar , ( which is plenteous found at his free board , where goblets oft go round ) he reach'd a bowl to mars , but with his eye regarding phebus and his sister by , together with alcides , and the son of may , and to 's immortal off-spring thus did say . my tomb you rais'd in cre●t ; but see the odds , of caesars , and of being father of the gods. ep. . on philomusus . by these your arts you many a supper gain , telling such things for truths , you meerly feign : you know the counsels of the parthian court , and can the forces on the rhine report ; with th' dacian general pretend to hold intelligence ; nay , before-hand , are bold to tell the chance of war , who'll victor be , when 't rains in egypt , at this distance see ; the fleet that carthage will this year equip , you can relate , the rate of ev'ry ship ; upon whose head th' emperor will bestow the olive wreath ; all this , and more you know . your arts , this night , within your breast lock up , on which condition , you with me shall sup ; for my good chear my ears do not abuse , with grossest lies , in other terms , your news . ep. . on caesonia's birth-day . this was our earthly iove's first happy morn , rhea oft wish'd her iove upon it born , which day first light did to caesonia show , no daughter e'er t' a mother more did owe ; two mighty joys the day in rufus moves , which for his prince , and for his wife , he loves . ep. . to apollo . so may thy temples , phoebus , honour'd be , prophetick swans held sacred unto thee ; the muses glory to make up thy train , the delphick oracles prove never vain , the palace divine worship to thee pay as caesar ( thou inspiring him ) shall say , the grace thou ask'st , to stella i will show , consular ensigns upon him bestow . thy happy debtor then , a steer i 'll bring , with gilded horns for my glad offering ; this vow upon my rural altar pay ; the victim's ready , phoebus , why dost stay ? ep. . on the statue of hercules . he , with the lion's skin beneath him spread on the hard stone , to make a softer bed ; whose left hand holds a club , whose right a cup , s●pine the posture , face to heav'n cast up , to heav'n himself once bore ; is , tho' you see in figure small , a mighty deity ! no modern master glories in this piece , it boasts lysippus hand , and art of greece . first , alexander's beard the god did shew , by whom , while young , the world he did subdue ; upon his altar too , while yet a boy , the * carthaginian vow'd rome to destroy ; sylla , at his command , the empire eas'd of his own bloody reign . at length displeas'd with th' pride of various courts , he chose to be a private man's domestick deity : and as he once was guest to th' nemean swain , learn'd vindex god hereafter to remain . ep. . to marcellinus . now thou bear'st arms under the northern pole , near which the constellations slowly roll ; with thy approaching eyes thou may'st behold prometheus rock , the fabulous scene of old , where th' aged hero fill'd both earth and skies with hideous exclamations and loud cries , the tortures proving , which he there sustain'd , the rock less hard , to which his limbs were chain'd . who can mens hardships or hard hearts admire , when they the off-spring are of such a sire ? ep. . on pannicus . thy words the deep recondite lore resound of plato , zeno , what 's severest found ; 'mong those whose horrid images affect to doom all vice , by their austere aspect ; speak thee pythag'ras successor and heir , nor ' bates thou him in b●sh of beard an hair. thou 'ast yet , what 's shameful , and shou'd ne'er be said a wanton groin to this thy awful head. say thou , who th' axioms of all sects dost know , whose dogma 't is , the scars of lust to show . ep. . on gallicus . by what 's most sacred , and your head you sware , of part of your estate you 'd make me heir ; which i believ'd , ( for who 's that foolish he , to his own wishes will a hind'rance be . ) these hopes to cherish , i did send you store of noble gifts , among the rest , a boar , so vast , so fat , might be preferr'd before that fam'd of calydon . you did decree forth-with to treat numbers of each degree , people , patricians , knights , the rich , the poor , through ev'ry ward rome belches yet my boar. but ( strange ! ) thou to make me a guest didst fail , affordedst not a rib , not ev'n the tail. in hope to be thy heir wou'd'st have me live , who not a legacy of mine own boar didst give ? ep. . on the gown given him by parthenius . this is the gown so honour'd in my verse , which readers often with delight rehearse ; parthenius gift , a noble and a bright , which set me forth a most illustrious knight ; when it first new and glossy to me came , it worthy was to bear the donors name : but now 't is old and soil'd , worn to the thread , no more can white , but cold as snow , be said . what , with much use and age , will not decline ? t was the parthenian gown , but now poor mine . ep. . on gaurus . thou prov'st my wit , gaurus , but small to be , because my pieces please through brevity . but thou , who can'st the trojan war enlarge with various fights , till twenty books thou charge , art a great man. my poem's smart and curt , thine is a giant , but 't is one of dirt. ep. . to q. ovidius . a gift i did design for your birth-day ; but you forbad it , and i must obey . you are a most imperious man , i see , what i 'd have done to you , do you to me . ep. . to flaccus . i' th' feast , in which friends do their friends present , while i to stella , and thee , flaccus , meant , my gifts to send ; a num'rous throng of friends , and each of which to the first place pretends , beset me . two t' oblige i did design , but dang'rous 't is , so many to decline , and more , by costly gifts , to keep them mine . no way to free my self , but this , i see , to stella nought to send , nor , flaccus , yet to thee . ep. . on the emperor's page . to africk , hylas , our lord's shield does bear , cupid , do thou the lad fit arms prepare , such as with which thou softest breasts dost wound . yet in his hand let a light spear be found ; but shield and helm far from him see thou throw , into the fight he 'll safelier naked go . no sword or dart parthenopeus harm'd , while the fair boy did range the field unarm'd . whoever's struck by thee , shall dye with love , and happy 's he , that such a fate may prove . return while young , and while thy beauty's bright ; and grow a man in rome's , not lybia's , sight . ep. . on mamurra . mamurra many hours does vagrant tell i' th' shops , where rome her richest ware does sell. beholds fair boys , devours them with his eyes , not those of common note , one first espies ; but which in inner rooms they closely mew , remov'd from mine , and from the peoples view . glutted with these , choice tables he uncases , others of ivory , set high , displaces . rich tortois beds he measures four times o'er , sighs , they fit not , and leaves them on that score . consults the statues of corinthian brass by the scent ; and not without blame le ts pass thy pieces , polyclet . he next complains of chrystals mix'd with glass , and them disdains . marks porce'lan cups , sets ten of them apart : weighs antick plate ( of mentor's noble art , if any be ) counts , i' th' enamell'd gold , the gems that stand . rich pendants does behold : for the sardonix makes a search most nice , and of the biggest jaspers beats the price . tir'd now at last , after eleven hours stay , two farthing pots he bought , and himself bore away ep. . on a school-master . despiteful pedant , why dost me pursue , thou hated head by all the younger crew ? before the cock proclaims the day is near , thy direful threats and lashes stun mine ear ; the anvil rings not out a shriller sound , when massy hammers the hot irons pound ; statues of brass with lesser din are made , than thou dost carry on the grammar trade ; shouts in the race and theatre are less , when factions , for their parties , zeal express . whole nights , i ask not , in repose to keep , to wake 's not grievous , but 't is , ne'er to sleep . wilt leave thy school , thy bawling lectures cease ? thy gain shall greater be , to hold thy peace . ep. . on cecilianus . o times ! o manners ! tully did declame , when cat'line put the state into a flame : when son and father furious arms did take , and the whole world one scene of blood did make . why now , o times ! o manners ! dost thou cry ? what is 't , severe one , that thou dost descry ? no wars we hear , no treasons hateful sound , but joy and peace circle the empire round . 't is not our vices makes thee loath the times , but , cecilianus , thine own secret crimes . ep. . on a cobler . a cobler wont the putrid soles to retch of dirty shooes , and with his teeth to stretch : now of his patron 's lordship is possess'd , where had he but a stall , one would detest . drunk , he bright chrystals , with rich wine , o'erturn● with his lord's paramour in dalliance burns . my simple parents taught to me the while bawbling letters , to know a verse , and style . gag thy pen , muse , and thy books tare them all , when such a fortune 's purchas'd by the awl . ep. . on priscus . priscus with art in many leaves disputes , what requisites a sumptuous feast best suits ; many sublime and witty things he brings , all from a learn'd and noble art which springs . what makes a feast , shall i in one line say ? absence of scurrilous jests , and fidlers play. ep. . to avitus . reader and hearer both my books delight : but there 's a poet says , they are not right . i weigh it not : no more than they make feasts , study to please the cook 's taste , but the guests . ep. . on munna . that thou should'st perish early , 't was foretold . and the prediction , methinks , well does hold : for while thou mad'st much haste to spend thy ' state , that nothing might remain after thy fate , but in one year , five thousand threw'st away , didst thou not perish early , munna ? say. ep. . to caesar. among the many wonders of the stage , with which thou hast adorn'd the present age bove former princes , caesar : as we owe much for the cost and gallantry of show , nothing does yet advance thy glory more , than that the nobles now , however poor , spectators sit , that players were before . ep. . to rufus . you first to gain me , many gifts did send , but when once gain'd , all gifts you did suspend . to hold the prey , you must still baits supply . the ill-bred boar from th' empty trough will fly . ep. . on a slave and his lord. thou thy lord's evils , nor own good , dost know who so bewail'st thy state , because 't is low . on thy torn mattress thou sound sleeps dost take , while caius upon down whole nights doth wake ; caius to many lords performs e'er day duties , which to thy one thou dost not pay ; caius , discharge thy debt , in court appear , says phoebus : thou no such harsh words dost hear ; thou feel'st the lash , him less the gout does spare , and to change griess , a thousand stripes would bea● foul vices caius brand , and hourly tempt , from which thy low condition is exempt . better it is thy self a slave to see , than many rich , lewd caius's to be . ep. . on a physician . my doctor for a wormwood draught ( o strange ! ) demands of me frontiniac in exchange . glaucus i never took for such an ass , who truck'd away his golden arms for brass . did any sweet for bitter ask before ? well , take 't ; so thou 'lt mix with it * hellebore . ep. . on a quack . a quack attempting late to steal away his patient's cup , and taken in the play. why 'gainst my orders dost thou drink ? did say . ep. . on bassus . for drachma's three thou offerd'st to expend , thou requir'st gown'd , i early thee attend , make up thy train , and trot before thy chair , when thou old ladies court'st to be their heir . my gown is thread-bare , mean , i not deny , yet such i cannot for three drachma's buy . ep. . to phoebus . my bond made to thee for an hundred pound , thou 'lt give me up ; for thanks my debt compound . kinder thou 'lt be , to lend me fifty more , to shew thy bounty to me on this score . and elsewhere place the other gift of thine ; what i can never pay , 's already mine . lib . x. ep. . the book to the reader . if i too large , reader , appear to thee , but little read , and i shall little be : oft in each page i end : then , for thy ease , make me as long , or short , as thou dost please . ep. . to the reader . this my tenth book gone forth , i did remand , having too hastily escap'd my hand : some things thou 'lt find , reader , that were before , but more correct , with much that 's added more ; favour both pains . reader , my wealth thou art , and rome could nought , like thee , so rich impart . by praise , said she , thou shalt be kept alive , and after death , thy nobler part survive . wild shrubs messalan marbles pierce and cleave , and rusticks mock th' half-images they leave . books fear not age , nor at times mercy lye , these monuments , alone , do never dye . ep. . to mamurra . who tales of colchos , scylla , tereus , read , what do they , but their minds with monsters feed ? for what are atys , hylas rapes to thee ? endymion's sleep , from cynthia's charms , ne'er free ? the boy that in himself took such delight ? icarus's lofty unadvised flight ? what is there , in these wretched lyes , to please ? read that may shew thee , what 's thy minds disease : no gorgons , centaurs , harpies , stuff my pen , my pages relish of the acts of men. mamurra , if thy self thou fear'st to know , on callimachus's dreams thy time bestow . ep. . on a railing poet. who wounds , of either sex , the noble name , those he should honour , with his verse defame , may he , a vagrant , on the bridges rome , descent of hills , and know no other home ; i' th' lowest rank of beggars , may he crave scraps fit for dogs , and those but hardly have ; and such his mis'ry more yet to increase , long be his winters rains that seldom cease ; stretch'd on cold earth , and fireless may he lye , proclaim those happy , who do early dye : and when his own last hour approaches near , dogs , for his bones that quarrel , may he fear ; and with a feeble arm his patch'd coat wave , his carcase from the birds of prey to save : nor let his suff'rings with his breath expire , but let him prove th' infernal judges ire ; roll with false sisyphus the mount'nous stone , his thirst , in waves , with tantalus , bemoan ; tire all the fables which the poets feign , the furies lashes , and their snakes , sustain ; conscience , and ceaseless torments , urging still , till he does own the venom of his quill . ep. . on paula . paula me oft to marry her does pray ; but she 's so old , i cannot her obey ; yet were she older , i 'd not say her nay . ep. . on himself . why dost thou envy martial's being known for his smart verse , abusive yet to none ? that rome , the provinces , extol his name ? celer , the race-horse , has a louder fame . ep. . to paulus . when thou of consular rank think'st it no scorn an hundred to salute by early morn ; what office , paulus , leav'st thou unto me , and to rome's num'rous throng of low degree ? who stoops himself , shall i call lord and king ? crutch to one acts the sawning underling ? shall i attend his chair , who does not shun others to bear , through thick and thin to run ? to praise mens verse , what boots it oft to rise , when thou , to shew applause , dost not despise always to stand , with hands stretch'd to the skies . what shall mean men do , clients when no more ? if those are great share duties with the poor ? ep. . on calliodorus . of theseus and perithous thou dost prate , and dar'st thy self , with pylades , to mate . may i not live , if pylade's hogs to keep thou dost deserve , or theseus stable sweep . yet a round sum , thou say'st , ( to name no more , ) and sev'ral gowns i 've given to friends were poor . mart. but nought did pylades to orestes give , for both , in common , did in all things live . know that , thy narrow soul ne'er knew before , who gives , tho' much , does yet deny much more . ep. . on tucca. when none , like thee , in riches does o'erflow , so much for use , so much for pride , can show , such stately houses , built for more delight on the adjoyning sea ; which thou mak'st white , when in the waves , to bathe , thou dost descend , and floods of odours , in the floods , dost spend . when venus sleeps not on a softer bed , nor choicer wines do steep god bacchus head , than crown thy cup , and sparkle in thy glass : yet thou , forlorn , whole days and nights dost pass at a proud strumpets gate , know'st sighs and fears more than the wretched , and dost weep more tears , why 't is so ill with thee , would'st have me tell ? because , fond tucca , all things are so well . ep. . on crispus . thou sayst , 'mong all my friends , there 's not thy peer . but how , that this is so , does it appear ? when i desir'd to borrow fifty pound , thou didst refuse , tho' gold did so abound , thy chests could not contain it . when didst send a present from thy farm ? or yet pretend t' impart a piece of plate ? or to bestow a gown , to guard me from the frost and snow ? i cannot see in what my friend thou art , but that , before me , thou dost freely f — ep. . to caius . if promises , for gifts , thou dost account , see , caius , how in gifts i thee surmount . take all the gold delv'd in asturian fields , the wealthy sand the strand of tagus yields , what e'er the indians find of yellow oar , the spices which the phenix nest do store . tyre's richest purple , all that all men have , i give you , caius , just as you me gave . ep. . on marius . marius not treats , nor yet does presents send ; surety will be for none , to none will lend : crowds yet of clients court this worthless lord ; o rome , what fools do thy long gowns afford ! ep. . to pliny . my book not learn'd enough , enough severe , but yet not rude , to fluent pliny bear , sportive thalia . the saburran way pass'd , with short labour the next hill you may ascend : from whence , thou ( orpheus set on high , dash'd by the theatre ) plainly shalt descry the wond'ring beasts , the king of birds and air , which the young phrygian to the thunder bears : there thy friend pedo's house stands also by , shewing a lesser eagle carv'd on high . but to learn'd pliny , make not thy address wanton , but when time suits for thy access , he in severer studies spends the day , how he the hundred iudges best may sway : studies , which ours , nor no age , will forbear , with tully's noblest labours to compare . thou 'lt safeli'st go , when it is candle-light , this is the hour , when bacchus mads the night ; when odours reign , when roses crown the head , by rigid cato then thou may'st be read . ep. . to marius . that in my native soil i long to be , the golden sands of spanish salo see ; thou , to whom love from tender years i bore , honour'd , while yet thou the praetexta wore , art the chief cause : and yet a sweeter air no country yields , or may with spain compare . but , wer 't with thee , i scythia could enjoy , nor would the sands of africk me annoy . if mutual love thou bear'st , and a like mind , rome we shall both in ev'ry climate find . ep. . to sextus . to write so darkly , what delight dost take , that the most learned nought of it can make ? thy book * claranus , nor * modestus , can expound , it needs apollo , not a man. but , thou being judge , cinna's obscurer strain excels the sun-shine found in maro's vein . may'st so be prais'd ; whilst i am read with ease , and both the criticks , and no criticks , please . ep. . on antonius primus . antonius , happy in a calm old age , of threescore years compleat , has pass'd the rage . ponders the times h 'as liv'd , his secur'd years ; and death , that 's marching on , he no way fears . there 's no day grieves , or shames , him , that is gon ; none which with gladness he reflects not on . a good man's age is doubled , time twice o'er , he lives , who thus enjoys his life before . ep. . on scaevola , acted by a criminal . who mutius acted on the stages sand , so promptly thrust into the flame his hand ; if brave and bold , for this thou him dost deem , thy self , of some dull clime , i must esteem : to save his life by this means , was his case , 't was braver far , to have refus'd the grace . ep. . on diodorus . the senate did thy birth-day celebrate , many knights also at thy table sate : largess thou gav'st ; yet still thou' rt all mens scorn none will believe , that ever thou wert * born . ep. . to apollinaris . o bay of formia , temperate and fair ! which , when apollinaris tir'd with care , flies from the toilsom business of the town , than pleasant tybur holds in more renown , his chast wife's soil : prefers to th' sweet recess of tusculane , praeneste , lucrine ; less esteems cajeta , or what men more admire , rais'd by their fancy , or by fiction , higher . a gentle air here glides o'er thetis face , such as the fans of virgins make , to chase summers ungrateful heat . the sea is smooth , not torpid dead , but a soft gale does sooth the active calm ; and painted gallies move . for fish you need not lanch into the deep , these you may take , and yet your chamber keep , out at your window cast your line and lead , and draw the dangling prey up to your bed. and when the waves by winter winds arise , from your safe board you may the storm despise . gardens no less , and fresh springs formia grace , fountains are seen to flow in ev'ry place ; fish-ponds the stranger trout and mullet feed , the home-bred pike , which call'd , does come wi 〈…〉 spe 〈…〉 fat carps here know their names , and to you ma 〈…〉 and all a pastime is , no pains , to take . but to the owners when does rome give leave , but a few days these pleasures to receive ? fruition's lost , while they to business cleave . these sweets , ( o hinds and gardners , happy crue 〈…〉 were for your lords prepar'd , but are enjoy'd by yo 〈…〉 ep. . on calliodorus . thy servant thou for a great sum didst sell , that but once , callidore , thou might'st fare well . nor far'd'st thou well : a mullet of four pound was the head dish , which the whole table crown ' 〈…〉 may we not , wretch , exclaim 'gainst this thy treat say , 't was a man , not fish , that thou didst eat . ep. . to munatius gallus . munatius gallus more sincere by far 〈…〉 an socrates , or ancient sabins were : 〈…〉 may thy wife 's chast love inflame thy heart , 〈…〉 nd from her noble stock may'st ne'er depart ; 〈…〉 when black rhimes defame the age , or men , 〈…〉 nd malice would ascribe them to my pen , 〈…〉 ou me acquit , and stoutly dost contend , 〈…〉 at way none write , who wit and fame befriend . ever in my book have had the care , ho' vice i tax , the persons still to spare . ep. . on sulpicia . all virgins chaste sulpicia read , 〈…〉 ho but in one love wish to speed ; 〈…〉 ll husbands chaste sulpicia read , 〈…〉 ho hold one wife the happi'st meed . medea's rage she does not write , 〈…〉 estes horrid feast recite ; 〈…〉 scylla , or of biblis , tell , 〈…〉 hat transformations them befel ▪ such tales she seeks not to retrieve , nor did she ever them believe . her verse of pious love does treat , fraught with quick wit , and choice conceit . who rightly of her poems deem , nothing more sportive to them seem , or which more holy they esteem ! such were the joys , divine and sweet , when numa did egeria meet , and him the goddess did inspire , to institute the vestal fire . her school had she been trained in , sappho more chaste and learn'd had been . phaon , who woman-kind did fly , could not sulpicia love deny ; her graces known , he must be ta'en , and love her , tho' he lov'd in vain . for were she from calenus free , calenus the beloved he , apollo's wife , nor iove's , she 'd be . ep. . on lesbia . old lesbia swears , and to be borne , would fain be thought , in brutus days , or numa's reign ; but lies in both : her aera we must fetch from elder times , unto prometheus stretch . who sees her foul cadav'rous face , will say , lo , the first mortal that was made of clay ! ep. . on philo. thy seventh wife , philo , 's bury'd in thy field . no land , than thine , a richer crop doth yield . ep. . to q. ovidius . quinctus ovidius now resolv'd to see the northern britains , and the ocean sea , charming nomentum cannot him with-hold , his house and sweet repose , altho' he 's old. all do thy faith deservedly commend , which , in contempt of life , thou shew'st thy friend , while on his exil'd steps thou dost attend . but tho' the joys of life thou thus delay , thy thread of life the parcae will not stay , but rig'rously impute to thee each day . return at length , and at thy home remain ; nor 'mong thy friends , to count thy self , disdain . ep. . on his malignant reader . if in my books ought sweet and gentle sound , ought celebrating famous acts is found , witless thou deem'st , a dry bone valu'st more , than such choice morsels of the noblest boar. if ranc'rous spleen be thy belov'd disease , my candid vein shall ne'er thy malice please . ep. . to julius martialis . what our lives render most at ease , my dearest martial , they are these : a'state that 's left , not got with toil ; a constant fire , a fruitful soil ; a quiet life , from law-suits free ; but seldom that the gown doth see ; ingenuous strength , a body sound ; prudent plainness , friends equal found ; an artless board , with easie fare ; a night not drunk , yet void of care ; a bed not sowre , and yet that 's chaste ; sound sleep , that makes night seem to haste ; nought else , but what thou art , to wish to be , the last hour not to fear , or haste to see . ep. . on cotta . when rich opimian wine thy self dost quaff , turn th'amethystin glasses often off , thou vile sabinum offer'st unto me , and say'st , wilt drink in gold ? to shew thou' rt free . who cares ( thy sordid nature to unfold , ) for leaden wine , tho' in a cup of gold ? ep. . to faustinus . now that the vernal constellations chase the winters rage , and earth renews her face ; now the fields smile , and trees fresh verdures take , and philomel her charming ' plaints does make ; what days , what joys , does rome from thee with-hold ? what ease from city toyl , not to be told ? o woods ! o founts ! o anxur's pleasant strand ! where rowling waves wash o'er the glitt'ring sand ; where ev'n from bed you divers waters see , here boats on rivers glide , there on the sea. but some will urge , you do not here behold the capitol , the temples rich with gold embellish'd , which in gorgeousness draw nigh , the heav'ns they represent , and with them vye ; rome's august bathes , nor theatres , are here , her grandure does not in the least appear . before you , both advantages , i lay , and now , i fancy , i do hear you say , as men , when with ill wives they can't agree , rome , * take what 's thine , render what 's mine to me . ep. . an epitaph on scorpus . i am that scorpus , glory of the race , rome's admir'd joy , but joy for a short space . among the dead , fates early me enroll'd , numb'ring my conquests , they did think me old . ep. . on gallus . gallus , thou 'd'st have me thee attend alway , to pass th' aventine three , four times a day . cascellius remedies to th' teeth applies , heginus to all evils of the eyes , fannius defluctions of all sorts can stay , eros the scars of branding clear away ; hermes inveterate ruptures will insure , hast thou the skill a broken state to cure ? ep. . to sextus . you 'd wont to send a pound of plate each year , but half a pound does now from you appear , and that of spice . i buy not spice so dear . ep. . to frontinianus . when i with thee near baia was retir'd , where all was easie , all to be admir'd ; and nothing did the sweet recess annoy , o , how the muses we did both enjoy ! imperious rome does my whole life consume , to say a day is mine , i can't presume . i' th' city , as in a rough sea , i 'm toss'd , in fruitless duties all my time is lost . my barren fields near rome should give me bread , themselves in greater need are to be fed . but not alone those love , who never spare , both day and night , the great ones gates to wear ( a toil unworthy of a poets care ) by sacred muses , and the gods above , when least officious , i do truly love. ep. . on his lazy and nice reader . if one sole epigram takes up a page , you turn it o'er , and will not there engage ; consulting not its worth , but your dear ease ; and not what 's good , but what is short , does please . i serve a feast with all the richest fare the market yields , for tarts you only care . my books not fram'd such liq'rish guests to treat , but such as relish bread , and solid meat . ep. . an epitaph on erotion . erotion's early ghost reposeth here , by crime of fates extinct in her sixth year . who after me is owner of this field , grudge not the dead th' annual rites to yield : on all thou hast , so may good fortune shine , and nought , beside this stone , be sad that 's thi●e . ep. . to school-masters . masters of schools , your tender scholars spare , so may you many noble have and fair ; and the choice crew , that crowns your table round , in numbers and in love to you abound ; that no professors , whosoe'er they be , a circle , like to yours , may round them see . while burning suns , the lengthen'd days , engage , the flaming lion and the dog-star rage , your scepters fierce , the ferula and rod , ( fear'd more by children , than the rival'd god by * marsyas was ) till autumn comes , lay by ; the season's scourge enough , let all else dye . children , in summer months , when fierce heats reign , is health they keep , learning enough obtain . ep. . to carmenion . when thou dost boast thy self of corinth free , and none can this pretence deny to thee ; carmenion , unriddle by what claim thou call'st me brother , that was born in spain . so much do we resemble one the other , that 't is for likeness thou may'st call me brother ? thou always comb'd and curl'd dost trimly go , my harsh unruly hair no laws will know ; thy skin with oyntment's ever soft and sleek , mine is o'ergrown with bristles rough and thick ; in lisping speech thou greatly dost rejoyce , my daughter speaks with a more manly voice ; a dove more like an eagle does appear , than thou to me ; a lion to a deer . the name of brother , prithee , then let fall , unless thou would'st , i should thee sister call . ep. . on theopompus . who could so cruel , who so brutish be , for a cook , theopomp , to destine thee ? could any soil that face so sweetly fair ? condemn to soot and grease that lovely hair ? none worthier with the chrystal glass to stand , and praise the wine with his more chrystal hand . for such a fate , if beauteous boys must look , next news we hear ; iove doats upon a cook. ep. . to potitus . that scarce one book i publish in a year , potitus , slothful i to thee appear : but more , that one i write , thou may'st admire , considering how much time does , lost , expire . at early morn i give , the great , good day ; next , to my own affairs , some time i pay ; to dian's temple oft i 'm made to sp 〈…〉 to witness to a will , or sign a deed ; then in the courts of law i 'm forc'd t' attend , i' th' worship of the gods some time to spend ; and when a poet does his works recite , to give a day , is held a thing but light ; nor can i this deny to those that plead , to those on rhetorick , and on grammar read ; congratulate i must each friend's success , tho' i , on like account , ne'er knew address ; now harras'd out , at even , 't is time to think of my * days hire , to purchase meat and drink , to tend my self , towards the bathes to look . what time is here , potitus , for a book ? ep. . on the emperor trajan . with worn-out lips , in vain thou importun'st me , miserable and discarded flattery ; the style of lord and god none dare abuse , among the romans now no more in use . to parthian kings , from whence you came , repair , where kissings of the feet exacted are . an emperor we have , no god nor lord ; a senator , whose justice , all accord none equals ; who plain truth from death has rais'd , 〈…〉 d for her rustick dress and mein is prais'd . rome , if thou' rt wise , under this prince forbare words , which in former reigns so grateful were . ep. . to rome . spare a tir'd client , now at length , proud rome : how long must i submit unto the doom , to trot among the daggled-ushering-train of poorer gown-men , leaden coin to gain ? while * scorpus , in one hour alone o' th' day ? whole bags of radiant gold can bear away ? i do not ask the merit of my book , for flocks in rich apulian pastures look ; for glebes of nile , or hybla's honey fields , or yet the gen'rous wines setinus yields . what is 't , dost then require , which me would please ? to sleep my fill , and pass my days in ease . ep. . on galla. galla , times past , ask'd me an hundred pound : and 't was not much , where such a form was found . after one year , fifty was her demand : methought , she now was at a dearer hand . some time laps'd : says she , twenty you 'll bestow ? ten i shall gladly : but she answer'd , no. two or three months , i know not which , pass'd more : then she ask'd nobles , and of them , but four , and i refus'd . well , send a hundred pence : but this seem'd then too much , and i went thence , she next , my poor dry sportula did crave . good truth , said i , that to my boy i gave . was 't possible , that she should lower go ? yes : gratis she offer'd , and i said , no. ep. . on mevius . does this thing , fortune , equal seem to thee , that one not from a syrian late set free , or from a slave , hoist to a knight's degree , but of rome born , of romulus own race , just , friendly , good , in wit to none gives place , learn'd in both tongues , whose crime is only this , ( but 't is a great one ) he a poet is ; should shiver in a garment poor and old , while a vile jocky branches it in gold ? ep. . on torquatus and otacilius . torquatus goodly mansion strikes the eye four miles from rome ; just to the town as nigh , a petty farm did otacilius buy . a bath , of various marbles , rarely wrought , torquatus built ; straight otacilius bought , for like employ , a tub and kettle . when torquatus ranks of laurels set : thou then a hundred nuts didst otacilius sow , supposing like magnificence to show . torquatus consul ; beadle of his ward , the other thought himself as great a lord. what fables of the ox and frog relate , at last will prove poor otacilius fate . ep. . on eros . eros drops tears , when-e'er he does behold , fair jewels , pictures , antick works of gold ; sighs from his heart , that home he cannot bear , what e'er the shops expose of glorious ware. how many do the same , but make no show ? laugh at such tears , and yet the same grief know . ep. . to gallus . if my vexation cou'd thy state amend , morning , nay mid-night , gown'd , i 'd thee attend ; the shrill and piercing north winds blasts i 'd bear , break through deep snows , no stormy season fear : but when these toiles make thee not one doit more happy , which to th' ingenious are so sore ; to a tir'd friend remit such labours vain , which thee no profit bring , but me much pain . ep. . on the statue of juno . thy iuno , polyclet , ( most matchless piece ! ) may well contest the proudest hand of greece . had but the goddess shone with such a grace in ida , both her rivals had given place . tho' his own iuno , iove did ne'er approve , before his brightest strumpets thine he 'd love . ep. . to avitus . that i so often talk of remote lands , my native salo thirst , and tagus sands ; the plenty of a homely farm desire , and yet grow old in rome , thou dost admire . that place , avitus , most does please , in which a little wealth both riots , and makes rich. the barren field must here be ever fed , which there , untill'd , will give the owner bread. the niggard fire scarce warms the chimny here , the bounteous blaze there the whole house does cheer . here hunger's dear , the shambles all confound , thy table 's loaden there from thine own ground . four gowns a year are here consum'd , and more , there one will serve , to rub out the whole four . go then , the great adore : what they deny , thy field alone , avitus , will supply . ep. . to the stealer of his verses . why dost thou mix my verses , fool , with thine ; what has thy jarring strain to do with mine ? why dost thou yoke the lion , and the ass ? seek to make owls , for noble eagles , pass ? had'st thou , fond sot , swift ladas foot , for one , the other wood , in vain it were to run . lib . xi . ep. . to his book . not only those at ease my verses love , and the more civiliz'd my muse approve : but the rough soldier does my leaves o'erlook , 'mongst snows and martial ensigns reads my book . the britains too are said , my verse to sing . but what does this unto my coffers bring ? what living numbers from my quill would flow ! what blasts would my pierian trumpet blow ! if as augustus now again does reign . i also a mecenas could obtain . ep. . to nerva . the phrygian gods and sacred rites to save , up to the flames the trojan hero gave troy's wealth ; iove , iuno , whom we now behold , with pallas , first engrav'd in purest gold , and ianus , who records the happy day of numa's reign . to all i pious pray , the senate may be safe , the princes throne , by his example all may live , he by his own . ep. . in praise of nerva . thy love of right and justice , caesar , 's more than numa's was , and numa yet was poor . 't is rare , when riches cannot taint the mind , in croesus wealth , a numa's soul to find . if our old romans of renowned name , ( dispens'd with in elizium ) hither came , camillus , thee t' obey , would think it free ; fabricius would take gold , if giv'n by thee ; in such a king , brutus would take delight ; sylla , to thee , resign th' imperial right ; caesar and pompey , private men would live ; and crassus his lov'd treasure to thee give ; cato himself , if fates would set him free , return'd to earth , would a caesarean be . ep. . to rome . while saturn's feast and jovial days remain , in which good chear , mirth , and dice only reign ; to sport in looser verse , i do presume thou dost permit , sacred indulgent rome . the goddess smil'd , which spoke her free consent . be far remov'd from hence pale discontent , my muse produce verse of a sprightly air , which flow without solicitude and care ; crown both my head and cups attendant boy , as nero's were , when he 'd himself enjoy : but fill them oft'ner , fill them to the brim , i can do nought , unless in wine i swim : the wit of many will in me be found , if i with their enjoyments do abound . rome , if catullus plenty thou'lt bestow , i 'll frame a verse his sparrow shall out-go . ep. . an epitaph on paris the player . who passes the flaminian way , at this innobled marble stay . the city's darling , egypt's wit , who art and grace the best did hit , and mirth unto all humours fit . the grief , the glory , of rome's stage , the love , the beauty , of the age , do here entomb'd with paris lye , and did with him together dye . ep. . to sabinus . not all my verse for nights loose hours are writ , many you 'll find the sober morning fit . ep. . to lupus . a farm thou gav'st me joyning to the town , my window holds one of much more renown . this a farm call you ? is 't a farm d' you say ? a tuft of rue , diana's grove you may as well suppose . for what you will 't may pass ; spice it assords , as much as herbs or grass . a pismire in one day would eat it bare , an earwig starve out-right for want of fare : in it a violet cannot blow and spread , much less a mushrome raise his spacious head ; a cucumber lye straight upon the ground , a snake conceal it self from being found . a single mole both digs and plows the soil , a wretched mouse does all lay waste and spoil ; and by my hinde 't is apprehended more , than calydonia fear'd th' enraged boar. all that the yearly harvest does afford , a swallow in her little nest may hoard , bear the whole income in her claw or bill , nor will my vintage a pitch'd nut-shell fill . mistaken words thy deed of gift do frame , what 's but a mole-hill , mounts and meadows name . ep. . to labullus . while i attend thy steps early and late , afford an ear unto thy idle prate , applaud what-e'er by thee is done , or said , how many exc'lent verses might be made ? this thou account'st no loss ; altho' that rome reads them with joy , far nations bear them home ; knights and patricians make them their delight , lawyers admire , and poets also spight . and can i this digest ? that for thy sake , only thy train more numerous to make , my books shou'd fewer be ? so to engage , that scarce in thirty days i write one page ? but thus it is , for cheer , when poets rome , and will not be content to sup at home . ep. . to flaccus . thou' rt iron , flaccus , if to such a dame , who begs vile gifts , thou can'st keep up a flame ; cow-heels does ask , tripes , sprats , and scraps of fish , and a whole pompion , holds too much , to wish : to whom her maid , joyful t' have got , does pour cheap pulse , which greedily she does devour : and when she 's bold , and will all shame depose , begs yarn enough to knit a pair of hos● . my wench perfumes exacts , both rich and rare , rubies and pearls , and those must also pair ; choice naples silk , with her , will only pass , an hundred crowns in gold , she begs , like brass . give i such gifts , dost say , a miss to please ? no : but i 'd have her merit such as these . ep. . on an old wanton lady . when with caresses thou would'st me excite , all virile pow'r thou dost extinguish quite : for when thou call'st me love , thy life , and dear , the surfeit i digest not in a year . these were due arts , when thou wert young and fair , thou dost not know what aged toyings are . i give thee martial , say , ten thousand pound , my mannor house , with all the fertile ground ; i give thee iewels , plate , whole caves of wine . these , without love tricks , do to love incline . ep. . on nestor . when not a pan of coals , a rotten bed , a mat thou hast , whereon to lay thy head , a coat , a boy , a child , a bare-bon'd jade , a dog , a dish , towards the beggars trade : yet nestor thou affect'st , poor to be said , and 'mong the people tax'd , and have a head. th' aspir'st in vain unto such high esteem . who nothing has , a rogue , not poor , we deem . ep. . on aper . i' th' house thou 'st bought , none but an owl will dwell , so dark , so streight , so ruinous , the cell . but maro's splendid villa is hard by , here trimly thou wilt eat , tho' sordid lye . ep. . on fabullus . when thou invit'st a crowd , and strangers all , wonder'st i come not also at thy call ? a crowd to me , and solitude , are one , and i , fabullus , never sup alone . ep. . on zoilus . why zoilus dost thou bury , not enfold , a di'mond spark in a whole pound of gold ? when late a slave , this ring thy leg might wear , but such a weight thy finger cannot bear . ep. . on charidemus . thou rock'd'st my cradle , when i was a child , my tutor were 't in my young years and wild : but now my beard the barbers cloth does stain , and all i kiss of my rough beard complain , to thee alone i yet a boy appear , whose soureness my whole family do fear ; to love , or game , are not allow'd to me , ty'd up in all , but all to thee are free ; thou chid'st , thou griev'st , thou fiercely dost complain , from using of a rod can'st scarce refrain , if i anoint my head , in purple go , but cry'st aloud , his father ne'er did so ; frowning thou counts my cups , as if the wine came not from my own sellar , but from thine . thus to be slave , and cato too , forbare , that i write man , thy daughter can declare . ep. . on one old and childless . now thou art childless , rich , 'bove measure old , the love profess'd to thee , sincere dost hold ? true love i have found . yes , when young and poor ; who love thee now , do love thy death much more . ep. . to julius . trimly to sup , iulius , i thee invite : if better be not offer'd , come to night . we 'll bathe together , at six a clock be here , nero's baths , to my house , you know , are near . melons and figs , for ante-past , i 'll serve , other regalio's , which are deem'd to have the grateful properties health to preserve , and quicken appetite . if you ask , what more ? i 'll lye , to make you come . oysters , wild boar , choice fatted fowl ta'en from the coop or pens , those nobler yet , that range the woods and fens : such as ev'n stella rarely does afford , tho' altogether princely is his board . i 'll promise more , no verses i 'll recite , to hear yours read , i 'll dedicate the night , your giants war , your art of tilling fields , which not in worth t' immortal virgil's yields . ep. . on claudia rufina . claudia rufina's birth while britain claims , her frame of mind excels the latian dames ; so graceful fair , her , roman matrons deem , their lucrece ; greeks , their helen , her esteem . and such a fruitful off-spring she has brought , when marry'd , will a colony be thought . his faith may pudens to no other plight , and in his children she alone delight . ep. . to urbicus . lupus , to be a father , counsels thee ; believe him not , there 's nought he less wou'd see . one art of cheating's to perswade men to what they detest of all things they shou'd do . to say she 's big , but with thy wife prevail , lupus , like one that breeds , will look more pale . take my advice , if me a friend you deem ; die so to him , you may a * father seem . ep. . on cheremon . that death thou so immod'rately dost praise , thou hop'st in all astonishment to raise . this courage a crack'd pitcher does inspire , a chimny cold , without a spark of fire ; a couch , with straw and vermin , only dight , a curtal thread-bare coat , for day and night . how great a man art thou , can'st bid farewel to brown-bread crusts , wine lees , a nasty cell ? go to : let now thy bed be strutting full of softest down , thy blankets scarlet wool ; let her lye by thee , graces so the feasts , and more than all the wine , inflames the guests . oh , how thou 'dst wish , thou mightst live nestor's years ! how ev'ry minute lost , thou'dst count with tears ! in a poor state , their lives , men eas'ly give ; he 's held the bravest then , that dares to live . ep. . to severus . that i invite , and verses to thee send , wonder'st , severus , rich and learned friend ? iove , sated with ambrosia still doth live ; yet wine and frankincense to iove we give . if , with abundance full , thou dost reject , such as thou hast , there 's nought thou can'st accept . ep. . on charinus . charinus fingers with rings loaden are , which in the very bath he still does wear , nor puts them off at night : d' ye wonder why ? they 're borrow'd , and he dares not lay them by . ep. . on justinus . iustin , upon thy solemn birth-day feast , no fewer than six hundred were thy guest : among the which , times past , i had the grace , to hold , unenvy'd , no inferior place : but now , to th' reliques of the second day , if so i like , to be thy guest i may . unto six hundred born , to day , then be , to morrow first thou shalt be born to me . ep. . on vacerra . thou art a slanderer and delator , false dealer , pimp , and fornicator : where such rare parts and trades are found , i wonder much , thy purse does not abound . ep. . on maro . thou nought on me , while living , wilt bestow , but all , when thou descend'st to shades below . thou dot'st , if , what i wish , thou dost not know . ep. . to matho . from greatest men thou dost small things require , who yet comply not with thy low desire . the less to blush , to greater things aspire . ep. . on the bitch lydia . i trained was , by masters of the game , i' th' field no hound more fierce , i' th' house more tame ; lydia my name , my owner 's right hand held , erigones dog , not me , in faith excell'd , nor lelaps yet , for whose great truth 't is told , by iove , among the stars , he was enroll'd . like * argus a long life i did not spend in sloth , by useless age brought to my end : but the fierce tusks of an enraged boar , like that of calydon , my entrails tore . nor of my early death do i complain , a nobler fate i could no way sustain . ep. . on leda . to her old husband leda made her moan , that her hysterick fits were helpless grown : and that her life , no hope there was , to save , unless her honour , for her life , she gave . but sighing then , and drown'd in tears , she said , than that way cur'd , 't were better to be dead . the old man begg'd , that she her life would spare , and of her youthful years have tender care : said , he 'd give leave that others might supply , what age in him did to her help deny . straight young and able doctors leda knew , were sent for ; and the women all withdrew ▪ they laid her gently on her bed , for cure . ah cruel help , says she , that i endure . ep. . to petus . to pay ten pound i owe , you press me sore , 'cause other ways y 'ave lost two hundred more ▪ let not the crimes , hurt me , of other men : if thou can'st lose two hundred , pardon ten. ep. . on antiochus . who loves his life , and seeks not yet to dye , antiochus , the barber , let him fly . the phrygian priests not so remorseless launce their flesh , as he , in their inspired dance ; surgeons , their patients , less in blood embrue , when from them limbs , like carpenters , they hew , he 's only fit to trim a horses mane , or else some stoick , who contemns all pain . prometheus , the rock , would chuse to have , the vulture gnaw his heart , than feel him shave ; pentheus would sooner to agave fly , orpheus to th' menades , tho' sure to dye , than twice antiochus's razor try . the scars you see upon my martyr'd face , which worse than wrinkles of old age disgrace ; not one my froward wife 's curs'd nails did tear , but he whose hands , less than his irons , spare . the goat , of all the creatures , is most wise , who wearing's beard , antiochus may despise . ep. . on parthenopeus . to ease thy throat , and thy rough cough asswage , honey's prescrib'd , 'gainst its impetuous rage , pasteels , marchpanes , and all such knacks , whereby children are still'd , when they do fiercely cry : but yet these , day or night , thy cough appease . hast thou a cold , or liquorish disease ? ep. . an epitaph on canace . aeolian canace here entomb'd doth lye , who , in her early flow'r of age , did dye . o sad and cruel chance ! thy tears restrain , of her untimely death we don't complain ; but what 's more tragick yet , our eyes deplore ; the manner of her death , than death was more , an horrid cancer seiz'd her lovely face , devour'd and poyson'd all her youthful grace ; spar'd not her rosie mouth , love's seat of bliss , but eat the lips , that ravish'd with each kiss . this dire disease we justly curse and blame , that left but half her face to th'fun'ral flame . if with such winged speed fate needs must come , why yet so barb'rous and severe the doom ? her charming speech death hasted to suspend , left rigid gods , mov'd by her words , should bend . ep. . on zoilus . zoilus , he ly'd , who said , thou vicious wert : when not vicious , but vice it self , thou art . ep. . on theodore , an ill poet. flames , theodore's pierian roofs , did seize . can this apollo , this the muses , please ? o over-sight of gods ! o dire disaster ! to burn the harmless house , and spare the master . ep. . to bassus . those kiss in rome , no means there is to shun , they meet you , stop you , after you they run , press you before , behind , to each side cleave , no place , no time , no men , exempted leave ; a dropping nose , salv'd lips , can none reprieve , gangrenes , foul running sores , any relieve ; they kiss those sweat , and those that shake with cold , lovers , their mistress last kiss , cannot hold ; a chair is no defence , with curtains guarded , with door and windows shut , and closely warded , the kissers , through a chink , will find a way , presume the tribune , consul's self to stay ; nor can the awful rods , or lictor's mace , his stounding voice away these kissers chace , but they 'll ascend the rostra , curule chair , the judges kiss , while they give sentence there . those laugh they kiss , and those that sigh and weep ; those that do yawn , and those that are asleep ; those who do bathe , and recreate at the pool , who are withdrawn , to ease themselves at stool . against this plague , i know no fence , but this , make him thy friend , whom thou abhorr'st to kiss . ep. . to flaccus . her , i by no means fancy , who does bring a body , to b'encompass'd with my ring ; who , when she 's naked , grates ; whose rump's a spear ; hipps , saws ; whose knees , as gaul-traps , i may fear . corpulence , as much the other way , annoys : flesh i approve , but fat my stomach cloys . ep. . on lydia . he ly'd not , lydia , who pronounc'd thee fair , for flesh and blood , none may with thee compare . this is most true , while thou dost silent stand , like some rare piece of a great master's hand . but when thou speak'st , ev'n such thy beauty 's gon , and their own tongue none ever so did wrong . let not the aedile hear thee silence break : it is a portent , if an image speak . ep. . to his reader . with my long book , thou well may'st glutted be , yet thou more epigrams exact'st of me : but lupus calls for use , servants for pay , discharge them reader . now thou 'st nought to say , dissemblest , as my words thou cou'd'st not spell . no riddle thou' rt to me , reader , farewell . lib . xii . ep. . to priscus . what unto flaccus , and to maro thee mecenas was of royal pedigree ; most noble priscus , that thou art to me . which loudest fame , and my long-living verse , unto all times and nations shall rehearse . for th' name i have , and wit , i owe thee both , whose bounty does maintain my learned sloth . ep. . on nerva . now god's mild nerva to the empire give , unto the muses we may wholly live . clemency , wary pow'r , and faith upright , possess the throne , and put all fear to flight ; thus pray the nations , rome , and pious throng , their prince may still be such , and this prince long . enlarge those virtues we so rare do see , which numa's , or else cato's pleas'd might be . bestow , enrich , the poor man's stock extend , what gods scarce give , let thy free bounty send . 't is lawful now , and safe ; but then thou durst , ev'n in a wicked reign and age , be just. ep. . in praise of trajan . queen of the nations , rome , that has no peer , ( whom none does equal , none approaches near ) lately with joy computing trajan's years , the ages she shou'd pass , and know no fears ; as she so fam'd a captain did behold , and yet a soldier stout , young , martial , bold , proud of her prince , thus vauntingly she spoke , parthians , britains , submit unto my yoke ; thracians , scythians , i 've a caesar now , come pay your tribute , to my eagles bow . ep. . on the same . now gracious caesar , palma rules our spain , peace , long a stranger , has restor'd again : we thanks return thee for so great a grace , that thine own vertues thou 'mongst us dost place . ep. . on affricanus . affrican millions has , and yet does groan , fortune can give too much , enough to none . ep. . to parthenius . all health to my and thy parthenius bring , my muse ; for who in the aonian spring e'er deeper drank ? from the pimplean cave , whose harp a sweeter nobler sound e'er gave ? who of th' inspired and immortal quire , does phoebus self more love or more admire ? request when he the prince does vacant know , ( which hardly can be hop'd ) my book to show , with these few words my humble verse to speed , this man , dread caesar , all thy rome does read . ep. . to auctus . to make a gain of anger , rich men know . 't is cheaper to be angry , than bestow . ep. . to priscus . to ride so rashly , i advise , forbare , in pursuit , priscus , of a paultry hare ; the hunter by his game has oft been flain , cast from his horse , his back cou'd ne'er re-gain ; the fields are treach'rous , tho' no hedge or stone , no ditch appear , plain ground destroys alone . examples want not of the thing i say , less causes have produc'd a fatal day . if gen'rous dangers only thee delight , 't were nobler to engage the boar in fight . with running speed thou lov'st to venture wreck , likelier than catch the hare , to break thy horse's neck . ep. . to trajan the emperor . what-e'er the palace late did splendid shew , now to the gods is given , and publick view . iove , in his temple , does the cups admire , whose gold and jewels flash like flames of fire : astonish'd , former princes pride , to see , such their stupendious matchless luxury ! to iove alone belong vessels so rare , the phrygian boy , such radiant cups to bear . with gods we now do all in wealth abound , poverty scarce , among the mean , is found : i shame , i shame to say , how heretofore , together with the gods , we all were poor . ep. . on lentinus . lentinus , that thy feaver does remain so many days , thou sadly dost complain . it bathes with thee , 't is carry'd in thy chair , eats oysters with thee , mushroms , ven'son , hare ; and drunk with noblest wines 't is often made , nor do these please , if not with snow allay'd ; with roses crown'd , it sumptuously does feast , and in a purple downy bed takes rest . while it with thee does fare so rich and well , think'st thou , with poor starv'd dama it will dwell ? ep. . to juvenal . while restless thou saburras noisy street dost tread , or passing oft with weary feet , mak'st even a path up to diana's hill , a clients toilsome duties to fulfil ; or sweating in thy waving gown , the less and greater coelius puts thee to distress ; my native biblis , rich in steel and gold , a rustick of her town has me enroll'd : here with sweet labour , causes no annoy , i platea and boterdus both enjoy . these are the course rude names of towns in spain , where after thirty winters spent in pain , and waking morns in rome , i rest regain . such stintless and profound repose i take , that the ninth hour can hardly me awake . a gown is here unknown ; some tatter'd weed , on my demand , is given me in its stead . a blazing fire receives me , when i rise , which neighbouring woods abundantly supplies ; the which my country maid with pots besets , against my huntsman comes with loaded nets ; ●o trim a youth , and 'bove the common strain , as may seduce diana's virgin train . my bayliff begs the boys may cut their hair , that in some useful labour they may share , their pains , as under growth , not still deny . thus i delight to live , and thus to die . ep. . on marcella . who can , marcella , thee suppose to be of spanish birth , and our rough salo free ? so choice , so sweetly grac'd , that at first sight , the palace challenge may in thee a right . not one in the suburra can compare with thee , or who boasts yet a courtlier air. were other beauties from the nations sought , none would a latian dame , like thee , be thought . thou mak'st the city's loss easie to be : for thou alone art rome , and more to me . ep. . on thelesinus . money thou 'st none , without pawn ; but at hand , if for security i 'll ' gage my land. what thou'lt not trust to me , thy ancient friend , to trees and mole-hills thou' rt content to lend . lo , the delator , wretch , impeaches thee , call now unto thy patronage a tree : exil'd , thou want'st a friend with thee to go , can'st make a field companion of thy woe ? ep. . on an unjust friend . ▪ cause thou , at early morn , the great dost see , and tread their courts , thy self of lords degree , 〈…〉 , but a knight , seem slothful unto thee , that , at first day , abroad i do not roam , to bring , when tir'd , a thousand kisses home . what thou dost do , 's a consulship to gain , or else some wealthy province to obtain . 〈…〉 whom , to break my sleep , thou dost require , and patiently to brook the mornings mire , what get i , when my toes break out a door thro' my torn shooe , and clouds fierce show'rs down pour , and not a servant have , dry clothes to bring , ●ut while benum'd and drown'd you may me wring , ●etorius sends to call me to a treat ? ●e't ne'er so rich , 't were better never eat . a province is thy lot , a meal is mine , my toyl's the same , but not my gain , with thine . ep. . on aper . aper 's a sober man. what 's this to me ? a slave i so commend , a friend that 's free . ep. . on vacerra . o jest and shame of such as housholds move , when iuly comes , and do new dwellings prove ! i saw thy stuff , vacer , thy stuff i saw , which , for thy rent , not seized on by law , thy landlord rather glad , such trash to spare , thy red-fac'd wife , with sev'n red hairs , did bear , help'd by thy giant sister , and thy mother ; men thought the furies there were got together ; for such their number was , and such their faces , that pluto seem'd t' have lent thee his three graces . the irus of thy age , thou these didst follow , thy skin , like season'd box , distain'd and yellow ; with cold and hunger , also dry'd and parch'd : all beggars-bush , the people thought , had march'd . a two-legg'd table , and a three-legg'd bed there went ; a pan with fire , on thine own head. a sconce and goblet all of massy horn , a jordan , it self pissing , as 't was bor'n ; stale sprats and pilchards could not be conceal'd , their obscene scent , their presence there reveal'd . nor did there want to go in state with these , a cantle of unsav'ry tholose cheese ; a wisp of penyroyal , four years old ; a rope , which onions had , but pick'd , and bald ; a pot of turpentine , thy mother's care , the brothel dames with such , fetch off their hair. why mock'st thou landlords , and dost houses see , when gratis , vacer ▪ may thy dwelling be ? such pomp of goods , such houshold-stuff pertains to high-ways , hedges , bridges , and to lanes . ep. . to julius martialis . thirty four years , i take it , thou and i , iulius , have kept each other company , in which some jars , with much content , did meet ; but yet the greatest part was ever sweet ; and should i mark the days with black and white stones , most would be the number of the bright . if in thy life much anguish thou'dst avoid , with griping pangs not have thy heart annoy'd , wed thy self too much to the love of none , less thou wilt joy , but less thou'lt also groan . ep. . on callistratus . that thou may'st seem more freely to converse , some past venerial crimes thou dost confess : but yet in this thou dost not clearly deal , who tells such faults , yet fouler does conceal . ep. . on labullus . that none , but thou , does in these days extend a pinching gift , unto a needy friend , think not for this , thou' rt noble . no ? how then ? only the best , among the worst of men. in bounteous acts the seneca's restore , the piso's ; but then , those of heretofore ; else 'mong the good , thou 'lt hold the lowest place . would'st thou contend in swiftness of the race ? * passerin , and fleet * tiger , then o'erpass , it is no glory to out-run an ass. ep. . on pontilianus . ill verses dost thou make ? i them admire . dost drink ? i the debauch do carry higher . dost lye ? assent i give . dost fart ? i 'm mum . gam'st thou ? i am content to be o'ercome . one thing thou dost alone , i must confess , which not to name , my kindness does express , will 't nought for all return ? thou answer'st , ay , in my last will. i ask no more , but dye . ep. . to marcus ubicus . we both in name and blood allyed are , and to like studies , like affection bear : thy brothers verse when , thine , thou set'st before , thy art 's not less , but piety is more : when thee corinna , lesbia wou'd admire , equal to those they did themselves inspire : when , if thou 'd'st spread thy wings , a brisker air , and loftier numbers none e'er higher bear : thou flag'st thy plumes , restrain'st thy soaring vein , and shew'st thy self a brother here again . ep. . to classicus . zoilus and gallus for their poems had great sums . who says , that poets now are mad ? ep. . to a sumptuous treater . if thrush and boar you serve , as common meat , not as my highest wish , i take your treat : but if you think me bless'd , would have me write you down my heir , for oysters ; then good night . treat . the supper yet is rare . mart. no doubt most rare , but what , to morrow , will be this day's fare ? nay , within one hour ? the unhappy broom and mop can best declare , whose wretched doom it is to know ; or else some jakes or sink , or hungry dog , that ridd away the stink . and then , with your high meats w' are sure to meet a jaundice colour , and gout-torturing feet . minerva's feast i weigh not at that rate , nor iove's set out with greater pomp and state. should gods impute their nectar unto me , vile , as the lees of vinegar , 't would be . for your choice meats some other guest then find , who suits a proud board with a servile mind : t' extemp'ry meals let a friend me invite , that treat does like me best , i can requite . ep. . on one that had a gay horse . th' ast groves of choicest trees , bathes more than one , but , for more state , which serve to thee alone ; thy portico's , on columns high , do soar , the trampled onyx glisters on thy floor ; the winged chariots praise thy sandy race ; the murm'ring founts run waste in ev'ry place ; large are thy courts , and spacious is thy hall ; but place , to eat or sleep , th' ast none at all , of useful rooms i can no story tell . how rarely , we may say , thou dost not dwell ! ep. . on fabullus . wonder'st , fabullus oft deceiv'd , to see ? a good man will , a novice , ever be . ep. . to sparsus . why to the country i so oft retire , a rude and barren farm , if you enquire ? the town , no place for rest , or thoughts , does leave the mean ; school-boys i' th' morn our sleeps bereave , the bakers mills at night , and the whole day the braziers and the coyners hammers play ; hemp beaters their dull thumpings never cease , nor mars's raving priests e'er hold their peace ; pity to move , the wreck'd , forc'd voices use , as , by their mothers taught , do begging iews ; the loud vociferations not to tell , of those that brooms and brimstone-matches sell ; the clam'rous factors of such viler ware , care to be heard , but not whose ears they tare . when that the moon 's eclips'd , you may as well the tinklings of the pans and kettles tell , the tintamars , when witches her molest , as count the various dins the town infest . sparsus , you know not this , nor can it know , so much you to your princely mannor owe , which seated on a sweet and pleasant plain , ev'n solitude of mountains does disdain ; where you the country , in the town , enjoy , vinerons in the depth of rome , employ ; nor in campania does the noblest hill yield richer wines , than those your vessels fill . what is there useful or delightful found , but in your lordly precinct does abound ? your profound sleeps , troubles from nought , receive , the day is not admitted , without leave . but wretched we , those thro the streets that walk , awake , while they but only laugh or talk. all rome is by our couch : when rest i 'd take , to bed i go not , but a journy make . ep. . on zoilus . thy eyes squint , foot 's short , beard 's black , and hair's red , 't is strange , if also good , zoilus , thou can'st be said . ep. . on polycarmus . th' art ten times sick , or oft'ner , in a year , which makes thy friends , not thee , of a sad cheer ; who , for thy new health , still new gifts must send . sicken , for shame at last , and make an end . ep. . on sabellus . upon thy birth-day pale and sad thou art , for fear the cooks should fail to play their part ; or that the ladies want snow for their wine , or rightly in the glass it should not shine ; th' art mostly from the board , the guests to cheer , or whisper fond excuses in their ear ; and find'st not , thou art starv'd , ( which is the jest ) at thine own splendid and voluptuous feast . what frenzy 's this , of thine own choice to do , what ev'n a slave would not submit unto ? all else , but thee , partake the day 's delight ; but thou dost need , th' invited thee invite . sit down , indulge thy soul , the guests all pray . is this thy birth , or execution , day ? ep. . on ligurra . least my ne'er dying verse 'gainst thee i bend , thou much , ligurra , seem'st to apprehend ; and worthy of this danger would'st appear : in vain thou actest this vain-glorious fear . lybian lions with fierce bulls engage , spend not on butterflies their nobler rage . if thou'dst be talk'd of , which to thee is fame , from some red-lattice poet seek a name . such who on walls with chalk and charcoal write , fit verses to be read , by those that sh — thy forehead is too base for me to brand , i 'll stigmatize , by holding of my hand . ep. . to corduba . corduba , for rare oyl , so much renown'd , thy jarrs , 'bove the venufrian may be crown'd ; whose wool , the soft galesian does excel , and of it , greater glories we can tell : by nature , of a glitt'ring red , 't is dy'd , it 's shining tincture 's not by art bely'd . a poet too thou hast ( as all things rare ) whose impudence with any may compare , to steal my verse , bid him , for shame , forbare . unless himself did boast a nobler vein , and i , by stealing too , might glory gain . a barren poet , that does nought bring forth , or what 's the same , that which is nothing worth : like him , puts out your eye , whose own are blind , requital ne'er can make you in like kind . a needy thief , to rob all bare , is sure . a bad poet , from being rob'd , 's secure . ep. . on phyllis . when i with love of lovely phyllis burn'd , and she with mutual flames , my flames return'd ; to make the fair a present i resolv'd , odours , and jewels , in my thoughts revolv'd ; she me prevented with an amorous kiss , such as soft doves , when mated , make their bliss , and said , my dear , much for my love you owe , a cask of richest wine on me bestow . ep. . to his clients . for thy sake , early client , i did fly the city ; th' ambitious with visits ply : i am no advocate , nor made for strife , but , old and slow , love a poetick life ; seek sleep and leasure , which great towns deny , and here not found , back unto rome i 'll hie . ep. . on paullus . thy friends , paullus , just unto thee relate , like to some famous works in paint or plate : thy honour 't is , such pieces to retain , but in return they receive nought again . ep. . on aper . aper yet poor , serv'd by a stump-foot slave , a one-ey'd trot , who sate his clothes to save while in the bath he stay'd ; anointed by a bursten wretch , with cheap oyl , sparingly ; 'gainst those debauch'd i' th' bath , none was heard there so loud in their reproofs , and so severe . the cups , he said , o' th' rich that went about , ought to be broke , and their choice wine pour'd out ▪ but after greater wealth to him did flow , he from the bath did never sober go . o , how boss'd cups , and plenty can avail ! aper , who n'er did thirst , now n'er to thirst does fail . ep. . on a lawyer turn'd farmer . some acres , and a house ready to fall , you purchas'd have , joyning the tombs o' th' gaul ; deserted your rich fields , the courts of law , the certain gains a tatter'd gown did draw ; while yet a pleader , corn and pulse you sold , but buy all these , since you a farm did hold . ep. . on ethon . while ethon , in 's fane , bacchus did salute erect on tip-toe , his tail was not mute amidst his orisons : which , tho the rest there present , laugh'd at , bacchus made no jest : but his irrev'rent votary did doom , three nights , without reprieve , to sup at home . after this mulct , poor ethon did not dare , to th' temple , for devotion , to repair ; but first to cloacinas shrine he went , to give his slatulent bowels frequent vent . which caution tho he ever did retain , with buttocks hard comprest , he enter'd still the fane . ep. . to his maid . i 've given you many things , on your desire , much more than i agreed for in your hire : and yet you never cease to ask me more : should i grant all , you would be thought my whore. ep. . on callistratus . thou praisest all , to make thy candor known : but who all praises , truly praises none . ep. . on menogenes . in and about the bath , shift-off none can menogenes , by any art of man. both with the right and left hand he can take the swetted trigon , and resemblance make , as caught by you ; take up , when it does fall , ( tho' bath'd and dress'd ) the dusty batoon-ball . your towels , he 'll with driven snow compare , tho' sordider than infants clouts they are : and when a comb does your few hairs compose , achilles , swear , his locks did so dispose . himself will wipe the sweat from off your face , esteem no servile office a disgrace : all things admire or praise , till overcome with flatteries , you say , to supper come . ep. . on cotta . twice to have lost thy shoes , thou dost complain , while that a negligent slave thou didst retain , and he thy whole retinue , and thy train . wise on thy loss , and crafty thou didst grow , and to avoid being often choused so , thou after bare-foot didst to supper go . ep. . on maro . maro , for 's aged friend , sorely opprest with sickness , thus in 's hearing did protest . if the sick man escapes the shades below , on jove a thankful off ring i 'll bestow . good hopes , from thence , the doctors 'gan to have , maro new vows now makes , his first to save . ep. . to priscus . what man i 'd be , thou often dost demand , ●ere i made rich and potent out of hand ? ●hink'st thou men know their minds in ev'ry state ? ●hat lion then , wert one , would'st b● ? relate . ep. . on tucca. heroicks , tho begun , i did decline , ●nwilling that my verse shou'd clash with thine ; ●ut did my muse i' th' tragick-strain engage , ●ere , buskin'd strait , thou met'st me on the stage ; next place , i tun'd the strings upon the lyre , ●hen to pindaric-odes thou didst aspire ; ●n this , i satyrs did betake me to , ●hou labour'dst then lucilius to out-do ; ●weet flowing elegies , i prov'd to write , ●ut these , 'bove all the rest , were thy delight ; ●ower to stoop , i epigrams did frame , nor stuck'st thou here to emulate my fame . pitch on some way , with one to me dispence , ●o grasp at all , 's not wit , but impudence . ep. . he wishes jnst. rufus an happ● government . betis , with olive garlands deck thy hair , who makes the flocks all golden fleeces bear ; to bacchus , pallas , and to neptune dear , for wine , for oyl , for traffick without peer . may rufus , in his charge , successful be , his year , like that is pass'd , be lov'd by thee . that macer he succeeds , he 's well aware , who knows his burden , best the weight can bear . ep. . to mattus . who , when thou knock'st , denies at home to be says this , i am not now at home to thee . ep. . to milo. milo , thou various goods dost set to sale , which those that buy , to bear away , ne'er fail ; thy wife is better ware , who often sold , stays with the seller , and is still good gold. lib . iv. epigr. . to his book . oh , 't is enough , it is enough , my book , upon the utmost page thou now dost look ; ●ould'st thou swell further yet ? yet larger be ? ●ot leave thy paragraphs and margins free ? 〈…〉 if to some known period thou didst tend , ●hen ev'ry epigram may be thy end. ●●eader and printer tir'd , no more can brook , 〈…〉 is time thy self pronounce the last line strook , 〈…〉 't is enough , oh , 't is enough , my book . dido's speech on the funeral pile , after virg the queen on dire resolves now furious be 〈…〉 rowling her blood-shot eyes , her tresses re 〈…〉 gastly , and wan her face , from death fore-seen , rush'd forth into the court with frantick mien , mounted the pile , aeneas fauchion drew , ( not lest , alas , for that which did ensue ) survey'd the illian robes , the well-known bed. o'er whelmed then with tears , she couch'd her hea● and labouring thoughts ; rose , and these last word said * sweet pledge , while jove and destines gave leave , at once of life me and of love bereave . i 've liv'd ; absolv'd the course gods did assign , th' illustrious figure , i here made , resign . this goodly town , from the first stone , i laid ; punish'd the traytor that my lord betray'd ; my iustice , prudence , have to all approv'd , fear'd by my neighbours , by my subjects lov'd . oh happy ! and thrice happy had i been , had the dardanian prince my coasts ne'er seen ! here stop'd again with grief a little space , upon the bed she grovell'd on her face , then big with high disdain , she thus did cry , must i then scorn'd and unrevenged dye ? yes , dye i must , she said , even so , even so , submit unto the shades beneath to go : and let the fun'ral flames of me thus slain , glut the false trojans eyes upon the main ; pursue his ships , and a sad omen be , where-e'er he sails , of a worse destiny . having thus spoke , those that attended stood , beheld her fall , and all o'erflow'd with blood. a sudden shreik they sent up to the sky , straight , to th'appaled town , the news did fly , outcries and wailings there did all confound , the air , the earth , the dismal notes resound , as carthage had been sack'd , or ancient tyre , the houses , temples , walls , involv'd in fire . hor. l. . ode . paraphrased . beauty , wine , and leasure , sway my heart to pleasure ; and loves laid aside , are by these again reviv'd . glycera , more dazling bright , than parian marbles glitt'ring white , so pure , so sleek , no mortal wight , upon her face can stay his sight . her charming coyness blows my flame and mads the fire , which it would tame . all that venus is , and fair , in her form presented are ; cyprus naked , dispossess'd , the goddess rages in my breast ; my soul o'er powers with love and wonder , as iove did semele with flames and thunder ! distracted with such wond'rous glory , i cannot sing the scythians story ; nor in accustom'd numbers write , the parthians , who when flying fight ; no , nor sing ought , but great loves might . haste then , a fresh and springing turf prepare , here scatter vervins , boys and odours there , pour out the goblet of the two years wine , the queen of love propitious to incline , and radiant glycera more gentle shall be mine . lib. . ode . paraphrased . cloe , bashful , timerous , shy , like the stray'd fawn , away does fly , wildly hasting to recover , through pathless ways , its lost mother . starts at ev'ry leaf and bush , if but a lizard through them rush ; the wind , the air , the smallest thing , the soft approaches of the spring , scare and affright , as they come on , and she alarm'd , strait is gon : when nothing's near her to surprize , she trembles at her own surmise . as th' heart and knees do pant and go , of this little frighted doe ; such is cloes great distress , at the gentlest love address . why , fair one , not thy life to take , such eager pursuit do i make : then cast aside thy causeless pain , thou only kill'st , and i am slain . grown now to age , exchange thy childish shame , a mothers dandlings , for a lovers flame . hor. l. . ode . hor. while lovely i appear'd to thee , nor more wish'd arms , whatever he , about thy snowy neck could fling , i flourish'd more than persias king. lyd. while more thou burn'd'st not with another dame , nor lydia , prized after cloe came , i peerless lydia then , and of great name , out-shon the roman ilia in my fame . hor. now thracian cloe my heart sways , deep skill'd in musicks charming lays ; for whom i would not fear to dy , might i prevent her destiny . lyd. mutual love in equal bonds does ty , calis , ornithus beauteous son and i , for whom , without regret , ev'n twice i 'd dy , so gods would spare my lov'd boy 's destiny . hor. but say again thy beautys wound , and in eternal chains i am bound ; if fair-tress'd cloe i forsake , and lydia my sole goddess make ? lyd. tho brighter than a star my calis be , and than a cork , more floating , i know thee ; storming beside , and raging like the seas , with thee no life , no death would me displease . an ep. out of catullus . my farm is not expos'd to northern winds , nor yet annoiance from the eastern finds ; the scortching blasts o' th' south do not molest , or the impetuous tempests of the west : but 't is expos'd to a more boist'rous rage , more than a thousand pounds my land engage . oh , ruffling winds , destructive pest'lent aire ! both farm and farmer up by th' roots you tare . seven epigrams after ausonius . on venus arm'd . when venus clad in armes , pallas did see , now to contend , she said , i challenge thee , and let thy minion paris umpire be . venus reply'd , arm'd dar'st thou me despise , who from thee naked bore away the prize ? pall. nor of the vict'ry wilt tho ever fail , if thou can'st winn't , by shewing of thy ta — on diogenes . a scrip , a staff , a mantle , and a cup , summ'd all the richs of the cynic up : but when from 's hand he saw one water sup ; avant , he cry'd , henceforth superfluous cup. on niobe . what now you see a rock , a queen was late , who , when i prosp'rous was , durt violate latonas sacred deity and race , my self above her , in her temple place : of twice seven goodly off-spring being prov'd , i would by all a goddess be allow'd . my num'rous issu in one hour she slew , all i brought-forth , i on the beer did view : nor thus appeas'd , ( of humane shape bereft ) she me incrusted in cold marble left ; and tho' my vitals lost , my grief i keep , my childrens death eternally i weep . ah , ceasless rage , which heavenly brests retain ! the mother's dead , and yet her griefs remain . on the statue of niobe . tho' marble now , i formerly did live ; this seeming life praxiteles did give ; my form , my limbs , my majesty restore , excepting sense , all that i was before ! yet 'twixt these beings little is the odds , small sense i shew'd , when i defy'd the gods. on the statue of rufus the rhetoritian . this piece does rufus rarely hit , 't is speechless , brainless , void of wit : the stone yet one thing does not show , his wanton softness make us know . on faustulus the dwarf . faust'us presum'd a grashopper to ride , and thought he did an elephant bestride ; the skittish insect cast the over-bold , which laughter mov'd in all that did behold . the gallant elf , sprung from the ground , and cry'd , what is it , env'ous , that you thus deride ? what in my brave adventure do you see , but 's common both to phaeton , and me ? eccho . fond painter , why to me a face do'st lend ? to make me subject to the eye contend ? none my myster'ous deity er'e saw , much less my figure durst attempt to draw . daughter of tongue and aire , a voice , i am , speeches that utter , from no mind that came but others words i catch , as they decline , and mocking them reherse with ' like of mine . my sole existence in the ear is found , who will my likeness paint , must paint the sound . after sannazarius , preferring venice before rome when neptune , i' th' adriatic , venice saw amid'st the waves , giving to seas the law ▪ now iove , says he , bost thy tarpeian towers , the walls of rome , it s other martial powers : as seas of tyber , venice has the odds of rome ; rome work of men ; but venice of the gods ! on st. peter's being at rome ; after owen . that peter e'er saw rome , some do decry , that simon did , there 's no man does deny . why the husband wears horns ; after owen . when 't is the wife that wrongs the marri'ge-bed , why wears the husband horns ? 'cause he 's the head. ep. . by dr. tho. locky . in filium reginae natum post alterius abortum . quod lucina t●os prius est frustrata labores , nec fortunante● praebuit illa manus , regina ignoscas : uno m●●imine ventris non potuit princeps a● tria regna dare . english'd . that thy first labour unsuccessful prov'd , and by thy vows lucina was not mov'd , great queen forgive ; thy womb could not bestow , a prince to rule three kingdoms with one throw . ep. . by dr. tho. locky . in caroli primi regis filium quinto-genitum . o quam densa tuo surgunt fulcimina sceptro ! sic gignunt inopes , sic peperere casae : rara sub augustis , numerosa puerpera , plumis , flere hae , stantem uterum & sceptra caduca , solent . ante deus dederat dotes tibi principis omnes , dat tibi nunc etiam , quae bona plebis erant . english'd . how thick the props to thy bless'd scepter grow ! so poor men get , cottages bring forth so : a num'rous issu's rare to th' royal bed , a failing line 's here mourn'd , a womb that 's dead . all to a prince belong'd , heaven gave before , and now it gives the blessings of the poor . ep. . by dr. tho. locky . carolus primo variolis , sed leviter , tinctus . quae toties orbasque domos vicosque reliquit , innumeras laetho stravit & exequias : quae parcens , pejus saevit ; pro corpore , linquens ulcus ; quae toties abstulit ora lues . en tibi furtivos , a tergo , vix dedit ictus ; et sacra vix lambit pectora plaga levis . o quantum placuisti ! ut coelo es , carole , cordi ! si dum caedit , amat ; si tibi ira savet . english'd . that dire disease ▪ which on the bier does lay corps without number , sweeps whole towns away where 't spares , is most severe ; the form bereaves , and the whole body but one ulcer leaves : scarce , on the back o' th' king , by stealth one sore did fix , passing his sacred body o'er . o charles ! thou' rt dear to heaven , thou' rt much its care whom , when it strikes , it loves ; when wounds , doe● spare ep. . by dr. tho. locky . 〈…〉 honoratissimi domini gulielmi killigraei . regiae vi-camerarii praeclarum & inculpatissimum drama , selindra , praeconium . quod prudens tua , quòd modesta musa vitavit petulantiora scenae , ●ec lenocinium joci procacis quod falso ingenium student vocari ) ●um risum movet , exuit pudorem ; 〈…〉 culpata tua at sonant theatra , quod virgo proba , quod stolata mater , quod purus , positâ severitate , 〈…〉 m post pulpita perlegat sacerdos ; quod jurat tibi nullus histrionum , aut , 〈…〉 so numine , quaeritur venustas ; 〈…〉 ec constat populo tuum poema 〈…〉 pensis animae suae , & crumenae ; quod ( sermone humili urbium relicto 〈…〉 rnis sordidulis & institori ) 〈…〉 nam nobilis aulicumque spiras , ●ignum caesaris aure , cum requirens 〈…〉 mmas imperii levare curas ; vult ut desipiat duabus horis . has dotes reputo tuas secundas ; sed , quod cum veniunt ad implicat● , cum scaena haereat , & quod impeditae desperant animi exitum fabellae , qua vates veteres iovem vocabant ad partes , poterit throno ut crepante narrare ambigui dolos theatri , atque ( ut vincula gordiana quondam pellaeus iuvenis ) molesta tollunt insulso gladio . undique plaga , tu , per nescio quam modo citatam ex nota tibi plebe passionum ( ut quodam noviter reflante vento ) convertes alio , novisque tota compages operis rotis movetur , neglectis superisque inferisque , per curam facilem domesticamque affectum proprio è sinu petitum salvas attonitos & haesitantes ! hanc artem tibi , killigraei , solus tu posces , dubii hanc strophen theatri . the foregoing verses english'd . that thy wise and modest muse flys the stages looser use , not baudry , wit , does falsly name , and to move laughter ; puts off shame ; that thy theaters loud noise , may be virgins chast applause ; and the stol'd matron , grave divine , their lectures done , may tend to thine ; that no actor's made profane , to debase god , to raise thy strain ; and people forc'd , that hear thy play , they money and their souls to pay ; that thou leav'st affected phrase , to the shops to use and praise , and breath'st a noble courtly vein , such as may caesar entertain , when he , weari'd , would lay down , the burdens that attend a crown , disband his soul's severer powers , in mirth and ease dissolve two hours . these are thy inferior arts , these i call thy second parts : but when thou carry'st on the plot , and all are lost i' th' subtile knot , when the scene sticks to ev'ry thought , and can to no event be brought ; when thus of old , the plot betray'd , poets call'd god's unto their aid , who , by power , might do the thing , art could to no issue bring : as the pelean prince , that broke with a rude and boisterous stroke . the prophetick gordian noose , which his skill could not unloose . thou do'st a nobler art profess , and the coyl'd serpent can'st no less stretch out from ev'ry twisted fold , in which he lay inwove and roll'd ▪ induce a night , and then a day ; wrap all in clouds , and then display th' easie and the even design , a plot , without a god , divine . ●et others bold pretending pens write acts of gods , that know not mens : in this to thee all must resign , th' intrigue o' th' scene is wholy thine . in regem . tres olim insignes cicrum tria munera belli , praereliquis valunt , tollere fama , duces . ●yrrhus castra locat ; fabius cunctator ; & audax hostem marcellus cominùs ense ferit ; ●u scis castra locare ; morari ; hostemque ferire rex gilielme ; trium quod fuit unus habes . on king william . fame does exalt , above all others far , three great commanders , for three arts in war ; ●yrrhus for 'th ' camp ; fabius for wise delay ; ●arcellus brave i' th' charge and bloody fray. ●illiam , thou know'st t' incamp , to fight , forbare , ●xcell'st in what , these three great men did share . in mortem reginae . dum regina subit , constanti pectore , mortem , opprimit immodicus te gulielme , dolor . foemina , virque animos , jam , commutasse videntur , cor habet hic tenerae conjugis , illa ducis . on the queens death . the queen , her death , with constancy receiv'd ; her loss the king well-nigh of life bereav'd ; how nature each exchang'd , 't was rare to see ; she seem'd the hero , the soft lady he. finis . errata . page . verse . r ▪ ad giving to each impartially their due . p. . v . for and r. thou . p. . v. r. it chanc'd , &c. p. . v. . r. from the moths , not thee . p. . v. . r. or a stray . p. . v. . for head r. heed . p. . v. . r. fat geese . p. . v. . for bids r. bade . p. . v. . for aim r. claim . p. . v. . for shews r. shooes . p. . v. . for did r. does . p. . v. . for thou r. you . p. . v. r. to his muse. p. . v. . for altars r. altar . p. . v. . for the r. a. p. . v. . for were r. where . p. . v. . for ill bred r. ill fed . p. . v. . for if r. and. p. . v. . r. verses of sprightly . p. . v. . for or r. nor . p. . v. . dele also . p. . v. . for ●atoon r. balloon . p. . v. . for attended r. attending . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e * the first design was so . notes for div a -e * condemn'd to be kill'd in the theatre . notes for div a -e * a proverbial expression for censoriousness . * two famous mimicks . * two famous mimicks . * two famous jessers in those days . * two famous jessers in those days . * cato * who art so notoriously vicious . notes for div a -e * these were all places of great resort in rome . * these were all places of great resort in rome . * these were all places of great resort in rome . * that is , kill him : to sup with the gods was a phrase among the he ▪ then , to be dead . * a name used proverbially for any physician . notes for div a -e * scaevola . * the emperour ordered that instead of the sportula ( which was a kind of dole ) clients should be invited to supper , but the rich men were so sordid , that they eat of one sort of meat themselves , and gave another to their clients . notes for div a -e * rich as a fidler of that name . * a poem so call'd . * cleopatra . * wholesome and unwholesome places are alike . * wholesome and unwholesome places are alike . * the emperors two favourites . * the emperors two favourites . notes for div a -e * as 't is said in these days with a teagish simplicity . * bothdead before erotion . * where was a statue of hercules . * an infamous pimp . notes for div a -e * by reviving an old law against adultery . * i. e. a vital quality , or kind of immortal soul in the compages of it , like that in the body of a man. * the courtesans liv'd there . * two physicians . * two physicians . notes for div a -e * that is , infant wine , new , and naught . * the benefit given to such as had three children , which the emperor sometimes in favour gave to those that had none . * the constellation leo. * virgil. * mecenas , * a rich wine . * that is , equal the best epigrammatist . * the name of the temple . notes for div a -e * i. e. the old monstrous poetick fable of gorgons , centaurs , &c. * blind men. * stage-players were so called . * hannibal . * confess , thou art mad. notes for div a -e * two great criticks . * two great criticks . * a base upstart person of an unknown descent , was stil'd , a son of th 〈…〉 earth . * these were the form of words used in divorces . * marsyas was so scourg'd by apollo , that he was fabled to be flay'd alive * sportula . * a chariot-driver . notes for div a -e * that is , give him nothing . that is , never either to present , or own thee . * ulysses dog. notes for div a -e * two famous race-horses . * two famous race-horses . notes for div a -e * taking up the sword. thalia's banquet furnished with an hundred and odde dishes of newly deuised epigrammes, whereunto (beside many worthy friends) are inuited all that loue in offensiue mirth, and the muses. by h.p. peacham, henry, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) thalia's banquet furnished with an hundred and odde dishes of newly deuised epigrammes, whereunto (beside many worthy friends) are inuited all that loue in offensiue mirth, and the muses. by h.p. peacham, henry, ?- ? [ ] p. printed by nicholas okes, for francis constable, dwelling in paules church-yard, at the signe of the white lyon, london : . dedication signed: henry peacham. in verse. signatures: a-c d⁶. running title reads: epigrams. reproduction of the original in the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams, english -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - tcp staff (michigan) sampled and proofread - olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion thalias banqvet : furnished with an hundred and odde dishes of newly deuised epigrammes , whereunto ( beside many worthy friends ) are inuited all that loue in offensiue mirth , and the muses . by h. p. london , printed by nicholas okes , for francis constable , dwelling in paules church-yard , at the signe of the white lyon. . to the most honorablie minded and best deseruing of the muses , mr. drv d●vry , of riddlesworth , in the coun●y of norfolke . honored sir , my thalia well knowing that you are the tr●asu●er of the shire , for that ( i mean not mony ) which a number want , is bold ( if her pasport bee not ●ut of date ) to visit you in her iourney : she knoweth you , she tels me , for your exc●llent parts fr●m among fiue hundred , and is verily perswaded you will stand her friend . her entertai●ement ●●●●erto hath beene none of the best , which i can impute to no other thing , then as in barbary the ●●●rility of the soyle , otherwise rich enough . sir , in b●i●fe , shee is sure you are the man can iudge : to put her selfe vpon the countrey , were to appeal to ignorance , and hazard her inno●ence , which dare● approach euen the most seuere tribun●ll : whatsoeuer she is , shee submits her selfe vnto your censure ; in the meane time , humbly requesting you to take the praeemenince ( as you deserue ) and vpper-end of ●er table , she taketh leaue , who with my selfe , shall euer be deuoted yours , henry peacham . docto & candido lectori s. ne omninò in●ptire videar , tec●●m ( benigne lector ) serio agendū . annus tam agitur octavus ex quo ( minerua nostrâ publici factà i●ris ) nugis poeticis in totum renunci●rim , et i●venilibus istis relictis , ●e ad seria magìs ac vtilia . thalia loquitur . vvelcome , welcome to our feast , euery vnderstanding guest , from the colledg● and the hall , welcome academicks all , brittaines magazins of wit , iunes of court repa●re to it , and come courtiers ye that be the mirrour of faire courtesie , citizens ye that were made as well for learning as for trade , come braue spirits of the real●e , vnshaded of the academe that in the countrey there and here , like starres in midst of clouds appeare . m●ke no st●y for man by nature is a sociable creature : and braue souldiers take a truce , a while to reuell with his muse , since our ●●●hor hath borne armes too , he cannot chuse but welcome you : come farre ladyes ye that will , heere is nought obscure or ill , and your ●●●ds attendants , 〈◊〉 ● witty wenches let them come , by cyrrha they shall welcome be , to my poet and to me , my banquet is prepar'd for wit , not folly dare to touch a bit . to my reader . epigram . reader , if that thy curious eye will needes dwel on a while these rude & ranker weedes , take leaue ; and ere a while this muse of ours shal bring thee lapfuls of her choisest flowers . vpon tvllvs . epigram . tvllvs who was a tailor by pro●ession , is late turn'd lawyer , and of large possession : ●o who before did cut but countrey freeze , now cuts the countrey in excessiue fees . to laelivs . epigram . pri'thee laelivs do● me but the grace , t' expresse thy s●lfe in that aboue thy gate 〈◊〉 written , here we haue no dwelling place : ●hat , doost thou meane , our worldly fickle state , or rather ( which i take to be the right ) thou canst endure no guest aboue a night ? vpon fvmoso . epigram . fvmoso now beginning to decline takes onely care how he may come by coyne , and dayly wisheth these bohemian ●arres would set all christendome at deadly warres , for him t' were better vpsie gull doth sweare , moreouer england very well might spare ten hundred thousand men , enow to bea● , the emp'rour , pope and turke out of his seate : not that fvmoso , trust me , meanes to fight , or dares march further then his chymneie● sight , a noted coward , but the ●ruth to tell , ●e hat● a rusty musquet he would sell. to mr. b●n iohn●on : epigram . since more cannot be added to thy fame , enough t is onely to expresse thy name . to mr. i. selden of the inner temple . epigram ● looke how a late-come painter to the strand doth formost place the pour●raicture in ●ight● of some remarqued statesman of our land , to grace his shop , ●nd buyers to inuite ; so learned sir , i here prefixe your n●me , and looke to thriue the better for the same● to mr. edward hayward . ●pigram . i know it were but highly to offend , to seuer you si● , fro● so t●ue a frend , when eue● envy is enforc'd to blesse your ( ●ach enioying either ) happinesse . vpon lavina . epigram . llavina brought abed , her husband lookes , to knowe's child 's fortune throughout his bookes : his neighbors think h 'had need search backward rather , and learne for certaine who had beene the father . vpon dare an vpstart poet. epigram . dare a fresh author to a fri●nd did boast , hee 'd shew in cheape his name vpon a post , but did dare● friend to 's hostesse house but walke , shee 'ld shew'● him there on euery post in chalke . vpon tamb●rro . epigram . tam●vrro now , what ere his friends do say , at last will thriue , and all his debts go pay , for by his wit ( he boasts ) and pleasing tongue , h●hath won a ●ench that 's wondrous faire and young , well borne , well qualifi'd , rich , modest , wise , and shall be worth , if that an vnckle dies , in land foure hundred by the yeere , at least , beside odde remnants in her mothers chest : 't is true , the match is halfe concluded , he is wondrous willing with it , but not she . vpon soranzo . epigram . sor●nzo's broad-brimm'd hat i oft compare to the vast compasse of the heauenly sphaere , his head , the ea●th's globe fixed vnder it , whose center i● his wondrous little wit. to vfllivs . epigram . thou swear'st i bowle as well as most men doe , the most are bunglers● therein thou ●aist true . epigram . the countrey , god be thanked , well is rid of beggers , which , they say , iudge ●opham did : but if he could the court as well haue f●e●d , then he had done a worthy act indeed . vpon the turkish alkar●n . epigram● ● . tthe turkes hold this opinion very odde , that madme●s soules are talking still with god , and that to be an ideo● o● a vice , is th' onely way ●o purchase paradis● if t●is be true their alka●ons relate , our puritans were sure in happy state . vpon boone . epigram . vvhen vnto boone a booke was brought to sweare , he prayd the iudge he would that labour spare , for there 's no oath ( quoth boone ) that you can n●me● but perfect i wit●out booke haue the same . in diuites . epigram . rich men their wealth as children ra●●les keepe , when plaid a while with 't , then ●hey fall asleepe . vpon richard. epigram . through paules church-yard as dick came reeling drun● , he stumbling fell into an empty trunke , and laine a while did verily suppose , he had beene buried quicke and in his clothes , saue that the vpper stone vpon his graue , by night was stollen by some cunning knaue . dick halfe awake , be●hought him of his si●ne , and that lewd cou●se of life he liued in , yet long hereof for thi●st dick could not thinke , but drawer cries , now for thy smallest drinke . vpon gellia . epigram . vvhen g●llia went to schoole and was a girle , her teeth for whitenes might cōpare with pearl , but after she the taste of swee●e meates knew , they turn'd all opals to a pe●fect blew , now gellia t●kes tobacco , what should let , but last they should conue●●ed be to let ? vpon nasu●o . epigram . vvhen at the table once i did auerre , well taken discords best did please the eare , and would be iudg'd by any qu●rister , were in the chappell , paules or westmi●ster , nasuto sitting at the neather end , ( first hauing drun●e and cough'd ) quoth he my frend , if that were true , my wife and i , i feare , should soone be sent for to the arch-dukes quire. vpon the a●se . epigram . the a●se a courtier on a time would be , and trauaild forraine fashions for to see , but home returned , foshi●n he could none , hi● mane and taile were onely larger growne . vpon vertue , mistrisse milla's maid . epigram . saith aris●otle , vertue ought to be communic●●iue of her selfe and free , and hath not v●rtue milla's maid beene so , who 's growne hereby as big as she can go ? to the nobly-disposed , modest , and faire sisters , m●●stresse aleezia , and my euer-honored mistresse , mist●esse anne dudley . epigram . if to admire and tell the world yee are , of all i know ( sweete maids ) aboue compare , for bounty , beauty , wit , and goodly grace , th'extracted quint'sence of your noble race , would pay that euerlasting summe i ow to your respectfull fauours well i know● i should as much adde to your worth as he that guilds his di'mond , inke● the iuorie , and by these titles rather you dishonor , which euery wayting maid hath pinn'd vpon her now by her masters clarke ; since praises commo● as perruke● are growne stale with euery woman . so let me thriue as euer i abuse chaste poesie , and prostitute my muse , t'vnworthinesse , or follow the hot sent of rising greatnesse , with the rablement , or letter of an idle name rehearse , tha●'s empty of desert in all my verse . to the learned and euery way accomplished , sir hamond straunge , knight . e●igram . sir , though you are a stranger to our time , and liue a farre as in another clime , our muse her flight with nimble wing doth take , to gratulate you for good letters sake ; " so with the same stone needles touch'd , agree , " and hold one motion , though remote they ●ee . vpon a spanish souldier . epigram . a spanish souldier sicke vnto the death , his pistoll to 's physition did bequeath , who did demand , what should the reason be , ' boue other things to giue him that ( quoth he ) this with you● practise ioyned you , may kill , sir , all aliue , and haue the world at will. to laura . epigram ● if true as common that old prouerbe be , a blacke man is in beautie● eye a pearle ; to prooue thy selfe as faire as any she , then laura loue , and liue with me my girle . vpon count surly . epigram . count surly will no scholler entertaine , or any wiser then himselfe , ●ow ●o ? the ●●ason is , when fooles are in his traine , his wit amongst them , makes a goodly show . vpon corydon . epigram . a home-spunne peasant in his manner rude , his vrine brought close stopped in a glasse , vnto his doctor , who when it had view'd , demanded straight what countrieman he was , quoth corydon , with making legs full low , your worship that shall by my water know . vpon otho . epigram . three daughters ot●● hath his onely heires but will by no mean●s h●●● the● l●arne to write , cause ( after hi● own● humou● ) 〈◊〉 he feares , the'●l one day lea●ne lo●● l●t●●●s to ●ndi●● , the young●st now 's with ●hild , ●ho taught her th●n , or of her sel●e learn'd she to hold her pen ? to the noble minded and most worthy , maister thomas knyvet of ashwel●h●rp . epigram . your great learn'd grandsire to you at his death , accomplish'd * mars with ●allas did bequeat●● and since i heare you so laid your plot , that * venus ( or a fairer ) you haue got . to the towne of wimondham in norfolk . epigram . windham i loue thee , and i loue thy soile , yet euer loath'd that neuer ceasing toile of thy faire schoole , which while● that it was free , my selfe the maister lost my libertie . vpon indee●la . epigram . indeedla grumbles much that hee a penny , is leuied in collection to the poore : indeedla but you are the first of any , will contribute vnto a handsome — in dianam ma●itum alloq●ent●m . epigram . although my name diana ( husband ) he , y' are no a●●eon i am sure , quo●h she . thankes wife , replie● hee , i did ne●●● feare , thoul'dst lay vpon mee more then i could beare . to maister william baker , s●cretarie vnto my l. g. of cantuarburie . epigram . sir midst the great employments and the toile , that do distract you in affaires of state , remit your cares and high raisd thoughts a while , and see what flo●ers our ba●ren soile o● late , vnth●ught of h●●h prod●c'd , or rather weedes , that ●hew the●● head● bef●re the better seedes . though like a cuning herbalist you know , such haue their s●as●ns and their virtues all , yet if you finde that heerein ought doth grow vnwh●lesome , ill , i 'le h●●l● it o're the wall . wh●le others censure gl●dly w●e do heare , your iudgment onely puts v● in a fea●e . to maister christopher sherland of graies inne . epigram . beloued sir , since you haue followed me , in your vnthought of iourney thorough france , the lower belgia and high germanie , i wish againe it were my happy chance , to follow you , and my estate to raise , by thrift the onely trauaile of our daies . vpon an italian prouerbe . epigram . three women met vpon the market day , do make a market , ( they do vse to say in italy ) and why their ●on●ues do w●●ke , as loud as if an hundred men did talke . some hea●ing th● , sw●●e , had his wife beene there , and made a fourth , there might haue beene a faire : vpon hugh . ep●gram . hvgh should haue gone to oxfo●d th' other day , but turu'd at tiborne , and so lost his way . an epitaph vpon a colliar . epigram . he●re lies the colliar 〈◊〉 dash●● , by whom death nothing gain●● , h● swore ; for liuing he was du●t and ashes , and being dead he is no more . to maister micha●l dr●●●on . epigram . what thinkst thou worthy mich●el of our times , when onely almanack and ball●d rimes are in request now , where those worthies be , who formerly did cherish poesie , where is augustus ? oh no rather she , would lend an eare vnto thy melodie . sweete poe●resse her s●l●e , where●● s●rvey and , our phoenix sydney , , e●sex , comberl●●● ? with numbers moe , of whom we are bereft , that scarce a prop th' abandon'd m●s● ha●h l●ft . but what 's the reason ? they th●t l●st define for mee , except the same of aret●n● . who one day asked why that great ones now , will no●●●●●d to poet●y a●●ow ? re●lied beca●s● 〈…〉 doth suggest , in poet 〈…〉 . 〈…〉 take in h●n● , to pa●●●●n● 〈…〉 vpon ep●●●am● ● . drumme by descent swear●● he●● a gentleman , for●● fa●her can set stone●●●d 〈…〉 i●well , and drumme , as we●l as he , ●epor●s he can , set stones , but how ? in morter with a trowell . o● my sel●e . epigram . i do not loue to ●uild or reare my friends , beyond dese●t , ●hich rather discommends : thei● wor●h and me , and li●e g●●●t ●a●●ons tombe , keepes some good a●ter-comme●s from a roome . to mistris alice apsley daughter to the virtuous lady the l. apsley . ●●●g●a● . as virgin● when with dainty singers wea●●● 〈…〉 pl●ce the fai●e●t flower● in vi●w , so 〈…〉 beauty by you● 〈◊〉 , to grace my booke ( ●aire maide ) and honor you . to sir iohn heueningham . epigram ● . if honesty in any one pl●ce rest , she , si● , hath tane he● loging in yo●● b●est . vpon pr●●uso . epigram . vnstaid pr●fuso hath run thorough a●l , almo●t he story o● the p●o●●●●ll . long since his portions spent , ●nd o●● of ●oore● , he doe● confesse he bea●en wa● 〈…〉 . and in a co●n●ry farre hence i 'le be sworne , i saw him all to ●ar●er'd and be torne . yet s●ea●es , he neue● with the hoggs did din● , that'● true , for none durst t●ust him with their swin● . vpon santomar . epigram . when of my wit santomar vse w●uld make , my hop●● he suckles with vaine p●otestations , of this and that he will do for my sake , and all to saue hi● pu●●e ( as is the f●●hion : ) as if by fauour of his p●inc● he rise , i as his braunch withall my head ●●●ll rear● ; or if his old and wealthy father d●●s● my fortunes then are made , i need not feare● keepe to himselfe his hypothetique tone , giue me the catego●ique , or ●lse non● . to ems●● . epigram . emson thou onc● in dutch wouldst court a wench , but to thy cost she answer'd thee in french. vpon drug . epigram . the cuckold drug a chymicall professor , once with his wife a wager venture would , hee 'ld ride to stanes and backe ere she could dresse her . from head to foote , make al the hast she could . they both agreed , away then rid the mo●e , while she dre●s'd him , and rid as fast at home . vpon my ●riend a certaine yeoman of norfolk . ●pigram . a norfolke yeoman faine e●quire would be , and one day ask'd me what an armes would co●t : desert , qu●th i , must winne gentility ; or e●se both labo●● and you● monie's l●st . ye● say but wherein you haue well deserued , perh●●● i ca●se the herald stand your friend , my ●art ( quoth he ) now thrice the king hath serued . and once i was a pikeman at mile-end● then would i wish ( quoth i ) your arm●s might be , the bloudie pike , and broken axel-tree . and for your cr●st , the law of armes allow'th , a tumbler with a dumpling in his mouth . vpon sir hugh . epigram . a free-schoole maister in a country towne , for●s idlenesse was brought bef●●e the maior ; w●o wi●h his brethren , each in 's fo●-●u●r'd gowne , examind him one day vpon their fai●e . and ●old him how ●he neighbours did complaine abhominably of his negligence , and that within a while he must be fa●e prouide him el●ewhere , and be packin● thence . an alderman who seemed was his friend , this hearing , humble maister maior did pray , he might stay still , because he could commend hi● diligence , what ●'re the rest did say . for ( i quoth he ) haue three boies of mine owne , and towardly who sons though i say 't that should not , that now these ten yeares with sir h●gh haue gone● and at their comming first v●to h●●●ould not one line or letter of the booke● but now they haue so profit●d , that ( by my say ) i 'le venter on their heads my brin●led ●ow with any boy at dust-point they s●all play , ( 't is much quoth maister maior ) ●ay more then that , take them who dares at nine-ho●●● , cardes or ca● . to my kind and learned friend maister owen hughes of remerston● in n. epigram . there was a time when all ●ur songes and tales , o● welch●●en , sir , were made and of your wales : but since w● see those times ar● altered so , that now for wond●ous honest men yee go● to some kinde of readers . epigram . this booke of min●● liken to a glasse , wherein the foole may looke and laugh his fill : he ha●in● done 〈◊〉 , r●ader● , as yee passe , heere take and vse it as long as you will. to maister simson●ellow ●ellow of trinitie colledge in cambridge . epigram . so let me sir of heauen beloued bee , as i do loue my n●●se your trinitie ; whereof i was a memb●● , bleedin● yet , to thi●ke how 〈…〉 from it : but wholy not diuided th●ugh in part , since ( fellowes ) yet am●n●●t y●● li●e● my heart . vpon septimio . epigram . septimio with strong arguments aver●es , that women are your onely counsellors . and ●hewes examples out of antique stories ; what troph●●●s haue beene reared to 〈◊〉 glories . what states and goodly commonwea●●●●● w●●e seene , where onely women haue commanders beene . septimius , il'●●o women heere dispraise , yet thus much say , hadst thou in th●●● our d●ies , by some bene rul'd , for all thy reasoning thus , tiborne had put thee to a foule 〈◊〉 . vpon sir lanfranke and his dog . epigram . sir lanfrankes dog a capon toasted wh●t , at a lords tab●e out the dish had got● enquiry m●●e when all wer● set to di●e , wh●●e sawcy cu●re it was ( quoth 〈◊〉 ) mine ; i pra● your lordship not offended 〈◊〉 , i vse 〈◊〉 dog as courtier , do● q●oth ●e , their followe●s he ge●t●th n●u●●t 〈…〉 , i giue ●●m count●nance , and so let him 〈◊〉 . to the nobly dispos●d and ●●●●ly honorably minded sir thomas southwell . epigram . how euer heauens haue sorted my estate , they neuer , sir , could make me yet ingrate● or to forget ( much lesse abuse ) the bow , from whence i pluck'd the mellow peare but now● like the ba●e meane , who beside their food , will ●en● off armes , and carrie 〈◊〉 the wood . no , with respect ●●e euer bl●sse the tree , whose fruite hath fed , or shelt●● shaded me● nor●olk the noblest plant in all thy countie , for euen vp●●ght●es , s●l●d ●ea●t , and bou●ti● . to the onely sauourer of the muse and all excellencie , maister dru drurie of riddlesworth . epigram . beloued sir , i oft haue thought vpon , but neuer saw , as ye● , your helicon , where with the muses sole you sit retired , and most vnseene when you are most admired . to either vniuersitie , epigram . indulgent mother and kind * aunt● no where throughout all europe●ind ●ind i such a paire , of matchles sisters , who ( 〈…〉 sayd , of english beauties ) all the world vpbraid with your transcendent worths , and daze the ei● of wonders selfe with loue and maiesty . that salama●ca nor the oliue vale , th● f●m'd conimbra in burn'd portugale , appollo'● garden by the banke● of po , paris ( our harries sometimes ) luge nor ley , do better heare in other landes , ●hen ●ee . from whose faire brestes those sacred springs arise , that tu●ne our ●le●nto ●nto a pa●adise . from whose faire br●sts th●se milkey riuers runne , that thousands feede , else ●housande● were vndone . oh were it not t●at so●● a●e wea●●d too young , and some do suc● ( like essex calues ) too long ! to perseus . epigram . good perseus who venturd'st many a knock , to saue andromed fr●m the d●eary rock . though he● hard hap t' was af●erwa●d to be , in faster bands then when thou s●●st her free . to my true friend and euery way accomplished maister wentwoth ●radburie . epigram . beloued sir , if that your norfolk should , conceale some one man from the c●mmon view , who le●●ned learning iust●y va●ew 〈◊〉 , and giue both artes and all good 〈◊〉 their due . ( not from a vulg●r iudgement and a minde , that 's meerely norfolk , barten , hard and drie , but from e●p●●●●nce and your skill re●ind by ●●aua●le , ●o●h in ●rance and italie : ) and bad m● name ●●m from am●ng the rest , your selfe the man i presently had ghess'd . to my kind friend captaine henry lucy , the paragon of chiualry . epigram . sir , if true ●alour with sound honesty , a hart & hand that neuer fail●s his friend , the bad●es of the br●●est spi●its be , and best that man can euen in man cōmend : i wish i might the whol● wor●d one day see , your men to weare them with your liuery . vpon podarges . ep●g●am . podar●●● h●th one onely sonne and heire ; an 〈◊〉 , which put'● him in a ●eare , if he were d●●d● he would bee b●gd by some , wheref●re he ●oth for learned counsell come to gru● his ne●ghbour dwelling on the green , who of th●● hundred best in law i● seene● grub doth aduise him to strike vp a match , with dol the daughter of his neighbour patch , or , for a foole before that he be cited , and lose his land , with speed to get him knighted . vpon rosimus . epigram . mishap● aswell by water as by land , our humane f●ailty euery houre attend , with all his wit which man cannot withstand . as may appeare by rosimus my friend , who going to duke humphries to ●up , was on the thames by baylies snapped vp . vpon sir r. epigram . his wife or seruant to be halfe a foole , a knight i know by london , wi●he●h of● : but what 's his reason● ma●ty sir o toole , himselfe would make the other halfe , t is thought . to maister bartholomew h●les iustice of the pea●●●n the towne of warwicke . epigram . whethersoeuer sir , it be my chance , to see your ●ace yet once again , or no● you euer liue in my rememberance . and since i cann●● pay the debt i ow to your desert● yet will i h●u● it told , to one vnthankfull you gaue not your gold : to maister thomas townsend of testerton . epigram . right worthy sir , for that respect and cheere , i found at your comparelesse testerton , with my best friends i do inuite you heere . vnto our muses mea●e collation . which far your bounteous entertaine put downe , the only best housekeeper in your towne . vpon gemma . epigram . his orders gemma quite hath throwne away , and turnd in colours roaring boy , they say● his friends though thinke hee 'le preach and pray agen , his clarke the hangman but must say amen . to anthony my stationer . epigram . a souldier , scholler , and an honest man , i euer loued anthon● as life : thou art no souldier , but a●t honest , whan we know for certaine that thou hadst a wife , and i dare sweare by sacred hip●oc●ene , thou wantst no learning ( in thy shop i meane . ) vpon gloriosos house . epigram . see yee yon braue house which glorioso built , another babell to diuulge hi● name , or rather bable with the tu●●et● guilt , an hundred smokeles chymneies in the same , whose frontispice is window all and glasse , that doth both high-way & the town affront , as if it bade obeisance to the asse sir coun●er-puffe who is the owner on 't . you 'ld little thinke that barley and the beant , affordes their purest manchet when they dine ; and that their only curre is growne so leane , he is not able for to hold a swine , while he and●s mule lie in the citty stabled , all winter long t' auoid the parish poore ; his coltes and groomes though yonder still are tabled● the dog , a girle , the shepheard , and no more . vpon the god-dammee's band . epigram . what is the reason of god-dammee's band inch deepe , and that his fashion doth not alter ? god-dammee saues a labour , vnderstand , in pulling't off when he puts on the halter : vpon two ladi●s . epigram . two citty ladies pendants of the court , where late i liu'd , did commonly resort ; and in the garden one day as they walked , thus gathering flowers each to either talked● what liues ( good lord ) these country creatures leade , o're one of vs within the citty bred ? what dainty flowers , what arbors , walkes , and trees , poore soules they haue ; and looke where stand the bees● goodnesse a mee , see madam where thrist growes , my sweet-hart loues not it shold ●ouch his nose● and by my patience , quoth the other , i a● ill abide this scuruy honesty , it beares no flower , nor carrie● any smell , yet country ladies wear 't and like it well . to my reader . epigram . my person is another as i list , i now but act the epigramma●ist . to my towardly and hopefull scholer maister edward chamberlaine of barnham broome . epigram . ned , neuer looke againe those daies to see , thou liud'st , when thou appliedst thy booke with me , what true affection bare we each to either , how often walking in the fields together : haue i in latin giu'n the names to thee , of this wild flower , that bent , this blossom'd tree , this speckled flie , that hearb , this water rush . this worme , or weed , the bird on yonder bush ? how often when yee haue beene ask'd a play , with voices viols haue we pass'd the day , now entertaining those weake * aires of mine , anon the deepe delicious transalpine , another while with pencill or with pe● , haue limnd or drawn our friends pourtaies● & then commixing many colours into one , haue imita●ed some carnation , ●trange field-found flower , or a rare seene flie , ● curious land-schap or a clouded sky ? then haply wearie of all these would goe , vnto that “ poeme i haue labourd so : thus past our leasu●eable howers away ; and yee did learne ●uen in the midst of play . vpon corax . epigram . old corax putting on glassen eine , bids trudge his man to reach this booke of mine ; and by the fire in his w●eker chaire , ( one foote vpon the ●onges ) me think i heare him cough , & say , this author hath some wit , pitty hee made no better vse of it . vpon sir acolastus . epigram . hodge art awake , what shall we do to day , to cardes , go drinke , or else go see a play ? not i goddammee , i was last night drunke , rogue hold yee this key , & from my truncke , go fetch me out my sa●●en su●e de roy , my mistres bracelet , and de' yee heare me boy , a light , a pipe , and some tobacco vp , with ale , a to●t , a nut-meg , and a cup : let patricke saddle chest-nut ; and bid meg , prouide's a dish of butter and an egge . thus like a mil-horse acolastus treades the selfe same circle , and this life he leade● , saue when he heares perhaps the sermon bel , he● keepes his bed , and that day is not well . vpon my selfe . ep●gram . looke how a citie tailor when he make● a iouiall summer iourney to his mind , in euery towne will call for ale and cake● , his wife set smiling in her coach be●ind , rapt with deligh● to see the pride of may , the frisking lambe● , & green geese by the way . so now this spring my merry muse and i , must walke the world abroad & take the ai●e , who at our worke all winter close did ly ; and our decaied spirits go repaire . then enuy none our mirth vpon the way , for once a yeare , apolo laughe● they say . vpon mildred . epigram . mildred my ladie too-goods chambermaid , hath now her wage● by her maister paid , not quarterly , but duely once a yeare , and in a purse as bigge as she can beare . vpon mend-sh●● . epigram . mend-shoo did wa●e so deepe to dig for roote● , at last he ran himselfe quite or'e ●he bootes . vpon sir simon harpax . epigram . sir harpax when a benefice doth fall , enqui●es about for him that will giue most● for meri● mooues him not a whit at all , but must without it emptie kisse the post . yet if he feele some farmer gin ●o bite , for 's late commenced sonne , he tells him ●ha● , his many yeares true seruice to requi●e , he hath bestow'd the graunt vpon his man ; who to him goes , agrees & takes the gold , to 's maister vse , when without more ado re●urning it , and by sir harpax●old ●old , he pockets vp pe●haps a peece or two : hence harp●x sweares , among his other shifts , he none preferres but men of passing gif●s . vpon crab. epigram . crab being caught , and in the sergeants power , for shame and anger look'd both red and sower . to maister iohn browne of sp●●kes in tacolneston . epigram . i told you , though you haue the world at wil● to happines there somewhat wanteth still , which is not ( as you haue ) to haue a wife , tha●'s young and passing faire , to leade a life without disturbe , to haue a perfect health , abound in chargeles and vnpurchas'd wealth ; these are without one , and vnto a mind , soule-sick , skil-poore , or with ambition blind , confere no more vnto it's ease , say i , then do rich curtaines and a canopie , with pearle and gold embroyder'd all about , vnto my lord who lies vpon the gout : though much content her● from a man may find , who can denie ? the fo●ntaine is ●he mind , whence must the soft and siluer streame arise , to fence aswell as feede our paradise . then as yee would some ●oodly fabrick r●●re , lay your foundation sure , the heauenly feare● and pu●e religion , hereon let be pight , your liues strong frame that 's ●onest and vprigh● , make ch●ise ( a● studdes ) of ●rusty friends that will like hea●t of oke , not s●rinke for good or ill , not the rude rout who onely frendship measure as they get by you , and one does them pleasure . of frendship , these , the base subsistence be , and surfe● of all ingenuitie , these are the pies that on your peare-tree ●op , but build to ea●e the fruite in autumne vp , or these doubl●d throated layes , you find , to ea●e your ●heries , leaue the stones behind : or haply fill'd their bellies f●om the ●ree , beray the bow , and so away they fl●e . i then aduise you for to make your light , behind experience & a fore fore-sight , sith none knowes what may fall , close couerd lay vp somewhat to withstand a rainy day . let artes , good partes , a conscience cleere of sin , bee your best pride and household stuffe within , then lest the circle in your center rest , and hold your selfe aboue a monarch blest . vpon my selfe . epigram . i thinke the * place that gaue me first my birth , the genius had of epigram and mirth , there famous moore did his v●opia wright , and thence came heywoods epigrams to light , and then this breath i drew , wherewith ( our owne ) these shaken leaues about the world are blowne . vpon grantorto . epigram . . the morrow after iust , saint georges day . grantorto pi●●ous drunke , sa●e in a di●ch , his handes by●s side , his gelding straid away , his scarlet hose , and doublet very rich , with mudde and mine all beastly raid , and by his feather huge & broad brimm'd hat did ly . we ask'd the reason of his sitting there , zounds cause i am king solomon ( quoth hee ) and in my throne● then for the loue we beare , replied my selfe , vnto your maiestie , wee 'le pull you out , & henceforth wish your grace would speak your prouerbs in a warmer place . vpon d●●●● . epigram ● . i du●●● ask'd as we at supper sate , how long he had liu'd in the married sta●e , sir , iust ( quoth du●mo ) with my wife i met , in the great plague time , i remember yet , and ●ighing , as he would haue burst in twaine , said● now almost the thirtieth of her raigne . to r.h. my iouiall host at viroche . epigram . i wish old robin that we had thee heere , to lie a little with sir rossicleere , he sweares the persian summers are so whot , that while he drank the sun did melt the pot : thou swear'st , in russia that it freezeth so , that men with sneezing , off their noses throw . he sayes that one day in a skirmish hot , on 's rapier point he tooke the flying shot . thou toldst me how an irishman was slaine , shot through the braines , & after seru'd again . he vo'wd that mans flesh was his only meate in rome , and neither bread not salt could get● and thou reportedst , how at remingham , a leaguet was , and thou therein the same , where th' horse dranke vp so dry a running flood , that some were choak'd with fishes in the mud . he saies the morgor mus'd how england can , as was himselfe afford so braue a man. thou in all townes throughout the netherland , swearest thou hast swordes lie prest at thy command . thus at the tru●● yee much at one do roame , saue thou liest neerer , fa●●her hee from home . vpon rinaldo and reiner . epigram . rinaldo meeting reiner in the streete , deepe in his debt , he thus doth ●einer greete , you know some money is betwixt vs two , that welny now these ten yeares hath beene due● quoth reiner , looking downe vnto his f●ete , i' faith and we will part it , if i see 't , but as i liue rinaldo i find none , as faine as you , i would you had your owne . vpon saburro . epigram . saburro now hath sold both house and lands , exceeding much vpon his gentry stands , auer●ing how his ancestrie and name , from normandi● in with the conquest came . saburro should thy gentries plea stand good , then ●ag and rag might be of gentle blood . vpon milo. epigram . milo beleeues and hath a wager laid , the world will end within these fourteene yeare , by whom or where the mony sh●ll be paid , but if he winnes is milo's onely feare . to my ingenious pupill , and most honest atturney maister iohn cock , of deepham . epigram . if reason be the soule of law , i faine in this point ( pupill ) would resolued bee , how is it that a statute doth maintaine , that when the law defines the contrarie , yet reason though far stronger , must giue place ; and law against reason carry cleare the case . to my very friend maister thomas augush . epigram . vvith other friend● i bid you to my feast , though comming last , yet are you not the least . vpon lodronio . epigram . lodronio like a huge westphaly swine , lies close and neuer stirres without his doore● , feedes of the best , drinkes sack and claret wine , and at command'ment hath his lease of whores , that death this hog would stick , the parrish pray , for to his hand hee 's soundly sing'd they say . vpon rombo . epigram . rombo doth banne , chase , deepely curse and sweare , and vowes reneng'd o' th parish for to bee , for that his name 's not in their register , which he so foule a iourney tooke to see , ( not that he is to take vp any landes ; and one and twentie , that lost labour were , but of his last abode to bring some hands , to saue him from a burning through the eare ) that for it now he must be faine to looke , in newgate or the poultry counter booke . vpon rusco . epigram . rvsco to london hauing brought his sonne , to bind him prentise , asked of the lad , what trade best lik'd him , for he must take one , and onely stick to that he chosen had : then father , if vnto an alderman , for seuen yeares i were bound , i did not care , so after i my time had seru'd ( quoth io●n ) i might be sure for to be lord maior . vpon augustus caesar. epigram . avgustus hearing how a roman knight , whose goods could not pay halfe his debts , was dead , yet liuing slept at quiet ●uery night , sent to his house and needes would buy his bed , beleeuing sute it had some virtue rare , that in his case could keepe a man from care . of a spaniard and a hollander . epigram . an hollander and a spaniard one day met , within their inne , and downe to dinner set , each did begin his country to commend , and rec●on vp the riches it did lend . what ●ay you ( quoth the spaniard ) to our land , where ( taking vp an orenge in his hand ) these golden apples thrice a yeare do grow , 〈◊〉 faire as those hesperides in show , 〈◊〉 they which nimble atalanta staid , 〈◊〉 it which paris gaue the cyprian maid ? 〈◊〉 on a holland cheese by , claps his hand ; and in the honor of his belgick land , replies , and what can you to holland say , of these that yeelds vs thousands * thrice a day ? to sir ninian ou●c●●● . epigram ● as tarlion when his ●ead was onely seene , the tire-house doore and tapistrie betweene , set all the mulltitude in such a laughter , they could not hold for scarse an houre after , so ( sir ) i set y●● ( as i promis'd ) ●orth , that all the world may wonder at your worth . vpon albi●●s . epigram . albinus much the other day did blame , neates-foote his man for haunting common whoores , and somewhere wish'd him get a wife ●or shame , or else next quarter get him out of doores . a wife ( quoth neates-foote ) neuer while i breath , i got one lately , but within this mile , when as i thought to die no other death , for iust her husband tooke vs in the while . vpon methusus . epigram . met●usus asked me why i called him so● , i answere made , because he lou'd the pot , for while met●usus busie i● with it , the foole i 'me sure 's as busie with his wit. impresa's . to maister william r●rd , the glory of our nation for musique . epigram . a swan set dying , singing , and the word in golden letters , neuer such a bird . to my la. m. epigram . a scepter lady , yours within your fist , your mo● plaine engli●h , i do what i li●● . to maister doctor d●●l●nd . epigram . your word , hine ille lach●im● , beneath , a venice lute within a laurell wreath . to my true friend maister william frost lately gone for ireland . epigram . a flock of feld-fares , thine , vpon the coast , taking their leaue● , and by them , fare-well frost . to honest rafe . epigram ● an embleme , r●●e , thou didst request of me , a cudgell lying in an apple tree , be thine , and since , thou art i' th gaole● i heare thy po'sie , i am lodged for thi● yeare . epigram ● why do sir iohn , sir h●ry , and sir h●gh , all winter long themselues like cucko●es hide , wi●hin good townes , and seldome come in view , saue euery halfe yeare when their rent● are paid ? i do imagine ( though but my presumption ) they lie at physick for the purse consumption . to the ingenious and excellent in po●sie maister thurstane smith . epigram . my noble thurstane , i do maruaile much , how thy braue muse did find her selfe employ'd in norwic● , spun she iersey with the dutch , o● lo●t she ought , and so there had it cri'd ? may be , she look'd for ●omething in the waggon , or wish'd to make a speech befo●e the dragon . to my euer loued scholler maister h●●mond claxton . epigram . i prithy ham●ond do thy labour spare , to aske me what i lacke , as i do passe your shop in cheape , with sir , heere ●a●tens are , good three pil'd veluets , taffa●a● , gold lace : but let me hammond go in quiet by , for thou knowst what i lacke as well as i. vpon dorinda . epigram . the faire dorinda dressed c●p a pie in state , resembles cambridge trinitie , her , her all turret , and of wondrous cunning , her back-side broade , and front full faire in shew , onely her teeth stand like old rotten row. vpon sir dolphin . epigram . sir dolphin can endure no disgrace , and present death 't is to giue him the lie , yet is he drunke in euery ale-house base , in tapsters , whoores , and tinkers companie . vpon sir gra●eles . epigram . while grim god-damm●e , at my ladies table , chewing the cudde of vengeance still did fit ; and ( lately bastinado'd ) was not able , for melancholy to digest a bi● , but tearing heauen with feareful oathes did threate , the flesh of that base slaue must be his meate ; and would haue sayd , a dagger he should bui● , mistaking swore , a begger he would die . a lattin dis●ich which a frier of shertogen bosch in brabant wrote in my greeke testament , while i was busie p●rusing some bookes in their library , intituled● ad angliam ve●tram . epigram . angelus indiderat , dicas , anne anglia no●en , spirituum siquis lucifer ille fuit . thus in english. say england , did an angell christen thee ? if any , surely lucifer wa● he . his back being turn'd , i left this behind me , in the first printed page of a faire arias montanu● bible , to require him . ad syluam d●cis . epigram . dicere . sylua ducis cur falso nomine , sylu● cum ca●●as , sterilis stagnet et om●is ager ? fallor , an in d●●os arb●r mutatur adse●s , in monachum stipes qu●m stipe vulgus ali● . which is in english , why falselie art thou● call'd the dukes-wood , when thou hast no woods , and all thy feildes are fenne ? thy trees ( i ghe●se ) are turn'd to sainted stocks , and begging friers haue robb'd thee of thy blocks . vpon ell●● epigram . from norwich e're since ello had his wife , he neuer led one minute quiet life , for if but steppes with friends to drinke , he sweares she comming beates the po●s about his eares , or if the hos●esse in his presence be , downe go the windowes , and yee rogue , saies she , faith haue i found your haunt , what close with her , directly home yee foule toad●bellied curre : haue patience ello , who knew euer yet , b●t that a piece of no●wich stuffe would fret ? epigram . i one thing coriat like , whe● i was ouer , obs●ru'd in andwarp , arnhem , and scon●ouer among the du●ch , which was they write aboue , inne doores , the name ( as euery man did loue ) of seuerall beeres within the house t●ey haue , as r●●mers , wesops andwarps , and the ●ra● , with delfts , breda's , lubbs , boga●'● , engl●sh , and as many ●orts as cities in the land . yet though the beere of sund●y natures be , in their being drunke no difference did ● see . vpon apodemon . epigram . great apodemon surely much hath seene , since in all l●nde● he vnder heauen ha●h beene ; and can of ●●tch as readily relate , their liuing lawes , their boundes , their wealth and star● as if in twice twelue houres he had gone , with sol the worlds bounds in procession . arabi● much be praiseth for her smell● , persis●o● ●o● silkes , her gemmes and pearly shells ; for poo●e and barren then he doth condemne , the land of iury with hierusalem , virginia , he likes not , cause their aire is f●ggy , swede's rich in siluer , hungary in gold , e●gland is temp ' rate , muscouie's too cold , but since the pox some few daies since he got , he neuer ●els how fran●e he found too hot● vpon saint maries steeple . epigram . saint maries steeple's vp and ready soone , but paules 't is thought will lie abed till noone● vpon oenopolio . epigram . erewh●le there was in nigers streame ( i read ) a iewell found of price inualued . for nature this , one rude and massy stone , had cemented of euery pretious one , to shew her skill or make some finder , poore for wealth , to equall the greatst emperour . the diamo●d disdaining borrowed light , was heere ioyn'd with the golden chrysolite , , the iacyn●th mixed with the sa●byre blew , the topaze rubie with his fiery hew : he●re opals emeralds of glassy greene , the sardonyx with nigers pearles were seene : i neuer saw this wonder , but suppose , it much resembled oenopolio's nose . vpon furno . epigram . fvrno ( i th gaole ) commends the dayes of old , and those same times , our poets say , were gold , his fate vpbraiding which did giue him birth , in this worst age of iron , when from earth , a●trea's fled ( his ) valour wants regard , religion practise , learning her reward , an iron age indeed that furno fe●●es , when iron hourely followe● him at heeles● vpon a duch boore , and his answere to charles the fif● . epigram . the famous charles when hauing lost his way , by hessens lan●graue maurice hard pursu'd , and all a winters rainy night did s●ray , he knew not whither thorough thick●ts rude , he saw a light , the dwelling of a boo●e , and thither rode and knocked at his doore . and calling to him kenneld in his bed , in gentle wise did craue the time of night ; t is all by three , in churlish wise he sayd ; the emperour asking how he knew so right without a clock , gots sacreloten , how ( replied the boore ) ●●skellam , pi●●'d but ●ow . vpon theorbo . epigram . theorbo both in earnest and in sport . must beare a part in euery company ; and will be heard the loudest in consort , 〈◊〉 s●ldome mute or out of tune is he , 〈◊〉 ●hen he wants a case vnto his back , or fe●res ( at tyborne ) a base string to crack . vpon taurus . epigram . i' st true that taurus late hath lost his wit ? how can that be when neuer he had it ? i could beleeue it , had he fought a fray , and so perhaps his fingers cut away . vpon sir tristram . epigram . see yee sir tristram yonder on the stage , with the huge feather and his snout-faire page , a fearefull neate● tongue hanging by his side , with a stilletta to his girdle tied , the very same whom druso's prentise met , the other day and challeng'd for a d●bt some nine yeares owing ; when sir tristra● drew , and in his furie at the prentise flew , who mildly crau'd a word within his eare , ( for shame , ●aid he , it is to quarrell heere ) and 〈◊〉 ●●emselues they might but next day meete , in fi●soury , where he hit debt should quit by valour , or be lyable to it . it was ag●eed , next morrow both gone out , met , drawne , and ready for to haue about , how long to fence , quoth tristram , hast thou gone , s●●uen ye●res , quoth ' prentise : twenty now ●nd one , my sword , sayd tri●●ra● , haue i practised : th●n he●re me fellow , it may not be ●ayd , i euer wrong'd thee ( for by all the god● , a gentleman ● am , and scorne the oddes , ) go four●te●ne yeares yet longer to thy fenc● , i 'le meete thee heere ag●ine two seuen yeares ●●nc●● on equall termes , and then god-damme●●ight , and by this hand-la do thee any right . epigram . sartor at leyde● hath commenc'd , they say , and come a leaden doctor thence away . to my very worthy and honest ●riend maister robert constable of hingham , high constable of the hundred of foreh●w . epigram . as pretious wares we see are often wrapt in paper● small , so farc● it with me now , who in these leaues my deares● loue haue lapt and sent it as a token vnto you , who of a constable deseru● to be , a iustice for your brain● and honestie . epigram . great bomb●s heire , whose golden suite and face● shew like a citterne in ● guilded case , ●●igr●● . no dull conceite , no left th●t'● p●●●e 〈…〉 no halting feete , or te●mes ●hat be obs●●●● ●ome neer● my vers●● those graces i resign● , ●o cherilus and foule mouth'd areti●e : for as my mind is merry , honest , fre● i't● image , so my veine ●nd verse● be● . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e * a goodly armory of as any in all norfolk , with an excellent fur●ish●d library cho●se bookes , and very rare antiquities . * the ●raue and beautifull gen●lewoman his wife , daughter to the lord borough , vnto whom he was lately married . * a set of and partes of the authors re●dy for the presse . “ a second volume of emblemes , done into latine verse with their pictures . * northmimmes in hertfordshire neere to saint albanes . * for in holland as oft as they milke they make their ●●eeses , which is thrice a day : a treatise of the sports of wit flecknoe, richard, d. ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a treatise of the sports of wit flecknoe, richard, d. ? [i.e. ], , , - p. printed for the author, [london] : . in verse and prose. attributed to richard flecknoe. cf. dnb. place of publication from wing. the pages after p. have running title epigrams. reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams, english. wit and humor. table-talk. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - john latta sampled and proofread - john latta text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a treatise of the sports of wit. omne tulit punctam quae miscuit utile dulci. hor. printed for the author , . inquire for them at simon neals , at the three pidgeons in bedfordstreet in covent-garden . the epistle dedicatory . to all our fair and vertuous ladies . ladies , i present you here ( as most resembling them ) the sports and recreations of these great ladies , who have so sublimed them by a divine quality they have to convert all into vertue , as midas did all he touched to gold ; whence their very sports are as vertuous as others devotions : those melancholly spirits then enemies of all chearfulness , who call such sports as these , but idle things , seem wholly ignorant of their first institution , and very signification of their names . for wherefore were they called relaxations , divertisements , and recreations , but for relaxing our over bended thoughts , diverting our minds from cares and troubles of this life , and recreating our spirits when tired and spent with worldly businesses . whence to conclude , whoever in this mortal life can live without them , must either be a god , or else a beast , above , or else below humanity . and so much for their sports ; as for the ladies themselves , i suppose they are so well known to all , as i need , in this epistle , to say no more of them ; but that they had always a high esteem for our english ladies ; and therefore , i doubt not , but you will have the like of them . be pleased then ladies , for their sakes , to accept a dedication of this short treatise , from him who is naturally an enemy of all that is long and tedious , a friend to these sports and recreations , an honorer and admirer of all your nobler sex , especially of all fair and vertuous ladies like your selves . r. flecknoe . the preface to the reader : of wit , in order to these sports . it is as hard to describe wit in particular , as it is our taste , they so vary with time and custom ; the wit of our ancestors being grosser then that we have now : and as the age refines , so do the wits of men. however , this we will say of it in general , wit to the subject it treats of , is , as the soul to the body , animating it with life and spirit , which else were but dead and dull ; it is the quintescence of conceit , extracted out of words and matter , as the bee extracts honey out of flowers ; and as out of dull flint we strike sparks of fire , so out of dull matter we strike sparks of wit. it is not so solid as wisdom , but the less solid , the more spiritual ; and is so volatile , as it easily evaporates ; but fixed by judgment , and with a lay of discretion , it surpasses bare wisdom , as far as that doth folly ; and is in the brain as nobility is in the blood ; only one fault it hath , it is more pleasant to others , then profitable to its self ; wherein it differs from worldly wisdom ; but that wherein it differs from divine , is its greatest fault ; wit now being but a new name for an atheist and debauchée ; but that is the fault of the persons not of ▪ wit ; for wit is no ways scurrilous and profane . but finally , we may say of it , as the corruption of the best is the worst ; so when good , nothing better ; when bad , nothing worse . and so much for wit , as it differences these sports , from the old homely ones of substantives and adjectives , questions and commands , cross purposes , and the like ; as much out of date , as the last years almanacks , and scarcely deserving so much as the name of wit. the occasion of writing this treatise . the dutchess of lorrain , with the princess and madamoseille de beauvois , her highness sister ( now princess of ar●mberg ) retiring themselves to b●rs●ll , near brussels , in the spring time of the year fifty ; where they passed their time in all sorts of innocent and delightful divertisements , and amongst the rest , that of the sports of wit , being after supper their ordinary entertainment : at which , both they and the ladies of her highness court , were so excellent , as it was impossible to imagine a more spiritual assembly , i having the honor to be there amongst the rest ( which i shall always account , not only the most honorable , but the most delightful moment of my life ; ) it pleased her highness to command me to write this treatise of the sports of wit , which now i publish at the desire of some ladies , whose least desire has the force of a command . of the original of these sports of wit. we read in boccas , and other italian authors ( to say nothing of the more antient ) that these sports began in italy about the beginning of the last century , both at florence , sienna , and other places , especially at ferrara , when those of the most illustrious family of d'este , were dukes thereof . from italy queen catherine de medicis carried them along with her into france , a fertile countrey ; where all that is rare in italy , transplanted , grows better and more flourishing then in its native soyl. from thence about the beginning of their civil wars , they were transplanted into england , where , by the culture of sir philip sidney , sir foulk grevill , and other the prime wits and gallants of the times , and ladies no less inclined to gallantry , they flourished as much as in italy and france , not only all the time of queen elizabeths reign , but that of following kings , till our civil wars likewise beginning here , they were not only neglected , but wholly irradicated by the fanatick rebels , enemies of all mirth and recreation ; till they begin to be replanted , and take root again under the happy reign of his present majesty . of their ordering their sports , and how they past their time . for preparation to them some one , by lot , or otherwise , was chosen , for president , whose office was to give out the subject or argument of the following sport , and to distribute the parts for the next assembly ; that so betwixt premeditated and ex tempore , they might not come unto them wholly unprepared , but have the following night , and part of the following day , for their preparation . for the rest of the day , the time was thus distributed . having finished their morning devotions , they went to dinner , and , having dined , each one retired to their several cabinets , till towards evening , when either they rode abroad in their coaches , to take the air ( which promenade never ended without some banquet or collation ) or walked out into the garden , or adjoyning woo● , which seemed an academy of nightingales , is the garden a treasury of all flora's choicest and rarest flowers ; when gather but one , and seven more sprang up in its place ; whether it were th● nature of the soil , or vertue of the hand wh●●● gathered it , heaven having so disposed this pl●●sant and delightful place , should never fall but into the fairest and vertuousest hands of the universe , ( it being a part of the apinage or inheritance of madamoiselle de beauvais . ) from thence they went to supper , and having supp'd , retired into a large appartement , illuminated by six fair christal branches , and bordered about with silver sconzaes , in which were inchac'd concave mirrors of oval form for better reflection of the light. when the dutchess , seated in her fautvil , under a canopy , upon an half pace higher than the rest , with the princesses , her daughter and sister , under taborets , on either side of her ; the sports began as followeth : the first nights sport of oracles . this sport 〈◊〉 , when one amongst the rest stands for oracle , and others in order ask questions of it ( the dutchess first , and the rest following ) which the oracle answers briefly in the laconick stile : as for example . quest. how should one do to be beloved ? answ. love. quest. who is the fairest lady ? answ. every one's mistress . and these questions are easily answered , but the oracle sometimes is hard put to 't , when they ask it any captious & insiduous ones , as was his , who asked the oracle , whither what he had in his hand were alive , or no ; to which it answered , as you please , he grasping a little sparrow in his hand , meaning if the oracle said it was dead , to produce it alive , if alive , to crush it , and produce it dead : which ambiguous answers and words of double sence , in such expedience , required great wit and dexterity in the oracle ; and at this our oracle ( madamoiseille de beauvais ) was excellent . the second nights sport of dreams . the sport of this is , when every one tells their dreams , and some one interprets them , who is not only to know the general notions , ( as how to dream of pearl , signifies tears , and gold , ill luck , &c. ) but perfectly to understand the art of divination , and to have well read artemedorus and apamasar . such as he , to whom a lady coming once in great anxiety for her lord , who was then actually in the wars , saying , she dreamed the general was wounded in his right hand ; he answered , the ill presage of that dream nothing concerned her lord , who had a command of horse ; for the right hand of a general was his foot , and the left his horse , and the event proved this prediction true ; for shortly after the news was brought ( against the expectation of all ) that don francisco de melo had lost the battle of rocroy , most of his infantry remaining , either slain or taken prisoners , whilst all the cavalry escaped by flight . this made the dutchess think him fittest to be president of that nights sport , which ( though far more difficult then that of the oracle ) he performed to the general satisfaction of all ; where note , they may shew as much wit , who ingenuously feign a dream , as he who interprets it . the third nights sport of lotteries . all the wit and art of this sport , is so to contrive the lots in the urn , as best may fit the qualities of every one . as to the dutchess all happiness and felicity ; to the princess , nothing but crowns and scepters ( then proposed as a match for crowned-heads ) and to madamoseille de beauvais , her choice of princely-husbands , married not long after to the marquess of varanbon ; who dying without heirs , left her inheritrix of his marquisate , and since married to the noble prince of aremberge : nor were the rest of the ladies less fitted with their lots , the contriver of the lottery to please them , hazarding the reputation of a lyer twenty times , for that of a prophet once : but all the sport was to hear the inferior servants handsomely rallied for pastime of the ladies . for example , two waiting women . ( amongst the rest one who would needs lead apes to hell , and another , who would not go to heaven without a husband . ) the dutchess prohibiting all picquant rallery , which , if any offered , she declared a dislike of it in a blush , a greater reprehension , then could be expressed by words , to those who understand the language of the face . the fourth nights sport of wonders . the sport of this is , when every one tells what they most wonder at , or the greatest wonder they have seen ; not such as lying travellers report , or such as they father upon our countrey-man sir john mandevile ; muchless such foul-mouthed , slanderous ones , as his , who said , the greatest wonder he had seen , was , a woman honest when she was young , and handsome when she was old ; but such witty ingenuous ones , as that ladies and cavaliers , who saying , the greatest wonder he had seen , was a constant lady ; she answered again , that the greatest she had seen was a discreet cavalier . all in the way of gentile rallery without stumbling or falling foul on the picquant , and at that gentile rallery these ladies were excellent , who went on inoffensively , without ever making a false pace on their way ; nay , they went farther yet , and converting their sports and pastimes into devotion , one said what she most wondered at , was , that any noble woman could be otherways then vertuous , when vertue was only true nobility ; another , that she wondered their could be any atheists in the world , when every thing put them in mind of a divinity ; and a third more divinely yet , that she wondered how any one could breathe or stir a foot , without thinking on him , in whom we live , move , and have our being . the fifth nights sport of wishes . this amongst gallants is one of their cheifest sports ; when striving who should wish somewhat most pleasing to their mistress . one wishes himself somnus , or the god of sleep , to charm her senses into a sweet repose ; another morpheus , or the god of dreams , to enter into her mind ; and with some delightful dream insinuate the thought of himself amongst the rest : and a third wishing his brest wholly transparent , that she might see through it , the pureness of his affection ; with many such like gallantries , but all in vain : for just as water can be derived no higher then its fountain head , so earthly minds can think of nothing , but earthly things , whilest these ladies were so heavenly minded , as one wished her self a bird of paradice , to have no more communication with earth ; another soared higher yet , wishing her self in heaven ; and the third , wished her self an angel there ; and she only wanted wings , having in an angelical body an angelical spirit too . and this , with more delight and chearfulness then others wished for all the treasures in the world , well knowing this world , in comparison with the other , was less then a drop of water compared to the ocean , or grain of dust , to the whole globe of the earth ; but not to be thought to undervalue this world too much , by those who have but too magnificent a conceit of it . we will say no more , but past to the next nights sport. the sixth nights sport of gipsies . the sport of gipsies was excellent well represented by her highness servants , all properly habited with their faces umbered over , supposed so many doxies with their solyman , who making their entry in a dance , fell to telling fortunes , by inspection of the hand or art of chyromancy , as they pretended , though all their art was to give such fortunes as they imagined best pleasing to every one ( like that painter , when he could not make his pictures like , made them fair at least . ) giving young maids good husbands , batchellors , rich wives ; and to every one long lives , and all prosperity ; which the simple believed as gospel , although as false as the talmud or alchoran . but this sport differing only from that of lotteries , in that , one is a dumb fortune-teller , and the other speaking ones ; we will say no more of it , but only as they made their entry , so they made their exit in a dance ; after which , the rest made theirs too , and every one retired to their repose ; and so they concluded the sixth nights sport , reserving the seventh day for their devotions , if any thing could be added to the devotions of the other days . the end of this weeks sports and divertisements . of the mountebank and his farce . whilst they prepared for other divertisements , that of the mountebank and his farce , was this nights sport , performed by her highness servants , as followeth . the mountebank , with all formal gravity , mounting the scaffold , made a long oration of the marvellous cures he had done , and of the rare and admirable receipts he had ; as if aesculapius were but a zany to him , whilst his zany indeed , for greater sport , turned all to ridiculous that he said : as when he said , he had a receipt to make them see as well by night as by day ; the zany answered , it was but putting out their eyes . and when he said he had another , that they should never die of old age ; he answered again , it was but hanging them while they were young ; with such like vulgar buffoonry to make the audience laugh . all whichended in one of the best of scarramuchio's , and harlequin's acted by the doctor and his wife , the zany with all his antick tricks , and others of his followers who truckled under them . the eclogue or acting of questions . nothing more declares a penetrating wit , which the french call le point de l'esprit , then to enter into the depth of these questions , nor a more perspicuous iudgment , then to discern the nice and subtil weights and scales , required for determinating and deciding them ; of which , i will only give you an example or two , and leave to others to furnish you with more . q. . which of these two lovers best deserve the nymph , he who often obliged her , and disobliged her as oft ; or , he who had done neither , but only loved her ? when after many arguments on either side , it was finally concluded for the first against the second , because he had done somewhat , at least , to declare his love , but the other nothing ; and love is best declared by deeds they say , for probatio amoris exibitio est operis . q. . which of those two damsels lives the knight should soonest save , ( in eminent danger of death ) hers whom he loved , and she not him ; or hers who loved him , and he not her ? and it was determined for the second against the first ; for she loved him , at least , but the other not : and for his love to the other , that no ways went on the account of of her desert . and now the actors growing more numerous , a more particular stage was requisite , which by the painters and carpenters skill was easily made the pastoral of love in his infancy . the birth-day of the prince of vaudemont , celebrated at berseel , where he was born the year before , gave overture to the theater , and subject to this pastoral , where he was introduced in his cradle like a young cupid , the graces nursing him ; the sports playing about him , and nymphs rejoycing to have a cupid now , as well as venus urania , promising to themselves all pleasure in a love so harmless and innocent , never imagining what pain he would cost them , when he came to riper years : but that which most added to the solemnity of the day , was our triumvirate of ladies personating the three goddesses , venus , juno , and pallas , in a solemn entry of ballet , dancing , and singing about the cradle : in which qualities they were all so excellent , as for dancing , the musick of the feet , and singing , the dancing of the voice , they had few who equalled them , none who exceeded them . and for conclusion , by bearing the cradle in triumph away , they gave end to the nights revels , and days solemnity . the play of loves kingdom . in imitation of this pastoral , made after the same model , and cast in the same mold , the play of loves kingdom was made , with design to render love so vertuous , and vertue so lovely , as all should be enamored of it ; which with much alteration , was after acted on the english stage : but soon they found they took their measures wrong , for the times were too vicious , and it too vertuous for them who looked on vertue as a reprehension , and not a divertisement ; and love without lust , was like meat without sawce to them whose appetites were depraved with more vicious food . so leaving the english stage , it returned to berseel again , where vertue was always welcome ; but for love one should as soon be drunk in a chrystal fountain , as have the least vicious thought in so vertuous company . the mask , or opera in musick . this mask or opera in musick , represented latona with her two children , apollo and diana , in the floating isle of delos , incessantly tossed up and down , and exposed to all the storms of fortune , with this motto , diu fluctibus agitata . the hyades or sea-nymphs bewailing her sad condition ; till the scene changing , represented the island fixed , and her with her children in all tranquillity , the word or motto , tandem requiescit . the dryades or land-nymphs rejoycing at her happy condition : the first alluding to her former state , without any certain habitation ; the second by way of prophesie , promising their restauration to their countrey again ; which , though poets are said to be poets and prophets too , wants yet its wished success , fortune still continuing to persecute her , and the dukes unfortunate genius predominant still over her more fortunate one . the play of laura persecutée . in regard of which , her highness chose to act that excellent tragy-comedy of laura persecutée which she did so naturally , and to the life , as you might well perceive she acted her own fortune under anothers name ; like that excellent actor , who being to weep over the urn of i know not whom , to do it the better , brought forth with him on the stage , the urn of his own dearly beloved child , celebrating a feigned funeral with real tears . mean time , as nothing was wanting to the excellency of the acting , so nothing was wanting to the compleating the theater , but only a greater audience , for a nobler it could not have ; the actors for the most part being auditors and spectators too ; though sometimes the great ladies , and chief nobility , would come over from brussels , to behold their sports , and went away unwillingly again , envying their happiness who still remained there . and now having mentioned the dutchess misfortune and persecution , i shall briefly declare the beginning , progress , and would i could the end of them . of the dutchesses marriage with the duke of lorrain . henry , duke of lorrain , dying without issue-male , leaving only two daughters , the princess nichole , and princess claude ; the father of charles , now duke , cheif of the house of vaudemont , by vertue of the salick law , succeeded him ; who , better to confirm his title , forced his son , on pain of disinheriting , to marry the princess nichole ( as his brother had the princess claude ) which he did at last with protestation of the force , and with all signs of aversion lived with her till his fathers death , when by mutual consent they parted ; and not long after , he publickly married beatrix de cusance , the young widow of the prince of cantecroix , a lady of incomparable beauty , and birth , and fortune , answerable every way , by whom he had issue anne , now princess of lorrain , whose legitimation none ever doubted of . in this marriage they lived many years with great tranquillity , till a storm was raised against them by the see of rome , for marrying without dispensation , &c. by the suscitation of the crown of france , who had espoused the interest of princess nichole , as the emperor had that of the princess claude . which proceeded so far , as they were forced to separate on pain of excommunication , till the cause might be decided by the court of rome , which the nuntio , promised should be in a year , at least . this time expired and nothing done , the duke following plinies rule , never in what you resolve to do , to ask counsel of those who may hinder the doing it , went privately to the dutchess again , and begat the now prince of vaudemont ; for which ( when known ) he was easily absolved , and so had been of all the rest , had he not neglected , for some reasons of state , to sue out a divorce from the princess nichole , so long as she was in state of bearing children , not to set her at liberty to marry some foreign prince , whose issue might dispute the dukedom with the house of vaudemont ( the law salick not being so clearly received in lorrain , as it was in france . ) this then was our dutchess misfortune , this her persecution , and this finally that marriage which has caused so great rumor in the world , by those who know not how marriages made by force , bind no longer then the force continues ; whilst those made voluntarily , bind till death , nor by any humane force can ever be dissolved again . and now after this serious digression , let us return to our sports again . of the acting of proverbs . the next nights sport , and that of many nights after , was the acting of proverbs , a sport of so great variety , as you might often repeat it , and never twice the same again ; where note , that as there are divers sorts of other sports , some which cause laughter without any wit , others more studious then delightful as ridles , rebus's , and anagrams ; or half witted paradoxes , as , a chandler can least hide his own knavery , for all his works must come to light . and , a shoomaker would make the best constable , for he can put any man in the stocks , and take him out at last . so there are divers sorts of this , some acting proverbs in dancing ; others in dumb shew and mimick gesture , and the like ; which may be sports , but not sports of wit , or but dumb wit at most ; whereas , that of these ladies , added words unto action : of which , we shall give you an example or two , not doubting , but if the ladies be delighted with it , there are wits enough to furnish them with more . prov . it is merry when friends meet . the scene was supposed an inn where divers friends met , as by chance , and recounted their several adventures on the way ; some more dangerous , others more pleasant ; every one making a several novella , and all together a delightful variety . amongst the rest two persons arrived so disguised , that they seemed strangers both to themselves and all the rest , who recounting their adventures , were soon known to be a pair of noble lovers , who on the eve of their nuptials , were severally made captives by strange adventures ; and by as strange , delivered from captivity again , to their incredible joy , and little less of all the company , as they declared by their congratulations , embracements ; and all the signs of joy and gladness , which are usually shewn on such occasions . another , but in a more spiritual kind , is that which followeth . prov . no true pleasure in this world. to confirm this , they took for argument that moral fable , how jupiter , in the first creation , sent pleasure down from heaven , for the consolation of poor mortals here on earth ; of whom , they soon became so great idolaters , that they offered more sacrifice to it , then to all the gods besides . at which , the gods offended , recalled pleasure back to heaven again , who ascending , threw off its earthly garment ; which dolon or deceit finding , put on , and ever since hath passed for it ; men foolishly adoring as much the shadow of pleasure now , as they did the substance of it before . when jove , pittying they should be so deceived , sent mercury down to undeceive them , and discover the imposture and deceit . but soon he found his embassie was in vain , and that all his eloquence was lost upon them , who would not believe , though a god did tell them so , that there was any other pleasure , but what they had . when jove seeing he must create the world and men anew , to make them better and wiser , resolved for their punishment , to leave them to the pleasure of beasts , who would not have that of angels , though they might . the conclusion . and now i cannot better conclude this treatise , then by giving you a short character of the ladies , chiefly mentioned in it ; ( and to say nothing of the princess , who was yet so young , as she only promised to be what her mother was , and no doubt , but in time , she will make good her promises . ) the dutchess was one of the greatest beauties of the times , and her sister no less ; but in a different kind , the one fair , the other brown ; the one clear sun-shine , the other a delightful-shade ; and as their beauties , so their dispositions were alike ; the dutchess with all becoming freedom of one that was married , her sister not so free , as one not married yet . the first all gay and chearful , the second not so gay , but with a chearfulness as far above light mirth and laughter , as elemental fire above squibs and crackers : for the rest , they were both so far from pride , as nothing could be more humble , yet so majestical , as they appeared the higher by their humility ; and were in all so equal , as together , you knew not which to prefer ; asunder , you always preferred the present to the absent , till she returning , set the ballance even again . in fine , not to enter so far into their praises , as never to get out again ; in their presence , you were so ravished and transported , as you would as soon be weary of heaven , as of their company ; and it was a species of the beatitude , of the other life , only to enjoy their conversation in this . a list of some of their proverbs . proverbs must have the stamp of custome , to make them currant with the world ; but every one for their private use may coyn what ones they please , as are these following . who spends all his life in getting maintenance for it , is like him who sold his horse to get him provender . death and absence differ only in this , that absence is but a short death ; and death a long absence . who gives soon , redoubles the benefit ; and he that is long a giving , diminishes it as much . vice and vanity differ only in this , that vice lays the egg , and vanity hatches the chicken . an uncertain nature , is like a sea with shifting sands , where thereis no sailing without a plummet in hand ; or like a weapon loose in the hilt , there is no using of it with any confidence . distracted prayers are like penelopes web , always to begin anew , and never ended . without a little dispute , one can never enter into discourse ; and with too much , one can never get out again . who takes every acquaintance for a friend , is like him who takes every pebble stone for a diamond . a friend is a cabinet-piece , to be sought all the world over , whilst we find acquaintances ▪ in every street . the greatest wisdom , is to know how much thought ▪ we are to give to every thing , who cheaply sells anothers fame , makes but the market to buy his own . noble women are like sacred relicks : beheld with reverence , but let men come to touch them once , their reverence is gone . men were never more easily cannonised then now ; when he may be counted a saint , who is not altogether a sinner . who thinks to help the truth with a lie , is like him who helping his master on horsback , threw him quite over on the other side . innocence were an excellent iewel , if it were not so easily counterfeited , and so hard to know the true from the false . every one flatters fortunate princes , but only hope flatters the unfortunate . the faults of princes , are like sore eyes , made worse with handling . of all devils , bless us from those who play the devil for gods sake . god help you is only an alms for those that sneeze . to injure one , and then ask him pardon , is a bastonado with a courtesie . many cry , a merry life , and a short ; who , if they knew how short it were , would not be so merry as they are . it is a good world for the devil , when every one speaks ill of one another , and no body speaks ill of him . your conscience-mongers have a dangerous trade of it , who go so far to keep others from falling into hell , as they often fall into 't themselves . a generous nature more esteems an ounce of honor , then a pound of profit . fair looks often deceive us ; as brass guilt , looks fairer then gold it self . he who cut off all who were too long for his iron bed , and rackt out all who were too short , was a less tyrant then they who would force every one to their opinions . love without fear is childish , and fear without love is slavish ; both together make the best composition . whilst sickness is but a dying life , or living death ; none truly live , but those who are in health . men may force our actions , and aw our words ; but none can force , or aw our thoughts . a complementer , or , as the french say , an accomplé menteur , is the rack of conversation , that sets every ones ioynts a stretching where he comes . truth goes the nighest way , whilst falshood goes always the furthest way about . the vulgar are iudges without judgment , and authors without authority . in women the first thoughts are the best , but in men the second . youth invents better , but age perfects the invention . wit is ripe , when grown to wisdom , and wisdom rotten , when grown to craft . the dignity of obedience is lost , when we dispute what is commanded . every one is artificer of their own fortune , but fortune like mercury is not made of every wood. the wise spare their words , the witty spends them ; but the fool casts them away . who wears french cloaths , without french behavior , look just like dogs in doublets . iealous states hold one another like woolfs by the ears , and only fear keep them from hostility . who foolishly imitates , is like that ass ; who cutting off his ears , to become more like a horse ; became neither good horse , nor ass neither . honesty has almost lost its english signification , and signifies , as with the french , only courtly behavior . the more danger , the more honor ; but the less danger , the more prudence . whe wise wonder at nothing , the fool at every thing . who counts the world an inn , and not their home , make no great difficulty of leaving it . better religion in the lump , then wyer drawn , as it is , and in the whole piece , then minced into so many sects . the manner of giving more then the gift endears the benefit ; and some oblige more in denying , then others do in granting . we are all but sucking children of this world , and have need of wormwood , to wean us from it . as north and south , which differ only by an individual line , may be made the whole heavens distant , by going to the extremity of either pole ; so modern controvertists , &c. who believe well , and live ill , or live well , and believe ill , are culpable alike . pleasure is as it is fancied ; and a beggar takes as much in scratching , as greatest princes in what they fancy most . education is double refined nature , and the soul of the soul , as the other is but the soul of the body . spiritual and corporal physitians , make their medicaments too bitter , if they would sweeten them a little , they would have far more patients and proselytes . there is as small choice in — as in rotten apples ; none better then the other , and you know not which is the worst . pleasure in excess , is like a boor when they are drilling him : a question , whether the pleasure or pain be more . who have deceived you , bid them good morrow , and good d'en ; but for the rest of the day have no more to do with them . the way of doing things now is , first , i 'll warrant you , and then who would have thought it , repents when it is too late . promises without performance , give the lie unto themselves . a little pride well becomes great ladies , and begets reverence , but too much is only for petty persons , and makes them but less esteemed . though the world be foul and dirty , yet they may walk clean enough , who but carefully pick out their way ; but who runmadly , dash , dash , seem neither to care how they bespatter others , and defile themselves . it is easie to throw ones self into a precipice , but not easie to get out again . our bodies being but the chariot of our souls , wherein we run the race of this mortal life ; serves but for little when the race is run , and we arrived to immortality , but only as a trophy of our victory . wit without discretion to manage it , is but a wild unruly colt , that instead of carrying us a gentle pace , oft runs away , and breaks the riders neck . who never consider the end for which they were created , live not the lives of rational creatures ; but rather of sensual animals , who only eat and drink and sleep . we being to go to the other world , when we have passed through this , how can we hope to find the way thither , and to be welcome when we come ; when we never inquire after it , nor after those who are there ? it is a happy misfortune to be driven by storm the sooner to their port. sensual persons are as unfit to judge of spiritual things , as the blind of colours , or the deaf of sounds . pleasures are like poysonous baits which catch fish sooner ; but render them nothing worth when they are caught . it is to hedge in the cuckow , to seek to make a maid honest against her will. an indiscreet person gets more enemies by telling truth , then others do by lying . under officers care for no body in court , and out of court , no body cares for them . who knows what it is to marry , would be as long in chusing a — as scogan was a tree to be hanged on . who seeks to be more feared then loved , shall find themselves more hated , then feared at last . who seeks his own interest , and nothing else , is no more a part of the universe , then a loose stone in the wall , a part of the house or building . detractors and calumniators , as clippers and false coyners , are punishable alike . to honor any man for riches only , is to worship the golden calf . money is like muck , which spred abroad , doth good ; but hoarded and heaped up , is like a stinking dunghill . while every one wants something , he is happy that can live on little , because he can never want much . every one hath somewhat of a fool , and he is wisest who has least . the itch of lascivious love , being the scab of poetry ; he is the best poet , who scratches it the least . these , and many more , they had , as far from vulgar spirited , as were those who invented , and those who acted them ; nor was it fit , persons , of their condition , should go to the frippery for old proverbs , when they might have new when ever they pleased . the epitaph of beatrix , dutchess of lorrain , who died , an. . she who alive , all vertue and beauty was , th' one in her brest , and th' other in her face . now that she 's dead , just reason w'have to fear , all vertue and beauty too , are dead with her. finis . additional epigrams of the year . of our english gallants lives , or the french disease . wonder ! our gallants ne'er consider how they wast their lives , with living as they do , while just like tapers , they at both ends light , 'twixt wine & women they 're consumed quite . amongst the rest the french disease is that which most consumes their persons and estate . from which there 's scarcely any one that 's free , who but pretends to modern gallantry . nor may we wonder 't is so easily gotten , when almost all their wenches now are rotten . by whatsoever name or title known , from those wear vizard-masks , to those wear none . mean time i can't but pitty their condition , who stand in need of surgeon or physitian . who with their galen and hippocrates but make the cure as bad as the disease . and this is that ( thanks to their wenches for 't ) our gallants call a merry life and short . while they 're not only infected with the fashions , but the diseases too of other nations . to a lady who was offended with him for praising visdamera . i see you envy visdamera's praise , for excellent parts and qualities she has . whil'st other parts and qualities y'have none , but bare and simple honesty alone . that 's but a cipher , nothing , less ye add some vertue to 't , by which 't is somewhat made . or like a single unite at the best , that but foundation is of all the rest . mean time i can't , but wonder how it came to honors title , and to vertues name . when honor and vertue in it , there is none but only in imagination . cease then in vain , your honesty to boast , that 's but a negative vertue at the most . and like the quakers spirit seen by none , but we must take your word for it alone . and know , if 't make you proud , 't is better be the publican , than the proud pharisee ; who whilst they think th 'ave priviledge to condemn and judge all others who 're not like to them : like such as you , in fine , do nothing else ( whilst they judge others ) but condemn themselves . good wishes to a new married pair . if joy does from enjoying take it's name , and happiness be said to be the same ; how happy are this newly married pair , who now arriv'd unto enjoyment are ? to whom whilst every friend some present brings , good wishes only are my offerings . which though they seem but offerings of the poor , angels from heaven do often bring no more . may he and she live long and happy then envy of women she , and he of men. the pattern of all happy husbands he , and of all happy wives , the mirror she . enjoying all the blessings whilst they live , that fortune and felicity can give ; and like elias when they die , so blest , to be translated only unto rest . this and all other happiness beside , i wish the noble bridegroom , and the bride , to the countess of shrewsbury , a pious reflection on gods goodness . how good is god! whose love of us transcends all that of parents , or of dearest friends ; nor that of spouse to spouse could ere express so great a love , so dear a tenderness . he knows our weakness and infirmities , and when we fall , helps us again to rise . and when h 'as lost us , seeks us all about ; nor ever rests until he finds us out . when he 's so far from chiding us , he 's more indulgent to us , than he was before : so as without presumption we may boast , we had been lost , unless we had been lost . and all this madam , y' are experienc'd now , in gods dear love , and tender care of you . who 'd then be so ungrateful to offend , so dear a spouse , a parent , and a friend ? rather who 'd not endeavor all they cou'd to please so great a lord , so good a god ? woolsey's complaint paraphrased . banisht , and so well known , where ere he went , he scarce cou'd find a place for banishment ! as on his way he sorrowfully past , coming to leister abby at the last : opprest with weight of grief , as well as years , woolsey to the abbot said with many tears . behold , a poor old man ( lord abbot ) i am hither come in banishment to die . who this may truly say , that , had i been as careful to serve god , as serve my king. for all my care , and all my service past , i 'd ne'er been thus rewarded at the last . let all ambitious men learn then by this , how to serve god , highest ambition is . and none in serving kings , comply so far , as to forget how they gods servants are ; for kings and princes are above men 't is true , but god's above both kings and princes too . and who serve others , are but slavish things ; but 't is to reign , to serve the king of kings . on the death of an only son , and his mothers grief . her only son was dead , and such a son , as never yet was a more hopeful one . when his sad mother , ( mother now no more ) did not , the common way his death deplore ; nor wou'd the common way be comforted , of other mothers when their sons were dead ; but does so piously his loss deplore , she shows she lov'd him well , but loves heaven more : and , knowing 't was the will of heaven , does bear it so , she needs no other comforter . so th'royal prophet , when his son was dead , like her ceas'd mourning , and was comforted . and t'other in as great a loss could say , 't was heaven that gave , and heaven that took away . these of all fathers may examples be , but of all pious mothers , only she . the adue . nothing but storms and tempests ? then 't is time to seek for shelter in some forein clime , where i may hope to find the happiness , if not to live , at least to die in peace . what halcyon on such seas wou'd build its nest , where for continual storms it ne'er could rest ? or bird wou'd chuse in such a land to sing , where it may ne'er enjoy a quiet spring ? when winter comes , y'have certain birds which flie to forein parts , one of those birds am i. who joy to sing in sunshine , but give o'er when i like them can see the sun no more . and banish'd as i am the sight , o' th' sun 't is time to go , my singing days are done . mean while before my life be wholly past and like the dying swan , i ave sung my last , whilst others ask his majesty , to give 'em means sufficient handsomely to live . all i desire is , that his majesty would give me means but handsomely to die . r. f. the anagram . waller anag . lawrel lawrel and waller so agree , and individuals seem to be ; as look but on the anagram , you 'll find it in his very name . the end of this quaternium . on his majesties military sports at windsor . as artificial fireworks and light ; are best beheld i' th' darkness of the night . the moon was set , no stars i th' skies did shine , but all was dark , as favoring their design . when straight behold , in military sport how some assail , others defend the fort. brave york & monmouth lead their warlike bands , whilst royal charles a glad spectator stands , to see 'm shoot , and no man harmed by 't , nor any hurt or wounded in the fight : so , as if any , has the charm , 't is he to render people shot and weapon free . who does not bless the while his happy reign ? who does us in this peaceful state maintain , whilst others plunder'd , harras'd , ruin'd , are expos'd to all calamities of war , as we were heretofore ; and but for him shold be expos'd unto the like agen . happy , thrice happy in him then , if we but only our own happiness cou'd see . of all the kings that are , or ever were , a prince the most benign and debonair . of reformation . this reformation has a specious name , but yet the world will always be the same . and those who try , will see when all is done , 't is easier finding faults then mending ' em . mean time there 's no men , who are more unfit , then th'people are , for the reforming it ; whose tamp'ring with 't , has always had this curse , instead of mending things , to make them worse . they see perhaps somewhat might mended be , but hundred things they 'd mar by 't , do not see , best way to mend 'em were , for every one to mend themselves , and let the rest alone . the world and men are chiefly govern'd by , that golden chain depending from on high , links men to god , and subjects unto kings , with like dependance of all other things . and when their subjects chance to break this chain , kings are to look to make it whole again . unto whose charge heaven chiefly does commit , the government of the world , and care of it . the world will ne'er be better a this fashion , when th'people undertake this reformation . who , as by clear experience we see , are chiefly those who shou'd reformed be ; and cry the worlds not well , for nothing else , but only 'cause they are not well themselves . necessity excused . i would not be so dull a thing as i should be , if 't were not for necessity . mother of arts , invention and of wit , th're then injurious should speak ill of it . we often blame necessity , when we are more in fault then is necessity . which sometimes may perswade , but near inforces any to take dishonorable courses , against her will , a woman may be poor , but none against her will , can be a whore. nor man a knave , whether he will or no ; but 't is his own dishonesty makes him so . cease then to blame and lay the fault ( in fine ) upon necessity , which is chiefly thine . there 's no necessity to do that which we sho'd never do for no necessity . of marriage and mistresses . the marriage knot which use to bind so fast , its bonds and ties as long as life did last , is now become like iuglers knots , none knows they re tied so slack , whether they 're fast or loose , ( what man say they ) who loves his liberty , to any woman so much slave wou'd be : this to their wives , but to their mistresses , they care not how they loose their liberties . to whom by th' scriveners help they 're bound so fast , they 're bonds at least as long as life do last . and th' marriage bonds they break with ease , but they can't break the scriveners bonds so easily . so dalilah held sampson in her bands , until he fell into th' philistians hands ; where he in prison all his life did lie : this is the end of such mens liberty . and they no better end deserve then this , who leave their wives , to follow mistresses . a riddling description of a lady , who shall be nameless . this lady has one of those dull handsome faces which never sacrific'd unto the graces . and person , with as little gracefulness as has her motley face , if not with less . a thing made up in hast , all in a bundle , just like a bowl as round as she can trundle . her bum the byass , whence you 'll easily guess , she 's naturally inclin'd to idleness . and her becoming'st posture may be sed , or riding in a coach , or lying a bed. as for her other parts , i 'll say no more , but only she 's , nor scould , nor slut , nor whore . and this in any woman is enough to make a wife , though not a mistress of . who this is now , for me shall ne'er be known , unless she name her self , for i name none . and of this size so many ladies be , none can unriddle , or till which is she . love and death's exchanging darts , or the dying lover . love and death o' th' way once meeting , having past a friendly greeting . sleep their weary eye-lids closing , lay them down , themselves reposing . love , whom divers cares molested , could not sleep , but while death rested . all in hast away he posts him , but his hast full dearly costs him . for it chanc't that going to sleeping , they had given their darts in keeping unto night , who errors mother , blindly knowing not one from t'other . gave love death 's , and ne'er perceived it , whilst as blindly love receiv'd it . since which time their darts confounding , love now kills , instead of wounding . death our hearts with sweetness filling , gently wounds instead of killing . to the dutchess of portsmouth , on his epigram of the angelical beauty . ( pag. . ) madam , you being all admirable as you are , no wonder at first , i never cou'd declare , but only in silence as admirers do , the admiration which i had for you . until 'twixt speech and silence without name , i writ at last that tassid epigrame , of th' angelical beauty , meaning you , although i never nam'd you until now . when unto all the world i here declare , you only that angelical beauty are . and now if any at this offended are , to spight 'em more , i once again declare . the angelical beauty is not only you , but th' angelical disposition too . the remembrance or the petition renewed . who in the late dutchess of lorrains days , to all their mirth , so instrumental was his majesty never danc'd , nor dutchess sung ; but he with 's lute or viol still was one . counting it highest honor cou'd befal to delight them , who 're the delight of all . now aged grown , does in some hermitage , desire to end the remnant of his age . and that his majesty for viaticum , wou'd favor his retreat with some small sum : who never ask'd him any thing before , nor after this shall never ask him more . but be his beadsman all the rest of 's days , who then his poet and musician was . the dilemma . if what i write does please , i hope ( in short ) his majesty will give me somewhat for 't . if not , i hope , ( as caesar did before ) he 'll give me somewhat for to write no more . the end of this quaternium . to lily on his excellent painting . how i admire thee lily , and thy art , that to dead figures doth such life impart ? nature and thee do seem at gentle strife , whose figures shou'd be most unto the life ; only as in some other world they were , they do not live such lives as we do here : but rather such as deathless shadows do i' th' blest elyzium fields and shades below . so like to ours , as it may well be sed , the dead are living , and the living dead . as out of chaos , all the world was made , when first it neither form nor figure had : so out of chaos , of thy colours thou do'st make whole worlds of beauteous figures now . to see and to admire the work th' ast done , whilst all the world unto thy house do'st come . who wou'd not think thee by so great resort , the king of painters , and thy house the court. on peoples talk. a dialogue betwixt vizdamira , and the author . a. that i defend you where soe'er i come , from ev'ry slandrous and malicious tongue , is but an act of iustice which i ow unto the truth , as well as unto you . what shou'd i do ? v. why do like me , contemn their base malicious talk and pitty them , who only bark like dogs of villages . and when they are contemn'd will hold their peace . a. ah never ! such as they will ne'er give ore , but more they are contemn'd , do bark the more . v. then let 'em vent their malice as they do . it does not trouble me , why shou'd it you . a. pardon me , when i hear 'em speaking ill of those , i love , i must defend 'em still . v. i thank your love , but yet my cheif defence , 'gainst slandrous tongues , must be my innocence . to live well , is in power of every one , but hinder peoples talk in power of none . against idleness . to the lady kilmurry , sitting at work with other ladies . blest be the hands , and blest be they who taught this work at first , which now these hands have wrought so rainbow colour'd , as thomantias bow cou'd never more celestial colour show . work is the life , and idleness the death , of every one who lives by vital breath . live ladies then , and by your work declare , you only , of all others , living are : whilst others can no testimony give , more then the dead , that ever they did live . and live till for the work on earth y'have done , you be rewarded when to heaven you come , with crowns of glory , and for robes may wear , as glorious ones of your own working here . happy , the whilst , who live and work like you , both in this world , and in the other too . to the lady elizabeth gage . madam , i will not say y' are so surpassing fair , as none with you for beauty may compare . nor that all others , for pure flesh and blood , compar'd to you , seem only painted mud. for this of every lady may be sed , whose beauty 's but a little white and red . although of none more truly then of you , whose colours are no painted ones , but true ; but i will praise you in a higher kind , for vertue , and for beauty of your mind . and say , the outside and the inside too , never agreed in any , more then you . continue madam then , but as you are , as excellently good , as you are fair . we well may say , your beauty and vertue 's such , as none can praise , none can admire too much . and this , when others beauty's fade and die , is that shall live and last eternally . prologue for most of our modern plays . you 'd have new plays , and when you have 'em you do by 'em as children by their puppets do . tear 'em and mangle 'em strait , then cry for more , and use 'em just as you did those before . and , reason of this is now , if truth were known , you are not curious , but fastidious grown : nor is it iudgment in you , but disease , that no new plays , though ne'er so good , can please . and this is all , thanks and reward he has , gives children puppets , and who gives you plays . and now they serve you in your kind you see , for most o' th' plays are only puppetry . and you as unto puppet-plays do go , not for to hear the wit , but see the show : the curious painted scenes , which wit you call with cheapside-pageantry , and that is all . on the lady r s , nursing her own children . how like to charity , this lady stands ? with one child sucking , t'other in her hands . whilst bounteous nature , mother of us all , of her fair brests , is not more liberal . those ladies , but half-mothers , are at best , who while they give their wombs , deny their brest . and none but such true mothers we may call , who give , like you , their wombs and brests , and all . mirror of mothers ? in whom all may see , by what you are , what others ought to be , ready like pellicans for childrens good , to give their very lives , and vital blood : for so do you , if milk be blood ( though white ) who shew your self great straffords daughter right ; both alike ready for the publick good , you for to give your milk , and he his blood. what must the children be the while , that come from such a pious brest , and noble womb. to the dutchess of monmouth . with his play of the noble , fair , and vertuous emilia . madam , when poets wou'd a heroina make , does all perfections of her sex pertake , they make her noble , fair , and vertuous too : all which perfections madam are in you . emilia then is but a feigned name , and you are only really the same ; or if their 's any difference , this is all , she 's but the copy , you th' original . to whom then should i dedicate my play , o' th' noble , vertuous , fair emilia . but to your grace , who is without compare , more noble yet , more vertuous and fair. why i write . whilst some do write for profit , some for praise , and every one some end in writing has : i only write to please my noble friends , and when i 've done but that , i have my ends . for th'vulgar i so much their praises slight , i wou'd not have their favor , though i might ; because , i know , none ever had it yet , but only such who viciously have writ . and now if any think this cowardize , to flie their praises , as i do their vice . i must confess , he 's valianter then i , who dares be damn'd for writing viciously . he 's vicious enough , does evil do ; but double vicious , does and writes it too . the end of the quaternium . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e * the rule is never to pass the third reply . euterpe revived, or, epigrams made at several times in the years , , & on persons of the greatest honour and quality most of them now living : in iii books. flecknoe, richard, d. ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) euterpe revived, or, epigrams made at several times in the years , , & on persons of the greatest honour and quality most of them now living : in iii books. flecknoe, richard, d. ? [ ], p. are to be sold by the booksellers of london and westminster, london : . attributed to richard flecknoe--nuc pre- imprints. reproduction of original in the harvard university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams, english. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - rina kor sampled and proofread - rina kor text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion euterpe revived . or , epigrams made at several times , in the years , , & on persons of the greatest honour and quality , most of them now living . in iii books . printed at london , and are to be sold by the booksellers of london and westminster . . the preface . i publish these epigrams , as i make them , the last the first ; which may excuse me , if i rank them accordingly . they are every year a new work , by adding the new unto the old ; and behold those of this present year . their subject is chiefly heroick , as are the persons whose praises they contain . and i writ them chiefly to let the world know , that as we want not many praise-worthy persons , so ther want not some to praise them for 't . and that you may not think me ambitious of names , i mention none , but those i have the honour to know , and be known unto . for the style , you are no more to expect the force and grandeur of epick and heroick poems , in an epigram , than the force of a ship of war , or grandeur of a huge carrack in a yaught , or pleasure-boat . suffice it , if it be such as i describe in this epigram . what ayres in point of musick are , the same in point of writing is your epigram , short , quick , and sprightly ; and both these and those when th' ear expects it , comes unto a close . 't is but few lines , but those like gold well-try'd , out of the dross of many lines beside ; and poetry's language of the gods , but these in brief , the language of the oracles . 't is short , but in its shortness does comprize the point of wit , wherein the sharpness lies . and 's nothing worth if any thing be sed , or tedious , dull , or vulgar-spirited . poets can't write , nor orators declame , but all their wit , is chiefly epigram . in fine , in verse , and prose , and every thing , your epigram is writing for a king. some may mislike them perhaps , because they treat not of love , nor love-matters ; but others may like them the better ; and for my part , since the itch of lascivious love is but the scab of poetry , i should be sorry any one should find in my writings , that i with my scratching had exulcerated it . to his majesty . vouchsafe , great sire , on these to cast your sight , made chiefly for your majesties delight , by him has cast off all ambition , but pleasing and delighting you alone ; counting it highest honour can befall , to delight him who 's the delight of all . the first book of epigrams , written an. . on the duke of ormond's going along with the king in banishment . when i but onely mention ormond's name , methinks it is enough of epigram . ormond , who never left the king , but went alwayes along with him in banishment ; whil'st many in that dark and cloudy time , made too great difference 'twixt the king and him . so nearer garments never quit their master when stormy winds do blow , but stick the faster ; while light and looser ones , like scarfs , they find , are blown away with every storm of wind . and so the king rewards him now , we see , with nearest trust , for his fidelity , who well discerns the difference betwixt them who follow his fortune , and who follow him : and knows that who in adverse times ne'r leave him , are those in prosp'rous times will ne'r deceive him. to the earl of ossory , on his return from sea , an. . my lord , your friends are glad y' ar safely come ashore , and all desire you 'd go to sea no more : nor put your life in danger to be lost on forreign seas , nor on a forreign coast. what need you go ? y 'ave hazarded enough , and put your valour to th' extremest proof : and as for honour , y 'ave by land such store , you need not go to sea , to purchase more . if 't be to serve your countrey that you go , there 's none so ignorant who does not know you , with your head may serve it more by land , than ever any at sea did with their hand . in fine , the brave and noble ossory is known and honoured enough by sea ; and now the land desires to have its share of knowing and of honouring him there . to the lady mary candish . madam , in this our age , when thar so critick grown , they seek to find out spots even in the moon and sun it self , i scarce should be believ'd if i should tell how virtuously y 'ave liv'd , pure as a chrystal mirrour , chaste as ice , and full as free from stain or spot of vice. nor stars in heaven , nor ermins on the snow , in all their wayes could more unblemisht go . one who the secret and receipt has got to silence rumour , and stop slanders throat , when everywhere th' ar so outragious grown , to bark and bite at fames of every one : the onely sanctuary where vertu 's free , and feminin honour safe ; and finally the best example of a virgins life , and perfect pattern of a married wife . these are your praises , and you may contest with any of your sex for all the rest . to james duke of monmouth , begun at his going into france , an. , and ended at his coming from the siege of maestricht , an. . vve to the french as much in court did yield , as they to us did formerly i' th' field , till manmouth went , and overcame them more i' th' court , than e'r we did i' th' field before . how fatal to the french is monmouth's name ! they shu'd be twice thus conquer'd by the same : by valour first in war , and now no less a second time , by gallantry in peace . now noble monmouth , was it not enough that thou in court shu'dst give so great a proof how gallant and how brave thou wert , but thou i' th' field shu'dst give no less a proof of 't too ? since thou so early dost begin to tread the paths of virtue which to honour lead ; from this great valour , and great soul of thine , what may the world expect of thee in time , but for our glory thou shu'dst conquer more than ever harry monmouth did before ? to the duke of albemarle , going to sea. in these our warlike times , when every one is going to sea , and shames to stay at home , your king and countrey have more care than so amongst the rest , my lord , to let you go . for th' honour which your father left you , is not only yours , but your posterities , and they , as his trustees , concerned ar , till y 'ave an heir , you shu'd not go to war. like falling palaces which none repairs their honours are , whose houses have no heirs ▪ and they but build without foundation , who have no heirs to found their houses on . they know upon what ground you found your right of being a souldier , and of going to fight . but if born of a general , as you ar , you think y 'ave so great right to go to war , your son will have a greater right than you , not only born o' th' race of one , but two . these are their chiefest arguments , and how you 'll answer them , my lord , i do not know . to frances dutchess of richmond , on her widowhood . you like a turtle when her mate is gone , all sad and mourning , madam , sit alone ; or if there 's ought more sad and mourning , yet you , madam , well may be compar'd to it . y' ar all alone , and every one does know it best becomes a phoenix to be so ; and you ar one , as in all states of life y 'ave well declar'd , both widow , maid and wife : only in this you want of being one , you 'll leave the world no phoenix when y' ar gone ; but make arabia desert wanting you , who only make it happy arabia now . but if of stuarts name , heaven has decreed no more to richmond's title shu'd succeed ; as with the noblest person it begun , it ne'r cou'd end with a more noble one . to elizabeth , countess of arundel and surrey . madam , you alwayes have so virtuously been bred , and such a virtuous life have alwayes led , virtue is to you as con-natural as life and being is unto us all . let others praise you then for other things , as being descended from the race of kings ; i 'll praise you for the virtues of your mind , the true descendents of a nobler kind ; which you have so sublim'd , y 'ave raised all the cardinal ones to theological ; and virtue 's virtue in others , but in you , not only virtue , but religion too . and here i 'd praise you for your piety , but 't is of late in so great obloquy with th' vulgar sort , 't is only look't upon as relique of the old religion , or counterbanded goods , which none , for fear of the pragmatick , longer dares to wear ; neither should i be safe , if i should praise a thing that 's held so dangerous now adayes : let angels only priase you for it then , since 't is too bold and high a praise for men . to the lady gerard of bromley . madam , i who have writ the praise of many a one , whom i 've had honour to have seen and known , and alwayes had the honour 'mongst the rest , to celebrate the noblest and the best , this testimony needs must give of you , ( and all who know you , know it to be true ) 'mongst all your sex , i never yet did meet with any , in their actions more discreet , more prudent in their words , and in their mind more nobly , nor more virtuously inclin'd . and this not ta'n of others by report , but by mine own experience of 't . in sort as they shu'd rather be thought envious , who don't praise you for 't , than flatterers , who do ; let none then think this flattery in me , for i can't flatter , nor you flatter'd be . to the lord john bellasis , on his quitting all his offices . my lord , in camps and courts , and all the offices y 'ave been employ'd in , both in war and peace , there 's none has been more fortunate than you ; but you were never happy until now , when quitting all the offices you had , we well may say y' ar truly happy made . for all along wherever you have been , all know y 'ave still been faithful to the king. but in this latter action you have shew'd your self both true to th' king , and true to god : and th' king well knows there 's none that can be true to t'on , but those are so to t'other too . mean time , my lord , i' th' age we live in now , both such examples , and such men as you were ne'r more needful in the world , more rare , such men as you , and such examples are . to the lady , katharine sedley , daughter to sir charles sedley . who know you , madam , every day do find new beauties in your person , and your mind ; and more they know you , they discover more perfections in you than they did before . not all the numerous train of them , nor yet of all the graces in one person met , could make a fairer , or more beautious show , in any person than they do in you . nothing is wanting now unto the fame of noble sedley's family and name , had all the masculine ones before , and now has all the feminine graces in it too . so when two sums are by addition brought both into one , that which before was thought great in it self , does greater still become , by adding t'on unto the other sum. in memory of his noble friend james hamilton , who first lost his leg at sea , then his life on land , in our last engagement with the dutch. how like a huge colossus thou didst stand , one leg i' th' sea , and t'other on the land ? betwixt which two ther being no standing fast , brave hamilton , thou needs must fall at last . ah! noble youth ! never innobled more , than when half lifeless thou wert brought ashore , and both thy king and countrey , friends and all , griev'd and lamented thy untimely fall . who would not choose , like thee , to fall and dye , and live for 't ever after gloriously ; than for the use of a few hours breath , to dye like others , an inglorious death ? for only war can give that happiness , whil'st 't is no glory for to dye in peace . to the duke of newcastle ; on my lady-dutchess writing of his life : my lord , whilst with your noble actions you indite unto your ladies pen what she shud write , 't may well be said , as 't was of thetis son , that you are doubly happie , both to have done such famous deeds , and to have had agen a pen so famous for the writing them : and ne'r was life more worthy to be writ , nor pen more worthy of the writing it . she makes you famous , and you her agen by th' famous subject you afford her pen : whence 't is a question ever will remain , wh'er fame makes writers , or else writers , fame . so whilst you live i' th' life that she does give , and she in writing of your life will live ; betwixt you both , your fame will never die , but t' on give t' other immortality . to dig by , lord gerard of bromley ; recommending to him for motto : virtus vere nobilitas . my lord , you now unto that age are com , y' are almost past pythagoras bivium : and after , rarely any one forsakes the way of vice or vertue which he takes . if vertue then be true nobility , ther 's a necessity that you vertuous be , or else that noble-man who 's otherwise , but forfeits his nobility to vice. think then whatere you love , vertue is that ; and vice is whatsoever you most hate . to end then : if you love nobility , love vertue , or you 'll never noble be . if baseness hate , hate to be one of those who put base vices on , with noble clothes . but i well know you bear a noble minde , and ar unto all vertuous things inclin'd . nature has done her part to make you so ; the rest , my lord , depends on heaven and you . love vertue then , let it your motto be , vertue is onely true nobility . to mr. henry jermin , on his retirement into the country . since nen and manners here ar all so bad , by their example w'ar still worser made ; and ther ar few can keep their innocence , where every thing is scandal and offence . you 'r happie , sir , who in the country ar , and nothing see but good example ther ; passing your time amongst your country-sports , more pleasantly than we in towns and courts , who just as silly sheep 'mong bushes stray , whilst every bush takes part o' th' fleece away : so never com 'mongst others , but we finde we still lose somewhat of our better minde . our morning-thoughts are gold , by noon th' ar lead , and all turn'd dross before we go to bed : mixture with others doth abase us so , and such distractions ar wher e'r we go ; you 'r happie sir who in the country ar ; and would i were so happie to be ther. on a fair ladies name . although ther 's none more carefully does flie clenches and quibbles upon names than i ; counting words onely the outside of wit , whilst matter chiefly is th' inside of it : yet when i' th' sence o' th' name , and in the sound , somewhat o' th' nature of the person 's found , as is in yours , i can't but say that you are swift by name , and swift by nature too : swift in your apprehension and wit , and swift in every thing belongs to it . onely 't is strange ! being so in every thing , you shud be now so slow in marrying . but as for that , if reason of 't they 'd know ; you think in marrying one can't be too slow . of persecution . i never lik't this persecution onely for conscience and religion ; and half suspect , that where it is not free , 't is not religion , but hypocrisie . who seek to force opinion , make men more opiniatre than they were before : and as for conscience , ye make it none , unless ye leave it free for every one . what gentleness can't do , it is in vain to seek by force and violence to obtain . and 't is your persecutors private hate , rather than care or love unto the state. in fine , there 's none has jurisdiction o'r minde and thoughts of men , but god alone ; and princes pow'rs their bodies may controul , but onely god has power o'er the soul. to a fair lady , on the peoples reports . madame , the people , who sometimes on truth do light , although they ar not always in the right , say y' ar a dutchess now ; and 't is well guest , since you deserve for to be one at least : and 't is enough of reputation , the world believes you worthy to be one . but be you fair and beauteous , as you ar , you for no other titles need to care , neither of dutchesses , nor princesses , nor of great queens , nor greater empresses : the title of fair and beauteous is more than all those titles they so much adore : and they ar onely earthly ones , in fine ; but that of beauty , heavenly and divine . on an angelical beauty . i must confess , before i saw your face , i never knew what perfect beauty was ; nor ever saw more heavenly features , nor angelical air , in any one before . we paint angels all face , and adde but wings unto them , and we make them cherubins : so adde but onely wings to yours , and you wou'd be all cherubin , and angel too . the face now being the index of the minde , by which we persons dispositions finde , we well may say , in seeing yours , that none had e'r a sweeter disposition ; more milde , more gentle , nor more debonair ; and full as heavenly good , as heavenly fair . all this , from rules of physiognomy , madam , which never yet deceived me . on a sceptick in religion . those who did wonder when they saw men go walking in rooms backwards and forwards so , would wonder more to see how thou hast gon backwards and forwards in religion . thou saist we 'r bid try all , and chuse the best : but when ther 's one so far 'bove all the rest , 't is out o' th' way of all comparison ; whoere is wise , should chuse or that , or none . but when the soul is gon , and body dead , a thousand crawling worms i' th' corpse are bred : so when religion 's gone , we always finde a thousand crawling sects are left behinde . as he 's unwise , then , changes gold for brass , diamonds for peble-stones , and gems for glass : so he is more unwise , who chuses one of these false sects , for th' true religion . in memory of her altezze beatrice de cusance , dutchess of lorain . when this fair soul did in her body live , she had some angel been , you wou'd believe ; thorow her bright exterior there did shine so much from her interior of divine : and now much more you wou'd believe her on , when her immortal soul to heav'n is gon ; towards w ch when here on earth she made such hast , her body could not follow her so fast , but she must leave it here below to die , whilst she went up to immortalitie . mean time , who had th' honour to know her here ; may , weeping , write upon her sepulcher : she who alive all vertue and beauty was , t'on in her brest , and t'other in her face ; now she is dead , just reason w 'ave to fear all beauty and vertue too are dead with her . to her ( now ) incomparable sister , the princess of aremberg . all the lay thoughts , i ever had of your fair sex , you have religious made by seeing you ; and i 'm become by it your sexes honourer , and your convertit . for just as to a temple , all do come unto your chamber , and from thence go home ; the bad converted , and the good much more confirm'd in goodness than they were before . besides , the world learns this from seeing you , that noble vertue , and religion too , ar chearful things , and far from being so sad as th' ar in melancholy cloysters made . but ther 's an artful silence , as ther was an artful vailing agamemnon's face ; and others praises we may speak of well , but as for hers who 's wholly ineffable , 't is praise enough to say , that she can ne'r be prais'd enough ; and say no more of her . to the honourable , edward howard , brother to the duke of norfolk . it is not travel makes a man , 't is true , unless a man could travel , sir , like you . in putting off themselves , and putting on the best of every country where they com ; their customs , manners , fashions , and their use , purg'd of the dross , and stript of the abuse ; till rich themselves with observation , they come at last t' enrich their country home : whilst the py'd traveller that nothing knows of other countries fashions , but their cloaths , and speak their language but as parrats do , only perchance a broken word or two ; goes , and returns the same he went agen , by carrying still himself along with him . on william , duke of newcastle . but now behold a noble-man indeed , such as w' admire in story when we read , and love and honour , when we do but see as perfect pattern of nobility ; who does not proudly look that you should d'off your hat , and make a reverence twelvescore off ; nor takes exceptions if at every word you call him not your grace , or else my lord : but is all courtesie and civility , as best becoms a noble-man to be ; and does appear a hundred times more great by his neglect of 't , than by keeping state. whence , thorow all degrees that he has past , of vicount , earl , marquess , and duke at last , h 'as always gain'd the general esteem of honouring them , more than they honour'd him . to the lady bridget , vicountess kilmurray . madame , vvhen i wou'd praise you as i others do , so many vertues do appear in you , as 't is not in the pow'r of art or wit to count them all , they are so infinit . what shud i do then , but in brief conclude as painters when they paint a multitude , who when th 'ave some o' th' chiefest heads exprest , under them darkly shadow all the rest ? so having said y' ar beauteous , vertuous , wise , under which heads i all the rest comprise ; i leave them darkly shadowed and hid under those heads , as t'other painter did . on the dutchess of monmouth's happie childbirth . now thanks to heaven ! what we have hop'd for long , and long have pray'd for , monmouth has a son ; his lady safe delivered , and with her thousands besides delivered of their fear . who hear this joyful news , and are not glad , may they be ever deaf , and ever sad . now ye physitians , you who said that she with so great danger should delivered be ; who 'll ere believe you more , unless you say you have no skill ? and then indeed they may ; or that each midwife has more skill than you , and then they safely may believe you too : mean time , the childe , and mothers life , do show ye ar all great lyers , and do nothing know . and o! to prove you greater lyers , may sh'have many children , and live many a day . on the foyl of nobility . see you yond thing , who looks as he would cry i am a lord , a mile ere he comes nigh ; and thinks to shew it by his being proud , his strutting as he goes , and talking loud ? behold him well , you 'll hardly finde enough in the whole man to make a lacquey of , and for true honour , and nobility , his groom and coachman have as much as he. such empty things have nothing else of worth , but place and titles , for to set them forth ; being just like dwarfs drest up in gyants cloaths ; bigger he 'd seem , the lesser still he shows : or like small statues on huge basis set ; their heights but only make them shew less great . the welcoming a friend from sea ; in drolling . dear n. welcom from sea , and now th' art com a shore , if thou beest wise , i prithee go no more . let land-men keep a-land , and only they , a gods name , who are sea-men , go to sea. ther were som comfort , if the wars wou'd cease first voyage one does make , and end in peace . but war 's a hydra ; cut but off one head , and straight seven others sprout up in the stead . i know you went to learn experience there ; and your experience might have cost your dear ; thank heav'n y' ar come off with so little harm , and scap'd without the loss of leg or arm ; which that th' art scap'd , th' ast but small cause to boast 't was but a happpie rashness at the most . and 't had been fortune's fault , if the first time thou hadst been kill'd , but second 't will be thine . the end of the first book of epigrams : all newly made , or newly revised . the second book of epigrams . to his royal highness , iames duke of york . the first book be'ng his majesties , and this by consequence your royal highness is : the world doth scarcely any one afford , after you two , worthy to be the third . to her royal highness iosepha-maria d'este , dutchess of york . madame , if expectation makes the blessing dear , your highness long has been expected here . and now y' are come , be pleas'd to know , you 'll finde your royal lord above all husbands kinde : the king and him two of the worthiest men the world ere saw , or ere shall see agen . the queen so pious and devout , she 's one who seems all piety and devotion . the english ladies generally fair , betwixt the french and your italian air . and th' better sort and the nobility nothing but courtesie and civility . for th' rest , our hope of civilizing 'um , next heav'n , is in your highness , now y' are come : which if you do , you 'll gain immortal fame , and make ioseph-maria d'este's name amongst the english full as famous as amongst the french , clotilda's ever was . mean time , your highness bears along with you your house's honour , and your nation 's too . to his royal highness , on his return from our naval victory , an. . greater and famouser than ere caesar or alexander were , who has both done , and out-done too , what those great heroes could not do : till empire of the seas they get , no victory can be compleat . for land and sea make but one ball ; they had but half , you have it all . great prince ! the glory of our days , and utmost bound of humane praise : increas'd in style , we well may call you now , the whole worlds admiral ; whilst mighty charles with trident stands , and like some god , the sea commands . having so gloriously orecome , what now remains , but to come home , and fixed in our british sphere , shine a bright constellation there , most pow'ful ore the watry main , next unto that of charles his wain ? to his highness prince rvpert , on the same . great and heroick prince ! surpassing far him who was styl'd the thunder-bolt of war. the belgick lion stands amaz'd to see a greater lion than it self , in thee : and zealand one , all trembling for fear , half sinks into the waves , to hide it there . ne'r since the greeks first call'd the world their own , or romanes theirs , was greater valour known . and if there yet new worlds to conquer were , brave rupert were the fittest conqueror ; greatest example of heroick worth , as ever yet this later age brought forth ! as formerly the land of britain was , so now the sea 's too narrow for thy praise ; and 't will in time become the work alone of extasie and admiration . on the death of his royal highness henry duke of gloucester . high-born and great as any prince on earth , with minde as great and high as was his birth ; wise 'bove his years , valiant above a man ; and had he liv'd to end as he began , the world would for him scarce have any room , so mighty and so great he had become : whose life was just like the arabian winde , that so much fragrant sweetness leaves behinde , the world is fill'd with odour of his name , after he 's gone , from whom the sweetness came . who 's now so dull , when this they hear but sed , who does not know the duke of gloster's dead ? the gallantst person nature ever made , and hopefulst prince as england ever had . let those who trust this world then , learn by this , what all their worldly hope and greatness is . on the death of her royal highness , henrietta dutchess of orleans . this life of ours is like a garden , where the fairest flow'rs always first gathered are ; whilst common ones are onely left like weeds , to wither on their stalks , and fall to seeds . and ne'r than this was fairer flower known , where th' rose and lily both were joyn'd in one : in which conjunction did together meet all that was heav'nly fair , and heav'nly sweet . hereafter then , as 't is your florists guise new names for rarest flowers to devise ; and more for the perpetuating their fames , to call them by some royal persons names : those which are fairest sweetest ones of all , we henrietta's by her name may call . to henry earl of arlington , principal secretary of state. my lord , that ours and other nations may know how much to such great men as you they owe , who for the state perpetual vigil keep , and with your watchfulness secure their sleep . while dull spectators , and the common rout onely behold the dyals hand without , you are the wheels give motion to 't within , next to the primum mobile , the king . you are th' intelligences of the sphere of government , and all the weight do bear ; whilst , like great iove , the king does sit above , and under him sees all in order move . mean time , 't is a great happiness for a king , to meet men fit for th' offices th' ar in ; and does commend their judgments when they chose to serve the state , such ministers as those . great offices require great souls , and you , my lord , have both the one , and t'other too . on a noble-man whose motto is , cavendo tutus . who as the flint bears fire , so bears his worth ▪ and is not always shewing of it forth ; but for more solid and profound respects , the needless ostentation of 't neglects : who 's that just man without all guile or fraud , who next to 's first religion unto god , counts what he is to men his second one ; and for a world wou'd harm and injure none : who 's wary and circumspect in all his ways , and nothing rashly either does or says : nor any thing , in fine , that may offend his prince , his country , conscience , or his friend . if any now wou'd know who this may be , by his cavendo tutus they may see : it is a cavendish , and that devonshire's he. to the lord george berkley . it is an axiome in morality , that vertue 's onely true nobility ; if so , ther 's none gives clearer proof than you , my lord , that your nobility is true . and that 't may so continue , you provide , by adding to 't true piety beside . for , piety is but vertue dy'd in grain , can ne'r change colour , nor take spot or stain . in which pure garment whosoere are clad , are truly vertuous , truly noble made . such courtiers heav'n desires , and such kings shou'd desire too , if they 'd have them great and good . happie the whilst , my lord , are such as you , fit for both th' earthly court , and heav'nly too ; whilst those who do not joyn them both together , as you have done , my lord , are fit for neither . to mr. henry iermin , on their demanding why he had no higher titles , &c. still noble , gallant , generous , and brave : what more of titles wou'd these people have ? or what can they imagine more , to express how great thou art , that would not make thee less ? he who is proud of other titles , is proud of a thing that 's other 's , none of his . and 't were in thee but vain ambition to seek by other titles to be known ; when henry iermins name alone affords as high and great a sound as any lord's . the title of a worthy person 's more than all which they so obsequiously adore : and ther 's no office they can greater call , than doing of good offices to all . this is thy office , these thy titles are ; let who list take the rest , thou dost not care . on the closet or study of margaret dutchess of newcastle . what place is this ! 't looks like some sacred cell where holy ermits anciently did dwell . is this a ladies closet ? 't cannot be ; for nothing here of vanity you see , nothing of curiosity or pride , as most of ladies closets have beside . here she 's in rapture , here in extasie , with studying high and deep philosophy . here those clear lights descend into her minde , which by reflection in her books you finde ; and those high notions and idea's too , which but her self , no woman ever knew . whence she 's the chiefest ornament and grace o' th' age , and of her sex : hail sacred place , to which the world in after-times shall come , as unto homers shrine , or virgils tomb ; honouring the place wherein she made abode , the air she breath'd , and ground whereon she trod . so fame rewards the arts , and so agen the arts reward all those that honour them . whilst whosoe'r in other fames does trust , shall after death , lie in forgotten dust . on melchbovrn , the residence of the earl of bullingbrook . melchbourn with such perpetual quiet blest , as if the halcyon there had built its nest , or 't were the middle region of the air , where never storms nor tempests do repair . whether the exorcism i' th' place doth lie , or rather in the peaceful company , whose lord and lady of a dove-like kinde , live so united , with one soul and minde : betwixt them never yet was other strife , but who should kindest be , of man or wife . all friendship , nobleness , and kindness , he ; all sweetness , gentleness , and mildness , she. no weathercocks of humour , apt to change ; to day familiar , and to morrow strange : but constant to their goodness , and their way ; the same to-morrow as they were to-day . so men at ease and certainty live there ; in pain and in uncertainty elsewhere . on the duke of albemarl's , and and the earl of sandwich's bringing in the king . that present and all future times may know how much to monk and montague they owe ; by them that great and mighty work was done , o' th' kings most happie restauration . a happiness so general , we may call it well the restauration of us all . whilst t'one restor'd him to possession o' th' royal fleet , t'other o' th' royal throne . one gave him full and absolute command o' th' sea again , as t'other did o' th' land. for which , what statues had erected been in former times , what titles giv'n to them ; and with what acclamations had they said , whilst to these heroes they their thanks had paid ! " if others have their honours well deserv'd , " who nobly have their king and country serv'd ; " what honours ever can be worthy you , " who have not onely serv'd , but sav'd them too ! on the death of the earl of sandwich . never was greater sacrifice than this , where sea 's the temple , fireship altar is , and sandwich victime offer'd up , to save his countries honour by a death more brave than ever heroe di'd , though we shou'd sum all greece ere boasted of , or ancient rome . o noble sandwich ! while there 's memory , o' th' british seas thy fame shall never die ; who 'twixt two different deaths , at last wert found in water burnt , and in the fier drown'd . as if to kill thee once did not suffice thy mighty minde , but they must kill thee twice : or else , to serve thy country , thou didst choose more than one death , more than one life to loose . let then the fabii , decii , curii , nor meltiade's be mentioned no more , who for to serve their country chose to fall : our noble sandwich has out-done them all . to the earl of ossory , on his going to sea. most noble ossory , who dost possess so much of honour and of nobleness , as were all honour , all nobility in others lost , they might be found in thee . in these our wars at sea , where death does stand with twice more force and terrour than at land ; into what danger thou thy life dost bear , the less thou fear'st , the more thy friends do fear . but when we talk of danger unto him , who life than honour does far less esteem , this onely's all the answer he does give ; there 's need to go , but there 's no need to live . go then , since nothing can be throughly done , but where the noble ossory is one . there 's nothing now that england needs to fear , when york is leader , and he follower ; who 's both in peace and war , by land and sea , so fit to serve his country every way , as for true honour , true nobility , england had ne'r a braver man than he. to the lord henry howard of norfolk ▪ now earl of norwich , and lord high marshal of england ; on his african voyage . commanded by your prince , you did not say for your excuse , a lion's in the way ; but by obedience and by honour led , even into africh went , where they are bred : teaching of subjects , by the haste you made , how kings and princes are to be obey'd ; and how they obey but slowly , and too late , when they demur , or else capitulate . by your example then , whoere are sent by kings abroad , may learn this document , how they but serve themselves , and not their kings , who onely obey in fafe and easie things ; and how there 's little honour to obey , when difficulty and danger is away . let then your talking croud say what they will , the greater danger , greater honour still ; and that , my lord , you went to africk for , let who 's lift go to fetch the golden oar. to the same : on his voyage to constantinople . whilst merchants traffick for their lucre , you traffick for honour wheresoere you go : of which brave merchandize you always make a noble and rich return at coming back . witness that voyage which you lately made to the levant , where is the richest trade : besides , now into italy again , now into france , and unto farthest spain . how rich the while must th' howards be of 't ? who have such brave factors for 't abroad , as you : and are so honour'd for 't at home , as they without offence and vanity may say , as god first made the light , then made the sun a bright and great reserve for 't when h 'had done : so kings make honour's , and the howards are the great reserves of 't , still you finde it there . on welbeck , the duke of newcastle's house , where he so royally entertain'd the last king . welbeck's a royal place , where every thing seems made for entertainment of a king ; and all the world confesses that he ne'r was entertain'd more royally than there . whose cellar and whose larder seem t' have bin of ev'ry forraign land the magazin ; whilst every where their rarities were sought by land and sea , and unto welbeck brought . let others wonder at thy lords expence , and at the vastness of 's magnificence , whose feast was but preludium to the cost with which soon after he maintain'd an host. he who would venture's fortunes , life , and all , to serve his master when his general ; for me , i ne'r shall wonder that he wou'd not spare his purse , that wou'd not spare his bloud . to frances dutchess of albemarle . madame , the chiefest office that the poet has , is to give others their deserved praise ; and when they finde a true and real worth , t' adorn it handsomely , and set it forth . so , there are some they praise for nothing else but beauty , or the outside of themselves . others , and more deservedly , agen , they praise for vertue , or th' inside of them ; and sometimes for nobility of bloud , when 't is ennobled by some greater good all which , of noble , fair , and vertuous too , being to perfection , madam , found in you , whoever does not praise you for 't , must be no poet , or else blinde , and cannot see : and as for me , madam , though i were none . the seeing you were enough to make me one . in memory of the lady iane cheynee . the gentlest temper , and the mildest brest , most apt to pardon , needing pardon least ; whose blush was all her reprehension , and none ere heard her chide , or saw her frown ; who was so liberal to the poor , she scant thought any thing her own , whilst they did want ; and scarce had any passion of her own , but was for others all compassion . so innocent she was in guiltiest time , omission of doing good was all her crime ; and those omissions chiefly did proceed from the abundance too o' th' good she did . in fine , a saint she liv'd , and so she di'd ; and now is gone where onely they abide . make much of her , ye saints , for heav'n knows when your quires will ever have her like agen . on mary dutchess of richmond . whether a chearful air does rise , and elevate her fairer eyes , or a pensive heaviness her lovely eye-lids does depress ; still the same becoming grace accompanies her eyes and face : still you 'd think that habit best in which her count'nance last was drest . poor beauties ! whom a look or glance can sometimes make looks fair by chance ; or curious dress , or artful care , can make seem fairer than they are . give me the eyes , give me the face , to which no art can adde a grace ; give me the looks no garb nor dress can ever make more fair , or less . on george duke of buckingham her father , to the lord duke her brother . the gallantst person , and the noblest minde , in all the world his prince could ever finde , or to participate his private cares , or bear the publick weight of his affairs : all which he bore as steady , and as even as ever atlas did the globe of heaven : like well-built arches , stronger with their weight ; and well-built mindes , the steadier with their height such was the composition and frame o' th' noble and the gallant buckingham . these , whilst he liv'd , your fathers praises were ; and now he 's dead , are yours , my lord , his heir . the winning carriage , and the smiling grace of his exterior person , and his face ; the noble vertues of 's interiour brest ; and in 's example you have all the rest . to lilly , drawing the dutchess of cleveland's picture . stay , daring man , and ne'r presume to draw her picture , till thou mayst such colours get as zeuxis or apelles never saw , nor ere were known by any painter yet . till from all beauties thou extracts the grace , and from the sun , the beams that gild the skies , never presume to draw her beauteous face , nor paint the radiant brightness of her eyes . in vain the while thou dost the labour take , since none can set her forth to her desert ; she who 's above all nature ere did make , much more 's above all can be made by art. yet be n't discourag'd : for whoere does see 't , ●t least with admiration must confess ●t has an air for charming and for sweet , much more than others , though than hers much less . ●o those bold gyants who would scale the skie , ●lthough they in their high attempt did fall , ●his comfort had , they mounted yet more high ●han those who never strove to climb at all . ●omfort thee then , and think it no disgrace , ●om so great height a little to decline ; ●nce all must grant , the reason of it was ●●r too great excellence , and no want of thine . to the dutchess of cleveland : on her new accession of titles , an. . although your graces modestie is so great , you won't admit of your own praises , yet we well may praise you under beauties name ; and you and beauty , madam , are the same . to ask then , what in beauty we can finde to honour so ' is question of the blinde ; since all have any sense , or eyes , may see it self alone is its own dignity , and , monarch-like , does in it self comprise all other titles , stiles , and dignities . th' are envious then , at its advancement grutch , or think it can be honour'd here too much . that might in aneient times , if it had been , have chose what constellation 't wou'd be in ; either t' have sat in cassiopoei's throne , or to be crown'd with ariadne's crown . there is no honour underneath the skie , that is for beauty too sublime and high . to the earl of s. albans , lord chamberlain to his majestie . my lord , though we allow fortune no deity , yet sure there 's some such fickle thing as she , that has great pow'r over th' unwiser sort , and , next to vertue , can do much in court. for since i' th' court y 'ave stood , and honoured been , how many revolutions have we seen ? how many strange examples have we known , of favourites sh' has rais'd and overthrown ? whilst none but such as you can firmly stand , not rais'd by fortune's , but by vertue 's hand . live ever honour'd then , ever the same , still more and more ennobling iermin's name , and live a great example unto all who tottering stand in court , and fear to fall ; how none but those are rais'd by vertues hand , can either safely rise , or firmly stand . on mris stvart . stvart , a royal name that springs from race of caledonian kings ; whose vertuous minde , and beautious frame , addes honour to that royal name . what praises can we worthy finde , to celebrate your form and minde ? the greatest pow'r that is on earth is giv'n to princes by their birth ; but there 's no pow'r in earth nor heav'n , greater than what 's to beauty given : that , makes not onely men relent , when unto rage and fury bent , but lions tame , and tygers mild , all fierceness from their brests exil'd . such wonders yet could ne'r be done by beauties pow'r and force alone , without the force and power to boot of excellent goodness added to 't . for just as iewels we behold more brightly shine when set in gold : so beauty shines far brighter yet , in goodness and in vertue set . continue then but as you are , so excellently good and fair ; let princes by their birthrights sway , you 'll have a power as great as they . on her dancing at white-hall , all shining with jewels . so citharea in th'olympick hall , and th' rest o' th' stars dance their celestial ball , as stuart with the rest o' th' nymphs does here , the brightest beauties of the british sphere . who wou'd not think her heav'n , to see her thus all shine with starry iewels as she does ? or some what heavenlier yet , to see her eyes out shine the starry iewels of the skies ? onely their splendour's so exceeding bright , th' excess confounds and blindes us with the sight . just like the sun , who 's bright to that degree , nothing is more , nothing less seen than he . mean time the rapid motion of the spheres is not more sweet nor ravishing than hers : and 't is not th' harmony makes her dance , but she with dancing 't is that makes the harmony . next to divinest cynthia queen of light , never was seen a nymph more fair and bright , nor ever shall 'mongst all her starry train , though those in heav'n shou'd all come down again . on her marriage with the duke of richmond . the fairest nymph in all diana's train , for whom so many sigh'd , and sigh'd in vain : she who so oft had others captive made , and who so oft o'r others triumpht had , is hymens captive now her self , and led in triumph to the noble richmond's bed. nor is it strange to see about her flie as many cupids as are stars i' th' skie , as many graces as are sands i' th' sea , nor yet as many venus's as they : but to behold so many vertues throng about a nymph so beautiful and young , is strange indeed , and does enough declare that she is full as vertuous as fair ; and all those lovely graces has beside , as ere made bridegroom happie in a bride . to iames earl of northampton . whilst you your father 's noble steps did trace , and still were found where greatest danger was , as none i' th' wars more active was than you , so none has since more suffer'd for it too , by plundring , harassing , imprisonment , and all successful rebels could invent to punish loyalty with , in such a time , when being loyal was the greatest crime : all which you not with patience alone , but ev'n with chearfulness have undergone ; wishing your danger , loss , and suffering , far greater yet , in serving of your king : and that far from the merc'nary regard of those did less for honour than reward . and you 've the honour of 't ; let other men take the reward , you do not envie them . to sir william dvcei , on his three entertainments ; of the king , prince of tuscany , and prince of denmark , all the same year , an. . dvcei , who bravely knows to spend when 't is for any noble end , and never sticks at the expence , when 't is to shew magnificence ; for th' royal entertainment that thou gav'st unto thy prince of late , the honour onely is thine own : but what 's to other princes done , the honour which to that is due is both thine own , and others too : in that , th' art but a private man ; in this , a publike person ; and thy country shou'd ungrateful be , shou'd it not always honour thee , who know'st so bravely how to spend , when 't is for any noble end ; and never sticks at the expence , when 't is to shew magnificence . to mr. bernard howard , brother to the duke of norfolk . segnite il pocchi , & non li vulgare genti . i grant you , sir , i have a minde unfit for my low fortune , and too high for it : but sure you 'll grant 't is better have it so , than for high fortune t' have a minde too low . by that , a man is elevated to an angels pitch , attain'd by onely few : by this , the noble soul is ev'n deprest unto the vulgar , almost to the beast . this sentence i have ta'n for motto then : follow the few , not vulgar sort of men . nor care i what the common people say , for being not of their number , nor their way : they do but talk , and can't in judgement sit , nor lies it in their verge to judge of wit. i put my self upon the onely few ; that is , the best and noblest , such as you. to the truly honourable , mr. thomas howard , brother to the earl of carlisle . noble sir , though ne'r so many confidently aver that honour 's onely in the honourer ; yet we may well affirm of such as you , 't is both i' th' honourer ann honour'd too . nay , you 'd be honourable , sir , thou there were none extant in all the world but you alone . as th' sun wou'd still be luminous and bright , though men , like moles , were all depriv'd of sight . let others glory in the honours then and titles they receive from other men ; you have no titles by the which y' are known , nor honours , but what 's properly your own . the end of the second book . the third book of miscellany epigrams . on our town-libellers . we have a sort of libellers in town , for base & villanous rhyme put withers down , men semi-atheists , and who want not much , in lives and manners to be wholly such . so perfect bad , they laugh at machiavil for saying none can be extremely ill : and in their writings , as in all the rest , satyrs , half men , half goats , and wholly beast . these , when they write of dildoes and such stuff , may be allow'd , though scurrilous enough : but when they write 'gainst others , nay don't spare ev'n kings themselves , had best in time beware lest as wilde horses , which unless they check in their carreer , oft break their riders neck : so may their wits in time break their necks too , unless they rule them better than they do . such are your libellers , who 're but the same savage and wilde , as ballad-makers tame : hated by th' nobler sort , and , to conclude , lov'd and applauded by the multitude , for writing as they do 'gainst every one , and counted wits , when rather they have none ; employ their pens and wits in such a way , as none in bedlam's half so mad as they . and now if any take exceptions for writing 'gainst these , let them take hellebor . the pourtrait . such a stature as they call nor too low , nor yet too tall , and each part , from head to foot , with a just proportion to 't ; hair so black , and skin so white , never was a fairer sight : and her fairer yet to make , eye and eyebrows too , as black : forehead smoother than the glass where she sees her lovely face : cheeks where naturally grows the lilly and the blushing rose : lips all other lips excelling , th' ar are so ruddy , and so swelling : voice that charms you , 't is so sweet , made more charming by her wit. in fine , for symmetry and fear●ure , nature ne'r made a fairer creature . if any'd know who this may be , name but bellasis , and 't is she . the young couple , i. d. and b. s. they well faign'd cupid yong : for then 's the time , as roses in the bud , when he 's in 's prime . and such an early love is this of theirs , who now are married in their tender years . now , like soft wax , they aptest are to take the sweet impressions which their loves shall make . and like young plants , they 'll easily bend and bow , which , older grown , they 'd not so easily do . let none the whilst object their pupillage ; for love and marriage none are under age . for what does hymens rites to lovers more than joyn their hands , whose hearts were joyn'd before ? and here on earth , by sacred pledges given , confirm that marriage which was made in heaven ? to th' temple then , and as they pass along , let youths and virgins sing their nuptial song ; and thus conclude : for noble , good , and fair , hymen ne'r coupled a more equal pair . to m. m. davies , on her excellent dancing and singing . how i admire thee , davies ! the delight both of the ravisht hearing and the sight ! whose dancing and whose singing added to 't , shews thee all harmony from head to foot . who would not say , to see thee dance so light , thou wert all air , or else all flame and spright ? or who 'd not think , to see thee onely tread , thy feet were feathers , others feet but lead ? athlanta well cou'd run , and hermes flee , but none e'r mou'd more gracefully than thee . and circes charm'd with wand and magicklore , but none like thee ere charm'd with feet before . thou miracle , whom all men must admire ! to see thee move like air , and mount like fire . whoe'r would follow thee , and come but nigh to thy perfections must not dance , but flie . but now she sings , let 's peace , and say no more : for just as when she onely danc'd before , we wisht our selves all eyes to see her , so we wish our selves all ears to hear her now . onely we 'll say , never did mortal ear on earth before such heavenly musick hear . and we her singing well may heavenly call , whose skill's divine , and voice angelical . on her pretty daughter . pretty childe , in whom appears all the seeds , above thy years , of every beautie , every grace , as ere was sown in minde or face . never by nature yet was made a childe who more perfections had ; nor ever , though she 'd ne'r so fain , can she make the like again . thou art th' epitome of all we pretty , fair , and sweet do call : and for the more conformity , this is th' epitome of thee . on a ladies blushing when the king beheld her . so roses blush when lookt on by the sun , as she when by the king she 's lookt upon : and so of all fair things we nothing see more fair in nature than the rose and she. if things take names from their original , we well her blushes royal ones may call ; and if we 've lost the royal purples stain , it in her cheeks may well be found again . in brief , as 't is a signe the sun draws neer , when fair aurora blushing does appear ; to see her blushing when the king does come , you 'd say he were aurora , she the sun. on a famous running horse . let fabulous antiquity no more boast of the running horses 't had before : here is a horse , to whom they 'd all seem lame who ran i' th' isthmos or nemean game ; surpassing far the horses of the sun so many thousand miles a day do run ; or gynets of the andalusian kinde , for swiftness far outstrip their sire , the winde : whom we had prais'd before , but that there 's none had time to do it till the race was done . swifter than thought , or lightning from the skie , begins and ends in twinkling of an eye : such is his speed when he begins to run , whose ending and beginning is all one ; and now w 'ave time to praise him , then w'ad none . let none then talk of pegasus , not yet o' th' t'other flying horse of pacolet ; while we have — here , we well may say , we have our flying horse as well as they . on a pretty little person . she is pretty , and she knows it ; she is witty , and she shows it : and besides that she 's so witty , and so little , and so pretty , sh' has a hundred other parts , for to take and conquer hearts . 'mongst the rest , her air 's so sprightful , and so pleasant and delightful , with such charms , and such attractions , in her words , and in her actions , as whoe'r does hear and see , say there 's none do charm but she . but who have her in their arms , say sh' has hundred other charms , and as many more attractions in her words and in her actions : but for that , suffice to tell ye 't is the little pretty nelly . on mris iean roberts . roberts , whom rather we rob-hearts may call , since of our hearts her beauty robs us all ; and does it with such gentle force and slight , as she even robs us with her very sight . nay , what few beauties else cou'd ever do , her sight not onely robs , but kills us too . though none so fond of life was ever found , who wou'd not gladly die of such a wound . nor talk of law to her , who is above all other laws , but onely those of love. whence she 's so high and absolute become , as she gives laws to all , but takes of none . such priviledge beauty has : whence we may see , less thieves are punisht , great ones lawless be ; and mighty conquerors , whom no laws can touch , do rob and kill , like her , but not so much . to clarissa , too curious in her dress . and why , clarissa , all this pain and care , to gain the reputation of fair ? when without all this care , and all this pain , you have already what you strive to gain . all other arts in you would show as poor , as theirs would do who seek to guild gold ore : and you 'd appear as vain in it , as they who seek by art to blanch the milkie way . men well this curious dressing may suspect , since beauty still shows best in the neglect ; and truth and it needs so small setting sorth , as all you add to 't , takes but from it's worth . leave then , clarissa , these poor helps to those , who need to piece their beauties out with clothes . so politicks when th' lyons skin does fail do use to piece it out with foxes tail : but when th' have lyons skin enough , 't is poor and beggerly to add a piece to 't more . to caelia , disswasion from marriage . caelia , who now are in your beauties prime , courted by all the gallants of the time , who nothing else the whilst of heaven do crave , but tha ' for wife , they might fair celia have : i 'le tell you what your beauty is , and what y' are to expect , when come to marriage state . beauty is just like sweet-meats , which before th' have tasted of , nothing they long for more : but after once 't is tasted , and enjoy'd , nothing with which your men are sooner cloy'd . your marriage then is such a tepid thing , and 's flames become so dull and languishing , as losing all their force i' th' marriage-breast , 't is ice to them , that 's fire to all the rest . go caelia then , and marry if you will ; if not , be wise , and live a virgin still . to sir k. d. whilst with thy mighty wit i but compare our petty ones , methinks they pigmies are , and thine the gyant , with whose vast discourse whilst we 'd be meddling fain , but want the force , thy wit comes to 't , and takes it up with ease , and turns and winds which way so'er thou please . whence we perceive 't is not for every one to manage hercules club but him alone . mean time , how i have long'd when i have been where i some insolent talking sir have seen usurping all discourse o' th' company , whil'st none must speak , none must be heard but he , t' ave some such tyrant-conquerour as thou to undertake him , onely to see how my talking sir would presently be husht , and all 's swoln pride just like a bladder crusht . so have i seen some chattering pye or iay fright with their noise the lesser fowl away , untill some mighty eagle comes in sight , when straight themselves are husht and put to flight . to mr. ed : waller , on his excellent poems . poco e bono . 't is not in wits , as 't is in horses found , where those who run the fastest get most ground . nor does 't with books , as 't does with cattle fare , where those are counted best that greatest are . yet such voluminous authors think it brave , when they , like thos o' th' alps , their swelling have ; which other men more learned and more wise , do look upon but as deformities . if writing much did make a learned man. scriveners write more than learned'st authors can ; or th' imploying much paper were the way , a hundred tradesmen imploy more than they . the italian wisely say's , a little and good ; by which best way of writing's understood . and never any author more then you , did in their writings make that saying true . on a most fair beautiful youth . what more than fair and beauteous youth is this , seems nature's chiefest pride & master-piece ? when doubtful whether sex to make , she made one , who of either all perfection had . you 'd think him young apollo , or the sun , but that his face has two , phoebus but one ; or else that cupid god of love he were , did he like him , but bow and quiver bear . who e're he be , you by his eyes and face , may see he 's born of more-than-mortal race , and that ther 's somewhat in 's nativitie approaches nigh to a divinitie . live then , fair youth , and may the fates still twine new treads of life , and add them unto thine , till thou at last immortal may'st become , as bright latona's or fair venus son. which if the fates and destines deny , thine own immortal fame may well supply . of miss's and mistresses . to know the derivation of a miss , she the diminutive of a mistress is , or little mistress , who as yet 's not come unto the honour of a greater one . but you may call her by her christen name , whil'st t' other must at least be call'd ma-dame . and she most commonly unmarried is , whil'st married wives commonly are mistresses . for th' rest , ' bating but difference of the name , to all intents and purposes they 'r the same ; living the merriest and the pleasant'st lives , with all the priviledges of married wives ; and are to their gallants more costly far than married wives unto their husbands ar ; they giving more , how e're the devil it comes , for lawless pleasures , then for lawful ones . whence now son of a whore's a name more common , then ever was son of an honest woman . of one sweating in cornelivs's tvb . who 's this ? that lives so like diogenes : for he liv'd in a tub , and so does this . some holy anchorite perhaps does dwell in tub instead of solitarie cell ; or some tub-preacher , who does take such pain to preach 'gainst babel , as he sweats again . pox ! now i know he 's one , i' th' case he 's in , who sweats far more for 's own than adam's sin ; and 's in so sweet a pickle , i suppose , he 's glad himself that he has n'er a nose . yet he 's so far from rayling against women , or sorrow and repentance for his sinning , he call's it still the sweet sin of the flesh , though it be rather powder'd now then fresh : and as for women , says , howe're th'have serv'd him , a woman made him , and a woman marr'd him . to a lady too confident of her innocence . madam , that you are innocent i know , but th' world wants innocence to think you so ; and you must seek , now , slander to prevent , as well as to be chast and innocent : when men are so unjust , they 'll scarce allow that any can be fair and vertuous now . in saturn's days , perhaps , it might suffice , when to be innocent , was to be wise : but now , without the serpents wisdom too , the innocence of the dove will hardly do . you must provide , then , some more sure defence 'gainst slanderous tongues , besides your innocence . for innocence is vertue but unarm'd ; the more you trust unto 't , the more y' are harm'd . the ladies name in aenigma . her first name somewhat of elysium has ; and second is in a more mystick phrase , that colour which showes venerable age , and does i' th' morning a fair day presage . unriddle now , and tell whose name this is , or forfeit a discretion if you miss . to mr. iohn dryden . dryden the muses darling and delight , than whom none ever flew a braver flight , nor ever any's muse so high did soar above the poets empyreum before . some are so low and creeping , they appear but as the reptils of parnassus were ; others but water-poets , who have gone no farther then to 'th fount of helicon : and they but airy ones , whose muse soars up no higher than to mount parnassus top . whil'st thou with thine does seem t' have mounted higher than him who fetch 't from heaven coelestial fire , and do'st as far surpass all others , as the fire all other elements do's surpass . of an excellent actor : or , the praises of richard burbadge . to charles hart. who did appear so gracefully o' th' stage , he was th' admir'd example of the age ; and so observ'd all your drammatique laws , he n'ere went off the stage but with applause : who his spectatours and his auditours led in such silent chains o' th' eyes and ears , as none whilst he o' th' stage his part did play , had power to speak or look another way : who a delightful protaeus was , and cou'd transform himself into what shape he wou'd ; and of an excellent oratour had all in voice and gesture we delightful call : who was the soul o' th' stage , and we may say , 't was onely he gave life unto a play , which was but dead as 't was by th' author writ , till he by 's action animated it . and finally , he did o' th' stage appear beauty to th' eye , and musique to the ear. such even the nicest criticks must allow burbadge was once , and such charles hart is now . in one who slandered a fair lady . thou enemy of all that 's bright and fair , as of the light your fowls of darkness are : monster of monsters , basilisk of spight , that kills with tongue , as t'other does with sight . who takes our purse , does but as robbers do ; who takes our fames , robs us and kills us too ; and with their venomous tongues , and poysonous breath , wou'd , if they cou'd , even kill us after death . beautie 's a thing divine , and he who wou'd wrong that , wou'd wrong divinity if he cou'd . but i mistake ; it is no infamy to be calumniated by such as thee : thou rather praisest them against thy will , like him who our'd by chance whom he wou'd kill . for 't is the same thing , tightly understood to be disprais'd by 'th' bad , as prais'd by 'th' good . a ladies thoughts defended : as 't is a godlike disposition to think , and speak the best of every one ; so 't is a spirit diabolical , to think the worst , and to speak ill of all . and what fau't is 't others can find with you , of which themselves are not as guilty too ? ' less beauty be a fault , and then who wou'd not gladly be as guilty , if they cou'd ? all have their faults , and those who have the least , we shou'd account the happiest and the best . 't is the condition of humanity , none in this world without some faults can be : and who 'd have those with none at all , must go to th' world above , there 's none in this below . this world 's a race , where some do nothing else but find fault wi' ye , and never run themselves . but do you well , and then let them speak ill : the more their shame , the more your honour still . in execration of the small pox . of all diseases of pandora's box , was none more foul nor ugly than the pox. not that for honour sake the great we call , but that dishonourable one the small ; the greatest enemy that beauty has , and very goth and vandal of a face , on which it makes as bad or worser work than does it's cousin measels upon pork : one of those devils which in former time cast out of man , went to the herd of swine , and giving them the pox , is come again to play the devil as it did with men . for that which is already , all curse-proof , what execration then can be enough ? for , bid a plague upon it , and that curse 't anticipates already , for 't is worse ; or great pox on it , we shou'd curse but ill ; for 't is more great , in being the small pox still . since 't is so bad , nothing can worser make it , 't were no harm then to bid the devil take it . in small-beer . how cold am i with drinking of this small-beer , we may well the devils iulip call ? distill'd from lembeck of some lapland-witch , with north-winds bellowes blowing in her britch : or stale of some old hagg o' th' marshes , who than water never better liquor knew . a poenitential drink , for none , by right , but those i' th' morning , who were drunk ore night . sure t' was the poyson , as we well may think , they gave condemned socrates to drink ; or that the macedonian drank , so cold , as nothing but an asses-boof wou'd hold . we are deceiv'd , it was not niobe's moan , but drinking small-beer , turn'd her into stone ; and 's onely that which ever since has made our charity so cold , and th' world so bad . if then divines wou'd mend it , let them preach 'gainst small-beer onely , and no doctrine teach but drinking wine , and then we soon shou'd see all in religion easily wou'd agree . this were a doctrine worthy of their heat , and furious beating th' pulpit till they sweat , and wou'd do far more good i' th' pulpit too , than all their endless controversies do . the patron's lives . to the lord m. my noble lord , if you wou'd tell how to live , and to live well , please you but attention give , i 'le tell you how the patron 's live . first of all , they neither care nor for clook nor kalendar : next , they ne're desire to know how affairs o' th' world do go . above all , they ne're resort to the busie hall or court , where poor men do nothing else but trouble others and themselves . all the business they look after , onely is their sport and laughter , with a friend and chearful cup merrily to dine and sup , hear good musique , see a play : thus they pass the time away with so great an innocence , and so free from all offence ; when they go to bed at night their sleeps are ne're molested by 't . if you like our living thus , come , my lord , and live with us . on a hector beaten , &c. still to be dragg'd ! still to be beaten thus ! hector , i fear thy name is ominous , and thou for fighting did'st but ill provide , to take thy name thus , from the beaten side : to have the watch , like band of myrmidons , beat thee with halberts down , and break thy bones , and every petty constable thou meets , achilles-like , to dragg thee through the streets poor hector ! when thou art beaten blind and lame , i hope thou 'lt learn to take another name . on a famous doctor , who so famous was of late , he was with finger pointed at . what cannot learning do , and single state ? being married , he so famous grew , as he was pointed at with two . what cannot learning and a wife now do ? posthume epigrams . in memory of charles lord gerard of bromley . who alive so far had been , he almost every land had seen ; and almost every thing did know , a man cou'd in this world below . at last his knowledge to improve , is gone unto the world above . where his knowledge is so much , and his happiness is such ; 't wou'd envy , and not sorrow seem in those too much shou'd grieve for him . of col. william evers , slayn in the battle of marston-moor . even such a person , such a mind as thine , brave evers , emperours had in ancient time , when choosing men for empire only fit , the bravest minde and person carryed it , and thou well shewd'st it by thy dying so , no emperour e'r cou'd bravelyer dye than thou . of anne packington , lady avdley . stay reader , and if ever thou wilt hear a story worthy thy attentive ear ; know , here lyes buryed in this sepulcher one who had all those excellent qualities , a mortal creature cou'd immortalize , of vertuous , noble , beautiful , and wise , who after all degrees sha 'd past , of wife , mother , and mayd , and left them all at strife which state she most had honoured in her life , at last , ( too worthy of this world below ) she dyed , and to a higher world did go , to honour there the state of angels too . of henry petre , son to the lord william petre. though , noble petre , thou long since didst dye , thou still dost live yet in my memory ; to shew the knot of friendship 'twixt us two was tyed so fast , as death cou'd ne'r undo . on the barbadoes . how rich barbadoes is in other things , we well may see by 'th' wealthy trade it brings : how rich it is in men , we well may see , by bringing forth , brave drax , such men as thee . a question on a ladies letting blood. q. of this just mixture and equality of water and blood , what shou'd the reason be ? resp. the reason's clear ; forced to part with her , each drop of blood for grief did shed a tear. of neglects . let it not trouble thee , if any wou'd put a neglect upon thee if they cou'd . but minde it not , and thy neglect will be more great of them , then their's can be of thee . in avaros . who wholly spends his life in getting wealth , and to encrease his store , consumes himself , we well may to that foolish sot compare , who sold his horse , to buy him provender . the anagram . every one may see by this , how worthy lawrel , waller is , when look but on his anagram , you find it in his very name . on simple . simple made much ado , and much offence he took , at saying he scarce had common sence ; till saying he had , and very common too , simple was plea'd , and made no more ado . on madam virago . of madam it may well be sed that madam's head has little wit , since madam's husband is her head , and madam makes a fool of it . on his praising of many . i many praise ; and what th' are praised for i 'm sure is true : i 'll answer for no more . on friends and foes . two painters , friend and foe , once went about to paint antigones , whose one eye was out : t' one at half-face , his friend's defect to hide , set onely forth to sight his better side ▪ t' other o' th' contrary , did paint him so , he onely set his blinde side out to show . so between friends and foes men are exprest by halfs set forth whil'st they conceal the rest . none as their friends and foes depaint them wou'd , being ever half so bad , or half so good . to a friend ; recommending a memorial to him , anno . i must beg of you sir , nay ! what is more , 't is a disease so infectious to be poor , must beg you 'd beg for me , which whilst i do , what is 't , but even to make you begger too ? but poverty being as honourable now as 't was when cincinnatus held the plow , senators sow'd , and reap't ; and who had bin in car of tryumph , fetcht the harvest in . whil'st mighty peers do want , nay ! what is worse , even greatest princes live on others purse ; and very kings themselves are beggers made , no shame for any , sir , to be o' th' trade . to an enemy . when ere thou seest me take delight in any thing , thou bursts with spight ; and so thou dost at every thing that does me good and profit bring . thou bursts with spight , to see that i am still in noble company ; and honour i receive from them , make thee to burst with spight agen . if then my honour , my delight and profit makes thee burst with spight , and all my good does prove thy ill , i pray thee burst with spight of 't still . in pravos aulicos . if , as they say , courts are like heaven , and kings like gods , sure courtiers shou'd be holy things like angels : from which state when once they fall , as devils did , the devil take them all . on an epicure . an epicure is one of those no god besides his belly knows ; and who besides his bill of fare , does for no other scripture care : who for his palat and his gust has quite forgot all other lust ; and hugs a bottle as he wou'd a mistress , when the wine is good : who layes about him like a gyant , when a meets a morsel fryant ; and so long has cram'd his gut , he 's nothing else from head to foot. when you such a one do meet or in tavern , or in street ; by his bulk you may be sure such a one 's an epicure . on dame tannakin , in burlesque verse . to tell you what dame tannakin was for beauty both of person and face ; her face was good , if with faces at least it goes as with bucklers , the broadest the best ; and person fair , if with fairness it goes in women but as in cattle it does . in plainer terms , without mincing the matter , she had a face as broad as a platter , and person such , to see 't you 'd fancy 't were some dutch iugg come from beyond sea , which made her look like a bawd or a midwife , and as unweildy as vrsula the pigwife . as for the qualities of her interiour , which to the rest were nothing inferiour , she car'd for none , and 't was less to be piti'd , since none car'd for her , and so they were fitted : and was such a scrat at making a bargain , as she wou'd wrangle and scold for a farthing . in fine , she was so very a devil , as all her delight was in doing of evil. from whom good heaven deliver great britany , and so i make an end of my lytany . to a lady newly married . you having wholly chang'd your state of life from that of virgin , unto that of wife , and , what is yet more uncouth , even your name and family being changed with the same : no wonder , madam , at so great a change , that all shou'd seem unto you new and strange ; and even you your self do hardly know whether as yet you be your self or no. so those who to the elyzian shades do come , at first are lost in admiration , till growing more familiar by degrees , at last they all their admiration leese . and marriage is that blest elyzian shade , where those who truly love , are happy made , as you 'll experience now y' are thither come , and so you are welcome to elyzium . to his horse at grass in c. park . after my hearty commendations , hoping thou hast nor botts nor fassions , but art in good health , and as pleasant as i 'm at writing of this present ; i having like a careful master left thee i' th' country there at pasture , and well considering the danger of one like thee who 's but a stranger , send thee these few instructions down how th' art to live whilst i 'm in town , first then , if serving-man or groom to take thee up , does flattering come , with bridle in hand and oats in sieve , run from 'm fast as thou canst drive . for if they once but get that haunt , imployment thou shalt never want : grey flecknoe here , grey flecknoe there , grey flecknoe must go every where , till thou of every one does back thee become at last the common hackney . next , i need not bid thee fly all such wild rambling company may lead thee over hedge and ditches , as if they 'd bryars in their britches , till for their penance they be found half starv'd at last in country-pound . nor need i bid thee to be beware of playing horse-tricks there with mare , since being marr'd by squire sow-guelder for ever getting hans in kelder , i imagine there 's no great danger thou shou'dst or stallion prove or ranger . as for the rest , i know my lady will take all care of thee as may be , and thou perchance at last be made a horse of quality and parade . and so i leave thee to thy pasture , and remain thy loving master , r. f. postscript . to the lady of the place . now madam , since my horse can't read , be pleas'd to do it in his stead ; and so interpret this my letter , as he may understand it better . of your fanaticks or cross-haters . who will not be baptiz'd , onely because in baptism they make the signe o' th' cross ▪ and hates all christendom in such a manner , onely because they bear that signe for banner . who with the cross makes as unchristian work where ere he comes , as pagan , iew , or turk : and on his way , does flye a cross-stile so , he 'll rather chuse a mile about to go : who seeing how every one in swimming does stretch forth their limbs & make the signe o' th' cross were he to swim , rather than make ( i think ) the signe o' th' cross , he 'd sooner chuse to sink : to show , in fine , how well the devil and he in hating of the signe o' th' cross agree . of their burning the pope . what rumour 's this o' th' burning of the pope ? they do not take this wisp for him , i hope ; or man of straw whom they have thus dress't up with triple crown , as if he were the pope ? he sits at rome , and cares not what they do , though they should burn all th' signes o' th' popes head too . though other princes wonder they shou'd dare do this to those who soveraigne princes are ! for shame then cease your mad phanatick sport , by which your selves , and not the pope you hurt ; and do not make your selves and nation thus to him and all the world ridiculous : as i have seen some mad dogg bite a stone , to be reveng'd on him by whom 't was thrown ; whil'st unconcern'd , he smiling stands , and seeth how they in vain do spoil and break their teeth . if 't be to make the papists odious by 't , that all your squibs and bonefires are to night , there 's none but knows they might as well remember your ianuary , as you do their november . of modern epigrams . how stramgely wit 's refin'd from what it was when empty words for epigrams might pass ! but now they must have substance in 'em too , or else the tinckling sound will hardly do . then when they heard a clench or quible spoke , they 'd claw you for 't , as if some iest were broke . now when they hear but any such toyes sed , the wits are ready strait to break your head ; who just as chymists when they spirits make of matter which they from gross bodies take . so never leave a lembecking of wit , till they extract th' elixar out of it : so goes the world ; nor must we think it strange , the fashion of our wits with time shou'd change . 't is so we see with fashion of our clothes , and why not of our wits as well as those ? of wits . wits like hawkes are for their sport ; some are long wing'd , some are short : the first do flye so high a flight , they often sour quite out of sight ; the second , far the fitter for ye , keep 'um close unto the quarry nor too low , nor yet too high : of this latter sort am i. 〈…〉 book . l'envoye . i shou'd never make an end of these epigrams , which like a flowing river by the continual accession of new parts , and revolution of the old , you may go twice in two , and not twice into the same again , had i not considered that i am now arriv'd to such an age , when it imports more to seek to make a good end of my life , than of my book : wherefore i give it over , with this resolution , to retire , for greater quietness , into some solitude , where when i dye , i desire to be onely remembred by this epitaph . a vita fide vixit & mortuus est . finis . wits recreations. selected from the finest fancies of moderne muses approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) wits recreations. selected from the finest fancies of moderne muses herbert, george, - . marshall, william, fl. - , engraver. [ ] p. printed by r[ichard] h[odgkinson and thomas paine] for humphry blunden at the castle in corn-hill, london : . in verse. with an additional title page, engraved, "witts recreations", signed: w. marshall sculpsit. signatures: pi² [a]⁴ b-l m⁴ a- c; a-d e⁴. "outlandish proverbs, selected by mr. g.h." (i.e. george herbert) has separate dated title page with imprint "london, printed by t[homas]. p[aine]. for humphrey blunden ..". it was also issued separately. printers' names from stc. the last leaf is blank. reproduction of the original in the university of illinois (urbana-champaign campus). library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng english wit and humor -- early works to . epigrams, english -- early works to . epitaphs -- england -- early works to . proverbs, english -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - olivia bottum sampled and proofread - olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the frontespeice discovered . this spreading vine , like these choyce leaves invites the curteous eye to tast her choyce delights . these painefull bees , presented to thy view , shewes th' author works not for himselfe , but you . the windy musick , that salutes thine eye , bespeakes thine eare , thy judgement standing by . the devious horseman , wandring in this maze , shewes error , and her execrable wayes : whose brazen insolence , and boldnesse urges the hornefoot satyres to their angry scourges : and he that drawes his sword against the swarme of waspes , is he , that lasht , begins to storme . witts recreations selected from the finest fancies of moderne muses . with a thousand out landish proverbs . london . printed for humph : blunden at y e castle in corn-hill . the stationer to the reader . if new or old wit please the reader best , i 've hope each man of wit will be our guest , the new was fram'd to humor some mens taste ; which if they like not , they may carve the last : each dish hath sauce belongs to 't , and you will by your dislike , censure the authors skill ; yet if you cannot speake well of it , spare to utter your dislike , that the like snare may entrap others ; so the booke may bee sold , though not lik'd , by a neate fallacy : that 's all i aske yet'twill your goodnes raise , if as i gaine your coyn , he may your praise . wits recreations . to the reader . excuse me reader though i now and than in some light lines doe shew my selfe a man , nor be so sowre , some wanton words to blame they are the language of an epigram . on battus battus doth bragge he hath a world of bookes his studies maw holds more then well it may , but seld ' or never he upon them looks and yet he looks upon them every day , he looks upon their out-side , but within he never looks , nor never will begin : because it cleane against his nature goes to know mens secrets , so he keeps them close . on the same i pray thee battus , adde unto thy store this booke of mine to make thy number more ; it is well bound , well printed , neatly strung , and doth deserve to have a place among th' inhabitants of thy vatican , if thou wilt so much favor to its worth allow . . an evill age . virgill of mars and ruthfull wars did treat , ovid of venus love , and peace did write : yet virgill for his strain was counted great , and ovid for his love was bannished quite ; no marvell then if c●ur●ezie grow cold , when hare is prais'd and love it self control'd . on a woman's will. how dearly doth the simple husband buy , his wiv●s defect of will , when she doth dy ? bett●r in death by will to let her give , then let her have her will whilst she doth live . . to a 〈◊〉 ●eader . thou say'st these verses are rude , ragged , rough , not like some others , ●imes smooth dainty ●●uffe : epigrames are like satires rough without , like chesse-nuts sweet , take thou the kernell out . of a iudge . were i to choose a captain i would than , not choose your courtier or a youthfull man , no , i would choose a judge , one grim and grave ; to make a captain such a man i 'de crave : give me that man , whose frowning brow is death , i , such an one , as can kill men with breath . of poet●s . poetus with fine sonnets painteth forth , this and that soul ladyes beauties worth : he shewes small wit thereby , and for his paines , by my consent he never shall reape gains , why what need poets paint them ? o sweet elves ? when ladyes paint their beauties best themselves . on an up-start . pray wrong not ( late-coyn'd ) give the man his right he 's made a gentleman although no knight , for now 't is cloths the gentleman doth make , men from gay cloths their pedigrees do take ; but wot you what 's the armes to such mens house● why this — hands chacing of a rampant louse . ad clodium . wir , once thou said'st was worth thy weight in gold though now't be common for a trifle sold ; it dearer seems to thee , that get'st not any , when thou should'st use it , for thy love or money in getam . geta from wool and weaving first began , swelling and swelling to a gentleman , when he was gentleman and bravely dight : he left not swelling till he was a knight ; at last forgetting what he was at first , he swole to be a lord , and then he burst . in fimum . fimus is coach'd and for his farther grace , doth a ske his friends how he becomes the place ; troth i should tell him , the poor coach hath wrong and that a cart would serve to carry dung . asper●m ●imis condimentum . monsieur albanus new invested is , with sundry suits and fashions passing fit , but never any came so neer as this , for joy whereof albanus frollique is : untill the taylours bill of solvi fias , diverts his humor to another bias . gender and number . singular sins and plurall we commit ; and we in every gender vary it . at●eists pastimes . grammarians talk of times past and hereafter : i spend time present in pastime and laughter . to sr. iohn suckling . if learning will beseem a courtier well , if honour 〈◊〉 on those who dare excell , then let not poets envy but admire , the eager flames of thy poetique fire ; for whilst the world loves wit , aglaura shall , phoenix-like live after her funerall . on a braggadocio . don lollus brags , he comes of noble blood , drawn down from brutus line ; 't is very good ! if this praise-worthy be , each flea may then , boast of his blood more then some gentlemen . to mr. george sands . sweet-tongued ovid , though strange tales ●e told , which gods and men did act in dayes of old , what various shapes for love sometimes they took ; to purchase what they ay●'d at : could he look , but back upon himself he would admire , the sumptuous bravery of that rich attire ; which sands hath clad him with , & then place this his change amongst their metamorphosis . to mr. william habbington on his castara , a poem . thy muse is chaste and thy castara too , ●tis strange at court , & thou hadst power to woo and to obtain ( what others were deny'd ) the fair castara for thy vertuous bride : enjoy what you dare wish , and may there bee , fair issues branch from both , to honor thee . to mr. francis beaumont and mr. iohn fletcher gent. twin-stars of poetry , whom we justly may , call the two-tops of learn'd pernassus-bay , peerlesse for freindship and for numbers sweet ; whom oft the muses swaddled in one sheet : your works shall still be prais'd and dearer sold , for our new-nothings doe extoll your old . on apump stopt with stones . m. i 'le cut it down , i swear by this same hand , if 't will not run , it shall no longer stand . r. pray ●ir be patient , let your pump alone , how can it water-make when 't hath the stone . yet did he wisely when he did it fell , for in so doing he did make it well . to mr. benjamin iohnson . had rome but heard her worthies speak so high , as thou hast taught them in thy poesie ; she would have sent her poets to obtain , ( tutour'd by thee ) thy most majestique strain . . in aulam . thou still art mutring aulus in mine eare , love me and love my dog , i will i swear , thou ask'st but right and aulus truth to tell , i think thy dog deserves my love as well . to mr. george chapman on his translation of homers works into english meeter . thou ghost of homer 'twere no fault to call , his the translation thine the originall , did we not know 't was done by thee so well ; thou makest homer , homers self excell . to mr. william shake-spear . shake-speare we must be silent in thy pra●se , 'cause our encomion's will but blast thy bayes , which envy could not , that thou didst do well ; let thine own histories prove thy chronicle . ad tilenum . tilenus 'cause th' art old , fly not the field , where youthfull cupid doth his banner weild for why● this god , old men his souldiers stil'd none loves , but he , who hath bin twice a child . to mr. thomas randolph . thou darling of the muses for we may be thought deserving , if what was thy play our utmost labours can produce , we will freely allow thee heir unto the hill , the muses did assign thee , and think 't fit , thy younger yeares should have the elder-wit . in paulum . paul what my cloak doth hide thou fain wouldst know were 't to be seen i would not cover't so . of sleep and death . that death is but a sleep i not deny yet when i next would sleep , i would not dy . ad lectorem . reader thou see'st how pale these papers look , whiles they fear thy hard censure on this book . ad momum . momus thou say'st our verses are but ●oyes , t is true , yet truth is often spoken by boyes . on thraso . thraso goes lame with a blow he did receive , in a late duell , if you 'll him beleeve . news . when news doth come if any would discusse , the letters of the word , resolve it thus : news is convay'd by letter , word or mouth and comes to us , from north , east , west and sout● of ru●us . rufus had robb'd his host and being put to it ; said i 'm an arrar●t rogue , if i did doe it . of marcus. when marcus fail'd a borrowed sum to pay , unto his freind at the appointed day : 't were superstition for a man he sayes , to be a strict observer of set dayes . of a theefe . a theefe arested and in custody , under strong guards of armed company , ask't why they held him so ? sir quoth the cheife ▪ we hold you for none other than a theif . of motion . motion brings heat , and thus we see it prov'd most men are hot and angry , when they 're mov'd ad scriptorem . half of your book is to an index grown , you give your book contents , your reader none . domi●a margarita sandis : anagramma . anne domi das marg●●it as ? vvhy do wee seek & saile abroad to find , those pearls which do adorn the female-kind , within our seas there comes unto our hands , a matchlesse margaryte among the sands . man. man 's like the earth , his hair like grasse is grown , his veins the rivers are , his heart the stone . vita via . well may mans life be likened to a way , many be weary of their life they 'll say . to mr. thomas may. thou son of mercury whose fluent tongue made lucan finish his pharsalian song , thy fame is equall , better is thy fate , thou hast got charles his love , he nero's hate . on harpax . harpax gave to the poor all by his will , because his heir should no feign'd teares distill . on sextu● . sextus doth wish his wife in heaven were where can shee have more happines then there . to mr. george wyt●ers . th' hast whipp'd our vices shrewdly and we may , think on thy scourge untill our dying-day : th ▪ hast given us a remembrancer which shall , outlast the vices we are tax'd withall , th●'ha●t made us both eternall , for our shame shall never wyther , whilst thou hast a name . on a drawer drunk . drawer with thee now even is thy wine , for thou hast peirc'd his hogs-head and he thine . vpon the weights of a clock . i wonder time 's so swift , when as i see , upon her heeles , such lumps of lead to bee . to mr. thomas middleton . f●cetious middleton thy witty muse , hath pleased all , that books or men peruse if any thee dispise , he doth but show , antipathy to wit , in daring so : thy fam's above his malice and 't wilbe , dispraise enough for him , to censure thee . on cyn●● . because , i am not of a giant 's stature , despise me not , nor praise thy liberall nature , for thy huge limbs , that you are great 't is true , and that i 'm little in respect of you , the reason of our growths is eas'ly had , you many had perchance , i but one dad. to mr. iames shirly on his comedy viz. the yong admirall . how all our votes are for thee ( s●irly ) come conduct our troops , strike up apollo's drum , we wait upon thy summons and do all , intend to choose thee our yong admirall : on alastrus . alastrus hath nor coyn , nor spirit nor wit , i thinke hee 's only then for bedlam fit . on macer . you call my verses ●oyes th' are so 't is true , yet they are better , then ought comes from you . to mr. philip massinger . apollo's messenger , who doth impart to us the edicts of his learned art , we cannot but respect thee , for we know , princes are honour'd in their legats so . on celsus . celsus doth love himself , celsus is wise , for now no rivall ere can claime his prize . on candidus . when i am sick not else thou com'st to see me : waild fortune from both torments still would free me . to mr. iohn ford. if e're the muses did admire that well , of hellicon as elder times do tell , i dare presume to say upon my word ; they much more pleasure take in thee rare ford on paulus . because thou followst some great peer at court , dost think the world deem's thee a great one for● ah no! thou art mistaken paulus , know dwarfs still as pages unto giants goe . to mr. thomas heywood . thou hast writ much and art admir'd by those , who love the easie ambling of thy prose ; but yet thy pleasingst flight , was somewhat hig● when thou did'st touch the angels hyerarchie : fly that way still it will become thy age , and better please then groveling on the stage . on a cowardly souldier . strotzo doth weare no ring upon his hand , ●lthough he be a man of great command ; but gilded spurs do jingle at his heeles whose rowels are as big as some coach-wheels , he grac'd them well , for in the netherlands , his heels d●d him more service then his hands . to mr. thomas goffe on his tragedies . when first i heard the turkish emperours speak , in such a dialect , and o●estes break his silence in such language , i admir'd what powerful favorite of the nimphs inspir'd into their souls such utterance , but i wrong , to think 't was learnt from any but thy tongue . on cornuto . cornuto is not jealous of his wife , nor e're mistrust's her too la●civious life , aske him the reason why he doth forbeare , hee 'l answer straight , it commeth with a fear . on a shrew . a froward shrew being blam'd because she show'd , not so much reverence as by right she ow'd unto her husband , she reply'd he might forbeare complaint of me , i do him right ▪ his will is mine , he would beare rule , and i desire the like , onely in sympathy . on a youth married to an old woman . fond youth i wonder why thou didst intend to marry her who is so neer her end , thy fortune i dare tell , perchance thou 'lt have at supper dainties ; but in bed a grave . on a dying vsurer . with greater grief non doth death entertain , then wretched chrysalus , he sighs a mayn , not that he dyes , but 'cause much cost is spent upon the sexton and his regiment the joviall ringers , and the curate must have his fee too , when dust is turn'd to dust , and which is greater then the former sum , hee 'l pay an angell for a moor-stone-tomb . on a fly in a glasse . a fly out of his glasse a guest did take , e're with the liquor he his thirst would slake , when he had drunk his fill , again the fly into the glasse he put , and said though i love not flyes in my drink , yet others may , whose humour i nor like , nor will gain-say . on collimus . if that collimus any thing do lend , or dog , or horse , or hawk unto his friend , he to endear the borrowers love the more , saith he ne'r lent it any one before , nor would to any but to him : his wife having observ'd these speeches all her life , behind him forks her fingers and doth cry : to none but you , i 'd doe this courtesie . auri-sacra fames-qui● non ? a smoothfac'd youth was wedded to an old , decrepit shrew , such is the power of gold : that love did tye this knot , the end will prove , the love of money not the god of love . on sex●us . what great revenews sextus doth possesse , when as his sums of gold are numberlesse , what cannot sextus have ? i wonder then , sextus cann't live as well as other men . good wits jump . against a post a scholler chanc'd to strike , at unawares his head , like will to like : good wits will jump ( quoth he ) if that be true the title of a block-head is his due . on womens maskes . it seems that masks do women much disgrace , sith when they weare them they do hide their face . on lepidus and his wife . lepidus married somewhile to a shrew , she sick'ned , he in jesting wise to shew how glad her death would make him ; said sweet-heart i pray you e're you sing loath to depart tell who shall be my second wife , and i after your death will wed her instantly , she somewhat vext hereat , straightway reply'd then let grim pluto's daughter be your bride . he answer'd wife i would your will obey , but that our laws my willingnesse gain-say : for he who pluto's sister takes to wife , cannot his daughter too upon my life . vpon a pair of tongs . the burnt child dreads the fire ; if this be true , who first invented tongs it's fury knew . on celsus his works . celsus to please himselfe , a book hath writ : it seem's so , for there 's few that buyeth it . he is no popular man it thereby seems ; sith men condemn , what he praise worthy deems , yet this his wisdome and his book prefer , disprais'd by all , they think both singular . the devill and the fryar . the devill was once deceived by a fryar , who though he sold his soul cheated the buyer , the devill was promist if he would supply , the fryar with coyn at his necessity , when all the debts he ow'd discharg'd were quite , the devill should have his soul as his by right , the devill defray'd all scores , payd all , at last , demanded for his due , his soul in haste : the fryar return'd this answer , if i ow you any debts at all , then you must know , i am indebted still , if nothing be due unto you , why do you trouble me ? to phillis . aske me not phillis why i do refuse to kisse thee as the most of gallants use , for seeing oft thy dog to fawn and skip upon thy lap and joyning lip to lip , although thy kisses i full fain would crave ; yet would i not thy dog my rivall have . of charidem●s . although thy neighbour have a handsom horse , matchlesse for comly shape , for hue and course and though thy wife thou knowest ill-shapen ●e , yet charidemus praises mightily , his ugly wife and doth the horse dispraise : how subtilly the fox his engin layes , for he desires his neighbours horse to buy , and sell his wife to any willingly . of clytus . clytus the barber doth occasion fly , because 't is bal'd and he gains nought thereby . on balbus . balbus a verse on venus , boy doth scan , but ere 't was fini●●'d cupid's grown a man. on comptulus . i wonder'd comptulus , how thy long hair in comely curles could show so debonair and every hair in order be , when as thou could'st not trim it by a looking-glasse , nor any barber did thy tresses pleat , 't is strange ; but monsieur i conceive the feat when you your hair do kemb , you off it take and order 't as you please for fashions sake . on gellius . in building of his house , gellius hath spent all his revenews and his ancient rent , aske not a reason why gellius is poor . his great house hath turn'd him out of door . to ponticus . at supper-time will poutus visit me , i 'd rather have his room then companie ; but if him ▪ from me i can no wayes fright , i 'd have him visit me each fasting night . on a pot-poet . what lofty verses cael●s writes ? it is , but when his head with wine oppressed is , so when great drops of rain fall from the skyes in standing pools , huge bubles will arise . on onellus . thou never supp'st abroad , onellus , true ; for at my home i 'm sure to meet with you . on wine . what ? must we then on muddy tap-lash swill , neglecting sack ? which makes the poet's quill to thunder forth high raptures , such as when sweet-tongued ovid erst with his smooth pen , in flourishing rome did write ; frown god of win● to see how most men disesteem thy vines . on beere . is no juice pleasing but the grapes ? is none , so much beloved ? doth perfection , onely conjoyn in wine ? or doth the well of aganippe with this liquor swell , that po●ts thus affect it ? shall we crown , a meer ex●tique ? and contemn our own , our native liquor ? haunt who list the grape , he more esteem our oate , whose reed shall make , an instrument to warble forth her praise , which shall survive untill the date of daies , and eke invoke some potent power divine , to patronize her worth above the vine . on a vaunting poetaster . c●cilius boasts his verses worthy bee , to be engraven on a cypresse tree , a cypresse wreath befits 'em well ; 't is true , for they are neer their death , and crave but due . on philos. if philos , none but those are dead , doe praise , i would i might displease him all his dayes . on a valiant souldier . a spanish souldier in the indian war , who oft came off with honor and some scar , after a teadious battle , when they were enforc'd for want of bullets to forbear , farther to encounter , which the savage moor perceiving , scoff'd , and nearer then before , approach'd the christian host , the souldier grie● to be out brav'd , yet could not be reliev'd beyond all patience vex'd , he said although i bullets want , my self will wound the foe ; then from his mouth , took he a tooth and sent , a fatall message to their regiment , what armes will fury steed men with , when we . can from our selves have such artillery ; sampson thy jaw-bone can no trophy reare equall to his , who made his tooth his speare . on aurispa . why doth the world repute aurispa learn'd ? because she gives men what they never earn'd . on paulus . those verses which thou mad'st i did condemn , nor did i censure thee in censuring them , thou mad'st them , but sith them in print i see , they must the people 's not the authors bee . on alexander the great . if alexander thought the world but small because his conquering hand subdu'd it all , he should not then have stil'd himself the great , an infants stool can be no giants seat . on a vertuous talker . if vertue 's alwaies in thy mouth , how can it ere have time to reach thy heart fond man ? on a land-skip in the lid of his mrs. virginals . behold don phoebus in yon shady grove , on his sweet harp plaies roundelaies of love , mark how the fatyr grim marsyas playes on his rude pipe , hi● merry-harmlesse layes , mark how the swaines attentively admire , both to the sound of pipe and tang of lyre ; but if you on these virginals will play , they both will cast their instruments away , and deeming it the ●●sique of the spheares admire your musique as the swains do theirs vpon pigs devouring a bed of penny-royall commonly called organs . a good wife once a bed of organs set , the pigs came in and eate up every whit , the good-man said wife you your garden may hogs norton call , here pigs on organs play . on a fortune-teller . the influence of the stars are known to thee , by whom thou canst each future fortune see yet , sith thy wife doth thee a cuckold make , 't is strange they do not that to thee partake . on sore eyes . fuscus was councell'd if he would preserve , his eyes in perfect sight drinking to swerve ; but he replyd ' t is better that i shu'd loose them , then keep them for the worms as food on a gallant . a glittering gallant , from a prauncing steed , alighting down , desir'd a boy with speed to hold his horse a while , he made reply , can one man hold him fast ? 't was answerd i , if then one man can hold him sir , you may do it your self , quoth he , and slunk away . on an inevitable cuckold . two wives th' hast buried and another wed , yet neither of the three chaste to thy bed , wherefore thou blam'st not onely them , but all their sex into disgrace and scorn dost call , yet if the thing thou wilt consider well , thou wilt thy malice , and this rage expell , for when the three were all alike 't should seem thy stars gave thee the cuckold's anadem , if thou wert born to be a wittoll , can thy wife prevent thy fortune ? foolish man ! that woman which a hellen is to thee , would prove another mans penelope . on an empty house . lollus by night awak'd heard theeves about his house , and searching narrowly throughout to find some pillage there , he said you may by night , but i can find nought here by day . on a bragging coward . corsus in campe , when as his mates betook , themselves to dine , encourag'd them , and spoke , have a good stomake lads , this night we shall in heaven at supper keep a festivall , but battle joynd he fled away in haste , and said i had forgot , this night i fast . on a great nose . thy nose no man wipe , proclus unlesse he have a hand as big as hercules , when thou dost sneeze the sound thou dost not heare , thy nose is so far distant from thine eare . on an unequall paire . faire pbi●●is is to churlish pris●us wed , as stronger wine with waters mingled , priscus his love to phillis more doth glow ; with fervency then fire , her 's cold as snow ; 't is well for if their flames alike did burn , one house would be to hot to serve their turn . on a changeable raiment . know you why lollus changeth every day , his perriwig , his face and his array , 't is not because his commings in are much , or cause hee 'll swill it with the roaring dutch ; but 'cause the sergeants ( who a writ have had long since against him ) should not know the lad . on the ensuring office . linus met thuscus on the burse by chance , and swore he 'd drink a health to th' heir of france for on th' exchange for currant news 't was told , france had a daulphin not yet seaven dayes old , thuscus excus'd himself , and said he must by all meanes go to th' ensuring office first , and so ensure some goods , he doubted were , unlikely else ere to his hands appeare , linus replyd i le with thee then , for i would have my lands ensur'd to me in fee which otherwise i doubt , i never shall , from debt and morgage ere redeem at all . on a tennis-court haunter . the world 's a court , we are the bals , wherein we bandied are by every stroke of sin , then onely this can i commend in thee , thou actest well our frail mortalitie . on barossa . barossa boasts his pedegree although , he knows no letter of the christ-crosse-row , his house is ancient , and his gentry great , for what more ancient e're was heard of yet then is the family of fools , how than dare you not call barossa gentleman ? on clodius albinus . clodius great cheer for supper doth prepare , buyes chickens , rabbets , phesants and a hare , great store of fowl , variety of fish , and tempting sawce serv'd in , in every dish , to this great feast , whom doth he meane t' envite , aloinus only sups with him to night . on afer . afer hath sold his land and bought a horse , whereon he p●aunceth to the royall burse , to be on horse back he delights ; wilt know ? 'cause then his company hee 'd higher show , but happy chance tall afer in his pride , mounts a gunnelly and on foot doth ride . on balbulus . thou do'st complaine poets have no reward and now adayes they are in no regard : verses are nothing worth , yet he that buyes , ought that is thine , at a three - 〈◊〉 price , will think it too too dear , and justly may think verses are in price , since 〈◊〉 other day , yea who ere buies 'em at a farthing rate , at the same price can never sell 'em at . to lycus . that poetry is good and pleasing thou dost cry , yet know'st not when 't is right or when awry thou know'st great ovid's censure to abstaine from pleasing good , is vertue 's chiefest aime . on charismus . thou hast compos'd a book , which neither age nor future time shall hurt through all their rage , for how can future times or age invade that work , which perished assoone as made . of one praising my book . harpax doth praise my book i lately writ , saith it is short and sweet and full of wit ; i knew his drift and sayd be silent 'pray , for in good fayth , i 've given 'em all away . facilis discensus averni . the way to hell is easie , th' other day , a blind man ●hither quickly found the way . age and youth . admire not youth , despise not age , although some yong are grave , most old men children grow on orus . orus sold wine , and then tobacco , now he aqua-vitae doth his friends allow , what ere he had , is sold , to save his life , and now turn'd pander he doth sell his wife . on women . women are books and men the readers be , in whom oft times they great errata's see ; here sometimes wee a blot , there wee espy a leafe misplac'd , at least a line awry ; if they are books , i wish that my wife were an almanacke to change her every yeare on acerra . tobacco hurts the braine phisicians say , doth dull the wit and memory decay , yet feare not thou acerra , for 't will ne'r hurt thee so much by use , as by thy feare . on briso . who private lives , lives well , no wonder then you do absent you from the sight of men , for out of doores you neer by day appeare , since last you lost i' th pill●ry your eare . on the king of 〈◊〉 picture . who but the halfe of this neat picture drew , that it could ne're be fully done , well knew . to his mistris . hyperbole of worth , should wit suggest . my will with epithites , and i invest , that shrine but with deserved paraphrase , adulatory poetry would praise . and so but staine your wo●th : your vertues ( or else none at all ) shall be my orator . b. i. answer to a thiefe bidding him stand . fly villaine hence or be thy coate of steele , i le make thy heart , my ●razen b●llet feele , and send that thrice as thievish soul of thine , to hell , to weare the devils v●lentine . the theefe 's ●eplie . art thou great ben ? or the revived ghost of famous shake-spear ? or som drunken host ? who being tipfie with thy muddy beer , dost think thy rimes shall daunt my soul with fear nay know base slave , that i am one of those , can take a purse a swell in verse as prose , and when th' art dead , write this upon thy herse ; here lies a poet that was robb'd in verse . vpon clarinda begging a lock of her lovers haire . fairest clarinda , she whom truth cals faire , begg'd my heart of mee , and a lock of haire should i give both said i , how should i live , the lock i would , the heart i would not give , for that lest●heeving love should steal away , discretion had lock'd up and kept the key ; as for the locke of haire , which lovers use my head laid on her knee i pray'd her chuse , taking her ●izars by a cunni●g art , first pick'd the lock , and then she stole my heart . to his mistris . dearest thy twin'd haires are not threds of gold , nor thine eyes diamonds , nor do i hold , thy lips for rubies , nor thy cheeks to bee , fresh roses , nor thy dugs of ivory , the skin that doth thy dainty body sheath , nor alablaster is , nor dost thou breath , arabian odours , these the earth brings forth , compar'd with thine , they would impair thy worth ; such then are other mistrisses , but mine , hath nothing earth , but all divine . the answer . if earth doth never change , nor move , there 's nought of earth , sure in thy love , sith heavenly bodies with each one , concur in generation , and wanting gravitie are light , or in a borrowed lustre bright ; if meteors and each falling star of heavenly matter framed are : earth hath my mistrisse , but sure thine all heavenly is , though not divine . on his mrs. i saw faire flora take the aire , when p●aehus shin'd and it was faire ; the heavens to allay the heat , sent drops of raine , which gently beat the sun retires , asham'd to see that he was barr'd from kissing thee then bore as took such high disdaine , that soon he dri'd those drops again : ah cunning plot and most ●ivine ! thus to mix his breath with thine . on an houre glasse . do thou consider this small dust here running in this glasse by atomes mov'd ca●st thou beleeve , that this the body was of one that lov'd . and in his mistrisse playing like a fly turn'd to cinders by her eye : yes and in death as life , have it expre●t that lovers ashes take no rest . on the picture of cupid in a jewell worn by his mrs. on her brest . little cupid enter in and heat her heart , her brest is not thy seat ; her brests are fitted to entice lovers , but her heart's ofice , thaw cupid , that it hence forth grow tender still by answering no. on his mistris . when first i saw thee thou didst sweetly play , the gentle theefe , and stol'st my heart away ; ren●er me mine againe , or leave thy own , two are too much for thee since i have none ; but if thou wilt not i will swear thou art a sweet-fac'd creature with a double heart . on cupid . cupid hath by his sly and subtill art , a certaine arrow shot and peirc't my heart : what shall i doe to be reveng'd on love ? there is but one way and that one i 'le prove ; i 'le steale his arrowes and will head them new , with womens hearts and then they will fly true . on a tobacconist . all dainty meats i do defie , which feed men fat as swine , hee is a frug all man indeed , that on a leafe can dine , he needs no napkin for his hands his fingers ends to wipe , that keeps his kitchin in a box and roast - 〈◊〉 in a pipe . on the same . if mans flesh be like swines , as it is said the metamorphosis is sooner made then full-fac'd gnatho no tobacco take smoaking your corps , lest bacon you do make . another . tom i commend thee above all i know that sold'●t thy cushion for a pipe of to for now t is like if ere thou study more , thou 'lt sit to 't harder then thou dist before . on tobacco . nature's idea , phisicks rare perfection , cold rheumes expeller and the wits direction , o had the gods known thy immortall smack , the heavens ere this time had been colored black . on a beloved lye . i hate a lie , and yet a lye did run of noble goring's death and kensington , and for that they did not untimely dye i love a lye because that was a ly , for had it been an accident of ruth 't had made me grow in hatred of the truth , though lies be bad , yet give this lye it 's due , 't is ten times better , then if 't had been true . on button a s●xton , making a grave . ye powers above and heavenly poles are graves become but button-holes . on long haire . luc as long haire down to his shoulders weares , and why ? he dares not cut it for his eares . a crab's restorative . the crab of the wood is sauce very good ; for the crab of the foaming sea , but the wood of a crab is sauce for a drab that will not her husband obey . on iustus lypsius who bequeathed his gown to the virgin mary . a dying latinist of great renown , unto the virgin mary gave his gown and was not this false latine , so to joyn with femall gender , the case masculine . on a fidle-stick . am i an instrument to make you sport , a fiddle-stick i am , ye shann't report that ere yee hand'led me in such a case ; to make me strike up fiddles mean and base , nay you shall never bend me to your bow it goeth against the haire you should do so , nor shall you curbe me in , thus every day , i 'le but my pleasure , i was made to play ; but here i must not play upon another , why have i then a fiddle for my brother ? if i were gon , you 'd be compel'd my freinds to make your musique on your fingers ends : my brother fiddle is so hollow hearted , that ere 't be long , we must needs be parted and with so many frets he doth abound , that i can never touch him but hee 'l sound : when hee 's reviv'd , this poore excuse he puts , that when i play , i vex him to the guts ; but since it is my nature , and i must i 'le crowd and scrape acquaintance for a crust ; i am a genleman of high descent come from apollos glorious element , above the bridge i alwayes use to keep , and that 's my proper spheare , when i do sleep , so that i cannot be in tune or town , for all my scraping if the bridge be down ; but since without an end , nought can endure , a fiddle-stick hath two ends to be sure . on hopes of preferment . i saw my fortune goe before as palinurus saw the shore , if that i dye , before it hitch , wel-fare mine eyes for they are rich . sorte tu●● contentus . if adverse fortune bring to passe , and will that thou an asse must bee ; then be an asse , and live an asse , for out of question wife is hee that undergoes with humble mind , the state that chance hath him assign'd . on a pretender to prophecy . ninety two yeares the world as yet shall stand if it do stand or fall at your command ; but say why plac'd you not the world's end nigher lest ere you dy'd you might be prov'd a lyer . mart. lib epigr. . old poets only thou dost praise , and none but dead one's magnifie : pardon voc●rra , thee to please , i am not yet in mind to dye . on a gamester . for hundred-thousands matho playes ; olus what 's that to thee ? not thou by meanes thereof i trow , but matho poore shall bee . on fr. drake . sir drake whom well the world's end knew , which thou did'st compasse round , and whom both poles of heaven once saw which north and south do bound , the stars above , would make thee known , if men here silent were ; the sun himself cannot forget his fellow traveller . b. i. approbation of a copy of verses . one of the witty sort of gentlemen , that held society with learned ben — shew'd him some verses of such tragique sense they did his curious eare much violence ; but after ben had been a kind partaker of the sad lines , he needs must know the maker ; what unjust man he was , that spent his time and banish'd reason to , advance his rime : nay gentle ben , replies the gentleman i see i must support the poet than ; although those humble straines are not so fit for to please you , hee 's held a pretty wit ; is he held so ? ( sa●es ben ) so may a goose , had i the holding , i would let him loose . on a gentleman that married an heire privately at the tower. the angry father hearing that his childe , was stoln , married , and his hopes beguild ; ( 'cause his usurious nature had a thought she might have bin to greater fortunes brought ) with rigid looks , bent brows , and words austere ask'd his forc'd son in law , how he did dare ( without a full consenting from him carried ) thus beare his onely daughter to be married , and by what cannons he assum'd such power ? he sayd the best in england sir , the tower. a gentlemans satisfaction for spitting in anothers face . a gentleman ( not in malice nor disgrace , but by a chance ) spet in anothers face , he that receiv'd it , knowing not the cause that should produce such rashne● ( 'gainst the law● of christian man-hood or civility ) in kindling anger , ask'd the reason why ; pray ●ir sayes he , what thing that doth but sound like to an injury have you ere found by me at any time ? or if you had , it never could deserve contempt so bad 't is an inhumane custome none ere use ; but the vile nation of conte●ned jewes : pray sir , cryes th' other be not so unkind , thus with an accident to charge my minde i meant it not , but ●●nce it fals out so , i 'm sorry , yea make satisfaction too ; then be not mov'd but let this ease your doubt since i have spet , please you , i 'le tread it out . on a little gentleman and one mr. story . the little man , by th' other mans vain-glory , it seems was roughly us'd ( so say's the story ) but being a little h●ated and high blown , in anger flyes at story , puls him down ; and when they rise ( i know not how it fated ) one got the worst , the story was tran●●ated from white to red , but ere the fight was ended it seemes a gentleman that one be●riended came in and parted them ; the little blade , there 's none that could intreat , or yet perswade , but he would fight still , till another came , and with sound reasons councel'd gainst the same 't was in this manner friend ye shall not fight with one that 's so unequall to your height , story is higher , th' othe● made reply , i 'd pluck him down were he three stories high . on a welshman and an englishman . there was a time a difference began between a welshman and an englishman , and thus it was ; the english-man would stand against all argument , that this our land , was fre●st of her fruits , there is a place quoth he , whose ground , so fruitfull is of grasse ; but throw a staffe in 't but this night , you shall not see 't the morrow , 't would be cover'd all : the welsh-man cry'd 't is true , it might ly under , the o're-grown grasse , 〈◊〉 is with us no wonder , for turn your horse into our frui●full ground , and before morning come , he shann't be found . on a souldier . the souldier fights well and with good regard , but when hee 's lame , he lies at an ill ward . on a faire gentlewoman whose name was brown. we praise the faire , and our inventions wrack , in pleasing numbers to applaud the black , we court this ladies eye , that ladyes haire , the faire love black , the black best like the faire● yet neither sort , i court , i doate upon nor faire nor black , but a complexion more rare then either ; she that is the crown of my entire affection is brown , and yet shee s faire , 't is strange , how can it be , that two complexions should in one agree do i love brown , my love can please mine eye , and ●ate my narrow'st curiosity , if i like faire , she hath so sweet a grace , that i could leave an angell for her face , let any judge then , which complexion 's rarest , in my opinion , she is brown that 's fairest . on garret and chambers . garret and his friend chambers having done their citty bus'nesse walk'd to paddington , and comming neer the fatall place where men i meane offenders ne're return agen , looking on tyborn in a merryment , sayes chambers here 's a pretty tenement had it a garret : garret hearing that , replyes friend chambers i do wonder at your simple censure , and could mock you for it , there must be chambers ere there be a garret . on the word intollerable . two gentlemen did to a tavern come , and call'd the drawer for to shew a room , the drawer did , and what room think ye was 't ? one of the small ones , where men drink in haste ; one gentleman sat down there , but the other dislik'd it , would not sit , call'd for another : at whi●h his friend , rising up from the table , cryes friend lets stay , this room is tollerable : why that 's the cause ( quoth hee ) i will not stay , is that the cause , quoth th' other ? why i pray ? to give a reason to you , i am able , because i hate to be in — tollerable . ad lectorem . is 't possible that thou my book hast bought , that saidst●'twas nothing worth ? why was it naught read it again , perchance thy wit was dul , thou may'st find something at the second pull , indeed at first thou nought didst understand , for shame g●t somthing at the second hand . suum cuique pulcbrum . posthumus not the last of many more , ask's why i write in such an idle vaine , seeing there are of epigrams such store ; oh give me leave to tell thee once again that epigrams are fitted to the season , of such as best know how to make rime reason in magnis voluisse sat●est . in matters great to will it doth suffice , i blush to heare how loud this proverb lyes , for they that ow great sums by bond or bill , can never cancell them , with meere good will. as proud as witlesse draccus . draccus his head is highly by him born , and so by strawes are emptied heads of corne . s●liem●videret●●r . a welshman and an englishman disputed , which of their lands maintain'd the greatest 〈◊〉 the englishman the welshman quite confuted , yet would the welshman nought his brags abate , ten cooks quoth he , in wales one wedding fees truth quoth the other , each man to●t● his cheese . on womens inconstancy . goe catch a star that 's falling from the skye ▪ cause an immortall creature for to dye , stop with thy hand the current of the seas , poste o're the earth to the antipodes , cause times return and call back yesterday ; cloath january with the month of may , weigh out an ounce of flame , blow back the wind and then find faith within a womans mind . on women . why sure these necessary harmes were fram'd , that man as too too heedlsse might be blam'd , his weaknes cannot greatest weakenesse fly , in her strong drawing , fraile necessity ; then happy they , that know what women are , but happier , which to know them never care . to his mrs. sweetest faire be not too cruell , blot not beauty with disdaine , let not those bright eyes adde fewell to a burning heart in vaine , least men justly when i dye deem you the candle , mee the fly . how to choose a wife . good sir , if you will shew the best of your skill ; to picke a vertuous creature , then picke such a wife , as you love a life , of a comely grace and feature ; the noblest part let it be her heart , without deceit or cunning , with a nimble wit , and all things fit , with a tongue that 's never running , the haire of her head , it must not be red , but faire and brown as a berry ; her fore-head high , with a christall eye her lips as red as a cherry . on his mistris . my love and i for kisses play'd , she would keep stakes , i was content , and when i wonne , she would be payd ; this made me aske her what she meant , sayth she , since you are in this wrangling vaine , take you your kisses , and give me mine againe . on a proud mayde . she that will eate her breakfast in her bed , and spend the morn in dressing of her head , and fit at dinner like a mayden-bride , and talke of nothing all day but of pride , god in mercy may doe much to save her , but what a case is he in that shall have her ? satis est quod sufficit . weep no more , sigh nor groane , sorrow recals not times are gone , violets pluck'd , the sweetst raine , makes not fresh or grow againe , joyes are windy , dreams flye fast why should sadnes longer last ? griefe is but a wound to woe , gentle faire , mourn no moe . tempus edaxrerum . time eateth all things could the poets say , the times are chang'd our times drink all away . of women . commit thy ship unto the winde , but not thy faith to woman kind , there is more safety in a wave , then in the faith that women have ; no woman's good , if chance it fall , some one be good amongst them all , some strange intent the dest ' nies had , to make a good thing of a bad . on a coy woman . she seems not won , yet won she is at length , in loves war women use but half their strength . on morcho . morcho for hast was married in the night , what needed day ? his fair young wife is light . on bed keeping . bradus the smith , hath often sworn and sed , that no disease should make him keep his bed ; his reason was , i oft have heard him tell it , he wanted money therefore he would fell it . on a man stealing a candle from a la●ther● . one walking in the street a winter night , climb'd to a lanthern , thought t' have stole the light , but taken in the manner and descri'd by one o' th' servants who look'd out and cry'd , whose there ? what d' you ? who doth our lanthern nothing said he , but only snuf the candle . handle , on fraternus . fraternus ' opinions show his reason weak he held the nose was made for man to speak . on a french ●encer , that challeng'd church an english fencer . the fencing ca●les in pride and gallant vaunt , challeng'd the english at the fen●ing , skill , the fencer church , or the church militant , his errors still reprov'd and knock'd him still , but si●h our church him disciplin'd so sore , he ( rank recusant ) comes to church no more . on two striving together . two falling out into a ditch they fell , their falling out was ill , but in was well . on musique . i want a quill out of an angels wing , to write sweet musike's everlasting praise , i likewise want an angels voice to sing a wished an●hem to her happy dayes ▪ then since i want an angels voice and pen , let angels write and sing , i 'le say amen . on tobacco . times great consumer , cause of idlenes , old whorehouse hunter , cause of drunkennes bewitching smoake , vainest wealths consumer ; abuse of wit , stinking breath's perfumer , cause of entrailes blacknes , bodyes dyer cause of nature's slacknesse , quenching her fire , offence to many , bringing good to none , ev'n be thou hack'd till thou art burnt and gone . claudianus de sphaer●a archimedis when iove within a little glasse survay'd , the heavens he smil'd , and to the gods thus sayd , can strength of mortall wit proceed thus far ? loe in a fraile orbe , my works mated are , hither the syracu●ians art translates , heavens form , the course of things and humane fates th' including spirit serving the star-deck'd signes the living work inconstant motion windes , th' adult ' rate zodiaque runs a naturall yeere , and cyntsias forg'd horns monethly new light bear , viewing her own world , now bold industry triumphs and rules with humane power the sky . on caelia . in caelia's face a question did arise , which were more beautifull her lips or eyes ; we say the eyes , send forth those pointed darts , which pierce the hardest adamantine hearts , from us reply the lips proceed those blisses , which lovers reap by kind words and sweet kisses then wept the eyes and from their eyes did pow'r of liquid orientall pearle a shower , whereat the lips mov'd with delight and pleasure through a sweet smile ●●lock'd their i vory treasure , and bad love judge , whether did ad more grace weeping or smiling pearls to c●lia's face . on chloris walking in the snow . i saw faire chloris walke alone , when feather'd raine came softly down , then iove descended from ●is tower , to court her in a silver shower , the wanton snow flew to her brest , like little birds into their nest ; but overcome with whitenes there , for grei●e it thaw'd into a teare , then falling down her garment h●m , to deck her , froze into a gem . to a shoomaker . what bootes it thee , to follow such a trade , that 's alwaies under foot and underlaid ? youth and age. age is deformed , youth unkind , wee scorn their bodies , they our mind . to loquax . loqu●x to hold thy tongue , would do thee wrong , for thou would ' st be no man , but for thy tongue . death . the lives of men seem in two seas to swim , death comes to young folks and old goe to him . a disparity . children fondly blad truth , & fools their brothers women have learn'd more wisdom of their mothers . . to mak dict . thou speake st ill , not to give men their dues ▪ but speakestill , because thou canst not chuse . womens properti●s . to weep oft , still to flatter , sometimes spin . are properties , women excell men in . interpone tuis &c. not mirth , nor care alone , but inter-wreathed , care gets mirth stomacke , mir●h makes care long breathed . womens teares when women weep in their dissembling art , their teares are sauce to their malicious heart . pot-poets . poet and pot differ but in a letter , which makes the poet love the pot the better . content . content is all we ayme at with our store ; if that be had with little , what needs more . fast and loose . paphus was marry'd all in haste , and now to rack doth run ; so knitting of himself too fast , he hath himself undone . on gervase . a double gelding gervase did provide , that he and 's wife to see their friends might ride , and he a double gelding prov'd indeed ; for he so suddenly fell to his speed , that both alight , with blows and threats among ▪ he leads him , and his wife drives him along . tortus . tortus accus'd to lye , to fawn , to flatter , said he but set a good face on the matter , then sure he borrow'd it for 't is well known ; tortus ne're wore a good face of his own ▪ annagrams . thom●s egerton . anagr. honors met age . honors met age and seeking where to rest ; agreed to lodge , and harbour in thy brest . on capt●ine iohn , came-age anagr. age-came . when perils i by land and sea had past , age came to summon me to death at last . christopher lindall , anagr. i offer , lend christ all . tha● with this epigram thy deeds agree , they well know , that did ever well know thee . iohn rysdon anagr. in honors dy . thy actions friend declare thy noble mind , and to the world thy reall worth proclaime that fame her self cannot thy equall find , to paralell thy glory and thy name , on , onward still from no good action fly , who lives like thee , cann't but in honors dy . on the same . i ne're will credit any powerfull fare , can turn thy glory to a waning state , thou ●till wilt be thy self ; therefore say i , in honors thou shalt live , but never dy . phineas fletcher . anagr. hath spencer life ? or spencer hath life . that spencer liveth , none can ignorant be , that reads his works ( fletcher ) or knoweth thee . mrs. elizabeth noell anagr. holinesse be still my star . the safest conduct to the port of blisse , lyes not in brittle honor , for by this we often loose our way , to shun this bar , to heaven , holines be still my star . . my lot is blisse ●ternall . the world 's a lottry , full of various chances , whereof each draws a share as fortune fancies , among the rest that ayme at things supernall ; i 've drawn , and find my lot is blisse eternall . i shall smite no ill brest . the common way to wound mens hearts i shun , nor with meere outside am i to be won , vertue may move me , for it crowns the best , but i shall smite no ill or lustfull brest . my blisse on earth's little . honors are faire but fading flowers which give , delight to those that gather them , but live not ever flowrishing , this truth i find , too truely in my selfe , by fate assign'd for having all , i see that all 's but but brittle , and even at best my blisse on earth 's but little . see my heart is still noble : thongh fortune frowns and fate suppres my will , yet see the lucke , my heart is noble still . a riddle . thoughts searching c valued love may b truth never tyes too a foole y y : three in one heart if in v have part wr another being a translation . est aliis servire tenetur iure qui sum , servire necesse est iure tibi me te nulli cunctos ant are videris qui cunctos bos laude ant fero cunctis . thus englished . - ling bound to serve his mr's hands an - is you - bound to do your high command● i 'me and none's you you all are then i 'le you - praise other men . another . a begger once exceeding poore , a penny pray'd me give him , and deeply vow'd nere to aske more and i ne're more to give him , next day he begg'd againe , i gave , yet both of us our oathes did save . another . i hold as faith what rome's church saith where th' king is head the flocks misled where th' alter's drest the peopele's blest hee 's but an asse who shuns the masse who charity preach they heav'n soon reach on faith t' rely is heresy what england's church allows my conscience disavowes the church can have no seame , where the pope's supream there 's service scarce divine where 's table bread and wine who the communion flyes is catholique and wise their church with error 's fraught where only faith is taught no matter for good works make 's christians worse then turks another : there was a man bespake a thing , which when the owner home did bring , he that made it , did refuse it , he that bought it , would not use it , he that hath it doth not know whether he hath it , yea or no. on women . woman 's the centre and the lines are men the circles love , how doe they differ then ? circles draw many lines into the center but love gives leave to onely one to enter . on clarret wine spilt . what 's this that 's spilt ? 't is clarret wine , 't is well 't is spilt , it 's fall sav'd mine . on womans love . a womans love is like a syrian flower , that buds and spreads and withers in an houre . on cooke a cuckold . a young cooke marri'd upon sunday last , and hee grew-old e're tuesday night was past . a butcher marrying a tanners daughter . a fitter match then this could not have bin , for now the flesh is married to the skin . on cupid . cupid , no wonder was not cloath d of old , for love though naked seldom ere is cold . a plain sutor to his love . faire i love thee , yet i cannot sue , and shew my love as masking courtiers doe , yet by the smocke of venus for thy good , i 'le freely spend my thrice concocted blood . . on a passing bell . this dolefull mu●ique of impartiall death , who danceth after , danceth out of breath . on a farmer knighted . in my conceit sir iohn , you were to blame , to make a quiet goodwife a mad●dame . on pallas and bacchus birth . pallas the ofspring of iove's braine , bacchus out of his thigh was ta'ne , he breake 's his braine that learning winns , when he that 's drunk breaks but his shins . on an old man doating on a yong mench . a rich old man loving a faire yong lasse , out of his breeches his spectacles drew , wherewith he read a note , how rich he was : all which ( quoth he ) sweet-heart i 'le give to you excuse me sir ( quoth she ) for all your riches , i le marry none , that wears his eies in 's breeches . clownish court-ship . excellent mrs. brighter then the moon , then scoured p●wter or the silver spoon , fairer then phoebus or the morning star , dainty fair mistrisse by my troth you are , as far excelling dian , and her nimphs , as lobsters crawfish , and as craw fish shrimps . thine eyes like diamonds do shine most cleerly , as i 'm an honest man i lo●e thee dearely . a gen●leman to his love . tell her i love , and if she aske how well ; tell her my tongue told thee no tongue can tell . her answer . say not you love , unlesse you doe , for lying will not honor you . his answer . maddam i love , and love to doe , and will not lye unlesse with you . on a wels●man . the way to make a welshman thinke on blisse , and daily say his prayers on his knees , is to perswade him that most certaiae ' t is , the moon is made of nothing but green cheese , then hee 'l desire of iove , no geater boon , then to be pleas'd in heaven to eate the moon . the vanity of man. that every thing we do , might vaine appeare , we have a veine , for each day in the yeere . to a friend on the losse of his mrs. if thou the best of women didst forgo , weigh if thou found'st her , or didst , make her so , if she was found , know there is more then one , if made , the workman lives though she be gone . on a whore . rosa is faire , but not a proper woman , can any woman proper be that 's common . on a welshman . a welshman comming late into an inn , asked the maid what meat there was within ? cow-heels she answered , and a brest of mutton ; but quoth the welshman , since i am no glutton , either of both shall serve , to night the brest , the heels i' th morning , then light meat is best , at night he tooke the brest , and did not pay , i th' morning tooke his heels and run away . on men and women . i 'll thrives that haplesse family , that showes a cocke that 's silent , and a hen that crows , i know not which lives more unnaturall lives , obeying husbands or commanding wives . on linus . linus told me of verses that he made , riding to london on a trotting jade , i should have known , had he conceal'd the case , even by his verses of his horses pace . on a litle diminutive band . what is the reason of god-dam-me's band , inch-deep ? and that his fashion doth not alter , god-dam me saves a labor , understand , in pulling't off when he puts on the halter . on iulius . by fraud the merchant iulius rakes in pel●e , for heaven he sels , yet hath it not himself . on fine apparell . some that their wives may near and cleanely go , do all their substance upon them bestow : but who a goldfinch fain would make his wife , make 's her perhaps a wag-taile all her life . vpon conscience . many men this present age dispraise , and thinke men have small conscience now adaies . but sure i 'le lay no such fault to their charge , i rather think their conscience is too large . in cornutum . cornutus call'd his wife both whore and slut , quoth she , you 'l never leave your brawling , but. but what quoth he ? quoth she the post or doore , for you have horns to but , if i 'me a whore . a witty passage an old man sitting at a christmas feast , by eating brawn occasioned a jest ; for whilest his tongue and gums chafed about , for want of pales the chafed bore broke out , and lights perchance upon a handsom lasse , that neer him at the table placed was , which when she ' spi'd she pluck'd out of her sleeve a pin and did it to the old man give , saying sith your brawn , out of your mouth doth slip , sir take this pin and therewith close your lip , and bursting into laughter , strain'd so much , as with that strain her back-part spakelow dutch which th' old man hearing , did the pin restore . and bad her therewith close her postern doore . a new married bride . the first of all our sex , came from the side of man i thither am return'd from whence i came . on a pudding . the end is all , and in the end , the praise of all depends , a pudding merri●s double praise , because it hath two ends . answer . a pudding hath two ends ? you lye my brother , for it begins at one , and ends at th' other . on maydes . most maids resemble eve now in their lives , who are no sooner women , then th' are wives , as eve knew no man ere fruit wrought her wo , so these have fruit oft e're their husbands know . on a man whose choice was to be hang'd or married . m. loe here 's the bride , and here 's the tree , take which of these , best liketh thee . r. the choise is bad on either part , the woman's worse drive on the cart . women . were women as little , as they are good , a pease cod would make them a gown and a hood . on a louse . a louse no reason hath to deal so ill , with them of whom she hath so much her will , she hath no tongue to speake ought in their praise , but to back-bite them , finds a tongue all wayes . a courtier and a scholler meeting . a courtier proud walking along the street , hap'ned by chance a scholer for to meet , the courtier said , ( minding nought more then place unto the scholler meeting face to face , to take the wall , base men i le not permit , the scholler said , i will , and gave him it . cede maj●ribus . i took the wall , one rudely thrust me by , and told me the high way did open lye , i thank't him that he would mee so much grace , to take the worse and leave the better place , for if by owners we esteem of things , the wall 's the subjects , but the way the kings . on women . are women saints ? no saints , and yet no devils , are women good ? not good , but needfull evils , so angel like that devils you need not doubt , such needfull evils , that few can be without . on a m●●sitian and his scholler . a man of late did his fair daughter bring to a musitian for to learn● to sing , he fell in love with her , and her beguil'd , with flattering words and she was got with child , her father hearing this was griev'd and said , that he with her but a base-part had playd , for w ch he swore that he would make him smart for teaching of his daughter such a part : but the musitian said , he did no wrong , he had but taught her how to ●ing prick-song . why women weare a fall . a question 't is why women weare a fall , the truth it is to pride they are given all , and pride the proverb saies must have a fall . foras expertus . priscus hath been a traveller , for why ? he will so strangely swagger , swear and ly . liber too wary to thrive . liber is late set up , and wanteth custome , yet great resort hath got , but will not trust 'em : is not his love unto his friend the greater , hee 'l want himselfe , ere hee 'l see him a debtor . on venus and vulcan . i muse , why venus hath such fiery holes , i thinke that vulcan , once there blow'd his coales . detur quod meritum . a courtier kind in speech , curst in condition , finding his faults could be no longer hidden , came to his friend to cleare his bad suspition , and fearing least he should be more then chidden . fell to flatt'ring and most base submission , vowing to kisse his foot if he were bidden . my foot said he ? nay that were too submisse , you three foot higher , well deserve to kisse . gluto , at meales is never heard to talk , for which the more his chaps and chin do walke , when every one that sits about the bord , makes sport to aske ; what gluto ne're a word ? he forc'd to answer being very loath is almost choak'd speaking and eating both . sorte t●a contentus . b●rtus being bid to supper to a lord , was marshall'd at the lower end of the boord , who vext thereat , 'mongst his comrades doth fre● and sweares that he below the salt was set ; but bartus , th' art a fool to fret and sweare , the salt stands on the bord wouldst thou sit there● fovent perjuria furtum . piso hath stoln a silver bole in jest , for which suspected only , not confest , rather then piso will restore your bole , to quit the body , he will cast the soule . the promise breaker . ventus doth promise much , but still doth breake , so all his promises are great and weake ; like bubbles in the water ( round and light ) swelling so great , that they are broke out-right . nummos & demona jungit . bat bids you swell with envy till you burst , so he be rich , and may his coffers fill , bringing th' example of the fox that 's curst , and threatning folks who have least power to kill● for why 't is known , his trade can never fall , that hath already got the devill and all . nil gratum ratione carens . paulus a pamphle● doth in prose present , unto his lord , ( the fruits of idle time ) who farre more carelesse then therewith content , wisheth it were converted into rime : which done and brought him at another season , sayd now ' t is rime , before not rime nor reason . non cessat perdere lusor . aske ficus how his lucke at dicing goes . like to the tide ( quoth he ) it ebbs and flowes , then i suppose his chance cannot be good , for all men know , 't is longer ebbe then flood . volucren● sic decipi● auceps . hidrus the horse-courser ( that cunning mate ) doth with the buyers thus equivocate , claps on his hand , and prayes he may not thrive if that his gelding be not under five . perdat qui cav●at emp●or . nor lesse meant promus when that vow he made , then to give ore his cous'ning tapsters trade , who check'd for short and frothy measure , swore he never would from thence forth fill pot more . virescit vulnere venus . susan 's well sped and weares a velve● hood , as who should know , her breeding hath bin good ? 't is reason she should rise once in her life , that fell so oft before she was a wife . on death . how base hath ●in made man , to feare a thing whichmen call m●rs ? which yet hath lost all sting , and is but a privation as we know , nay is no word , if wee exempt the o , then let good men the feare of it de●ie ▪ all is but o when they shall come to dye . on a rich country gentleman . of woods , of plaines , of hils and vales , of fields , of meades , of parks and pales , of all i had , this i possesse , i need no more i have no lesse . on his mrs. shall i tell you how the rose at first grew red , and whence the lilly whitenes borrowed , you blusht , & straight the rose with red was dight , the lilly kist your hand , and so was white , before such time , each rose had but a stain , and lillies nought but palenes did contayne , you have the native colour , these the dy , and onely flowrish in your livery . to bis mrs. think not deare love that i 'le reveale , those houres of pleasure we do steale , no eye shall see , nor vet the sun , descrie what thee and i have done ; the god of love himself , hose dart did first peirce mine , and next thy heart , he shall not know , that we can tell what sweets in stoln cmoracem●nts dwell , onely this meanes may find it out , if when i dy , phisians doubt what caus'd my death and they to view of all the judgements that are true , rip up my heart oh then i feare , the world will find thy picture there . to mr. ben. iohnson demanding the reason why he call'd his playes ●arks . pray tell me ben , where doth the mistery lurke , what others call a play you call a worke . thus answer'd by a friendin mr. ioh●sons defence . the authors friend thus for the author sayes , bens plays are works , when others works are plaies tempus edax rerum . the sweetest flower in the summers prime , by all agreement is the damaske rose , which if it grow , an● be not pluck'd in time , she sheds her leaves her buds their sent do loose , oh let not things of worth , for want of use fall into all consuming times abuse : the sweetest work that ever nature fram'd , by all agreement is a virgins face , which not enjoy'd , her white and red will fade , and unto all worm eating time give place : oh let not things of worth , for want of use fall into all consuming times abuse . ad aristarchum . be not agriev'd my humerous lines afford , of looser language here and there a word , who undertakes to sweep a common sinke , i cannot blame him , though his broome do stinke . to his mrs. thou send'st to me a heart was crown'd , i tooke it to be thine , but when i saw it had a wound , i knew that heart was mine . a bounty of a strange conceit , to send mine own to me , and send it in a worse estate , then when it came to thee ; the heart i gave thee had no staine , it was intire and sound ; but thou hast sent it back againe , sick of a deadly wound . oh heavens ! how wouldst thou use a heart that should rebellious be , when thou hast kill'd me with a dart , that so much honor'd thee . on a charming beauty . i 'le gaze no more on that bewitched face , since ruin harbors there in every place , for my inchanted soul alike she drowns , with calms and tempests of her smiles and frowns i 'le love no more those cruell eyes of hers , which pleas'd or anger'd still are murtherers , for if she dart like lightning through the ayre , her beames of wrath , she kils me with despaire , if she behold me with a pleasing eye , i surfet with excesse of joy and dy . covetous persons . patrons are latrons , then by this , th' are worst of greedy people , whose cognizance a wolfes head is , and is his mouth a steeple . on a dyer . who hath time hath life , that he denies , this man hath both , yet still he dyes . non verber a sed verba . two schollers late appointed for the field , must , which was weakest to the other yeeld , the quarrell first began about a word , which now should be decided by the sword ; but er'e they drew , there fell that alteration , as they grew friends againe by disputation . in octavium . octavius lying at the point of death , his gelding kindly did to me bequeath : i wanted one , and was in haste to ride , in better time he never could have di'd . ofletting . in bed a yong man with his old wife lay , o wife quoth he i've let a thing to day , by which i feare i am a looser much : his wife replyes youths bargaines still are such ; so turning from him angry at her heart , she unawares let out a thundring — oh wife quoth he , no looser i am now , a marv'lous saver i am made by you : yong men that old wives have may never fell , because old wives quoth he let things so well . in dossum . dosse riding forth the wind was very big and strained court'sie with his perriwig , leaving his sconce behind so voyd of haire , as esops crow might breake her oyster there ; foole he to thinke his haire could tarry fast , when bore as teares up forests with a blast . post dulcia finis amarus . ienkin a welshman that had suires in law , journying to london chanc'd to steale a cow ; for which ( pox on her luck as ne're man saw ) was burnt within the fist , and know not how : being ask'd if well the lawes with him did stand was have her now ( quoth ienkin ) in her hand . in mi●cam . fine minca lisping yea and no forsooth , though little ears , yet keeps a dainty tooth : minca that longs for apples on the tree , in may , before the blossomes fallen be , or will not eate a kentish cherry down , but for a couple , when she payes a crown ; and cares not for a straw-berry or peare , in truth because th' are common every where , yet what is that which may be had for reason , and never comes to minca out of season ? feminae ludifieantur vi●os . kind katherine to her husb and kist these words ; mine own sweet will how dearly do i love thee ● if true ( quoth will ) the world no such affords , and that it 's true i durst his warrant bee , for ne're heard i of woman good or ill , but alwayes loved best her own sweet will. ad t●sserum . tusser , they tell me when thou wert alive , thou teaching thrift , thy self couldst never thrive so like the whetstone many men are wont to sharpen others when themselves are blunt . praestar videri qu●messe . clit●s with clients is well customed , that hath the laws but little studied , no matter clitus so they bring their fees , how ill ●he case and thy advice agrees . tun●●ua res agitur . a jealous merchant that a saylor met , ask'd him the reason why he meant to marry , knowing what ill their absence might beget , that still at sea , constrained are to tarry ? sir ( quoth the saylor ) think you that so strange ? 't is done the time whiles you but walke th' exchange a conference . a dane , a spaniard , a polonian , my selfe , a swisse , with a hungarian , at supper met discoursed each with other , drank , laught , yet none that understood another . in marcum . marcus is not a hypocrite and why ? he flyes all good , to fly hypocrifie . quid ●on verba suadeant . sextus , halfe salv'd his credit with a jest , that at a reckoning this devise had got , when he should come to draw amongst the rest , and saw each man had coine , himselfe had not ; his empty pocket feels and 'gins to say , in sadnes firs here 's not a crosse to pay . stupid binus . sith time flyes fast away , his fastest flight , binus prevents with dreaming day and night . in divites . rich men their wealth as children rattles keep , when playd a while with 't then they fall asleep . in fannium . what furi 's this , his foe whilst fannius flyes , he kils himselfe , for feare of death he dies . to vellius . thou swearest i bowle as well as most men doe , the most are bunglers , therein thou say'st true . in divites iracundos . rich friends ' gainst poore to anger still are prone , it is not well but profitably done . clericus absque libro . when crassus in his office was instal'd , for summs of money , which he yet doth ow , a client by the name of clerk him call'd , as he next day to westminster did go , which crassus hearing whispers thus in 's eare , sirrah you now mistake and much do erre , that henceforth must the name of clerke forbea● , and know i am become an officer . alas ( quoth he ) i did not so much marke , good mr. officer , that are no clerke . durum telum necessitas . coquus with hunger pennilesse constrain'd to call for meat and wine three shillings cost , had suddainly this project entertain'd ; instead of what 's to pay , to call mine host , who being come entreateth him discusse ; what price the law allots for shedding blood : whereto mine host directly answers thus , 't was alwayes fourty pence he understood ; so then quoth coquus to requite your paines pray break my head , & give me what remaines . loves lunacy . before i knew what might belong to war , i was content to suffer many a scar ; yet none could hurt me , 'till at length a boy , disgrace to manhood , wrought my sad annoy , this lad though blind , yet did he shoot a dart which pierc'd my brest and lighted on my heart , yetdid i feel no hurt till from above , i heard a voyce say souldiers you must love , i lik't it well and in this pleasing vaine : i lost my wits to get my heart againe . so his mrs. your lips ( faire lady ) ( if 't be not too much , i beg to kisse , your hand i crave to touch , and if your hand deny that courtesie , ( sweet mistri● ) at your feet i prostrately ; but if your foot spurn my humility , or that your lips think i do aime too high : then let your hand in token of consent , point at the meane , the maine of all content , and i shall leave extreames , and to be blist , rest in your midst where vertue doth consist . to an upstart . thine old frinds thou forgot'st having got wealth no marvaile , for thou hast forgot thy self . suum euique . a strange contention being lately had which kind of musicke was the sweet'st and best , some prais'd the sprightly sound and some the sad some lik't the viols ; and among the rest some in the bag-pipes commendations spoke , ( quoth one stood by ) give me a pipe of smoake . similis doctrina libell● . craesus of all things loveth not to buy so many books of such diversity : your almanack ( sayes he ) yeeld's all the sence , of time's best profit and experience . on tullus . tullus who was a taylour by profession , is late turn'd lawyer , and of large possession . in prodigum . each age of men new fashions doth invent , things which are old , young men do not esteeme : what pleas'd our fathers doth not us content : what flourish'd then we out of fashion deeme . and that 's the cause as i doe understand , why prodigus did sell his fathers land . in medicum . when mingo cryes how doe you sir ? t is thought , his patient's wanteth and his practice's naught : wherefore of late , now every one he meeteth , with i am glad to see you well — he greeteth : but who 'l beleeve him now , when all can tell , the world goes ill with him , when all are well . crispati crines plumae dant calcar am●ri . why is young annas thus with feathers dight ? and on his shoulder weares a dangling lock ? the one foretels hee 'l sooner fly then fight , the other showes hee 's wrapt in 's mothers smock . but wherefore weares hee such a jingling spu● ▪ : o know , he deales with jades that will not sti●● most men mistaken . good , bad , rich , poor , the foolish and the sage , doe all cry out against the present age : ignorance make us thinke our young times good , our elder dayes are better understood : besides griefes past , we easily forget , present displeasures make us sad or fret . on glaucus . glaucus a man , a womans hayre doth weare , but yet he weares the same comb'd out behinde : so men the wallet of their faults doe beare , for if before him , he that fault should finde : i thinke foule shame , would his fayre face invade , to see a man so like a woman made . of batardas . batardas needs would know his horoscope , to see if he were borne to scape the rope : the magus said , ere thou mine answer have , i must the names of both thy parents crave : that said , batardas could not speak , but spit ; for on his fathers name he could not hitt : and out of doores at last he stept with shame , to aske his mother for his fathers name . an idle huswife . fine , neat , and curious misteris butterfly , the idle toy , to please an idiots eyes : you , that wish all good huswives hang'd , for why , your dayes work 's done , each morning as you rise : put on your gown , your ruff , your mask , your chain , then dine and sup , and goe to bed againe . consuetudo lex . two woers for a wench were each at strife , which should enjoy her to his wedded wife : quoth th' one , shee 's mine , because i first her saw , shee 's mine quoth th' other by pye-corner law : where sticking once a pricke on what you buy , it 's then your owne , which no man must deny . in battum . battus affirm'd no poet ever writ , before that love inspir'd his dull-head witt : and that himselfe in love , had wit no more , then one starke mad , though somewhat wise before ▪ to women . you were created angels pure and fayre , but since the first fell , tempting devills you are : you should be mens blisse , but you prove their rod● were there no women men might live like gods . on marriage . wedding and hanging the destinies dispatch , but hanging to some , seemes the better match . quidam erat . a preaching fryar there was , who thus began , the scripture saith there was a certaine man : a certain man ? but i do read no where , of any certaine woman mention'd there : a certaine man a phrase in scripture common ▪ but no place shewes there was a certaine woman : and fit it is , that we should ground our faith , on nothing more then what the scripture saith . against a certaine — for mad-men bedlam , bridewell for a knave , choose whether of those two , th' hadst rather have . loves progresse . loves first approach , delights sweet song doth sing , but in departure , shee woes stinge doth bring . on old scylla . scilla is toothlesse , yet , when shee was young , shee had both teeth enough and to much tongue : what shall i then of toothlesse scilla say , but that her tongue hath worne her teeth away . on gallants cloakes . without , plaine cloth , within , plufh ' t ? but i doubt the wearers worst within , and best without . on banks the usurer . banks feels no lamenesse of his knotty gout , his monyes travaile for him in and out : and though the soundest legges go every day , he toyles to be at hell as soone as they . pecunia praevale●s . tell tom of plato's worth or aristotles ? hang 't give him wealth enough , let wit stop bottl● . on the same . tom vow'd to beat his boy against the wall , and as he strucke , he forth-with caught a fall : the boy deriding said , i doe averre , y' have done a thing , you cannot stand to ●ir . on debt . to be indebted is a shame men say , 〈…〉 vmbras non certus metuit mistrisse maryna starts to see a frog , a naked rapier or a creeping mouse : to hear a gun , or barking mastive dog , or smell tobacco , that defiles her house , to taste of fish , no man alive shall woeher , yet feares she not what flesh can doe unto her . on women . although they seeme us onely to affect , 't is their content , not ours , they most respect : they for their own ends cunningly can feigne , and though they have 't by nature , yet they 'll strain : snre if on earth , by wiles gain'd might be blisse , staight that i were a woman i would wish . on saranzo . soranzos broad-brim'd hat i oft compare , to the vast compasse of the heavenly spheare : his head , the earths globe , fixed under it , whose center is , his wondrous little witt . in cottam . cotta when he hath din'd saith god be prais'd , yet never prayseth god , for meat or drinke : sith cotta speaketh and not practiceth , he speaketh surely what he doth not thinke . de corde & lingua . the tongue was once a servant to the heart , and what it gave shee freely did impart : but now hypocrisie is growne so stronge : shee makes the heart a servant to the tongue . on poverty . if thou be poor , thou shalt be ever so . none now doe wealth but on the rich bestow . women are mens shadowes : follow a shaddow it still flies you , seeme to fly , it will pursue : so court a mistrisse shee denies you , let her alone , she will court you . say are not women tr●ely then , stil'd but the shadwoes of us men ? at morne and even shades are longest , at noone they are , or short or none : so men at weakest they are strongest ; but grant us perfect they 're not known . say are not women truely then stil'd but the shadowes of us men ? in ebriosum . fy man ( saith shee ) but i tell mistrisse an●e , her drunken husband is no drunken man : for those wits , which are overcome with drink , are voyd of reasons and are beasts i thinke . wills errour . will sayes his wife 's so fat , shee scarce can goe , but shee as nimbly answers faith sir no : alas good will thou art mistaken quite , for all men know , that shee is wondrous light . on rome . hate & debate , rome through the world hath spred , yet ro●a a mock is if backeward read : then is●t not strange , rome hate should foster ? no , for out of backward love all hate doth grow . all things have savour , though some very small , nay a box on ●he eare hath no smell at all . act , fortune , and ignorance . when fortune fell asleep , and hate did blinde her , art fortune lost , and ignorance did finde her : sith when , dull ignorance with fortune's store , hath bin enrich'd and art hath still bin poore . on ebrio . see where don ebrio like a dutch-man goes , yet drunke with en●lish ale ; one would suppose : that h●e would shoulder down each door & wall , but they must stand , or he , poor fool ! must fall : on love . love hath two divers wings , as lovers say , thou following him , with one he flies away : with th' other , if thou fly , he followes thee , therefore the last , love , onely use for me . on the same . love , as t is said , doth work with such strange tools , that he can make fooles wise-men , wise-men fools : then happy i , for being nor foole nor wise , love with his toyes and tooles i shall despise . on a wanton . some the word wanton fetch , though with sinal ski● from those that want one to effect their will : if so , i thinke that wantons there are none , for till the world want men , can they want one ! in procos : who woes a wife , thinks wedded men do know ▪ the onely true content , i thinke not so : if woe in wooers bee , that women court , as the word woe in wooers doth import : and woe in woemen too , that courted be , as the word woe , in women we doe see : i thinke 't is better lead a single life , then with this double woe to wooe a wife . ingluviem sequitur fames : curio would feed upon the daintyest fare , that with the court or countrey might compare : for what let 's curio that he need to care , to frolique freely with the proud'st that dare : but this excesse was such in all things rare , as he prov'd banquerout e're he was aware . in corbum . corbus will not , perswade him all i can , the world should take him for an gentle-man : his reason●s this , because men should not deeme , that he is such , as he doth never seem . on priscus mistrisse . priscus commends his mistrisse for a girle , whose lips be rubies , and whose teeth are pearl : th' had need prove so , or else it will be found , he payes too deare ; they cost him many a pound . on women . women thinke wo — men far more constant bee , then wee men , and the letter o wee see : in wo — men ▪ not in we men , as they say , figures earth's constant orbe ; we men say nay : it meanes the moone , which proves ( none thinke it strange women are constant , & most true in change on promises . my mistrisse sweares shee 'd leave all men for me , yea though that iove himselfe should rivall be : shee sweares it , but what women sweare to kind - - loves , may be writ in rapid seas and winde . to his mistrisse . take , oh take those lips a way , that so sweetly were for-sworne : and those eies like breake of day . lights that doe mislead he morne : but my kisses bring againe , seales of love , though seal'd in vaine . hide , oh hide those hills of snow , which thy frozen bosome beares : on whose tops the pinkes that grow , are of those that aprill weares : but first set my poor heart free , bound in those icie chaines by thee . on souldiers . not faith , nor conscience common souldiers carry , best pay , is right ; their hands are mercinary . in diogenem & craesum : when the tubb'd cynicke went to hell , and there , found the pale ghost of golden craesus bare , hee stops ; and jeering till he shrugges againe , sayes o! thou richest king of kings what gaine have all thy large heapes brought thee , since i spie thee here alone , and poorer now then i ? for all i had , i with me bring ; but thou , of all thy wealth haft not one farthing now . on a barber . suppose my barber , when his razors nigh my throat , should then aske wealth and liberty : i de promise sure , the barber askes not this , no , t is a thiefe and feare imperious is . drusiu● and furio. furio would fight with drusius iu the field , because the straw , stout drusiu● would not yeeld , on which their mistrisse trod , they both tid meet , drusius in fight fell dead at furios feet , one had the straw , but with it this greek letter the other lo●t it , pray who had the better ? on cupid . love is a boy , and subject to the rod some say , but lovers say he is a god : i thinke that love is neither god nor boy , but a mad-braines imaginary toy . on durus . a friend of durus comming on a day to visite him , finding the doores say nay ; 〈◊〉 lock'd fast up , first knocks , and then doth pause , as lord have mercy on 's had bin the cause ; but missing it , he ask't a neighbour by when the rich duru's were lock'd and why ? he said it was a custome growne of late at diner time to lock your great man's gate . durus ' his poor friend admir'd & thought the doo● was not for state lock'd up , but 'gainst the poore , and thence departing empty of good cheere , said , lord have mercy on us , is not there . . on a puritane . from impure mouthes now many bear the name of puritane , yet merit not the same , this one shall onely be my puritan that is a knave , yet seems an honest man. . quantum mutatus ab illo . pedes growne proud makes men admire thereat whose baser breeding , should they think not bear it nay , he on cock-horse rides , how like you that ? tut pedes proverb is , win gold and wear it , but pedes you have seen them ri●e in ha●te , that through their pride have broke their necks at last . on bibens . bibens to shew his liberality , made lusus drunk ; a noble quality , and much esteem'd , which bibens fain would prove , to be the signe of his familiar-love . lusus beware , thou 'lt finde him in the end , familiar devill , no familiar friend . on tobacco . things which are common , common men do use , the better sort do common things refuse : yet countrys-cloth-breech , & court-velvet-hose , puff both alike , tobacco , through the nose . in superbum . rustick superbus fine new cloath's hath got , of taffata and velvet , fair in sight ; the shew of which hath so bewitch'd the sot , that he thinks gentleman to be his right . but he 's deceiv'd ; for , true that is of old , an ape 's an ape , though he wear cloth of gold . on infidus . infidus was so free of oathes last day , that he would swear , what e're he thought to say : but now such is his chance , whereat h●'s griev'd , the more he swears , the lesse he is believ'd . on christmas-ivy . at christmas men do alwaies ivie get , and in each corner of the house it set . but why do they , then , use that bacchus weed ? because they mean , then , bacchus-like to feed . on bacchus . pot-lifting - bacchus , to the earth did bend his k●ee , to drink a health unto his friend : and there he did , so long , in liquor pour , that he lay quite sick-drunk upon the floor . judge , was not there a drunkards kindnes shown , to drink his friend a health , and lose his own ? of a fat man. he 's rich , that hath great in-comes by the year ; then that great belly'd man is rich , i le swear : for sure , his belly ne'r so big had bin , had he not daily had great comings-in . vindicta vim sequitur . kitt being kick'd and spurr'd , pursu●s the law , that doom'd the dammage at twice forty pence . w ch , whē the party w ch had wrong'd him , saw ; thought t was too great a fine for such off●nce . why then , quoth kitt , if i too much request , thou maist at any time kick out the rest . on flaccus . flaccus being yong , they said he was a gull ; of his s●mplicity , each mouth was full : and pitying him , they 'd say , the foolish lad would be deceived , sure , of all he had . his youth is past , now may they turn him loose ; for why ? the gull is grown to be a goose. per plumas anser . see how y●ng rufus walks in green each day , as if he ne'r was youthfull untill now : e're christmas next , his green goose will be gray , and those high burnish'd plumes in 's cap will bow . but you do wrong him , since his purse is full ▪ to call him goose , that is so yong a gull. of ienkyn . ienkyn is a rude clown , go tell him so . what need i tell , what he himself doth know ? perhaps he doth not , then he is a sot ; for tell me , what knows he that knows it not ? to fortune . poets say fortune's blinde , and cannot see , and therefore to be born withall , if she sometimes drop gifts on undeserving wights : but sure they are deceiv'd ; she hath her sight , els could it not at all times so fall out , that fools should have , & wise men go without . vnde venis , memora . with earthen plate , agathocles , they say , did use to meal ; so serv'd with samo's clay , when jewell'd plate , and rugged earth was by , he seem'd to mingle wealth and poverty . one ask'd the cause : he answers , i that am si●ilia's king , from a poor potter came . hence learn , thou that art rais'd from mean estate ▪ to sudden riches , to be temperate . on leucus . leucus loves life , yet liveth wickedly ; h● ha●eth death , yet wisheth he may dy honestly and well : so what is naught he loves , and what he would have good , he nought approves . on biscus . i pray you sir , give biscus leave to speak , the gander loves to hear himself to creak . in thrasonem . since thraso met one stoutly in the field , he crakes his spirit , & knows not how to yield ; looks big , swears , strouts with set-side-arms the streets , yet gently yields the wal to al he meets . and to his friends that asks the reason , why ? his an●wer's this , my self i grace thereby : for every one the common proverb knows , that alwaies to the wall the weakest go's . in cornutum . one told his wife , a hart's-head he had bought , to hang his hat upon , and home it brought . to whom his frugal wife , what needs that ca●● ▪ i hope , sweet-heart , your head your hat can bear ▪ on more-dew . more-dew the mercer , with a kinde salute , would needs intreat my custom ● for a suit : here sir , quoth he , for sattins , velvets call , what e're you please , i le take your word for all ▪ i thank'd , took , gave my word ; say than , am i at all indebted to this man ? on sims mariage . six moneths , quoth sim , a suitor , and not sped ▪ i in a sev'n-night did both woo & wed . who gre●n fruit loves , must take long pains to shake ▪ thine was some downfall , i dare undertake . on a wittall . i know my fate , and that must bear ; and since i know , i need not fear . on mopsus . mopsus almost , what e're he means to speak , before it sir-reverence the way must break : such maners hath sir-reverence learnt at school , that now sir-reverence mopsus is a fool . on clym . clym cals his wife , & reck'ning all his neighbors , just half of them are cuckolds , he averrs . nay fie , quoth she , i would they heard you speak ; you of your self , it seems , no reckoning make . turpe lucrum veneris . will in a wilfull humour , needs would wed a wench of wonder , but without a stock ; whose fame no sooner through the street was spred , but thither straight our chiefest gallants flock . put ca●e she 's poor , brings she not chapmen on ? i hope his stock may serve to graff upon . on womens f●ults . wee men in many faults abound , but two in women can be found : the worst that from their sex proceeds , is naught in words , and naught in deeds . si hodie tibi , cras mihi . a scornfull dame , invited over-night , to come and dine next morrow with a knight , refus'd his sudden bidding with disdain . to whom this message was return'd again ; sith with so short time she could not dispence , to pray her come at that day twelve-moneth hence . on law. our civill-law doth seem a royall thing , it hath more titl●s than the spanish king : but yet the common-law quite puts it down , in getting , like the pope , so many a crown . better lost than found . lo here 's a coyner , yet he fears no death , for he ne'r stamps in mettall , but in breath : swears from believe me , & good-faith & troth , up to god-damn-me ; and without an oath protests in nothing , be he ne'r so bare , he 's brave in this , that he can bravely swear . in coam . a nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will coa espy , till she ascend up the corner'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . de ore. os of o , a mouth , scaliger doth make ; and from this letter , mouth his name doth take . i had been in scaligers belief , but that i look'd in o , and saw no teeth . in hugonem . though praise , & please , doth hugo never none , yet praise , and please , doth hugo ever one ; for praise , and please , doth hugo himself alone . fronti nulla fides . cantus that wooll-ward went , was wondred at ; which he excus'd , as done through pure contrition . but who so simple , cantus , credits that ? t is too wel known , thou art of worse condition . and therefore if no linnen thee begirt , the naked truth will prove , thou hast no shirt . on severus . severus is extreme in eloquence , for he creates rare phrase , but rarer sence : unto his serving-man , alias , his boy . h● utters speech exceeding quaint and coy ; diminitive , and my defective slave , my pleasures pleasure is , that i must have my corps coverture , and immediately , t'insconce my person from frigidity . his man believes all 's welsh his master spoke , till he rails english , rogue , go fetch my cloak . on a gallant . what gallant 's that , whose oathes fly through mine ears ? how like a lord of pluto's court he swears ! how dutch-man like he swallows down his drink ! how sweet he takes tobacco , til he stink ! how lofty sprighted , he disdains a boor : how faithfull hearted he is to a — ! how cock-tail proud he doth himself advance ! how rare his spurs do ring the morri●e-dance ! now i protest , by mistris susans fann , he and his boy will make a proper man. against caius . twenty small pieces i 'd have borrowed late , which , if bestow'd , had been a gift not great : for , 't was a rich fri●nd whom i ask'd , and old ; whose crowded chests would scarce his riches hold . he cry's , turn lawyer , and thou 'lt thrive : i'● have no conncell , caius , give me what i crave . on vertue , milla's maid . saith aristotle , vertue ought to be communicative of her self , and free ; and hath not vertue , milla's maid , been so ? who 's grown hereby , as big as she can go . on corydon . an home-spun peasant with his urine-glasse , the doctour ask'd what country-man he was . quoth corydon , with making legs full low , your worship , that , shall ●y my water kn●w . fam● mendax . report , thou sometime art ambitious , at other times , too sparing , covetous ; but many times exceeding envious , and out of time most dev'lish , furious . of some , or all of these , i dare compound thee ; but for a lyer ever have i found thee . on a spanish souldier . a spanish souldier , sick unto the death , his pistoll to 's physician did bequeath . who did demand , what should the reason be , 'bove other things to give him that . ( quoth he ) this , with your practise joyned , you may kill , sir , all alive , and have the world at will. on otho . three daughters otho hath , his onely heirs , but will by no means let them learn to write ; 'cause , after his own humour , much he fears , they 'l one day learn , love-letters to indite . the yongest now 's with childe ; who taught her then , or of her self learn'd she to hold her pen ? on hypocrisy . as venison in a poor mans kitchin 's rare , so hypocrites and usurers in heaven are . on man and woman . when man and woman dies , as poets sung , his heart 's the last that stirs , of hers , the tongue . on fabullus . i ask'd fabullus , why he had no wife ? ( quoth he ) because i 'd live a quiet life . on furnus . furnus takes pains , he need not without doubt ; o yes , he labours much . how ? with the gowt . on a thief . a thief condemned for a hainous crime , was for to lose his tongue at the same time : but he the court intreats with feigned tears , to spare his tongue , and cut off both his ears . to t●is , the judge , and all the bench agreed , a●d for th'executioner sent with speed : who being come , and searching , there was found no ears , but hairs ; at which , all laughed round ▪ sai●h th'ju●ge , thou hast no ears . sir ( quoth the wight ) where there is nought , the king must lose his right . quidn●● ebrietas ? ●ubin reports , his mistris is a punk ; which being told ●er , was no whit dismaid , for sure as death ( quoth she ) the villains drunk ▪ and in that taking , knows not what he said . 't was well excus'd , but oft it comes to pas●e , that true we finde , in vino veritas . infirmis-animosus . ●ontus by no means from his coyn departs , z'foot , will you have of men more than their hearts ? a culina ad curiam . lixa , that long a serving-groom hath been , will now no more the man be known or seen : and reason good , he hath that place resign'd , witnes his cloak , throughout with velvet lin'd . which by a paradox comes thus to passe , the greasie gull is turn'd a gallant asse . fruf●ra vocaveris heri . dick had but two words to maintain him ever , and t●at was , stand ; and after , stand-deliver . but dick's in newgate , and he fears shall never be blest again with that sweet word , d●liver ▪ magnis non est morandum . see how silenus walks accomplished , with due performance of his fathers page : looks back of purpose to be honoured , and on each slight occasion 'gins to rage ; you villain , dog , where hath your stay bin such ▪ quoth he , the broaker would not lend so muc● ▪ puduit sua ●amna referre . such ill successe had dick , at dice , last night , as he was forc'd , next day , play least in sight : but if you love him , make thereof no speeches , he lost his rapier , cloak , and velvet breeches . nimis-docuit consuetudo . old fucus board is oft replenished , but nought thereof must be diminished , vnless some worthless upper-dish or twain ; the rest for service still again remain . his man that us'd to bring them in for show , leaving a dish upon the bench below , was by his master ( much offended ) blam'd : which he , as brief , with answer quickly fram'd ; ' tath been so often brought afore this day , as now ch'ad thoft it self had known the way . poculo junguntur amici . a health , saith lucas , to his loves bright eye ; which no● to pledge , were much indignity : you cannot do him greater courtesie , than to be drunk , and damn'd for company . nullum s●imulum ignaris . caecus awake , was told the sun appear'd , which had the darkness of the morning clear'd : but caecus sluggish , thereto makes reply , the sun hath further far to go than i. detur laus digniori . mistris marina 'mongst some gossips sate , where faces were the subject of their chat ; some look'd too pale , some seem'd too fiery red , some brown , some black , and some ill fashioned . good lord ( quoth she ) you all are much to blame , let 's alone , and praise the maker of the same : her chamber maid , who heard her , standing by , said , then love me , for that you know was i. non p●nna , sed ●sus . caius accounts himselfe accurst of men , only because his lady loves him not : who , till he taught her , could not hold her pen , and yet hath since , another tutor got . caius , it seems , thy skill she did but cheapen , and means to try him at another weapen . an absolute gallant . if you will see true valour here display'd , heare poly-phemus , and be not afraid : d' ye see me wrong'd , and will ye thus restrain me ? sir let me go , for by these hilts i 'le braine ye . shall a base patch , with appearance wrong me ? i 'le kill the villaine , pray do not prolong me ; call my tobacco pu●rified stuffe ? tell me it stinks ? say it is drosse i snuffe ? sirrah what are you ? why sir what would you ? i am a prentice , and will knock you too : o are you so ? i cry you mercy then , i am to fight with none but gentlemen . in dolentem . dolens doth shew his purse , and tels you this , it is mor● horrid than a pest-house is ; for in a pest-house many mortals enter , but in his purse one angell dares not venture . ambo-dexter . two gentlemen of hot and fiery sp'rite , took boat and went up west-ward to go fight ; embarked both , for wend-worth they set sail , and there arriving with a happy gale . the water-men discharged for their fare , then to be parted , thus their minds declare : pray oares , say they , stay here , and come not nigh , we go to fight a little , but here by : the water-men , with staves did follow then , and cry'd , oh hold your hands , good gentlemen , you know the danger of the law , forbear ; so they put weapons up , and fell to swear . on a gallant . sirrah come hither , boy , take view of me , my lady i am purpos'd to go see ; what , doth my feather flourish with a grace ? and this my curled hair become my face ? how decent doth my doublet 's forme appear ? i would i had my sute in hounds-ditch here . do not my spurs pronounce a silv●r sound ? is not my hose-circumference profound ? sir these be well , but there is one thing ill , your taylor with a sheet of paper-bill , vow 's he 'll be paid , and sergeants he hath fee'd ▪ which wait your comming forth to do the deed . boy god-a-mercy , let 〈◊〉 lady stay , i 'le see no counter for her sake to day ▪ in sextum . sextus sixe pockets wears ; two for his uses , the other four , to pocket up abuses . tom's fortune . tom tels he 's robb'd , and counting all his losses , concludes , all 's gone , the world is full of crosses : if all be gone , tom take this comfort then , th' art certain never to have crosse agen . opus & vsus . opus for need , consum'd his wealth apace , and ne're would cease untill he was undone ; his brother vsus liv'd in better case than opus did although the eldest son. 't is strange it should be so , yet here was it , opus had all the land , vsus the wit. a good wi●e . a batchelor would have a wife were wis● , faire , rich , and yong , a maiden for his his bed — nor proud , no● churli●h , but of faultlesse size ; a country huswife , in the city bred . but he 's a fool , and long in vain hath staid ; he should bespeak her , there 's none ready made . on an inconstant mistris . i dare not much say , when i thee commend , lest thou be changed e're my prayses end . in lesbiam . why should i love thee lesbia ? i no reason see , then out of reason , lesbia i love thee . in paulinum . paul by day wrongs me , yet he daily swears . he wisheth me as well as to his soul : i know his drift to damne that he nought cares , to please his body ; therefore good friend paul , if thy kind nature , will affoord me grace , hereafter love me in thy body's place . on zeno. zeno would faine th' old widow egle have ; trust me she 's wise , for she is rich and brave : but zeno , zeno , she will none of you , in my mind she 's the wiser of the two . to cotta . be not wroth cotta , that i not salute thee , i us'd it whilst i wor thy did repute thee ; now thou art made a painted saint , and i , cotta , will not commit idolatry . to women . ye that have beauty , and withall no pity , are like a prick-song lesson without ditty . on creta . creta doth love her husband wondro●s well , it needs no proof , for every one can tell : so strong 's her love , tha● if i not mist ake , it doth extend to others , for his sake . on priscus . why still doth priscus strive to have the wall ? because he 's often dr●nk , and fears to fall . ictus piscator sapit . brutus at length escap'd the surgeons hands , begins to frollique as if all were well ; and would not for the worth of thrice his lands , endure the brunt of such another hell ; but leaves this farewell , for his physicks hire ; the child tha●'s burnt , for ever dreads the fire . on rufus . at all , quoth rufus , set ye , what you dare ? i 'le throw at all , and 't were a peck of gold ; no life lies on 't , then coyn i 'le never spare , why rufus , that 's the cause of all that 's sold. for with franck gamesters it doth oft befall , they throw at all , till thrown quite out of all . on tobacco . tobacco is a weed of so great power , that it ( like earth ) doth all it feeds , devour . ne● vultus indicat virum . dick in a raging deep discourtesie , call'd an a●torny meer necessity : the more kna●e he , admit he had no law , must he be ●louted at by every daw ? . on f●rius . furius a lover was , and had loving fits ▪ he lov'd so madly , that he lost his wits ; yet he lost nought , yet grant i he was mad , how could he loose that which he never had ? fooles fortune . god sends fools fortune , but not to all , for some are great fools , whose fortunes are small . tace sed age . little or nothing said , soon mended is , but they that nothing do , do most amisse . on a mad-màn . one ask'd a mad-man if a wife he had ? a wife , quoth he , i never was so mad . to scilla . if it be true , that promise is a debt , then scill● will her freedome hardly get ; for if she hath vow'd her service to so many , she 'll neither pay them all , nor part from any . yet she to satisfy her debts , desires to yeild her body ( as the la● r●quires . ) nescis , quid serus vesper vehat . lyncus deviseth as he lies in bed , what new apparrell , he were best to make him : so many fashions flow within his head , as much he fears the taylor will mistake him : but he mistook him not , that by the way , did for his old ●uit lay him up , that day . to ficus . ficus hath lost his nose , but knows not how , and that seems strange to every one that knows it : methinks i see it written in his brow , how , wherefore , and the cause that he did loose it . to tell you true , ficus i thus suppose , 't was some french caniball , bit off your nose . of arnaldo . arnaldo free from fault , demands his wife , why he is burthen'd with her wicked life ? quoth she , good husband , do not now repent , i far more burthens bear , yet am content . quis nisi mentis inops — ware profer'd , stinks , yet stay good proverb , stay , thou art deceiv'd , as clients best can say ; who profering trebble fees , for single care , it 's well accepted , gold it is such ware . on a friend inde●d . a reall friend a canon cannot batter ; with nom'nall friends , a squib's a perilous matter . mans ingresse , and egresse . nature , which headlong , into life did throng us , with our feet forward , to our grave doth bring us : what is lesse ours , than this our borrowed breat● ? we stumble into life , we go to death . on bad de●tors . bad debtors are good lyers ; for they say , i 'le pay you without fail , on such a day : come is the day , to come the debt is still , so still they lye , though stand in debt they will. but fulcus hath so oft ly'd in this wise , that now he lies in lud-gate for his lyes . on a foolish dolt . a justice walking o're the frozen thames , the ice about him round , began to crack ; he said to 's man , here is some danger , iames , i prethee help me over on thy back . on panurgus . panurgus pryes in high and low affairs , he talks of forraigne , and our civill state : but for his own , he neither counts nor cares ; that he refers to fortune and his ●ate , his neighbors faults straight in his face he 'l find , but in a bag he laps his own behind . to a sleeping talker . in sleep thou talk'st unfore-thought mysteries , and utter'st unfore-seen things , with close eyes : how wel wouldst thou discourse , if thou wert dead , since sleep , death's image , such fine talk hath bred ? omne simile non est idem . together as we walk'd , a friend of mine , mistook a painted madam for a signe that in a window stood ; but i acquainted , told him it was no woodden signe was painted , but madam — yea true said he , yet 't is little signe of modesty . qui ebrius laudat temperantiam . severus likes not these unseason'd lines , of rude absurdities , times foul abuse , to all posterities , and their assignes , that might have bin , saith he , to better use . what sencelesse gull , but reason may convince , or jade so dull , but being kick'd will wince . on misus . they say the usurer misus hath a mill , which men to powder grindeth cruelly ; but what is that to me ? i feare no ill , for smaller than i am , i cannot be . on wisdome and vertue . wise-men are wiser than good-men , what then ? 't is better to be wiser than wise men . on ducus . ducus keeps house , and it with reason stands , that he keep house , hath sold away his lands , on mysus , and mopsus . mysus and mopsa hardly could agree , striving about superiority : the text which saith that man and wife are one , was the chief argument they stood upon . she held , they both one woman should become : he held , they should be man , and both but one . so they contended dayly , but the strife ; could not be ended , till both were one wife . on photinus . i met photynus at the b. court , cited ( as he said ) by a knave relator : i ask'd him wherefore ? he in laughing sort , told me it was but for a childish matter . how ere he laught it out , he lied not : indee d'twas childish , for the child he got . on ca●triotes . see , see , what love is now betwixt each fist , since castriotes had a scabby wrist : how kindly they , by clawing one another , as if the left ha●d were the right hands brother . new rhetoricke . good arguments without coyn , will not stick , to pay , and not to say's best rhetorick . est mi●i diva parens . ominus wondreth , since he came from wales , what the description of this isle might be ; that ne're had seen but mountains , hils , and dales , yet would he boast , and stand on 's pedegree . from rice ap ric●ard , sprung from dick a cow , be cod was right good gentle-man , look ye now ? on t●irsites . although thirsites have a filthy facae , and staring eyes , and little outward grace : yet this he hath , to make amends for all , nature h●r selfe , is not more naturall . on zoylus . if souldiers may obtain four termes of war , muskets should be the pleaders , pikes the bar : for black bags , bandeleirs , jackets for gownes , angels for fees ; we 'll take no more crack't crowns . on a swearing gallant . what god cōmands , this wretched creature loathes , he never names his maker , but by oathes : and weares his tongue , of such a damned fashion , that swearing is his only recreation . in morning , even assoon as he doth rise , he swears his sleep is scarcely out of 's eyes ; then makes him ready , swearing all the while , the drowzy weather did him much beguile . got ready , he , to dice or tables goes , swearing an oath , at every cast he throws : to dinner next , and then in stead of grace , he swears his stomack is in hungry case . no sooner din'd , but calls , come take away , and swears 't is late , he must goe see a play. there sits , and swears , to all he hears and see 's , this speech is good , that action disagrees . so takes his oa●es , and swears he must make hast , his houre of supper-time is almost past . on a long beard . thy beard is long , better it would thee ●it , to have a shorter be●rd , and longer wit. on my selfe . who seeks to please all men each way , and not himselfe offend ; he may begin to work to day , but god knows when hee 'l end . to the mis-interperter . cease gaul'd backt guilt , those inscious lines to mince , the world wil know y' are rubd if once you wince they hem within their ●eeming critique wall , particularly none , generally all : 'mongst which if you have chanc'd to catch a prick cry we-hy if you will , but do not kick ▪ on a mother and her son having but two eyes betwixt the● , each one . a half blind-boy , born of a half blind mother , peerlesse for beauty , save compar'd to th' other ; faire boy , give her thine eye and she will prove the queen of beauty , thou the god of love . to his quill . thou hast been wanton , therefore it is meet , thou ' shouldst do penance do it in a sheet . of c●irst crucified . when red the sun goes down , we use to say it is a signe , we shall have a faire day : blood red the sun of heaven went down from hence and we have had faire weather ever since . on himselfe . mirth pleaseth some , to others 't is offen●e , some cōmend plain conceits , some profound sence some wish a witty jest , some dislike that , and most would have themselves they know not what then he that would plea●e all , and himselfe too , takes more in hand than he is like to doe . to young men . yong men fly , when beauty darts amorous glances at your hearts , the fixt marke gives your shooter aime , and ladyes lookes have power to maime , now 'twixt their lips , now in ●heir eyes 〈◊〉 a kisse or smile love lyes , then fly betimes for onely they conquer love that run away . the pens prosopopeia to the scrivener . thinike who when you cut the quill , wounded was yet did no ill ; when you mend me , thinke you must mend your selfe , else you 're unjust when you dip my nib in inke , thinke on him that gall did drinke , when the inke sheds from your pen , thinke who shed his blood for men ; when you write , but thinke on this , and you ne're shall write amisse . a raritie . if thou bee'st born to strange sights , things invisible to see : ride ten thousand dayes and nights , till age snow white haires on thee . and thou when thou return'st wilt tell me ; all strange wonders that befell thee , and thou ' lt sweare that no where lives a maiden true and faire . vpon tom tolt●am's nose . the radiant colour of tom toltham's nose , puts down the lilly and obscures the rose ; had i a jewell of such pretious hew , i would present it to some monarch's view , no subject should possesse such jems as those ergo , the king must have tom toltham's nose . vpon thorough-good an unthrif● . thy sir name thorough-good befitteth thee , thou t●orough-good , and good goes thorough thee nor thou in good , nor good in thee doth stay , both of you , thorough goe , and passe away . in amorem . love , if a god thou art , then evermore thou must be mercifull and just , if just thou be , o wherefore doth thy dart , wound mine alone , and not my mistrisse heart ? if mercifull , then why am i to paine reserv'd , who have the truly serv'd ? whiles she that for thy power cares not a fly , ●aughs thee to scorn , and lives at liberty : then if a god thou wilt accounted be heale me like her , or else wound her like me . ariddle on a pound of candles . one evening as cold as cold might bee , with frost and snow , and pinching weather , companions about three times three , lay close all in a bed together ; yet one after other they took● a heat , and dy'd that night all in a sweat . on the new aressings . ladyes that weare black cypresse vailes , turn'd lately to white linnen railes , and to your girdle weare your bands ; and shew your armes in stead of hands : what can you do in lent more meet , as fittest dresse , than weare a sheet : 't was once a band , t is now a cloake , an acorne one day proves an oake , weare but your lawn unto your feet , and then your band will prove a sheet : by which device and wise excesse , you do your pennance in a dresse , and none shall know , by what they see , which lady 's censur'd , which goes free . t●us answered . blacke cypresse vailes are shrouds of night , white linnen railes are railes of light ; which though we to our girdles weare , w'have hands to keepe your armes off there ; who makes our bands to be a cloake , makes iohn a stiles of iohn an oke : we weare our linnen to our feet , yet need not make our band a sheet . your clergie wears as long as wee , yet that implyes conformitie : be wise , recant what you have writ , least you do pennance for your wit : love charmes have power to weave a string shall tye you , as you ty'd your ring , thus by loves sharpe , but just decree you may be censur'd , we go free . amicitia . what 's ●riendship ? 't is a treasure , 't is a pleasure : bred 'twixt two worthy spirits , by their merits : 't is two ●inds in one , meeting never fleeting : two wils in one consenting , each contenting , one brest in two divided , yet not parted ; a double body , and yet single hearted ; two bodies making one , through self election , two minds , yet having both but one affection . ▪ to his mistrisse . i cannot pray you in a studied stile , nor speak words distant from my heart a mile ; i cannot visit hide-parke every day , and with a hackney court my time away ; i cannot spanniolize it weeke by week , or waite a moneth to kisse your hand or cheek ; if when you 'r lov'd you cannot love againe , why doe but say so , i am out of paine . on the queene of bohemia . you meaner beauties of the night , which poorely satisfie our eyes ; more by your number then your light ; the common people of the skies : what are ye when the moon shall rise ? you violets that first appeare , by your purple mantle known ; like proud virgins of the yeere , as if the spring were all your own ; what are you when the rose is blown ? you wandring chaunters of the wood , that fill the ayre with natures layes : thinking your passions understood , by weak accents , where 's your praise , when philomell her voyce shall raise : so when my princesse shall be seen , in sweetnes of her lookes and mind : by vertues first , then choyce a queen , tell me , was she not design'd , th' eclipse and glory of her kind ? to his noble friend . there 's no necessity that can exclude the poorest being from a gratitude ; for when the strength of fortune lends no more , he that is truely thankefull is not poore , yours be the bounty then , mine the great debt , on which no time , nor power can ransome set . fatum supremum . all buildings are but monuments of death , all clothes but winding sheets for our last knell , all dainty fattings for the worms beneath , all curious musique , but our passing bell ; thus death is nobly waited on , for why ? all that we have is but deaths livery . on his mrs. death unjustly we complain of fate , for short'ning our unhappy dayes , when death doth nothing but translate and print ●s in a better phrase ; yet who can choose but weep ? not i , that beautie of such excellence , and more vertue then could dy ; by deaths rude hand is ravish'd hence , sleepe blest creature in thine urne , my sighes , my teares shall not awake thee , i but stay untill my turne and then , oh then ! i 'le overtake thee . aequè facilitas ac difficultas nocet amoris . i love not her that at the first cries i , i love not her that doth me still deny , be she too hard shee 'll cause me to despaire , be she too easie , shee 's as light as faire ; 't is hard to say whether most hurt procure , she that is hard or easy to allure , if it be so , then lay me by my side the hard , soft , willing and unwilling bride . in monumenta westminsteriensia . mortality behold and feare , what a change of flesh is here ; thinke how many royall bones , sleep within this heap of stones , here they ly , had realmes and lands ; who now want strength to stir their hands ; where from their pulpits seel'd with dust , they preach , in greatnes is no trust ; here 's an acre sown indeed , with the richest royal'st seed , that the earth did e're suck in since the first man dy'd for sin , here the bones of birth have cry'd , though gods they were , as men they dy'd : here are sands , ignoble things , drop'd from the ruin'd sides of kings ; here 's a world of pompe and state , buried in dust , once dead by fate . semel it sa●ivimus . beldam , god blesse thee , thou want'st nought but wit and having gotten that , we 'r freed from it , bridewell , i cannot any way dispraise thee for thou dost feed the poore and jerke the lazie . new-gate , of thee i cannot much complaine ; for once a moneth , thou freest men out of paine , but from the counters gracious lord defend us : to bedlam , bridewell , or to new gate send us , for there in time wit , worke , or law sets free ; but here wit , work , nor law gets liberty . on the marriage of one turbolt , with mrs. hill. what are deucalions dayes return'd that we , a turbolt swimming on a hill do see ? what shall we in this age so strange report , that fishes leave the sea on hils to sport ? and yet this hill , though never tir'd with standing lay gently down to give a turbolt landing . vpon annas marriadge with a lawyer . anne is an angell , what if so shee be ? what is a angell ? but a lawyers fee. in cupidinem . who grafts in blindnes may mistake his stock , love hath no tree , but that whose bark is smock . aenigma . the devill men say in devonshire dy'd of late ; but devonshire lately liv'd in rich estate , till rich his toyes did devonshire so bewitch , as devonshire dy'd and left the devill rich . on cupid . why feign they cupid robbed of sight ; can he whose seat is in the eye , want light ? a● answer . experience shews , and reason doth decree that he who sits in 's owne light cannot see . barten holiday to the puritan on his technogamia . 't is not my person , nor my play , but my sirname , holiday , that does offend thee , thy complaints are not against me , but the saints ; so ill dost thou endure my name , because the church doth like the same , a name more awfull to the puritane then talbo● unto france , or drake to spaine ▪ on a picture . this face here pictur'd time shall longer have , then life the substance of it , or the grave , yet as i change from this by death i know , i shall like death , the liker death i grow . in meretrices . the law hangs theeves for their unlawfull stealing , the law carts bawds for keeping of the doore , the law doth punish rogues , for roguish dealing , the law whips both the pander and the whore ; but yet i muse from whence this law is grown ; whores must not steal , yet must not use their own . on the citty venice . when in the adriatick neptune saw how venice stood , and gave the seas their law , boast thy tarpeian towers , now iove said he , and mars thy wals , if tiber 'fore the sea thou dost prefer , view both the cities ods , thou'l● say that men built rome , venice , the gods . to a lady that every morning used to paint her fa●e . preserve what nature gave you , nought's more base , th●n belgian colour on a roman face , much good time 's lost , you rest your faces debtor , and make it worse , striving to make it better . on a cuckold . my friend did tax me seriously one morne , that i would weare , yet could not winde a horne and i reply'd he perfect truth should find it , many did weare the horn that could not wind it , howe're of all that man may weare it best , who makes claime to it as his ancient crest . vpon marriage . marriage as old men note , hath likened bin unto a publiq●e feast or common route , where those that are without , would fain get in , and those that are within would faine get out . quicquid non nummus . the mony'd man can safely saile all seas , and make his fortune as himselfe shall please , he can wed danae , and command that now acrisius selfe that fatall match allow : he can declaime , chide , censure verses , write , and do all things better then cato might ; he knows the law and rules it , hath and is whole servius , and what labeo can possesse , in briefe let rich men wish what e're they love , 't will come , they in a lock'd chest keep a iove . on annas a news-monger . annas hath long eares for all news to passe : his eares must needs be long for hee 's an asse . semel in●anivimus omnes . thus have i waded through a worthlesse taske , whereto i trust there 's no exception ta'ne , for meant to none , i answer such as aske , 't is like apparell made in birchen lane ; if any please to suit themselves and weare it , the blames not mine but theirs that needs will weare it . to aulus . some ( speaking in their own renown ) say that this book , was not exactly done ; i care not much , like banquets , let my bookes rather be pleasing to the guests then cooks . ad sesquipedales poetastros . hence brauron's god to tauriminion , and you levaltoring corybants be gone ; fly thundring bronsterops to hippocrene , and maur●s to nimph nursing mytelene ; grisly maegera's necromantique spell depart to blacke nights acheronticke cell : avaunt transformed epidarian , unto th' antipod isles of tabraban , away cyllenius plumy-pinnion'd god , with thy peace making wand , snake charming rod and all the rest not daring looke upon vranus ' blood-borne brood , and fell typhon chimaera's victor great bellepheron ; thou vanquisher of spanish geryon , stout asdruball sicilian lord of yore , thou that destroyd'st the calidonian bore ; couragious conqueror of creetes minotaure , thou pride of mermeros ' cloudy semitaure . perseus whose marble stone transforming shield ; enfor●'d the whale , andromeda to yeeld , you argonautes that scour'd syndromades , and pass't the quicke sands of semplegades , helpe demogorgon , king of heaven and earth , chaos lucina at litigiums birth , the world with child looks for delivery of cannibals or poetophagie ; a devillish brood , from ericthonius , from iphidemia , nox , and erebus , chide pegasus for op'ning helicon , and poets damn to pery-phlegeton , or make this monstrous birth abortive be or else i will shake hands with poetrie . a serving man. one to a serving man this councell sent , to get a master that 's intelligent ; then if of him no wages he could get , yet he would understand he 's in his debt . two theeves . two theeves by night began a lock to pick , one in the house awake ; thus answer'd quick , why how now ? what a stir you there do keep , goe home again , we are not yet asleep . a physitian and a farrier . a neate physitian for a farrier sends to dresse his horse , promising him amends . nay ( quoth the farrier ) amends is made , for nothing do we take of our own trade . a poore peasant . a poore man being sent for to the king , began to covet much a certaine thing before he went : being but an iron naile , his friend did aske him what it would availe ? ( quoth he ) this is as good as one of steele , for me to knock now into fortunes wheele . three pages . three pages on a time together met , and made a motion , that each one would let the other know what hee 'd desire to be having his wish , thereto they did agree . quoth one , to be a melon i would chuse , for then i 'm sure , none would refuse to kisse my breech although the sent were hot , and so they 'd know whether i were good or not . a gentleman and his phisitian . a gentleman not richest in discretion , was alwayes sending for his own phisition . and on a time he needs would of him know , what was the cause his pulse did go so slow ? why ( quoth the doctor ) thus it comes to passe , must needs go slow , which goes upon an asse . a peasant and his wife . a peasant with his wife was almost wilde , to understand his daughter was with childe , and said if to the girle sh 'ad taken heed , sh 'ad not been guilty of so foule a deed . husband ( said she ) i sweare by cock , ( welfare a good old token ) the dev●ll him selfe can't keep that lock which every key can open . g-l-asse . he that loves glasse without a g , leave out l and that is hee . — nihil hic nisi carmina desunt . epitaphs . . on a travelling begger . here lies a vagrant person whom our lawes , ( of late growne strict ) denied passage , cause hee wandred thus , therefore returne he must , from whence at first he hither came , to dust . . on a mason . so long the mason wrought on other's walles , that his owne house of clay to ruine falles : no wonder spitefull death , wrought his annoy , he us'd to build , and death seekes to destroy . . on a dyer . though death the dyer colour-lesse hath made , yet he dies pale , and will not leave his trade ; but being dead , the meanes yet doth not lacke to die his friends cloth into mourning blacke . some sure foresaw his death , for they of late vs'd to exclaime upon his dying fate . and weake , and faint , he seem'd oft-times t' have been , for to change colours , often he was seen ; yet there no matter was so foule , but he would set a colour on it handsomlye . death him no unexpected stroke could give that learnt to dye , since he began to live . he shall yet prove , what he before hath try'd , and shall once more , live after he hath dy'd . . of a schoolemaster . the grāmer schoole a long time taught i have , yet all my skill could not decline the grave , but yet i hope it one day will be show'ne in no case save the ablative alone . . on william shake-speare . renowned spencer lye a thought more nigh to learned chaucer , and rare beaumont lye a little neerer spencer , to make roome for shake-speare in your threefold , fourefold tombe to lodge all foure in one bed make a shift vntill doomes d●y , for hardly will a fifth betwixt this day and that by fates be slaine ▪ for whom your curtaines may be drawn againe . if your precedencie in death doe barre a fourth place in your sacred sepulchre ; vnder this sacred marble of thine owne , sleepe rare tragaedian shake-speare ! sleep alone . thy unmolested peace in an unshared cave possesse as lord , not tenant of thy grave . that unto us , and others it may bee honour hereafter to be laid by thee . . on a youth . now thou hast heaven for merit , but 't is strange mortality should ●nvie at thy change : but god thought us unfit , for such as thee , and made thee consort of eternitye . we grieve not then , that thou to heaven art takē but that thou hast thy friends so soone forsaken ▪ . on prince henry . i have no veine in verse , but if i could , distill on every word a pearle i would . our sorrowes pearles drop not from pens , but eies , whilst other's muse ? write , mine onely cries . . on a foot-boy that dyed with overmuch running . base tyrant death thus to assaile one tyr'd who scarse his latest breath beeing left expir'd ; and being too too cruell thus to stay so swift a course , at length ran quite away . but pretty boy , be sure it was not death that left behind thy body out of breath : thy soule and body running in a race , thy soule held out ; thy body tyr'd apace , thy soule gained , and left that lump of clay to rest it selfe , untill the latter day . . on hobson the carrier . hobson , ( what 's out of sight is out of mind ) is gone , and left his letters here behind . he that with so much paper us'd to meet ; is now , alas ! content to take one sheet . . another . he that such carriage store , was wont to have , is carried now himselfe unto his grave : o strange ! he that in life ne're made but one , six carriers makes , now he is dead and gone . . another . here hobson lyes , prest with a heavy loade , who now is gone the old and common roade ; the waggon he so lov'd , so lov'd to ride , that he was drawing on , whilst that he dy'd . . another . hobson●s not dead but charles the northerne swaine hath sent for him , to draw his lightsome-waine . . on a treachero●s warrener . behold here lyes a scalded pate quite bare ▪ in catching conies , who lost many a hare . . on a faire damosell . life is the road to death , & death heavens gate must be , heaven is the throne of christ , & christ is life to me . . on a foot-man . this nimble foot-man ran away from death , and here he rested being out of breath ; here death him overtooke , made him his slave , and sent him on an errand to his grave . . on queene anne , 〈◊〉 dyed in march , was kept all aprill , and buried in may. march with his winds hath strucke a cedar tall , and weeping april mournes the cedar's fall ; and may intēds her month no flow'rs shal bring since she must lose , the flow'r of all the spring . thy march his winds have caused april show'rs and yet sad may must lose his flow'r of flow'rs . . iustus lipsius . some have high mountaines of parian stone , and some in brasse carve their inscription , some have their tombes of costly marble rea●'d , but in our teares , onely art thou interr'd . . on a child of two yeeres old , being borne and dying in iuly . here is laid a july-flow'r with surviving teares bedew'd not despayring of that houre when her spring shall be renew'd ; e're she had her summer seene , shee was gather'd , fresh and greene . . another . like bird of prey , death snatcht away , this harmelesse dove , whose soule so pure is now secure in heaven above . . another . that flesh is grasse it 's grace a flower reade e're you passe whom wormes dovour● . . on a cobler . death at a coblers doore oft made a stand , and alwaies found him on the mending hand ; at last came death in very foule weather , and ript the soale , from the upper leather : death put a trick upon him , and what was 't ? the cobler call'd for 's awle , death brought his laste . . on a lock-smith . a zealous lock-smith dy'd of late , who by this time 's at heaven-gate the reason why he will not knocke is , 'cause he meanes to picke the locke . . on a collier . here lies the collier jenkin dashes , by whom death nothing gain'd he swore , for living he was dust and ashes : and being dead , he is no more . . on dick pinner . here lyes dick pinner , o ungentle death ! why did'st thou rob dick pinner of his breath ? for living , he by scraping of a pin made better dust , then thou hast made of him . . on m. thomas best . with happie stars he sure is blest , where ● ere he goes , that still is best . . on robyn . round robyn's gone , & this grave doth inclose the pudding of his doublet and his hose . . on proud tygeras . proud and foolish , so it came to passe , he liu'd a tyger , and he dy'd and asse . . on iohn cofferer . here lyes iohn cofferer , and takes his rest , now he hath chang'd a coffer for a chest . . on blind and deafe dicke freeman . here lyes dicke freeman that could not heare , nor see man. . on a miller . death without warning , was as bold as briefe , when he kill'd two in one , miller & thiefe . . on a disagreeing couple . hîc jacet ille , qui ●enties & mille : did scold with his wife , cùm illo jacet illa , quae communis in villâ did quittance his life : his name was nicke , the which was sicke , and that very mal● , her name was nan , who lou'd well a man , so gentlemen vale . . on a sack-sucker . good reader blesse thee , be assur'd , the spirit of sack lyes here immur'd : who havock'd all he could come by for sack , and here quite sack'd doth lye . . on a lady . here lyes one dead under this marble stone , who when she liv'd , lay under more than one ▪ . on a westler . death to this wrestler , gave a fine fall ▪ that tript up his heeles , and tooke no hold at all . . on iohn death . here 's death intterred , that liu'd by bread , then all should live , now death is dead . . on a scrivener . here to a period , is the scrievener come , this is the last sheet , his full point this tombe . of all aspersions i excuse him not , 't is knowne he liu'd not , without many a blot ; yet he no ill example shew'd to any , but rather gave good coppies unto many : he in good letters alwaies hath beene bred and hath writ more , then many men have read . he rulers had as his command by law , and though he could not hang , yet he could draw . he far more bond men had & made than any , a dash alone of his pen ruin'd many . that not without good reason , we might call hi● letters great or little capitall : yet is the scriveners fate as sure as just , when he hath all done , then he falls to dust . . on a chandler . how might his dayes end that made weekes ? or hee that could make light , here laid in darkenes bee ? yet since his weekes were spent how could he chose but be depriu'd of light & his trade lose ▪ yet dead the chandler is , and sleep's in peace , no wonder ! long since melted was his greace : it seemes that he did evill , for daylight he hated , and did rather wish the night , yet came his workes to light , & were like gold prou'd in the fire , but could not tryall hold . his candle had an end , and death's black night is an extinguisher of all his light . . on a young gentle-woman . nature in this small volume was about to perfect what in women was left out ; yet carefull least a peice so well begun should want preservatives when she had done : e're she could finish , what she undertooke , threw dust upon it , and shut up the booke . . on an infant . the reeling world turn'd poet , made a play , i came to see 't , dislik't it , w●nt my way . . on a lady dying quickly after her husband . he first deceased , she a little try'd to live without him , liked not , and dy'd . . on a smith . farewell stout iron-side , not all thine art could make a shield against death's envious dart . without a fault no man , his life doth passe , for to his vice the smith addicted was . he oft , ( as choller is encreas't by fire ) was in a ●ume , and much enclin'd to ire . he had so long bin us'd to forge , that he was with a blacke coale markt for forgery but he for witnesse needed not to care , who but a blacke-smith was , though ne●'e so fayre . and opertunities he slacked not that knew to strike , then when the●ir'n was hot as the doore-nailes he made , hee 's now as dead , he them , & death him , hath knockt on the head . . on mr. stone . jerusalems curse is not fulfill'd in mee , for here a stone upon a stone you see . . on a child . into this world as stranger to an inne this child came guest-wise , where when it had beene a while and f●und nought worthy of his stay , he onely broke his fast & went away . . on a man drown'd in the snow . within a fleece of silent waters drown'd ; before my death was knowne a grave i found . that which exil'd my life from her sweet home , for griefe straight froz it selfe into a tombe . one element my angry fate thought meet to be my death , grave , tombe , & winding-sheet , phaebus himselfe mine epitaph had writ , but blotting many e're he thought one fit ; he wrote untill my grave , and tombe were gone , and ●twas an epitaph that i had none ; for every one that passed by that way , without a sculpture read that there ● lay ; here now the second time untomb'd i lye , and thus much have the best of destinie : corruption from which onely one was free , devour'd my grave but did not feede on mee : my first grave tooke me from the ●ace of men , my last shall give me backe to life agen . . on prince henry . in natur's law 't is a plaine case to dye , no cunning lawyer can demurre on that ; for cruell death and destiny , serve all men with a latitat . so princely henry ; when his case was try'd , confess'd the action , paid the debt , and dy'd . . on mr. strange . here lyes one strange , no pagan , turke , nor jew it 's strange , but not so strange as it is true . . on a scholler . forbeare friend t' unclaspe this booke onely in the fore-front looke , for in it have errours bin , which made th' authour call it in : yet know this , 't shall have more worth , at the second comming forth . . on a young woman . the body which within this earth is laid , twice sixe weekes knew a wife , a saint , a maid ; fair maid , chast wif , pure saint , yet 't is not strange she was a woman therefore pleas'd to change : and now shee 's dead , some woman doth remaine for still she hopes , on●e to be chang'd againe . . on brawne . here br●wne the quondam begger lyes ▪ who counted by his tale , full sixscore winters in his life ; such vertue is in ale . ale was his meate , ale was his drinke , ale did him long reprive , and could he still have drunke his ale , he had beene still alive . . on a lyar . good passenger ! here lyes one here , that living did lie every where . . on a dyer . he lives with god none can deny , that while he liv'd to th' world did dye . . on a candle . here lyes ( i wot ) a little star that did belong to jupiter , which from him prometheus stole and with it a fire-coale . or this is that i meane to handle , here doth lie a farthing-candle that was lov●d well , having it's light , but losing that , now bids good-night . . another . here lyes the chandlers chiefest say here lyes the schollers pale-fac'd boy , having nought else but skin and bone dy'd of a deepe consumption . . on m. r. who soonest dyes lives long enough , our life is but a blast or puffe . i did resist and strive with death but soone he put me out of breath ; he of my life thought to bereave me but i did yeeld onely to breathe me . o're him i shall in triumph sing , thy conquest grave , where is thy sting ? . on an inne-keeper . it is not i that dye , i doe but leave an inne , where harbour'd was with me all filthy kind of sin ; it is not i that dye , i doe but now begin into eternall joy by faith to enter in . why weepe you then my friends , my parents & my kin lament ye whē i lose , but weep not when i win . on hobson the carrier . whom seeke ye sirs ? old hobson ? fye up●n your tardinesse , the carrier is gone . why stare you so ? nay you deserve to faile , alas here 's naught , but his old rotten maile . her went a good-while since , no question store are glad , who vext he would not goe before : and some are grieu'd hee 's gone so soone away , the lord knowes why he did no longer stay . how could he please you all ? i 'm sure of this , he linger'd soundly howsoe're you misse . but gone he is , nor was he surely well at his departure as mischance befell , for he is gone in such unwonted kinde as ne're before , his goods all left behinde . . on bolus . if gentlenesse could tame the fates , or wit delude them , bolus had not dyed yet ; but one that death o're rules in judgement sits , and saies ou● sins are stronger than our witts . . on iuggler . death came to see thy trickes and cut in twaine thy thread , why did'st not make it whole againe . on a child . a child and dead ? alas ! how could it come ? surely thy thread of life was but a thrumme . . on a clowne . softly tread this earth upon , for here lyes our corydon who through care to save his sheepe watcht too much , oh let him sleepe ! . on queene anne . thee to invite the great god sent his star , whose friends & kinsmen mightie princes are for though they run the race of men and dye , death serves but to refine their majesty . so did the queen from hence her court remove , and left the earth to be enthron'd above . thus is she chang'd not dead , no good prince dyes but like the day-star , onely sets to rise . . on sir horatio palavozeene . here lyes sir horatio palavozeene , who robb'd the pope to pay the queene , and was a theife . a theife ? thou ly'st : for why , he robo'd but antichrist . him death with his beesome sweept from babram , into the bosome of old abraham : but then came hercules with his club , and struck him downe to belzebub . . on an onely child . here lyes the fathers hope , the mothers joy , though they seeme haplesse , happy was the boy who of this life , the long and tedious race , hath travell'd out in lesse then moneth 's space ; oh happie soule to whom such grace was given ▪ to make so short a voyage backe to heaven , as here a name & christendome t' obtaine and to his maker then returne again● . . another . as carefull nurses on their beds doe lay , their babes which would too long the wantons play ▪ so to prevent my youth's ensuing crimes nature my nurse laid me to bed betimes . . on a mu●●tian . be not offended at our sad complaint , you quire of angels , that have gain'd a saint ! where all perfection met in skill and voice , we mourne our losse , but yet commend your choyce . . on prince henry . did he dye young ? oh no , it could not be , for i know few , that liv'd so long as he . till god and all men lov'd him , then be bold the man that lives so long must needs be old . . on a cobler . come hither , reade , my gentle friend ! and here behold a cobler's end . longer in length his life had gone , but that he had no laste so long ; o mighty death ! whose dart can kill , the man that made him soules at will. . on master doe . do is my name , and here i lye , my grammar tells me , do fit di. . on a gard'ner . could hee forget his death that ev'ry houre was emblem'd to it , by the fading flowre ? should hee not mind his end ? yes sure he must that still was conversant 'mong beds of dust . . on edmund spencer , poet laureat . he was , and is ( see then where lyes the od●s ) once god of poets , poet now to th' gods , and though his time of life , be gone about , the life of his lines never shall weare out . . ou taylour a sergeant , kill'd by a horse . a taylour is a thiefe , a sergeant is worse who here lyes dead , god-a-mercy horse . . on sir francis drake , drowned . where drake first found , there last he lost his fame and for his tombe left nothing but his name . his body 's buried under some great wave , the sea that was his glory , is his grave . of him no man , true epitaph can make , for who can say , here lies sir francis drake ? . on a drunkard . by●ax the drunkard , while he liv'd would say , the more i drinke the more me think 's i may : but see how death ha●h prov'd his saying just , for he hath drunke himselfe as dry as dust . . on a child . tread softly passenger ! for here doth lye a dainty jewell of sweet infancie : a harmelesse babe , that onely came & cry'd in baptisme to bee washt from sin and dy'd . . another . in this marble-casket lyes a matchlesse jewell of rich prize whom nature in the worlds disdaine but shew'd and put it up againe . . on master stone . here worthy of a better chest , a pretious stone inclos'd doth rest whom nature had so rarely wrought that pallas it admir'd and thought , no greater jewell , than to weare still such a diamond in her eare : but sicknesse did it from her wring , and placed it in libitina's ring , who changed natures worke a new and death's pale image , in it drew ▪ pitty that paine had not been sav'd ▪ so good a stone to be engrav'd . . on master aire . vnder this stone of marble fayre lyes th'body ' ntomb'd of gervase aire . he dy'd not of an ague fitt nor surfetted of too much witt , me thinks this was a wond'rous death , that aire should dye for want of breath . . on a young man. surpriz'd by griefe and sicknesse here i lye , stopt in my middle age and soone made dead , yet doe not grudge at god , if soone thou dye , but know hee trebles favours on thy head . who for thy morning worke , equalls thy pay , with those that have endur'd the heate of day . on master sand's . who would live in others breath ? fame deceives the dead mans trust , when our names doe change by death ; sands i was and now am dust . . on a scholler . some doe for anguish weepe , for anger i , that ignorance should live , and arte should dye . . on master goad . go adde this verse , to goad's herse , for goad is gone , but whither ? goad himselfe , is gone to god 't was death's goad drove him thither . . on master munday . hallowed be the sabboath , and farewell all worldly pelfe ; the weeke begins on tuesday , for munday hath hang'd himselfe . . on the two littletons who were drowned at oxford . . herelye wee ( reader canst thou not admire ? ) who both at once by water dy'd and fire , for whilst our bodies perisht in the deepe , our soules in love burnt , so we fell asleepe , let this be then our epitaph , here lyes two , yet but one , one for the other dyes . . on a matron . here lyes a wife was chaste , a mother blest , a modest matron , all these in one chest : sarah unto her mate , mary to god , martha to men , whilst here she had abode . . in latine thus . vxor casta , parens foelix , matrona pudica , sara viro , mundo mart●a , maria de● . . on a butler . that death should thus from hence our butler into my minde it cannot quickly sinke , sure death came thirsty to the butt'ry-hatch catch when he ( that buisy'd was ) deny'd him drinke . tut 't was not so , 't is like he gave him liquour and death made drunke , him made away the quicker yet let not others grieve to much in mind ( the butlers gone ) the key 's are left behind . . on a souldier . when i was young in warres i shed my blood , both for my king and for my countries good ; in elder yeares , my care was chie●e to be souldier to him that shed his blood for me . . on a tobacconi●t . loe here i lye , roll'd up like th' indian weede my pipes i have pack't up , for breath i neede . man's breath 's a vopour , he himselfe is grasse my breath , but of a weede , the vapour was . when i shal turne to earth , good friends ! beware least it evap'rate and infect the ayre . . on master thomas allen. no epitaphs neede make the just man fam'd , the good are prays'd , when they are only nam'd . on master cooke . to god , his country , and the poore , he had a zealous soule , free heart , and lib'rall minde . his wife , his children , and his kindred sad lacke of his love , his care , and kindnesse finde : yet are their sorrowes asswag'd w th the thought he hath attayn'd the happinesse he sought . . on a printer whose wife was lame . sleep william ! sleep , she that thine eyes did close makes lame iambiques for thee , as shee goes . . on a taylour who dy'd of the stitch . here lyes a taylour in this ditch , who liv'd and dyed by the stitch . . on a dumbe fellow dying of the collicke . here lyes iohn dumbello , who dy'd because he was so for if his breech could have spoke , his heart sur●ly had not broke . . on isabella a curtezan . he who would write an epitaph whereby to make faire is'bell laugh , must get upon her , and write well here underneath lyes isabell. . on a vertuous wife , viz. susanna wife to mr. william horsenell . in briefe , to speake thy praise let this suffice , thou wert a wife , most loving , modest , wise ; of children carefull , to thy neighbour's kind , a worthy mistris and of liberall mind . . on m. christopher lawson . death did not kill unjustly this good-man , but death in death by death did shew his power , his pious deedes & thoughts to heaven fore-ran ; there to prepare his soule a blessed bower . . on hobson the carrier . here hobson lyes amongst his many betters , a man unlearned , yet a man o● letters , his carriage was well knowne , oft hath he gone in embassye 'twixt father and the sonne ; there 's few in cambridge , to his praise be it spoken but may remember him , by some good token : from whence he rid to london day by day , till death benighting him , he lo●t his way , his teame was of the best , nor would he have benee min'd in any way , but in the grave . nor is 't a wonder , that he thus is gone , since all men knew , he long was drawing on . thus rest in peace thou everlasting swaine and supreame waggoner , next charles his wayne . . on a welshman . here lyes puried under these stones shon ap williams ap ienkyn ap iones , her was porne in wales , her was kill'd in fra●●e her went to cottpy a fe●y mischance , la yee now ▪ . on m. pricke . vpon the fith day of november christ's colledge lost a privie , member ▪ cupid and death did both their arrowes micke , cupid shot short , but death did hit the pricke . women lament and maidens make great mones because the pri●ke 〈…〉 the stones . . 〈…〉 porter . at length by worke of wond'rous face here lyes the porter of wynchester-gate : if gone to heav'n , as much i feare , he can be but a porter there : he fear'd not hell so much for 's sinne , as for th' great rapping and oft comming in . . on m. carter , burnt by the great powder - mischance in finsbury . here lyes an honest carter ( yet no clowne ) vnladen of his cares , his end the crowne , vanisht from hence even in a cloud of smoake , a blowne-up citizen , and yet not broke . . on a lady dying in child-bed . borne at the first to bring another forth , shee leaves the world , to leave the world her worth thus phaenix-like , as she was borne to bleede dying herselfe , renew's it in her seede . . on prince henry . loe where he shineth yonder a fixed starre in heaven , whose motions thence , coms under none of the planets seven : if that the moone shou'd tender , the sunne her love and marry , they both could not ●ngender , so bright a starre as harry . . vpon one , who dy'd in prison . reader , i liv'd , enquire no more , least a spye enter in at doore , such are the times a dead-man dare not trust or creditt common ayre : but dye , and lye entombed here , by me , i 'le whisper in thine eare such things as onely dust to dust , ( and without witnesse ) may entrust . . on sir walter rawleygh . if spite be pleas'd , when as her object 's dead , or malice pleas'd , when it hath bruiz'd the head or envie pleas'd , when it hath what it would , then all are pleas'd , for rawleyh's blood is cold , which were it warme & active would o'recome and strike the two first blind , the other dumbe . . on doctour hacket's wife . drop mournful eyes your pearly trick'ling teares flow streames of sadnesse , drowne the spangled spheares fall like the tumbling cataracts of nile , make deafe the world with cries ; let not a smile appeare , let not an eye be seene to sleepe nor slumber , onely let them serve to weepe her deare lamented death , who in her life was a religious , loya●l , loving wife , of children tender to an husband kinde th' undoubted symptoms of a vertuous minde ▪ which mak's her glorious , bove the highest pole , where angels sing sweet requicins to her soule shee liv'd a none-such , did a non-such dye neere non-such here her corpes interred lye . . on waddham . colledge-butler . man's life is like a new turn'd caske they say , the fore-most draught is most times cast aw●y , such are our younger yeares , the following still , are more and more inclining unto ill ; such is our man-hood , untill age at length , doth sowre it's sweetnes ▪ & doth stop it's strēgth then death prescribing to each thing it's 〈◊〉 takes what is left , and tu●nes it all to grounds . . on a horse . here lyes a horse , who dyed but to make his master goe on foot . a miracle should it be so the dead to make the lame to goe ; yet fate would have it , that the ●ame should make him goe , that made him lame . . on aratyne . here biting aretyne lyes buried , with gall more bitter never man was fed ▪ the living , nor the dead to carpe he spar'de , nor yet for any king or caesar car'd . onely on god to rayle he had forgot ▪ his answer was , indeed i know him not . . on william coale an ale-house-keeper , at coaton neere cambridg● . doth william coale lye here ? hēceforth be stale , be strong , & laugh on us , thou coaton ale ! living indeed , he with his violent hand never left grasping thee , while he could stand . but death at last , hath with his fiery flashes burnt up the coale , and turn'd it into ashes . . on one andrew leygh who was vext with a shrewd wife , in his life-time . here lyes leygh , who vext with a shrewd wife to gaine his quiet , parted with his life , but see the spight , she , that had alwaies crost him living , dyes , & mean's to haunte his ghost . but she may faile , for andrew out of doubt will cause his brother peter , shutt her out . . on richard burbage a famous actour . — exit burbage . . on an infant unborne , the mother dying in travell . the father digg'd a pit , and in it left part of himselfe interr'd , that soone bereft the mother of the gift , she gave , life ; so both now are buried in one tombe of woe . 't is strange the mother should a being give ▪ and not have liberty to make it live . 't was strange , that the child blindfold espi'd so quick and neere a way to parricide ▪ yet both are justly question'd , child and mothe● are guilty of the killing of each other . not with an ill intent , both did desire preserves for life , and not a funerall fire ; and yet they needs must dye , & 't was thought best to keepe the infant in the mother's chest ; it had both life and death from her , the wombe in which it was begot , became the tombe ; there was some marble sav'd , because in her the wombe that bare it , was a sepulcher ; whose epitaphs are these , - here lyes a child that shall be free from all sins but originall . here lyes a pittied mother that did dye onely to beare her poore child companie . . in quendam . stay mortall , stay , remove not from this tombe before thou hast consider'd well thy dombe ; my bow stands ready bent & could●st it see mine arrow 's drawne to head , and aymes at thee ; prepare yet wandring ghost , take home this line the grave that next is op'ned , may be thine . . on sir philip sy●ney . reader . within this ground sir philip sydney lyes nor is it fit that more , i should acquaint , least superstition rise and men adore , a lover , scholler , souldier , & a saint . . vpon iohn crop , who dyed by taking a vomit . man's life 's a game at tables , and he may mend his bad fortune , by his wiser play ; death pla●'s against us , each disease and sore are blotts , if hit , the danger is the more to lose the the game ; but an old stander by bind's up the blotts , and cures the malady , and so prolongs the game ; john crop was hee death in a rage did challenge for to see his play , the dice are throwne , when first he drink 's cast's , makes a blott , death hits him with a synke he cast's againe , but all in vaine , for death by th' after-game did winne the prize , his breath what though his skill was good , his luck was bad for never mortall man worse casting had . but did not death play false , to w●nne from such as he , no doubt he bare a man too much . . on q elizabeth king's , queens , men's , virgin 's eyes see , where the mirrour lyes . in whom her friend's have ●eene , a kings state in a queene : in whom her foes survay'd , a man's heart in a mayde : whom least men for her piety should grow to thinke some diety , heaven hence by death did summon her , to shew she was a woman . . on a vertuous youth . reader , let a stone thee tell that in this body , there did dwell a soule as heavenly , rich , and good as e're could live in flesh and blood : and therefore heav'n that held it deare ▪ did let it stay the lesse while here ▪ whose corps here sacred ashes mak's thus heav'n and earth have parted stakes . . on a learned noble man. hee that can reade a sigh and spell a teare , pronounce amaze-ment , or accent wilde feare , or get all grei●e by heart , hee , onely hee is fit to write , or reade thy elegye . unvalued lord ! that wer 't so hard a text , reade in one age and understood i' th' next . . on a lady . finis and bonum are converted , so that ev'ry good thing to an end must goe . . on mr. mychael drayton buried in westminster , admarmor tumulj . doe pious marble let thy readers know what they and what their children owe to drayton's sacred name , whose ●ust we recommend unto thy trust . protect his memory , preserve his story and a lasting monument of his glory , and when thy ruines shall disclaime to be the treasury of his name : his name , which cannot fade , shall bee an everlasting monument to thee . . on a faulconer . death with her talons having seas'd this prey , after a tedious flight truss'd him away . we mark'd him , here he fell , whence he shall rise at call , till then unretriu●d here he lyes . . on a cocke-master . fare-well stout hott-spur , now the battail's done in which th' art foyi'd , & death hath over-come having o're-matcht thy strength , & made thee stoop she quickly forct thee on the pit to droop from whence thou art not able , rise or stir : for death is now become , thy vanquisher . ▪ on a pious benefactour . the poore , the world , the heavens , & the grave his almes , his praise , his soule , and body have . . vpon hodge pue's father . oh cruell death that stopt the view ; of thom's parishioner good-man pue , who lived alwaies in good order , vntill that death stopt his recorder , which was betwixt easter and penticost , in the yeare of the great frost , at new-market then was the king : when as the bells did merrily ring ; the minister preached the day before vnto his highnesse , and no more , returning home said prayers , and bnried the man as i understand . . on m. washington , page to the prince . knew'st thou whose these ashes were ; reader thou would'st weeping sweare , the rash fate er●'d here ; as appeares , counting his vertues for his yeares , his goodnesse made them so o're seene , which shew'd him threescore ; at eighteene . enquire not his disease or paine ! he dy'd of nothing else but spayne , where the worst calenture he feeles , are jesuites , and alguaziles , where he is not allow'd to have , ( vnlesse he steal 't ) a quiet grave . hee needes no other epitaph or stone but this , here lyes lov'd washington , write this in teares , in that loose dust and every greiv'd beholder must , when he waigh●s him , and knowes his yeares ▪ renew the let●ers with his teares . . on gustavus adolphus , king of sweden . the world expects swede's monumentall stone , should equall the philosophers , each groane should breath a golden veine , and ev'ry verse should draw elixar from his fatall hearse . no fitter subject where strong lines should meet than such a noble center ; could the feet of able verse but trace his rectories , they neede not feare o're strayn'd hyperbole's , where all 's transoendent , who out-paralell'd plutarch's selected heroes ; and is held the tenth of worthies , who hath over-acted great caesar's german-comments , & contracted his expeditions by preventing awe , he often over-came before hee saw ; and ( what of his great sonne jove us'd to say ) hee alwaies either found or made his way . such was his personall and single fight , as if that death it selfe had ta'ne her flight into brave swedens scabbard , when he drew ; death with that steele inevitably flew ; his campe a church , wherein the gen'rall's life was the best sermon , and the onely strife ' amongst his was to repeate it , bended knee was his prime posture , and his ●nemy found this most praevalent , his discipline impartiall and exact , it did out-shine those antique martiall-graecian , roman lamps from w ch most of the worlds succeeding camps have had their borrow'd light ; this , this was hee all this and more , yet even all this can dye . death surely ventur'd on the swede ' to try if heav'n were subject to mortality ; and shot his soule to heav'n , as if that shee could ( if not kill ) unthrone a diety bold death 's deceiv'd , 't is in another sense that heav'n is said to suffer violence . no yr'n chaine-shot , but 't is the golden chaine of vertue and the graces , are the maine that doe unhinge the everlasting gates all which like yoaked undivided mates , were linck't in sweden , where they were enchain'd like orthodoxall volumes nothing feign'd , though fairely bound his story is not dipt in oyle , ●ut in his owne true manuscript . it is enough to name him , surely wee have got that roman's doating lethargy and may our names forget , if so we can forget the name of sweden ; renown●d man ! thon hadst no sooner made the worthies ten but heavē did claime the tenth ; zealous that men would idolize thee , but their inst●ment . thus thy meridian prov'd thy occiden . had longer dayes beene graunted by the fates , rome had heard this hanniball at her gates farewell thou austrian scourge , thou moderne wonder , srange raine hath followed thy last clap of thunder , a shower of teares : and yet for ought we know , the horne that 's left . may blow downe jericho . finis . imprimatur . octob. . . matth. clay . ovtlandish proverbs , selected london , printed by t. p. for humphrey blunden ; at the castle in corn-bill . . outlandish proverbs . . man proposeth , god disposeth . . hee begins to die , that quits his desires . . a handfull of good life , is better then a bushell of learning . . he that studies his content , wants it . . every day brings his bread with it . . humble hearts , have humble desires . . hee that stumbles and falles not , mends his pace . . the house shewes the owner . . hee that gets out of debt , growes rich . . all is well with him , who is beloved . . all came from , and will goe to others . . he that will take the bird , must not skare it . . he lives unsafely , that lookes too neere on things . . a gentle houswife , marres the houshold . . a crooked log makes a strait fire . . he hath great neede of a foole , that plaies the foole himselfe . . a marchant that gaines not , looseth . . let not him that feares feathers , come among wild-foule . . love , and a cough cannot be hid . . a dwarfe , on a gyants shoulder , sees further of the two . hee that sends a foole , means to follow him . . brabling curres never want sore eares . . better the feet slip then the tongue . . for washing his hands , none fels his lands . . a lyons skin is never cheape . . the goate must browse where she is tyed . . who hath a wolfe for his mate , needes a dog for his man. . in a good house all is quickly ready . . a bad dog never sees the wolfe . . god oft hath a great share in a little house . . ill ware is never cheape . . a cherefull looke , makes a dish a feast . . if all fooles had bables , wee should want fuell . . vertue never growes old . . evening words are not like to morning . . were there no fooles , badd ware would not passe . . never had ill workeman good tooles . . hee stands not surely , that never slips . . were there no hearers , there would be no backbiters . . every thing is of use to a houskeeper . . when prayers are done , my lady is ready . . at length the fox turnes monk. . flies are busiest about leane horses . . harken to reason or shee will bee heard . . the bird loves her nest . . every thing new , is fine . . when a dog is a drowning , every one offers him drink . . better a ba●e foote then none . . who is so deafe , as he that will not heare . . he that is warme , thinkes all so . . at length the fox is brought to the fu●rier . . hee that goes barefoot , must not plant thornes . . they that are booted are not alwa●es ready . . he that will learne to pray , let him goe to sea. . in spending , lies the advantage . . hee that lives well is learned enough . . ill vessells seldome miscarry . . a full belly neither fights nor flies well . . all truths are not to be told . . an old wise mans shaddow , is better then a young buzzards sword . . noble houskeepers neede no dores . . every ill man hath his ill day . . sleepe without supping , and wake without owing ▪ . i gave the mouse a hole , and she is become my heire . . assai●e who will , the valiant attends . . whether goest griefe ? where i am wont . . praise day at night , and life at the end . . whether shall the oxe goe , where he shall not labour . . where you thinke there is bacon , there is no chimney . . mend your cloathes , and you may hold out this yeare . . presse a stick , and it seemes a youth . ● . the tongue walkes where the teeth speede not . . a faire wife and a frontire castle breede quarrels , . leave jesting whiles it pleaseth , lest it turne to earnest . . deceive not thy physitian , confessor , nor lawyer . . ill natures , the more you aske them , the more they stick . . vertue and a trade are the best portion for children . . the chicken is the countries , but the citie eateth it . . he that gives thee a capon , give him the leg and the wing . . hee that lives ill , feare followes him . . give a clowne your finger , and he will take your hand . . good is to bee sought out , and evill attended . . a good pay-master starts not at assurances . . no alchymy to saving . . to a grate full man give mony when he askes . . who would doe ill ne're wants occasion . . to fine folkes a little ill finely wrapt . . a child correct behind and not before . . to a faire day open the window , but make you ready as to a foule . . keepe good men company , and you shall be of the number . . no love to a fathers . . the mill gets by going . . to a boyling pot flies come not . . make hast to an ill way that you may get out of it . . a snow yeare , a rich yeare . . better to be blinde , then to see ill . . learne weeping , and thou shalt laugh gayning . . who hath no more bread then neede , must not keepe a dog . . a garden must be lookt unto and drest as the body . . the fox , when hee cannot reach the grapes , saies they are not ripe . . water trotted is as good as oates . . though the mastiffe be gentle , yet bite him not by the lippe . . though a lie be well drest , it is ever overcome . . though old and wise , yet still advise . . three helping one another , beare the burthen of sixe . . old wine , and an old friend , are good provisions . . happie is hee that chastens himselfe . . well may hee smell fire , whose gowne burnes . . the wrongs of a husband or master are not reproached . welcome evill , if thou commest alone . . love your neighbour , yet pull not downe your hedge . . the bit that one eates , no friend makes . . a drunkards purse is a bottle . . shee spins well that breedes her children . . good is the mora that makes all sure . . play with a foole at home , and he will play with you in the market . . every one stretcherh his legges according to his coverlet . . autumnall agues are long , or mortall . marry your sonne when you will ; your daughter when you can . . dally not with mony or women . . men speake of the faire , as things went with them there . . the best remedy against an ill man , is much ground betweene both . . the mill cannot grind with the water that 's past . . corne is cleaned with winde , and the soule with chastnings . . good words are worth much , and cost little . . to buy deare is not bounty . . jest not with the eye or with religion . . the eye and religion can beare no jesting . . without favour none will know you , and with it you will not know your selfe . . buy at a faire , but sell at home . . cover your selfe with your shield , and care not for cryes . . a wicked mans gift hath a touch of his master . . none is a foole alwaies , every one sometimes . . from a chollerick man withdraw a little , from him that saies nothing , for ever . . debters are lyers . . of all smells , bread : of all tasts , salt . . in a great river great fish are found , but take heede , lest you bee drowned . . ever since we weare cloathes , we know not one another . . god heales , and the physitian hath the thankes . . hell is full of good meanings and wishings . . take heede of still waters , the quick passe away . . after the house is finisht , leave it . . our owne actions are our security , not others judgements . . thinke of ease , but worke on . . hee that lies long a bed his estate feeles it . . whether you boyle snow or pound it , you can have but water of it . . one stroke fells not an oke . . god complaines not , but doth what is fitting . . a diligent shcoller and the master 's paid . . milke saies to wine , welcome friend . . they that know one another , salute a farre off . . where there is no honour , there is no griefe . . where the drink goes in , there the wit goes out . . he that staies does the businesse . almes never make poore others . . great almes-giving lessens no mans living . . giving much to the poore , doth inrich a mans store . . it takes much from the account , to which his sin doth amount . . it adds to the glory both of soule and body . ill comes in by ells , and goes out by inches . the smith and his penny both are black . whos 's house is of glasse , must not throw stones at another . . if the old dog barke he gives counsell . . the tree that growes slowly , keepes it selfe for another . . i wept when i was borne , and every day shewes why . . hee that lookes not before , finds him selfe behind . . he that plaies his mony ought not to value it . . he that riseth first , is first drest . . diseases of the eye are to bee cured with the elbow . . the hole calls the thiefe . . a gentlemans grayhound , and a salt-box ; seeke them at the fire . . a childs service is little , yet hee is no little foole that despiseth it . . the river past , and god forgotten . . evils have their comfort , good none can support ( to wit ) with a moderate and contented heart . . who must account for himselfe and others , must know both . . hee that eats the hard shall eate the ripe . . the miserable man makes a peny of a farthing , and the liberall of a farthing sixe pence . . the honey is sweet , but the bee stings . . waight and measure take away strife . . the sonne full and tattered , the daughter empty and fine . . every path hath a puddle . . in good yeares corne is hay , in ill yeares straw is corne . . send a wise man on an errand , and say nothing unto him . . in life you lov'd me not , in death you bewaile me . . into a mouth shut , flies flie not . . the hearts letter is read in the eyes . the ill that comes out of our mouth ●alles into our bosome . . in great pedigrees there are governours and chand●ers . . in the house of a fidler , all fiddle . . sometimes the best gaine is to lose . . working and making a fire doth discretion require . . one graine fills not a sacke , but helpes his fellowes . . it is a great victory that comes without blood . . in war , hunting , and love , men for one pleasure a thousand griefes prove . . reckon right , and february hath one and thirty daies . . honour without profit is a ring on the finger . . estate in two parishes is bread in two wallets . . honour and profit lie not in one sacke . . a naughty child is better sick , then whole . . truth and oyle are ev●r above . . he that riseth betimes hath some thing in his head . . advise none to marry or to goe to warre . . to steale the hog , and give the feet for almes . . the thorne comes forth with his point forwards . . one hand washeth another , and both the face . . the fault of the horse is put on the saddle . . the corne hides it self in the snow , as an old man in furrs . . the jewes spend at easter , the mores at marriages , the christians in sutes . . fine dressing is a foule house swept before the doores . . a woman and a glasse are ever in danger . . an ill wound is cured , not an ill name . . the wise hand doth not all that the foolish mouth speakes . . on painting and fighting looke aloofe . . knowledge is folly , except grace guide it . . punishment is lame , but it comes . . the more women looke in their glasse , the lesse they looke to their house . . a long tongue is a signe of a short hand . . marry a widdow before she leave mourning . . the worst of law is , that one suit breedes twenty . . providence is better then a rent . . what your glasse telles you , will not be told by councell . . there are more men threatned then stricken . . a foole knowes more in his house , then a wise man in anothers . . i had rather ride on an asse that carries me , then a horse that throwes me . , the hard gives more then he that hath nothing . . the beast that goes alwaies never wants blowes . . good cheape is deare . . it costs more to doe ill then to doe well . . good words quench more then a a bucket of water . . an ill agreement is better then a good judgement . . there is more talke then trouble . . better spare to have of thine own , then aske of other men . . better good afarre off , then evill at hand . . feare keepes the garden better , then the gardiner . . i had rather aske of my sire browne bread , then borrow of my neighbour white . . your pot broken seemes better then my whole one . . let an ill man lie in thy straw , and he lookes to be thy heire . . by suppers more have beene killed then gallen ever cured . . while the discreet advise the foole doth his busines . . a mountaine and a river are good neighbours . . gossips are frogs , they drinke and talke . . much spends the traveller , more then the abider . . prayers and provender hinder no journey . . a well-bred youth n●ither speakes of himselfe , nor being spoken to is silent . . a journying woman speakes much of all , and all of her . . the fox knowes much , but more he that catcheth him . . many friends in generall , one in spcciall . . the foole askes much , but hee is more foole that grants it . . many kisse the hand , they wish cut off . . neither bribe nor loose thy right . . in the world who knowes not to swimme , goes to the bottome . . chuse not an house neere an inne , ( viz for noise ) or in a corner ( for filth . ) . hee is a foole that thinks not , that another thinks . . neither eyes on letters , nor hands in coffers . . the lyon is not so fierce as they paint him . . goe not for every griefe to the physitian , nor for every quarrell to the lawyer , nor for every thirst to the pot . . good service is a great inchantment . . there would bee no great ones if there were no little ones . . it 's no sure rule to fish with a crosbow . . there were no ill language , if it were not ill taken . . the groundsell speakes not save what it heard at the hinges . . the best mirrour is an old friend . . say no ill of the yeere , till it be past . . a mans discontent is his worst evill . . feare nothing but sinne . . the child saies nothing , but what it heard by the sire . . call me not an olive , till thou see me gathered . . that is not good language which all understand not . . hee that burnes his house warmes himselfe for once . . he will burne his house , to warme his hands . . hee will spend a whole yeares rent at one meales meate . . all is not gold that glisters . . a blustering night , a faire day . . bee not idle and you shall not bee longing . . he is not poore that hath little , but he that desireth much . . let none say , i will not drinke water . . hee wrongs not an old-man that steales his supper from him . . the tongue talkes at the heads cost . . hee that strikes with his tongue , must ward with his head . . keep not ill men company , lest you increase the number . . god strikes not with both hands , for to the sea he made havens , and to rivers foords . . a rugged stone growes smooth from hand to hand . . no lock will hold against the power of gold . . the absent partie is still faultie . . peace , and patience , and death with repentance . . if vou loose your time , you cannot get mony nor gaine . . bee not a baker , if your head be of butter . aske much to have a little . . litle stickes kindle the fire ; great ones put it out . . anothers bread costs deare . . although it raine , throw not away thy watering pot . . although the sun shine , leave not thy cloake at home . . a little with quiet is the onely dye● . . in vaine is the mill clacke , if the m●●er his hearing lack . . by the needle you shall draw the thread , and by that which is past , see how that which is to come will be drawne on . . stay a little and news will find you . . stay till the lame messenger come , if you will know the truth of the thing . . when god will , no winde , but brings raine . . though you rise early , yet the day comes at his time , and not till then . . pull downe your hatt on the winds side . . as the yeere is , your pot must seeth . . since you know all , and i nothing , tell me what i dreamed last night . . when the foxe preacheth , beware geese . . when you are an anvill , hold you still ; when you are a hammer strike your fill . . poore and liberall , rich and coveteous . . he that makes his bed ill , lies there . . hee that labours and thrives spins gold . . he that sowes trusts in god. . hee that lies with the dogs , riseth with fleas . . hee that repaires not a part , builds all . . a discontented man kwes not where to sit easie . . who spits against heaven , it falls in his face . . hee that dines and leaves , layes the cloth twice . . who eates his cock alone must saddle his horse alone . . he that is not handsome at , nor strong at , nor rich at , nor wise at will never bee handsome , strong , rich , or wise . . hee that doth what hee will , doth not what he ought . . hee that will deceive the fox , must rise betimes . . he that lives well sees a farre off . . he that hath a mouth of his owne , must not say to another ; blow . . he that will be served must bee patient . . hee that gives thee a bone , would not have thee die . . he that chastens one , chastens . . he that hath lost his credit is dead to the world . . he that hath no ill fortune , is troubled with good . . hee that demands misseth not , unlesse his demands be foolish . . he that hath no hony in his pot , let him have it in his mouth . . he that takes not up a pin , slilghts his wife . . he that owes nothing , if he makes not mouthes at us , is courteous . . hee that looseth his due , gets not thankes . . hee that beleeveth all , misseth , hee that beleeveth nothing , hitts not . . pardons and pleasantnesse are great revenges of slanders . . a married man turnes his staffe into a stake . . if you would know secrets , looke them in griefe or pleasure . . serve a noble disposition , though poore , the time comes that hee will repay thee . . the fault is as great as hee that is faulty . . if folly were griefe every house would weepe . . hee that would bee well old , must bee old betimes . . sit in your place and none can make you rise . . if you could runne , as you drinke , you might catch a hare . . would you know what mony is , go borrow some . . the morning sunne never lasts a day . . thou hast death in thy house , and dost bew aile anothers . . all griefes with bread are lesse . . all things require skill , but an appetite . . all things have their place , knew wee , how to place them . . little pitchers have wide eares . . we are fooles one to another . . this world is nothing except it tend to another . . there are three waies , the vniversities , the sea , the court. . god comes to see without a bell . . life without a friend is death without a witnesse . cloath thee in war , arme thee in peace . . the horse thinkes one thing , and he that sadles him another . . mills and wives ever want . . the dog that licks ashes , trust not with meale . . the buyer needes a hundred eyes , the seller not one . . he carries well , to whom it waighes not . . the comforters head never akes . . step after step the ladder is ascended . . who likes not the drinke , god deprives him of bread . . to crazy ship all winds are contrary . . justice pleaseth few in their owne house . . in times comes he , whom god sends . . water a farre off quencheth not fire . . in sports and journeys men are knowne . . an old friend is a new house . . love is not found in the market . . dry feet , warme head , bring safe to bed . . hee is rich enough that wants nothing . . one father is enough to governe one hundred sons , but not a hundred sons one father . . farre shooting never kild bird . . an upbraid●d morsell never choaked any . . dearths foreseene come not . . an ill labourer quarrells with his tooles . . hee that falles into the durt , the longer he stayes there , the fowler he is . . he that blames would buy . . he that sings on friday , will weepe on sunday . . the charges of building , and making of gardens are unknowne . . my house , my house , though thou art small , thou art to me the escuriall . . a hundred loade of thought will not pay one of debts . . hee that comes of a hen must scrape . . he that seekes trouble never misses . . he that once deceives is ever suspected . . being on sea saile , being on land settle . . who doth his owne businesse , foules not his hands . . hee that makes a good warre makes a good peace . . hee that workes after his owne manner , his head akes not at the matter . . who hath bitter in his mouth ▪ spits not all sweet . . he that hath children , all his morsels are not his owne . . he that hath the spice , may season as he list . . he that hath a head of waxe must not walke in the sunne . . he that hath love in his brest , hath spurres in his sides . . hee that respects not , is not respected . . hee that hath a fox for his mate , hath neede of a net at his girdle . . he that hath right , feares , he that hath wrong , hopes . . hee that hath patience hath fatt thrushes for a farthing . . never was strumpet faire . . he that measures not himselfe , is measured . . hee that hath one hogge makes him fat , and hee that hath one son makes him a foole . . who letts his wife goe to every feast , and his horse drinke at every water , shall neither have good wife nor good horse . . he that speakes sowes , and he that holds his peace , gathers . . he that hath little is the lesse durtie . . he that lives most dies most . . he that hath one foot in the straw , hath another in the spittle . . hee that 's fed at anothers hand may sray long ere he be full . . hee that makes a thing too fine , breakes it . . hee that bewailes himselfe hath the cure in his hands . . he that would be well , needs not goe from his owne house . . councell breakes not the head . . fly the pleasure that bites to morrow . . hee that knowes what may bee gained in a day never steales . . mony refused looseth its brightnesse . . health and mony goe farre . , where your will is ready , your feete are light . . a great ship askes deepe waters . . woe to the house where there is no chiding . . take heede of the viniger of sweet wine . . fooles bite one another , but wisemen agree together . . trust not one nights ice . . good is good , but better carries it . . to gaine teacheth how to spend . . good finds good . . the dog gnawes the bone because he cannot swallow it . . the crow bewailes the sheepe , and then eates it . . building is a sweet impoverishing . . the first degree of folly is to hold ones selfe wise , the second to professe it , the third to dsepise counsell . . the greatest step is that out of doores . . to weepe for joy is a kinde of manna . . the first service a child doth his father is to make him foolish . . the resolved minde hath no cares . . in the kingdome of a cheater , the wallet is carried before . . the eye will have his part . . the good mother sayes not , will you ? but gives . . a house and a woman sute excellently . . in the kingdome of blind men the one ey'd is king . . a little kitchin makes a large house . . warre makes theeves , and peace hangs them . . poverty is the mother of health . . in the morning mountaines , in the evening fountaines . . the back-doore robs the house . . wealth is like rheume , it falles on the weakest parts . . the gowne is his that weares it , and the world his that enjoyes it . . hope is the poore mans bread . . vertue now is in herbs and stones and words onely . . fine words dresse ill deedes . . labour as long liu'd , pray as even dying . . a poore beauty finds more lovers then husbands . . discreet women have neither eyes nor eares . . things well fitted abide . . prettinesse dies first . . talking payes no toll . . the masters eye fattens the horse , and his foote the ground . . disgraces are like cherries , one drawes another . . praise a hill , but keepe below . . praise the sea , but keepe on land . . in chusing a wife , and buying a sword , we ought not to trust another . . the wearer knowes , where the shoe wrings . . faire is not faire , but that which pleaseth . . there is no jollitie but hath a smack of folly . . he that 's long agiving , knowes not how to give . . the filth under the white snow , the sunne discovers . . every one fastens where there is gaine . . all feete tread not in one shoe . . patience , time and money accommodate all things . . for want of a naile the shoe is lost , for want of a shoe the horse is lost , for want of a horse the rider is lost . . weigh justly and sell dearely . . little wealth little care . . little journeys and good cost , bring safe home . . gluttony kills more then the sword . . when children stand quiet , they have done some ill . . a little and good fills the trencher . . a penny spar'd is twice got . . when a knave is in a plumtree he hath neither friend nor kin . . short boughs , long vintage . . health without money , is halfe an ague . . if the wise erred not , it would goe hard with fooles . . beare with evill , and expect good . . he that tells a secret , is anothers servant . . if all fooles wore white caps , wee should seeme a flock of geese . . water , fire , and shouldiers , quickly make roome . . pension never inriched young man. . vnder water , famine , under snow bread . . the lame goes as farre as your staggerer . . he that looseth is marchant as well as he that gaines . . a jade eates as much as a good horse . . all things in their beeing are good for something . . one flower makes no garland . . a faire death honours the whole life . . one enemy is too much . . living well is the best revenge . . one foole makes a hundred . . one paire of eares drawes dry a hundred tongues . . a foole may throw a stone into a well , which a hundred wise men cannot pull out . . one slumber finds another . . on a good bargaine thinke twice . . to a good spender god is the treasurer . . a curst cow hath short hornes . . musick helps not the tooth-ach . . we cannot come to honour under coverlet . ▪ great paines quickly find ease . . to the counsell of fooles a woodden bell . . the cholerick man never wants woe . . helpe thy selfe , and god will helpe thee . . at the games end we shall see who gaines . . there are many waies to fame . . love is the true price of love . . love rules his kingdome without a sword . . love makes all hard hearts gentle . . love makes a good eye squint . . love askes faith , and faith firmenesse . . a scepter is one thing , and a ladle another . . great trees are good for nothing but shade . . hee commands enough that obeyes a wise man. . faire words makes mee looke to my purse . . though the fox run , the chicken hath wings . . he plaies well that winnes . . you must strike in measure , when there are many to strike on one anvile . . the shortest answer is doing . . it 's a poore stake that cannot stand one yeare in the ground . . he that commits a fault , thinkes every one speakes of it . . he that 's foolish in the fault , let him be wise in the punishment . . the blind eate many a flie . . he that can make a fire well , can end a quarrell . . the tooth-ach is more ease , then to deale with ill people . . hee that should have what hee hath not , should doe what he doth not . . he that hath no good trade , it is to his losse . . the offender never pardons . . he that lives not well one yeare , sorrowes seven after . . he that hopes not for good , feares not evill . . he that is angry at a feast is rude . . he that mockes a cripple , ought to be whole . . when the tree is fallen , all goe with their hatchet . . he that hath hornes in his bosom , let him not put them on his head . . he that burnes most shines most . . he that trusts in a lie , shall perish in truth . . hee that blowes in the dust fills his eyes with it . . bells call others , but themselves enter not into the church . . of faire things , the autumne is faire . . giving is dead , restoring very sicke . . a gift much expected is paid , not given . . two ill meales make the third a glutton . . the royall crowne cures not the head-ach . . 't is hard to be wretched , but worse to be knowne so . . a feather in hand is better then a bird in the ayre . . it 's better to be head of a lyzard , then the tayle of a lyon. , good & quickly seldome meete . . folly growes without watering . . happier are the hands compast with yron , then a heart with thoughts . , if the staffe be crooked , the shaddow cannot be straight . . to take the nuts from the fire with the dogges foot . . he is a foole that makes a wedge of his fist . . valour that parlies , is neare yeelding . . thursday come , and the week's gone . . a flatterers throat is an open sepulcher . . there is great force hidden in a sweet command . . the command of custome is great . . to have money is a feare , not to have it a griefe . . the catt sees not the mouse ever . . little dogs start the hare , the great get her . . willowes are weake , yet they bind other wood . . a good prayer is master of anothers purse . . the thread breakes , where it is weakest . . old men , when they scorne young make much of death . . god is at the end , when we thinke he is furthest off it . . a good judge conceives quickly , judges slowly . . rivers neede a spring . . he that contemplates , hath a day without night . . give loosers leave to talke . . losse embraceth shame . . gaming , women , and wine , while they laugh they make men pine . . the fatt man knoweth not , what the leane thinketh . . wood halfe burnt is easily kindled . . the fish adores the bait . . he that goeth farre hath many encounters . . every bees hony is sweet . . the slothfull is the servant of the counters . . wisedome hath one foot on land , and another on sea. . the thought hath good leggs , and the quill a good tongue . . a wise man needes not blush for changing his purpose . . the march sunne raises but dissolves not . time is the rider that breakes youth . . the wine in the bottell doth not quench thirst . . the sight of a man hath the force of a lyon. . an examin'd enterprize , goes on boldly . . in every art it is good to have a master . . in every country dogges bite . . in every countrey the sun rises in the morning . . a noble plant suites not with a stubborne ground . . you may bring a horse to the river , but he will drinke when and what he pleaseth . . before you make a friend , eate a bushell of salt with him . . speake fitly , or be silent wisely ▪ . skill and confidence are an unconquered army . . i was taken by a morsell , saies the fish . . a disarmed peace is weake . . the ballance distinguisheth not betweene gold and lead . . the perswasion of the fortunate swaies the doubtfull . . to bee beloved is above all bargaines . . to deceive ones selfe is very easie . . the reasons of the poore weigh not . . perversnes makes one squint ey'd . . the evening praises the day , and the morning a frost . . the table robbes more then a thiefe . . when age is jocond it makes sport for death . . true praise rootes and spreedes . . feares are divided in the midst . . the soule needes few things , the body many . . astrologie is true , but the astrologers cannot finde it . . ty it well , and let it goe . . emptie vessels sound most . . send not a catt for lard . . foolish tongues talke by the dozen . . love makes one fitt for any work . . a pittifull mother makes a scald head . . an old physitian , and a young lawyer . . talke much and erre much , saies the spanyard . . some make a conscience of spitting in the church , yet robbe the altar . . an idle head is a boxe for the winde . . shew me a lyer , and i le shew thee a theefe . . a beane in liberty , is better then a comfit in prison . . none is borne master . . shew a good man his errour and he turnes it to a vertue , but an ill , it doubles his fault . . none is offended but by himselfe . . none saies his garner is full . . in the husband , wisedome , in the wife gentlenesse . . nothing dries sooner then a teare . . in a leopard the spotts are not observed . . nothing lasts but the church . . a wise man cares not for what he cannot have . . it 's not good fishing before the net . . he cannot be vertuous that is not rigorous . . that which will not be spun , let it not come betweene the spindle and the distaffe . . when my house burnes , it 's not good playing at chesse . . no barber shaves so close , but another finds worke . . ther 's no great banquet , but some fares ill . . a holy habit clenseth not a foule soule . . forbeare not sowing , because of birds . . mention not a halter in the house of him that was hanged . . speake not of a dead man at the table . . a hatt is not made for one shower . . no sooner is a temple built to god but the devill builds a chappell hard by . . every one puts his fault on the times . . you cannot make a wind-mill goe with a paire of bellowes . . pardon all but thy selfe . . every one is weary , the poore in seeking , the rich in keeping , the good in learning . . the escaped mouse ever feeles the taste of the bait . . a litle wind kindles ; much puts out the fire . . dry bread at home is better than rost meate abroad . . more have repented speech then silence . . the coveteous spends more then the liberall . . divine ashes are better then earthly meale . . beauty drawes more then oxen . . one father is more then a hundred schoolemasters . . one eye of the masters sees more , then ten of the servants . . when god will punish , hee will first take away the understanding . . a little labour , much health . . when it thunders , the theefe becomes honest . . the tree that god plants , no winde hurts it . . knowledge is no burthen . . it 's a bold mouse that nestles in the catts eare . . long jesting was never good . . if a good man thrive , all thrive with him . . if the mother had not beene in the oven , shee had never sought her daughter there . if great men would have care of little ones , both would last long . . though you see a church-man ill , yet continue in the church still . . old praise dies , unlesse you feede it . . if things were to be done twice , all would be wise . . had you the world on your chesse-bord , you could not fit all to your mind . . suffer and expect . . if fooles should not foole it , they should loose their season . . love and businesse teach eloquence . . that which two will , takes effect . . he complaines wrongfully on the sea that twice suffers shipwrack . . he is onely bright that shines by himselfe . . a valiant mans looke is more then a cowards sword . . the effect speakes , the tongue needes not . . divine grace was never slow . . reason lies betweene the spurre and the bridle . . it 's a proud horse that will not carry his owne provender . . three women make a market . . three can hold their peace , if two be away . . it 's an ill councell that hath no escape . . all our pompe the earth covers . . to whirle the eyes too much shewes a kites braine . . comparisons are odious . . all keyes hang not on one girdle . great businesses turne on a little pinne . . the wind in ones face makes one wise . . all the armes of england will not arme feare . . one sword keepes another in the sheath . . be what thou wouldst seeme to be . . let all live as they would die . . a gentle heart is tyed with an easie thread . sweet discourse makes short daies and nights . . god provides for him that trusteth . . he that will not have peace , god gives him warre . . to him that will , waies are not wanting . . to a great night a great lanthorne . . to a child all weather is cold . . where there is peace , god is . . none is so wise , but the foole overtakes him . . fooles give , to please all , but their owne . . prosperity le ts goe the bridle . . the frier preached against stealing , and had a goose in his sleeve . . to be too busie gets contempt . . february makes a bridge and march breakes it . . a horse stumbles that hath foure legges . . the best smell is bread , the best savour , salt , the best love that of children . . that 's the best gowne that goes up and downe the house . . the market is the best garden . . the first dish pleaseth all . . the higher the ape goes , the more he shewes his taile . . night is the mother of councels . . gods mill grinds slow , but sure . . every one thinkes his sacke heaviest . . drought never brought dearth . . all complaine . . gamsters and race-horses never last long . . it 's a poore sport that 's nor worth the candle . . he that is fallen cannot helpe him that is downe . . every one is witty for his owne purpose . . a little lett lets an ill workeman . . good workemen are seldome rich . . by doing nothing we learne to do ill . . a great dowry is a bed full of brables . . no profit to honour , no honour to religion . . every sin brings it's punishment with it . . of him that speakes ill , consider the life more then the words . . you cannot hide an eele in a sacke . . give not s. peter so much , to leave saint paul nothing . . you cannot flea a stone . . the chiefe disease that raignes this yeare is folly . . a sleepy master makes his servant a lowt . . better speake truth rudely , then lye covertly . . he that feares leaves , let him not goe into the wood . one foote is better then two crutches . . better suffer ill , then doe ill . . neither praise nor dispraise thy selfe , thy actions serve the turne . . soft and faire goes farre . . the constancy of the benefit of the yeere in their seasons , argues a deity . . praise none to much , for all are fickle . . it 's absurd to warme one in his armour . . law sutes consume time , and mony , and rest , and friends . . nature drawes more then ten teemes . . hee that hath a wife and children wants not businesse . . a shippe and a woman are ever repairing . . he that feares death lives not . . he that pitties another , remembers himselfe . . he that doth what he should not , shall feele what he would not . . hee that marries for wealth sells his liberty . . he that once hitts , is ever bending . . he that serves , must serve . . he that lends , gives . . he that preacheth giveth almes . . he that cockers his child , provides for his enemie . . a pittifull looke askes enough . . who will sell the cow , must say the word . . service is no inheritance . . the faulty stands on his guard . . a kinsman , a friend , or whom you intreate , take not to serve you , if you will be served neately . . at court , every one for himselfe . . to a crafty man , a crafty and an halfe . . hee that is throwne , would ever wrestle . . he that serves well needes not ask his wages . faire language grates not the tongue . . a good heart cannot lye . . good swimmers at length are drowned . good land , evill way . . in doing we learne . . it 's good walking with a horse in ones hand . . god , and parents , and our master , can never be requited . . an ill deede cannot bring honour . . a small heart hath small desires . . all are not merry that dance lightly . . curtesie on one side only lasts not long . . wine-counsels seldome prosper . . weening is not measure . . the best of the sport is to doe the deede , and say nothing . . if thou thy selfe canst doe it , attend no others helpe or hand . . of a little thing a little displeaseth . ▪ he warmes too neere that burnes . . god keepe me from foure houses , an vsurers , a taverne , a spittle , and a prison . . in hundred elles of contention , there is not an inch of love . . doe what thou oughtest , and come what come can . . hunger makes dinners , pastime suppers . . in a long journey straw waighs . . women laugh when they can , and weepe when they will. . warre is deaths feast . . set good against evill . . hee that brings good newes knockes hard . . beate the dog before the lyon. . hast comes not alone . . you must loose a flie to catch a trout . . better a snotty child , then his nose wip'd off . . no prison is faire , not love foule . . hee is not free that drawes his chaine . . hee goes not out of his way , that goes to a good inne . . there come nought out of the sacke but what was there . . a little given seasonably , excuses a great gift . . hee lookes not well to himselfe that lookes not ever . . he thinkes not well , that thinkes not againe . . religion , credit , and the eye are not to be touched . . the tongue is not steele , yet it cuts . . a white wall is the paper of a foole . . they talke of christmas so long , that it comes . . that is gold which is worth gold . . it 's good tying the sack before it be full . . words are women , deedes are men . . poverty is no sinne . . a stone in a well is not lost . . he can give little to his servant , that lickes his knife . . promising is the eve of giving . . hee that keepes his owne makes warre . . the wolfe must dye in his owne skinne . . goods are theirs that enjoy them . . he that sends a foole expects one . . he that can stay obtaines . . hee that gaines well and spends well , needes no count booke . . he that endures , is not overcome . . he that gives all , before hee dies provides to suffer . . he that talkes much of his happinesse summons griefe . hee that loves the tree , loves the branch . who hastens a glutton choakes him . . who praiseth saint peter , doth not blame saint paul. . he that hath not the craft , let him shut up shop . . he that knowes nothing , doubts nothing . . greene wood makes a hott fire . . he that marries late , marries ill . . he that passeth a winters day escapes an enemy . . the rich knowes not who is his friend . . a morning sunne , and a wine-bred child , and a latin-bred woman , seldome end well . . to a close shorne sheepe , god gives wind by measure . a pleasure long expected , is deare enough sold. . a poore mans cow dies rich mans child . . the cow knowes not what her taile is worth , till she have lost it . . chuse a horse made , and a wife to make . . it 's an ill aire where wee gaine nothing . . hee hath not liv'd , that lives not after death . . so many men in court and so many strangers . . he quits his place well , that leaves his friend there . . that which sufficeth is not little . . good newes may bee told at any time , but ill in the morning . . hee that would be a gentleman , let him goe to an assault . . who paies the physitian , does the cure . . none knowes the weight of anothers burthen . . every one hath a foole in his sleeve . . one houres sleepe before midnight , is worth three after . . in a retreat the lame are formost . . it 's more paine to doe nothing then something . . amongst good men two men suffice . . there needs a long time to know the worlds pulse . . the ofspring of those that are very young , or very old , lasts not . . a tyrant is most tyrant to himselfe . . too much taking heede is losse . . craft against craft , makes no living . . the reverend are ever before . . france is a meddow that cuts thrice a yeere . . 't is easier to build two chimneys , then to maintaine one . . the court hath no almanack . . he that will enter into paradise . must have a good key . . when you enter into a house , leave the anger ever at the doore . . hee hath no leisure who useth it not . . it 's a wicked thing to make a dearth ones garner . . he that deales in the world needes foure seeves . . take heede of an oxe before , of an horse behind , of a monke on all sides . . the yeare doth nothing else but open and shut . . the ignorant hath an eagles wings , and an owles eyes . . there are more physitians in health then drunkards . . the wife is the key of the house . . the law is not the same at morning and at night . . warre and physicke are governed by the eye . . halfe the world knowes not how the other halfe lies . . death keepes no calender . . ships feare fire more then water . . the least foolish is wise . . the chiefe boxe of health is time . . silkes and satins put out the fire in the chimney . . the first blow is as much as two . the life of man is a winter way . . the way is an ill neighbour . . an old mans staffe is the rapper of deaths doore . . life is halfe spent before we know , what it is . . the singing man keepes his shop in his throate . . the body is more drest then the soule . . the body is sooner drest then the soule . . the physitian owes all to the patient , but the patient owes nothing to him but a little mony . . the little cannot bee great , unlesse he devoure many . . time undermines us . . the chollerick drinkes , the melancholick eates ; the flegmatick sleepes . . the apothecaries morter spoiles the luters musick . . conversation makes one what he is . . the deafe gaines the injury . . yeeres know more then bookes . . wine is a turne-coate ( first a friend , then an enemy . ) . wine ever paies for his lodging . . wine makes all sorts of creatures at table . . wine that cost nothing is digested before it be drunke . . trees eate but once . . armour is light at table . . good horses make short miles . . castles are forrests of stones . . the dainties of the great , are the teares of the poore . . parsons are soules waggoners . . children when they are little make parents fooles , when they are great they make them mad . . the mr. absent , and the house dead . . dogs are fine in the field ▪ . sinnes are not knowne till they bee acted . . thornes whiten yet doe nothing . . all are presumed good , till they are found in a fault . . the great put the little on the hooke . . the great would have none great and the little all little . the italians are wise before the deede , the germanes in the deede , the french after the deede . . every mile is two in winter . . spectacles are deaths harquebuze . . lawyers houses are built on the heads of fooles . . the house is a fine house , when good folke are within . . the best bred have the best portion . . the first and last frosts are the worst . . gifts enter every where without a wimble . . princes have no way . . knowledge makes one laugh , but wealth makes one dance . . the citizen is at his businesse before he rise . . the eyes have one language every where . . it is better to have wings then hornes . . better be a foole then a knave . . count not fowre except you have them in a wallett . . to live peaceably with all breedes good blood . . you may be on land , yet not in a garden . . you cannot make the fire so low but it will get out . . wee know not who lives or dies . . an oxe is taken by the horns , and a man by the tongue . . manie things are lost for want of osking . . no church-yard is so handsom , that a man would desire straight to bee buried there . . citties are taken by the eares . . once a yeare a man may say : on his conscience . . wee leave more to do when wee dye , then wee have done . . with customes wee live well , but lawes undoe us . to speake of an vsurer at the table , marres the wine . . paines to get , care to keep , feare to lose . . for a morning raine leave not your journey . . one faire day in winter makes not birds merrie . hee that learnes a trade hath a purchase made . . when all men have , what belongs to them , it cannot bee much . . though god take the sunne out of the heaven yet we must have patience . . when a man sleepes , his head is in his stomach . . when one is on horsebacke hee knowes all things . . when god is made master of a family , he orders the disorderly . . when a lackey comes to hells doore the devills locke the gates . . he that is at ease , seekes dainties . . hee that hath charge of soules , transports them not in bundles . . hee that tells his wife newes is but newly married . . hee that is in a towne in may , loseth his spring . . hee that is in a taverne , thinkes he is in a vine-garden . . he that praiseth himselfe , spattereth himselfe . . hee that is a master must serve ( another . ) . he that is surprized with the first frost , feeles it all the winter after . . hee a beast doth die , that hath done no good to his country . . he that followes the lord hopes to goe before . . he that dies without the company of good men , puts not himselfe into a good way . . who hath no head , needes no hatt . . who hath no hast in his businesse , mountaines to him seeme valleys . . speake not of my debts , unlesse you meane to pay them . . he that is not in the warres is not out of danger . . he that gives me small gifts , would have me live . . he that is his owne counsellor , knowes nothing sure but what hee hath laid out . . he that hath lands hath quarrells . . hee that goes to bed thirsty , riseth healthy . . who will make a doore of gold must knock a naile every day . . a trade is better then service . ▪ hee that lives in hope danceth without musick . . to review ones store is to mow twice . . saint luke was a saint and a physitian , yet is dead . . without businesse debauchery . . without danger we cannot get beyond danger . . health and sicknesse surely are mens double enemies . . if gold knew what gold is , gold would get gold i wis . . little losses amaze , great , tame . . chuse none for thy servant , who have served thy betters . . service without reward is punishment . . if the husband be not at home , there is nobodie . . an oath that is not to bee made , is not to be kept . . the eye is bigger then the belly . . if you would bee at ease , all the world is not . . were it not for the bone in the legge , all the world would turne carpenters ( to make them crutches . ) . if you must flie , flie well . . all that shakes falles not . . all beasts of prey , are strong or treacherous . . if the braine sowes not corne , it plants thistles . . a man well mounted , is ever cholerick . . every one is a master and servant . . a piece of a churchyard fitts every body . ▪ one month doth nothing without another . . a master of straw eates a servant of steele . . an old cat sports not with her prey . a woman conceales what shee knowes not . . hee that wipes the childs nose , kisseth the mothers cheeke . finis . psalmos theios, or a divine psalme or, song, wherein predestination is maintained, yet the honour of jehovah preserved and vindicated: and to that eternall song the holy scripture dedicated, / by john davis. whereunto is annexed an elogie upon the patron, with certaine divine epigrams to whom the author presented some of his books.. davis, john, b. or . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing d thomason e _ estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; :e [ ]) psalmos theios, or a divine psalme or, song, wherein predestination is maintained, yet the honour of jehovah preserved and vindicated: and to that eternall song the holy scripture dedicated, / by john davis. whereunto is annexed an elogie upon the patron, with certaine divine epigrams to whom the author presented some of his books.. davis, john, b. or . [ ], , [ ] p. printed, andare [sic] to be sold by humphrey moseley, at the princes arms in pauls church-yard, and by andrew kemb, at s. margarets hill in southwark, london, : .. the first two words of title are transliterated from the greek. the 'certain divine epigrams' has its own t.p. which reads: certain divine epigrams to certain worthy persons, approved friends, and neer relations, to whom the author presented some of his books. london, printed, anno dom. . partly in verse. signatures: a(-a )-h i . annotation on thomason copy: "decemb. ". reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng psalms -- early works to . epigrams, english -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - robyn anspach sampled and proofread - robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion ΨΑΛΜ ΟΣ ΘΕῙΟΣ , or a divine psalme or , song , wherein predestination is maintained , yet the honour of jehovah preserved and vindicated : and to that eternall song the holy scripture dedicated , by john davis . whereunto is annexed an elogie upon the patron , with certaine divine epigrams to whom the author presented some of his books . so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace , rom. . . what shall we say then ? is there unrighteousnesse with god ? god forbid , rom. . . london , printed , andare to be sold by humphrey moseley , at the princes arms in pauls church-yard , and by andrew kemb , at s. margarets hill in southwark , . vpon the title of this little book , namely , a psalme . psalms though now of late with us some men deem , as foolish , yet their worths deserve esteem . king david thus exhorteth well to sing , let s'ons children be joyfull in their king. israel he exhorteth all along , to praise , to sing unto the lord a a song . at singing psalms let none presume to rail ; for frō the heart through th'month it dothprevail , like gol'ahs sword ; for 't is aweapon strong to conquer , though to reason weak , a song , search godsword , see that place that irehearse , chron. twentieth chapter verse , jehos'phat consult's with those in his dayes , and appointed singers to th'lord , to praise the beauty of holinesse , and to say , before th' army , gods mercy is for aye : and when that they began to praise , to sing to god on high , their b everlasting king ; the purpose of their foes he did prevent , ' gainst ammons children god set ambushment ; for they were smitten , and each other smote . hallelujah was not in mouth nor c throat . to speak the worth , the force , the fame , the glory of singing , give me leave to sing this story : the protestants within a d town in france besieg'd , still at the time they did advance to fight rheir enemies , they would go out , singing of psalms or songs , which to the rout or company of their besiegers grew so terrible , though but the voice of few , that ere the gates were open , they could heare their singing voice , and run away for fear . now let men cease to say , to sing is vain , since holy writ , and story thwarts it plain . john davis . to his meditation . thy meaning here ( ô muse ) i pray dilate , canst thou the lord preserve , or vindicate ▪ is not jehovah all-sufficient , in and of himself ? pray , what hast thou meant by these thy words ? i answer , some do strive in this our age to rob , bereave , deprive god of his titles , they think it no shame , to say he mocks poor souls , now can you blame me thus to speak , since errours out of date ? to gods dispraise are fash'ons now of late ; the foes to truth say in predestination , the lord is guilty of equivocation , which i deny in all my foll'wing pages , concording with gods word & learned sages . yet not this ' lone , but many errours more have landed here of late on th' english shore , which i oppose according to my gift : and if by this i chance to give a lift , and displace this errour , un'versall grace , together with freewill , which creeps apace into our faith of late ; i shall do more in these few lines , than many heretofore in greater volumes ; ' cause i understand the hearts of all men are within gods hand , to be turned by whom , and when he please : i have a hope , that this may do 't with ease . i 'm satisfi'd ( ô mufe ) with this thou say'st , 't is wel thou speak'st thy mind ere thou decay'st . go forth with speed , & pow'r against thy foes , fear none of them , thy patron will oppose them all , thou hast likewise some friends that will , while they can speak , defend thine honest quill . while truth thou lov'st , & falshood dost disdain , thy neer and faithfull friend i shall remain . john davis . imprimatur , john downame . to the truly noble , that eternall song of divine inspiration , the administration of righteousnesse : the sacred scriptures of the old and new testament , john davis wisheth all preservation and glory in this age and in that to come . when i had finished this little book according to custome , i began to study a patron , i propounded in my thoughts divers men & that of no ordinary rank and quality , they were great men , and according to appearance good men , for i made it no small part of my study to choose such men that lov'd truth , that so they might the better protect it , but when i considered with my self , that no mortall man was infallible , and that the greatest , and best men in the world have but a time here , and that time * short , and that the strongest and ablest man hath not an irresistible power of himself to withstand the opposition made by multitudes of false spirits : i was discouraged to confirme any of those which were in my thoughts for a patron : then i began to propound my self unto my self , because i am best able to interpret my own meaning , and if occasion serve , to be my own advocate , and so patronize , and protect this little book from the violence of this our age , which loves novelty rather than truth , that which is new than that which is true , but then considering , if i should accept of my self , it would be something an undervaluing or slighting those worthy gentlemen that were in my thoughts , and an esteeming of my selfe , above my self : as if none were so wise as my self , which is meer folly , whereupon i was almost in the minde of sending this forth into the malicious world , amongst all its enemies without a patron , but at last the lord put into my head and heart to think upon your incomparable a selves , whom i have made choice of , for your fidelity , ability and perpetuity : if i had concluded on any other , though for the present it might have been patronized and defended , but alas ! in a short time , it would have been left fatherlesse , patronlesse and so become a poore distressed , despised and rejected little one ; but oh ! i could not have chosen the like : you are an immortall b seed , a patron that will remain from generation to generation : you are founded c for ever . man shall passe , nay heaven shall passe , and earth shall passe , but you will never passe d away . i may well compare epistles dedicatory to funerall sermons , wherein men use to commend and praise the party deceased beyond their deserts , and truly had i concluded upon any man , for my patron of this little work , i must have flattered him , or else in stead of protection , i might have expected correction : but for your parts , you will not only deserve what i shall say , but even excell the best language that i am able to speak concerning you : and it is better so , for i had rather be defective in my patrons commendations , than my patron defective indeserts . but now most compleat patron , i humbly beg your care of this my little one , when other patrons nare dead ; whe i my self am deceased you will be alive , to succour and maintain this issue of my minde , which i conceive with submission is so concording with yours . parents that have many children , sons and daughters , have a more private regard of their sons , because they bear up and continue their names , and amongst their sons they have a greater affection to protect , defend and preserve from danger and violence even him that most resembles the father in person and quality : noble friends , this , even this , is the seed of your loynes , it is your sonne , it bears up your e names , therefore i need not question your tender regard of it , but forasmuch as it resembles and favours you , do but favour it , and in so doing you will favour me , who while i can speak , will speak for you , and while i have a being cannot but be an admirer of all your excellencies , john davis . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or a divine psalme , or song : wherein predestination is maintained yet the honour of jehovah preserved and vindicated . we see through the perspective glasse of scripture , that what comes to passe in time , is decreed , fore-ordained by the a will of god , from all eternity . through this perspective lo we see , some b fore-ordain'd , by gods decree unto eternal c life , d & death . those design'd to life , are only sav'd , as in his word i finde . quest . now th' patrons of universall grace , do commonly demand in any case , how god can hence excused be from collusion , and deceit , if he will none convert nor save , but those whom from eternity he chose , seeing he offereth grace to all in his gospel , preach'd to great and small ? answ . for answer first , to this demand take this , being next unto my hand , that though the preaching of the gospel be alike communicable unto all , we see , yet the saving comfort , is for none : but snch , who are elected , them alone , unlike the a law , which bindes alike all men , 't is not on all entail'd , i speak it ore agen . hence the elect are stil'd abrahams seed , hence faith in christ for them is sole decreed , hence the voice of christ is come peculiar unto the b sheep of christ particular , from hence the holy spirit doth affect , to term true faith , the c faith of gods elect , as being proper , yea peculiar to none but to the saint , which is his chosen one . secondly , observe , that albeit , pastors are to preach the gospel , yet 't is not with intent to convert all which heare it , but such that god will call home , by that means , his dear respected , the lesser number , long ago elected . the apostle paul did preach , yea endure all things , but not for all , i am sure . i c suffer all things , the spirit by him spake but not for all , but for the d chosen sake . god hath e apostles , pastors , prophets too , yea ' vangelists , but what are these to do ? they are not given for all 's conversion , no , but for the elect , the f saints perfection . all gospel-preachers , thus are termed by holy scripture , 't is confirmed , th' are only sent as instruments to gather th'elect from the four winds or corners rather . thirdly , note , that though the gospel thus be preach'd by grace to every one of us ; yet 't is not heavens intent to save every one of us , that heard it have ; but only such that with love receive it , or such alone , that do g believe it . this prov'd by that of christs commission to his apostles , when he made apparition to them , and bid them in the world go teach , and the gospel to all creatures preach : he that believeth and is baptized , he shall be saved and dearly prized : but who believeth not , except he mend , tell him , already he is condemn'd . now none believes nor gains true saving faith , but gods a elect alone , the scripture saith . if this be granted then to me , doctrine . as i am sure it needs must be , that the gospel-graces are for none but for th' elect , reserv'd ; for them alone , then take , with you this observation , that there is no contradiction 'twixt the secret and revealed will of god , that can both save and kill , and that the holy god equivocates with none although he dedicates his gospel to all , to every nation , though not effectually unto salvation , as some object who are arminius sons or else some mad , at least some frantick ones : for none that understandeth well , will tax th' holy one of israel , with what he will nor cannot do ; 't is truth , god has his cannots too , he cannot a lie , he cannot change , nor die ; he neither will nor can himself deny . for how can he that is all b purity approve , much lesse commit iniquity ? wherefore ( from hence ) with me conclude , he cannot mock , deceive , delude . object but thus may some object , and this retort , that th' lord doth seriously exhort reprobates themselves to believe , repent , though 't was nere his abs'lute intent to work faith in their hearts , then so if that they cannot have ( i mean the reprobate ) power of themselves for to believe , god may be said , for to deceive ; because he doth exhort them to that ( without him ) they cannot do . answ . to this i frame my answer thus , if god , that knows each heart of us , should immediatly from heaven tell the reprobates , they are for hell ordain'd , without rdemption , or that he would not cause contrition in them , yet exhort particularly such , to resent effectually , there were some shew of mockery in god , who is fidelity . but here 't is otherwise , i dare presume and cannot but declare : for though the lord doth oft entreat unto repent the reprobate , who 're cast off in his secret will ; he not deludes i speak it still ; because the lord doth not invite immediately th' reprobate to light , i mean immediately from heaven , but mediately , by ministers , 't is given to preach the gospel , so that when they preach , they speak unto all men ; because they cannot say , a this is rejected or this , my hearer is elected : for what they know , 't is but in part , 't is god alone that knows b the heart : to ev'ry man the truth they shew , as to th'elect , for ought they know . again , because the reprobate , whom the great god doth oft entreat , exhort , and tender gospel-grace , knows not his own c estate , or case , whether he is for heav'n or hell destin'd , ordain'd , they cannot tell , since he was nere made partaker of th' privy counsel of his maker ; but only what he doth reveal within his word , which doth conceal , not determine or denominate this or that man a reprobate ; so that , for any thing they know their life 's a day of grace , and so there is none that can truly say , i 'm a reprobate or cast-away ; ' cause to each self , there 's possibility and more there is a probability of b'ing sav'd since they cannot know whether they 're rejected yea , or no. object . yet some object , the lord well knows what men he hath rejected , those cannot repent , because he hath with-held from them his grace of faith ; now god must needs equivocate , though unknown to each reprobate . answ . i answer , that if they cannot discover that god deludes them , how can any other that prosecutes this strange objection charge , the just , and righteous god , with couzenage ? what are they turned gods ? that they can thus unlock ; disclose , display , this hidden veiled mystery , that none within the world espie ; since a that gods wayes without all doubt are b a ships way , past finding out ? surel ' , if there be no reprobates , can say that god equivocates with any , with them , while h'exhorted them to believe , and be converted , and yet with-holds the grace , whereby they should upon his son relye ; because th ▪ are cannot truly know , whether they reprobates or no : then surely he that doth maintain this mysticall , or rather vain objection , must give ore for shame , thus basely the great god to blame , till of himself he 's able to trace the just god in fault , and in his own case only , and not on others thus to declaim before themselves in any wise complain of gods dealing with them , who do not vent a word ( perchance ) against unchang'd intent . thus more , be pleas'd to give me leave , god doth not reprobates deceive , in offering grace to them by the gospel in its ministry ; though he resolveth not to give the faith by which the just do live ; because th' reprobates i will maintain by th' gospel preach't to them do gain : as first , oft-times they bear away that which becomes a present stay to their drooping souls , which would sink into despair , should they not drink of th' gospels spring ; possibility they have , and more , a probability of true conversion , which none under heaven have , but such to whom the gospel's given . and secondly , they know the attributes of god which to the world he distributes , they know the nature , suff'rings and merits of jesus christ , and who ( by him ) inherits the kingdom , they know 't is such alone that hath a a soft , not a heart of stone . now are not these unmatched rare priviledges , beyond compare ? except saving knowledge , what doth excell ? to speak truly , i cannot tell , which as before , for ought they know they may obtain , e're hence they go . now who can say the lord doth hardly deal with reprobates ? i dare appeal unto themselves , who cannot but thus speak : jehovah doth not shut all his favours up , from the reprobate , but this is true , that i relate . thirdly , reprobates by th' gospel gain those outward blessings , which do pertain thereto , whereof they have a share as b great as such , who chosen are : the gospel commonly with it doth bring peace , plenty , with each outward thing , it always brings c blessings great , and many , of which reprobates drink , as deep as any ; therefore 't is not altogether vain to th' reprobates , as some would maintain . fourthly , reprobates though not sanctified : call'd by the gospel , yet 't is not denied but many morall vertues thence they gain , withall the d grace of god , which doth restrain their running head-long to th' excesse of vice , of sin , and wickednesse . the word of god becomes so prevalent , in their souls to whom 't is sent , that it makes them to act and do many things for god , yea and to go farre , i' th' practise of religion that they seem almost without suspicion to be th' elect of god , the sheep of jesus christ , which e he will keep ; therefore it comes into my minde again , though th' gospel doth not save , 't is not vain 't is by the gospel reprobates injoy communion with elect , which doth imploy my muse again , this to maintain , the gospel preached is not f vain : because the profit , and blessing 's not small , t' have fellowship with the best of all mankinde : t' enjoy the society of gods elect , who practise piety : because the scripture oft relates that god hath oft blest reprobates for th' only sake of his elect that live with them , in due respect . read what great blessings god did yield to josephs masters house , and field for josephs a sake , 't is on record i' th' book of truth , his written word . object . but some may say , the gospel aggravates the condemnation of the reprobates , because it leaves them all as i suppose without excuse , so they gain not but lose . answ . i answer such a man , even thus 't is true , 't is b better for some , they had nere knew the word , the gospel , yea , for only they that go on in a rebellious way without restraint : but as for such who are reclaimed by it much , they gain , obtein as shall appear by what i say and write down here , though 't doth their condemnation c aggravate yet know withall 't doth extenuate the same , another way : by detracting the number of their sins , which they 're acting while here they live , who would have added sin to sin : as if they were n'ere cladded therewith , notable to abstain , did not the gospel-check restrain , so , that observe , they gain more by the last than by the first they lose , for all your hast . how'ere i dare affirme the very knowledge of the gospel , is such a priviledge , and blessing of it self , that those who are ingenious reprobates , would not care with the gospel to undergo ( in fine ) a greater punishment , than lesser sine . but some perchance will answer thus , and say although i am in haste , yet i can stay to ask another question once again , answ . thus : if the gospel rightly do pertain to none , but god's elect , why is it then preached so generally to all men ? if it were truly ' ffectuall to none but th'elect , it should be preach't to them ' lone . quest . for answer , mark what shall be said in these reasons before you laid , the gospel is generally propounded : reason to th' elect , & reprobate : because confounded they are , or a mingled with each other , as the weeds , & tares are with the corne & grasse , or as the dust , the chaffe with wheat is found , or as the stones are with the solid ground . now as the b raine doth oft-times fall upon the tares , the weeds , and stones , as well as on the wheat , the fertile soyle , the grasse ; not ' cause it principally was intended to them , but for that they 're intermixed with the wheat , so the gospels pleasant showres fall upon the reprobated , the rejected one , ( whom holy scripture doth compare to rocks , to stones , to weeds , to tare , ) not , no not to save , ( as some sect do prate , ) but ' cause with gods elect they 're mixt , who are in scripture found compar'd c to wheat , to mellow ground : for whose effect'all calling , it was meant for whose change , conversion onely sent . reason secondly , 't is thus preached gen'rally , because ministers know not infallibly the reprobates from the elect , if they could know , who would reject the gospel , they would then deny unto such to preach , but alas they know not who are chosen , loved , who are d elected , nor who are reprobated , rejected , therefore it is they preach to all , that so th' elected they may call . reason thirdly , the gospel's preached thus to all , to ev'ry one of us : not to his chosen onely heavens heire , that so no souls might grieve , e despōd , despair of gods rich mercies , which they would , if god , his elect number should select , pick out and separate from th' wicked , or the reprobate , and let his word be preacht to none but his elect to them alone . yea needs must then each reprobate despair , run in some desperate course or way , knowing so full well , he is design'd and markt for hell : but while the gospel's preach'd to all , it keeps the reprobates , they fall not into th' pit , the gulf despaire : for gospel-way's though dark are faire . reason fourthly , 't is preach't to all that so god's love in christ all men might know : the more the gospel's preacht , the more are wrought upon to love , adore their god , for every dispensation vouchsaf't , for ' lected mans salvation . reason fifthly , b'cause't is a a rule to all , a square to live thereby as holy writ declare , and requires the same obed'ence respect from all , the reprobated , or elect : like princes laws that do command , exact respect from all , not to rebell in fact ; if the gospel that is to all a law , should not be preacht to all , to order , awe all mens spirits , the reprobated then would seem to be a kinde of lawlesse men , exempt from gods command , set free from the just gospels penalty ; which would not only blemish and obscure the latitude of holy writ , but sure it would much likewise darken and deprive the gospels b authour , of his prerog'tive , to whom all men , as to a king , a head subjected are , as in his word c i read . d sixthly min'sters to all , the gospel preach , that so they may the world instruct and teach : no soul whatever is converted , sav'd by th' outward letter , or e mans will deprav'd : if so , all gospel-hearers equally should be converted , sav'd thereby ; ' cause the disposit'on of one and all mankinde is just the same , since adam's fall ; but some thus teach , salvat'on 's of none , but in the free dispose of god alone , who worketh grace , how , where and when he will , yet not within all men , but whom he will , according to his grace in divers manners , d'grees , in any place . seventhly , to teach to fear , and tremble reason at god alone , before whom men assemble , and to wait on him , and wholly to depend upon his grace , which none can comprehend , since every f change in mens hearts indeed doth not from man , but god alone proceed . reason eighthly , to teach saints that have effectu'lly been call'd by th' gospel , in it's ministry : not in themselves to glory , brag or boast , nor outward letter , but to th' lord of hoast alone to tender glory , laud , and praise that hath vouchsafed them frō death to raise , and hath not done to others , in their race so much , though injoy the same word of grace . object . but now methinks i heare some thus object scripture saith , persons god doth not respect : this is his written word , how is it then , by th' gospel he saves some , and not all men ? answ . the argument i use , to quell this same , is very great , as great as gods own name ( jehovah ) is he not cr'ator , a god ? may not parents spare one son , use a rod to the other , although that they have bin joynt committers of the same fault or sin ? this is the onely argument or ground exprest in holy writ , that e're i found , god loveth because he loves , he will save : for this reason , ' cause e mercy he will have . he will punish this man , the other kill ; and all this he will do because he will , certainly if we did consider , weigh that we are in his hand like f potters clay , or did we not in heart like fooles deny gods right o're us , his sovereignty , as we are his creatures , that he may frame us how he please for th' glory of his name , none would dare the lord to interrogate why some he saves , and others reprobate ? do not gardners in their groūd for their mind root up one tree , prune others of that kinde ? do not nobles and gentlemen pull down one house , let others stand for their renown ? do they not ruine orchards , gardens , parks ? do they not kil somtimes stags , somtimes larks ? do they not kil this buck , this fowl , this hare ? and the other of their own pleasure spare ? doth a frail , weak , uncertain mortal man take on him , that without controule he can do what he please , with goods that are well unto the world of right to be his own ? and shall we then , whos 's own we are , deny known to god that priviledge , that liberty ? no , let no man presume to tax or blame the lord , but rather magnifie his name : we see that earthly kings do now and then dispence , disf'vours as well as love on men , displacing that subject , advancing this upon no other grounds , but that it is their a pleasure , yet none presumes to say to their sovereign , sir , what is that you do ? and shall not the sole cr'ator of all things , heavens monarch , the b sovereign of kings have so much honour to love or to kill ? on no other grounds but his royall will , shall we choose this man for a favourite , and others disrespect , reject , and slight ? and shall not god according to his name bound by no desert of man do the same ? yes , he will , for this is without dispute , god will not be mock't , nor lose one attribute . look no further , but in this common-wealth , doth he not bestow riches , honour , health , on whom it pleaseth him , and whom he will , doth he not here c pull down , destroy & kill ? doth not he act those things w ch none can let , though some at him do vex , repine and fret ? if now you grant , what here i do rehearse that god doth what he please in our un'verse : shall we not then allow him to elect whom he please ? also whom he will reject ? surely if man did but seriously consider the lord his propriety in us , for his pleasure he did ordain and make us , not for any profit , a gain , since of himself , he is omnipotent , and wanteth not , be'ng b all-sufficient : unto whose pleasure let frail finite man , submit himself and all his ; for what can a finite creature , wicked , frail and base deserve , merit at j'hova's throne of grace ? if god should say ( these words ) to us , go hence into the lowest hell , without ref'rence to our sins at all , let none answer why he dealeth so , but , 't is his will , reply . th' c apostle for his brethrens good , did burst into this language , would i were accurst , from jesus christ : & what now shall not we , though condemn'd , satisfi'd , contented be ? shall man be angry to endure a rod for th' only will and pleasure of his god ? but if we look on man , in adam lost ; who dare cōtend with the great lord of host ? who might all men , mankinde in pieces teare , being lost in adam before they were ; by nature are we not thus termed well strangers from the common-wealth of israel ? again , doth not my faithfull patron call us sinners all , since that of adams fall ? that we have broken all his laws , kept none of gods commands , but to all evill prone ? and if any man dare this same deny , our very conscience in our face will fly : now will any for strangers condescend so low as for a friend , a bosome friend ? and that all creatures are not sinners worse ? doth not sin deserve an eternall curse ? yet is it so , that god some men doth save , o admire this love ! at grace do not rave , but rather love , and on this meditate , how the great god at first did man create ? man was at first the best , the chief of all the creatures made , but lost it by a fall , he had engraven on him heavens a feature , but by this fall , became the meanest creature . o wretch man ! could nothing content or suit with thy desire , but the forbidden fruit ? o! 't was folly , shame , even too much haste as soon as made ; thus for our pleasant taste , to lose a paradise , how ? pleasant ? no , i see by this 't was bitter in the b third degree ; for which man 's a servant , yet worst of all he fell from the tree in t ' eternall thrall , from which doth god so good as to redeem some men : oh have this love in high esteem ! doth god this man unto salvation chuse , yet another as deep ingag'd refuse ? lo , here 't is manifested in thy sight , that the love of the lord is infinite ; doth he save some this or that , & damn th' rest ? lo , here 's mercy and justice plain exprest ; doth he not bring all out of their first state ? blesse him that some he doth compassionate . do not injustice on the lord retort , but bless and praise his name , & fear him for 't ▪ hath god made choice of thee , & not another ? oh! the praises of thy heart do not smother , but sing aloud unto the god of grace eternall thanks , for his indulgent face towards thee , who hast deserv'd as many , and as great punishments for sin , as any . if thou far'st well , do not of god complain , that other souls have not what you obtain . again , on the other side , what hath hee chosen other men , and rejected thee ? do not rail and maligne , but do confess it is gods justice for thy wickedness , his will , is not to be oppos'd , withstood , let not thine eye be ill , ' cause he is good : wish none cōdēn'd , because thou art not sav'd , blame none , because thy self thou hast enslav'd . let god do what he will , let him alone to do his pleasure with what is his own : let him dispence , perform , or execute , which royall title , name , or attribte , is meet according to his holy will ; then no malignant , sland'rous tongue or quill hath cause to say , he wrongs although he pardō this man , or that alone , and others harden . if princes be so good as to promote one traitor to their persons : just to vote anothers execution , with all speed for th'very same offence , fact , or like deed , like a king pharaoh ; i answer thus in short , who hath just cause to tax , to blame thē for 't ? may not a creditor be true , and just unto such loose debtors , that have through lust their bils forfeited , if he doth acquit one , yet another sue , withall commit him to the law , to be confin'd , b restrain'd ? doth not injustice here prove meerly fain'd ? what cause hath he of any just complaint , who for his wilfull debt hath just restraint ? if nat'rall parents have two prodigall sons , and they please to send for and to call home one , and what ? if they likewise affect , to make him be their heir , cast off , reject the other , what shew is here all along exprest to him , of injury , or wrong ? say masters have two servants that abuse their words , and yet retein one , and refuse to keep the other , but will forthwith cast him out of doors , is he not now displac't deservedly ? god deals but even so with wretched man since adams fall , for oh ! what debtors , traitors , c disobedient children are we ? what faithlesse , negligent servants ? the best deserveth not his breath of god , but reject'on , ex'cut'on , d death yet notwithstanding doth it , will or please jehovah some to pardon , and release ; to send for home some men , adopt or chuse them for his heirs , and to cast out , refuse others , what wrong is here ? though god award his love to this or that , and some discard ? doth all mankinde deserve rejection ? o what admirable love , affection doth god vouchsafe to shew ! a higher note of love was never , nor a juster vote by man , yet i wonder that god not prove so true a lover , since his name is love : likewise i do not , dare not , neither must any man who is rebellious dust , for god his well deserved justice blame him ; for as love , so justice is his name . f●om all the lines that i have here premised , let sinfull wretched man be well advised , how he renders this great and mighty name of a god : for what his titles are , the same he is now , let not frail , uncertain dust say god is partiall , mercilesse , unjust . o! let him have the praise and glory b due unto his titles nam'd from me , and you . i judge it meet to make an end , because i think enough's already said , to pause upon , enough to overthrow , or foil gainsayers , and i do not love to toil , but recreate , for it is my delight : to praise jehovah when i speak or write . and though i here conclude this psalm or song yet if my god will but untie my tongue , if he vouchsafe my worldly thoughts to raise , and keep me still within his perfect wayes , if he his oracles to me impart if he enlarge my much confined heart ; from heart with tongue i will alwayes to him sing hymns , and psalms of praise : lord plant more songs of praises in my brest , that though i end this song , i may not rest praising thee , but my wel tun'd heart may bless that love of thine , which tōgues cānot express . soli deo gloria . an elogie upon the incomparable divine patron of this little book , the sacred scriptures of the old and new testament . if i should here presume to speak your praise , some may object , i am too young of dayes , and that is truth , and so 's the oldest man , let him prepare to speak the best he can : but yet although my juvenility impede my muse from notes or strains so high , i 'ill speak what i have learn't in this my a age , and leave it to be judg'd by men more sage . you are good and perfect , clean , sweet , & pure ; you are righteous b , faithfull , sound , and sure . you 're the casket wherein those jewels are , ev'n c truth and peace , of late with us so rare . you are the mint of doctrine , th' only mine , where truth doth grow , the orb from whence it shine . who meditates on you is not to blame , for that your soūdnes dothpreserve frō c shame , while we like pilgrims here do walk along : your law doth prove to us , our chiefest d song , your law we should inherit , what 's that i say ? it should be our med'tation all e the day ; for what the lord our god did you ordain , you do perform , you nere return in f vain ▪ you are of no private stock , as some boast , your orig'nall is from the holy g ghost : you are unfeignedly the spirits h sword , you are the i way of truth , you are gods word . when any of us here do go astray , you call us back , and put us in the way , your power is such , you k build , & plant a crown , and then you root it up , and throw it down . you convert l souls , you make the simple wise ; your laws are pure , they'lluminate our m eyes , you 're like n a hammer , like a burning fire , how you break the rocky heart i admire : i 'm not able of my self , this t' unfold , how more you are to be desir'd than o gold . you are at liberty , you are not p bound , nought that belōgs to you shal fal to q groūd . whoever keeps your law is neer of r kin to christ , and an antagonist to sin . he that keeps your law shall know no ſ ill thing , your laws b'ing kept do take away deathssting . if we could keep your u laws , it would be thus , what we asked it should be granted us . but , oh ! 't is so with wretched lapsed man , he cannot keep your laws do what he can , 't is god to man must x understanding give , before he learn your laws , thereby to live ; yet of the y world the less we know and learn , the more of you and yours we shall discern . but what can man do any thing he ought , since of himself he hath not onegood z thought ? no , the great god himself must these things a teach , or else they are far ' nough out of mans reach : he cannot know your will , much lesse obey , yet pray'r is truly termed heavens b key . from all that hath been said , let 's all on you bestow our c loves , our hearts , as only due . lord , draw us to this love , with thy love-cords , that in hearts we be what w'express in words : but lest i seem prolix , i 'le here surcease , yet rest a breather after you and peace . john davis . certain divine epigrams to certain worthy persons , approved friends , and neer relations , to whom the authour presented some of his books . london , printed , anno dom. . to his most honoured father master davis minister of the gospel in hereford-shire . sir , if you vouchsafe ( in love ) to read each line , you 'll say with me the work 's your own not mine ; for what i say , or write i cannot own : what i have reapt , is that w ch you have sown , but yet ( i must confesse ) our authour more was principall herein , whom i adore to wit , the lord of heav'n , who gives to all and upbraideth none , whether great , or small . he 's father of us both , our gifts , and parts wherfore to him let 's both bequeath ourharts . but sir : the sum that once i borrow'd of you i cannot half discharge , though all be due , but please a little while to beare with mee , i 'le pay you all , and set my o surety free , but what was this sum money ? no' t was better , o! then , i doubt , i shall be still your debter : except for all , you will accept one part , which i will pay ( in love ) with all my hart , and what you say is truly due behinde : i 'le still be paying too , 't is th' honest minde ▪ of your eldest obedient , john davis . to his dear mother mistris davis . none can expresse the great , yet joyfull pain a mother undergoes a son to gain . yet since the lord hath made my wife a mother , i can the care , though not the pain discover . what care have i ! that those who bear my name may be instructed well , yours was the same for me , which was to me much hid , not known till now of late i had some of my own . now i know your pains ! , your cares , and your fears , your earnest late , and early pray'rs , and tears . as i now handle , dandle on my knee my son , and my daughter , so you did mee . but oh ! there 's much to mine as yet not done , which is perform'd by you to me , your sonne in all obedience , john davis . to my father in law thomas rider gentleman , and his loving consort my mother in law. my very few spare minutes i have spent , in studying of some pledge , or argument to prove my thankfulness unto you both , for that you freely did bequeath betroth your loves to me , thus cleer , thus plain set down , giving your daughter for my wife , my crown : to sign your love to me , you did bestow on me , the issue of your bodies , lo to signe my love to you i 'm not behinde , i give you here the issue of my minde . if any more remain to you from me , i cannot brook a debtor still to be . be sure of this , if god doth not with hold , i●le pay you all in better coine than gold . i am your loving son , john davis . to his dear wife abigail davis . love , let not thy love from anc'ent truthsdecline ; hate thou falshood : love truly truths divine . let not the love of earthly authors make thee love a truth , love truth for its own sake . none will slight cord'als , though a foe do send them , nor poys'n take though from a bosome friend . let nothing here be doubtful unto you , not that th' author , but th'patrō speaks it true . convince gain-sayers with the patrons words , they 're fitter weapons for this end than swords . if thou asswage the rage of some that rail , against this truth , thou dost like abigail preserve thy husband , and what doth belong to him , from danger , violence and wrong . accept of this , as i accepted thee , in love esteem it , as a gift from mee , your faithfull and loving husband , john davis . to the reverend , faithfull and profitable minister of the gospell : mr. rawlinson , of the parish of lambeth pastor . i know you will not slight truth , ' cause compact in verse , i did it truly to contract much matter in few words , in little space , and sir , to sing a psalm is no disgrace , the stile 's the recreat'on of my youth , if you but please to call the matter truth , no man i dare presume will then contend with it , that 's double-prais'd , that you cōmend . in contemplation of this paradox i seem'd to see destructive shelve's , and rocks , my soul was in a strait , could see no light , scyll'on my left a . charibais on my right , which to eschew i fixed both mine eyes on th'fixed star of scripture-verities , and so i was directed , guided far , from either danger by the foresaid star ; and your conduct , which i must needs confess hath been a happy instrument t' repress in me those wandrings from the perfect way of truth , where unregen'rate man doth stray . but now this point i do relie upon although by some 't is heterocliton . sir , from your mouth proceedeth strength to quell , deprav'd , rebell'ous nature , sin and hell , you 're valiant , victorious in your c war ; and yet come off , free both frō wound , or scar , the profit reapt from you ( with thanks ) i name . i part from you , more knowing than i came , as fear , and joy into the arke the dove did bring , so you bring law , then gospel-love into our souls : first law , that souls may fear justice ; then love in christ : all which indeare me , for ever your servant , and while health and place permit , your delightfull hearer , john davis . to his approved good friend the learned and experienced , master john hinton , physician . o! how neer the brink ; ô ! how neer was i to danger : to death : ô ! how neer to die , yet preserv'd from falling in , yet i live , oh! let me praise the god of life and give him hearty thanks , for this his providence to me : such love i cannot recompence , or satisfie ; but yet i 'le strive to pay in humble thankfulness , in this my day some smal returns , i will confess his love is infinite , and i will blesse his name : the occas'on was only hence , that 't is not long ago i had a sense of rich mercies , i say , it is not long , since he pitied me , for which this song , or psalm i made , to sing eternall praise to god , who from the gates of death did raise his servant , yet grat'tude i read is due ( as th' instrument of god ) from me to you . when nabals wife did pacifie , asswage king davids passion , anger , fury , rage ; he blest the god of israel that sent her so to meet him , and thereby prevent his evill purpose ; but he did not rest , untill likewise her counsell he had blest : yea happy , blest be thou also , saith he , who hast this day from sin prevented me ; so noble friend , my doctor , first must i expresse unto my god , and then imply unto you this word of thanks , blessed twice thus : blest be god , and you , and your advice . the first i call the cause efficient , the second is your self , the instrument of my present health , and late recov'ry by your cordials , and phlebotomie . now pray accept of this , as 't is a token of humble thankfulnesse , for what is spoken , i 'le say but this , your skill deserves your fame , the sick you heal , or cure : the mad you tame . sir , i am your servant , john davis . to his countrey the fruitfull county of hereford in wales . i know in double a letters you excell , o that you had not double hearts as well . you exceed in water , wooll , wheat , and wood , and some esteem these things their chiefest good : but such that count those earthly springs and pools summū bonum , my patron cals thē fools . water is a servant good , as a fire is , but snch masters , none that 's wise desire . as fire the highest tower can burn down , so flouds of water , the high'st hils can drown , and what 's b wooll ? but sheeps clothing , anhyp'crite ; which but cast off , would prove a woolf , to bite . add f to wooll it will be woolf thus pla in , take f away , 't will seem a sheep a gain . and what is c wood ? but the concrete of ire , 't is combustible fuell for a fire . and what is wheat ? 't is true of all the rest , if any one be better , 't is the best : but though the bread of this we eat to nourish our bodies , yet pray know , 't is food that perish . now do not boast , nor set your hearts upon the best of these , they 're corrupt each one , for yourwater esteem the gospels wel or spring , for that glad tidings to your souls it bring . for your word ' steem the same , which is a d tree where truth doth grow , from a painfull bee an eatnest , frequent , praying e man , derive most sweet and wholesome cord'als t'keep a live in time of scarcity , in time of want ; but o! here food doth grow , therefore not scant . be no more wood , be meek , be loving , kinde , cut down your wood , and plant a sober minde . and for your plenty of that grain of wheat , over-value not the same i entreat , but freely give to poor distressed ones , that have no land to plant for rock , or stones , and value you the foresaid truth to feed upon gods word , the true immortall g seed , and for your wool , be sure your selvs you dress in that white robe of christ his righteousness . let christs gospel , his righteousnes , his blood ; be your all , your water , wooll , wheat , and wood ; countrey ; this little book i dedicate to you , because i heare , i heare of late false teachers are abroad , to you crept down , to smooth , to flatter , smile , and not to frown ; saying all are sav'd , which to the weaker sort seem's pleasant , & some sinners thank thē for 't . but have a care ( my friends ) it is more sweet than sound , or wholsom ; therefore do not greet them so with congees , thanks ; for 't is not true as holy scripture here declares to you , my friends ; if any come to you , and bring with them not this true doctrine , but shal sing contradicting notes , bid them not k god speed , lest you partake of others evill deed . i will forbear with paper and ink , till i speak to you face to face , john davis . to his respected vncle john davis of the greenway in hereford-shire . sir , to requite the many courtesies i have receiv'd from you , my muse denies as impossible , yet you see she hates ingratitude , for that she dedicates this book toher relations and friends , as so many cred'tors to make amends in part for all their loves without delayes , knowing that he owes most that nothing payes . i hope you will accept from me this mite , for that although 't is smal , 't is weight , not light , and having tri'd , you are like persia's a king , who much would give , & take the smallest thing . i rest your loving kinsman , john davis . to his respected friend master john wood. sir , be pleased to give a friendly look on these my lines coucht in this little book , i hope they 'll answer th' name of orthodox , the arguments for proof are sound as rocks , howsoever see them prov'd scan each line , if one prove strong , 't is gods ; if weak ' , t is mine . till this were out , my muse could finde no rest , of all , you love the godly learned best . your humble servant , john davis . to his honoured friend , mr. abraham taylor , merchant of the city of london . sir , i know right well , untruths you cannot ( book . behold , they 're here condemn'd within this brook , here 's truth triumphing , errour much asham'd , to shew her self because of most men blam'd . the old receiv'd undoubted verity , here i maintain ' gainst dead-quick heresie , answering all objections which some make against the truth ( for nought but fash'ons sake . ) i have read th'eloquence of cicero , i could have writ in latin , but why so ? all in england know not the latin tongue , but i could wish that all both old and young would learn the originals , first the greek , and then the sacred hebrew language seek ; their worths , i cannot speak , i must admire : o! that our youth would both these tongues acquire . your servant , john davis . to his respected friend , master thomas churchman , of london citizen . sir , of my lines be pleas'd to take a view ; if any thing in them shall pleasure you , it 's yours ; howsoever reject it not ; for it is truth , it self was clean from spot . i must confesse my muse , doth want a stile , to speak truths wort●orpraise , but stay a while : 't will praise it self ; yet thus 't is worth receiving , but errour condemn'd is scarce worth reprieving . your servant , john davis . to his much esteemed friend and cousin-german , john davis of the greenway in hereford-shire . here is truth & errour , the first maintained , the last before the right'ous judg arraigned . i hope thou hast this will within thy brest , of trying all thou read'st , to keep the best , and not to take things carelesly on trust , as if all thou readest were true and just : stir up , stir up in thee , that noble minde , like to the bereans , who searcht to finde , if things were so or no in holy writ ; see if it hath true scripture stampt on it , 't is currant coine ; if othérwise , 't is base metall , receive it not on any case . the pains of touching only here is thine , the pleasure of composing hath been mine . your loving cousin and name-sake , john davis . london , may , an. dom. . to his brother in law , william gardiner of whitchurch in hereford-shire . the world hath mill'ons of obst'cles to let , an honest man from paying of his debt : but love 's a debt which surely might be paid by all , without demand , and not delaid . love is a sum ( me thinks ) might soon be got , he 's a dishonest man that payes it not ; yet in this age so many do dis-joyn ; love seems as scarce as any other coyne , but the debt 's due , by scripture 't is attested , who denies to pay 't will surely be arrested . now let you and i ere the a serjeant come , of all we owe be sure to pay this sum . i am your loving brother , john davis . to his brother in law thomas roberts at the were-end in hereford-shire . brother i know you well , the truth you love , which is the cause that principally move my muse to send , to write , to tell to thee , that errour is condemn'd , and truth set free in these my lines ; you will avouch it true , if you will take an hour to read them through . an id'a of philosophie to mee thou gav'st ; lo , here 's divinity for thee . from your brother in law , john davis . to his brother robert davis , barber-chirurgeon of the city of london . if thou canst set a song to instrument , take pains with this , it wil be time wel spent . and though it may not disagree , but suite with either violl , harpsecall or lute ; yet let it not be only set to such , but tune thy heart hereto , and it will much delight thy sp'rits : what ? though it doth not like the eares of carnall men who only strike , and harp upon that instrument call'd base . o! sing ( with heart ) gods praises in thy place . bad matter ne're so truly plaid , is wrong , whatever others croke , sing thou this song . written by your brother , john davis . to his brother samuel davis , cordwainer in the town of monmouth in wales . read here the recreat'on of thy brother , what gifts thou hast be sure thou dost not smother , with this proviso , start not out of size : a word doth prove enough unto the wise . your brother , john davis . to the captious reader . i see some men do daily take and feed , on such an herb , that i account a a weed : and at feasts , that b dish doth please my app'tite , which others cannot love , but vainly slight : wherefore i here provide at this my feast , rather what 's good , than pleasing to each guest , so if some palats cannot well relish this my sound meat , my good and wholesome dish : the fault now is not mine , it only lights on their unsound , and queamish appetites : if some criticks like not my good intentions , the fault redounds on their ill apprehensions . finis . errata . in the epistle , p. . l. . r. parties , ibid. l. . r. are , r. when . in the psalme ▪ p. . l. . r. repent , p. . l . r. ●e , p. . l. . r. they , p. . l , . dele to , p. . l. . r. if thus before but , p. , l. . r. than , ibid. l. . r. one , p . l. r. is , p. . l. . r. names . epig. to my countrey , p. . l. . r. from whence . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e psal . . a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 b jer. . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 d the singing of the protestants at mountaban in france , defeated their enemies . notes for div a -e deut. . . * ▪ cor. . . a the scriptures , the books of the old and new testament . b pet. . . c psal . . d matth. . . e deut. . . notes for div a -e a ephes . . . b tim. . . matth. . . c rom. . , . d rom. . , ▪ . a jam. . , b john . . c titus . . c tim. . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , d ephes . . . f ephes . . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . g gal. . . a acts . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . a titus . . b hab. . . a acts . . b chron c eccl. . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a rom. . . b psal ▪ . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a ezek. . . b job . , to . c rom. . . d restraining grace . e john . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ f to the reprobate . a gen. . . luke . , b pet. . , . c by adding to the greatnesse . a mat. . . b mat ▪ . . c mat. . d tim. . , , . acts . , . e tim. . . pet. . . a gal. . . b christ . c in scripturâ sacrâ . isa . , rom. . . ephes . . , d reason . rom. . . e cor. . . f cor. . . rom. . . e rom. . . exodus . . f jer. . . ester . to . a eccles . . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 b t m. . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . c psal . . . a job . , . b job . . c paul. rom. . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . a holinesse & righteousnesse . b superlative . a gen. . , ●● . b mat. , to . c rom. . , , . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ d rom. . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a jehovah . b psal . . . hebr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the glory of his name . notes for div a -e a aetatis , may . . b psal . ▪ , . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c psal . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c psal . . . d psal . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 e psal . . f isa . ▪ . g pet. . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . h ephes . . . i psal . . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 psal . . . k jer. . . l psal . . . m psal . . . n jer. . . o ps . . , . p tim. ▪ . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . q kings . . r luke . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . ſ eccles . . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 t cor. . . u jo. . . x psal . . . y psal . . . z gen. . . a psal . . . b james . . c ps . . . quaedam tametsi paradoxa videntur , utraque pars est vera . notes for div a -e o my word , notes for div a -e a hand . c your ministry . notes for div a -e sam. . , . notes for div a -e w w w w. in hereford-s hire . a woolf. water and fire good servants , bad masters . b wool proves c wood signifies mad . of wheat is made bread , yet bread perishing food . d the word of god a tree . e an earnest man is a bee. f pet. . . christs righteousnesse better than wooll . k john , notes for div a -e a a●●axerxes . notes for div a -e a death . notes for div a -e a tobacco . b oysters . epigrammes vvritten on purpose to be read: with a proviso, that they may be understood by the reader; being ninety in number: besides, two new made satyres that attend them. by john taylor, at the signe of the poets head, in phœnix alley, neare the middle of long-aker, or covent garden. taylor, john, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing t ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing t estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) epigrammes vvritten on purpose to be read: with a proviso, that they may be understood by the reader; being ninety in number: besides, two new made satyres that attend them. by john taylor, at the signe of the poets head, in phœnix alley, neare the middle of long-aker, or covent garden. taylor, john, - . [ ], - p. [s.n.], london : printed in the yeare, . in verse. text continuous despite pagination. copy has print show-through, affecting text. reproduction of the original in the british library. eng epigrams, english -- early works to . a r (wing t ). civilwar no epigrammes, vvritten on purpose to be read: with a proviso, that they may be understood by the reader; being ninety in number: besides, two taylor, john c the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the c category of texts with between and defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - john latta sampled and proofread - john latta text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion epigrammes , vvritten on purpose to be read : with a proviso , that they may be understood by the reader ; being ninety in number : besides , two new made satyres that attend them . by john taylor , at the signe of the pivets head , in phoenix alley , neare the middle of long aker , or covent garden . london , printed in the yeare , . to the good or bad reader . . read well , and then these following lines are mine , but read them like a ( botcher ) they are thine . such vertue from some readers doth proceed , they make the verse the better which they read : they know their idioms , accents , emphases , comma's , stops , colons , and parenthesis , full points , and periods , briefe apostraphes ; good knowing readers understand all these : but such as dares my booke to take in hand , who scarce can read , or spell , or understand ; yet ( like sir reverence geese ) they will be gagling , and teare my lines to tatters with their hagling ; such i request ( if batchelours they bee ) to leave my book , and learn their a , b , c : if married men they be , let them take paine to exercise their horn-books once againe . . of friends . hee 's happy that hath friends at need ( i wot ) hee 's happier that hath friends , and needs them not . . unity , enmity , amity . our unity is turn'd to enmity , and enmity hath banish'd amity . . of credit . ralph deepe in debt , curst creditors and credit , and seemes to shew some reasons why he did it : 't was credit made his creditors to trust him , sans credit , into jayle they had not thrust him . . honest jone . jone is a perfect mayd , who dares gainsay it , no faults i in her honesty can see ; her carriage dares bide touch and test , but weigh it , no honesty amongst her faults can bee . . teeth and hornes . teeth breeding and tooth-aking is most painfull , but wittalls breeding horns , hath oft been gainfull . . of seales and armes . eagles and lyons , kings of birds and beasts , adorne mens seales and armes with honour'd crests : but beasts are beasts , and fairest fowles are fowle , and many a knaves seale's better then his soule . . thrifty preaching . he that will preach for wealth and dignity must simon peters doctrine quite refuse : 't is simon magus , his hypocrisie mounts such as cunningly their craft can use . . devout margery . my sister margery is sins correcter , of purest sisters thread she 'le spin a lecture : she 'le stand and preach as long as she can stir , it is not standing long can trouble her . . things done by neither wise men or fooles . wise men will not do as great men have done , and fooles cannot into such madnesse run : thus wit nor folly , neither will or can do mischiefe like the foole-wise , rash proud man . . labour in vaine . a rayling knave can libell and revile with tongue and pen , his worke about to bring ; but wisdome hath the power at him to smile , whilst rascalls gain the gallows and a string . . hang pride . why in gay garments do fond fooles take pride ? cloaths are sins pennance , made to hide our shame ; had man forborn to sin , no man had dy'd , and cloaths ( like fig-leaves ) cannot hide nor blame . . another . something ( i know not what ) hath made me proud , i know 't is neither lands , or coyne , nor cloathing ; nor of such parts , wherewith my mindes endow'd , but i am proud , that i am proud of nothing . . another to the same tune . according to the wearers worthynesse i do esteeme , or not esteeme apparell ; an outside brave , an inside base may dresse , for tryall shews what liquor 's in the barrell . . just payment . i rather would doe well , and not be prais'd , then to doe ill , and have much commendation : for by the one to blisse i may be rais'd , and by the other gain my condemnation . . content . if i have health , i will no sicknesse feare , if i be sick , of health i 'le not dispaire : let god doe with me what he pleaseth here , if fortune wrong me , hope shall me repaire . . sufficient knowledge . hee 's wise enough , that knows enough , but he that would know more then is enough 's a foole : our parents knew , but knowing more would be , and knew too much out of the serpents schoole . . of death . our dayly minding death doth sweeten it , it makes us dye no sooner , but more fit . . well and ill . to doe good without promise , is a grace , to promise , and not doe , is vile and base : rich knaves doe poore fooles with vaine hopes oft fill with promises of good , performing ill , . beware hypocrisie . he that doth say his prayers , and goes to bed , forgives his foes , forgets revenge and spite , and straight wayes hammers mischiefe in his head , the divell is his bedfellow that night . . of the fashion . to be in fashion , 't is the only way to be quite out of fashion , if you can to be fantastick , shapelesse in aray , and all religions is an english man . . of speech . to speake all that i know , would shew small wit , to speake more then i know , were worse then it . . on long and short life . if life be long , 't is troublesome and weary , their miseries are most that longest tarry : we make the bad world worse , he travells best that soonest ends his journy , and at rest . . of true friendships use . 't is happynesse to have a friend at need , but if my folly slight that happynesse : like him that spares to speake ▪ may spare to speed , so too much manners leaves us in distresse . . better lost then kept . who e're he be , that seemes my friend to be , and headlong runs in every vicious course : his friendship sure will never better me , and i 'le forsake him , lest he make me worse . . extreames . woe is in want , and dangers in excesse to live and give , i wish no more or lesse : content 's enough , some men are weake , some stronger , and more doe dye by surfeits then by hunger . . a fig for fortune . fortune my foe doth frown on me , but why ? because i 'le not adore her diety : she scornes me , and i scorne to be her thrall , much lower then i am , i cannot fall . . good gain'd from bad . when as a bad man doth good doctrine teach , his words , but not his workes to me doe preach : his sayings all are mine , his are his deeds , i have the hearbs and flowers , and he the weeds . . how i would be esteemed . i rather would be innocent and free , and ( on suspition ) wrongfully corrected : then to be guilty of great crimes and be in high regard , respected , unsuspected . . reverence to saints . i reverence all saints dead , and all that live , i honour much their blessed memory ; but if gods glory unto saints i give ▪ how can i hope god will me glorifie ? . do thy worst blind fortune . if fortune tosse me , yet i still have scope to fear her smiles , and when she frownes to hope . . want of knowledge . had i e're thought that money would be scant , i had kept some against these times of want : or had i known what ware would be sold dear , i would have been a merchant but one year . . had i wist . if thou wilt quiet be at board and bed , beware of , had i wist , before thou wed : comfort comes slow , but cares increase in heaps ; a wise man therefore looks before he leaps . . fast and loose . fast bind , fast find : my bible was well bound ; a thiefe came fast , and loose my bible found : was 't bound and loose at once ? how can that be ? 't was loose for him , although 't was bound for me . . a lye , and no lye . t is not still out of sight and out of minde , for one may mind his meat that is stark blind : but he that 's blind , and hath no mind to eat , then out of sight and mind , is that mans meat . . true love . he that can live by love , lives wondrous well ; true love beyond all treasure doth excell : give me that love to live well , and to trust in god and goodnesse , other love is lust . . treasure . love is no lack ▪ yet what i love i lack , a constant friend , whose friendship will not crack : give me a friend that 's true , and he shall have my love ( sans ) lack , till i am in my grave . . to be rul'd , or not rul'd . the proverb saith : be 't better , or be 't worse , be alwayes rul'd by him that beares the purse : but jud a s bore the purse , and such as he , i hope shall never beare rule over me . . wit bought too deare . they say , wit 's never good till it be bought , and being bought too deare it proves stark naught : such wit had they whose ill got pounds and pence , bought bloudy war , and hunted peace from hence . . all comes to one passe . dick , and tom borrowed gold , and like true debters , non-payment shakled them in iron fetters : were the debt iron , fetters gold , what then ? poor dick and tom were ne're the richer men . . a hopefull boy . the boy sayd , father , whither so hastily ? quoth he to th' butchers , jack , some biefe to buy : father , he 'le cheat you if you go alone ; take the dog with you , two heads better than one . . a plain case . 't is no dissembling , ( as i understand ) t' hold fire in one , and water in tother hand : one hand the pipe holds , with fire smoak , and smother , when often good strong water 's in the other . . all is true . thou that with brags thy furious fame supportest , remember that the curst cows horns are shortest : the bawling cur will very seldome bite , and bragging knaves can better eat than fight . . well grown is good . in twelve years , grace a fine tall womans grown , shot up in height , the like is seldome known : the times are bad , if grace prove good , then grace is well grown ; but ill weeds will grow apace . . few faults . most men have many faults , but ned hath none , amongst the many he hath scarcely one : he 's so much faultlesse in meat , drink , and cloathing , and other sins , that he is good for nothing . . a chac'd unchaste woman . will prais'd his wife , a vertuous dame to be , and that few females were so chaste as she : if thou hadst sworn it ( will ) thou hadst not ly'd for she was chac'd by whippers through cheapside . . to be quiet or unquiet . to hear much , to say little , and do lesse , are great preservatives of quietnesse : but to hear little , say much , and do more , such dispositions shall have trouble store . . avoyd hypocrisie . faults with hypocrisie that cover'd are , are worse than crimes that be stark naked bare : he may mend whose bad deeds are still in sight , but there 's no devill to the hypocrite . . freedome and bondage . when one gives to me freely , i know well , that for his freenesse , i my freedome sell : for unto him that gives i must conclude , i am bound fast in bonds of gratitude . . glorious vanity . he that his reputation seeks to raise , by praysing of himselfe , himselfe disprayseth : though he for arts and arms do merit praise . his glory 's vaine , whom selfe vain-glory raiseth . . of just anger . i may be angry , and no mallice beare , i must be angry with my sins i wot : it is a vertue few can purchase here , at once to be both angry and sin not . . wilfull will . 't is apt for men to fall in errours vaine , from bad to worse , from worse to worst of ill : but he 's a foolish reprobate in graine , that willing falls , and wilfully lies still . . a brace of beagles . a sland'rer , and a flatt'rer are vile beasts , one 's devilish wild , the other's damned tame ; where ere they come they are accursed guests , they murther soule and body , name and fame . . a good memento . no cursed lucre in my minde shall creep , sins sad remembrance robs me of my sleep : one day of life doth shoave another on , untill one after one , my dayes are done . . mutability . in various times we dayly live and move , to day a mighty man on cockhorse mounted , to morrow fortune gives him a remove , and as an abject knave he is accounted . . good greatnesse . most sweet , most worthy , honourable , great is he that for his god and countrey dyes : the world shall with his praises be repleat , and grace with glory him immortalize . . of angels . invisible two sorts of angels are , and those celestiall and infernall be : and earthly angels ▪ like black swans are rare , meer strangers all , invisible to me . . the crosse brings glory . a christians crosses glory doth begin , that glory doth not end his misery : but yet that misery shall glory win , and grace will crowne it with eternity . . words are winde . words are but wind that do from men proceed , none but camelions on bare aire can feed : great men large hopefull promises may utter ; but words did never fish or parsnips butter . . feares and jealousies . the sting of conscience , jealousies and feares , makes mad men fall together by the eares : if these three were all banish'd into hell , ( from whence they came ) all would be peace and well . . b and c. how can the word call'd changed , hanged b ? with ease , if you but take away the c. . adoration . all knees shall bow at jesus name , but not to jesus image will i bow one jot . . honest besse may . besse may may honest be , who e're sayes nay , but may once past , there are eleven months more : 't is mighty odds , and i will never lay eleven to one : besse may may be a whore . . quick and free passage . who sayes the gospel hath not passage free ? he lies most basely , if he were my brother : it passeth so quick , that it seems to flee too swiftly , in at one-eare , out at t'other . . desperate dick . dick is a desperate fellow , but at what ? he hath no mercy on his meat , or wench . he drank a dutch man drunk as any ratt , he 's stouter at a trencher , then a trench , . a slovenly schollar . in tristram it is hard to be discern'd , whether he is most sloven , or most learn'd : he weares his cloaths most foule , rides without yet learnedly speakes sentences in sirrops . . to a scornfull reader . grave ignoramus , cries tush , pish , mew , and on my lines lookes dunsicall a skew : and draws his mouth in scorn so near his eare , so much awry , he seems to whisper there . . manna and mammon . mammon , ( corrruply gaind ) compare i may to manna gatherd on the sabboth day : they are the devils blessings , but gods curse unto the soule , the body and the purse . . blind zeale . zeale contrary to knowledge , is not right , there 's too much heat in 't , and too little light : he that in perfect zeale would be compleat , let him have true light , he shall want no heat . . on the late kings poore servants . 〈◊〉 never did in armes the state offend , yet want of means makes misery our end . had we the fortune but to be believ'd , our happynes would be , to be reliev'd . . a good faith . he that wants faith , and apprehends the griefe of what he wants , he hath a true beliefe : he that doth grieve , because his griefe 's too small , hath a true griefe , but the best faith of all . . gluttony inward and outward . mans maw consumes ( by gluttony's command ) fish , fowle , fruits , beasts , from sea , or ayre , and land ; and in his words his glut'nous mouth doth sin , more oft by giving out , then taking in . . sir reverence love . tom swore to kate , her sweet and comely making had fill'd him full of fumbling belly aking : sweet heart ( quoth'he ) i shall be grieved thus , till i in thy sweet presence do untruss . . kates kind answer . for thy sake tom , my prayer , and plaint , and mone is , i love thee dear , as venus lov'd adonis : and therefore let not thy affections wander , i 'le love thee as the goose doth love the gander . . brave resolution . will is all heart , and like a hart can run , he 's wise in battle , that can danger shun : if strong hands cannot victory attain , yet light and nimble heeles may safety gain . . leggs worthy of love . a cut-purse cuts , and swiftly ran away , but yet for all his nimble fingers cunning ▪ hands deserv'd hanging , legs without delay sav'd all the body from it , by swift running . . paine with pleasure . my ladies shooe did pinch her , and yet please her , her painfull pride her pretty foot did grace : it did at once both anger and appease her , whilst smiles and frownes danc'd anticks in her face . . friends are better then lovers . lovers and friends are two things ; he that loves may waver , and not alwayes be a friend ; but he that is a friend experience proves his love and friendship 's constant to the end . . of lying and giving . why are not maids afraid to lye , declare , most men with lying buy and sell their ware : but many maids do neither sell or buy , they give their maidenheads , and then they lye . . great place , small grace . when great ( not goodmen ) offices possesse , who are revengefull , greedy , and oppresse ; dismisse such knaves , that so their place disgraces , and let good places , still remaine the places . . a great witch . pride is a witch , few from her charme escapes , she turns us dayly into sundry shapes : she hath her spirits , who do work like thrashers ▪ mercers , soft silke-men , taylors , habberdashers . repast , and repose . the rich man hath repast , but small repose , the poor man hath repose , with small repast : one alwayes strives to gaine , and fears to lose , the other with content doth please his tast . . sunday . the lords day is the lanthorne and the light of th'other six dayes ▪ to direct us right : or like the sun , amidst the planets seven , to light us heer on earth , and hence to heaven . . sabaoth . the jewes observ'd the sabaoth constantly in memory of rest , and their creation : we should our sundayes keep obediently , to minde us of redemption and salvation . . a sweet saint . phillip doth think his wife 's a saint , and shee in pure pride thinks her selfe a saint to bee : shee 'le scold , be proud , and in a corner kiss , and this is phillips saint , the devill she is ▪ . want and abundance . a man may want coyn , cloaths , drink , and meat , he may want health , sight , hearing , hands , and toes , but cares , and griefes and sorrows , may be great , the late kings servants have no want of those . . a hard businesse . should whores and thieves be all hang'd , 't were great pity , 't would halfe unpeople country , towne , and city : but hang up drunkards , swearers , whorers , then ( and all the knaves ) what should we do for men ? . thoughts and words . my thoughts are free , i wish my tongue were so , then would i freely speake what i do think ; but yet my tongue ▪ too boldly shall not go , it is more safe at injuries to wink . . good mornings practise . first worship god , he that forgets to pray , bids not himselfe good morrow , or good day : let thy first worke be , to confesse thy sins , and then thy dayly businesse well begins . a satyre : hypocrisie discovered . a holy crew of brethren conventickl'd with scriptures strange interpretations pickl'd ; and sanctified sisters , whose nonsence snoach'd through the nose , their doctrines quintessence : they held unlawfull , and that no man may so much as dresse his meat on th' sabboth day : another sayd ( like a most subtle plodder ) folke must not milke their cowes , nor give beast fodder : the third replyd , it was a grievous crime to let their jacks turn spits in sermon time : but if ought must be done without delaying , it 's to be done whilst common prayer's saying ; for when that 's ended , straight the psalme begins , and they 'l go singing to repent their sins : then said a fourth , it fils my-heart with wo to see a preacher ride , christ bad them go and teach all nations , verily to me this riding is no godly sight to see : a fift man sayd ( brethren ) it is my lot ( as you all know ) to sell ale by the pot : and ( my belov'd ) my brewer brought me late ale , a french crown the barrell above rate : but had not orders from the state forbid it , to buy such drinke , sure i should ne're have did it : the saturday at night they brought it in , the sabboth day to worke it did begin : surely 't was most prophane unhallowed drink brewd with some jewes , or turkish mault i thinke ; for i perswaded it from worke to leave , and more and more it still did huffe and heave : i with much griefe unto the teaching went , where giles the weaver gave me much content ; the next day i the barrels head beat out , and let the ale run all the house about ; as good for nought but hogs to swill and swash , and for the swine 't was comfortable wash : brother ( sayd one ) although too dear you payd , you did do well , because you disobeyed ; and you did better ( as all wise men thinke ) when ( zealously ) you spilt that wicked drinke . another sayd , when i did set mine eye on the kings armes in the church ▪ the rampant lyon ; his priap mov'd concupiscentiall motions , and did disturbe and hinder my devotions : but when my husband came to be church-warden , i 'le have some form of flowers from field or garden , or sedge , or flags betwixt his legs were painted , that hid his whimwham which my minde had tainted . a satyre against swearing , equivocation , mentall reservation , and detestable dissimulation . to pretend , and the contrary to intend , with th' world began , and with the world shall end : the divell himselfe ( who first made man a sinner ) of this dissembling art , was the beginner . since when , his sons , and schollars , hypocrites , accursed antichristian jesuites , christ kissing trayterous bast iscariothites , soule foundred , soules confounding hereticks , all cheverell conscienc'd cockbrain'd schismaticks , with many nicknam'd romane catholicks ; and every heresie , and schisme , or sect , all diffring , and all boast to be th' elect : pretending all , true zeale to preach and pray , intending all the clean contrary way . amazed , and amated much i am to see great brittain turn'd to amsterdam ; six years agone we had of sex fourescore , which are encreast now to one hundred more : a book that 's call'd the gangrean , printed late , their authors and opinions doth repeat : ninescore religions that book sheweth cleer , lord , what a harvest hath the devill made heer : those all pretend religion , but indeed most of them scarcely know their christian creed . the devill can turn himselfe t' an angell bright , seem to pretend no wrong , yet do no right : he did pretend to make our parents great , as is their maker , but by that defeat he did intend , like to himselfe to make 'em fiends ( or fiends fellows ) that god might forsake 'em . cain did pretend with abell , like a friend and brother , when he murther did intend : when absolon seem'd to pretend no ill to amnon , he intended him to kill ; he did pretend religions good desire ▪ when he his fathers throne intends t' aspire : achitophell pretended truth and reason , when he intended foolishnesse and treason : saul did pretend great love to david , but he did intend how he his throat might cut : joab pretended to be abners friend , when ( with a stab ) he brought him to his end : the wicked jewes ( with noyse ) hosanna cri'd to him , they few dayes after crucifi'd : and judas sayd , haile master , when he meant foule treason , to betray the innocent : thus in all ages , since the worlds creation , both devils and men have us'd equivocation : for as a cunning fencer , looking down , aymes at the foot , but means to crack the crown so squint eyd , true , false friendship , seems to see , but ne're intends , what it pretends to bee : we 're too much leavend , like the pharisees , and to all goodnesse meere antipodes : he 's counted the best man , that best can prate , though 's deeds and words be illegitimate . if our good words with good works could agree , the world no better people had then we : yet too too many this bad time affords that cannot give to god or man good words ; nor for themselves , or of themselves can they speak one good word in any thing they say . their speech to god ( or of god ) is most base , to curse or sweare are th' only garbs of grace : their prayers unto god are , god dam , forsake 'em , renounce , confound , consume , the devill take 'em ; sink , rot their soules , for evermore renounce 'em , consume them , or in hell to powder pounce 'em : these , with some prayers like these , they night and da with great devotion fervently do pray . to god they speak thus , but when they speak of him , 't is either to blaspheam , deride , or scoffe him ; with cursed tongues , and teeth , to rend and teare his dreadfull name when they forsweare and sweare . too oft these wretched imps these oaths afford , by god , christ jesus ; by the living lord , by god almighty , by th' eternall god , thus under foot his glorious name is trod by godlesse villains , who will brag and boast that he 's the bravest man that sweareth most . god is no god to them , they do reject him , like skild anatomists they will dissect him ; they rip him up with oaths from foot to head , his wounds , blood , heart , nailes , body , soule , and bread , his blessed and soule saving life , his death , these cursed oaths are belch'd with th' odious breath of hels dear hel-hounds , who to practise these , they lie and study on their beds of ease . to flourish their discourse , their brains are framing new coyned oaths , to grace pots , pipes , and gaming sure these good fellows have some friends in hell , and with them they desire to be and dwell ; or ese they have a great desire to see hels kingdome , and what things the devils bee . and as men that would travell , would attaine some knowledge in the tongues of france , or spaine , th' italian , or the high , low , spacious dutch , the russe , shavonian , latine , greeke , or such as is the language where they mean to go , each traveller these tongues would gladly know , that when they came to any forraine land , they might the peoples speeches understand : so swearers will to hell a voyage make , and therefore they most studious pains do take to learn hels language , to blaspheam and sweare , that all their friends may understand them there : these men in their mad furies do suppose that hel's a kingdome where all pleasure grows ; and that elyzium is a pleasant place , where soules immortall dance the wild-goose chase : their stupid brains the devill hath so possest , that hel's a place of wealth , joy , peace , and rest ; that heaven 's a fiction , and no place of pleasure , that to be damn'd is everlasting treasure : this is the cause they scorne to aske salvation , and pray god dam'em , and beg for damnation . 't is wonder to see mad men beat their brains to gain perdition , and eternall pains : of god they ( like the foole ) do think there 's none , or that he is a weake and simple one ; one that regards not what men do below , or sees not , knows not , how the world doth go ; this is the swearers faith , his mirth , his game , else he durst ne're blaspeam th' almighties name , pluto's an asse , and belzebub's a foole , and lucifer himselfe may go to schoole ; for all the conclave of the devils in hell cannot a cursed swearer parallell : sometimes of christianity they 'l prate , yet live a life , abhord and reprobate . 't is sayd , that charity at home begins , and that love hids a multitude of sins ; subjection to high powers we are enjoynd , obedience unto all of every kind , of these rare vertues , swearers have no share ; to no body they charitable are ; i truely think he loves himselfe not well , that prayes god dam him , and doth wish for hell : want of selfe love and charity do prove he beares to no man charity or love . if to himselfe his love no better be , his charity and love is not for me : can they do service to an earthly king , that oaths and curses against god dare fling ? no , those as dare the heavenly power blaspheam are no good servants for power lesse supream : the wrath of god is hot , his anger burns , and for vain swearing , the whole land now mourns ; this nation , and the people at division , no peace but by the sanguine swords decision . the land 's o'respread with leprosie of swearing , and gods great patience weary of forbearing ; for which his plagues of slaughtering sword we find , and 't is much fear'd famine 's not far behind : yet swearers to be christians do pretend , though ( worse then atheists ) they their lives do spend ; that pagans , heathens , infidels , jewes , turkes , sweare lesse , and use better words and workes . time was , that justice did the sword unsheath , that the blaspheamer strait was ston'd to death ; and in this wicked wretched generation , swearing is counted manly reputation , or recreation , or the gentile grace of speeches fine embrodery , like gold lace upon a saddle , which a sow must weare , so it becomes a gentleman to sweare : the devill is bad , but sure the swearer 's worse , for i ne're heard the devill did sweare or curse . what execrable creatures are they then , but hell-hounds , and the devils journy-men ? himselfe doth scorn to do a worke so base , his basest rascals do supply that place : how can these men plead christianity , when as they want common humanity ? mad fooles , who every day do beg and crave damnation , which they would be loth to have . the sacred text , the pulpit , and the presse have prest these faults hard to mens consciences ; yet all that ever hath been spoke or pend , hath made the swearer not a whit amend : these bitter lines of mine , may worke perhaps to muzzle or bung up some swearers chaps : god and good men i 'm sure are on my side , and i ( in all that 's written ) have not lyde : some do pretend a peace , and much do prattle , yet do intend to bloodshed , and to battle : but let them never claime a christian name , whose trade and pleasure is in blood and flame of their dear country , and rip , rend , and tear their mothers womb , which did such bastards bear . these sons of hittites , and of amorites , god do to them , as to the midianites . make them as jabin , and as sisera dy'd at endors field , where kishons brook doth slyd . as they became as dung , so let them bee that to a lawfull peace will not agree . the peace of god , grant us , thou god of peace , let us cease sin , thou wilt our sorrows cease ; let 's frame our lives according to thy word , and let no sword be drawn , but justice sword : to which end , thou good god of consolation , send blessed peace to this afflicted nation . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- psal. . nocturnall lucubrations: or meditations divine and morall whereunto are added epigrams and epitaphs: written by rob: chamberlain of exeter colledge in oxford. chamberlain, robert, b. . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) nocturnall lucubrations: or meditations divine and morall whereunto are added epigrams and epitaphs: written by rob: chamberlain of exeter colledge in oxford. chamberlain, robert, b. . [ ], , [ ] p. printed by m[iles] f[lesher] for daniel frere, at the signe of the red bull in little-brittaine, london : . printer's name from stc. "epigrams and epitaphs", in verse, has separate divisional title page and is unpaginated; register is continuous. with a final imprimatur leaf. variant: title page lacks "of exeter colledge in oxford". reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng maxims -- early works to . epigrams, english -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - jonathan blaney sampled and proofread - jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion nocturnall lucubrations : or meditations divine and morall . whereunto are added epigrams and epitaphs : written by rob : chamberlain . in mundo spes nulla boni , spes nulla salutis : sola salus servire deo , sunt caetera fraudes . london , printed by m. f. for daniel frere , at the signe of the red bull in little-brittaine . . to the worshipfull , and his honored master , peter balle esquire , sollicitor generall to the queenes majestie . sir , the envious condition of these carping times ( like a frost in the spring ) so nips invention in the bud , that for the most part she dies like a blasted plant , and never lives to see her proper fruit . many are the volumes of historie , antiquities , and other peeces of learning your worship hath volved and revolved , and yet i think scarce ever saw the person or worke hath not one time or other had the long lash of censure . dic quibus in terris , & eris mihi magnus apollo . faine would i know where the man lives , on whose works or repute are not to be seene some stripes of detraction . may your worship therefore be pleased to spread the wings of your protection over these poore thoughts , whereby they may be sheltred from the criticall crew of zoilus , which will be not onely an inexpressible obligation , but a great encouragement to your humble servant , rob : chamberlain . nocturnall lucubrations : or meditations divine and morall . learning is like scanderbegs sword , either good or bad according to him that hath it : an excellent weapon if well used , otherwise like a sharp razor in the hand of a child . where impossibilities are apparent , it is indiscretion to nourish hopes . the gentle hand of patience in the strongest streames of adversitie , makes our afflictions sweet and easie . gloriosius est injuriam tacendo fugere , quàm respondendo superare . patience out-faceth the lowring front of the most dismall fate . to insult over misery is the undoubted character of barbarous inhumanity . to incurre gods displeasure for mans favour , is for a man to kill himselfe to avoid a hurt . roaring oblations with sighing tears fetcht from a faithfull spring , are onely able to penetrate the everlasting gates . good rewards in the end , never faile to crown the end of a well prosecuted good . though the waies of vertue seeme rough and craggie , yet they reach to heaven , and in the end invest humanity in the bright robes of immortality . tendit in ardua virtus . humility is a grace it selfe , and a spotlesse vessel to entertain all other graces . as the ball rebounds according to the force wherewith it was throwne ; so the more violent the afflictions of a good man are , the higher mount his thoughts . a good conscience seats the mind in a rich throne of endlesse quiet ; but horror waits upon the clogging burden of a guilty soule . face commendation sets a foole in the chaire of ostentation ; but dies the cheek of wisdome a scarlet blush . the richest treasure mortall times afford , is the spotlesse garment of an untainted reputation . quando actùm est de nomine , actum est de homine . nature hath too slow a foot , closely to follow the heeles of religion ; and t is too hard a task for dull flesh clogg'd with corruption , to wing with the high flying quill of the heavenly soule . sorrow for ills past brings back mans frailty to its first innocence . majestie is like lightning , it never hurts but where it finds resistance . man is a ship laden with riches , the world 's the sea , heaven the intended haven : hell sends out his pirats to rob him , sometimes indevours to run him upon the rocks of his ruine , but yet heavens eye guards him : his soule is the pilot , which through various seas of time and fortune , brings him to the long desired port of his endlesse quiet . i have read of the hart , in the time of his liberty and jollity , of all creatures will not come neare a man ; but when hee is hunted by the dogs , he will fly for succour to the next man he meets : so it is with man ; prosperity cannot ingender so high a timpanie of pride , but miserie can abate it . halcyon dayes make a man forget both god and himselfe : but afflictions make us runne to seeke god early . to master a mans self is more than to conquer a world ; for he that conquered the world , could not master himselfe . the malitious thirst of revenge out of a flinty cowardize strikes the hot fire of manlike unmanly valour . the falling of a house is more perillous than the rising of a flood . evils foreseene are halfe cured ; but mishap comming with the sudden thunderclap of inexpectation , scares the mindes faculties , from all consideration of wise prevention . learning is the onely precious jewell of immortality ; it well becomes the outward frame , and with immortall glory decks and adornes the never dying part . non habet inimicum praeter ignorantem . the most transcendent offenders transgresse not so much against the rules of humanity , as doe the black monsters of prodigious ingratitude . happy , thrice happy were mans condition , could hee but ransome home the lamentable losse of that pristin command over his intemperate passions . man is the embleme of miserie , the subject of sorrow , and the object of pitty ; and so will be so long as hee wanders up and downe in the gloomie fenn of this weeping wildernesse . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . successe seldome fails to crowne the enterprise according to the integrity of the cause . all men wear not one habit of the minde , nor are all dispositiōs cloth'd alike with natures habiliments . posterity may well be called the eternity of life : he may be said never to die , whose name the eternall providence never fails to underprop with the lasting pillars of a numerous issue . there is not halfe so much danger in the desperate sword of a known foe , as in the smooth insinuations of a pretended friend . unwise is that man that will be either dejected or exalted with the frownes or smiles of various fortune . mortalls must subscribe to whatsoever is writ in the adamantine tables of the eternall providence . quic quid patimur venit ab alto . seneca : the greatest canker that can be to love , is the bosome nursing of a concealed grudge . reason at first produceth opinion ; but afterwards an ill received opinion may seduce the very soule of reason . strange is the nature of an ill opinion : it stands fast when it is once set , though grounded upon nothing . miraculous is that water that scowres away the seeming dirt from the object of an ill conceit . let thy desires have the length and breadth of reason , & at length thou shalt have the breadth of thy desires . that man is commonly of a good nature , whose tongue is the true herald to his thoughts . a prejudicate opinion makes the judgement looke asquint , and the most injurious informer is an ill conceit , because it is ever ready to blemish the beauty of the best intended action . in the clearest sunshine of faire prosperity , we are subject to the boystrous stormes of gloomie adversity . he that alwayes observes the censuring murmur of idle people , shall never let the suspected blush depart from his cheeke . a malevolent mind is like a boystrous sea tumbling in the swelling billowes of indignation , till dire revenge sets it in a conceited liberty , and never till then is it lockt in the griping gins of soule tormenting captivity . devilish is that disposition , which to wait an opportunity of revenge , will seeme , to rake up its malice in the cinders of oblivion ; but when the time serves will not stick to give fire to the whole heap of its hell-bred mischiefe . it is a prodigious thing to see a devilish disposition put on a godly face , and loathed basenesse cloath'd with a scarfe of unstained purity . the suns eye never saw the man that lived not under the controuling hand of fate . many gaze on the glorious out-side of a princes diadem , but few consider the tempestuous affaires that doe environ it . hope of remedy , and continuance of griefe , should be both of one length : when hope of remedy is past , grief should make an end . too much to lament a misery , is the next way to draw on a remedilesse mischiefe . bootlesse griefe hurts a mans selfe : but patience makes a jest of an injury . hee that is indebted to grief , let him borrow of patience , and he shall soone be out of debt . patience rides it out in the most boysterous stormes of adversity , and is armour of proofe against the thick flying bullets of the most malicious assaults . where the scale of sensuality waighs down that of reason , the basenes of our nature conducts us to most preposterous conclusions . it is a madnesse to be much affected with vanity : for though in youth we neither doe nor will consider it , yet in the end the winter of age comes , and with the besome of time sweeps away the summer of our youthfull follies . quicquid sol oriens , quicquid & occidens , novit , caeruleis oceanus fretis , quicquid vel veniens , vel fugiens lavat , aetas pegaseo corripiet gradu . senec. in troade . opinion is the soveraigne mistresse , or rather the sole midwife of either good or bad effects . it is not fit for an● man though never so miserable to despair of his own future good hap : for many are the events that lie in the teeming wombe of time. ill words bewray foule thoughts : but sweet behaviour is the index of a vertuous mind . praecipitis linguae comes est poenitentia . labour in good things is sweet in the issue ; but pleasure in evill things turns to a torment . faire words without good deeds to a man in misery , are like a saddle of gold clapt upon the back of a gall'd horse . a foolish man in wealth and authority , is like a weake timberd house with too pondrous a roofe . heaven without earth is perfect but earth without heaven is but the porch of hell . there are no riches like to the sweetnesse of content , nor no poverty comparable to the want of patience . i have read of the hart , that he weeps every yeare for the shedding of his head , though the loosing of the old be the way to make roome for a better : so is it with worldlings , they weep to part with any thing here , though it be for never so great a treasure hereafter : though no lesse a matter than the eternall joyes of heaven crown the end of faith and good works , yet that , i , vende totum quod habes , & redde pauperibus , is such a durus sermo , that it makes them block up their eares against the wisest charmer . the hart likewise when he sees himself taken by the hounds , or other devise , will shed teares , thinking thereby to intenerate the hearts of the hunters , and move them to pitty , or else because he sees himselfe irrecoverably catcht : so every true penitent , whens hee sees himselfe overtaken by the wiles of satan , should never stop his tears , till he sees his owne blessed recoverie out of the clawes of the devill : for he that is on high , keeps our tears in his bottle , and though his tender mercy will not presse upon a broken heart , yet he is alwayes pleased to see a sorrowfull soule baptize himself in the trickling drops of repentant dew . he that consults with his body for the saving of his soule , shall never bring it to heaven . if we hope to reape in joy , we must sow in teares . he that stands up against the vices of great ones , had need to be treble guarded with law , friends , and authority . the longer we live , the more misery we endure : life is like a span forc'd frō a gouty hand , the more the hand is extented , the more paine it suffers . supposed goodnesse , by the blab of time , will have her close basenesse set upon the scaffold of publique shame . the fierce flash of too violent fire , soon burns out it selfe . the old proverb saith , faire and softly goes far : but he that spurs too fast , tires betimes . it is a wise mans part in a case of extremity , with patience to swallow down the bitter potion of indignity . harsh reproof is like a violent storme , soone washt down the channell : but friendly admonitions , like a small showre , pierce deep , and bring forth better reformation . a wise man will digest with patience the sad tidings of calamity , when a foole by grumbling at a crosse , hurts himselfe . life is a continuall march towards the grave , and a dangerous sailing towards death through the bellowing waves of a troublesome world . labitur omnis homo , momento extinguimur uno , namque oleo lampas deficiente perit . within the very crown that adornes the sacred temples of a king , death hath his lurking den . pallida mors aequo pulsat pede pauperum tabernas , regumque turres . horat. a willing mind is able to steer a man against the streame of the strongest impediments . neither the shot of accidēt , nor dart of chance , penetrates the impregnable walls of a resolved patience . love , when his links are once crackt , turns to the so wrest and most dismall hate . sordid manners in a comely feature are like black clouds in a faire sky . outward perfection without inward goodnesse , sets but the blacker die upon the minds deformity . if the hand of omnipotency should please to try us with all manner of affliction , to lock us in the griping gins of misery , to steep us in the dregs of poverty , to rain down shame and defamation on our heads ; we are to fly onely in this depth of extremity , to the safe sanctuarie of faith & a good conscience , which turne the bitter waters of affliction into the sweet nectar of never dying comfort . goodness with a smiling patience shakes off the dust that is throwne in the face of her despised fortune . teares and smiles are not alwaies the badges of grief and patience . there is no anger or sorow like to that which boyls with a constrained silence . thoughts tending to ambition , are alwayes wont to plot unlikely wonders . it is the easiest thing in the world to be invective ; and amongst all sorts of men , none are so quick at censuring as the ignorant : hee will still give the first lash , whilst himself is at the best but a lump of ignorance , a pretender to learning , & his head stuft full of nothing but titles of books : for if hee be questioned beyond the epistle dedicatory , he is presently like an aegyptian valley in the latter end of iune . from an immaculate fountaine ( by reason of an ill passage ) may proceed unwholesome and corrupt water . a tradesman had need to be a good husband ; for it is somewhat a difficult task in these times , for a man with his nailes or bare hands to teare himselfe a passage through the flinty waies of this hard world . i commend a man that will draw like a horse , but not him that wil carry every thing that is put upon him like an asse . sacred learning is wisdomes prudent queene ; studied arts are degrees unto some wished ends , and steps whereby wee ascend the high top of our hopes and thoughts . an ill beginning is commonly the prodigious sign of a dismall end . anger makes the tongue bewray the most secret thoughts . the top of honour is a narrow plot of ground , where if a man tread but one carelesse step , downe he tumbles into the jaws of ruine . the darkest clouds of misery or affliction , cannot over-shadow the bright shining luster of a cleare conscience . the onely way to wash off the guilt from a spotted conscience , is to lay open her bosome-crimes to the worlds broad eye . ill newes flyes with eagles wings , but leaden waights are wont to clog the heeles of gladsome tidings . inconsiderate desires rashly fulfill'd , are able to set the world in an unquenchable combustion . he that wanders too farre into the wildernesse of this world , cannot when hee please creep back to the lodge of safety . it is not in the power of man when he please to tread the happy steps of heavenly repentance . he that desires a good , and suspects his right to it , is bold and turbulent in the pursuit , whilst the man that 's conscious to himselfe of good , rests happily content till time crowne with the guerdon of a patient expectation . time , patience , and industry , are the three grand masters of the world : they bring a man to the end of his desires , when a turbulent murmur oftentimes jerks him out of the way to his proposed ends . the best complement is but a kind of a hansome foolerie ; & crooching feats are so far from testifying the hearts inward loyalty , that they carry in their front the lineaments of flattery . as it is a sorrowfull thing when a mans means is too low for his parts , so is it a preposterous sight to see a man whose mind is too big for his fortune . there is not a more lamentable spectacle than to see a man of parts in misery , especially if the fault be not in himselfe : the worst sight in the world is a rich dunce and a poore schooller . the more actions of depth are preconsidered , the worse sometimes they are performed . the spurs of necessity are almost able to put a nimble spirit into the senslesse body of a dead stock . it is love that makes the eternall mercy to beare so much the foule crimes of transgressing humanity . sea , nor land , nor gates of brasse , are able to withstand the indefatigable hand of a willing mind . so violent is the beastly passion of inordinate lust , that it subjects a man to base thoughts , perturbs his spirit , and never leaves him till it hurrie him headlong into the chambers of death . patience is the best midwife to a disastrous misfortune . beauty is but a vaine thing , though nere so rich : for in the fairest woman it is but skin deep : under the skin there is no more than ordinary . if a man be not so happy as he desires , let this be his comfort , that he is not so wretched as he deserves . the only reason why some men have not what they desire , is because their desires are not grounded upon reason . it is better to be well deserving without praise , than to live by the aire of undeserved commendation . happy is man that his time is but short , because it is miserable . happy are those miseries that terminate in joy , happy those joyes that know no end , and happy is his joyfull end whose dissolution is eternall joy . as he that climbes is in danger of falling , so is he that lies on the ground subject to be trampled on by every peasant : hee is in the happiest condition , that moves in the middle region of the world , considering that as want is a misery , abundance is but a trouble . medio tutissimus ibis . ovid. meta. as contemplation altogether without action is idlenesse , so constant action altogether without contemplation is too bestiall . wise is that man that steres an even course betwixt the scylla & charibdis of this world , prodigality and covetousnesse ; that on the one side will not lavishly consume gods blessings , nor on the other side embrace covetousnesse , knowing that riches at the best are but necessary impediments . as the smart of the wound is recompenced by the cure of the body , so the punishment of the body is sweetned by the health of the soule . he that hath a friend , and sees him out of the way , and labours not by timely counsell to call back his wandring steps , renders himself unworthy of so rare a blessing . he that snufs at friendly reprehension , and can better relish the oyle of flattery , makes himselfe the pittiful abstract of too late repenting folly . not to speake what a man knowes , is sometimes discretion ; but to speak , and not to know , is alwayes folly , sometimes dishonesty . audi , vide , tace , si tu vis vivere pace . as it is more honour to teach thā to be taught , so it is lesse shame to learn than to be ignorant . we should all follow the world , as a serving-man followeth his master and a stranger ; whilst they goe together , he followes them both ; but when the stranger leaves his master , he leaves the stranger , and followeth his master : so should we follow the world : as long as the world goes with god , wee should follow them both ; but when the world leaves god , we should leave the world , and with prepared hearts follow our master god. disce mori , nec te ludat spes vana salutis , nam nescis statuant quem tibi fata diem . as there is a misery in want , so there is a danger in excesse : a man may as soon die of a surfet , as of hunger . it is good for a man to have praise when he deserves it ; but it is better to deserve praise when hee hath it . honour is like a palace with a low door , into the which no man can enter but he must first stoop . the staffe of mans comfort is hope ; which once broke , bids a finall farewell to the most sweetned cogitations . the most lasting comfort is this sweet companion hope ; which once departed , makes poore man either desperately to plunge himselfe into the gulfe of horror and despaire , or with sighing tears to spend the remainder of his pilgrimage in the mournfull valley of discontent . god hath an infinite number both of sacred and secret wayes as well to punish as to pardon . as the eye of gods providence protects the just , so the bright raies of his divinity pierce the darke and secret caverns of the most hellish intendments . our breasts & actions are as transparent to his eye , as his decrees are invisible to ours . though a plot of malice be never so cunningly contrived , a twinkling of gods eye is able both to detect and punish it . he that sailes by the star of vertue , shall in time land himselfe upon the shore of honour . affections founded on vertue , have happy ends ; but built on lust and vice , begin pleasantly , but terminate in misery . it is a base thing to erect trophees of honor to our selves upon the ruines of anothers reputation . high time it is to flee vanity , whē the drum of age beats a quick march towards the silent grave . it is for the most part but lost labour to bend a mans force against the streame of anothers affections . justice is the soule of a common-wealth : for as a body without a soule soone stinks , and is noisome ; so a common-wealth without iustice , quickly turns to a lump of corruption . there are certaine springs , that when the sun shineth hottest , they are coldest : at midnight when the sunne is gone , they are then hottest : so it is with man , his zeal is coldest in the sun-shine of prosperity ; but in the gloomie dayes of dark adversity , begins to gather heat . it is said of the sea elephant , that sometimes he will come ashore , and sleep amongst the rocks ; where as soone as he is espyed , the people surround him with nets & gins to take him ; which done , they awake him , who as soone as he is awake , leaps with a violent rush , thinking to leap again into the sea , but cannot . so it is with those , who stragling out of the waies of piety , oftentimes fall asleep in sinne , which ( when by death , or sicknesse they are awakened ) think presently to rush into heaven , or upon the instant to leap into the paths of repentance , but then it is too late ; for they are oftentimes catcht as surely , as suddenly ; like the foole in the gospell , that had laid up goods for many yeares . we should tast worldly pleasures running ▪ like the aegyptian dogs upon the banks of nile ; for as they , if they stand to drink long in a place , are in danger of that serpent the crocodile ; so are those that stay to take full draughts of worldly pleasures , in danger of that serpent the devill . it is a bootlesse thing to indevour the reformation or conversion of a perverse man : there is no medling with him that loves to be transported with the streame of his owne opinions . heaven is the admired instrument of the glorious god ; by the influence whereof he rules and governes the great masse of this corruptible world . it is said of those quagmires of honey , which some say to be in muscovia , that there are gins & snares set about them , by which the beare ( which out of a love to the hony frequenteth those places ) is oftentimes catcht , and thereby constrained to forfeit his life , by pleasing the curiosity of his taste . nocet empta dolore voluptas the sweetnesse of sin is the death of the soule . the pleasures of sin carry a faire shew ; but as the shadow of the richest colour , yea of scarlet it selfe is alwaies black ; so be the colours of sin nere so glorious , its shadow is black and hellish ; though in taste it be wondrous pleasant , yet in digestion it is bitter as wormwood : the deadly arsenicke of the soul , and the bane of all our happinesse , against which no antidote prevailes , but the precious bloud of the immaculate lamb christ iesus . it is not good to be alwayes busied in the toilsome shop of action ; that man hath but an earthly soul , which maugre the importunity of the greatest businesse , wil not sometimes sequester himselfe into the withdrawing chamber of meditation . credulity is oftentimes the dreame of fooles , the drunkards ape , and the blind nurse of dangerous security . bonaventure tels us , that the damned shall weep more teares in hell , than there is water in the sea ; because the water of the sea is finite , but the teares shall be wept in hell are infinite , never ceasing as long as god is god. men are not rich or poore according to what they possesse , but to what they desire ; the onely rich man is he that with content enjoys a competēcie . mensa minuscula pace referta , melior divitiis lite repletis . miserable is he that chooseth a wife either for by or base respects ; but happy is that mariage when the soule is matcht as well as the body . wise is he that shapes his expēces by his means , and cuts the wings of his desires in pleasure , that they mount not above the flight of his fortunes . nothing more unsatiable than mens desires ; he that is poor would be rich , he that is rich would be a gentleman , a gentleman would be a nobleman , a noble man would be a king , a king would be the monarch of the world , and he that was so , wept , because there was no more to conquer . heu quòd mortali non unus sufficit orbis ! it is not want makes men poore , nor abundance renders them rich ; the rich man may say of himselfe , as narcissus said when he saw his owne beauty in the water , which made him fall in love with himselfe , inopem me copia fecit , ovid. meta. — quid gentibus auri nunquam extincta sitis ? as there are no better rules than good examples , so there is nothing more pernitiously dangerous than bad . longum iter per praecepta , breve per exemplum . it is good for a man to be industrious in his youth , and to know that if by honest labour hee accomplish any good thing , the labour is soon past , but the good remaines to his comfort ; and if for his pleasure he doe any thing that is ill , the pleasure is gone in a moment , but the evill remaines to his torment ▪ impia sub dulci melle venena latent . ovid. de pont. the strongest argument of a wise man is to be a good husband of his time ; for amongst all the things that god created , there is nothing more precious tempora labuntur , tacitisque senescimus annis , et fugiunt fraeno non remorante dies . lent is a time of fasting ; but the soules great festivall : for the pampering of the body is the starving of the soule ; and when we macerate the body , we make the soule a feast : if depressio carnis leade not the way , elevatio mentis will never move . there is a creature , saith plinie , in the north parts of sweden called a ierfe , of so ravenous and devouring a nature , that though his belly be nere so full , he is not satisfied ; he will eate till by his fulnesse he is scarce able to goe , and then run to the trees that grow neare together , and there by forcing his body through , disgorgeth himselfe , purposely to repaire his stomack for a fresh prey : those that are minded to take him , throw a carkas in his way , and then observe the trees that he runs to when he is full , when they once perceive him fast betwixt the trees , they run to him , and kill him . so it fares with those that never think of any thing but how to please their senses , which the devill observing , throws divers temptations before their eyes , which they never suspecting are oftentimes confounded in the very act of sin . of all other things necessity hath the largest patent : maugre the greatest commands , necessity wil first be observed . to husband well a small talent is the onely way to mount a low fortune . to be too full of complement is ridiculous : to be altogether without it , rusticity . of all conditions the most lamentable is that of ignorance : an ignorant man is like one of those that live directly under the north or south pole , with whom it is alwaies night . the onely way to be rid of a domineering vice , is to avoid all occasions thereto tending . prosperity cast at the feet of the wicked , is like a rich carpet cast over the mouth of a bottomlesse pit , which allures the feet of the ungodly , along the path of security , into that bottomlesse tophet of eternall misery . a ruinous end attends a riotous life . well were it for the drunkard , as he hath liv'd like a beast , if he could so die . if the world did but truely consider that there is a tophet prepared for the wicked , it would rather run mad through feare and despaire , than thus wallow in dreadful security . the rich may offend more for want of charity , than the poore in stealing things necessary . he that rectifies a crooked stick , bends it the contrary way ; so must he that would reforme a vice , learne to affect its meere contrary , and in time hee shall see the springing blossomes of a happy reformation . it is dangerous in holy things to make reason the touchstone : hee that disputeth too much with god about things not revealed , all the honour he gets , is but to goe to hell more learnedly than the rest . it is good to be pius pulsator , for then the more importunate , the more pleasing ; but a temerarius scrutator may be more bold than welcome . he that would hit the mark he aimes at , must wink with one eye : heaven is the mark , he that would hit it , must wink with the eye of reason , that hee may see better with that of faith. action is the crown of vertue , perseverance the crown of action , sufferance the crown of perseverance , a good cause the crown of sufferance , and a crown of glory the crowne of a good cause . esto fidelis usque ad mortem , & dabo tibi coronam vitae . finis . epigrams and epitaphs written by rob : chamberlain . beatus ille , qui procul negotiis , vt prisca gens mortalium paterna rura bobus exercet suis , solutus omni foenore . to his honored , and dearely affected master , mr william balle , son and heire to the worshipfull peter balle esquire . sir , i am the more emboldned to present you with these fragments of poetrie , in regard you begin to be one of the little darlings of the muses . it is not the least of my comforts to see from a sprig of my owne pruning , such timely blossomes of poetical ingenuity : somwhat rare it is to see plants of wit agree with the hard coldnesse of our climate ; for this aurum cuncta movens hath so stupified the times , that ignorance hath almost outfac'd invention . apuleius may wander up and down the arcadian plains to find parnassus or the heliconian well , and meet none but the dull brood of midas to direct him . go on therefore hopefull sir , towards that sacred spring ; you shall never want the prayers , assistance , and manuduction of your humble servant , rob : chamberlain . to his well beloved friend , mr robert chamberlain , the author , in praise of his following poems . the wisest of philosophers conclude , best contemplations spring from solitude : and vvanting outward objects , the minds eye sees cleerest into every mysterie . scipio's last life , in 's villa spake him man more than his conquest of the affrican . so are the seasons helpers unto art ; and time to industry applyes each part . these thou hast made the subjects of thy layes ; and they for praising them , returne thee praise . so that to praise agen would shew to be but repetition , and tautologie . and thine own works allow thee better note than any friends suspected partiall vote . thomas nabbes . in praise of a country life . the winged fancies of the learned quill , tel of strange wonders , sweet parnassus hil , ●astalia's well , the heliconian spring , ●●ar-spangled valleyes where 〈◊〉 muses sing . admired things another storie yeelds , of pleasant tempe , and th' elysian fields ; yet these are nothing to the sweet that dwells in low built cottages , and country cells . what are the scepters , thrones , and crowns of kings , but gilded burdens , and most fickle things ? what are great offices but cumbring troubles and what are honours but dissolving bubbles what though the gates of greatnes be frequented with chains of glittring gold ? he that 's contented lives in a thousand times a happier way , than he that 's tended thus from day to day . matters of state , nor yet domestick jars , comets portending death , nor blazing stars trouble his thoughts ; hee 'l not post hast run through lethe , styx , and fiery phlegiton for gold or silver : he will not affright his golden slumbers in the silent night for all the precious wealth , or sumptuous pride that lies by tiber , nile , or ganges side . th'imbroidred meadovvs , & the crawling stream make soft and sweet his undisturbed dreams : he revels not by day , nor in the nights , nor cares he much for musicall delights ; and yet his humble roofe maintains a quire of singing crickets round about the fire . this harmlesse life he leads , and i dare say doth neither wish , nor feare his dying day . on the vvorshipfull , and worthy of all honour , mrs anne balle , wife of peter balle esquire . if worth can mortals to advancement bring , if birth , or beauty be a precious thing , meeknesse be great honours palace gate , ●nd the fore-runner of some happy fate , ●appy , then happy thou , that art the sweet ●nd little center where all these doe meet . in dominum gulielmum ball filium & haeredem petri balle armigeri . graeci laudantur , musis laudatur apollo , virgilii fama et scandit ad astra poli : laude vigent multi , sed jam puerilibus annis ingenio supexas tu gulielme senes . en mare tu terras , urbes atque oppida fando laurigerum nostro temporenomen habes . magna canunt magni pueris incognita parvis umbris quae mortis non adeunda nigris . sed teneris doctrina tuis non convenit annis , bis puerique senes , tu puer atque senex . astra fuere tuo natu foelicia coeli , lauo quoque nunc foelix est adhibenda tibi . laurum tolle , latet quod pectore teque docebo , et dii dent studiis vela secunda tuis . the same in english . apollos skill , the grecian pen for wars , and virgils too , transcēd the glittring stars : praise makes men live , but thou a child unfit , transcends the limits of an old mans wit. both sea and land thou know'st , & for thy praise our times shall give thee thy deserved bayes . great poets sing great things that children know not , which to the places of oblivion go not . thy learning fits not with thy tender mold , old men are children , thou a child , art old . the heavenly stars upon thy birth did shine , to make thee happy , now the praise is thine . take up thy bayes , i 'le teach thee what 's in me , and may the gods give prosp'rous fates to thee . in praise of learning . happy , thrice happy , ô ye sisters still , that love and live on sweet parnassus hill ; blest be your times and tunes , that sit and sing on flowrie banks by aganippes spring . blest be the shadie groves where those doe dwell which doe frequent that heliconian well , where learning lives , whereby when men expire , they are made chanters in the heavenly quire . that sacred learning , whose inspired notions makes mortalls know heavens high alternat motions : trūpets their names unto the christal sky though in the grave their bones consuming lie . thrice happy those then , to whō learning's given , whose lives on earth doe sympathize with heavē . whose thoughts are still on high , longing to see heavens tabernacles of eternity ; sleighting the world , and spurning at its praise , which like meander runs ten thousand waies . they ( when pale death to dust their corps shall bring ) with quires of angels shal in heavē sing . to his honoured friend , mr giles balle merchant . on the spring . the lofty mountains standing on a row , which but of late were periwigd with snow d'off their old coats , and now are daily seene to stand on tiptoes , all in swaggering greene ▪ meadows and gardens are prankt up with buds , and chirping birds now chant it in the woods . the warbling swallow , and the larks do sing , to welcome in the glorious verdant spring . to his deare friend and cousin , mr allan penny , citizen of exeter . on the morning . the morning golden horse rush forth amain , spending their breath , suckt frō the eastern plain ; and posting still with speed through gentle aire , hurle their perfumes from out the glittring chair . the suns bright steeds come running up again to taurus top , still glad to see the plain of indolstan : and now begins t' approach the winged messenger of heaven , in 's coach of ruddy flames ; night-wandring stars have done their stragling course , and now the day 's begun . bright burning luna drags her dazling taile into the dungeon of a darksome vaile . to his deare friend and brother , mr thomas bowdon . on the evening . rise , rise , yee sootie horse from duskie dale , and draw your mistresse in a sable vaile : who rides it out with her knot curled haire , like to an aethiope in an ebonie chaire : whose dark unseemly face is wrapt in shrowds , with styx dy'd curtains of congealed clouds . rise thou pale queen of night , prepare thy carres , and climb you glittring glorious mount of stars . to his dearest brother , mr. william holmes , citizen of exeter . deaths impartiality . carmen hexametrum . high minded pyrrhus , brave hector , stout agamemnon , hannibal , and scipio , whom all the world did attend on , that worthy captain , world conquering great alexander , that tender , constant , true hearted , lovely leander , that cunning painter , that curious handed apelles , mirmidons insatiate , that kept the tent of achilles , alphonsus aragon , that great mathematicall artist , that stately queene of beauty , that lady mars kist , wit , wealth , and beauty , yea all these pomps that adorne us , must see black phlegiton , rough styx , and fatall avera●s . to his kind and loving friend , mr henry prigg , citizen of exeter . on the sweetnesse of contentation . the world still gazeth on the glittering shew of scepters , crowns , and diadems , but few consider truely the tempestuous cares , and tumbling troubles of the state affaires . honour 's the spur that pricks th' ambitious mind , and makes it puffe and swel with th' empty wind of self conceit : but yet me thinks i see a state more full of sweet security . the russet farmer , more contentment yeelds unto himselfe , whilst toiling in his fields , beholds upon the pleasant fertile banks , wise natures flowrie wonders in their ranks . and when the halfe part of the day is spent , his wife her basket brings , they with content do both sit down by some sweet stragling spring and make a feast , whilst 'bout his table sing the chirping birds ; he when the day is past , home to his children , and his wife makes haste : the children joy to see their father there ; the father joyes to see his children deare : then they begin to him their pleasant prattle , one shewes his pins , another brings his rattle . with these contents the good man 's over-joy'd , when thus he sees his deare affections cloid , whil'st others toile for honour , and in vaine deny themselves those sweets they might obtain . o then thou great commander of the skyes , that dings downe pride , and makes the poor man rise , let them that will dote on these gilded toyes , let me account it chiefest of my joyes t' enjoy a meane estate , and nothing more , if 't be thy pleasure that i still be poore . give me this sweet content , that i may die a patient servant to thy majestie . to his dearely affected friend , mr george leach of broadelist in devon. on the vanity of man. like to the swan on sweet meanders brink , like flowers that flourish in the morne , and shrink down with their heads , when sable night appears ; such is our frailty in this vale of teares . the gilded gallant , and the tortur'd slave cut down by death , come tumbling to the grave . not europes riches , nor an ajax bold , nor men , nor angels , nor our bags of gold , nor he that was the spacious worlds cōmander , caesar , pompey , nor an alexander , nor can greene youth , well , wit , or tender age , the raging fury of thy sword asswage . o then thou star commander , dreadfull king , whose fiat makes the trembling world to ring , teach us , ô teach us so to know our dayes , thereby to rectifie our crooked waies ; that when with angels , and archangels thou shalt come to judge the world , and make it bow , we then may render up a good account , and live with thee upon that starrie mount . in hyemem . papula canescunt , tremebundi turbinis horror fulminat , heu boreas nimbosa grandinatira torva laboriferi fulgentia cornua quassi tauri nix tegit , pelagus vult tangere stellas , cerberus horrendo baculo nunc tartara plangit , flammiferosque locos dicit spoliasse pruinam . on the death of mr. charles fitz-geffrays , minister of gods word . o thou the saddest of the sisters nine , adde to a sea of teares , one teare of thine . unhappy i , that am constrain'd to sing his death , whose life did make the world to ring with ecchoes of his praise . a true divine in 's life & doctrine , which like lamps did shine till they were spent and done , did never cease to guide our steps unto eternall peace . thy habitation's now the starry mount , where thy great maker makes of thee account . farewell thou splendor of the spacious west , above th' aetheriall clouds for ever blest : the losse of thee a watry mountaine reares , with high spring-tide of our sad trickling teares . on sack. o thou so much admir'd by ev'ry soule , that lives 'twixt th' artick & th' antartick pole ; apollo's drink , drawn from the thespian spring , whereof the silver swans before they sing doe alwaies drink : though thy sweet simpring smiles some mortall creatures of their coine beguiles , yet from black limbo's gate thou bring'st mans soule , and makes his spirits knock the highest pole. on tobacco . thou hell-bred lump of sin , infernall drink , pernicious , damn'd , soule-fascinating stink , time's great consumer , cursed child of hell , scum of perdition , sprung from pluto's cell : thy barbarous nature likes no soile so well , as where the devill and his pagans dwell . bewitched then are those that stand-up for thee , till they have grace t' abandon and abhor thee . in obitvm henrici bluett generosi . rvsticus in agro , opifex in pago : omnes hoc mundo nituntur in vano . mercator in mare , vir officina , cum vult pulsare mors , quid medicina ? finis . imprimantur hae nocturnae lucubrationes . sa : baker . ex aedibus londin . apr. . . vvits bedlam ----vvhere is had, whipping-cheer, to cure the mad. davies, john, ?- . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) vvits bedlam ----vvhere is had, whipping-cheer, to cure the mad. davies, john, ?- . [ ] p. printed by g. eld, and are to be sould by iames dauies, at the red crosse nere fleete-streete conduit, at london : . by john davies. epigrams; in verse. signatures: a-l. the final leaf contains an apology for errors. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams, english. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion wits bedlam , — where is had , whipping-cheer , to cure the mad. the booke . those epigrams faine would i owe , where euery word , is a word and a blow . reproses , where they are well deseru'd ; must be well paide . at london printed by g. eld , and are to be sould by iames dauies , at the red crosse nere fleete-streete conduit . . to the right noble lord the earle of buckingham , be much mirth , permanent pleasure , and endlesse happinesse , here , and else where . to thee , whose worth hath doubl'd good-hopes cape thrice in high pleasures seas , i send this toy , to mocke such apes ( or beasts in humane shape ) as giue vs cause of laughter , and annoy . her 's wit too ranke , sith sprong from too much soyle ; whereat such apes as but saintes counterfet , do mop and mox ; good sport , in sport , to spoile , : but , iustest lerkes their wry-mouths right shall set . if some lines broader bee , than long , herein , ( to make the lash ( with laughter ) lowd ech blow ) it is , broad faults to scourge with greater dyn , to feare , much more than hurt , offenders so : ( grieue , then when ( deare lord ) great cares your greatnes laugh at these ierkes ( like greatnes ) in your sleeue . to the printer . printer , here 's for thee ; yet , 't is not for mee ; but cleane against mee : for , thei 'l ban my birth whose crimes i scourge ; but , that is good for thee : for , most will rather buy their plague , with mirth , than profit that , with pleasure , holds not quarter ; then , still french-crowne me , sith i am thy martyr . and yet , least , so , i should no martyr bee , giue mee the fame , take gould and blame to thee . againe , of my selfe . some ( not a few ) who long to raise their name in proems to their bookes , seeme foes to fame : nay , more than seeme ; who vow ( to grace their they publish books for profit , not for praise : ( daies ) and , hate all friendship held with pride or fame , though to their bookes , they vse to put their name . but i am none of those ( dissembling so ) i le speake the truth ; and , therfore all shall know , that fame and i haue beene too long in loue , now to be foes : nay , still i le striue to prooue the vt'most of mine vt'most for her sake ; yea life forgoe , ere she should me forsake . and if she ●aue mee , through my fortunes wrack , i le fly her ; so , to binde her to my backe : for men by nature , rather then thei 'le be nothing , of something ; they desire to flee vpon the winges of euiternall fame beyond decay ; and bee , though but in name . and be it that vnsanctified wit with hellish flashes may soone kindle it , and make ●t burne in glory still ; yet lust i mo●e for that , than all that turnes to dust . say , t is a burning feauer of the soule to long for that which hurts , not makes her whole and , that that aire is too too pestilent , that makes the sicknes much more violent : yea , water ( though from castaly it came ) is best forborne if it but oyles the flame ; yet can i not but say ▪ yea , lowdly cry . i loue , nay doate on all eternity , saue that which hath relation so to ill as makes eternity abhord : yet fill my muse a bowle of nectar drawne from thence whence all gods stellifide haue influence , and i le carouse so freely of the same , that paine i le beare , as pleasure 't were , for fame . and though i reele beneath the wheele of fate , yet fame shall follow me through loue or hate : that if to higher stiles i cannot climbe . all times shall stile mee taxer of my time. it 's a mad world my maisters . and a merry world my mistrisses . o braines , what bounds are set to lymit you , in madnesse ? wil you crack the pan , your fence ? will you be mad with reason ? are you true vnto my iudgement , soueraigne of your sence ? lo , how you me expose to endles spight : to censure , that may patience quel to beare it ? will you interre my name in datelesse night , and for your glory must i shame inherit ? do you containe such powrs as are of force to giue me honor for wit well imploid ; yet make 'twixt wit and wisdome such diuorce , as , with worlds-hate , i shall bee still anoyd ? put that hate in one scale ( o weight past weight ! ) and in the other put ayres worser name , ( cal'd same for folly , or a vaine conceit ) wil this , not light ; that , heauy make my fame ? shal aged thoughts so doa● ? shal childhood now inuade my iudgement with so fierce assault , that it to idle fancies so should bow , as still to beare the weight of follyes fault ? and shall i sell my birth-right for such grewell as feeds , but fattens not ; or , fats but fooles ? will you to my good name become so cruell as still to haue me whipt in wisedomes schooles ? be quiet wit , leaue beating of my braine to do the worke of playing but on crimes : to scourge the follyes of the world is vaine , if thy whips lines be nought but rotten rymes . muses , why sleepe ye ? will ye see me sinke o're head and eares in shame , who doe adore you ? stretch out your hands : what ! frō me do you shrink to drowne in deepe disgrace while i implore you ? braines , seek you glory of herostratus , to make your findings curst to after-times ? call in my muse and check her thus , and thus ; what do i now ? thus ( x x x ) crosse i out her rime●s , vvho knowes how neere the article of death my fame and i am ? aud what ' compt i must giue for each vaine and ill imployed breath i fetch for life ? to what then doe i trust ? my fame . why , that may dye before me ? or my pleasure ? that dies with mee . vvhat i st then makes me thus plague ( which i am forty for , for hauing cause ) my selfe and other men ? faults ; faults & nought but faire & fowlest faults , both in my selfe , and others i espie . tush , th' are nere mended with such mad assaults as make them worse , and many more thereby . i hope of better : aretine , whom fame stil'd scourge of princes ( such i leaue to such ) kept them in awe : so may an epigram vvith other soft-brow'd sinners , doe as much . but , oh , i am too broad ; and , that doth irke . but how should i scourge broad sinnes otherwise ? must i not make them bare before i ierke ? who knowes not that ? why then let that suffice . vvhat ? wit , how now ? hast ' suces for these scapes ? vvilt thou turne foole , yet wittily defend it ? hast thou so many anticke formelesse shapes ? yet ween'st it such as wisdome cannot mend it ? where art thou wisdome ? wilt thou suffer wit to runne wilde now in mee ; and hauocke make of all my reason in a franticke fit ? o heau'ns ! where am i ? doe i sleepe , or wake ? i yonder sky the skie ? is that the sunne which i haue wakinge seene ? is this the earth where safe i walkt ; and now will let me runne to breake mine honors neck , in brain-sick mirth ? are these the folke i foole with , which i see ? or shadowes ? shadowes ? no. what else ? madmen the greater number : so , will martyre mee for whipping of but one , and fearing ten. a hall , mad bedlams , now my braines ( like yours ) begin to crow : my muse , this afternoone , must dance a brawle : o! looke ! apollo lowres to see his priest so subiect to the moone ! gods me , how now ? what strange confused noise of murmur heare i ? o! the earth doth shake : powles makes her people volley-foorth her voyce against me for their ierks . ha●ke ! o! i quake . s'foote what are these that pynch me ? goblins ? a wanion on the elues for me ; what now ? ( elues ? pinch you behind , ye nits , to saue your selues ? before me too ? saint george ; then haue at you . what weather 's this ? how soddain is this storme ? whence fall these stones that so do batter me ? what! from the winds wide mouth ? can they in - i weigh them not a mite , so light they be . ( or me ? harke how it thunders ! all the world 's afire with flashes of the fury of the mad . looke , looke , they come ; beware , retire , retire : hold braines ; this feare , i feare , will make you gad . apollo helpe me . no ? wilt leaue me thus ? what! not one glance of fauour in this case ? then , luna help ; be thou propitious . why , so : thou cheer'st me in this wild-goose-chase ? but soft ! what smell is this : it wounds my braine ? breath of blaspheamers : fy , is no place free from this so banefull ayre ? can i remaine no where , but , lik a plague , 't will follow me ? o what a hell is this ? a hell ? no , no ; it 's better than some scapes , that more offend : t' is but the bleating of some calfe , or so , that feeles my spleenes iust ierks ; & there 's an end . bitter zeale , is lesse than loue. fame , gathering out of her own motiō strength , and liuely grown by laboure in her flight , i seeke to hold ; yet draw her out at length with this my mirry muse : but , here 's the spight : to follow mirth , as maym'd , she euer vses ; for , bolts from dolts still cripple mirry - muses . a caueat . to bite is but a dogged part ; to sting is but a snakes , wasps , hornets , or a bees ; these men do shun , sith , dole , or death they bring ; yet some haue , oft , a medcine made of these ; so , though i byting , barke ; and stinging , hisse ; yet make of all a medcine for thy misse . to martiall . martiall , th' art still renownd for thy free ▪ wit ; but , oft reproached for thy looser-pen : yet , wise-men ( longing for a merry - fit ) reade thee with praise & pleasure , now and then : then i ( too proudly humble ) thinke not scorne , they wit-all call my name for thy fames horne . the booke to grauitie . sterne grauity auert thy face from me ; or , looke not saddly ou me : for , i am too light , somewhere , for eyes too sad to see ; and yet such lightnesse shews but vice her shame : but , to reproue vice viciously , is more amisse , i feare : the salu's worse than the sore : yet , grace it selfe can hardly wit perswade that it is sin to call a spad● a spade . the booke to the reader . look'st thou for wit well relish'd ? here , each letter yeelds fresh-wit season'd well with salt and pepper : then , if they last not , or do proue vnsaury , it 's through thy foolry , rather than my knau'ry . againe . art good ; and bad thy wit ? then , touch me not : for , i doe often ierke the honest sot. art bad , and thy wit good ? forbeare , much more , to touch mee : for , i lash such till they roare . or , art thou good , and great thy wits extent ? th'wilt loue me , tho thou loathe mine excrement . but be thon good or bad : for six-pence , i will glad and grieue thee , make thee laugh & cry o! take my money , for this sowre-honey . why poets of the present times , be not so well esteem'd as those of former . it 's entry that doth make vs better deeme of men erst breathing , thā now drawing breath : so , poets , that now liue ; we disesteeme , and read them not , with pleasure , till their death . of the worth of wittiest workes , or bookes . rare bookes are of-springs of wits most compleate , distill'd from purest braines refined spirits , which thereby are consum'd : then , such rare merits transcend all patrons guifts how euer great . mercy with iustice. should i , with ierkes of wit , whip euery vice that now are wādring : i should make my booke swell as it had the worst of poysons tooke ; and , make men swell as poison'd , with the price : but , some i le whip ; the rest i le spare for some of more wit , and lesse grace in time to come . those li●es which all , or none do vnderstand , do neither with wit , art , nor iudgment stand . those rimes are best ( though least of most esteem'd ) that ( like sage platoes suppers ) best do please when they diiested be ; how er'e mis-deem'd they be at first : and , so i would haue these . of my selfe ; and , this bable , my booke . some lothe to be laught at for what they write ; but , i do hold that wrong these writings right : then , iudge of these too foolish writings state , that onely aime but to be laughed at . against pse●cus the too cunning palmister , and poet. epigram . . pse●cus is perfect in chirosophy : that is ; hee 's hand-wise , stealing coningly : but , oft he 's well laugh'd at for stealing rimes ; so hee 's hand-wise , & head-foole too , somtimes . vpon one named r● holland , who kept one nell cotton . epigram . . a light yong-man , who lou'd the like yong-woman desir'd their things to either might be common : so , gaue her , whē her good wil he had gottē , a yard of holland , for a n. -ell of cotton . against the nobly-desended muscus , who wedded a butchers fat daughter . epigram . . the well-borne muscus wedded hath , of late , a butchers daughter fat , for pounds & plate : which match is like a pudding ; sith in that he puts the bloud ; her father all the fat. against faber , the earelesse forger . epigram . . faber , the forger , would himself bestow , in marr'age faine ; and sweares he nought doth owe true : for , hee 's earelesse , and hyres all he weares : so , oweth not so much as clothes , or eares ! against dromus , the borrowing barraine , or bankroupt discourcer . epigram . . dromus , in talke , repeates but old-said sawes of other m●s ; & then discourse with-draws : so , ( like a rotten naile ) he cannot bore through rotten wood without a way before . of leoena , and her two friends ; spot , and fuller . epigram . . leoena , hath two friends , that still maintain her ; the one , hight fuller ; the other called spot : hauing a fuller , she should haue no spot ; and yet the fuller with that spot doth staine her : then , if thou canst not put away her spot , fuller , thou and thy mill , are ouer-shot . of a poore curate that wold haue pawn'd his bible to a rich precisians for a crowne . epigram . . acurat , poore ▪ a rich precisian , praide to lend him but a crowne but for a day ; but his request ( precisely ) he denaide : then on his bible , he the same did pray ; but he ( like a precise illiberall clowne ) would take nor his , nor gods-word for a crown . against selfe-conc●ited nine-bibbing - phagus . epigram . . phagus , is wise in his owne eyes ( they say ) then hee 's a foole to drinke them so away . against gaulus the writing-country schole-master . epigram . . gaulus , thou w●it'st thy selfe my scholer ; and thou saist thou do●● it scholers so to get : but , for thine owne , thou still dost shew my hand : so , thou deal'st plaine , thou canst not counterfet . of mutius , and phormius bloudles single-combate . epigram . . mvtius , in field , hath ●ought with phormius , ( sith he thought phormius oft his wife did smack ) where , of the surgeon , was but little vse ; yet , after , mutius ran him through the back : but , mutius ran him in behind so sore sith phormius oft so vsd his wife before . against mollius , that i● a most religious turner . probatum est . epig. . mollius is most religious ; but , the spight is , he , like a topp , set vp , still turnes : then he must still bee whipt , to runne the way that right is , els , like a topp , hee 'l rather turne then flee . of the poore , lady minthes frugality in taking a faire howse . epi. . minthe , hath tane an house ( with little pelse ) as faire , as highly r●●ted : but shee setts her fore-roomes out ; and backward lies her selfe ; and so she liues vppon the roomes she let● : then , if by lying back-ward she doth liue , she ne're goes back-ward , but she stil doth thriue . of the french fencer that challenged church the fencer at all weapons . epi. . the fencing - gaule ( in pride and gallant vant , challengd the english at the fencing-skill ; the fencer church , or the church militant , his errors soone reproou'd , and knockt him still : but sith our church him disciplind so sore , he ( ranck recusant ) comes to church no more . of galla'es true lying . epi. . galla still sweares she is a maid : but then if true she swears , she is vnknowne of men : but all men know her commonly ( it 's said ) then she doth lie , or is their seruing-maid . of caylus his rest in motion . epi. . all motion ceaseth when it hath its end ; ( so say philosophers ) then , how is it that caylus louing long old kate ( his friend ) ( loue being a motion ) now in mar●age knit ) doth be at her euery day : what rest is this ? why , rest of loue , while hate in mo●ion is . against the freenesse of franks loue. epi. . how i st that franke so many doth be foole ? beare all in hand ; and loue protest to all ? faith her hearts like her soule : whole in the whole and whole in euery part , ●ee't nere so small : so , had she hundreds , she might be alone , among them one ; yet whole to euery one. of caius his loosing his game by missing to take a blott . epi. . caius his loue , came to his chamber late ; but , hee that grace did not congratulate , but with too bashfull ●hat ; who , for the same , ( missing to take her blot ) qu●te lost her game . of flaccus his two shadowes to his one body . epi. . flaccus is follow'd with a paire of men , that ( good for nought ) do no●ght but do him ill , and yet he shaddowes it : what maruell then one body should haue two such shadowes still● againe . epi. . flaccus is almost sunke : of that i muse ; hauing two bladders which he s●ill doth vse . of one that l●st a great stomacke . epigram . . mar● swears he ' hath lost his stomack : then if one that 's poore hath found it , he is quite vndon . of old lixus his young choyce . epi. . lixus the weake old dotherd married late , a maid , whom friends en●or●ed to that match so she , perforce , made him her wedded mate ▪ but he , ●ans force , doth marriage rites dispatch . of maurus his orpheus-like melody . epi. . ma●rus , last morne , at 's mistris window plaid an hunts-vp on his lute : but she ( it 's said ) threw stones at him : so , he , like orpheus , there , made stones come flying , his sweet notes to heare . of womens maskes , epi. . it seems that masks do women much disgrace , sith when they weare them they doe hide their face . of their mantles . epi. . i muse that mantles , which were made to hide , should but discouer vanity and pride . of the precedency of lawyers or phisitions , epi. . oft lawyers and ph●sitions striue for place ; but well ye wot the fellons go before the hangman to the gallowes ▪ then the case is cleare ; the lawyer should go first therefore . of crispus mistak●rg things . epi. . crispus tooke phryna vp ere downe shee was , he takes things ill : it 's not alone her case . of old linus his young seruice to women . epi. . old linus brags , hee 's such a womans man , as neuer yet was tir'de in seruing them : the old slaue lies : for aske his young maid nan , and she will sweare ( and yet doth not blasph●me ) hee 's like a leaden tuck , at foynes , or blowes , whose point & pommel streight together goes . then what a shamelesse beast is this to vant of that foule sin which he , in deed , doth want . of glaucus his mirth and madnes . epi. . glaucus , his mirth doth cheere , his rage doth and so by both he gets both loue and ●eare : then he ( like cheese ) doth help ( when he 's at best ) digestion well ; himselfe hard to digest . of dauus his selling his great horse , for a small fault . epi. . dauus hath sold his st●ed for starting back at sight of armor , or the sound of drum. i muse he sold him then , that knew his knacke : and bought him backward still , to fight to come : but comming on so , late , his lord ●ay vnder , then though a iade a iade sold 't is no wonder . of fuluiaes feather . epi. . fvluia still in her haire a feather weares ! so , still the lighter farre , the heauier beares . of wolfangus his great nose and thin beard . epi. . i muse wolfangus beard so thinly growes ; yet 't is no maruell hauing such a nose : for being huge , it yeelds such shade and breath , that nought can prosper growing vnderneath . of one called hoopes , his late embailment from newgate for filching . epi. . one hoopes , for filching , late being in the iayl two greazye guts , ere tryall , were his bayle : so cut is he , and they are in for him , where now they fret while they in swet do swim : but ●●e be bound the i le neuer close their loops , if such great ba●rells get no better hoopes . to the most fortunate m. robert rooke , who married a most faire and vertuous wife . epi. . rooke thou art treble blessed in thy fate , that without check , giues beauties queen the mate . of ianus the iustice , his imprisoning angels comming from the hands of sinners . epi. . ianus ( they say ) the iustice , lately had some a●gels for a bribe : but damned he , that put such creatures ( that ou● hearts do glad ) into the hands of iustice , for a fee ! against libiduis common protestations to his dabbe . epi. . sweet-lipt libiduis to his whore doth swea●e , he loues her as his soule : but better 't were he lou'd her as his body ; for , he doth please that with whatsoere likes taile or tooth , as for his soule , i thinke he truely sweares , for he cares least for that , as well appeares . of sir grobolus his valiant stomacke . epi. . chiron the centaure young achilles fed , with bloud & lions ma●row ( meat , & drinke ) to make his stomack great ; then so was bred sir grobolus the greazie guts , i thinke , whose stomack is so great ( where his good wil is ) that at the trencher , hee puts downe achilles . honor , is vertues shadow . epi. . if vertue make not lords aswell as birth , the stiles but honors stampe vpon base earth . againe , epigram . . yet some base lords are nobles ( right ) of blood but , if they were right gold , they were as good . of the prodigall begger plasmus his great charity . epi. . plas●us , is vtterly vndone by play , and for his liuing , now , doth fast and pray : but though he fast and pray thus , still he breeds , a multitude , which , with his flesh he feeds . against plutus his being penny-wise and pound f●olish . epi. . plutus doth giue him that his horses breaks fu●l fifty pounds a yeare : but to him giues that breaks his sonnes but fi●e , with fifty gleeks : thus his sons breaker breaketh while he grieues : so , plutus beast's well broken : but his child will ( like a beast vnbroken ) still be wilde . against the ●●iudicious deprauers of men of art. epi. . some empty heads , with too ful enuious hearts , depraue what comes frō heads stil full of arts : so , those obscuring clouds with black reproches , thunder against bright art like empty coaches . a couplet or two fastned to sir io : harrington his epigramme , to doe his ladies knight , yeomans seruice . epigram ▪ . a vertuous lady sitting in a muse ( as many times some vertuous ladies vse ) did leane her elbow on her knee full hard , the other distant from it halfe a yard ; her knight to taunt her by a pri●y token , said , wife a wake , your cabinet stands open : she rose and blusht , and smil'd , and soft doth say , then , lock it , if you lust , you keepe the kay . bvt he might haue replide ; good wife , you mock ; my key can open , but not shut the lock . sit● t is a spring ; and kayes in generall will doo 't , if it so openly to all . against wiues that will not worship baal . epigram . . baal the hebrue word doth signifie husband & lord ( as linguists haue vs taught ) but many wiues ( t' avoide idolatry ) refuse to worship baal ; yet are naught ! how bad husbands recompence a good house-wife . epigram . . a good wife's ( like a snaile ) nere out of doore ( except her head ) to shun , and let abuse : that makes bad husbands goe abroad the more to horne their wiues ( poore snales ) for keeping house a good wife should be vnlike the moone . epigram . . a good-wife should vnlike the moone appeare , ( which most appeares whē most she 's from the not once appere but when her sun is neere : ( sun ) but some , like lunaticks , abroad doe runne , most when their sunnes are furthest from their vewes , so , multiply the beames on their sunnes browes ! of nell that was married to some thing , her selfe hauing nothing . epigram . . nell , no thing hath ; which breeds her husband lothing : then this he onely knowes , that he knowes nothing . of a wanton paires marriage in the night . epigram . . claro , for hast , was married in the night : that was because his wife and he were light . of witty stophus that married a faire foole. epigram . . stophus , with his great wit , a foole hath wed ; strange death the liuing's boūd so to the dead . of spongius , ouerthrowne by the kings armes . epigram . . the kings-armes-tauerne , spongius brings full low : no maruell : kings-armes subiects ouerthrow . against beastias his filthy tongue . epigram . . beastias foule tongue still talkes , and 's taile among , which shews more wit & grace then his foule tongue . of some merchants wiues coniuring . epigram . . some merchants wiues coniure their maids , in stormes , with wands inchanting , working wonders so : but on their husbands heads some coniure hornes , by their familliers stil , with them below ! ag●inst perfum'd fellows . epigram , . they that smel least , smel best ; which intimates , they smell like beasts that smell like cynet-cats . of the trauelling eboracian casus h●s strange fortune . epigram . . casus , the eboracian , made aboade , two yeares in palestine , and one at st●ade : whose wife , at his returne , he found with child ; whereat when she perceau'd him to grow wild she sai'd he got it ; 't is his owne ( she sweares ) but then ( if it be true ) it well appeares his organ of begetting longer is than the turks arme , that falls far short of this : then that must needs be propt vp with a forke , that reaches from ierusalem to yorke ! of friscus his secret iesting with a too earnest lady . epigram . . friscus in secret , iested with a lady , ( which iesting chaucer far more broadly stiles ) who , fearing fainting , call'd him foole and baby ; but he with iesting plide her all the whiles : then , if she call'd him foole , she did not fable : for , fooles are euer iesting with their bable . of hipocrites , pretending to haue the spirits vnction . epigram . . the vnction of the spirit some seeme to haue ; so , seeme they pure whom vices most depraue : yet with that vnction sleeke them selues about , too like leane kidneies , onely fat without . against s●lfe-flattery . epigram . . that flattery merits most contempt and blame , where flatterer , and the flattered is the same . of a most honorable error . epigram . caliusius sabine thought his learning deepe , sith he about him clarks profound did keepe : o● that our nobles would so nobly erre , they ne're should liue their glory to interre ! of a flatterer . epigram . . a flatterer ( like a wrastler ) stoupeth low to him he flatters ; so , to ouerthrow : god blesse good princes from such stoupers ; and , place such about them as doe vpright stand . of a free-man made too fast . epigram . . the whore lenaea wiues a knight at last ; so she , being loose , makes this free knight too fast ! of no fish call'd salmon . epigram . . a man , call'd salmon , siuern bancks dwelt vnder that his wife salmons spawn'd then , was no wonder ! of curtius open-handednesse . epigram . . cvrtius , doth vse his money as his slaue ; but better t' were he vs'd it as his friend : for , otherwise t will leaue him by his leaue ; so will his friends without leaue , in the eud : then vse it curtius as thy slaue ; yet so , that thou make much of it , before it goe . of bestius hate . epigram . . bestius doth hate , not enuy good men : why ? a beast doth hate , but neuer can enuy . against faustus , the prophane swearing swaggerer his hate . epigram . . faustus still sweares he lothes the married state : but it must needs be good which she doth hate . against metra her deafnesse . epigram . . when metra is solicited to do , she seemes as if she gaue no eare thereto ; put ( dallying ) vseth strange diuerticles vntill she heares th'agreements articles : and then ioynes issue with the suters streight , who lightly ends the matter with some weight . of cleobulinas darke discourse . epigram . . cleobulina , speakes by parrables , in riddles ( darke ) her sence she doth insold : no eagles eye ( though holpe with spectacles ) can see the way her meaning to vnfold : but aske her for a gowne , what she will do ? those words shee 'le eccho plainly , she will doo . what lawyers are like . epi. . lawyers are like the tongues of ballances , foes to th'ore weighd with coyne & countnances , who still encl●●e vnto the weightiest side ; and there while weight remaines , they do abide . lawes were better to be like hunters toyles , which they be not : than like cob-webs , which they be . epi. . like cob-webs , lawes still take the little flyes , when as the waspe & hornet scapes with ease but hunters toyles the great beasts do surprise ; and let the little scape : were lawes like these , the great should haue less power the small to hurt or , if they did , they should be ha●p●●d sort . of the vnbloudy warres of poets . epi. . the banquet of the centau es made ( ●t's sed ) the cups to flye at one anothers head : and oft such banquets are with mars his mates , where boles let out and take in blood of p●tes : but poets are more wise and merry m●n , that freely drinke and war but with the p●n . of blaynus the beggers cunning counterfetting . epigram . . blaynus the begger , and sly counterfet , with birdlime , meale , & bloud with ease , doth set sores on his limbes ; so , crus●ed cunningly , that hearts of ste●le melt at his misery . thus , he being whole doth breake ; yea thus breake out , to moue mens mercy , as he sits without : but if your birdlime ( blayre ) so take men sitting , you make men dottrells , caught with counterfetting . against phanus his modesty . epigram . . phanus , the bashfull leacher , dares not name those parts which to abuse he coūts no shame : o monstrous modesty● that shames to say that which to doe he holds but sport , or play . of fluxus his constant change . epigram . . in euery month eu'n as the moone doth change ; so ●luxus state a change doth still sustaine ; now fills , thē falls ( with course vnstaid , as strange ) like a stronge felt , soone downe , then vp againe : were he starke lunatick t' would not do so : yet like his braines , his state doth ebbe and flow ! against phannius sad lookes , linde with lightnesse . epigram . . phannius , doth sēd his conscience to the stews ; yet vp his countenance demurely mewes , like an italians wises the worse for that ; for so it more deceaues in i know what . of nichus good fortune , being robd . epigram . . copper-nos'd nichus swears that rob'd he was : but i suppose the theefe was but an asse ; for that he left behinde him , and did lose , the precioust thing he had ; which was his nose ! against curtezans that colour their whoredome with a catholike pretence . epi. . nais , lais , & ●hais , were not so neere in name as in their trade , whores past grace & sham so whore , whore , whore come not in sound more neere then som pure fasters , to that belly-cheere . of a knight , that did a worke of darkenesse in the light , and my sight . epi. . of late , i chanc'd to see a lady , light ( light i may wel say ) from her bright caroch wher hous'd she was ; wherin soone went a knight , which i obserued sitting in a porch . the knight gon vp the waiting-maid came down ; and left them in a chamber next the street : the maide , at doore , conuerst ; while ( as his owne , though nothing lesse ) the knight his loue doth greet . , ,but loue is blind ; & so saw neither louer that through the glass they might be seen by day : so in my sight , he did knights-seruice to her against the window , this light ladies stay : for , sith the deed was darke , this vertuous knight , ( with a free spirit ) still pusht it into light. of my selfe . epigram . . cornelius , gallus , sappho , pindarus , anacreontes , alceon , orpheus , propertius , virgill , ouid , inuenall callimachus , philotes , martiall , catullus and tibullus ; these haue sung in seu'rall straines of loue and whores among : then , haue , i precedents for what i do against or'e doing drabbs that men vndo ; but if the bridwell lash them nothing irks , they will but laugh at these poore paper-iirks . of frontus his formosity and deformity . epi. . frontus , the gallant , is both faire , and foule ; which contradiction , faith can hardly win : yet being braue in body , soild in soule , maks good hee 's faire without , and soule within : and though his suits be silks of seuerall formes , he 's but inuolud with excrements of wormes ; for which he 's sued both within , and out ; and so his onely beauty is in sute . of phormus his gelded purse . epigram . . phormus , had in his purse two rubies ( rich ) when with his turkesse ( damned drab ) he lay ▪ to find which purse & stones she sought his brich while he found sport for which he de●re did pay : for , when she found his purse , she made no bones to g●ld it , ' ere he found it , of the stones . of rufus his mirry-sory night . epigram . . rvfus hath found a thousand pound ( they say ) in but one merry night ; and that in play which some call game : but so much lost , in brief , was won in game , but lost in deadly griefe . against the false suruey of one w : pearch ( a foul● deformed low● ) who , with his mathematicall instrument , measur'd one kate a●re amisse ; yet made it full e're he had done . epi. . a pearch , that wanted mans proportion , measur'd an acre standing , in a vale : who found it full when he the worke had done ; yet it refus'd sith false he found the dale : of ladies silke-stocks emboss'd vpon the top● , and s●ames with gold . epigam . . ladies , i st not enough silke-stocks to weare , but they o● seames , and tops must be embost , with gold , or siluer , though it ne're appeare ? nere ? that were hard , & all that charge were lost . who knowes not , beauty still vnseene , is vayne as is our brauery ▪ but , who brauest be ; or fair'st , desire to haue it seene , to gaine some notice or respect ; then , surely , she that weares such stocks , her knees discloseth oft , that some may see the charge that is a loft . of two gallants that agreed to ●ight , went out , were hurt , and return'd without bleeding epigram . . two gallants needs would fight ; sword , time , appoin●ed were , & all agreed vpon : ( & place , then both rode out , and ran a wild-goose-chase ; but both mistooke t●e place : so , both , alone , returnd againe , both swearing they were there ; t●ue : there where both we●e hurt a like with feare : then sith their fearefull hurts so equall were ; let them shake hands to heale their hurts of feare . of iuliaes book●shnesse . epigram . . ivlia , is bookish ; and , doth study still to fashion natures fauoures to her will : her mirrour is her booke , her time to passe ; and so she euer studies on her glasse . of zenius his taking tobacco with a whiffe . epigram . . zenius stil takes tobacco , with a whiff ; which ( so ) doth make him drunk , that , whē he speakes , his tongue doth faulter in his mouth , as if he parting were : yet , when to part he seeks , he falls ; so , cannot part : and , so , he dies in shew at least , but yet , in deed , he lies ! of the small respect had of learned men in generall . epigram . . caligula , enuying the bright ●ames of homer , virgill , and graue liuius , or●ethrew their statuaes , to or'ethrow their names but would these times had none more barbarous , for , in this age , caligula●s we find that let them starue , that shine in either kind . and so the douch would be , but for the pot. against the fantasticall attire that many ladies weare now a daies . epi. . if ladies maners with their ga●ds agree ; then they seeme such , they would not seeme to bee ; but if they would not bee as th' are in sight . let them not weare what makes them seeme so light of the strange dareing of yong gallants of the●● familier times . epi. . vertumuus was a god the romans seru'd , that gouernd mindes & could all shapes assume ; oh! if that quality were yet reseru'd for some audacious lads that would presume : what ladies locks , nay what queenes clossets shold be left vnlockt the wags would be so bold ! of dawlus his vnkind kindnesse . epi. . crowes will not feed their yong til . daies old , because their vnkind colour makes thē doubt them to be theirs ; which makes thē to with-hold their helpe , till time the truth by proofe brings out , if dawlus then were witty as a daw , hauing a child so farre vnlike him selfe , he would from him his helping-hand with-draw , and let 〈◊〉 vndoubted ●ather keepe the 〈◊〉 : but ( nat'rall ) he , is kinder than a crow , to keepe the brat , whose sire he doth not know , against d. tangus his swelling phisick , epi. . tangus , the phisick-doctor , loues a whoore better then giuing phisick to the poore . he hath the arte of bawdry better farre than phisick : yet , in both doth make and marr● : he makes a maide a vvhoore ; so , mares her quite : and makes a sound man sick , or dead out-right . what virgin can resist , when he doth boast he can restore her maydenhead , if lost : vvhich at her marriage shal be found as strict as any gi●les that loue did ne're aflict . when he doth promise , by a phisick-feate , to let the wombe & pappes from growing great . to giue her vnguents and complexions store to make her beauties rare reflex●ons more : to keepe her body still , in healthfull state ; and make her mirry in despight of fat● . vvhich hauing vvill to promise , skill , to do ; vvhat vvench can choose but loue & please him too ? tangus , your arte your nature truly hits . that helpes or hinden loues stil-burning si●s . but take heed ( tangus ) how you empty still the vvombes which you with working-phisick fill , least some repentant wench which vsde you haue say at her end you vsde her like a knaue : then , let mee thee admonish ( without stripes ) giue no more phisick with such glister-pipes . of the phisitions meanes and opportunity to be baudy . epi. . no craft , like that of phisick , hath such times , for baudy-matches , & such carnall crimes : no houses are so close , nor walls so strong , no prisons nor no monastries , among , which may or can the emperick shut out : nay , more , he maketh iealous husbands pout : for , sole he must be with their loue sicke wiues , to minister what they loue as their liues . eudemus so did phisicke l●uia , ( sicke ) and vectius valentinus did the like to messalina : so , they nere do faile of time to giue close phisicke at the ( ) of leuis his colours . epi. . leuis goes al in coluors , light , as bright ; sweare and stalkes , speaks bigge : so that a man would that he some peacock were at the fi●st sight ; for , he more colours hath , and much more deare : yet he no colour hath , or small at most ) to keepe a lords wife at the bare ones cost . of curius his courage neuer cooled . epi. . by conquest proculus , the emperour , took , of sarmatiam maids , an hundred , which in fifteene dayes and nights he did deflowre ; but , her●'les in a night did hafe as much . and theophrastus tells in india growes an hearb so rare , whereof when one hath eaten , he thre●score times and ten , at once , did cl●se , in the ven●●●an fight ; yet scapt vnbeaten . well ; these are prodigies , and are beleeu'd no further than their tellers credit goes : but curius sweares ●e ne're was yet depriu'd of force for that : so , all his time bestowes in venus seruice ; but , at last , some knocks he needs must haue ; els scapes well with a poxe . against glossus immoderate desire of glory . epi. . glossus will doe no good without you praise him , so , in his goodnes stil vaine glory stayes him : like a full pierced vessell in his bent , that will not run vnlesse you giue it vent . of f●lse prophets . . if prophets were deriu'd of profitting , then lawyers prophets be , still prophesying . of couetous patrons . epi. . patrons are latrous : then , by this , th' are worst of greedy people : whose cognizance a wolfes-head is ; and in his mouth a steeple . of fluscus the proud miser , and his more proud and miserable wifes making their tombe before their death . epig. . fluscus , & his grim wife their tomb haue made before their death ; and in the church it pight ; as some do make a deaths-head and a spade to mor●ifie them with that mortall sight : yet these are humble made by this they make ; but those do make that only for prides sake : then how their thoughts should there entombed be , yet here liue proud and harde , i hardly see . againe . epi. . to make that which bereaues vaine pride of breath , prides life in life , is pride in life and death . of caylus getting by gi●ing ground to his enemies . epi. . caylus , doth thriue in giuing ground t' his foes ; so he in going backward , foreward goes : much like a wyer-drawer , who hath the kna●k , to draw the more , the more he draweth backe . how a man more then woman is s●rewd . epigram . . a false speech , custome hath for true , alow'd in calling curst wiues s●rewed : when in truth , the husbands of such wiues are truely shrew'd ; for , of th' ensuing sayings , it ensuth : who gets a wife ( we say ) he wiued is ; or , if apparrell ; hee 's appar●elled : if riches ; hee 's enritched : so , by this , when he hath got a shrew , he is shrewed , for , names of sheepe or shrews all woemen keep ; then men are shrew'd whose womē ar not sheep . that which is farre fetcht and deere b●ught is good for ladies . epi. . my lady calls for wine ; yet ere shee drinkes , she curiously demands what cost the tun ? if it be said ten-pound ; she from it shrinkes ; and , mewing sayes shee 'le none : but , let it run into another bowle ; then , bring it her , and say it cost m●ch more ; shee drinks it straight , and sweares it's much more delicate , than deere : so , wine she measures by the prices weight ; this is a feauer of the minde ; then , she should still , be kept from drink ; so , cur'de to be . of my venturing in the lottery . epigram . . i long'd to venture in the lottery an angell ; but was loth to part with that : did i both long , and loath ? yes , that did i ; long for a prize , yet loath to be laught at . but yet i ventur'd ; and fot that i haue that which i had ; no hope my selfe to saue . if what i had i haue , i 'me as i was : true : for i am , and was for this , an asse . my rimes that ran before my reason into the lottery . epi. . crownes are inestimable : yet if i with halfe one get . crownes i lye : yet that this lying sin i should eschue ; fortune ( i find ) hath made me speak too true . of leuis his heauines and lightnes . epigram . . leuis , is light and heauy both at once ; strange paradox ! for , he is euer drunke : and therefore drinkes he freely ( for the nonce ) vntill he other sinkes , or quite is sunke : and then ( as drunkard know ) himselfe he feeles light in the head and heauy in the heeles . against those that taxe this present age for blind ignorance , sith it sees not how to commend their pretended knowledge . epi. . to taxe the age wherein we liue for want of learning , wit , or grace , is but to vant our priuate glory in the ages shame : which is ( alas ! ) too deerely purcha'st fame : sith hee that seeks to rise by all mens fall , his fame is , like himselfe , still loth'd of all : for , be it that most men , ( meere lead ) doe sincke ore-head , that seeke to swim in learned inke ; and , quite are drown'd when they do seek to gage the ground of arts full sea , that swells with rage of heauenly windes high raptures : yet there bee some , that with diuing , can the bottome see ; and each least thing that in it mooues or lyes , sith , ●kilfully , they diue with open eyes . now , if this some be not the greater heape of men : t' was so when learning was most cheape : men of all ages were none otherwise ; fooles still surpast the number of the wise . then , let this age that ( on the brow of time ) sees writ the former best of prose and rime ; and well can adde ( as former ti●es haue done ) to all arts that were formerly begun , with heauy taxes not be so opprest ; , ,the bird 's too bad that fileth her owne neast . againe . epigram . . the wits ( though wilde in this ) haue now a straine vvhen they applaud each others versing● veine to say , they write three ages , if not more , from being well conceiu'd . lord ! this lies sore vpon the stomack of the present age vvhich saith ; it knowes such poets write in rage vvhich still blinds reason ; so , they maddly write : then would they haue the age , but at first sight , so mad to know that language ; which ( perchāce ) them selues , in that , must oft plead ignorance vvere they examined throughly to the quick ? god shield the age should be so lunatick : as all arts grow with age ; so , wit hath growth : then , th' age wants no discretion , but the youth . epigram . . great alexander , a●istotle will'd to end his booke , of beasts , which he begā ; for which his paines he so his cosers fill'd as might suffize to make a beast a man ! it was eight hundred talents mounting to foure hundred , some score , thous●nd crowns ( at least ) and all for writing but of beasts ; which do make men no wiser than to know a beast . but though some moderne vvriters write of men and of their better parts ( the soule and minde ) yet of our moderne ke●sars ( now , and then ) they get a gird ( perhaps ) or els but winde : belike to saue their arte they guird them so ; and giue no vent , lest it abrode should slow . of the vnutterable idlenesse of our she-gallants ( vngentle ▪ gentlewomen ) of these times . epigram . . lord ! how it would a cato vex to heare the sad'st discourses of some courtly dames : as how the gown doth fit ; how stand the haire : how the face slikt : how trickt their outward frams . vvhat looks do most become ; what gate is best : how they should sit , lie , rise ; ( and these last two they stand on most ) how such & such were drest : wo giues them place , and who do take it too . what bowings they salute with ; how they kisse , ( or lippe or cheeke ) and who the same deserues : who they doe visit ; who their seruant is : who they least loue ; and who then most obserues . what women should be coacht , ( or horst at least ) and who caroch't with horses full of life : ( o wanton mares ! ) and where they late did feast . who gold may wear : who pearl or stones less rife then be there old crones ( mothers of such maids ) who tell , how many sutors they haue had ; how many guifts ; how many louing ayds : who makes them me●ry , & who makes them sad . how faire they were in youth , what they haue seen , heard felt , or ( fe●lingly ) what vnderstood ? what lords once lou'd thē ; who they might haue beene , who are of sullen , who of merry mood . all this and ( o fie , fie ! ) much more then this , these , old and young , ( no barrell better hearing ) still twattle to spoyle tim : ( that pretious is ) whē they do meet ; which irks a wise mans hearing and if a sober young-man lights among them , his staidnes makes them reele with mirth , as drunk with girds they wrōg him , sith he doth not wrong thē and , at his chast behauiour flee● like punks . but a right courtly lad , that will be bold , and tosse , & touse , & wring , & wrong them most : that reacher onely hath their h●●rts in hold ; the sober soule they hold a simp●● ghost . well wanto●s take your time it wil away : laugh while yea can , ye shall not while yee would , make fooles of wise men ; ( fooles so euer may ) and shew good carriage in your being bold : but , when yee haue done all , if i obserue yee , to after-times , in bryne , i will preserue yee . against the no lesse vaine dis●ourses of our as idle he-gallants . epigram . . bvt do vaine women herein onely sinne ? i would they did for mens sa●es ; but ( alas ! ) it is too true that men offend herein no lesse than women ▪ for , each golden asse , or gaudy cocks-c●mb : whole meal-times engrose in talke of plaies ( that 's now a common-place ) and censuring of plaiers ; which is drosse of wit ; and thus they question , too , the case . what q●arrells ( stil'd the bysnesse ) now depend ? anh who about tha same haue crost the seas ? who seconds are , and who besids intend the like ? and when we shall heare more of these ? who must call such and such t'accompt ? for what ? nay , that 's no matter , sith there 's notice tane now of that bissnesse , ( so , ingag'd by that ) for , sowre lookes past in powls or milford-lane . who are behind hand for the foole or lye ? who for a smarting ●est , or bruizing knock ? who for a stak● miss-taken on the bye ? who for a w●●ooke , or directer mock ? who do our london fine-wiues husbands horne ? what punks are extant ? where they may be found ? what feather's best ? what colour most is worne ? what gallants store ? and which are now a ground ? what fashion's in request ? what tailors go of rest to france for new ? who makes a hose , or doublet best ? who steales most stuff ? and who by taylors bills and filchings most do lose ? who 's most fantastick ? and who weares his weeds after the newest garbe ? what lords we haue like , or vnlike themselues ? who are but weeds ? and who but emp●y heads held high and br●ne ? whose hawk slew best ? what hoūd most glory wō ? what matches , late , wer bowld ? by whō , & where ? what rule was at the race ? what race was run ? who won or lost at either ; here , or there ? how many train-sents run were in a day ? what lords were at them ? whose horse got the bell ? who most did brag ? and who most bets did lay ? who odds did giue ? who giue , and take aswell ? t●●se are the common-places which they vse that be our brightest gallants in discourse ; and oft among relate they flying newes ( how euer false ) which is as bad , or worse . then , our she-gallants , foolish with excesse , still come beneath like hees for foolishuesse ! the miseries of marriage . epigram . . continuall care ; tormenting ielousie ; domestick iarrs ; vnbraidings with the dowr comparisons of eithers liberty ; the doubtfull end of children ; lookes too so●r ; wiues parents powrings ; strang heires ; death of right ; traitor & theef , in bozome , house , & bed ; these miseries on most men married , light ; yet thinke they liue no life till they are wed : it s true indeed , they liue no life till then ; that is ; they liue no life of wretch men . of manes his obsession . epigram . . er'e he was married , manes saith that he was tempted by the deuill ; but , ere since , the deuill hath him in sat● custody whose fell tormentings passe his patience : then better tempted still , then so to marry ; yet some had rather damned be than tarry . on the death of henry the fourth french king murdered . epigram . . though kings are gods , yet shal they die like men : ( what shal be , shal be ) but , most christian kings haue dide like beasts ; nay , like beasts most vnclean , sought but for slaughter , like pernitious things ! two henries , kings , most christiē kings of france , ( now drown'd in their own bloud ) this truth desend ; and though the last had eu'n predominance of fates and men , yet both haue wrought h●● end ▪ once dryv●n to diepe , by fate ( in deepe distresse ) he was ; and thence by fate brought back againe . warre making way ) to reigne in quietnesse : so , when he fled , his fates bid neptune reigne ▪ his flight , that so he might both liue and die in purple ; fatall , to french - maiesty ! of the force of beauty , ioyn'd with pompe , and maiesty . epi. . marcus antonius ( as plutarch shoes ) commanding cleopatra to appeare before him ( sith she succored his fo●s ) she came in pompe ( as one that had no peere ) along the riuer cydnus in a gallion , the poope whereof was all of mas●y gold ; and vnderneath the like most rich pauillion she lay her selfe , more rich a thousand fold , surrounded with sweet singers ; and , with all , the heau'n li●t instruments that songs could grace ; her seruants clad in robes maiesticall brodred with pearle , t'wixt richest golden-lace , thus came she gliding , on the siluer streame , forced with siluer oares , and silken sailes ; ( crowned her selfe with deerest diadem ) towards anthony ; with whom she so preuailes that she captiu'd him , being conquerour ; for , she on beauties priuiledge did stand ( consorted with this wealth , port , pompe & pow'r ) that she commands him , that did her command . but though she made this pagan much transgesse ; some saints in shew , do oft much worse with lesse ! against marcus his insatiablenesse , and basenesse in his leachery . epi. . so deerely did darius still esteeme of his night-pleasures , that his bed was spred like a pauillion ; ouer which did seeme a vine to grow , all gold enamelled ! which as an arbour , did the bed inuolue ; the grapes whereof were pearl as big as plumbes ; whose price was more than algri●● can resolue ; his pillowes value worth vnualued summes ! yet marc had rather lie with 's drab ( thogh sūck ) in straw , than in this state , without his punck . of making aurum potabile . epi. . lapis phylosophorum , nor ( as yet ) quinta-essentia could e're well be made : but aurum pot-abile ( being wet ) many drie wags do make ; and then doth vade ; for , in proiecting tauernes ( night , and day ) gold oft to liquer runnes , to run away . of florus his holsome tongue . epi. . flerus , did once affect the name of man ; and then he sought a virgin-●ray ; since when hee hath fresh-ayr'd it so , with his tongues fan , that it is now as ●●●sh as it was then . but since that priuat fights so fatall grew , that one , or both must die , or lye by it ; ( as hell and vengance ) he doth such eschue ; and , on his manhoods old-store , liues by wit. but yet his tongue is potent , full of spight , that all affections ( tame or wild ) commands ; and therein now consists his greatest might : so , hath tongue the valour of his ●ands : a good and gratious tongue hath florus then , sith it will rather make , than marr good-men . on the gaging of fumus his iewell by his man , epigram . . fumus , locks vp his wife , as is the guize of the italian ; and , doth put a lock vpon her iewells sith he deere doth prize what , being abused , base doth make his stock ▪ but his mans k●y still opes it , who can do well ; so , opes the lock to gage his masters iewell . on light bright lucilla her white going . epigram . . lvcilla , lightly all in white doth goe , to lay her chastity a whiting so . of one speaking ill of me before many . epig. . one , before many , spake but ill of mee . yet rather i had one spake ill ( alone ) of mee , to many , that indifferent be , then many so should speake , before but one. on fugus his cooling his flaming fury with discretion , epi. . . that fugus , in a duell , hotly f●ught , is no great wonder , being so well wrought by his too busie foe : but , that he flew ( without wings ) from the field , is scarsely true : it was no flight from fighting with his foe ; he did but walke to coole his fury so . that the men of these new times , are much wiser then those of the old . epi. . in old time , men were much less wise than now ; for , but with good they then could hinder ill : but now , men ( wiser growne ) doe well know how to let one mischiefe with another still . some stones to take , but ( frozen ) tooke vp none : then ( being crost ) thus gallus curst alow'd ; pox on 't ( quoth he ) while that dog tare his hose , where stones are tyde , and ban-dogs be so loose . of one that refused to lend friend . nobles , when he sent to him for it with , and without a sure token . epigam . . a gamster borrow'd fiue pound of a friend ; which lost , he sent to him for fiue pound more by'th'token he fiue pounds before did lend : but he refused vtterly ; and swore that not a mite , of him should more begotten vntill he truely had receau'd that token . of a crook-back that defir'd an vpright iudge to right his wrong . epi. . a crook-back praid a iudge to right his wrong whe●eto the iudge replid , i would i could : but ( o! ) you haue been wrong your selfe so long , that now i cannot right you , though i would . when ●a●●ng but one onely thing in store , you let an hundred vse the same and more . of a single ey'd fencer his blind match . epigram . . a fencer , with one eye , desir'd to play for th' other : which another would not do ; ( as he had reason : ) for , though it were day , he could not stake , and see to play well too . of tullus his d●sprouing a tailors will. epigram . . braue tullus made a s●ite of trym attire ; for which his tailor brought him in his bill who therein so did crosse his due desire , that he did quite disproue the taylors will : who , in a fu●● , thus said , he ●euer knew any braue gentile deale so like a lew ! of drusus his guift in reuersion t●ken too soone in possessi●n . epigram . ●● . when i leaue off this sute which now i weare , ( quoth drusus to his man ) i le giue it thee : but when , at night , he vncasd him ( without feare , of his sutes losse ) his man , that promis'd fee , soone seis'd vpon ; and , wore the same : but , lo , his master chast he was so sawcy growne ; and askt him , what he m●ant to serue him so ? why sir ( quoth he ) i do but weare mine owne : for , when you left them off , you promis'd me they should be mine : and so they are you see . of the sacrifice of lent. epi. . a country-parrish ( westward-ho ) call'd lent , by chance was set on fire , and burnd amayne ; one askd the name thereof , as by he went ; t' was told him lent : who streight replide againe , fridaies and saturdaies ( that make vs wither ) pray'ye put in too , and burne them altogether . against fighting in fashion . epi. . if thou wouldst fight in fash'on , now , thou must scorne all defence as valor● onely shame ; and come vp close , that brest to best may iust ▪ vpon no guards , but at the heart to ame . this is the fashon'd fight this time affords , for ( sw●z●r-like ) we fight for ( s●n●l●sse ) spoile : then all as good to fight with kniues as swords , sith all defence doth but our honor foile ! then fencers , wherto serues your fencing-skill which you stile noble science ? you ( i thinke ) should , to the parliament prefer a bill trepeale this act of custome , least it sinck : for , custome , and the deuill , do men perswade to damne thēselues , by fight , to spoile your trade . of mis-reading the lines of crustus his face . epigram . . crustus , the roarer , getting in his face a slash of late , an old friend did embrace that knew him not till he himselfe bewraide , which don ; his gamesome friend to him thus said ; " pardon me , sir , your faces lines , by spight , " so blotted be , i could not read them right . in medio consistri vertus . epigram . . a gallant , courting of a gamesome maide , said ; sweete , oh let me kisse your hands and feet in signe of humblest loue ! good sir ( she said ) both those for your sweet lips are most vnmeete ; , ,but vertue 's in the middst ; than , ( vertue ) there , if you will kisse , you may : if not , forbeare ! epigram . . madge once set hodge to watch when puddings plaid that on the fire were seething in a pan : boy , play they now ( quoth she ? ) not yet ( he said ) at last they , boyling , brake , and all out ran . lad , play they yet ( qd she ) quoth he yong ( goose ) they now play all ( like gepsies ) vast and loose . so , chast , why chaf'st qd she ? why , quoth the elfe ? to zee a pudding creepe out of himselfe . of a maids light hearing . epi. . i haue heard of you , claius , said a maide ; o , ●●t ( quoth he ) recant what you haue saide , least you be shent : for , if you heard of me t' was i● a bawdy-house , where euer be those i conuerse with : then if there you heare of me , or of mine actions , it is cleare you are too blame to hearken for me , so , wher maids ne're come , but whoores away they go . of caprus his going a procession . epi. . caprus to pay his wife , in her owne coyne , procession went , to finde a punke , he got ; then pay'd his vowes , and of●●ings ; so , did ioyne , but though she were as cold as he was hot ; yet , in pure zeale , she sacrifis'd the oxe in venus seruice , with her tinder-box . of quacus , his cooling his heate with whey . epigram . . qvacus , drinks nought but wha● , himselfe to coole , yet loues a drab , as nought by wine , he drunk so , with his bable , still he pla●es the foole , to make his wife , to weepe , to laugh , his puncke ; but , were i her ; i would not foole it too , to weepe , but laugh ; yet , for him , euer doo . epigram . . a wife , whose husband lay a bed diseas'd , went with his water ( scarse conceal'd from to seeke for help , or how he might be eas'd , ( vew ) and meeting with another wife she knew , who with her there did then expostulate , about what then she bare , and how she far'd : who told her straight , it was her husbands state ; and went for help for p●ine about his yard : hath he a yard ( quoth she ) and cupids martir ? o! you are blest : would mine had but a quarter ! but , she should haue a yard her back to mete , for playing so , her quarters in the street . of rampa , and her fowle trading at the faire . epigram . . rampa , the sempster goes to faires a pace to sell her ware ; and , so , to mend her case : but , there her case is mar'd ; for on each pack , shee , packing loosly , proues a naughty-pack . the while , at home , her husband keeps the shop ; and of that faire sowne seed still reapes the crop. of mine ou●rs●er . epi. . my o'reth wart neighbor though , for debt , by night he scarse dares shew his scalp ; yet builds so hie ( with quarter staues ) as he ore looks me quite ; so , hee 's mine oue●-scer●ere i dye . then shall my will , to ill , still foreward run ; for , he hath hornes , of powr to see that done . of homouthius his chast adultery . epi. . homouthins hath an oare in each mans boat ; so , sinks his state & fame that els might float : thus commits folly and adultery too , that hath to-doe , with that h 'as nought to-do . of hornsbie's incredulity . epi. . tell hornsby ( that doth keep a tabling-house ) his wife too fast doth bear men in his tables hee le not beleeue the same for twenty nobles ; no , though he see 't , yet dumb is as a lowse : for , should he speak his liuing quite would faile , sith all he hath he holds but by the tayle . against the faith , hope , and charity , of our yoeng maister hal. epi. . young hal is wanton , with expectance still , and , longs to haue his sire curb'd of his will by vnexpected death ; that , so , he might be heyre of all ; and be an arrant knight : and so he may ; for , of him proofe i haue , he may bee errant knight , or arrant knaue . to mine ingenious friend m. iohn dumbarre . epig. . fowre for her foure lines i bequeath her ; vp pernassus often breath he● : so , thy muse , in latine-ditty , shall sing long , low'd , short , and witty . of nais her keeping an ordinary and her being ordinary . epi. . nais keepes and ordinary , and entertaines ( like ven●ce ) all gods good , or diuells ills : protestants , papists , brownists , puritanes , hand ouer hip-well shee their bellies fill : as some doe hers ; yea , in her husbands sight ; so , with his leaue , shee dubs him vulcans knight . againe . epi. . nais still doth vaunt she is a gentle-wo-man ; it 's true ; for , shee in loue refuseth no man : then , why do i so much misname her , nais , that is to men so sparing of her nayes ? againe , for a parting blow . epi. . naies keeps a house of carding , but , nere spins , ( yet , often relies ) vnlesse it be the webbs of others woes : she , ( lately lowe ) begins to rise apace : so , flouds do follow ebbs : she needs not , now , to ply wheels reels , or rocks her guests and gamesters do so ply her box. of pagus the pedagogus proud all-tong'd-daughter . epi. . pagus , the pedant , learns his daughter greeke , hebrue , and latine : nor is she to seeke in spanish , french , and the italian , douch , danish , spruce , and the slauonian : yea , verses makes in all these . wondrous thing ! that any man a maid ●o vp should bring , while he commits idolatry with her . which makes her scorne her mother her should beare , or he beget her ( proud foole ! ) yet , i say , when ●ire● doe play the puppies , puppies may . againe of his vncharitable prayer . epi. . when pagus pupills play the wags , hee bringes them in his prayer , which he , saying , sings : so for their pennance , plagues them in pure prayer as if a murraine yet , were in that ayre : for , all his houshold , so , doe know their crimes ; for which clock like he strikes , and after chimes : then praying thus without pure charity , his prayer turnes to pure iniquity . of roring neds endlesse ende . epig. . the wise-man pogg , shewes needy roring ned ( who often blood hath brocht , & often ble● ) his endlesse ende : which ( well ) he cannot choose ; for all may see 't will be an end●esse noose . a hard choyce . epi. . i faine would marry ; but , more faine li●e sole , though without wife , i am but halfe my whole : for , man and wife one body make ; and some by marrying , ma●re two bodies . i am dumbe , or , know not what to say : for , this good-naught makes me a fickle sheptick in my thought : yet , when i meane to wed , i le leaue their schoole , and , to be held more wise , play more the foole . of a curat 's hauing two wiues at once giuen him in marriage . epi. . a parson , that one only daughter had match'd her vnto a curat ; but was glad to giue , for lack of portion to lay downe ; a benefice , he held beside his owne . but , in this guift , he gaue his so made sonne , two wines at once , whereof this guift was one : for , papall constitutions are of force , in this glad match to make a sad diuorce . with which two wiues he liues , with much ado ; the teithe of one being dowry to the two . of rich rooke his kitchen-phisick against vertigo . epi. . rich rooke eates bitter almonds , as a trick to keepe downe fames , e're to the wine he● wēds and , so , he drinks til he with healths , be sick ; so , bitter meanes haue . thus , more bitter ends : but if this bitternesse had turn'd to hony he would haue sunck the world with meath for money . of flauias paynting ; and playing the squirell . epigram . . flauia is faire ; yet paints her selfe : oh strange , that true , to feined beauty so should change ! she brauely goes ; and yet her case is thought bare , as her pin-case , worne , with pins , to nought : for , she for coyne ( like venice ) takes all nations to exercise , in her , their occupations ; while she goes ( like a co●ntesse ) in her va●le ; so , ( squirrell-like ) she 's couer'd with her taile . against kit's weake wooing of kate. epigram . . kit , art a man ? yet , get kate canst thou not ? oh shame ! sith with a child she late was got . of fuluiaes recreation , and occupation . epigram . . fvluia , for recreation ( as she sweares ) danceth each day , as she were made therefore ; the while her dancing-mate so charms her eares that soone she is bewitch't to play the whore : so she ( good hows-wife ) turnes her recreation ( which takes vp all her time ) t'an occupation . on phraxus his euer-secret passions . epigram . . bvt of his secret passiōs phraxus speakes to his deere mistresse , while his griefe she mocks sith probably she weenes ( sith so he breaks ) his greatest secret passion is the pox. of barbus his triall of a foolish conclusion . epigram . . barbus , by night , once reading in a booke that broad beards argu'd folly ; tooke a glasse and light , with all , vpon his own to looke ; who burnt it ▪ ●hen he saw how broad it was : then , in the margent , for this earnest iest , he verily may write probatum est . of the goodnesse and nec●ssity of phisitions . epigram . . some hold phisitions well may spared be in eu'ry state where men , in order , liue ; vvith whose opinion i can ne're agree ; and i haue reason too ; which thus i giue ; if they were spar'd , then men would ( like a floud ) o'●ewhelm the vvorld ; phisitions then are good . of their deerenesse . epi. . like ha●kes , phisitions euer are esteem'd ; vvhich as they kill thrush , partridge , duck , or crane are p●●z'd thereafter : so , is euer deem'd phisitions skill by those they kill , or ●●ne . if but poore clownes or trade●-men they destroy , th' are held of small accompt : if lords , or ea●les , then more much , more : but if they skill employ to kill a prince , th' are h●ld as d●ere as peales : then all phisitions , that would faine be deere , employ their skill ( at least ) to kill a peere . on trauersing the error of an action . epigram . . one lawier once an others wife did woo that she with him would 〈◊〉 t●o : the issue ioyn'd , the husband 〈…〉 ( seeing th' intruder quite his 〈…〉 ) he right well swing'd them both for that comp●ction : so , canuased the error of their action . of poggius his poore successe in palmisiry and wooing epigram . . poggius ( whose skill in palmistrie is poore ) tooke vp his mistris hand , therein to p●y ; then said ( and therewithall he sighed sore ) sweet , all my fortunes in your hand doth lye : then safe i le keep them for , and from you too , quoth , she againe ; so , he for nought doth woo . of true loue. epi. . true loue 's in talke , and in society ; the rest , can asses do aswell as wee . against the corrupt iudgement of bullus in choise , of his wi●e . bvllus hath chose his wife but with his eyes ▪ and left his eares , lest they should them controule , so she plaid faire in sight thē ▪ now , he cries his choyce , before his choosers , playe● him foule : if foule she play , and he doth see the same , his eyes , and not his eares , are still too blame . of the bastard fluctus his beeing vndone by his drab . epi. . fluctus his doing drab did him vndoe : and so a drab hath made and mar'd him too . of roring robulus his bloudlesse combats . epi. . some men fight brauely without brauing word but roring robulus nere fighteth so ; who euer braules ; but , neuer drawes his sword ; or , if he do , puts vp without a blow : yet , he being round with all , ( not round to smite ) ciphers their number that will roundly fight . of rufus his giuing the lie , without a stabbe . epigram . . rvde rufus to his mistris gaue the lie ; for which she did protest reuenge , with speed : but she no reason hath for that ; for why ? when women lie , they stand men most in steed . ioan's as good as my lady . epi. . ioane in the darke's as good as my ladie ; but i know a ioane farre better in light : yet i le not deny but my lady may bee as lusty ( at least ) as ioane in the night . of gnuffus his mis-matching his matchlesse faire daughter . epiram . . the crazier gnuffus match'd his daughter late to no great rich , though ancient , gentleman the good old man ( according to his state ) lo●es-duties paies her , yearely ( as he can ) but sith she spends so fast , she pines ( i feare ) for want of commings in her charge to beare . against a foolish pra●ler . epi. . thy tong 's so loose and light , that eu'n thy breath makes it so wagge as it ●e●e still doth stand ; whose fustian strains work appr●hensions death : for , neither sad , nor mad them vnderstand . of our english gallant● going in blacke in lent. . ovr gallants euery lent go al in black as if with time they mourn'd for their offence but their life shewe ; it 's but to hide the knack of s●btill lightnesse clokt with gr●●● pre●ence : then , were it but for that , they black should weare sith they are not so good as they appeare . of poets beeing deiected . epig. . some lands there are where men are without heads : some , all hermaphrodits ; some where the seeds of men are black as inke : some , where they hie without feet : some , where they haue but one eye plac'd in their forehead , hauing heads like dogs : s●me , where they are halfe fish ; & liue ( like frogs . ) in , or about the waters : some , where they haue brows so hard that no steel p●●●ce them may . some wher mē chāge to wolues & beasts more vile and they resume their shape they had ere while . some , where they mouthlesse are , and liue by smel : some , wher their length lacks halfe of halfe an ell● some , where they g●ants be : some , where they are foure footed , hayrie , and like beasts do fare . some , where they haue a foote of such ex●ent that from the sunne it shrouds then like a tent : but time nor place such men could euer show , that liue quite hartlesse as m●st poets now . of womens metamorphosis accord●ng to time and place . epigram . . some women are in churches saints , or more ; angells abroad ; at home too like 〈◊〉 diuell : at windowes , syrens : parrots , at the dore : and in their gardens ●oats , or more vnciuill : yet tradesmen that nere match til they haue much , in deadly danger are to meet with such . t is merry , when knaues meet . epi. . conceipted youths ▪ when they at wine are met mong other matters lig●●●y they inquire what well pend pamphlet la●ely out is set ? what merry epigrams of ●oure satire ? then fall they to rep●at some ●ugred li●es of this or that mans : when some lustfull gull , comes in with nashes choosing v●lentines ; to wit , his dildo knowne to euery trull . i come ( saith he ) sweet linnen by thy leaue ; ( o good , ifaith , ( saith one ) then on hee goes ) softly my fingers vp their curtaines heaues : and there gomorrahs ●ilth ( at full ) he showes . all that can say this as their pater noster haue seene the lions , sweet well seasoned youths about the muses minions still they muster to get some swelling lines to fill their mouthes : but for their owne muse it doth euer sing , rime without reas'n a common english thing . against balladders . epi. . cherillus , that : of many verses , made seauen only good : for which his poesie he had seauen gobbes of gold ; and for the bad , he had a buffet on the v●snomy : if balladers , that but defloure the muse , were so rewarded for their versif●ing . it would ( like pan ) appeare vpon their browes , sith out of tune they doe so often sing : for if seauen lines they chance to draw aright , they milliōs make that would make patience smite . none can be sad and glad at once ; if it be not in contrition . epi. . stella , the padua poet , pleasant was ; pox on 't , how puppie-like , with p. i play : asse for example : fye , away with asse , asse , cannot set a sample ( i dare say ) he writes so ill : and so those po●ts doe that will at once write light and heauy too , for , at one time whose muse is light and sad , i muse not though his muse doth write as mad . of and against the word creepe . epig. . creepe , is a metaphor that 's euer vs'd in controuerted questions of our faith ; wherein the word ( orevs'd ) is much abusd ; for , this schisme then crept in , th'opponent saith . though creepe bee most significant to show how errors came in slowly , more and more ; yet so to spur-gall creepe to make it goe still on that errand , shewes our tongs too poore , or wit 's too bare : but now such questions deepe , do run abroad too fast they doe not creepe . of the power and price of gold . epi. . o gold ( the darling of this later season , sole load-starre to all hearts , star to all eyes that canst doe all without or rime or reason ) how blest are they that most doe thee surprise ? by thee the iealous husband is appeased ; the desperat● riuall is well pacifi'de : by thee , the watchful'st keepers soone are seisd ; by thee , th'vniustest wrongs are iustifide : by thee , the vest●ll , true wise , widdow , trull are bought and sold : the noblest lady too , will wiue a mony-bag , if huge , and full , who know their seruice , then , poore knights will do . by thee each lock is pickt , each gate ●lies ope ; nay more ; thy crowns can mightiest kings vncrown by ●hee , all things beaneth the heau'nly coape in natures pow'r , are rais'd , or ouer●hrowne : nay more , the very lord of all this all ( who can no more beguile , than be beguil'd ) was sold for money ; and a sum but small ; so thou art dominus fac totum stilde . yet run'st from me in earnest , and in game , though oft i write with thee , to spread thy fame ! againe of the same . epi. . the great'st are caught with gold : for , giue me it , i le , make the great'st my friēd with little wit : but once if gold and i at variance be , the great will scorne ; the small , abandon me though wit and grace i had ▪ for , vvit , & grace are precious made with gold : els both are base ! against plumus his foolish pride . . plumus is high , yet higher is his heart : loud , pla●e and coyne he hath ; yet hath he more ; more lands than wit ; more coyne and plate , than art : and yet the arts ( he sweares ) he doth adore : hard-hearted arts , that for his kind good will , permit base solly his high heart to fill . of my incountring a wa●-taile , while i held my tongue . epiram . . why fliest thou muse , at fame , that flies from thee ? or seek'st to retriue that thou canst not trusse ? spare , spare thy paines , & after angels flee , that make their takers great , as glorious ! as at a stationr's shop i stood , at gave , there chanst to light a wag-taile ( light as sine ) and ask'd for epigrams in caged phraze : vvherewith the shop-man foorth-with shew'd her mine . vvhat he ( quoth she ? ) thē pull'd her mouth ascue ) alasse ( good man ) is this his poetrie ? yea ( said my friend ) thē from her them she threw , as if she felt them touch her honesty . still saying , he ? yea , ( said the seller 〈◊〉 ; and good they be , or else good vvits mistake that h●ld them such ; so let them be ( q●●th she ) and , therewith all , another mouth did make , thus by a mouth so wrested quite away , had i like sentence : meane while mute i stood ( poore innocent ) and durst not a●ke her why she so did sleight them that were held so good : for , they are still defil'd that pitch do touch ; so , i forbare to touch this ●l●●y thing , although she made mee swell , and g●●eue , and grutch ; vowing this bitter wayward vvaspe t'vn●ling : but t is not possible i should preuaile ; for , spight of me shee le haue it in her tayle . my corollary . but yet her pride , exprest with such disdaine , humbled me much , that lookt for much applause : that puttocke made me peacocke vaile my traine : and thought her sent of purpose for that cause : thus waxt my mind more sweet b'her bitter doom and so , sometimes the bad do better some ! of roring boyes resolutions . epi. . the roring boyes exclaime against their peter , and say , he dide not as he liud a space : who melted at his death like shelto●s meeter that 's harsh ; but yet inclinde t'a little grace : but he that holds it out , when he is in ( in newgate ) till they be at tiburne trust , like a true diuell : ( whose grace is all in sin ) this man , in their accompt , is onely iust : but , if at last to grace he once but yeeld , hee 's like a boy , and dide but like a child . against carnall desire . epigram . . o damd desire , what spirit hath thee inspir'd , that ( like the moone ) dost waxe and wane in change afflictions water cānot quench thee , fir'd : nor loathd dis●ase estrange thee from the strange thy pleasure 's but a moment ( if it bee a pleasure which so soone to paine doth turne . ) and thought it wasts the marrow feeding thee , yet stil thou burn'st while thou hast ought to burn thine heate is hatefull ( falsly called loue ) made by the motion of the fowlest mynd : for when thou dost thy sweetest pleasures proue , they cloy , but not content thee : so , behind thy pleasure rests : which thou ( tir'de ) canst not try ; so , thou art made but weake , not holpe thereby . against chione her feeding on fat woodcocks . epigram . . o chione thine eyes all eyes do feast , thy lake-laid cheekes excel the reddest rose ; thine iuory front , and alabaster brest do m●n entice , as carion ticeth crowes : i see great men thou drawst ; and smile to see how thou dost plume on them , and they on thee . against aglaope , her sweete voice , and sow'r vice . epigram . . aglaope , ( that courted is of states , whose angells voyce the angells imitates ) still lullabies all mortall cares asleepe , such due proportion still her voice doth keepe ; but yet her voice ( as voice of people goes ) doth nought but ( siren-like ) worke people woes . of phagus his being a papist inward . epigram . . phagus his panch is grown beneath his knees , so many fat recusants he deuours ; but does it but for good , the world well sees : that 's for good cheare , as long as life endures : than sith he feeds on sheepe catholicall ! his guts ( at least ) are most papisticall ! in defence of womens well clothing and dressing themselues . epigram . . gamphalantes , ( that naked labians are ) liue peaceably ( poore soules ) sith bare they be : adam and eue the while they naked were , they liu'd ( good soules ) in great tranqui●lity ! and yet while men are bare , they liue in peace , as h●uing nought wherewith to vex each other : but wom●n being bare , men would oppresse and so insult vpon them altogether : that makes all wo-men couet still good clothing , lest men should fall to lusting or to lo●thing . of knights of famous memory . epigram . . of cirus thus the histories report he knew his soldiers names by memory , although they were ( almost ) a countlesse sort , yet he by name knew all that company ! t' was strang ( wer 't done by nature or by art. ) but some knights of my knowledge can do this ; let any pezant dwelling in that part , at new-yeares-tyde , but of a present misse thei 'l know him after twenty yeares ( perhaps ) ( o memory of rate continuance ! ) poore pezant be thou ware of after-claps : for , thou art well remembred with a vengance : such art of memory such land-lords vse , as capon-cram their kitchins with their muse. against telling of incredible truths . epigram . . sooth-sayer accius , in tarquins sight , they say , did with a razor forthwith cut in two a whet-stone ; which i thinke ( as well i may ) is wondrous hard for men of god to doe : and if a man somewhere should this maintaine he sure should haue the whet-stone for his paine . then better leaue ( sometimes ) some truths vntold least some men should true men for lyers hold . against canizius his witty familiarity . epigram . . canizius hath a fine face't conceipt ; a pleasant wit , but most vnprofitable : to cheate by rules of arte he hath the fleight ; and therewithall he is most affable ; for in an howre , aswell as in an age , familiar growes , and shewes his consenage ! of aristotles faith concerning womens flesh . epigam . . aristotle , ( who had no common vvit ) thought commō women should haue adoratiō : for , he t' his hermia performed it ; yea , sacrifiz'd to her with veneration : if all his doctrines were like this , i knew , his true disciples would not be so few . of dawlus his finding of a light iewell in the darke epigram . . dawlus , vpon his way , late , in the darke , a iewell foūd , which eu'ry man might weare . t' was full of spirit ; nay more a firy sparke , that stood , t'enflame desire of vseing , there : it was a precious punck , yet seem'd too cheape , but found too deere : for , while he cultur'd her and therein sowing , she his purse did reape growne to the full'st ; and inn'd it other where . and so , at once his crime and crosse he bore for closing in a common to the poore : nay , sure , his crosses she did all ingrosse ; for , for his paines , she left him ne're a crosse ! of the best playmakers deere-bought praise . epigram . . play-wrights your trade is tickle , full of toile ; for , you are boūd to please the thwartest minds who ( like cros-seas , that rough winds stil turmoile ) tosle vp & down your praise , with various winds ! it 's easie to cry hisse ; but , t is not so to silence it , and claps of hands to raise : not as at brawling dogs , where both vve do ; but into claps , that clap vp all with praise . those whom yee trade with , weigh your skill and paines by their owne gaines ; & , though al three be great , they weigh not you according to their gaines ; but by your skils , that fame and famine get : then of all glory , purchasd by the small , a play-wright , for his praise , payes most of all ! againts iustice boniface his iniustice . epigram . . though iustice boni-face do lack much law , yet lacks no lawlesse skil huge bribes to draw so , sells ●e iustice for a currant fee , that all may iustice currant from him see : if all his iustice currant be , like this ; he may passe currant where nought currant is . against the maner of our moderne duells . epigram . . stay gallants ; ●un not on , with wrong too rise ; away with this damn'd custome which ye vse : i st not inough to venture soule and life on valors tearmes , and no man to refuse ? but must i come vp too , vpon no guards , that bulke to bulke may iustle ; ( hit , or misse ; ) and they expos'd to scorne , that scorne not wards ; are we turn'd beasts to thinke vs men for this ? sir , do your worst ; here stand i that to dare , it i defendant bee : if challenger ; haue at yee , with braue courage ; yet with care of being foild , that here but once can erre : if this no manhood be , thus well to passe , i hold the brauest man , the plainest asse . of my foes and their dwelling . epigram . . most of my foes dwell (o) in ierusalem ; thē , most are turks , few christians are with them . of a letter in fauour , that prou'd an ●inderer in fact . epigram . . pavlinus , prai'd a friend , of noble bloud , to write his letter for a benifice vnto a bishop for paulinus good , vvhich he did to paulinus preiudice : for , he writ coldly : so , the letter prou'd a letter of the suite the letter mou'd . on glaius and bri●ht m●strisse grace a light-one , that lightened a worke of darknesse . epigram . . grace in the darke , stood full in glaius way , whose brau'ry ( like the sū ) turn'd night to day she would not mo●● althogh she mou'd him much nor speake ; although he did her homely touch ; yea toucht her to the quick in sinfull case : so , glaius quickly deadly sin●d with grace . of signior shancus his feeding vpon weedes turn'd into good meate . epig. . spruce signior shancus hath good clothes , and 〈◊〉 escheated to him oft , ( great lord of ●●●tle ) yet oft , in sommer pawns his winter-weeds ▪ and them redeemes with those which sommer breeds : so , makes great shift with smal ; great cause ( i think ) his clothes must yeeld him coyne , & meate , & drink : for , if , with coyne he should redeeme his clothing , he should be somthing that shuld feed on nothing . so , still should cry any food any feeding . &c. on a worke of supererogation . epigram . . there is a place vpon this middle earth , wher men , that vs'd much fasting , oft did eate : there , certaine tearmes of yeares they fed with mirth ; and , honesty the place did then entreat . but when an hous-wife , that was catholik , or too too vniuersall , had set vp an ordinary neere , for dull and quicke , away went they , with her , to dine ; and sup : t' was charity to helpe a poore begynner ; and , for her gayne , in loue , to vse this sinner . gf vlalia's visitations . epigram . . vlalia , in a choch , as bright as sunn's , to visit ladies goes from place to place ▪ and , as she goes , the thundring chariot runnes to shew ( as phoebus doth ) her bright-light ●ace : but , while she visits ladies in pretence , she entertaines some lords incontinence . to sir iohn harrington . epigram . . i dare not say your wit was wisedome pointed , when you in aiax had your wit annoynted : sith by no small fooles , yet accompted wise , such straines of wit are held but fooleries : but , this i say , and say what well i wot , ( vlisses vpon aiax plaid the sot : for , what you put in aiax , was more woorth , by odds , than what vlisses then put forth . of faustine's plaine and pert well-doing . epigram . . faustine delights to dance , to mask , and mum , but while she either doth she doth agree ( in sight , yet secretly ) to doo with so●e ; yet , so she doth that euery eye may see she 's a good dooer : ( badly-good ) the whiles she ner'e deceaues those eyes she to beguiles . of fuluia her high flying . epigram . . fvluia now flies abrod ( flye high my muse ) vpon the restlesse wings of high desire : she stoupes to none but lords : for she doth vse to fly no lower , but flies ofter higher : she is wel born and bred ; so beares to breed ( seed ) braue barns , full stuft with bright ( though bastard of the game call'd ; laugh and lye downe , epigram . . i see and laugh , still laugh at what i see , de●ocritus , therein i play thy part : i see some mad-dames , honest held to be , that oft in sport doe whore it , by their art : yet ( meerely ) seeme chast , till they be ny downe , so still i laugh to see them laugh and lye downe . of the force of my lo : mayors pageant . epigram . . my lord maiors pageant , though it be ( i grant ) weake for inuention , ( but of strong effect ) yet drawes some mad-dames , like an adamant , so light they be , and light shewes so affect : no ; t is no pag an t maks them thether go ; but to be prest for venus seruice so . against saplesse sottus his vnkind heate . epigram . . a thousand pound a yeare , yet haire , nor heire . hath sottus ; but still weares , a coife , or cap : if man b●a tree ( turn'd vpward ) and his haire , be as the rootes ; then sottus hath no sap in winter : no ; for virgoes heate before hath dride him , with a pox , and will do more . on sirrah and his wife sarahs false play with him , for his profit . epigram . . sirrah , come hither ; let me speake with thee : hark in thine eare ; thy wi●e plates false ( they say ) with thee at tick-tack : peace ; ô silent be : she hurts thee not ; yet winnes much by her play ! a while ago , thou know'st , thou ●ast but poore ; but , since , by false play she so much hath got that now thou keep●st he woolfe well , from the dore ; though yet ( perhaps t●ou cāst not keep the goates for , she beares men a pace , ( as rich a● daynty ) so still she wins , for thee , the horne of plenty ! of gallae's too good agreement with me . epigram . . euen as a glasse reflects a mans owne shape vpon himselfe ; so galla doth to me ; sin les , when i sim●●e ; nay gapeth when i gape ; and sigheth when i sigh ; as one were we : but ô my mind this hollow glasse suspects : because she burnes aswell as she reflects . of fannius his feare . epigam . fannius with fear of death , now , dead doth lye : and so he dy'd , to kill his feare to dye . of frigus that died the first night he lay with his wife . epigram . . frig●s ioy-drown'd , dyed lying with his wife , so dide through too 〈…〉 , or too much life . of one who being a dwarfe , or little higher , kept a great tall fellowes wi●e . epigram . . falina , hath good sport at home full oft betweene her oxe , and ape : iack , come a loft . of flauius single combat : who had a valiant man to his sire , was so himselfe ; but had a whore to his mother , and a rig to his daughter . epi. . that flauius fought brauely ; and maimed his foe he as his fathers owne true son did so : but being thrust into the belly , yet receau'd it with laughter , he tooke that of his mother , and gaue it his daughter . the best kings ire burnes more than fire . epigam , . when the darke cloud of princes secret hate is ready to breake out , out flies it then with lightning and lowd thunder , to amaze and quite roote out the hated man from men ! then as thou wouldst not die by thunder-claps , incur no hate of kings what euer haps . video et taceo . epigram . . as he that ( ouer-curious ) bane receaues to know the quality and force of it , dies , by that force , er he th' effect perceaues ; ( and worthy too , for fooling so with wit ) so , they that loue to looke too curiously into the liues of kings , their fault to know , oft so ore see themselues , in what they see , that they , thereby , themselues quite ouerthrow ! for , such as are not pleas'd with phoebus raies , that yeelds all comfort vnto all that liue , but needs must see how he his beames displayes , and the whole body , that such light doth giue : no maruel though they blind thēselues thereby ; then winck ( with sem ) whē thou dost faults discry , for , no spie's in such danger as this spy. to my deare liege lord king iames. epigram . . vtopicall state-writers ( who doe pen with idlenesse , and haue no inte●rest nor knowledge in the rules tha● gouer●e me● ) new models make of rule , that still do rest on disproportion'd ioynts of reg●m●nt of nations different in their rules extent : which in the state of ▪ kindle quenchlesse fires : but thou rul'st right without these skyruy squires . againe to my liege lord king iames. epi. . when those curst hearts and hands ( that sought thy death ) distrest thee ( deer lieg ) neer thy latest breath , yet then , like gold in fire , thy vertue shone ; that is ; in worth , to looke , and be all one . on sir iohn roe . epitaph . . roe , thou art gon in height of youth and fame , as from a feast , ere surfet thee o'●ecame . of and against earelesse praxus . epi. . the handle for true vertue to take hold of old and young by ; is the open eare ; but , praxus hauing lost his eares , how should he ere be vertuous or not vitious ere . against sottus ●is long wronge knowledge . epi. . it is vnmeet that sense abroad should stirre , and ( like a wanton rigge ) at randome run : but when her soueraigne reas'n commandeth her vpon some vrgent cause ; which being done , t'returne with speed to her , that sent her out , t' informe her in her doubt's of good or ill : then like a sober hand-maid , keepe about her soueraigne reas'n , to doe what else she will : but , sot , his sense from reas'n hath rangd so long , ( and do●es on all ) that all he knowes is wrong . of the carpet knights sir sim soust gurnerd his quater-braules . epi. . sir sim soust-gurnerd , loues notes fresh & sweet , and hath an organ chamberd next the street , whereon he playes of purpose as appeares , to haue all passers by him by the eares : yet sweetly braules in tune with stroakes of art , but dares not strike a discord for his heart . of cracus his facing out fals●ood or facing truth . epi. . cracus if thou did'st know , ( but o thou breakst the heart of knowledge with thine ignorance ) how il thou gard'st thy faith , for which thou speakst thou nere wol'st speak but with thy countenance : for that scar●s babes sith thou fightst ( being stout ) better with swords than words : than face it out . of false praise . epi. . the praise of arts , which ill we deeme , like smoke goes out as soone as seeme : the rightest seruingmen are the rightest courtiers . epi. . courtiers may seruingmen be stil'd : what then ? then , cannot they serue god , for seruing men . how an harlot is like hell. epi. . a strumpet 's like the vgly mouth of hell , that night and day is open to receiue all sinners that will pay for sinning well ; which still she stakes and of● the poxe doth giue . counterfeit piety is double iniquity . epigram . . old will vpon the sabath will not lose a sermon for his dinner ; yet ( though pure ) cheates like a deuill : for , about he goes , at play , all simple sinners to deuoure : he needs not then , at sermons sit so ciuill for feare of hell , being an incarnat diuill . against powdered haire . epigram . . the daies of old did ashes vse to throw ( in signe of meekenesse ) on the hūbled head : but now , in signe of pride ( in heart , and shew ) our mad-dames cast sweet-powder in their stead : but they whose tops are euer powder'd so , their t — ( most commonly ) are pickel'd too , against gallus , his treachery and tyrrany to galla. epi. . gallus found galla ( e're she quite was lost ) where time & place betraide her to his lust : yet first the faire-maide his sowle offer croft , but he ( like ioab ) stabb'd , as her he bust : which she tooke patiently : how e're afraide : and so a goate like man the maide dis-maide . against the stincke of marens his sweetnes . epi. . lasciuious marc goes stil perfum'd i thinke , but yet his sweetnes makes his fame to stinke . of the compassing of his lusts designes . epig. . marc in the compasse of his lusts designes , is like a circle in geometry : hee ; goes from point , to point , vntill he ioynes ; then puts a period to his letchery : a period call it , or full point , or ( . ) all 's one to him , so he therein doth stick . against gella and her consumption . epi. . gella is light , and like a candle wasteth , eu'n to the snuffe that stinketh more thē lasteth , against the ill cure of gallus the surgeon , vpon gaila . epi. . gallus the surgeon , now , is poore as iob for healing galla whom with child he got : he cu'rde one wound , another with his probe hee gag'd too deepe : and so was ouer-shot in his owne craft ; who made her , to his shame , so swell , that all his worth scarse heales the same . against fuluiae's transcendency . epi. . fvluia is brought to nought ; then cannot she in the predicaments comprized be , so , some transcendent she must be of force ; but how that is , transcendeth my discourse● yet now i ha 't t'a haire ; she doth transcend all that the poxe can m●rre & nought can mend . against proud great-bellied ventus , the smell feast . epi. . the word maiestas , of these two compos'd maior and status , argues great estate : then o , how vainely ventus is dispos'd , to strut and looke as if he had no m●te : when ( god doth know ) that if his state be great , it s in his panch with eating others meat . against vulpus his endlesse distinguishing . epig. . exact distinctions breed perspicuousnesse ; but many breed but loath'd obscurity : this , vulpus makes , to shew his nimblenesse ; in argui●g , to distinguish endlesly : which if he do , but truth so to depraue , i 'le prooue him without logick but a knaue : if this stile be to common ; him i 'le make a learned knaue for true distinctions sake . poets gaine is fame and famine . epigram . . the poets proper ensigne is the swan sole bird of phoebus : so it well may be ; for , she doth sing before her death : so , man ( turn'd gull ) call'd poet , makes that melody : because he sings before his death and fame , so , perisheth , through want , to get a name ! against the enuy of muranus . epigram . . meagre muranus feeds on his owne heart , still enuying all that are of good desart : so , he is like an eye diseas'd , whose sight is still offended with what e're is bright . against gurmandizing miserable minded fagus . epigram . . fagus is fat , and swelleth more and more as if cram'd-capons did but poison him : he nought but feeds , thogh neuer feeds the poore and like a panch in sweat , doth , sincking , swim : his mind is so chok'd vp with greace and bloud , that though he e're be great he 'l ne're be good . against the bare brests of too well cloth'd wenches . epigram . . why bare yee so your brests , audacious dames ? is it to giue mens eyes a taste of that you yet do hide , t' augment their lustfull flames ? or else to draw their tongues to wanton chat ? it seemes y' are hot , that so low naked go , and looke for cooling at some vent below . no kingdome to content . epigram . . wilt thou be rich ? then thy desire decrease ; so shall thy wealth , in want , amaine increase . spare , to spend ; like thine owne friend . epigram . . rvfus liu'd hard , to make his heire liue soft , but his heire liu'd as hardly for his heire : so they like conduct-pipes conueied oft ( from pipe to pipe ) great store of water faire reteyning none themselues ; till , at long running , by some hole in their coate ( how euer gay ) the prince cuts off the pipe , in fortunes sunning , and turnes the vvater-course an other way : againe , on the same subiect . epigram . . botts on these masks & cl●ut● which now are set to hyde such fronts that for such lyes excell ; well-colour'd gorgons made when nature sweat too much to hold her working-toole too well : so , are but natures shame , and graces scorne ; yet in charoches beare they , and are borne . of lord volsus his ●is-v●●g his friends . epigram . . the guilefull great lord , volsus , vseth still his friends like bottles through his court●ly skill : for , he ( ô fy , what friend can him abide ? ) the full drawes dry , the empty casts aside . against golden asses . epi . many men - beasts go gilt now at all peeces , who are at best , but sheep with golden-flee●es : if that in cholcos had beene of this sort ▪ iason had plaid the sheepe ere shipt him for 't . of phisitions abyding at bathe . epigram . . leeches , at bath , for wealth , not health do waite , so , come not to the bathe , but to the bayte . of flauia ●s lookes after her fall . epigram . . flauia lookes feebly since she caught a fall : so , lookes as if she could not doe withall . against the wretchednesse of rich-men . epigram . . the griffons 'mong the indians keepe their mines of gold , yet they no vse thereof do make : so , a monied-miser mid'st his plenty pines ; and money keepes for monies only sake : kepthe a whore as well , then sin they would not : for , her he would not vse , and others should not . against flexus his being sick of the fashions . epigram . . flexus , still goes in many fashions light like a chamelion that all colours takes : or not vnl●ke a creature ( nabis hight , ) which hauing many shapes , one monster maks . of rutus his indifferency in religion . epigram . . rvtus holds all religions ; and in all he is of none ; like a still slyding bourne that takes all colours which therein doe fall it hauing none : then hee 'l not burne but turne . he that 's without religion , is , at least , for his soules sake , a faire immortall ●east . against flauiae's leuity . epi. . light of beliefe , of word , and promise light is wanton flauia : light in mi●d and will : light of her body : and her eyes ( though bright ) are light , and light to workes of darkensse still : the weeds she wears are light , as bright : then she , ( being all so light must needs selfe lightnes be . of a tricke of youth . epi. . carnus , calls lechery a tricke of youth : so , he grows old , but this trick lets his grouth . against great vardingales . epig. . downe with your vardingales , trulls out of frame ( sick of the fashion ) for , they mount too hie : they hide your wast : o no , they shew the same ; that is ; your antick superfluity : the time hath been , they did the heeles surround ; but now they doe the head ; and men must leane vpon your shoulders , from the vpper ground , to looke downe for your middle , without meane : your waste is shamefull then , sith it to hide , your english bummes are still so frenchifide . against promise-breaking . epi. . ventus doth promise much ; yet stil doth break ; so all his promises are great , and weake , like bubbles in the water ( round and light ) swelling so great that they doe breake outright . against the misery of rich m●sers . epi. . varus shuts vp his coyne from all with sparrs ; and , from himselfe , he locks it most of all : for all his thoughts ( too hard●like iron batres ) keepe it from him , so liues on pittance small : hee ha●h not what he hath ; wealth makes him want , yet thinkes he still to last , being adamant ; if so he should , in ca●es that so excell , hee 's damn'd already : for hee 's heere in hell . o● and against pegus his oft change of faith : epig. . pegus is pleas'd his faith now thrice to turne , yet ne'rethelesse is hot as fire therein : but , dares not hang ; and , much lesse dares he burne : no ; that 's to lose but , he doth change to win : but , while he sought to win so , it ensu'th , his tongue at trey-trip plaid ; so , lost his truth . that might be kings for wit though his be vile , yet for that ierke of wit for clapping lookes : where he well clapt , he should be cla●t for it in bridewell to correct his will and wit : there , sith he liues by such dull iurks a iurke , of iustice hand would make the player worke ▪ of a man in print . epi. . a man in print ; once such a man i saw who whipt but vice in print ; and then did draw himselfe in print , so much in print , that hee comes thus in print , reform●d , in print , to be ; while he that whipt but vice in print doth storme , for being a vice in print so much in forme . of a master of art that lay , by the instinct of nature , with one mistris barbara all night . epi. . bossius and barbara ( his loue ) one night , chop 't logick with their tongues , and other things , he prest her to the point in loues delight and that vnto the issue still she brings : so , while she argued vnlike debora , hee sillogizd all night in barbara . but had the proctors heard his master-ship , the moderator should haue beene a whip . of my lying betweene two queanes . epi. . betweene two drabs i lye ( with much adoe ) each night ; yet lye in seuerall houses too : they ( starchers ) neighbour me so neere , that i may well be said betweene them both to lye . they will ( good - doers ) let me nere , be idle ; for , with their tongues ( as sharp as is their needle ) they prick me forward to be doing still ; so my part play they ; and my belly full with throes of these : deere brid-well do thy part , deliuer me of these , to ease my hart. against iacks periurie , in prouing his honesty . epigram . . now , as i am an honest man , saith iacke , ( whose lookes , & life , religiously , are blacke ) at eu●ry word , which wounds his faith ( they say ) and is belyu'd the cleane contrary way . yet out-talks all , to all his hearers woe ; and , by that no-oath sweares , 't is so , or so . he liues by carding ; yet the state may stand without his labour , languor to the land. false to his friend ; and so to god may be , yet as i am an honest man ( cries he ) the truth is so ; i' st so iohn ( yes ▪ t is true thou art to god , and to thy friend , a iew. of calpus his making much of a little. epigram . . calpus , hath little latin ; yet he makes , much of that little : for , he vndertakes to teach his friends ; yet , while to them he reads , with art he cheats them ; so , in art proceeds ; and , learnes them little latine with much art ; which ere they learne , thus ierks thē til they smart so , with his little latine much he makes ; which is his snare to cousin all it takes . against rollus his great building for little fame . epi. . rollus , still builds aliue to keepe his name : but , l●●e and stone keeps no immortall fame for , they will wast ; then , in that wast ( yee wot ) his fame must lye ; and , so his name must rot . against don puffes incomperable adaciousnes . epi. . lord ! how don puffe , with his left handed face scrues himselfe into action in high place : may men do so that better can deserue ? no , i● they be not scrues some holes to serue . the teares of peace . why do these times complain of want in peace ? are peace and plenty our , that blest increase hath left vs ? no ; they are not out , but in ; in strife while plenty leaues vs peace in sin . against the worst of lawyers . epi. . lawyers , how is it that such fees yee take , not cōcord , ( which ye should ) but strife to make i' st for that strife , not peace , maintaines your life ? than , striue by peace to liue ; so , liue by strife . of an ill custome ●eere good customers . epi. . there is a thing some call the custome-house , which when as tradesman hath a spider tane , at point to breake , preuents the deadly bane , by wayes familier ; so , too oft in vse ; with hundreds they of others hold in chiefe , they buy a place there , to displace their griefe . epi. . sir volsus doore is still with sutors throng'd ; his dore the more opprest ; & , he more wrong'd : for , if this wit and honesty ye waigh , himselfe at euery dore should stay , and pray . of stupid binus his preuenting of time . epigram . . sith time flies fast away , his fastest flight binus preuents with dreaming day and night . against despertate harrius his contempt of goodnes . epi. . foole-hardy ha●rius , when himselfe he heares a good-man call'd ; he holds himselfe too good : so to be stild , because ( belike ) he feares that title hits not home his manhoods moode : sith he , to be a good-man , scor●es ( t' appeare ) i would he were a saint , so hang'd he were . of bombus the buffon , and his laughing patronesses . epigram . . the buffon , bombus feeds , by laughter , fat ; yet , maks he ladies laugh a lowd thereat : so , liues by laughter : and i laugh to see both him , and them ●so both my buffons be . of luscus his great faith , and small performance . epigram . . lvscus , at last , hath got his wife with child . for , t is like him , her bribed midwife sweares : which he beleeues : but , for he is beguild , he hath his false faith euer by the eares . of rorers , soft speaking . epigram . . since duells damn'd were , by a souraignes doom the lowdest rorers speake in eithers eares : yet dare not for their eares to calis roame , but , in the streets , still end their fraies , and feares : so , by the high-way now , their manboods liue , like theeue that steale , in hope of a repriue . of scalpus his haires humility . epigram . scalpus , his haire apparent , leaues his crowne , as fast as , in the aire , doth thistle-downe : but , this with aire doth so ; but that , with fire , becomes so humble , that would else aspire . of phrynas , huge-limbd husbands metamorphosis . epigram . . what ! phryna , is your pheare become your maide ? make you a woman of so huge a man ? sets he your russes for cuffes , without your aide ? o hercules ! belike then spin he can : but , were i yours , though i ( perhaps ) might reele , yet , ere i spun , you should the distaff feele . of soare times hard to cure . epigram . . the times are soare for priests or poets now to speake or write : if truth they do a●ow : because the times being soare , the●l ill endure the corasines that , soarely , them must cure . of sir lauoltas high sol'd shooes and valting in his going . epigram . . lord ! be these shooes or stilts that knight goes on a peacocks pace ? who i st ? laualta , sir. what! sir laualto ? is he such a one ? yes ; and his name doth in his nature , s●irre , for , as he stalkes he striues himselfe to reare : as if his steps lauolta-paces were . of heauy load-●earing birds . epigram . of the bird ruc , that beares an elephant , writes good sir iohn , surnamed mandeuile ; encrease my fayth , deere loue ; for 't is too scant to credit this ; but yet , here , in this isle , there be some bride-wel birdes that wel wil beare ( how euer ill ) huge men as mice they were . of the great traueller fagus . epi. . fagus , land-leaper , ali-as grasse-hopper , returnd is from the pigmies ( pretty fooles ! ) with his hyde full of newes : nay , soft , ho there , it cannot be it is so full of holes : for what with scabs & scars where such haue bin , it will hould nought : then no newes lie therein . against fond at furiors frontus , his swaggering to regaine his pawn'd apparell . epigram . . the brokers haue fond frontus cloths as pledges , for coyne to keepe his corps in sweetest sinne : and beeing forfeited , he them besiedges with thundring oaths and blowes his cloaths to win : but they hold hard ( hard horsons ) without dread ; so , anuile like , endure the hammer-head . against spongus , a plaine farmers bastard , that had gotten to be of a great lords bed-chamber . epigram . spongus , what makes you so your sire to scorne ? is it because he all in frize doth goe , and you in golden coates , though ouerworne ; that 's cast apparell of your lords , or so ? he honours you ; you him in scorne forsake : so , makes an idoll of a golden-asle ; while you your selfe thereby a diuell make . that speaketh through a head whose brow is brasse : then spirituall whordome he commits thereby , to honour him he made adulterously . against signior snap-haunce , the rude fooli●h rorer . epigram . . snap-haunce speakes quicke & lowd ; but stil amisse white powder then were best for him ; for , when he spits his spight , but leaden stuffe it is , which euermore annoyes the sence of men : thā snap-haunce , cease to snap ; for thy lowd soūds : do yeeld such noisom stuffe that sence confounds . against rufus the appollo ger . epigram . . rvfus , you write appollogies to cloud your trechery with which you men delude ; that , like a cuttle ▪ you may so , vnuiew'd , abuse th'insipient plumbeus multitude : than sith you knauishly thus cuttleize ; i may , lesse lauishly , thus inkhornize . against a marchants as light as bright wife , still wearing a great chaine of gold or'ethwart . epigram . . see you yo●'d merchants wife , in satten clad ? it is lucilla , light as leuity . it cannot be , her chaine must make her sad , it is so heauy past all grauity . nay ▪ more , she 'l car'd ( that shewes her houswifery ) away her pence , by pound● ; her pounds , by scores to make her light : o then t' was cleane awry to call he● light ; for , lightly , so be whores . that stile 's too soule for one so faire and rick : than , better call her fancy ; or proud - ( . ) of my selfe . epigram . . a friend of mine reproud me , sith i was too busie in correcting leebery ; saying i was too open . but , alasse , i cannot helpe it handsomly ; for i must , ere i scourge it , open it ( you know ) that i my ierkes the righter may bestow . against iugus , his truth-swearing . epigram . . ivgus still sweares that he a true man is , than say so i● ; for , still thou swear'st amisse , sith thou woul'st steale our good conceites therby , against our wills : so , thy true oaths do lye . what rich men must doe to gaine and retayne the worlds fauour . epigram . a rich man that would haue the world to friēd must either giue ( or at least ) spend or lend : if neither ; either he must liue alone , or , with too many push't , be ouerthrowne . against the gallant glossus his mis-measuring . epigram . . glossus is gallant , yet doth measure keepe ; he eats and drinkes in measure ; so doth sleep : he measures lands in trauell ; so doth seas : in measure he doth dance , toyles , takes his ease : yet ( robin-hood ) metes , something● might be left he metes maid●marions by the bow , and shaft . of the vyoll . epigram . the violl speaks the language of the hands ; and , by the fingers , sense it vnderstands . yet , fingers are the vi●ls fe●te : and so , as they do● runne , the violl still doth goe . how maides resemble eue. epigram . most maides resemble eue now , i● their liues ; who are no soner women but are wiues : as eue knew no man 〈◊〉 fruite wrought her woe , so , these haue fruite ( of● ) ere their pheares they know . against myntha , that would haue bin my tenant for a fowle fine . epigram . . mintha ( ripe medler ) would be medling still , with things that most concerne mee , by her will she vnder me would sain haue liu'd by doing thinges in my house , for which she stil was woing : her lippes , and hippes , in grosse , she offer'd mee for fine ▪ if so she might my tenant bee . so , i shou●d be her tenant , and she mine . for no great rent , but for too grosse a fine : so●t mintha , in some others house go prancke yee ; yours is an ordinary ; i 'le none , i thanke yee . of a man that prou'd a slipper . epigram . ● . friscus tooke slippers vpon trust ; and then he slipt away ; so slippers ( oft ) are men . no good wiues in london . epigram . . the countrie 's full of good-wiues ; specially the wiues of all the clo●nes and yeomanry : but tripe-wi●es , broome-wiues , oyster-wiues , & all ▪ w●e still , in london , mistresses doe call : then london hath no good-wiues , sith they bide all in the country , better occupide . against the too too common , as most shawelesse countersetting the stampe of heauen ( beauty ) by painting ; and the excessiue brauery of men , and women of these times . epigram . . thomas thomasius , an outlandish vvitch , sould diu'ls for dolors : fame else lowdly lyde : and , as they were in pow'r , he price did pitch : so , liu'd by selling diuells till he dy'de . a pretty occupation ●and ●ere hee . aliue , and here to sell his vvare , he might gaine what he would , if his curst diu'ls would be pleas'd to make men and women faire and bright for , now men fairely play the women too ; then , for his gaine he might the land vndoe : nay , though they painted & but bo●rrowed raimēt tom , for his diu'ls , should haue royall payment . of raggus and his proiect . epigram . . raggus , with open mouth pursues strange proiects , and of the state , reuiles the eye of wit ; that , hauing open'd it , so many prospects to worldes of wealth ; yet , sees no benefit : saw it as thou dost ( ragge ) that so dost raue , it saw but how to play the foole and knaue : for with thy sight ( at best ) it would perceiue it selfe , and others how but to deceiue . probatumest . how clearke tho. his clearkeship sau'd his queane . epigram . . clearke thomas kept a whore at his command , ( vvhom al commanded that had welth or will ) yet kept her from the gallowes vnder-hand , that vnder him she might be do●ng still . fye tom ( great clearke ) thy skil doth kil thy fame for , by thy clergy thou hast sau'd thy shame . fast and loose . epi. paphus was maried all in hast , and and now to wracke doth runne : so , knitting of himselfe too fast , he hath himselfe vndone . of long 's being the least part of himselfe . epigram . . one long being seru'd with processe to appeare , appear'd forth with ; but 't was another where than where he should : and so , for his contempt , was taken by a writ , no place exempt : then , quite beside himselfe , came all agast ; shewing , that was not long that came at last . to a blind har : par : epigram . . some neighbour nations when their out-lawes flye , hang vp their pictures which should them betide , so ( ●or thou out-law art in poetry ) thy picture i trust vp on times backe-side . for which ( too like it , without grace or wit ) thou martyrd'st me in thy wits feeble fire : but shall i malice ? no , i pitty it : sith thou art worthy of no witty ire : for , thy lines weakenes all men wonder at , that ( like a parrat ) prat'st thou wot'st not what . eundem . a blinde harper . epi. . yet with the hornes of thy weake pow're whose roote g●●●s through thy bro●s , but coms not ny thy thou but'st at wales ; but i le say nothing to 't , ( brain ( though i be welsh ) sith all thou dost is vaine : thy best is but to filch from good sir iohn , some epigrams ; whereof a welsh is one . then sith thy best is stol'ne from sir iohn har : thou art no poet , but a blinde har : par : he stole some epigrams from sir iohn har. verbati● of casse and her case . epigram . . casse was in case to drawe on suters ; which she lou'd a life : yet lou'd none but the rich : so , a heauy-mettel'd boore , in c●sses case , ca●r●●d her●●eaden sowe ) from ●it and grace . after the fall o● man , of the fall of wo-men . epigram . . now scarce a wastcoteere or chamber-maid , ( much les , much more ) can go , though by the wall but by some friend or vsher must be staid , w●men are now so weake , and apt to ●all : heauen stre●gth● them ; for many a woman grown a pages breath now often tilteth downe . as the 〈…〉 crowes , so doth the old . epigram . . young taurus , like his sire doth fare & doe , and , like his wife doth beare as well as strike ▪ that 's done by nature ; and , by nature too , olde taurus needs must get ( this calfe ) his like . against lame hipp. epi. . old hip ; well , let him goe ; he is not worth the talking of ; yet setts himselfe still forth as if he were a man might weare a robe , although the old scabbe , be as poore as iob● . nay , now ilye ; for , iob , though he had nought , yet nought he ow'd ; but , this poore pach is thought much worse thē nought with wrangling ; he is ●so ) poorer then iob ; for , iob but scabs did owe. against m●rnezetus , the well knowne sharker , co●se●●●● me of a cloake . epig. . sirrah , marnezetus , me no more prouoak ; go , cheat els where ; with me y'haue shorn your sheep y'haue clok't y'●r knauery : so , haue got a cloake , by c●eating of your friend ; well , safe it keepe : yet , it restore to cloake my spleene and mee , or lie vncloake thy name , thy shame , and thee . but maugre sp●ght thy name and fame shall gaine a place , and name with stars call'd great charles-waine : which stil i wish ; & who doth't not desire , would they were nought as naught ; or tow in fire . to the no lesse than most graue counsellor of counsellors , thomas vicount brackley lord chancellor of england . epi. . y 'aue past the storms of youth and passion too ; and now , in calmes of ages hau'n remayne : now sees your soule most clearely what to doe ; and those vndo that doe their conscience straine : in summe , for all ( that may your glory spread ) your pain your braine , to ease , & please your head. to the true president of honor , william earle of pembroke lord chamberlain . &c. epig. . deare lord , to whom i wish a world of good ; if so ; a world of grace is vnderstood , agreeing to that world of worth in thee too little lord that great worlds lord to bee . grace , art , and nature , still in thee doe striue which most shall make thy praise superlatiue ; and make thee most like him , that all things can , and phillip , more than m●cedonian : then , ●●ll be like thos● two ▪ as now thou art ; and , as thou hast ; so , 〈◊〉 shalt haue my heart . to the right noble , and my much honored lord , phillip earle of montgomery . epi. . a mother sooner can forget her child , than i thee ( lord of my best memory ) could i mind more , thou shouldst be higher stil'd ; but , this is all i can , vnlesse to dye for thee and thy most noble house : whereof i am an ex●rement not yet cut off . to the true patterns of noblesse and heroicall vertue , richard earle of dorset , and sir edward sackuill knight of the ●ath his most nolle brother . epigram . . you starres that in our states spheare shine as bright as suns fixt neere our zenith , daying night : stil on such dayes-eyes shine ( though planted low ) by fortunes hand , as turne to such as you to be set open , when ●hey ( hid ) hang downe their heads for want of grace to make thē known . i need not force the free ; you shine on such , no starres within our hemispheare so much : so much for that ; but this much more for you , ( though more you cannot haue then is your due ) you , for your high worthes rayes , i 'le raise to be castor and pollux both to heau'n and me . to the right noble lord , theophilus , lord walden . epigram . . my cunning sooner shall my right hand leaue than not to giue where once it did receiue : but , golden ayre to giue , for golden earth , is lesse materiall , and no cause of mirth : yet , ca 〈…〉 m●rth 〈◊〉 papers do infold : that i , in 〈◊〉 , do gieue thee for thy gold : but wh●● , in earnest i would giue ( with mirth ) to thee , is glory ; both in heau'n , and earth . to the right honorable sir francis bacon knight . &c. epi. . thi'admired sire was wit & wisdomes source ; and thou his sonne , resemblest him in those : thy hand is open ; close is thy discourse : for ; much in few , thy thy iudgement doth inclose . but , when thou art disposed to set ope a flood of eloquence , to wha●t all eares with head-long sway ) vnto thine v●mos● scope , ●hen , stubborn'st rocks of le●s it ouerbeares : so , thou do'st grace the law , as it doth thee ; but , of all lawyers , thou alone for me . to my much honored the lord hayes . epigram . . thou do'st the court lord too much grace , to be forgotten in this place : where i desire to praise such ones as ( worthy ) are court-minions . then , this thou art ( i dare auo●ch ) a good , great courtier ( seldome such ! ) that 's honest with due complement ; which is most noble in e●tent : heere , sith no further grace , hath gon , ●●e put a prick . to driue it on . to my noble , highly valued friend , pupill , and alyes man , sir edward herbert , of montgomery , knight of the bath . epi. . sith thou thy name and nation honorest with worth ( like britains crown ) past price at least , giue me leaue ( ●east worth of thy least alyes ) to tell the world thus much , and then it dyes : for , in this world , where grace doth liue by sin , can nothing liue that is not dead within . to my honorable , ingenious , worthy , friend , sir iohn constable , knight . ep● . . didst thou but know ( deer knight ) how much my heart desires to stellifie thee for thine art : and what e're else by worth can be possest , thou would'st beleeue my heart ●s thine , at least . thē take my heart , which thus on thee is whorl'd and loue it ; so , my heart is worth a world. to my much honored and intirely beloued sir william alexander knight . ep● . . thy pe● , which from some angel is acquir'd , with heauenly grace to shew thy wit & skil , so farre out-shines my poore rookes ruder quil , that , in it's beames mine seemes a cole vn●ir'd ; but , let them lie till they become intir'd , then , thine shall mine with equall glory fill ; yet so as , knowne , t' was so by thine attir'd , that al the glory thine may merit still : yet , here my lauish pen runs o're so much with blurring inck ▪ be blotting blacker crimes , that ( loosly ) it , the times too neere doth touch ; that is ; too br●adly blots these looser times : but , sooth to say ; my muse became thus loose through vice ; at which she hisseth like a goose . to my venerable friend master doctor goade . epi. . thou art not l●ke , but cu ▪ n a reall goad , sharpe at one end ( thy head ) to driue men on ( that are opprest with sad sinnes heauie load ) where they may rest from being we●be●gon : then , he that will not goe , when thou dost prick , is dull , in sense ; or else , an halter-sick . to my worthy , and beloued friend doctor pierce ; parson of saint christophers , london . epigram . . in this but froth of wit to sowse your name is but to soile it ; so , incurre your blame . these purgings of my braine become not you in any sort to see ; much less● alowe . you needs must say , my leisure i abuse to make these lests the stasions of my muse. what will you more ( deere doctor ) i confesse i am all yours , but not my foolishnesse . yet , garce , art , wit , and worth ( and all diuine ) may make you ( bright sun ) on this dunghill shine without defiling of your spotlesse raies : then , scowre my guilt with birch ; but , gilde my ba●●s . to my best beloued friend , and aliz-man , master iohn sanford . epi. . iohn , thou art like a hand that changeth not his name , or nature ; clouched , or dilated : so , thou art one , what euer be thy lot : and still , by fortune , rather chekt , than mated : north but , if she had but eyes to see thy worth , the north should grace thee , as thou dost the north with radiant beames , on learnings streames . in fortunes spheare long be his grace & place , that , like the sunne , exhald thy streames to grace . to the all witty , sir io : har : sir , you and i ( but oh i doe you wrong , to rank with you , for friends , means , wit , or art ) are like ( they say ) in setting of a song , tho you sing more in tune , in euery part. but , as i can , by nature , i doe hit those notes you strike , vpon a iarring string : and it is true ▪ we haue one fashion'd wit , which may ( alike ) to vs displeasure bringe . but shall wee cease to sing for this ? oh no , we can no more doe that , than cease to say god saue the kinge : and they that would not so , would some straite lines had trust out of the way . but on our gamesome numbers who doth ●orce , their sence , not ours , to vexe vs ; ill they wot what powre are in ( our pates ) the wodden horse , to doe their names away with wits hot-shot . but wee will l●be●l none ; for t is vnfit , the world 's not worth a libell of rich wit. to my in●enious deere friend and country-man mr. ●ohn hoskins , councellor at law. one county first susteind our weight ; yet wee doe li●e no burthen to the place , so prest ; bu● luster : else some flatter thee and mee , yet , say they what they will ▪ our soules know best : and for my part , i hope that thou , and i , ere wee 'le disgrace it , wee with grace will dye . to my worthy , ingennus , and ingenius pupill mr. thomas bond. vnder my hand i had you once ; and now y'ate failen vnder but my pen , my plow ; wherewith your name i culture thus ; you bee a bond that binds , because you a●e so free. to my witty and worthy friend , inigo iohnes esquie● , surueigher of his maiestie● workes . vvits mirrour , i●●g● , wherein men see their figure ; which thou dost to them reflect by forming , or , to them , conformi●g ●hee : for which thou win'st both riches and respect : fortune and fauour with great art conspir'd , to make thee modell out each edisce ere it be squar'd for court ; which thee hath squird ; and may doe , sir , for many a rare deuice ! thy place i wish not ; but thy wake full wits , to make my place fit mee , as thine thee fits : then , lend me , while thou sleepst , thy pure acumen to knight me ( old boy ) after many ne●-men . to my learnedly witty friend , mr beniamin iohnson . thy sconse ( that guards thy wits as it they guard ) is sound , & large , yet no whit can be spard for thy wits throng : that plenty makes thee scarce , which makes thee slow , as sure in prose or verse , as say thy worst detractors ; then , if thou for all eternity , writ'st sure and slowe , thy wits , as they come thronging out of dore , do sticke a while , to spread their praise the more . to my darling-friend mr. richard dorington . dicke , i am thine : then ( thou hast to the end , a sore disease , that physicke will not mend : yet , t is no falling-sicknes , for i le stand as fast to thee , as is thy heart and hand : and i haue reason for it ; for thou art as deere to mee as is my hand or heart . then , if i doe disease thee , it shall bee , as physicke doth , of good , to better thee ▪ sith thou aforehand giu●st mee fee on fee. to my beloued , and most praise worthy friend , mr. lyte of lytes-cary . sith art and nature did agree , to make thee lyte of lyte ; thou art a type of christ , sith hee is very light of light : though light'st ( like him ) with wit and grace , whose fame ( like his ) fils time and place . to my beloued , mr. robert branthwaite . i loue thee robin ; if i should not , i should giue my heart the s●ab , my tongue the lie : the sword of sorrow still should pierce my heart , if it should not affect thy deere desert : in few , i know no man more worthy loue for all that may affection stay , or moue . to my worthy approued deere friend mr. iackson , manciple of all soules colledge in oxford . if wee must speake as we haue found ; why then , th' hast beene to me and mine , the best of men : for , of all those that euer yet i prou'd , thou best deseru'st of mee to be belou'd . thine out-sides plaine , but yet within thy brest , a heart ( i finde ) as braue and free doth rest as that great caesars , who would euer moane the paffed day , wherein he pleasur'd none . thou art a townseman , yet the countrey mend'st , & glad'st it with what there thou get'st & spend'st for , two months , in a time of pestilence , there , freely cheer'd , i saw thy great expence . while thou in oxford ( plagu'd ) wast then expos'd to death : thy family and mine dispos'd in safety there , where wee , besides , were fed ; while thou for vs did'st liue among the dead . iackson's thy name ; then thou art mine ( al●cke th art haplesse so ) for so●e doe ca●l me iacke . but , like a father , thou to iacke hast bin ; that is , in kindnesse , farre beyond his kin. then , iack's thy sonne , to loue and honour thee ; and so , for fostring both , must iack's * sonne bee . thus , enough iacke can not giue thee reason for 't , hee 'le giue thee rime , renowne & good report . and if that be too thyn for thy desert . wer 't thou not all heart , thou shouldst haue his heart , yet , for thine may be sicke , when his is sound , he giues it thee , sith so to thee it 's bound . to my worthy approued friend mistris sisley tyle . thy vertues do intice me , tyse , to set thy name ( for loue and fames sake ) in my rimes least time should either them or thee forgett , whose wisdome , woman-hood , & parts ( like crimes ) do staine most wiues , as phoebus doth the fire ; then , liue thou in my r●me , till time expire . of my selfe , and my booke . i must confesse my muse is in the wrong , though rightly she doth scourge what is amisse : but being pregnant , shee to lash doth longe , though her complexion quite be mar'd by this ▪ for most will say , shee like a diuell lookes : yet , let none iudge , but such as can write bookes . against yellow , starcht bands . for a farewell . these ruffes , sick of the ia●●●ize ( black , or yellow ) do shew their wearers are or deep or shallow in pouerty , or wit : then , would they were al black with cuffes that yellow ruffes do weare : and he whose wife doth weare them , i suppose with cause still feares he weares the yellow-hose . to my deare mother ; the citty of hereford . thou gau'st me breath ; and i wil giue thee fame by writing , in a double kind : thy name i borrow'd once to adde to mine : and yet i hold it to it still ; for which the debt is clearest fame i le pay thee , at long running ; else shall my hand and head forget their cunning . finis . epitaphs . on him that was said to be pull'd in peeces in playing the beare . epitaph . . here lies a man ; nay , who there ▪ here lies a man that dyde a beare . on an hermaphrod●te . epi. here lies a man and woman too ; and yet wants one to make them two. on one gwillim a common cryer of a towne . epitaph . . here lies the common cryer gwillim ; so , cryd for life , till death die still him . on an harlot call'd meg-mutton of heref : epitaph . . here lies megmutton ( who could liue no longer to make death a glutton , and true mutton-monger . vpon a noted common-lyer , iack-ap iack. epitaph . . here lies iack-ap iack ; and wot yee why ? a liue he still lyde ; an● , dead , still must lye . who , in his life , lyde willingly still : but here , in death , lies against his will. on the woman that was burnt in smithfield for killing her master , in her anger . epitaph . . here good people , in the dust , truely lieth choller-adust : which kill'd , through heate ; so , burn'd , with dolor ▪ then , here lies truely , burned choller . vpon one borne blinde . epi●aph . . here lies a man that ne're sa● wo being borne blind , to feele it so . vpon iohn of all iohns . iohn of all iohns here lies : what than ? were all iohns hon●r'd in this man ? yes , that they were : and , wot yee why ? cannot you tell ? in troth nor i. on one wood a miser , burnt by a queane . epi. . reader , reade ; and , thinke thereon , h●re lies wood beneath this stone : who was harder than the higher , yet was burnt without a fier . on one who built himselfe bank●roupt , to keepe the poore on worke . epi ▪ . reader smile , or else looke off , for , here lies the peoples scoff : who , that beggers well might do , built hims●lfe a begger too . on one that yeelded hi● weapons in pri●at fight ; the conceipt whereof after brake his heart . epi. . this stone conceales a man almost , who , by his manhood , manhood lost . on one that a queane made to father her bastard , begotten by his man. epi. . her● l●●s a man was got with child by a maid that him defilde : who made him , when she was a mother , father her child got by another . vpon one church-euill a debosh'd base whore-hunter , who dyed of the pox. epi. . here lies a church , tryumphant still in euill ; that neuer fought with sin the world nor diuell but still with flesh he changed friendly knocks ; and so , to shun the plague , dyde of the pox. on a common drunkard . epi. . here lies a man that ner'e saw man ; for he ner'e lookt but in a can. on an english stutting-booke-seller who learned french , to sell bookes to french-men . epi. . here lies sam : although a stutter , yet many a word , in print , did vtter : yet had no tonge at all to spare , but one he bought to s●ll his ware. on tarlton . epi. . here within this sullen earth lies dick-tarlton , lord of mirth ; who in his graue still , laughing , gapes syth all clownes since haue be●ne his apes : earst he of clownes to learne still sought ; but now they learne of him they taught by art far past the principall ; the counterfet is , so , worth all , on a rare dyer of silke . epi. . here lies one , who lyu'd by dying , yet dyde truely till this lying . on a selfe conceited foole. epi. . here lies a man that was an asse then is he better than he was . on one who cheated his father . epi. . here lies a man , who in a span of life , beyond his father ran . epi. . here iohn of powles but hids his head : for , none can say good iohn is dead . on iohn a-stile . epi. . if yee be men , then stay a while , and know here lyeth iohn a stile , if yee know him not ; why then , it s ten to one y' are honest men . on rauiliack who murdered henry the fourth french-king . . heere lies rauiliack ( the whole heauens vnder ) aboue the earth , heau'n , earth , & hels iust wōder , thogh all these . most iustly wonder at him , the thing procures more wonder that begat him : for , though that thing , in ill , past all comparing , yet nought could ought beget so damd & daring . on george a greene , pinder of wakefield . . heere doth lie good george-a-greene nor tasted , smelt , felt , heard , or seene : but yet when george at wakefield dwelt : many did smell , while him they felt . on little iohn . heere lies little iohn , not little some weene : yet now hee 's so little he cannot be seene . o● billy grime . here lies billy gryme who neuer was storer ; but first and last slyme , and , euer a rore● . for , though dead bee will , his name roreth still . on a roring boy calld thing . fie vppo' nt ▪ it maddes me neere a stabbing thi●g should stil lye heere ; yet , if now still lye he should not , he must hang ; ●or , stand he could not . of one baudyman , whose name and nature were one . . if i should tell you , heere doth lye a man ; perhaps you 'l say i lye : but , though a beast ye proue him can ▪ yet was ( at least ) a baudy-man . of one r. hand that died of the poxe . . now by this hand i wrong him not , heere lies a hand that , dead , doth rot : and was to rotten ere hee dide , that now he is lesse putrifide . vpon a youngster , who lay with a maid , at the labour in vaine . . would you thinke it ? i thinke you would not : heere lies a youth that would but could not . on a man borne dumbe . . beleeue it heere one dead doth lye , who in his life , could neuer lye : for he was dumbe ; then lye could nere , but in his death , he still lyes heere . vppon one eleazer death a good fellow taylor . . if death a taylor bee , why then he must prick lice , not maids nor men. deaths epitaph . . heere death 's inter'd , that liud by b●ead : then , all should liue , now death is dead . on one forgot a pitman . . heere lyes , but what ! that know i not : then ( reader ) know , it is forgot : and yet if it thou dost not know , read but that and it wil shew . on a short spare man , that wore alwayes an huge paire of cloke-bag hose . ● . that earth might dissolue the st●tches , heere lies ( rak't ) a paire of breeches : nought could weare them sith they had nought to weare them but a shade . on iohn an oakes . epitaph . . halla ▪ my mates , here make a stand , and read who lies here ; vnderstand it 's iohn a nokes the lawiers foole ; yet puts them still , for law , to schoole . one ro : gose a light-headed wanton . epitaph . . here lies a sot , that liu'd too loose ; read soft , then , least yee wake the goose. on a sot that was held honest though such cannot bee so . epitaph . . would yee thinke it ? i thinke not ; here doth lie an honest sot. then , let him lie still in his graue , left this world make the foole a knaue . on o●e n. po● , a dunkard who was stabb'd in an ale-house . epitaph . . reader , though it's stincking stale , here lies spilt a pot of ale : so , he hath small reckning got , though he were the reckning pot. on an idle prattler , nick●named words . epitaph . . alas that euer he was borne , here lies a man to nothing worme ; yet is more than he was ( i trust ) he was but words ; but , now is dust. on one h. quarrell . epit. . if yee come , come on your perill , for here lies a mor●all quarrell : it is mortall , yet yee may finde it dead without a fray. one one b. holiday . epit. . ah ! out , alas , and well-away , here lies s●ill , an holyday ▪ had it beene working ; then , yee know , it could not lie still , to be so . yet , when holyday shall rise , hee 'l fall , then , to some exercise . being desir'd to make an epitaph on an ill-belou'd rich miserable yong-man whose name was bright ; and whose mothers name by her father , was sparke ; he writ . epitaph . . now , by this light , here , in the darke , doth light one bright , that was a sparke . foure sad epitaphs . a epitaph on the death of the most famous bishop ; both for good learning , and good liuing , doctor tomson bishop of gloucester , epitaph . . this tombe enwombes a child of god , whose grace , wit , art and nature still , were so exact , as makes his praisefil time , and orefill place ; yet , in this place his corps lies close compact ! then , such a sunne this tomb doth now enwombe as no such tom-sonne , tomb did e're entombe ! on master w. woodcock , a vertuous discreete and rare scholler . epitaph . . here lies a woodcock honest , learn'd , and wise , safe from the s●ares of all his enemies : no woodcock , then , in nature , but in name : for which not he , but fortune was too blame . the authors epitaph . . long after all was made , i , made , was marr'd ●y error of my parents ere i err'd : for , to the world i came through their offence , which made me sinfull , in mine innocence . i lou'd the muses ; and sought by them long life in this lifes shadow of a dreame ; but , i am gon ; and , my remaines ( i gesse ) are but the laboures of my idlenesse which , liuing , die : so all thereby i got is fame ( perhaps ) which ( past perhaps ) is not ; at least is not to me ; sith dead i am : and , haue no sence of aire , fames surer name . i lou'd faire-wr●●ing ; and , could write as faire as any that for that had got that aire . i taught it others ; but my greatest ●ee was fairest-fame the fowler shame for mee in mens accompt ; who hold all gettings vaine that tend to grace and glory more than gaine . my heart was manly , in a double-sence , kind to my friends and apt to giue offence to my offenders : so , heart , hand , and head had precious guifts , that did me little stead . i found the world as abel found it ; sith it harm'd me most that medl'd least therewith . i found my flesh my houshold f●● ; while i the diuell found my forraigne enemy : so , inwardly and outwardly i found my life still millitant ; till in this ground i lay intrench'd : where safe i lie from fight , equall to caesar in our present plight : if oddes there be ; herein it now doth rest , i , being a christian-man , must needs be best : my soule is in his hand , that made me so ; his glories subiect still , in weale , or w●e . on a vert●●ous faire-maide mistresse eliza : amber . epitaph . . reader stay ; see who lies here ▪ attacting amber , shyning cleare : yet death that clearenesse cloudeth , now ; but , being bright , it shineth through . agame . reader , stay ; and yet , be wise ; for , here still-drawing amber lies : but yet , if now she draw thee to her , thou must die , or qui●e vndo her . on a bank●rupt called myte . epitaph . . reader , read ●ight , and thou shalt see , here lies a myte not worth a cec. on a wicked fellow called p. godsoll . epita . . lord ! that men should read , or say , here lies god-sole turn'd to clay : yet , sith she was no soule of god , he turn'd too wel , when he turn'd clod. of one woorth that died lowsie , hauing had a good lyuing ; but spent it leawdly . epit. . here lies woorth of little price ; and , so foorth ; the rest is lice . on one elizabeth butter a faire maide . epitaph . . here lies sweete butter turn'd to grasse , to make sweete butter as it was . on one i. cheese , an old leatcher . epitaph . . here lies old cheese , who doth not know it , aske but the grubs , and they will shew it . on one p. cocke , a rich foole , who gaue much money by wil , to make him a faire tombe . epit. . here lies a cocke , he mist the combe hardly , to haue with wise men roome : but now he is dead , it doth appeare , he 's proud of his owne dunghill here . on a common drunkard call'd man. epitaph . . can yee thinke it ? if yee can , then here lies a beast-like man. on one call'd iaques . epitaph . . fie out vp on 't , spue , spit , and cough ; a i●kes here lieth : mary , fough ! on one wit , whose mother died with his birth ; a contentious fellow . epitaph . . come a long , and nothing by : for , wit bought deerely , here doth lie : that 's good for nothing ; then be glad , that good for nought , may here be had . on the cripple , who stole the weather-cocke of paules . epitaph . . here lies the cripple , that stole paules-weather-cocke , from that high steeple by night , at twelue a clocke : if now he could flye here ( as then ) past his fellowes , yet he would lie here , he would climbe to the gallowes . on one called holyday a great gamester kill'd playing at primero . epitaph . . here lies gaming holyday , vvho wan his greatest r●st by play : for , at primero , in his brest , he got a stab , that wan this rest. vpon one denis who slu● one in a tennis-court about the difference of a chase. epitaph . . here lies one denis that plaide well at tenis ; but as the line he crost , it him so intangled , that him it strangled : so , his time set , he lost . on one gold , a great dicer . epit. . here lies gold , that past at dice ; yet be it told , to know the price : and for it went so light away , it shal be spent , here , night and day . o● no-body , as he is fancied & set foorth in picture . epitaph . . body of me here lies no-body . that is ▪ nothing , like a noddy : then , the shortest epitaph f●ts him best that no place hath . on a double fellow , ill composed . epit. . here lies one double in his graue : for , he was still a foole , and knaue . on a skiruy fellow , enriched by a queene . epit. . here lies a scab made by a drab . on a vserer . egitaph . here still lieth ten pur cent : in deaths house , and payes no rent : then its like he lends to death , on this free-hold , his dearest breath ▪ on one norman , an ill man. . within this graue , heere lies , alone , nor-man , nor beast ; but both in one . on one maister linder , that was burnt by a drab : and thereof dyed . . here lies lusty linder : but it is cleere , had he not linde her , hee had not layne heere . on a most intollerable curst wife . . if it be true , as i heare tell , some affirme the graue is hell : and if hell bee , then , so neere , the veriest diuill of hell lies heere . on one that lou'd sacke as his soule . . reader , blesse thee , if afear'd , the spirit of sack lyes heere inter'd . on one loue a gold-finder alias a iakes-farmer . . if yee can smell , then draw ye neere : and you 'l soone tell who lyeth heere . on a tall coward . . faith sir no ; it is not so : then who lies heere you cannot know ; yet was a man exceeding tall , and yet he was no man at all ! by one shockman hangd in chaines on a hill. . heere st●ll sleepes shockman , on this heauy hill : yet ●●en death doth rock-man , he wags , sleeping still . on a , ban●ero●pt that liu'd ( till he died ) long in ludgate , oft begging in the hole . . none can tell who lyeth heere sith he neuer did appeare : for ; he liu'd and dide in warde ; so , nere was seene but often heard . to my worthily much honored m. richard martin , learned in the lawes , arts , and langu●ges . marten , the bird , the beast , the man in grace ; haue all three , three peculiar dearest things : the bird for taking time of time and place : the beast for his rich case ▪ the case of kings ; and thou , the man , for thy high wit and worth , so , man , beast , bird , a marten thus sets forth . to my noble and euer best beloued pupill , captaine henry maynwarring . though last i place thee ( noble pupill ) i haue reason for 't . wil 't know the mistery ? thou shalt , next heau'n , be last in mind with me at last , when i to heau'n shall vsher thée . what said i ? heau'n do captaines climbe so hie ? yes , thou shalt doo 't , sith thou so oft did'st buy freedome for christians ; ( slaues to turkes ; ) and so thou ●bd'st thy meanes with grace : if sin did slow . the conclusion . now halla , here , my merry muse , no longer time and rime abuse ; and sith to both , thou hast don scath , this shal be thine epitaph . here lies a muse ( was made by nine ) that drunken was with wit , not wine : and yet the bowells of her wit being too full of trash vnfit . here , like a fart , doth let it flie , more for hi● ease , than honesty . finis . on banning . be● as bee may ; no banning is : oh no ; banning's a blessing : and i 'le take it so . an excuse for faults escapt in printing by reason my occasions would not permit me to looke to the presse . when printing first was borne ( it seems ) it had this curse with it ; that it should beare no book but it , with falts , should make the father sad , then reader to the faults vouchsafe to looke : and mend , or make them worse ; all 's one to me , they be not mine ; but their 's that , now , o're see . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e (o) at the signe of ierusalem betweene strawberry bancke , and prim-rose hill . * siluanu● vvits a.b.c. or a centurie of epigrams approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) vvits a.b.c. or a centurie of epigrams west, richard, fl. - , attributed name. willet, roland, b. or , attributed name. [ ] p. printed [by george eld] for thomas thorp, and are to be sould [by l. lisle] at the signe of the tigers head in paules church-yard, at london : [ ] sometimes attributed to richard west and to roland willet. in verse. printer's and bookseller's names and publication date from stc. signatures: a-f⁴ (-f ). running title reads: epigrams. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams, english -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - ben griffin sampled and proofread - ben griffin text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion vvits a. b. c. or a centurie of epigrams . at london printed for thomas thorp , and are to be sould at the signe of the tigers head in paules church-yard . to the intelligent reader . if i should goe about to fashion a title , on a fit block for bellua multorum capitum , the many headed multitude , it would bee hic labor , hoc opus , as hard as to paint a camelion , ( which is very variable in his colour ) or to fit proteus with a sute , who is alwayes changing his forme . as for the common titles , kinde , gentle , louing , and courteous reader ; they are so stale ( and therefore out of fashion ) that they would scarce bee respected , so neare of a size , that they will hardly fit such variety of sconces and therefore i refuse them : and though i should turne ouer whole volumes of synonimaes , i should not finde any so significant , to bee correspondent to the fashion , or faction , of the rable of readers , for some you shall haue , so high in the fore-head , that the tankard fashion will bee too low , and they will be pushing at me : some weesill pated , hauing little heads , and lesse wit , and yet with their dudgen iudgments they will generally stab at what-so-euer their slender capacities cannot conceiue : other there are , whose heads indeed are of a block in folio , but their witte is in the least decimo sexto , so that it must bee that locus is not aequalis locato , and by consequence a great vacuum , or else their skuls are of such an extraordinary thicknesse , that one must ( as artificers do when they would enter a nayle into a hard peece of wood ) bore a hole , before he can make a iest haue cleare passage , into their grosse caputs , and they will stand with hum , and ha , three parts of an houre ouer one poore epigram , and at length ( because quicquid recipitur , recipitur ad modum recipientis ) they will giue sentence that it is dull . such a number there are of these sorts of vnmercifull iudges , that it is enough to make a man turne satyre , and teare them limme meale with bitter words . but for my part , i appeale from their censures , and not liking them , i will leaue them , and come to my purposed reader . intelligent reader , hauing at idle times scribled a few rimes , or epigrams , and being willing to set them out to the view of the world , as apelles did his pictures . but not being able to lye vnder the bulke of euery mans censure ( as he did ) and so to mend any thing i see is a fault , as also to reprehend any prating cobler , with ne sutor vltra crepidam . i haue chosen thee my onely reader if it were possible , at least my patron against all causelesse fault-finding fooles , hoping that ( being 't is the first lesson i haue taken in wits-schoole ) thou wilt fauor me if i be not witty . ( the first time i haue made a shew of poetry ) thou wilt pardon me , if i be not poeticall . but howsoeuer , non mihi suffenus ero , whether thou speakest with me , or against me , i will subscribe to thy iudgment : and so wishing thee as much pleasure in reading my epigrams , as i had recreation in writing them , i rest . thine as i finde cause , author ad musas . great ioues faire daughters , louing sisters nine , behold me prostrate at your learned shrine ; you heauenly nymphs keeping pernassus hill , inspire my minde , and eke direct my quill . grant me your wills , with wit that i may write , and teach me wit , your wills for to endite . and that i may the sooner perfect be ; let me straight-way begin wits a. b. c. wits a. b. c. liber ad lectorem . . i hardly did escape the printers presse , it did so rudely crush my tendernesse : and now i feare more harme will me befall , if i long lye vpon the stationers stall . some-time i shall be nayld vnto a post , and som-time rashly torne , pincht , scratcht , & crost : reader therefore , in kindnesse let me wooe thee : to free me hence , sixe-pence will not vndoe thee . o mores . . folly hath lately crowned fashion king , fashion commands , fashion rules euery thing . in court , in countrey , in cittie , and towne , old , yong , men , women feare fashions frowne . for aske your sattin swaggring caualiere , wherefore his purse containes scarce one deniere ? or why he walketh dinnerlesse in paules , as if he prayed for departed soules ? hee le say 't is gallants fashion , and that purse and belly both , for fashion fare the worse . aske him againe why's sute is quite out-wore , before he hath dischargd the taylors score ? or why he doth his nose with soote vp-choake ? but none forbid a man to feede himselfe , doth phagus well ( i pray you tell me ) then ? who often vseth swearing for his need , some times with othes , he doth his belly feede . in croesum , . croesus hath got a pretty tricke of late , to coosen any needy borrowing mate , two chests he hath , the one stands in his hall , and that the world , the other he his friend doth call , the which is in his closet cramd with gold , but that chest he calles world , noe crosse doth hold , and when that any borrower doth come , asking to borrow any greater summe , then well vpon his credite he dare leaue , with this his new found tricke heel him deceaue , i sweare quoth he ( sitting on 's empty chest ) i am not now with so much mony blest , for in this world ( my want this time is such ) i know not how to get you halfe soe much , the man thinkes he meanes plainely , doth depart , although perhaps but with a heauy heart : if it be one whome he entends to friend , vpon whose credit he dare so much lend , then thus : i haue it not , but this i le doe , ile if i can my friend for so much wooe , and vp vnto his gold cramd chest he goes , which stuft with many golden crownes , oreflowes , his friend is kind , and prest at his command , take what he will , he will not him withstand , then downe he comes , and tells what he hath done : how with entreaty he his friend hath wonne . the other thankes him much , and thinkes him kind , that hee hath tooke such paines to please his minde . nay thanke my friend ( saies he ) for your good speede , for he it is hath helpt you at your neede . in cottam . . cotta when he hath din'd , sayth lord be praysd , yet neuer praiseth god for meate or drinke ; sith cotta speaketh , and not practiseth , he speaketh surely , what he doth not thinke . tobacco . . things which are common , common men doe vse the better sort doe common things refuse , yet countries cloth breech , and court veluet hose , puffe both a like , tobacco through their nose . in superbum . . rvstique surperbus fine new clothes hath got , of taffata , and veluet faire in sight : the shew of which hath so bewicht the sot , that he thinkes gentleman to be his right . but he 's deceiu'd , for true that is of old , an ape's an ape though hee weare cloth of gold . gentility , . in former times were none call'd gentlemen but those whose higher spirits fame did winne , either in learning passing other men , or else whose valiant actes had famous bin : learning , and valour , then were knowne to be , the onely fountaines of gentility , these eagle like , could gaze against the sunne , by them conioynd all braue exploits were done . but now the world is chang'd , the kite is crept into the eagles nest ; each baser swaine hath vndeserued name of credite reapt . for such as haue [ experience shewes it plaine ] more wealth , then wit , more vailes , then valour are in gentle bloud now thought to beare a share . but wronge it were vnto true gentle bloud it should be staind with such a bastard brood . a paradoxe . . diues his house hath cost a thousand pound , for he hath built it newly from the ground : t is fairer now then when his father liu'd , t is better built and better far contriu'd : but yet of late i saw a poore man weepe : saying his father a better house did keepe . wherefore to me a paradoxe it seem'd , that what was worse , could yet be better deemd . in gallum . . gallus who was so long vnmaried , hath now at length [ he thinkes ] a mayden wed , she is not old , he hopes shee le beare a child to be his heire : but sure he is beguild : for ground leaues of to beare , which long hath bore , and she hath borne so much , shee le beare no more . in lycippum . . lycippus you will yeeld your wife 's a whore , your selfe a cuckold , but you grante no more , i say then you must a whore-master bee , that you deny , i le proue it openly : who loues , liues with , likes , and lies with a whore is a whoremaster , you do this therefore you needes must yeeld , although with much ado , that a right cuckold's a whoremaster too . a litle thing . . simon , and sisse his wife are fallen out , he 's kinde inough , yet she laughes him to scorne , she scolds , and frownes , and calles him asse and lout , swearing that she will make him weare the horne ▪ and yet the cause as fame the newes doth bring , is all about a very little thing . in alphonsum . . alponsus lately went to learne the french , for linguam mulierum well he loued : and where his teacher lay , he found a wench , though part he lik't , the whole he more approued . in quandam . . if grace steppe out of dores into the street , but towards church , or with a friend to meete : what is the cause it may be some will aske , why she still goeth hooded in her maske ; grace is afraid , although to her disgrace , the winde , or raine will marre her painted face . in baldum . . art mendes nature , baldus can tell as much , and by experience his skill is such , for had it not beene so , as 't well be fald , he knowes his false hayrd head , had yet beene bald , but when that nature was deficient , therein , art presently her succor lent . and therefore head , and beard doe not agree , cause nature , and art much differing be . in gelliam . . gellia hath beene at cookry , many a day , a cookes her father , so her maister is : then she must needs dresse flesh well you wil say , t is probable , but yet you iudge amis . for she so much from all good chookry's turnd , that flesh hath come from her , halfe raw , halfe burnd . in quandam . . is she that marchants wife ? i know that face , and sure haue seene it , in some other place ; le ts see , did i not meete her on the way ? or se her at a sermon , or a play , or where was it ? ifaith t' would please me well , if i for certeinty the place could tell ; oh now i haue 't , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not worth a louse : t was but her picture , at a baudy house . misogunes his inuectiue against women . . th' are called women quasi wo , to men ; the which is prou'd to true , now and then . and diuers men , by getting of a wife , doue often hazard liuing , lim , and life , for they are faithlesse , cruell , and vnkinde ; vnconstant , and disloyall , still in minde thei 'le hate you deadly , whē you 'd sweare they loue , when you most trust them , they vnfaithfull proue . women are proud , immodest , and vnchast , vice raigneth in them , vertue 's quite defac't , their faults are many , though they them disguise , all which i le truly thus epitomise : syrens in shew , in word , and deed th' are diuells , the onely fountaine of all humaine euills . philogunes his answer . . black mouthed zoilus , base misogune , monster of men , infernall progenie , whose cancred soule to naught is circumflexe , but wrongfully t' abuse the femall sexe : one tale is good vntill another's heard , when mine is ended , thine will quite be mard . women are fellow-helpers , mens reliefe , a comfort , and co-partners in their griefe : a man when once he hath obtain'd a wife , doth after liue a quiet , pleasing life , for they being faithfull , loyall ▪ and most kinde , doe rid all sorrowes , from a grieued minde . they loue men dearly , constant is their loue , though you mistrust them , they most faithful proue women are sober , modest , humble , chaste , vice they defie , vertue in them is grac'd . their praise is great , the which in briefe i le tell , [ let them controule me if i doo 't not well ] in shew th' are saints , in word and deed most kind the sole perfection of the humaine kinde . philologus his moderation . . misogunes who hateth womans name , doth what he can that sexe for to defame , and being wrong'd by some , saith constantly , that all women want shame and honesty . in briefe heele falsely sweare , in his mad mood , that neuer any of that sexe prou'd good . but philogunes on the aduerse part , being mild in word , and far more milde in heart . and hauing of that sexe some fauors had , saith neuer any woman was knowne bad . the one doth wrongfully them all despise , the other doth extoll them to the skies : the one most churlishly doth all miscall , the other soothingly commends them all . thus both do erre , being both in the extreame , for all men erre , who do not keepe the meane . wherefore let me [ free from affection ] being not wrong'd by any , yet bound to none : speake freely what i thinke , and end this strife , without displeasing widdow , maide or wife . the fairest garden , beares some stinking weede , the fertil'st ground with wheate brings cockle seed . but why doe they then vse that bacchus weede ? because they meane then bacchus like to feede . good-fellowes . . they that will haunt the tauernes day by day , and drinke till they cannot a wise word say , are not accounted drunkards now adayes , but they are calld good-fellowes ( as their praise ) and right th' are call'd , for they good-fellowes be , good fellowes for a drunken company . in bacchum . . pot lifting bacchus to the earth did bend his knee , to drinke a health vnto his friend : and there he did so long in liquor powre , that he lay quite sick drunke vpon the flowre . iudge , was not there a drunkards kindnes showne ? to drinke his friend a health , and loose his owne . in flaccum . flaccus being young , they said he was a gull , of his simplicity each mouth was full : and pittying him they 'd say the foolish lad , would be deceiued sure of all he had . his youth is past , now may they turne him loose , for why the gull , is growne to be a goose . in bembum . . bvshy chind bembus , in his angry moode , gainst one [ offending him ] who by him stood , called him boy , meaning his great disgrace , why boy ? because he had no haires in 's face , bembus great beard doth sure his wit empaire , if he thinke manhood , doth consist in haire . a rich man. . he 's rich that hath great in-comes by the yeare , then that great bellied man is rich i le sweare : for sure his belly nere so big had bin , had he not dayly had great commings in . paynters . . apelles heretofore gan venus paint , but durst not finish out so great a saint : painting of venus then you see was rare that apelles to do it would not dare . but age hath made her youthfull beauty fade and of apelles now she would be glad : for , he being dead , what shift [ poore soule ] she makes not liking others she her maidens takes for painters , they the art of painting learne , and by that art , they praise of beauty earne : venus held them so close vnto their trade , that they by vse are perfect painters made . how cunningly they can a wrinkle hidd , a spot , a mole , a scarre , a pockhole wide , and die their cheekes , and lippes , with blushing red , where neuer any naturally was bred , to paint so common is mongst female kind , that few womens true faces now we find . in caluos . . cornutus asked me , how such happe befalld , his brethren of the towne , that most were balld , i told him thus ( being loth to say him nay ) their cruell hornes , doe feare their hayres away , if it be so ( quoth he ) dissolue this doubt , why hind part 's hayrd , when fore-part is without ? i said , though leasser feare the greater might , yet then they are secure , when out of sight , so hayres may be in that place , without feare , because their hornes , cannot espie them there . aenigma , . mongst burden-bearing creatures there is one , that diffreth from the rest , is like to none , they when they take their burdens vp , doe griue , and to throw 't from them earnestly do striue , and being disburdned once , then they reioyce . but this i meane is diffring in it's choyse , it takes , and beares most willingly , being easd , then , then alas 't is most of all displeas'd . thou shalt be oedipus if thou not misse , to tell what kinde of creature this same is . a winding hound . . that puppie hath some ex'lent vertue sure , thy mistresse can with her so well endure : no great vertue sir , but 't is a winding hound , they say brought lately , from the land new found . my mistresse loues it still with her to haue , because it doth oft-time her credite saue . the reason why , if you do seeke to finde , my mistresse indeed , is troubled with the winde . in clotum . . new maried clotus to the fence-schoole goes , which makes each wonder that the matter knowne that he who did it not ( before ) delight , should now at length , being maried learne to fight . some thinke that one hath challengd him the field , and feares his want of skill will make him yield , or that he doth his skill in fighting mend , that he the better may his wife defend . this may be true , but i dare lay my life , the yongster doth it now to match his wife . in morum . . morus whose fame cried cuckold to his face , both to his owne and 's wifes no smal disgrace : heard one reade lately in philosophy , that what had hornes from teeth aboue was free , i st true ( quoth he ? ) philosophy saie so : then henceforth for a cuckold i le not goe , if cuckold . i had hornes ▪ if hornes ? no teeth that i no cuckold am then each man seeth ? to speake more plainely to each foolish daw , let them feel haue teeth in my vper iawe : morus that 's wife is honest now will sweare , and of a horne he standeth not in feare : as long as his old rotten teeth doe last , hee le thinke he 's not with forked order grac't . hornes . . husband . when thou art whorish i do weare the horne , but why should i for thine owne faults beare skorne ? if thou offend , do thou for it be blam'd , and let not me for thine offence be sham'd . wife . if i haue hornes , i on my head must beare them , tha' rt my head , & therfore thou shalt weare them : in papam . . the pope of all the world is supreame head , as he him selfe and papists testifie : he is condemn'd as one with error led , that dares gainesay his sole supremacie , and sure he erres , that 's not of this beleefe , that amongst sinners , hee s supreame , and cheefe . monkes and friers . . monkes and friers , are holy fathers nam'd , nor may they that doe call them so , be blam'd : for the great number of their bastard breed , shewes they are wholy fathers al indeed . a puritane . . a certaine fellow of the purest sect , ( who outwardly did holines respect ) could not endure a surplice in the church , but lately he was tooke in such a lurch : that he that could not with a surplice beare , did now himselfe i' th church a white sheete weare a bible-bearer . . a brother of the bible-bearing trade , me to his sect did earnestly perswade , saying t was good from wicked men to abstaine , and follow rather his sects holy vaine : we holy men ( quoth he ) by th' spirite liue , it guides our deedes , it doth vs councell giue : iudge 't is not true , if i be not beguilde , some spirit mou'd him to get's maid with child . in papam . . the papists say the pope is peters heyre , hath peters power , and sits in peters chayre , in part t is true , the papists haue not lied , for he like peter hath his christ denied . problema . . what papists maintaines , protestāt doth defend , why then do not their controuersies end ? in immeritum . . immeritus hath got a benifice , alasse poore foole , i know t is all but lies , it is impossible , such an asse as he , should so much in a patrons fauor be ; no man of wisdome i thinke is so mad , to accept of him whilst schollers may be had . tush schollers are not esteemd : and he can , giue money for t , as well as any man. that 's not the way for then he is forsworne , and periury by the law cannot bee borne : he swore that he was free from simony , either directly , or indirectly . had i bin by , i would haue beene so bold , to haue said that he a direct lye had told , for whether or no you call it simony , in it most plainly you mony see . with mony he swore he did not buy it , yet with money's worth he did come by it , for he hath twenty trickes ( who 'd thinke the daw had so much wit ) to fallify the law , hee le giue you forty pounds for a good horse , and that with 's patron for a iade hee le skorce , or for a iade ( as he vnskillfull were ) hee le giue his patron twenty times too deare . or else hee le giue ( rather then want a shift ) thus much still yearely for a new-yeares gift , or lay a hundred pounds , in ieopardy with 's patron he shall neuer parson be of such a place , perhaps then vnsupplied : both stand to th'bargaine , till the truth be tried , but 's greedy patron straight on him bestowes the liuing , so he doth his money lose . thus whilst desert sits closely at his booke , immeritus takes all with golden hooke , no more i le tell , least that some learne of me , whilst that i carpe at such base knauery , but such a patron , such an vnletterd asse for fit companions , thorugh the world may passe . in indoctum . . what i haue bought 's mine owne , none wil deny indoctus then got 's liuing lawfully ; [ though some say no ] for this i can be bold to say , that it was truely bought and sold. fortune fauors fooles . . poets say fortunes blind , and cannot see , and therefore to be borne withall if she sometime drop gifts , on vndeseruing wight : but sure they are deceaue'd , she hath her sight : else could it not at all times so fall out , that fooles should haue , when wise men goe without . ad fortunam . . vnconstant fortune , follies fauorite , worlds turning weather cocke : true mirits spite goddesse whome none but onely fooles adore , patronesse , whose aide wisemen nere implore , fauor those worldlings that doe feare thy lookes , he that is wise will nere come in thy bookes . in crispum . . amongst those fortune fauors some excell , and from their fellow fooles doe beare the bell , whilst some climbe vp by th'spoakes of fortunes wheele , crispus did sodainly her fauour feele , for onely by foode fauoring fortunes might , before hee 's gentleman , hee 's made a knight . a new art . . the fame were great of golden alchymy , wert not it is the actors beggery : an art found out by th'gallants of our dayes , wer 't honest , did deserue far greater praise , who practise that , thereon their substance spend . who practise this , thereby their substance mend . that is not strange , cause 't is by learning wrought : but this , by such , scarce er'e of learning thought , for ciuet gallants bearing thrasoes lookes , can extract a thousands out of marchants bookes , is it not wondrous rare , speake as you thinke , to draw wealth out of paper , pen , and inke ? ad lectorem . . if seigneur sattin chance on this to looke , and fuming draw his poyniard , stab the booke : if ( finding's art reueald ) he curse , and sweare , what he would to th' author were he there . intreate him kindly , and his patience craue , saying thereby he shall more schollers haue . in theologum quendam . . vacuum , and infinitum are denied , to haue a being in philosophy , one body cannot see it selfe deuide : to haue at once moe places properly . although all this be true in generall , yet our theulogus will all confute , not by learning , or witt sophisticall , but by appearance , though be quite mute : all things consider'd if he come in view , i know you 'le yeeld the subsequents are true . his great , great head a vacuum doth containe , of wit i meane , as by his talke appeares , his belly infinitum , doth retaine , for it vnmeasurable compasse beares . his proper place his multiplicity , vnto his neighbours very well is knowne , him to haue many places who 'le deny , that hath so many liuings of his owne . now i pray iudge whether this man be wise , being subiect to that philosophy denies . in quosdam . . many haue two liuings ( two places then ) the which is hated much of learned men . and t is noe marle if schollers doe defie it . sith that philosophie doth quite denie it . in proteum . . proteus will now at length a surplice weare , but yet with hood , and cap he will not beare , some thinke it strange why he would that disgest , being all indiffrent and not like the rest . but t' was in policie , because he knew , he should weare none had euery man his due . in quendam . . you doe him mighty wronge now by this light , but esquiere , & take the wall of him being knight content your selfe , i hope noe harme is done , though he be knight , hee s but a yeomans sonne . in musicos . . time is a iewell far exceeds all cost , yet stayes not long ere sodaynly t is lost , t is time , that brings both learning , wealth , and wit , and euery one wants those that wanteth it . what is there wisht for by the humane kind , that not in time we easily may find ? how happy men were then , if time would bide , how happy men if t' would not from them slide ? thrise happy they then who can it command , with nod of head , with stampe , with stroake of hand and whilst some moaning their lost time doe weepe can singinge merily , it with them keepe , so litle they , not keeping time , do feare . that ouer it they prouly dominere . sometime they make it slow , now faster runne , now triple that , now as they first begunne , somtime they 'le haue it breefe , now large , now long . or what they please and all this for a song . in eosdem , ad quendam . . mounseiur crotchet me thought was very blith , at this , and mouing's lips did shew his teeth , smiling to heare himselfe and 's art in rime , to be so much admir'd for keeping time , but crotchet d' yee heare ? though time a iewell is , and though you seld in keeping time doe mis : yet such you are , that when you keepe time least , then it is mainfest you keepe time best . when you keepe time ( though strang ) then time you loose , time slides , when you a time to keepe time choose , beside marke what vnto your fellow 's fald , how time at length hath made his cockscomble bald . in grillum . . cardes , dice and bowles , and euery idle game grillus doth vse and them his pastime name ▪ that he liues wondrous idely that doth show , for time will passe not idely spent , we know . the shepeards dog , . the shepeards dogge should barke , and bay , that he may feare the coming wolfe away , he should be watchfull , and not giuen to sleepe , and swift , quickly to turne the straying sheepe , but if the curre being dumme can no noyse make , then will the wolfe away the youngling take : if he be growne so fat he cannot go , then in the sheepe-fold will there be great woe , if he be sluggish , and will doe no good ? let him be hang'd , let other haue his foode . in varum . . varus they say is a ranke papist knowne , how ere in workes , in words it is not showne . for if you marke his strange protesting vaine , how deepely he protests in matters plaine , and how he doth with pretestations mixe his common speech , still i protest betwixt , you 'le say how ere to others he do seeme , that you him a great protestant do deeme . in leucum . . leucus loues life , yet liueth wickedly , he hateth death , yet wisheth he may die honestly , and well : so what is naught he loues , and what he would haue good he not approues . problema . . sith bed , and sleepe do figure death and graue , and of them both all men such practise haue , and seeing that practise makes each man excell , tell me why euery man doth not die well ? in loquacem . . big bombast words loquax did disgorge , as if he were more valiant then saint george : and swore that he in fight would neuer feare , knight , or esquier , or what soeuer he were , but being tried he quickly ranne away , whereby i found that he the truth did say , i none will feare said he , and true he said , for none of such a cow will be afraid . in extremum . . extremus is extreamly proude of late , and yet for wealth he may be irus mate , he hath as little wit as heretofore , and in good qualities hee s very poore . what then is it that makes the foolish asse , without all reason thus in pride to passe ? why he can sweare well , and hath got good cloths and is proud of 's apparrell and his othes . in pisonem . . age and diseases threaten piso's life , and yet the aged sier will haue a wife , one foote already 's placed in the graue , and yet he will a female fellow haue , wherefore i thinke ( a thing but seldome seene ) although his head be gray , his tayle is greene . fast , and pray , feast and play. . fasts , and feasts exceeding diffring be , and yet in name they allmost doe agree , to pray , and play are actions different , and yet in found but little dissident , adde e excesse to fast then t is a feast , change a r. for b l. so pray to play is wrest . in glaucum . . glaucus you say doth hebrew learne , & greeke , and with greate paines the skill thereof doth seeke , but pray tell glaucus this that he take heed least that his learning do his danger breed : for grecians π , and hebricians ח haue many brought to an vntimely death . in pansophum . . pansophus is a scholler wondrous rare , beside his skill in tongues , is past compare : for he can speake some of italian , dutch ; english , spanish , french and greeke his skil is such ▪ in a word , he speakes some of nine or ten as for example he can say amen . in galbum . . i saw a letter which from galbus came wherein he wrote three letters for his name ; i was told also that t is still his vse , therefore ( me thinkes ) the more his owne abuse : for euery one that haps the same to see , will thinke him a three letter'd man to be . tobacco . . t. times great consumer , cause of idlenesse o. old ale-house haunter , friend of dronkenese b. bewitching weede , vainest wealthes consumer a. abuse of wit , stinking breaths perfumer , c. cause of entralles blacknesse , bodies drier , c. cause of natures slacknesse , quenching her fire , o. offence to many , bringing good to none , e. euer be thou hated till thou be quite gone . in gracchum . . gracchus his house hath chimnies round about , yet there 's no smoake at all that doth come out which made me wonder oft what cause might be , why from so many i no smoake could see , but now i heare , that he to fauor those , makes all the smoake in 's house go through his nose . in crispam . . crispa brags of the sweetnes of her breath , and that it like a panthers is she saith , indeed when i her countenance beholde , i am perswaded she the truth hath told , for likely t is that nature to doe her grace , gaue her a panthers breath to her panthers face . in floram. . though flora sweares she s faire , beleeue her not , for beauty neuer yet fell to her lot , or if it did ; then sure in her t was sinne , to couer beauty with so foule a skinne . in cretam . . creta doth loue her husband wondrous well , it needs no proofe , for euery one can tell , so strong 's her loue that if i not mistake , it doth extend to others for his sake . pope ioane , . the pope is god the papists dare not say , yet that hee s merely man they doe denay , but all of them in this thing doe agree . him something nether god , nor man to bee , their reasons for it are but small , or none , vnlesse they seeke to proue it by pope ioane , and so indeed they may bring it to passe , for she ( nor god , nor man ) a woman was . in eandem , . a pope may be deceaued i see it now , their synodes to may erre i le shew you how , if that pope ioane for certayne had foreseene , the time when her deliuerance should haue beene , she would haue shun'd a thinge so far vnmeet , and not haue falne in trauell in the street , could not their synodes erre from the truths scope they neuer would haue made a woman pope . in pontum . . t is true that whence a thing at first is bred , with that t is euer after nourished , as pontus being made gentleman by wealth , by wealth keepes his gentility in health . for if you take away his fortunes good , he hath not then one drop of gentle blood . in clytum , . clytus to get himselfe the greater fame , braggeth of what an auncient house he came , of what good blood : that you may him beleeue the better i this testimony giue : clytus his blood is surely good indeed , cause he will cry strayght if ( being hurt ) he bleed : the house so auncient was where he was bred , that it was like to falle on 's fathers head . in mopsum , . mannerly mopsus fearing to offend , doth with sirreuerence his speeches mend , sir-reuerence if he speake of 's shooes , or hose , sir-reuerence if he say he blowd his nose , sir-reuerence if he name his cart , or plough . sirreuerence if he tell of pig , or cow. in briefe almost what ere he meanes to speake , before it sir-reuerence the way doth breake . such maners sir-reuerēce , mopsus learnd at schole , that now sir-reuerence mopsus is a foole . in caluum . . calvus leaue of your oft vncouerie , that you were bald at first time i did see , keepe on good calvus , pray be couered , i had rather see your hat then your bald head . in sophistam . . sophista sayes he can proue , ay marry can , a stocke , a stone , or tree to be a man ; black to be white , water to be fire , earth to be ayre ; or what you will desire : yea all things you do thinke impossible , he easily can proue them possible . then pray let 's heare ( with all his fallacies ) if he can proue himselfe or rich , or wise . in maritum . . maritus hath skill in philosophie they say , but i imagine him to be philosophie it selfe ; my reason 's this , cause corpus mobile his subiect is . in graium . . graius , now sayth that his wife , and he after long strife , like quiet sheepe agree : a fit comparison : i thinke the same , for why ? his hornes shew he is like a ramme . in pretum . . the old disease will pretus sure betide , i see that he the horne-plague must abide , for but a while he hath beene maried , and he already hath a veluet head . in biscum . . i pray you sir giue biscus leaue to speake , the gander loues to heare himselfe to creake . in claium . . claius while 's father liue'd to schoole was set the knowledge of arithmeticke to get , which he obtain'd : his father being dead he since hath it in order practised . and first he numeration began , which all the parcells of his wealth did scan , next by addition in summe he made , the worth of all he in possession had , but before he these two had practisd well . he foolishly vnto subtraction fell , that he found easier then the other two , and parted from 't with very much adoe , but yet at length from it he got him gone , and past vnto multiplication , by it he should haue multiplied his store , from which he had subtracted late before , but vnto him so difficult it was , that he by no meanes could bring it to passe , wherefore he to diuision went , in practise whereof so much time he spent , that he assayd reduction in vaine , being hard to ioyne deuided wealth againe , and foolish t' was to try progression , hauing no matter left to worke vpon , vnlesse he 'd proue arithmetician right , and name some-thing when nothing is in sight . in eundem . . claius doth knowe all arithmeticke well , but in extracting rootes he doth excell , for in his fathers late , well wooded ground , scarce any rootes of trees can now be found , aenigma . . there is a certaine flower the earth doth beare , which vpon it the princes name doth weare , it hath no pleasant sound , no tast , no smell , yet pleaseth ears , and tong , and nose full well , no curious subiect for the touch , or sight , and yet both hand , and eye it doth delight . it 's operation is exceeding strange , in men , and humane things it causeth change , it makes some maisters , and it makes some slaues , ( according as each man himselfe behaues ) sometime it causeth peace , and somtime warre , it maketh some men loue , and some men iarre , in breife , t is cause of many contraries , now what this flower is , doe thou deuise . in priscum . . why doth priscus still striue to haue the wall ? because hee s , often dronke and feares to fall . ad cinnam . why how now cinna downe vpon thy knees ? this scarce with thy profession agrees , thou seldome doest bow downe thy knees to pray , what is it now that makes thee thus obay ? i am about to drinke whole boules of bere , vnto mine owne sweete mistris health i sweare , vpon thy knees ? what dost thou surely thinke thy legs wil hardly beare vp so much drinke . and is thy mistris sweete , a peece so drie , that her good health doth in much liquor lie . in cacum ad lectorem . . cacus will dice , and drab , and steale , and lie , be dronke , and curse , and sweare most horribly and yet hee 'd haue me i should him commend vnto his father , brother , vncle , friend ; i do confesse it is a common thing commendations from friend , to friend to bring but ( reader ) first i pray thee let me learne if thou thinkst he doth commendations earne ? ad musicos discordantes . . nay fie , musitians and at discord fall , the wrong to your profession is not small : you say that discord's sound most harsh to ' th' eare , then why do you now with a discord beare ? you do professe a skill in musickes ground , yet do you musicke wrong by discord's sound ? when you do sing , and play you do agree , and when you say , and do will it not be ? this makes me thinke sith play , & song's but sport that you do but agree in iesting sort . in quendam , ad lect. . i pray gentlemen pacifie the man , and mitigate his choller if you can , i feare he will do harme to some one by , if that his choller do abide so hie . aenigma in dondellum ad gal : ling. stud . . drowsie dondellus hath no voice to sing no skill to set proue , pricke , or any thing that may be sayd to singing doth belong , and yet great practise he hath had in song , and thereby he hath profited full well , but how this same may be , let 's heare you tell . a sensible man , ad logicos . . ciuis commends the cheifest of their towne saying he to excel the rest in wisedome's known nay more ( sayes he ) i easily proue it can that he is a very sensible man : yea each that would his friend for wisdome praise , that he is a sensible man he saies : but is it true ? is nature now growne poore ? are axiomes false ? is man worse then before ? and do you thinke that it is possible , that being men they be but sensible ? if it be true , what asses are the rest ? when as the wisest is but like a beast . in mathum ad academicos . . looke not that mathus will come for 's degree , for i am sure he ne're will maister be , not that he wanteth will , but as they say his wife doth priuately his grace denay . vnhappy chance , and least it may be so to you ▪ be maisters 'fore you thence do go . ad librum . . if that seuerus my epigrams do see , and frowning say that they be idle rimes , i prethee tell seuerus this from me , it 's true , for they were made at idle times . claudite iam risos musae , sat turba biberunt . fjnis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e a a religion . b licentiousnesse . homo trium liter●●●● . nevv epigrams, and a satyre. vvritten by ios: martyn, a wel-wisher to study martyn, joseph. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) nevv epigrams, and a satyre. vvritten by ios: martyn, a wel-wisher to study martyn, joseph. [ ] p. printed by g. eld, dwelling in little-britaine, london : . in verse. signatures: a-d⁴. reproduction of the original in the folger shakespeare library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams, english -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion new epigrams , and a satyre . written by ios : martyn , a wel-wisher to study . est quoddam prodire tenus , si non datur vltra . london , printed by g. eld , dwelling in little-britaine . . to the right worshipfull , sir henry martyn knight . three things to euery action lustre giue ; the will , art , age : all for acceptance striue : the will , presents things weake , but art supplies them , time perfits all , and like a touch-stone tries them : of three i challenge one , and that 's the will , which i present , for want of age and skill : desire to please hath made me bold to sue to all for loue , for patronage to you. your worships in all true deuotion , ioseph martyn . a poeticall insinuation . my muse , that for these sixe yeeres day was mute , and vnacquainted with those wits acute , that doe frequent pernassus sacred hill , and of that horse-bred font doe drinke their fill : addrest like others , to auoid suspition of each inuectiue satyrs disposition , stept forth into the woods , vnseene , ( desire presses on those whom reason bids retire , ) twixt doubt , and hope , much fearing , daring more , at length , resolu'd some deity t'implore ▪ vnder conduct of whose ador'd protection , shee might haue some excuse for imperfection ▪ and ( being of a high aspiring thought ▪ ) left those semi-dei , and soar'd aloft . and to that great apollo shepherds god , she pow'rd her vowes ▪ at which he seem'd to nod . or at the least ( poore muse ) she wisht so much , fond hope , what we desire doth promise such , yet herewith all content she doth proceed , fearing no lesse , then hoped happy speed . epigrams . . to time. graue censurer of things long since ore past , of present actions , and what shall be last ; thinke not amisse , that my vnlearned quill , hath spent some minuts of thee , and so ill , i le thanke thy present patience , and in time , my muse may giue thee thanks in better rime . . to the gentle reader . most welcome guest to these my homely cates , if any thing my barren muse relates that may thy palat or thy stomacke please ; i wisht ambrosia , ( though a pulse or pease ) here is no forc't , but voluntary dish , and should be better , had i but my wish . . to the vnkind reader . avthors that write , and readers that suruey , like verbs do in their kinds themselues display : authors , we actiue , passiue , common call , they must inuent , endure , be read of all . readers both wise , and weake of each degree , in censure must like verbs deponent be . but ( fearing , least thy censure should depraue me ) no verbe ( vnlesse a neuter ) i would haue thee . . to the indifferent reader . when as thy leisure ( loathing idlenesse ) from things more serious wils thee to digresse ; ( desiring change of fare ) vouchsafe a looke on these vnpolisht lines , which if thou brooke , i ioy , yet feare thy expectation 's crost , then is thy time , and all thy labour lost . . to opinion . i like each mans opinion , ( those abated , who wilfull are , and selfe-opinionated , ) yet ( epigram ) if such thou meet'st with any , ( i feare thou canst not scape them , th' are so many ) tell them thine author had a selfe conceipt , and in respect of that , their loues intreat ; thus hauing sooth'd them vp , ( and they apart ) tell others that thou hate'st them with thy heart . . to fame . swift winged fame ! the spur of vertuous acts , the scourge of vice , and mischieuous compacts ▪ the messenger of ioy , and good intents ; the true discou'rer of sad accidents . i le begge a nothing of thee , ( to reueale were labour to thee ) doe my lines conceale : then if thou ere were 't author of a lye , i le say for it thou hadst authority . . to desteny . you cursed fates ! that hinder good intentions , and smother goodnesse with decree'd preuentions ; cease to seduce , set open vertues gate to all that come ; be not preiudicate : and if you needs of things to come will speake , decree my worke to perish , t' is so weake . . mineruaes ghost . contending once with beauty and with might , i was bereft of both , ( though both my right : ) vnhappy censure ! where the iudge was blinde , and could not see the beauty of the minde : yet doe not quite neglect your worths ( my muses ) for he is blinde that should reforme abuses : and wonder not though schollers be so poore , rich ignorance is keeper of their store . . to venus shrine . faire goddesse beauty , fairest of them all , to whom the shepheard gaue the golden ball , we virgins ( loaden with that name ) salute thy shrine , our selues to lust we prostitute ; our beauties are the fewell , our desire the bellowes , that doe blow thine incense fire . o! knew they , flowers once pluckt can grow no more , they would not be so lauish of their store . and yet ( i guesse ) t is done to this intent , they may the longer time haue to repent . . a drunkard . aenigma . the more i swallow , i the lighter am , the more a beast , more neare a * deity : when sober , poore ; now wondrous rich i seeme ; er'st while i swam in drinke , yet now am dry : surely , thou art some monster , or some fiend , some monstrous deuill , or some deuils friend . . to the poore cobler . diuine artificer ! our soles he mends , that walkt in euill wayes , and went amisse , confirmes their broken states with surer ends , sets them vpright againe : what pitty t is , his peec't estate cannot keepe out the wether ? surely , he too much liquoreth his lether . . a roaring boy . thou do'st coniure me , i confesse thou art a sparke , or rather flash of chiualry ; if that thou hadst as good , as great a heart , or were thy madnesse mixt with modesty : thy best discourses are but complements , thy mighty oathes confirme small arguments ; thou fearst ' no mortall wight , and yet we see , a silly watchman often counters thee . . a player . as king , and subiect , now thou dost command , yet now ( vnfortunate ) dost fortune serue ; earst while , thou didst as great as caesar stand , now art thou irus ( thus the fates doe swerue ) yet wonder not , thou art not still so gay , of others wits , thou onely art the iay. . in cornutum . thou dost complaine of ease , and dost neglect thy wife , because she 's kind , yet didst thou know * a good thing common , is of more respect , thou wouldst be kinder vnto her , ( i trow . ) then maruell not ( thy wife be'ing free from scorn ) though thou ( her head ) be subiect to the horne . . a carpet knight . thou like the fox , the ape , the lyon art , thy words are wounds , thy tongue it selfe the dart , thou ( like the fox ) dost tell the crow he 'es white , to please his eare , and feed thine appetite : thou art the ape of other mens affection , and to their wils , thy words haue still reflexion . hauing beguil'd them thus ( like foxe and ape ) thou dost deuoure them , in a lyons shape . . mundus immundus . throughly fraught with wracke , and woe , harboring each mortals foe , endlesse in vncertaine end , weaknesse and impatience friend : once vnspotted , pure within , rather now a sincke of sinne. let the mysery of this , draw our thoughts to seeke true blisse . . an euill age. virgill , of mars , and ruthfull warres did treate , ouid , of venus loue , and peace did write , yet virgill for his straine was compted great , and ouid for his loue , was banisht quite , no maruell then , if curtesie growe colde , when hate is prais'd , and loue it selfe contrould . . venus and adonis . what is the cause , that venus ( beauties queen ) was alwaies with the boy adonis seene ? i gesse the reasons , thus , because she knowes that children cannot womens willes disclose . she , that with horns doth deck her husbands crest , for her conuoy , a silly guide is best . . mars and neptune . mars , ( god of battaile ) neptune ( of the seas ) falling at ods , their wrath 's nought could appease , but sought reuenge on other each to take , and by that meanes , their furies rage to slake , mars , ( hauing led his troopes into the fields , which in the winter , little comfort yeilds ) by neptune was assaulted , who had made the boistrous winds , and waters , to inuade his army , ( weakely armed , to preuent those floods , that doe oreflowe the continent ) at which mars rag'de , and causde that at a sup , his zerxean army , drunke whole riuers vp . . a gam'ster . i much admir'de , that mong'st all other wights compos'de of earthly mould , and heauenly sprights , others ( of all sorts ) plentifully liue , yet ( most vnhappie ) gamsters neuer thriue ; i guest the reason , others : purchase land , their whole estate , on moueables doth stand . . epigram . egenus ( when his owne estate was spent ) to raise his fortunes did a meanes inuent , and finding , that by begging , many got a faire estate , who scarse were worth a groat , beganne to begge , and got so true a vaine , nothing seem'd hard ( by begging ) to attaine . and where his owne desert was wanting found , vrg'd others bounty ( to bestow ) a ground , but he ( that made of misery a sport , ) was for his boldnes , whipt out of the court. . den fashionista . french , spanish , dutch , italian , indian ape , a mighty linguist if his clothes could speake , a man , ( yet of a most inhumane shape ) and wonder not if he his promise breake , for he that hath engag'd vnto so many his little faith , hath left himselfe not any . . a contented mind . i want and stand in need of craesus store , yet i , then he that hath the most , haue more , i subiect am to griefe and sad annoy , yet neuer felt i scarcitie in ioy : he that is blest with true content of minde , no want of wealth , no misery can find . . a meere richman . of what the earth , the aier , the water can , ( in their aboundant fulnes ) yeild to man , i haue the full fruition , and of pleasure , i doe pertake in most superfluous measure , yet doe i seeme to pine for want of either , the dropsie of my minde , content with neither . . a citizen and a decaied gentleman . seeing me walke forlorne about the cittie , thou seem'st to ease my heart with words of pitty , and ask'st me what i lacke : yet , when i tell thee , the very thought of curtesie do'quell thee , alas , i want releife , and doth implore thy helpe , to lend a mite that ha'st such store , thou answer'st me , with hence , you hinder those would buy , and for my wares their coine expose . i am content with nought , yet say , t were faire , thou did'st not sell thy conscience with thy ware . . a womans tailor . compos'de of many peeces , patch't together , iay-like , from euery bird he snips a feather , he doth not cut a shred that 's out of fashion , to keepe my ladies woman free from passion , yet hath she reason for to runne ot'h score , he neuer makes her loose enough before . . the barbers office. a circumciser of those excrements , which are enormous , or extrauagant on capitall or barball lineaments , or wheresoere they are exorbitant . and to be plaine ; be pleas'd a while t'sit bare , he will correct your worship to a haire . . in catum . a little beast i am , and doe deuour , contagious vermin to the welchmens cates , a low and louing creature to my power , the first of each lines-letter more relates . . painters and poets . betwixt these two there lately grew dissention , whether of twaine , excel'd in his inuention . the painter , sets a good face on the matter , though not so true , but it might seeme to flatter , and yet protests , against it , and disgrace , saying what he doth is before their face . the poet , ( in a harsh satyricke vaine ) tels him he dawbes ; his own the purest straine ; yet yeelds to reason , and ( by meerest fortune , meeting with me , my iudgement did importune , my answer was ; that painters were confin'd onely to mortall shape , and there resign'd but poets were the oracles of fame , who long since dead , had liuing still a name , to them i therefore did the conquest yeeld , who did remaine the longest in the field : yet ( gentle reader ) i refer 't to thee , whether of twaine shall haue priority . . loues lunacy . before i knew what might belong to warre , i was content to suffer many a scarre ; yet none could hurt me , till at length a boy , ( disgrace to manhood ! ) wrought my sad annoy . this lad ( though blind ) yet did he shoot a dart , which pierc't my brest , and lighted on my heart , yet did i feele no hurt ; till from aboue , i heard a voice say , souldier , you must loue . i like't it well , and in this pleasing veine , i lost my wits , to get my heart againe . . a puritan . his name , doth shew his nature to be pure , and so it seemes indeed , precise , demure ; and yet , ( in very deed ) he 's not the same , nor doth he brooke himselfe , but in his name . he loues his neighbour and his neighbours wife , and hates prophanenesse in anothers life . he will not sweare an oath , yet to reproue those that doe sweare , the spirit doth him moue ; i dare not say he will deceiue his brother , nor were it fitting , when he may another . . to mounsieur melancholy . what , not a word ? what meanes this sad distraction ? thou look'st , as if thy brest were in confractiō , what hast thou lost of late , som friend ? som brother ? or ( one that is more deare then both ) a mother ? faith none of all , but t' is my pleasing veine , i like it well , and would it loth abstaine . fye purge it : sir i thanke you , yet i feare , i should be idle then , as oft you are . . to romista a traueller . o sir , y' are welcome home ; what sodaine change alter'd your minde , that so did loue to range ? stood on your worth , as if you promis'd aide vnto those gyants that did ioue vpbraid : what meanes this ragged outsid , inside passion , or ( whence you came ) is this the newest fashion ? if 't be , t is old enough . good sir forbeare , t is b●d enough , you need it not to teare , he that can liue at home , and thinkes it losse , but must abroad , comes home by weeping crosse. . elementa non alimenta . cleere springing water , comfortable fire , all-clensing ayre , and fruitfull mother earth , against their ruler ( man ) they did conspire , to punish his ingratitude with dearth . the water ( that did once refresh ) doth chaok him , the fire ( that v'sd to warm ) doth scorch & smother the ayer ( wherein he breathed life ) infects him . the earth denies him food ( tho once a mother ) then man repents him of his foule abuses . and heauen conuerts them to their former vses . . gallen and morbosus . morbosus doth complaine of strange effects within him ; fearing gallen him neglects , to day he feeles no paine , is in good case , tomorrow he 'es as sicke as ere he was ; by chance he meets a friend , and him he prayes , to tell him , what he thought of his disease ; quoth he , thy purse is sicke o' th plurisie , gallen must first cure that , and then cure thee ; morbosus slights his friend , and waxeth poore , and straight is cur'd of sicknesse and of store . . to iulia. ivlia , with painting doth her selfe disguise , she faine would haue some colour for her vice , and yet if any ( spying it ) should flout , she bids him leaue , for feare she paint him out . . iugatus and liber , ivugatus by a chance with liber met , and counsel'd him a second selfe to get ; ( quoth liber ) i am now my selfe and free , wouldst haue me seuer'd and in mysery ? no ( quoth iugatus ) t is sweet harmony , where two affections ioine in vnity : i , but ( said liber ) is there any sence , that he should suffer , that doth no offence ? at last they both agree'd , that libers life , had greatest pleasures , and was free'st from strife , then he that 's free , and liberty doth scorne , let him endure the yoake , or ( worse ) the ( ) . to lucina . lvcina , when her lustfull daies were done , desir'd to liue recluse , and like a nunne , but yet controlling this her rash intent , she findes her liuing so , came by descent , her mother did to her this state intaile nor dares she cut it off , for feare she faile . . to flaua of her yellow band. flaua , ( once pure & white ) is now grown yellow , to shew her fruitfull vice is ripe and mellow , ready to fall at euery blast of winde , yet is her wit still greene , she nought but rind . yet flaua this excuse hath still at hand ; most brain-sicke men doe weare a yellow band . . to verinus a tobacco taker . when first i saw the chimney of thy nose vent smoke so fast , i then began t'suppose , thy stomacke all on fire , which i to quench , made hast , and was halfe poysoned with the stench ; then blame me not , if that i tak 't in snuffe , thou should'st requite my loue with stinking stuff . . to iocosa a nightwalker . i wonder much , why she in all things light , should loue to do her busines in the night , the reason ; foule within , without shews faire , though she be light her workes of darkenes are . . to the sharking camelion . neuer the same , yet neuer out of fashion , a stranger still , though one of euery nation , yet this one thing , i wish he would abhor it , he alwaies owes his skin , or money for it . . epigram . as true as turtle to her tender mate , free in good-will , and furthest from debate , regardles of each wrong , or false surmise , easie to be intreated , sober , wise ; impatient of delaies that hurt his friend , noe waies in fault , yet willing to amend , discreet , and constant ; such a one as he , each man should wish his neerest friend to be . . to experience . vvhen first i knew the easie difference , betwixt my right hand , & my left , i thought me wise enough to taxe experience , and grauely to esteeme my little nought , but when i could discerne twixt dark and light , i saw my error , and was sorry too , and setting weakenesse opposite to might : the more i knew the lesse i seem'd to know . at last , i was content to be a page , to graue experience , perfited by age. . to silla a trader . if it be true , that promise is a debt , then silla will her freedome hardly get , for she hath vow'd her seruice to so many , she 'l neither pay them all ; nor part from any , yet she to satisfie her debts , desires to yeeld her body . ( as the law requires . ) . in vrbanum . vrbanus , long had liu'd a single life , and could not thriue . at last he gets a wife , yet had he still this care ; of euill things to chose the least , which least annoyance brings , his little wife , ( that had lesse modesty , ) soone knew her husbands best commodity , and that she vented , at the best increase , ( she needs must thriue , whose trading neere did cease . ) vrbanus glad , with such a wife he 'd met , that could by night or day their liuing get . neglects his trade , and doth himselfe maintaine , by his wife 's commings in , ( vnlawfull gaine ) at last her trading failes , they both grew poore , his little wife , was prou'd no little ( . ) . to auarus of his argument . when as i aske thee money , thou repliest , beleeue thou hast , thou hast it , yet deniest , what ? is to thinke to be ? thou saist , i hit , then i beleeue thou 〈◊〉 more wealth , then wit. . of arnaldo . arnaldo , free from fault , demands his wife , why he is burthen'd with her wicked life , quoth she ? good husband do not now repent , i far more burthens beare , yet am content . . in prodigum . his father lately dead , hath left him all , ( the tallest cedar to the earth must fall ) this being knowne , he to the mercer hies , and with his credit new apparrell buyes , his taylor fits him , and he doth bethinke , how he may spend his fathers masse of chinke , seekes out companions , who not curious are , with him in this his happy lot to share , those , of his fathers substance , are the shadowes , ( as long as that will last ) his neere comradoes . fitted with those , his worth desires a page , to light tobacco for him on the stage , ( for there he seldome misses , ) next t is meete , he haue a mistres to salute i' th streete , he gets a faire one , and i need not faine , to say , the man the mistris doth maintaine , yet is he proud o' th office , and doth get , a coach to keepe her light-heeles from the wet . this world must haue an end , the roring gallant hath spent a good part of his fathers tallent , and now he wants a chapman for his land , and that he sels , ( though at the easiest hand ) to serue his present vse : he spends apace , till all is gone , ( excepting his disgrace . ) now doth he borrow , what before he gaue , and when ther 's nothing left would learne to saue , his mistrrs doth complaine , he 's growne vnkinde , and doth his wonted bounty , wanting finde ; his tyrant-tailor , mercer ( merciles ) doe haunt his ghost , and threaten his distresse , with an abridgement of his libertie , but he to pay his debts , pleads pouerty . he is arrested , and insteede of baile doth yeild himselfe , for suerty to the iaile , his mates , and mistres , all deny releife , onely his page doth waite vpon his griefe . . to nobodie . thou still art in the fault , though neuer knowne , because thou art asham'd thy faults to owne , yet , if thou ere be taken in the fact , ( till thou confesse them all ) thou shall be rack't and though nobody did the fault commit , yet , sombody shall surely pay for it . . rusticus and thraso . a souldier , ( for he seem'd to be no lesse , by wearing of a sword , and idlenes . ) meeting a country fellow on the way , tould him he wanted meanes , ( being out of paie ) and that it stood not with his worth to craue it , but told him plainely , that of him hee 'd haue it . the rusticke swaine , ( insteede of other armes , ) had but a staffe , to sheild himselfe from harmes . nor would his rudenes suffer him to blush , but swore he car'de not for his threats a rush , and bid him doe his worst , he would not part so easily from that which cost him smart . the souldier ( thinking much to be denide , ) drawes out his sword , and wils him to prouide , to yeild his purse , or ( if he thought it good to saue his coine ) to pay for 't with his blood : the country lad , ( whose plainenesse did afford , to vse a staffe , as well as he a sword ) laid on apace , and sent his blowes so fast , the souldier had the worst , and at the last , was faine to flye . then giue me leaue to aske , whether of these perform'd the souldiers taske . . a broken citizen . a mercer first , and then ( the trade him failing a broker , first at whole sale , next retayling , yet still he broke , nor need he on it stand , for still he was a sauer by the hand : at length he leaues his wares , & goes to ' th wars , his broken state , chang'd to skin breaking scars . but there he found , the difference to be great , betweene the city fare , and souldiers meate , yet now , it was too late to flinch , or stray , no man must thence , that once comes vnder pay : nor had he quite forgot his breaking veine , but from the campe , he once more broke againe , much . yet being taken ( martiall-law was such ) he straight was hang'd , for breaking once too . of hircanus . hircanus ( rather hircius ) is of late , growne loose , lasciuious , and effeminate , for leauing ( what he once delighted ) armes , he 's drawne to loosenes by lewd womens charmes , and in their company , all day doth lurke , studying of nought but tent , and image worke . . lifes tragedie . fiue acts , fiue actors , ( and the world the stage ) their persons for performance doe engage : the king , whose watchfull care doth make a crown seeme heauy , and sleepes hard in beds of downe . th' aspiring statesman , whose ambitious aime , doth to the highest place in court lay claime . the biting vsurer , that grindes the poore , and doth his idoll-deuill ( wealth ) adore . the needy scholler , who himselfe t' aduance , doth flatter greatnesse , and sooth ignorance . the poore neglected begger , hauing got his almes , that rests contented with his lot . but marke the epilogue ; deaths fatall sting , doth make the begger equall with the king. . to logista . though guilty , yet in fault he will not be , and why ? lo : i 'me not in fault , the fault 's in me ; he 's taken in the fact , and yet denies , his will did act ( for who his heart espies ) and yet he is not freed against his will , his heart and hand , doe therefore both act ill . . the louing drunkard . the iuy ( wherein bacchus most delights ) is consecrate to him , and to his rights , because her louing nature doth embrace , all other trees that grow , but neare her place , and so doe those whom bacchus doth infect , professe them loue , whom ( sober ) they neglect . . times abuse . each creature , did complaine of some abuse , offered by others , void of all excuse , and vnto man ( as iudge ) they did complaine , of time , who suffered such abuses raigne , man ( an vnfitting iudge in such an act ) iudgeth time accessary to the fact , and wisht him to reforme what was amisse , ( which time effecting ) made as now it is . then time complaines of mans abuses to him , and for a reformation oft did moue him , but man that past ( though past not for times pleas ) times precious houres , doth add to wrong delaies ; and time incen'st , sends forth his sergeant , death , man to arrest , and stop his vitall breath , but man , ( growne old in sinne and age ) did faile , to make redresse ; and death would take no baile . . of the merry host. mine host , to entertaine his weary guest , would now and then , put forth a merry iest , and did so please him , with his iesting veine , his guest resolu'd a while with him t'remaine . but staid so long , vntill his merry host had left no roome to score vpon the post , and calling for a reckoning , soone he found , hee 'd much out stript his ordinary bound , but ere he went , by iesting this he got ; to leaue his horse ( in earnest ) for the shot . . a seruing man. t' was said , he still was idle , but we finde , he did of late his wits apprentice binde , to study complements , and can relate , the newest fashion , which at courts in date , and for his graue discourse , the coachman said , he 's growne infauour with my ladies maid . he is an imitator of the best , but doth mistake a little in the rest , thinking his maister loues him best of all , when prou'd ; his mistris , when fantasticall ; yet , this one rule , seldome admits a fallit , he 's cast off ( being old ) to vse a wallet . . to superbus . thou think'st no man so good , or great as thee , noe mortall , fit for thy society , vnles thou doe vouchsafe to take affection to one , perchance will sooth thy imperfection : yet , but a little strike the swelling saile of weake opinions selfe conceyling vaile , and see wheron thou stand'st , ( propt vp by clay . ) thou soone wouldst steere thy course another way o ; be not of thy shame , or weaknes proud , which at thy highest pitch , yeilds but a shroud . and if thou needs wilt haue thy birth proclaim'd , i le say , thou art o' th finest morter fram'd , to the kind acceptance of his louing kinsman william martyn of the middle temple , gent. the authors apologie for his satyre . if any aske , how i , so young , so raw , durst fasten on this head-strong time a iaw , how i , ( that scarce can speak ) should dare to write : and that a satyre too , ( in times dispite ) i answere ; loue to vertue ( quite defac'd ) and hate to vice , ( that in her roome is plac'd ) . then call me child , or foole , or both , i care not , they both doe tell the truth , when wiser dare not a satyre . my muse ( imployment wanting ) chanc't to stray out of her beaten path , her common way , walkt from the wood into the wildernesse , ( i meane the world of wiles , and wickednesse ) and hating sloth , the canckerworme of wit , she did obserue what might her turne befit . first , she espie'd the great ones , ( that should be so many loadstarres to vulgarity ) delight in great offences ; and support iniurious rapines , with a friend in court. vertue stood bare , whilst vice sate eminent ; learned discourse was turn'd to complement , merit was rob'd , in seeking of her right , and goodnesse ouerpoys'd with greatest might . religion ( chiefest piller of the state , the square and rule of things legitimate ) grew faint for want of zeale and true professors , and was not able to resist oppressors . valour , ( in court and country ) was neglected , and homebred cowardize alone respected : he , that abroad , knew how to lead a band , at home , to peasants stood , with cap in hand , and beg'd an almes ; yet went away without , t is fit he should ( they say ) because he 's stout . the lawes , ( that are the cinque ports of the realm lest outlawes , by their force should it orewhelm . ) grew veniall , and where the greatest weight was put into the scale , t' was iudg'd fgr right . yet still reseru'd a sting to punish those , which should repine , or ( being wrong'd ) oppose . conscience and equity , ( the helpes of law ) gaue way to enuies all-deuouring iaw , and he that could procvrea great ones letter to colour wrong , was sure to fare the better . but ( leauing those , for feare of knowne delay , ) she went into the city to suruey . till then , she nere was like to loose her sight , for euery thing was shew'd her in false-light . smooth tongu'd deceipt , did on her credit giue it , what ere she soulde , to make the world beleiue it . the master , and the seruant , did combine , simplicity ( with craft ) to vndermine . conscience , was put to wracke , and faith was sold , whilst loue of lucre did the ballaunce hold , and they , that scarce were bound to'th occupation , had learn'd ( in selling wares ) equiuocation , plaine dealing , was a fashion once in vse , but now was alter'd by the times abuse . femineall modestie , ( that in the shop , with her owne presence should the absence prop , of a kind husband ) was conducted forth , by a lasciuious courtiers little worth , and vnder colour to bring custome in , gaue way to loosenes , ( customary sinne , ) hence , pride ( the cities knowne inheritaunce ) became a friend in court , had countenance , yet so ; that still the man of meanest worth , was sure to set the gayest outside forth , the tradesman knowes , that they most freely spend , which doe on others worth and wealth depend . but now the night drewe on , and heau'n orespred her sable canopy , starr-lightned , and fearing least the night-owles watchfull-crue , should apprehend her , or disturbe her viewe , and knowing that their censure doth reproue , ( whil'st night crowes scape ) the silly harmeles doue , she left the citie ; and her happy lot was , to be lodg'd that night , in irus cot. ( a country shepheard ) who in steed of wealth , made coursest fare , & sweat , the props of health , nor did he much dislike his present state , which ( though so meane ) was free from wrong & rape , nor had he bin so poore , but that of late ( he said ) his land-lord at higher rate , had rack't his rent , and threatned to vndoe him , vnles ( next feast ) he brought some pullen to him ; she thence arriu'd into a country towne , where ( once their ioy ) the maypole , was pul'd downe , and asking why ; t was told her by a swaine ; the better sort , did hold it was prophane , and yet ( he fearde ) themselues had oft done worse , in building houses with the poore mans curse . hence being got , she chaunced to arriue , vnder the goodly roofe ( the gaudy hiue . ) of a rich drone , whose tender homebred skinne , was fed with hony , ( bees had brought him in . ) whose griping penny-father by extortion , and robbing others , rais'd his sonne a portion , but ere she there could entertainement haue , the beggers beadle-porter , gan to craue , what made her homely outside be so bolde , to craue releife , where charity was cold ; she mildely answear'd , that she was a friend to learning , though her selfe , were forc't to spend , her time in idlenes , for want of that , which many onely keepe to wonder at ; but this reply was made , that none dwelt there , that knew what learning meant , nor need they care for he that knew , ilgotten goods to spare , and saue , was wise enough to make an heire . from hence my muse ( neglected ) home doth post , and ( in dispaire to get a kinder host , ) she left her wandring veine , and did retire , againe vnto the woods , ( with new desire . ) where she intends to passe her time in griefe , till frowning fortune smile , and send releife . to his deare friend the author . the martin is turnd nightingale , strange newes ! enuy not little birds : his sweet tun'd muse , warbles harmonious notes with such true skill , as if apollo did direct his quill , though yong , and scarcely fleg'd , he dares be heard , amongst old chanters , that their garlands reard to cadmus shaggy woods , be prais'd by them , whom latter times haue stil'd the wittiest men , and to their number added , as for others ( whose iudgements ranckle toothed enuy smothers , ) he cares not , feares not any , no , not those , whose eastern-breaths will blast a budding rose . his blooming youth may better things produce , though this be good , yet time and longer vse , will add perfection , now he hath done well , then in his next indeuors he 'le excell . but harke ! he sings , silence the titmouse fits , when the shrill nightingall so neere me fits . rob : cooke . the author in answere to his friend . were i the fowle whom thou wold'st haue transformd from a black night bird , to a nightingale : or were my youth with those sweet notes adorn'd , which any censure should delicious call , i might beleeue affection would not flatter , or that my barren muse deseru'd thy praise but t is thy skill , each ill conformed matter , so neere perfection as thou canst to raise , and herein art thou knowne a cooke compleate , in making sweet sauce for vnsauory meate . a postscript . if any bleere-eyde carping momus , chance , hoping his owne opinion to aduance , in reading these my lines , to taxe my muse with want of skill , or ( which is worse ) abuse of any , who perhaps , deserues worse termes then here my want of age , or art affirmes : first , let him know , that i was neuer stor'd , with those rich helpes , which athens doth afford : next , let him lay aside his gally-spleene , and all things else , will without fault be seene . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e * bacchus . * bonum quo communius , cō melius . abuses stript, and whipt. or satirical essayes. by george wyther. diuided into two bookes wither, george, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) abuses stript, and whipt. or satirical essayes. by george wyther. diuided into two bookes wither, george, - . [ ] p. printed by g. eld, for francis burton, and are to be solde at his shop in pauls church-yard, at the signe of the green-dragon, at london : . in verse. signatures: a-x (-a , ). in this edition a r line of text has: whome. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. some print show-through; some pages tightly bound. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng satire, english -- early works to . epigrams, english -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - rina kor sampled and proofread - rina kor text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion abvses stript , and whipt . or satirical essayes . by george wyther . diuided into two bookes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . dispise not this what ere i seeme in showe , a foole to purpose speaks sometime you know . at london , printed by g. eld , for francis bvrton , and are to be solde at his shop in pauls church-yard , at the signe of the green-dragon . . to him-selfe , g. w. wisheth all hapinesse . thou ( euen my selfe ) whome next god , my prince , and country i am most engaged vnto ; it is not vnlikelie , but some will wonder , why , contrary to the worlds custome , i haue made choyse of thy patronage for this booke , rather then the protection of such whose mightinesse might seeme better able to defend it ; especially considering such a gigantick troupe of aduersaries haue banded themselues against the truth , that one of them goliah-like dares raile vpon a whole hoast of israel . it may be ( i say ) some will wonder , and some scoffe at mee for it ; for which cause ( though to answer them with sic volo had been sufficient : yet to shew i will not like our great ones stand so much vpon my authority as to make my vvill my reason ) i heere let you know why , and for what causes i haue done it ; the first is this : i could not amongst all men finde any man , in my opinion , so fitting for this purpose , but either my worke was vnworthy , or too worthie his patronage . secondly , it is said ; obsequium amicos , veritas odium parit : and i doubting my free speech would hardly make a diapason , pleasing to the eare of a common mecaenas , thought it best to hold my tong , or speake to my selfe , whose disposition i am better acquainted with . thirdly , seeing i know but what men appeare , and not what they are ; i had rather indure the kites tyranny , then with aesops doues make the sparrow-hauke my champion . fourthly , if i haue spoken truth it is able to defend it selfe ; if not , who-ere be my patron , it is i must answere for it . fiftly , for asmuch as i know my owne minde best ; i purpose , if need be , to become my own aduocate . sixtly , for my owne sake i first made it , and therefore certaine i am i my selfe haue most right vnto it . but seauently , and lastly ( which is indeed the principal reason ) i haue made this dedication to thee , poore world-despised selfe ; euen to put thee in minde , ( seeing thou hast here boldly begun to bid defiance to the flesh , and vpon iust causes quarrelled with the world ) that thou take heed to thine owne words , and not through basenes of minde or vntowardnes of fortune ( to thy euerlasting disgrace ) faintly giue ouer so noble a combate ; if euer aduersitie ( as t is like enough ) oppresse thee , yet remember thy owne sayings , and in despight of outward destinies haue a care to keepe an vndeiected heart still free for vertue . or on the contrary , if euer ( as t is vnlikely ) vnexpected prosperity bee cast vpon thee , then look to thy selfe , take to thee this poore booke of thine , wherein thou shalt see the dangers of it , and be , perhaps , thereby staid from many a perilous enterprise , which that estate might else driue thee into . reade it , weekely , daily , yea and howerly toe : what though it bee thine owne ? thou knowest mans nature to bee so vncertaine , and prone to forgetfulnesse , euen in the best things , that thou canst not haue too many memorandums . the wisest fall , and therefore euery day was philip desirous to bee remembred that hee was a man ; thou thinkest i know , still to remaine what thou art , i desire in some things thou maist , but vnlesse thou labour it with diligent watchfulnesse ouer affection , it is at least much to be doubted , if not altogether to bee despaired of ; thou hast seene many by an alteration in their estate beene so metamorphosed , as if they were not the same men , nor of that nation . nay remember it , thou thy selfe , and that but vpon a bare hope , or imagination of some preferment , hast bin puffed vp and exalted aboue measure : consider now then how much more thou hadst beene so and what had become of thee if god had not by dashing those hopes called thee to thy selfe againe ? alas ! if hee had answered thy ambitious expectations to thy desire , thou hadst bin by this time past recouerie and not thought of this ; but delighted in villany , bin ouer-mastered by passion , rusht into all vanity and presumption ; yet neuer felt any danger , till it were too late to preuent it ▪ thou hast oft wisht thou hadst bin borne to the like means that others are , which might it haue beene so , now thou seest thou shouldst hardly , or neuer , haue come to the knowledge of those things , that are now showne thee . t is true , thou hast lamented to be crost in thy preferments , but thou seest since that it might haue been thy vndoing if it had not beene so , and maist perswade thy selfe , whether it be now or neuer , it will be to thy good . for tell me , hast thou not often felt , euen when thou wert busiest to preuent them ; fond loue , ambition , reuenge , couetousnesse and such like passions then to inuade thee ? hast thou perceiued it i say ? how much more then would they haue beene ready to assaile thee , when quite forgetting them , thou hadst wholly addicted thy self to the things of this world ? let mee aduise my deare-selfe then , to make vse of this thine owne worke , it will be better to thee then all the world : for this good it may do thee , and to this end i made both ●t and the dedication thereof to thee , that if euer hereafter the temptations of the world , the flesh & the diuel , or any occasion should make thee to forget this mind that thou art now in : or so blind thy vnderstanding thou shouldst not perceiue thy owne and the worlds follies as thou now dost ; that if thou shouldst be in that miserable state as many are , to haue no feeling of thy danger : that if thou shouldst bee wofully flattered and haue no friend that dares , or loues thee so well to put thee in mind of thy transgressions . then i haue ordained this to shew thee what once thou wert , to touch thee againe with the feeling of thy miseries , and to bee vnto thee that true friend , which , free from all faigned inuention , shal plainely tell thee , what perhaps should else haue neuer beene brought againe to thy remembrance . looke then that for thy owne sake thou respect this , how euer to others it may seeme a trifle . bee carefull of thy actions , for seeing thou knowest the dangerous passions wherevnto man is subiect , hast showne his vanities , layed open his weakenesse , and sharpely taxed his presumptions : if now thou shouldest wilfully runne thy selfe into the same euilles , the vvorld would vpraid● thee , this booke , yea thy conscience accuse thee , god and good-men hate thee , thy fault be more odious and in-excusable , thy iudgement more seuere , and which is worst , thy punishment most intollerable ; i say seeke therefore ( if for no other cause ) so to carry thy selfe , that at least thou maist haue a good conscience before god , for si deus tecum quis contrate , but if now hauing made the world thine enemie , exposed thy selfe to the malice thereof , and hauing so many legions of foes without thee , thou shouldest also , by thy negligence , suffer the inuincible fortresse of a sound conscience to be crazed within thee , the di●ell , that is alway watching such aduantages , would quickly possesse it with an vnmercifull troupe of horrors , feares , and desperations , that without gods miraculous assistance thou wouldest grow wholly past either comfort or recouery . for all the world cannot defend thee against thy conscience , but that beeing with hee , thou maist preuaile against all the world. beware then , doe not like the zibe●hum yeeld a perfume to sweeten others and be thy selfe a stinking vermine , but let this thy owne worke bee first confirmed by thy life and conuersation , yea let it be a president to thy selfe , for , tan●i erit aliis quanti tibi fuerit , but if not , i say if the world mis-esteeme either it or thee , yet doe not thou therefore esteeme the lesse either of thy booke or of thy selfe , but rather let them know that thou hast learned , still thy care , shal be , a rush for him , that cares a straw for thee . but now , though for these and diuers oother reasons , i haue to thee my owne-selfe committed the protection , and made the dedication of this booke , yet my meaning is not that thou shouldst keepe it wholly to thine owne vse ; but rather seeing it is honourable to giue , ( though none will giue thee any thing ) i haue bestowne this o● thee , that if thou canst in this corrupted age , finde any , whom desert , and thy loue may make so deare vnto thee , or whom● thou art perswaded will gratifie , or but thinke well of thy honest endeauours , thou maist bee liberall to them both of these thy labours and expences . but this i coniure thee to ; be they neuer so great yet flatter not , or if he be a man whom thou knowest the world speakes any way iustly ill of ; either tell him his fault , or leaue him wholly out of thy catalogue : but because i begin to grow tedious to my owne-selfe , and since i shall haue opportunity enough to consider with thee what is further needfull without an epistle , with my prayers for my prince , my country , my friends , and my ●wne prosperitie , without any leaue taking , or commendations of my selfe ; i heartily wish my owne soule to fare-well . thy princes , thy countries , thy friends , and thine i. thine owne whilst reason masters affection . geo. wither . to the reader . readers ; i speake to you that haue vnderstanding ; when these first fruits of my conuerted muses , shall come to your iudicious censures , do not look for spencers , or daniels wel composed numbers ; or the deep conceits of now florishing iohnson ; no ; say t is honest plain matter , & there 's as much as i look for . if i haue seem'd to err in any thing suppose me not so obstinate , or wel conceited of my own opinions , but that i may be perswaded by any that shal produce stronger reasons to the contrary . if any thing may seeme to haue a doubtfull interpretation , assure your selues the honestest meaning in it is mine , and although some may think i haue not so wel ioyned things together as i might haue done , i know whē you haue considered the nature of the subiect , & the diuersity of things therin hādled , you wil accept my good wil & let my yeeres be an excuse for that & al other ignorant ouer-sights whatsoeuer . some no doubt will mistake my plainnes , in that i haue so bluntly spoken what i haue obserued , without any poeticall additions or fained allegories , i am sorry i haue not pleased them therein , but should haue been more sorry if i had displeased my selfe in doing otherwise ; for i know if i had wrapt vp vy meaning , in dark riddles , i should haue been more applauded and lesse vnderstood , which i nothing desire . i neither feare nor shame to speake the trurh , and therefore haue nakedly thrust it forth without a couering . to what end were it , if i ( as some do ) had appareld my mind in darke parables , that few or none might haue vnderstood mee ? i should doe better to be silent ; but if it be more in request i may hereafter be obscure enough , yet in this t is not my meaning , for indeed , if i knew how , my desire is to be so plaine , that the bluntest iobernole might vnderstand mee . our grand-villaines care not for a secret ierk ; well wee may shew an honest wit in couertly nipping them ; but either 't is in vaine cause they perceiue it not , or else ridiculous , seeing they only vnderstand it who will but either malice or flout vs for our labors . many may dislike the harshnes of the verse but you know , although it be not stately , yet it we enough befits the matter , and whereas i may seem blame-worthy in mixing diuinity with humanity : yet when you haue found my generall ayme ; considered with what reuerent respect i haue done it , and what commendable authorities i may haue for it , i nothing misdoubt your approbation . those things which concerne my selfe , may seeme childish , nothing pleasing , but you must consider i had a care to please my selfe aswel as others ; and if the world blame mee as to sawcy with her , 't is for want of manners , but her owne fault , that would allow mee no better education . to bee briefe , if i haue any way offended i am so well perswaded you wil mildly conster my errors and infirmities , that i rest wholly , and onely on your sound and incorrupted iudgements . * but* readers ; i meane you that are no more but readers ; i make no question if this book come to your spelling , it will haue many halting verses , and disioynted sentenses : for i haue had experience of your insufficiencie : yet haue i striu'd to bee for your sakes i tell you ( because i would if it were possible bee vnderstood ) as plaine ( as they say ) as a pack-saddle , and now the doubt is then fooles will ride me . if they doe certainly , i shall be rough & vneasie for their tendernes . though you vnderstand them not yet because you see this wants some fine phrases & flourishes , as you find other mens writings stuft withal , perhaps you wil iudge me vnlearned . wel ; and right enough . yet you will be counted but saucy coblers to go beyond your lasts . and if that be a fault did not the subiect and your ignorances , require me to be in that sort faulty ? i could with ease haue amended it , for it cost me ( i protest ) more labour to obserue this plainenesse then if i had more poetically trim'd ii , but for feare if i speake much , i confound your memories , i will say no more but this , read and welcome , but censure not , for your iudgement is weake and i vtterly renounce it . valete george wither . to time. epigr. . now swift-deuouring , bald and ill fac't time , dost not thou blush to see thy selfe vncloak't ? oh that i knew but how to laugh in rime ? faith i would do it though thou wisht me choakt . did'st thou but see how thy faire antique shape , is now transformed to a shapelesse hew : how like thou look'st to some barbarian ape , could'st thou i say with me thine owne selfe view thou wouldst be metamorphosed anew , run quite away , and either all amend , or wish thy selfe and all things at an end . and yet dispaire not time , though thou art ill ; the worst that euer yet was knowne to be , t is not ordain'd thou shouldst remaine so still , for i my selfe this age do hope to see : the gloriou'st work that euer time brought forth , the master-peece , and the most noble act ; in the respect of which 't were nothing worth if all the braue deeds done were but one fact , romes fall i meane ; i heard it when it crack't . yea from my cradle i did still surmize ; i should see babell tumble bethell rise , epig . . i heare there 's some aske how i dare so plaine tax the abuses that i now see raigne , i muse as much they dare say ill vnto it , or dare but aske , but how i dare to doe it . to the stranger . thou that wert so vnhappy first , to breath , without the compasse of great brittans powe● and blest againe that fate did thee bequeath , the knowledge of so rich a tongue as our . if vnderstanding thou dost hap to read , this booke wherein thou seest my nations sham● yet do not thou against my country plead , for thine thou know'st doth merit as much blame our faults are many , this indeed is true ; but were they moe , we were no worse then you . to the satyro-mastix . . oh lord sir y' are deceiu'd i 'me none of tho●● that write in anger , or malicious spleene , i haue not taken pepper in the nose , nor a base forger of false libels beene , such ones there be indeed , such i haue seene ; i enuy no man for his greatnes i , nor seeke i any honest mans disgrace ; i ioy in euery ones prosperity , i le not the credit of a dogge deface , my aduersaery shall not prooue the case . then stand back sirrah whip-iack with your scourge , do not incense my satyr for thy life : hee 's patient enough vnlesse thou vrge , contentions are now a dayes to rife , and he is very backward vnto strife , but notwithstanding heere he lets thee see , as long as there is cause and reason why : in spight of all that foes to satyrs be : he shall , if i list taxe iniquitie , it is a matter of necessity . what ? you would faine haue all the great ones freed , they must not for their vices be controld , beware ; that were a saucines indeed ; but if the great-ones to offend be bold , i see no reason but they should be told . yea and they shall ; their faults most hurtfull be , and though i will not put them to that shame , i no iniustice in the matter see , if they were taxed by their proper name , for no sinne can on earth haue her full blame . then scourge of satyrs hold thy whip from mine , or i will make my rod lash thee and thine . to the gald reader . epig . . sir , he that 's night-gald or hath cornes on 's toes , may blame the shoomaker and curse his shooes but those that are acquainted with the fault , can tell the reason wherefore he doth halt ; so thou maist think ( perhaps ) these satyrs sting thee where only thy owne guiltines doth wring thee . for if thou wert from these diseases free , thou wouldst be quiet as some others be . but t is well known a ticklish beast hath tricks and the old prouerb saith a gold la ●e kicks . but i 'le aduise thee , if thou feele it smart , be rule by me and play not the fooles part , keep 't to thy selfe , and there are none shall know , whether that thou art toucht therein or no , thou seest thou neither art markt out nor na'md ; and therefore onely to thy selfe art sham'd ; now if thou stir at best thou shalt but make the country of thy faults more knowledge take . and ( as indeed it iustly may ) diuine , the worst faults that i write against are thine , then since to be reprooued seemes a curse , and to be mooued makes the matter worse , either for to amend thy life haue care , o● like a pack ! orse and an asse stil beare . to the impartiall author . ceorge , i did euer thinke thy faithfull breast , conteind a mind beyond the common sort , thy very looke and honest heart exprest , and seem'd an aw-full mildnes to import : poets may vaunt of smooth and lofty straines , thine with thy subiect fitly do agree ; but then thy muse a better praise obtaines , for whilst the greatest but time-pleasers be , thou vnappald and freely speak'st the truth : not any one for feare or lucre sparing : a vertue rare in age , more rare in youth ; another cato , but i think more daring ; wel maist thou speed in these tempestuous times , thou soone begin'st to make the world thy foe yet i so wel do like thy honest rimes ; that i could wish al poets would write so ; for thou the way of truth so rightly tend'st , i hold them double prais'd whom thou commendst thy deare friend , th. c. the contents of the first booke . the occasion . the introduction , of man offond loue. satyr of lust. of hate . of enuy. of reuenge . of choller . of iealousie , of couetousnes . of ambition . of feare . of despaire . of hope . of compassion . of cruelty . of ioy. of sorrow . the conclusion of the first booke . the second booke . of vanity . satyr . of inconstancy of weaknes . of presumption the scourge epigramms to the king , &c. and to certaine noble personages and friends , to whom the author gaue any of his bookes . the occasion . of this worke . vvhen nimble time , that all things ouer-runs ; made me forsake my tops and elderne guns reaching those yeares in which the schoole boyes bragge in leauing off the bottle and the bagg : the very spring before i grew so old , that i had amost thrice fiue winters told , noting my other fellow-pupils hast , that to our english athens flockt so fast : least others for a truant should suspect me , that had the selfe-same tutor to direct me and in a manner counting it a shame , to vndergoe so long a schoole-boyes name , thither went i ; for ( though i le not compare ) with any of them that my fellowes were ; yet then ( i le speake it to my teachers praise ) i was vnfurnisht of no needfull layes ; nor any whit for grammar rules to seeke , in lillies latine , nor in camdens greeke . but so well grounded that another day , i could not with our idle students say for an excuse i was ill enter'd ; no : there are too-many know it was not so ; and therefore since i came no wiser thence , i must confesse it was my negligence , yet daily longing to behold and see , the places where the sacred sisters be ; i was so happy to that foard i came , of which an oxe , they say , beares halfe the name : it is the spring of knowledge that imparts , a thousand seuerall sciences , and arts , a christall fount , whose water is by ods , far sweeter then the nectar of the gods : or for to giue 't a title that befits , it is the very nurcery of wits ; there once arriued , cause my wits were raw , i fell to wondring at each thing i saw and for my learning made a monthes vacation , in nothing of the places scituation : the palaces and temples that were due vnto the wife mineruaes hallowed crew ; their cloisters , walkes , and groues all which suruei'd , and in my new admittance well apaid ; i did ( as other idle freshmen doe ) long for to see the bell of osney to : but yet , indeed ( may not i grieue to tell ? ) i neuer dranke at aristotles well . and that perhaps may be the reason why , i know so little in philosophy . yet old sir harry bath was not forgot , in the remembrance of whose wondrous shot , the forrest by ( beleeue it they that will ) retaines the surname of shot-ouer still : then hauing seene enough , and therewithall , got some experience at the tennisball , my tutor ( telling me i was not sent , there to be idle , but with an intent , for to encrease my knowledge ) , cald me in , and with his graue instructions did begin to teach : and by his good perswasions sought , to bring me to a loue of what he taught : then after that he gan for to impart , the hidden secrets of the logick art ; in steed of grammer rules he taught me than , old scotus , seton , and new keckerman . he shew'd me which the predicables be , as genus , species , and th' other three , so hauing said enough of their contents , handles in order the ten praedicaments , then post praedicaments : with priorum , perhermenias and posteriorum : he with the topicks opens ; and descries elenchi , full of subtile falacies : these to vnfold ( indecd ) he tooke some paine , but to my dull capacity in vaine : for all he spake was to as little passe , as in old time vnto the vulger was their latine seruice , which they vnderstood aswel as did a horse to do them good , and i his meaning did as neere coniecture , as if he had beene reading hebrew lecture ; his infinites , indiuiduit●es , contrari's , and subcontrarieti's , diuisions : subdiuisions , and a crew of tearmes and wordes such as i neuer knew ; my shallow vnderstanding so confounded , that i was grauel'd like a ship that 's grounded ; and in despaire the mistery to gaine , neglecting all tooke neither heed nor paine , yea , i remaind in that amazed plight , till cinthia sixe times lost her borrowed light , but then ashamd to find my selfe still mute , and other little dandiprats dispute , that could distinguish vppon rationale , yet scarcely heard of ver●um personale ; and could by heart ( like parots ) in the schooles , stād pratling , those me thought were pretty fooles , and therefore in some hope to profit so , that i like them ( at least ) might make a show : i reacht my bookes that i had cast about , ( to see if i could pick the meaning out ) and prying on them with some diligence , at length i felt my dull intelligence begin to open ; and perceiued more , in halfe an houre then halfe a yeare before , and which is strange the thinges i had forgot , and till that very day remembred not , since first my tutor read them ; those did then , returne into my memory agen , ●o that with which i had so much to do , a weeke made easie , yea and pleasing too . but then with that not thoroughly content , ●practis'd to maintaine an argument , and hauing waded thorough sophistrie , ●ell vnto reading of philosophy ; and thinking there the ethicks not enough , ● also had a longing for to know , the cause of snow , haile , thunder , frost , and raine , ●he lightenings , meteors , and what here 't were vaine for me to speake of ; since i shall but show-it , ●o those that better then my selfe do know-it . then from the causes of thinges naturall , ●went to matters metaphisical : of which when i a little newes could tell , ● ( as the rest did ) vnto wrangling fell . and as the fashion was for to disgrace her , when i oppos'd the truth i could out-face her , ●ut now ensues the worst , i getting foot , ●nd well digesting learnings bitter root : ●eady to tast the fruit ; and when i thought ●hould a calling in that place haue sought , ●ound i was for other ends ordain'd , ●ea to forsake this course i was constrain'd : ●or fortune that full many a boone hath lost me , ●hus in the reaping my contentment , crost me . ●u sir ( quoth she ) that i must make my slaue , ●or whom in store a thousand plagues i haue , ●ome home , i pray , and learne to hold the plough , ●or you haue read philosophy enough . if wrangling in the schooles be such a sport , go to those ploydens in the inns of court , for aske your parish-neighbors they can tell , those fellowes do maintaine contention well ; for art in numbers you no coile need keep , a little skill shall serue to tell your sheepe : seeke not the stars thy euils should relate , least when thou know them , thou grow desperate ; and let alone geometry , t is vaine , i le find you worke enough to marre your braine ; or would you study musique ? else 't were pitty , and yet it needs not , you shall find i le fit ye : i le teach you how to frame a song , and will prouide you cares to be the subiect stil : this , fortune or my fate , did seem to tel me , and such a chance , indeed , ere long befell me , for ere my yeares would suffer me to be , admitted for to take the lowest degree ; by fates appointment ( that no stay can brook ) the paradise of england i forsooke , and seing i was forc't to leaue those mountaines , fine groues , faire walks , & sweet delightful fountains and since it might not vnto me be granted , to keepe those places where the muses hanted , i home returned somwhat discontent , and to our bentworth beechy shadowes went : bewailing these my first endeauors lost , and so to be by angy fortune crost , who though she dayly do much mischiefe to me , can neuer whilst i liue a greater do me ; and yet in that , ere she procur'd her will , i learnt enough to scorne a fortune still : yea vse hath made her enuy seeme so vaine , that i am almost proud in her disdaine : but being back returnd , as i haue said , hauing a little in the country stai'd , i there espi'de ( as i had long suspected ) i ( vndeseru'd ) of some was ill affected , and that by those t is thought my friends had been , but though they kept ther mallice long vnseene , and made faire showes as if they sought my good ; yet they the same of all men most with-stood , for , ( seeming kind ) they often did perswade my friends , to learne me some mechannick trade , vrging expence ( perhaps ) and telling how , that learning is but little made of now ; when t was through mallice , cause they feard that i might come to vnderstand my state thereby , exceed their knowledge , and attaine to do , my selfe more good , then they could wish me to : for that , a worse , or some such scuruy end , this selfe-conceited crew did euer bend their spitefull heads , by secret meanes to crosse my wisht desire , and to procure my losse : but hauing noted this their hollownesse , and finding that meere country businesse , was not my calling ; to auoyd their spight , ( which at that season was not showne outright ) i to the city often did resort , to see if either that place , or the court , would yeeld preferment ; but in vaine i sought , ill fortune still my hopes confusion wrought . which though for an ill signe some vnderstood , yet i presum'd vppon some future good . for though i scarce am wisht so well of some , i hope i haue a happy time to come : which , when i haue most need of comfort , shall send me true ioy to make amends for all ; but say it be not whilst i draw this ayre , i haue a heart ( i hope ) shall nere dispaire ; because there is a god , with whom i trust , my soule shall triumph , when my bodie 's dust ; but when i found that my endeauours still , fell out as they would haue 't that wisht me ill , and when i saw the world was growne so coy , to deeme me then to young for to employ : and that her greatnes thought she did not want me or found no calling bad enough to grant me , ( and hauing scapt a thrall which i le not touch , here in this place , for feare i haue too much spoke on 't elsewhere ; ) i say well weighing this , together what a foule reproch it is , to be still idle : and because i spide how glad they would be that my state enuide to find me so although the world doth scorne t' allow me action , as if i were borne before my time ; yet for to let them see in spight of fortune i le employed be ; casting preferments too much care aside and leauing that to god for to prouide ; the times abuses i obseru'd and then in generall the state and tricks of men , wherein although my labour were not seene , yet ( trust me ) the discouery hath been , my great content : and i haue for my paine , although no outward , yet an inward gaine . of which because i can with all my heart , allow my country-men to haue a part , and cause i thinke it may do some a pleasure , on opportunity i le now take seisure , and summon vp my muse to make relation , i may b' imploid ere long , now 's my vacation . an introdvction . come then inuention , and call iudgement in , knowledge , and reason , fie where haue you bin ? goe whistle off my muse that wanton plaies , with epigrams , loue-sonnets , roundelaies , and such like trifling game ; bid her come on , i haue found brauer prey to seaze vppon . ●ome new inspiring prayer warmes my heart , and addes fresh courage vnto euery part : new blood hath fild vp all my loue-dri'd veines , ● sacred fury hath possest my braines . and something too there is that swels my breast , ●il that be vtter'd i expect no rest ; for full with matter like a sibill nun , i shall grow furious till this taske be done . then rouse thee muse each little hobby plies , at scarabes and painted butterflies : leaue thou such trash , it is not now for vs , to flye for pleasure ; wee le in earnest trusse , but thou lookst dull ; vnfit for lofty things , thy wanton flight i feare hath tir ' de thy wings , least therefore thou should'st faint , forsake th●efist , and turne thy selfe into a satyrist ; not of the roughest , nor the mildestsort , be most in earnest , but sometimes in sport , what e're thou find to speake be not affrayd , and for assistance craue iehouahs ayd . vse all thy art , for why , thou must vnfold , the strangest nature that was euer told : at ripping vp whereof some smart will be , yet goe thou foreward still , who dares touch thee ? diue if thou canst , til thou the bottome sound , yet not too farre least thou thy selfe confound ; mistake me not , i meane not thou shouldst goe , to search th' earths center what lies hid below , or vndermine it for ritch mineralls thou shalt not haue to do with vegetalls , strange natures haue both stones , trees , herbes , and plants , which let him speake of that a subiect wants , there is an herb indeeed whose vertues such , it in the pasture only with a touch , vnshooes the new-shod steed : within the north , the scottish iles cald oreades brings forth trees , ( or else writers faine it ) from whose seeds , a certaine kind of water-foule proceeds . the loadstone also drawes the steele vnto it , yet hath not ginne or instrument to doe it , rare properties you see , but neither these nor what lies hidden in the vast wide seas meane i to speake off ; i no knowledge haue , what monsters play with neptunes boistrous waue , nor quality of birds , nor beasts i found ; for why their natures may be quickly found , indeed we may by little inquisition , find out the bruitish creatures true condition , as for example we for certaine know , the elephant much loue to man wil show . the tygers , woolues , and lyons we do find , are rauenous , fierce and cruell euen by kind , we know at caryon we shal find the crowes , and that the roost-cock whē t is mid night knowes : by a few dayes experience we may see , whether the mastife , curst or gentle be ; and many other natures we find out , of which we haue no cause at all to doubt , but there 's another creature called man , note him who wil , and tel me if he can , what his condition is ; obserue his deeds , his speach , his rayment . yea and how hee feedes try him a month , a yeare , an age , and when you haue so tride him ; say , what is he then ? retaines he either vnto praester iohn , or else vnto the whore of babilon : if that you know not which of them to grant , is he a brownist or a protestant ? if in an age you cannot find out wheither are you so much as sure that he is either ? is his heart proud or humble ? know you where or when , he hates , or loues , or standes in feare ? or who can say ( in conscience i think none ) that this mans words , and deeds , & thoughts are one ? where shall you him so well resolued find , that wants a wandring and a wauering mind ? nay he of whom you haue most triall , when you see him dying , will you trust him then ? perhaps you may ; yet questionlesse he leaues you , a mind misdoubting still that he deceiues you . and no great wonder ; for hee s such an else , that euer is vncertaine of himselfe . he is not semper idem in his will , nor stands on this or that opinion still , but varies ; he both will and wil not too , yea euen the thing he thinkes and sweares to doe he many times omits . now god forgiue him , i wonder how another should beleeue him . but this same diuers and inconstant creature , that so contrary is in his owne nature , 't is him my new-inspired muse here tries , whilst he is liuing to anotomize : t is his abuses and condition , ( although it be beyond all definition ) i labour to discouer : but aswell i may againe dragge cerberus from hell : alcydes toyles were much , yet this is more , yea if his twise-sixe , had beene twise sixe-score . it is so infinite for to vnfold , although that i did speake til i were old , yet should i leaue vnnam'd i 'me sure ee'n than , many a humor i haue seene in man. and yet i must needes say in him there be , a thousand times more trickes then i can see . t is wonderfull , and my immagination is almost ouerwhelm'd with admiration ; indeed it is , so deep 's mans heart ; but yet , since either want of yeares , or want of wit , or lack of worke , or lack of all , hath brought me , to be more heedful , then a number thought me ; since it some time and study too hath cost me , and many a humor of mine owne hath lost me . since it hurts none , and since perhaps some may , be benefitted by 't another day , although it be a taske that 's not alone , too huge for to be done by any one , but more then al the world can well dispatch , yet looke what my weake memory could catch , i le heer relate and nothing of it spare , saue things vnfit , and such as neeedlesse are . now some will say t were fit i held my tongue , for such a taske as this i am too young : he ne're had dealings in the world with men , how can he speak of their conditions then ? he cannot they conclude : strong reasons why , know none how market goes but such as buy ? we see it happens that a shifting knaue , a sly deceitfull connicatching slaue , playing at cards with some vnskilfull gull , whose purse is lin'd with crownes and penniful , may put a nimble feat for to deceiue ; which though a cunning gamester nere perceiue , he peraduenture may the same descry , that is no player but a stander by : so i aloofe may view , without suspition , mens idle humours and their weake condition : plainer perhaps then many that haue seene , more daies & on th' earths stage haue actors been . and t is no maruaile , for employment takes them , quite from themselues , and so dim-sighted makes them they cannot see the fooleries they doe , nor what ill passions they are subiect to : then who er'e carpe , the course i haue begunne , in spight of them i wil ( god helping ) runne : and least th' exordium hath too tedious bin , my obseruations loe i now begin . of man. mounted aloft on contemplations wings , and noting with my selfe the state of things , i plainely did perceiue as on a stage , the confus'd actions of this present age , i view'd the world , and i saw my fill , because , that all i saw therein was ill . i weigh'd it well and found it was the scoene , of villany , of lust , and all vncleane and loath'd corruption . seeing which my mind , ( that by some inspiration ganne to find the place was not in fault for this ) search't on , to find the cause of this confusion . and noting euery creature , there i found , that only man was the chiefe spring and ground of all this vproare ; yea i soone did see , he there was all in all , and none but he ; then being also willing for to know , what thing man was , i did begin to grow yet more inquisitiue . an old record at last i hapt vpon which did afford much sacred light . it shewed man was a creature , first made by god , iust , and vpright by nature , in his owne likenesse . that he was compounded of soule and body : that this last was founded of earth : the first infus'd by inspiration , and that the finall cause of his creation , was to set forth the glory of his maker , and with him to be made a ioynt-partaker of enldes happines . growne much amazd , to read this of him for a time i paus'd , and finding now in man no marke or signe , that ere he was a creature so deuine , i knew not what to thinke , vnlesse the same , meant any other creature of that name : but prying further on i there found out , the resolution of my present doubt , i saw the cause of 's fall : how with free-will he fell from his first goodnes vnto ill : i saw how he from happines did slide , through disobedience and vnthankfull pride : yea and i found , how by that cursed fall , he was bereaued and quite stript of all that so adornd him ; his first holinesse , was chang'd to a corrupted filthinesse then he began to draw a paineful breath , and was a slaue , made captiue vnto death ; his body was expos'd to labour , sweate , and much disquieting : he got his meat with sorrow , care , and many perturbations , and then his soule grew subiect vnto passions and strange distemperatures . more-ouer he , so perfect miserable grew to be , that if he had not a re-generation ; nothing was left him but meere desperation . hauing seene this , i made no question than , but this was spoken of the creature man which i sought after : serching further yet , on some ap●criphall records i hit , the workes of wise philosophers ; from whence , i haue receiued more intelligence concerning him , for there they do vnfold , each part about his body , and haue told secrets of nature very rare to finde , besides they haue considered of the mind : the vnderstanding part , and do relate the nature of his soule , and her estate : deepe misteries indeed : but cause that i cannot diue into that philosophy , so farre as these . and since i shall but tell , those things which no men can explane so well as they themselues , i leaue you to their bookes , in which he that with good aduisement lookes , shal find it largely handled : as for me , i meane to speake but what i know and see by tri'd experience , which perhaps may giue , ( although i haue but now begun to liue ) some profitable notes . first i avow , what euer man hath beene , that he is now , a reasonable liuing creature : who consisteth of a soule and body toe . his bodye's flesh and blood , subiect to sinning , corrupting euen in his first beginning , and ful of al vncleannesse : then his soule , is a pure lasting substance yet made foule through th' others filthines : much supprest by diuers hurtful passions which molest and hinder hir proceedings ; yea hee 's this , a creature that exceeding wretched is , and that he may be sure no fault to want , vaine , fickle , weake , and wondrous arogazt . and though his nature heretofore were pure , now nothing is more fading or vnsure . but i le omit at this time to relate , the curses iu'e obseru'd in 's outward state , for though the body , that before the fall susteind no sorrow , were it ner'e so small : doth now feele hunger , with heat , thirst and cold , a feeble birth , defects in being old , with thousands more ; and though each gaspe of breath , in misery he draw vntil his death . yet al this outward change which i do find , is nothing when i do behold the mind : for there ( as i haue said ) abused passion , keepes vmpire , and hath got predomination . vertues depos'd thence , and vice rule obtaines ; yea vice from vice there by succession raignes : thrusting out those that vertues presence grac't and in their steeds these hurtful monsters plac't fond loue , and lust , ambition , emnity , foolish compassion , ioy and iealousie : feare , hope , despaire , and sadnesse , with the vic● cal'd hate , reuenge , and greedy auarice , choller and cruelty : which i perceiud , to be the only causes man 's bereau'd of quietnesse and rest . and these i found to be the principall , and only ground of all pernitious mischeefes that do rage , or haue disturbed him in any age , and therefore i do heere entend to show , ere i goe farther , what ill humors flow from these fore-named ; yea i will declare , to what abuses most men subiect are throgh any of them : for when as i tooke view , although i saw not all , i found a few ; and for because i wil not order breake , i will assunder of each passion speake . of the passion . of love . satyr . . first loue ; the same i heere the first do call , because that passion is most natural ; and of it selfe could not be discommended , wert not with many a foule abuse attended , or so much out of measure , as we see , by those in whom it raignes it oft wil be : for looke wher't growes into extremity , it soone becometh vertues laethargy , makes them set light by reasons sound direction , and beares them headlong by vntam'd affection . c●unsels in vain , cause when this fit doth take them reason and vnderstanding doth forsake them ; it makes them some-time merry , some-time sad , vntam'd men mild , and many a mild man mad : to fooles it wisdome giues , and makes the witty to shew thēselues most fooles ( the more 's the pitty ) some it makes purblind , that they do not know , the snow white cygnet from the cole-black crow ; that one to gold compares his mistris hayre , when 't is like foxe-fur and doth think shee 's faire , though she in beauty be not far before , the swart west-indian , or the tawny moore . oh those faire star-like eyes of thine , one saies : when to my thinking she hath look't nine wayes ; and that sweet breath ; when i thinke ( out vppon 't ) 't would blast a flower if she breathed on 't , another hauing got a dainty peece , ( prouder then iason with his golden fleece ) commends her vertues that hath iust as many , as a shee-baud that neuer yet had any . yet sweares shee 's chast and takes her for no more , vvhen all her neighbours knowes she is a — another he growes carelesse of his health , neglects his credit and consumes his wealth , hath found a pretty peat , procur'd her fauor , and sweares that he in spight of all , wil haue her ; wel let him take her since they are contented , but such rash-matches are the soon'st repented . then there is one who hauing found a peere , in all thinges worthy to be counted deere ; vvanting both art and heart his mind to breake , sits sighing ( wo is me ) and wil not speake . all company he hates , is oft alone , growes melancholly , weepes , respecteth none ; and in dispaire seekes out a way to dye , vvhen he might liue and find a remedy . but how now ; wast not you ( saies one ) that late so humbly beg'd a boone at beauties gate ? was it not you that to a female saint indited your aretophels complaint , with many doleful sonnets , wa' st not you ? sure t was saies he : but then how comes it now you carpe at loue thus in a satyrs vaine ? take heed you fall not in her handes againe , sure if you doe , you shal in open court , be forc't to sing a palinodia for't . what are your braines dry , or yourblood growne cold ? or are you on a sodaine waxen old ? to flout at loue , which men of greatest wit , alow in youth as naturall and fit . what reason haue you for 't els ? what pretence haue you for to excuse this vild offence ? to him i answer that indeed een'e i was lately subiect to this malady : lik't what i now dislike ; employ'd good times in the composing of such idle rimes as are obiected : from my heart i sent full many a heauy sigh , and oft-times spent vnmanly teares . i haue , i must confesse , thought if my loue smil'd that no happinesse might equalize it , and her frowne much worse , ( o god forgiue me ) then the churches curse , i did ( as some do ) not much matter make , to hazard soule and body for her sake , hauing no hope sometime i did despaire , sometime too much built castles in the ayre , in many a foolish humor i haue beene , as wel as others ; looke where i haue seene her ( whom i lou'd ) to walke , when she was gone , thither i often haue repair'd alone : as if i thought the places did containe , something to ease me ( oh exceeding vaine : ) yet what if i haue beene thus idly bent , shal be now asham'd for to repent ? moreouer i was in my child-hood than , and am scarse yet reputed for a man. and therefore neither cold , nor old , nor dry ; nor cloi'd with any foule disease am i , 't is no such cause that made me change my mind , but my affection that before was blind , rash and vnruly , now begins to find that it had run a large and fruitlesse race , and therevpon hath giuen reason place . so that by reason , what no reason might perswade me from before ; i haue out-right , iustly forsaken ; for because i see 't was vaine , absurd , and naught but foolery , yet for all this looke where i lou'd of late , i haue not turnd it in a spleene to hate : no , for 't was first her vertue and her wit , taught me to see how much i wanted it ; then as for loue , i do alow it stil , i neuer did dislik't nor neuer will ; so it be vertuous , and contain'd within , the bounds of reason ; but when 't will begin , to run at random and her limits breake ; i must , because i cannot chuse but speake . but i forget my selfe , wherefore am i so tedious in my owne apologie ? it needed not at all , i le on againe , and shew what kind of louers yet remaine : one sort i find yet of this louing crew , whose quality i thinke is knowne to few : these seeke by all the meanes they can to gaine each virgins liking : sometime not in vaine , they do obtaine their wish , but when t is got , sorry they are and wish they had it not . for peraduenture they haue plac't their loue , so as it cannot , nor it must not mooue and yet if they should faile for to procure it , 't would greeue thē so they hardly woould endure it . yea though in shew ( at least ) they haue said nay , their loues with like affection to repay , if they perceiu't abate , as it will doe , both this and that , doth make them sorry too . but he that is with such a humor led , i may be bold to terme a watle-head . more-ouer men in placing their affection , haue feu'rall humors for to giue direction . some like the faire , but there 's not all the grace , she may be faire , and haue a squemish face , some like the wanton , some the modest eyes , the pace , or gesture some's affection ties . a smile wins one , anothers lookes mooues pitty , the next commends the lasse that 's bold and witty . againe some loue where they no cause can find , but onely this ; the wench they see is kind . yea one doth thinke her faire ( another loathes ) because she seemes so in her gaudy clothes . more sorts there are ; but sure i am , not many that for bare vertue haue affected any . wealth many matches makes ; but most can prooue though it breeds liking , yet it winnes not loue . then to obtaine his mistres , one man tries , how he can stretch his wits to poetize : his pass●a● to relate his skill he proues , but in this blockish age it little moues ; nor doe i wonder much true meaning failes , and wit so little in this case auailes , since dunces can haue sannets fram'd & send them , as their inuentions , when some others pen'd them . another seekes by valour to obtaine , his wished prize , but now that trial 's vaine ; the third brings wealth , and if he doe not speed , the womans worth the suing for indeed . then he that 's neither valorous nor wise , comes ruffling in , with shamelesse brags and lies , making a stately , proud , vaine-glorious show , of much good matter , when t is nothing so . in steed of lands , to which he ne're was heyre , he tels her tales of castles in the ayre , for martiall matters , he relates of fraies , where many drew their swords & ran their waies . his poetry is such as he can cull , from plaies he heard at curtaine or at bull , and yet is fine coy mistres - marry-muffe , the soonest taken with such broken stuffe . another shallow braine hath no deuise , but prates of some strange casts he had at dice , brags of his play , yea sure it doth befall , he vaunts oft-times of that which marreth all ; but some i note ( now fie on such a man ) that make themselues as like them as they can , thereby to winne their loues ; they faine their pace ; order their lookes , and striue to set their face to looke demure : some wooe by nods , and lookes , some by their sighes , and others by their bookes ; some haue a nature must not be denaide , and will grow furious if they be delaide : others againe haue such a fancy got , if they soone speed then they esteeme them not . when women woo , some men do most affect them , and some againe for wantons doe suspect them : besides , we see that fooles themselues they make , what toyes they count of for their wenches sake ; one for some certaine months , or weekes , or daies , vveares in his hat a branch of wither'd bayes . or sweares for to employ his vtmost power , for to preserue some stale-neglected flowre : he weares such colours as for louers be , drinks vowed healths vpon his bared knee : sue's mainly for a shoo-string , or doth craue her , to grant him but a busk-point for a fauour : and then to note ( as i haue seene ) an asse that by her window , whom he loues , must passe , with what a fained pace , the woodcock stalks ; how skuruely he sleareth as he walks : and if he ride , how he rebounds and trots , as if his horse were troubled with the bots ; 't would make one swell with laughing : in a day he makes more errands then he needs that way , bearing himselfe as if he still espide him , when as perhaps she flouts , or lookes beside him : nay should i tell you all the vanitie , i haue obserued in this maladie , i should shame louers , but i le now be husht , for had i said more i my selfe had blusht : yet know ; although this passion i haue tyde to loue of women , it concludes beside all whatsoeuer kinde of loues there be , vnlesse they keep the minde from trouble free , and yeeld to reason : but of such-like louers , my muse hereafter other feates discouers . of desire or lvst . satyr . . lvstfull desire , ( although t were rather fit . to some bruite creature to attribute it ) shall in mans heart retaine the second place ; because it shrouds her vile deformed face vnder loues vizard , and assumes that name , hiding her owne fault with the others blame : t is a base passion , from the which doth flow many base humours ; t is the ouerthrow of all in whom it enters ; 't is an euill , worse then to be possessed with a diuell : this 't is that oft hath caused publike strife , and priuate discord ; this makes man and wife grow each to other cold in their affection , and to the very marrow sends infection ; and as phisicians say , it makes the face looke wan , pale , yellow , and doth much deface the beauty of it ; and as for the fight it either dums it or bereaues it quight ; it dries the body , and from thence doth sprout griefes of the stomack , leprosie and gout , with other such ; beside it doth decay not life alone , but also takes away , both memory and vnderstanding toe ; so doctors that haue tride it , say t' will doe . and which way comes that foule disease to vs we call the french , so vile and odious : i st not by lust ? breed not such-like desires , children begotten by vncertaine syres ? strange generations , beds so oft defilde ; that many a father scarcely knowes his childe ? or , is 't not hence this common prouerbe growes , t is a wise child that his oane father knowes ? doth it not others reputations foyle ? and them e'ne of their dearest iewels spoyle ? yes , yes ; and hence a thousand other crimes doe daily spring , and yet in these our times t is highly made of : yea t is lust doth weare the richest garments , and hath curiou'st fare ; the softest beds it hath for to repose , with sweet perfumes , but sure there 's need of those . drawne in a coach it visits now and then some neere acquaintance , mongst the noblemen ; yet doth it not the court alone frequent , but is i th' cittie as much resident : where when it walkes the street it doth imploy , either a prentice , or a roaring-boy to vsher it along , and few disdaine it , but those vnable for to entertaine it . 't were much to note the paine that some indure , and cost that they 'le be at for to procure their beastly wils : there 's many spend their stocks in ruffes , gownes , kirtles , peti-coats , and smocks , for which one 's paid with that shal make him craul , ( if he be friended ) to some hospitall . another's quitted for his wel-spent stuffe , by some grim sergeant with a counter-buffe : the last it brings , if still that course he followes , first to the gaole , and so forth to the gallowes . and what haue you obserued to haue bin the vsuall associats of this sinne ? but filthy speeches , bold fac't impudence . vnseemely actions , ryot , negligence , and such as these ; yea to procure their lust it makes them into any mischiefs thrust , how hatefull or apparent ere they be , or put in practise any villanie . moreouer , where it enters once , the minde , cannot true rest , nor any quiet finde . we see it also makes them for to craue , not what is best , but what they long to haue , yea , lust hath many mischiefes that ensue it , which most men see , but few the lesse eschew it : men rather now , as if t' were no offence , are growne to such a shamelesse impudence , they vaunt and bragge of their lasciuious facts , no lesse then some , of braue heroick acts . and not a few of this same humor be , that would be term'd the foes of chastitie . by whom if i see ill , i le sure conceale it , for they themselues will to their shames reueale it : there 's others who disliking so to vaunt , vvill , si non castè , tamen cautè grant , for that 's their motto , they make modest showes , but what they doe in secret , man nere knowes : some make a baud of their diuine profession , like shauelings in auricular-confession . th' other are bad , and sure of god accurst , but of all others , these i deeme the worst . there 's other gallants would desire but this , vvithout suspition for to talke and kisse : for other pleasures they do neuer craue them , nay if they might , they sweare they will not haue them so mean , perhaps : but time brings alteration , and a faire woman is a shrewd temptation : then many make their fained loue to be a cloake to couer their immodestie : these will protest and vow , and sweare their life consists in hauing whom they wooe , to wife , yet if the villaines can their lust fulfill , they will forsweare them and be liuing still : some doe court all , and not alone doe proue , but for because with all they are in loue , with such deep passion , that they cannot smother , their hot affection till they meete another : but why will man against himselfe and reason , consent to such a tyrant in his treason ? why will he so his liberties foregoe to be a slaue to such a monstrous foe ? for what is this same passion we call lust , i st not a brutish longing and vniust , and foule desire of the soule , to gaine some euill pleasure ? or to speake more plaine , a furious burning passion , whose hot fumes corrupts the vnderstanding , and consumes the very flesb of man ? then what 's the fact ? what may i terme that vile and shamefull act , but this ; the execution of an ill , out of set purpose and with a good will , in spight of reason ? tell me i st not base ? when men shall so their worthy sex disgrace , to giue their bodies in a deed vncleane , with a foule nasty prostituted queane ? or in their vnderstanding be so dull as to obserue on idle short-heeld trull ? a puling female diuell that hath smiles , like syrens songs , and teares like crocadiles . yet there be some ( i will not name them now ) whom i haue seene vnto such puppits bow , and be as seruiceable as a groome , that feares another man will beg his roome : they had beene glad ful oft to please their pride , with costly gifts , and forc't for to abide , imperious scoffs , with many scornefull words ; such as the humors they are in , affords and yet for these thei 'le venter honors , liues ; if they command it ; when for their poore wiues : ( though they in beauty , loue and true delight , exceed them more then day-time doth the night ) they le scarcely take vppon them for to speake , in any case of theirs their , loues so weake , yea and their lust doth wrap them in such blindnes they cannot giue them one poore look in kindnes . moreouer for their lust they haue not laid base plots alone , like him that was conueyd in a close trunk , because in secrecy , he would ( vnseene ) enioy his venery . i say not only therein haue they retcht , their damn'd inuentions , it hath also stretcht , vnto strange lusts , of which i wil not speake , because i may offend the minde that 's weake , or least i to some simple one should show , those sinnes by naming , he did neuer know : and here i leaue : there 's lurking holes such store , this stinking vermin i wil hunt no more . of hate . satyr . . bvt i haue rous'd another here as bad they call it : hate ; a worse i neuer had , before in chase : i scarce can keepe ( insooth ) my selfe from danger of his venom'd tooth . this is the passion that doth vse to moue , the mind a cleane contrary way to loue ; it is an inspiration of the divel , that makes men long for one anothers euill , it cankers in the heart , and plagueth most , not him that 's hated , but the hateful host . and yet there 's too too many i do know , whose hearts with this soule poyson ouer-flow : of which i haue a true intelligence , by the sharpe scoffs and slanders springing thence , for where it rules they cannot well conceale it , but either wordes or deeds , or both reueale it , were it iust causes that did stil engender this passion in them ; or if they could render , a reason fort 't were somwhat , but their will carries them on in spight of reason still . these are their humors , for a slight offence thei 'le hate th' offender for a recompence . some malice all that any way excell , in which who thinkes but they do very well , and many haue abhorred ( god amend them ) the stranger that did neuer yet offend them : vvhich they are not asham'd for to confesse , yet in their hate continue ner'e the lesse , but though that they can yeeld no reason why , they beare them causlesse mallice , yet can i : their hearts are il , and it is seldome knowne , that a sweet bro●ke from bitter springs hath flowne : there 's some to when they see a man respected more then themselues , though they be not neglected , they inly grudge , and outwardly disdaine , being alike condition'd as was caine , some hate their friends that loue and count them deare , as by the sequel plainely shal appeare ; one that a seeming friendship had profest me , vpon a time did earnestly request me that i would plainely my opinion shew , what i of his conditions thought or knew ; and that i would without exceptions tel , what acts of his did not become him well . i scorning flattry , with a louing heart , twixt him and me my mind did soon impart ; and as a friend , that is vnfaigned , ought , left nothing vnreueald of what i thought , yea without feare i boldly reprehended , if i perceiud he any way offended , provided alwayes that i did not swerue , from a decorum fitting to obserue , but marke mans nature : he perceiuing i had taken note of some infirmity , he would not haue vnript ; and seeing toe , i espide more then he wisht i should doe of his ill humours ; ( though i must confesse ) being my friend i lou'd him nothing lesse ; in steed of thankes and liking for my paines , my company and sight he now refraines ; and for my kindnes like a thanklesse mate , doth ill repay me with a lothing hate . this one i know , and by that one i finde , that there be many beare as bad a minde , but let vs for their true conuersion pray , for we alasse may very iustly say . quod nulla est in terra charitas , et odium parit ipsa veritas . againe the wicked hates beyond all measure the righteous man , that contradicts his pleasure ; and that 's the fundamentall cause i know , that many men doe hate their teachers so : these common humors are obseru'd of few , yet may a yong experience find them true . and boldly say that all in whom th' are found , haue poysoned hearts polluted and vnsound , but they corrupted aboue all the rest , which hate their friends they should account of best but let men striue and study to remoue this passion from their hearts and graffe on loue. let them not harbor such a hellish sinne , which being entred marreth all within ; nor let them thinke my counsell merits laughter , since scripture saies , to hate our brother's slaughte● of envy . satyr . then some enuenom'd with an enuious touch , think eu'ry thing their neighbor hath to much ▪ o lord say they ( if in the field they be ) what goodly corne , and wel-fed beasts hath he ? ( if in the house ) they neuer in their liues , saw fairer women then their neighbours wiues : t is pitty shee that puts so many downe , should be embraced by so rude a clowne : that house is too well furnisht , or doth stand , better then his , or it hath finer land : this farme hath profits more then his by much , for wood and water he had neuer such . yea so he grudges inwardly and frets at euery good thing that his neighbour gets : of these besides there are that when they see , any beloued , or in fauour be , especially in courts , and great mens houses , then the heart swelleth , and the enuious rouses , ne're resting till that like a spightfull elfe , he doe displace them or disgrace himselfe . now some are in the minde that hate and this , still goe together and one passion is ; indeed , they soule iniurious humors be , so like , they seeme to haue affinitee : but if 't were so , me thinks betwixt them both , there should arise more wrangling them there doth , so t is with kinsmen , they enuy the good of those that are the same in flesh and bloud . but here may be the difference , and it shall hate doth extend to some , and this ●o all : yet enuious men doe least spight such as be of ill report , or of a low degree : but rather they doe take their ayme at such , who either wel-be-loued are , or rich : and therefore some doe fitly liken these , vnto those flies we terme cantharides : cause for the most part they alight on none , but on the flowers that are fairest blowne : or to the boisterous winde which sooner grubs the stately cedar then the humble shrubs : but yet that sometimes shakes the bush below , and moues the leafe that 's wither'd long agoe : as if he had not showne sufficient spight , vnlesse it also could orewhelme him quite and bury it in earth ; so i haue found , the blast of enuy flies as low's the ground . and though it hath already brought a man euen vnto the meanest state it can , yet t is not satisfi'd , but still deuising , vvhich way it also may disturbe his rising , this i know true ; or else it could not be that any man should hate or enuy me , being a creature , ( one would thinke ) that 's plast too low for to be toucht with enuies blast , and yet i am ; i see men haue espi'd , some-thing in me too , that may be enui'd ; but i haue found it now : and know the matter . the reason , they are rich and i le not flatter : yes and because they see that i doe scorne , to be their slaue whose equall i am borne , i heard ( although 't were spoken in a cloud ) they censure that my knowledge makes me proud , and that i reach so farre beyond my calling , they euery hower doe expect my falling : with many a prayer , and prognostication to shew their loue not worthy reuelation , but what care i ; to quit their good surmising , i doe desire my fall may be their rising . which say should once be , as i hope t will neuer , i trust to god it shall not be for euer ; and for because i know it cannot be , much lower then it is , it greeues not me , and where they say my wit augments my pride , my conscience tels me that i am belide : for knowledge of my wants doth greeue me so , i haue small ioy to boast of that i know . but let them scandall as i heare they doe , and see whose lot the shame will fall vnto ; the shafts are aim'd at me , but i le reiect them , and on the shooters too , perhaps reflect them , i care not for their enuy , since they show it ; nor doe i feare their mallice , now i know it : for to preuent the venome of their throat , i le of this poyson make an antidote : and their presaging ( though it be abuse ) i hope wil serue me to an excellent vse ; for where before i should haue tooke no heed , their wordes shall make me circumspect indeed . yea i wil be more careful to do wel , which were a plague as bad for them as hel . some i do know , yea too too well i know them , and in this place do a remembrance owe them , these ; when that through their enuy they intend , to bring one out of fauour with his friend , wil make as though they some great vices knew , that he is guilty of , and not a few : thei le shake their heads , as if they did detest the course he followes ; and that not in iest . if to the father they dispraise the sonne , it shall be slily , indirectly done : and thus ( i hope ) there 's some wil vnderstand , he liues i tel you at a s●cond hand . should i say al i know , 't would much offend you , but more such children i pray god neu'r send you , with other words of doubt to breed suspition , but dare not ( being of a base condition ) to name them any fault : and good cause why , it may be prou'd vnto their shames a ly ; now t is a quality i do dispise , as such a one doth him whom he enuies , if therefore any do that loue professe me , lord from their friendship i beseech thee blesse me , some crafty ones wil honor to their face , those whom they dare not openly disgrace : yet vnder-hand , their fames they 'l vndermine , as lately did a seeming friend of mine ; they 'l sowe their slanders as if they with griefe , were forc't to speake it : or that their vnbeliefe were loth to credit it , when 't is well knowne , the damn'd inuention was at first their owne : some doe not care how grosly they dispraise , or how vnlikely a report they raise ; because they know if 't be so false an ill , that one beleeues it not , another will ; and so their enuy very seldome failes , but one way or another , still preuailes : oh villanous conceit ! an engin bent to ouerthrow the truest innocent ; for well they know , when onee a slander's sowne , and that a false report abroad is blowne , though they would wipe it out ; yet they can neuer , because some scar will stick behind for euer . but what is this , that men are so inclind and subiect to it ? how may 't be defin'd ? sure if the same be rightly vnderstood , it is a griefe that springs from others good . and vexes them if they doe but heare tell , that other mens endeauors prosper well , it makes them grieue when any man is friended , or in their hearing praised , or commended , contrariwise againe , such is their spight : in other mens misfortunes they delight ; yea , notwithstanding it be not a whit vnto their profit , not their benefit , others prosperity doth make them leane , yea it deuoureth and consumes them cleane : but if they see them in much greefe , why that doth only make them iocund , full and fat ; of kingdomes ruine they best loue to heare , and tragicall reports do only cheere their hellish thoughts : and then their bleared eies can looke on nothing but black infamies , reprochful actions , and the foulest deeds , of shame , that mans corrupted nature breeds : but they must winke when vertue shineth bright , for feare her lustre mar their weakned sight . they do not loue encomiastick stories . or for to read their predecessors glories ; for good report to all men they deny , and both the liuing and the dead enuy : yea many of them ▪ i do thinke had rather loose all good fame then share 't with their owne father . the biting satyr they do only like , and that at some particulars must strike , or al 's worth norhing : if they can apply some part of this to him they do enuy , as well perhaps they may , then thei l commend it , and spite of their ill natures , i that pend it , shall haue some thank , but why ? not cause they deem me , or my writing either worth esteem : no , heere 's the reason they thy labour like . they think i meane him , then suppose i strike : now whose endeauors thinke you prosper should , if the euent of thinges were as these would ? ( no man can answere that , for it 's vnknowne ) nor parents , no nor childrens , scarce their owne : ( i say ) their owne hand-works are seldome free , but subiect to their proper enuies be : ' witnesse a certaine rich-man , who of late ' much pittying a neighbours wofull state , ' put to his helping hand , and set him cleare ' from all his former misery and feare : ' but when he saw that through his thrift , and heed , ' he had well cur'd againe his former need , ' and grew to pretty meanes , though he no whit ' vnthankfull was for this his benefit : ' yet , being of a nature that did long , ' and ioy , to see anothers case goe wrong , ' hauing no second cause ; much grieued now , ' that he once helpt him ; all his study's how , 'to ruinate the poore mans state againe , ' and make through enuy his owne labour vaine . i wonder men should so from reason range , or entertaine a humor that 's so strange and so vnprofitable , tell me why , should we the honors , or the wealth enuy of other men ? if we delight to see , our brethren when in euill case they be , le ts wish them riches , titles , and promotion , t will make them greedy , proud , & choke deuotion , t will plunge them in a flood of misery , in the respect of which , the beggery we thinke so vile , is heauen , yea i know , it is a thousand more mens ouerthrow then pouertie can be . that if we hate , or would enuy who are in happy state , in my opinion they must not be such that titles haue attaind , or to be ritch ; no , poore men rather , who are combred lesse , and haue indeed the truest happinesse . but be they rich or no , i passe not whether , for my part , i am sure , i enuy neither , so i but reach the glorie i desire , i doe not care how many mount vp higher ; and if i want not , what hurt is'● to me , if i the poorest in the kingdome be ? yet from this passion , i beleeue not many can be exempted , if there may be any : but sure more mischiefe alway doth betide th' enuious then to him that is enuide ; and they haue often , ( who would then bemone ? ) lost both their eyes to lose their neighbour one : yea there is many a periur'd enuious noddy ; damnes his owne soule to hurt his neighbours body . but now such men may best by this be knowne , they 'le speake in no mans praise but in their owne , and in their presence but commend a man , they 'l from his worth detract eu'n all they can : so do the foule mouth'd zoili , spightfull momes , vvhose eyes on euery new pen'd treatise romes . not for their owne auaile or benefit ; to feed their humors by disgracing it , they rather seeke : and that they 'l disallow which they would mend themselues , if they knew how : but what are they that keep this censuring court , none i le assure you of the wisest sort ; none of the wisest said i : yet content ye , they are a great way past ass in presenti ; and think themselues , ( but thought somtime is free ) a great deale wiser then indeed they bee , for howsoeuer their insinuation hath gain'd a little vulgar reputation , they are but glow-wormes that are briske by might , and neuer can be seen when sunne giues light ; ill tong'd and enuious , ignorant of shame , and vile detractors of anothers fame ; but let them carp on , what need any care ; simce they are knowne for fooles without compare ; but fellow christians , thinke vpon this euill , know 't is an instigation of the diuell , remember 't is a knowne apparant foe to charitie ; and friendships ouerthrow . a vicious humor , that with hell acquaints , and hinders the communion of saints : consider that , and how it makes vnable , to be partaker of the holy table . and so i trust you 'l root it from the heart , and , as th'apostle counsels , lay apart dissembling , enuie , slander , malice , guile ; and euil-speaking as most bad and vile . chiefely in those men , whose religion saith , her mainest piller , is true-loue , next faith. of revenge . satyr . . roome for reuenge , he 's no commedian that acts for pleasure , but a grim tragedian , a foule sterne monster , which if we displease ; death , wounds and bloud , or nothing can appease ; so wicked that though all good men disdaine it , yet there are many rashly entertaine it , and hugge it as a sweet contented passion : but all men act not in one kinde , nor fashion , for one so priuate is , that no man knowes it ; another cares not , before whom he showes it , then some of them are fearefull , some are bolder , some are too hot , and some againe are colder : oh , i haue seene , and laught at heart to see 't , some of our hot-spurs drawing in the street , as though they could not passions rage withstand ▪ but must betake them to it out of hand . but why i th' street ? oh company doth heart them , and men m●y see their valorous acts and part them . that humor yet , i rather doe commend then theirs whose fury hath no stay nor end ; till of their liues they haue bereft their foes , and then they thinke they pay them ; yet who b●● knows ▪ that t is a smal reuenge ? since to be slaine , is to be free from danger , care and paine . so whilst his enemy lies and feeles no smart , he hath a thousand tortures in his heart . and say his conscience do escape a flaw , he brings himselfe in danger of the law. if such reuenge be sweet sure i le forgiue , and neuer seeke for vengeance whilst i liue . but oh ( me thinkes ) i heere our hacsters tel me , with thundring words , as if their breath would fel me : i am a coward if i wil not fight , true , cauelieroes you hane spoke the right , and if vpon good tearmes you vrge me to it , i haue both strength and heart enough to doe it , which you should find ; and yet my mind is still , rather to defend my selfe then kill . but most men thinke , that he which kils his foe ; is most couragious : now i tell thee no : for he that hath a heart that fact to doe , is both a tyrant and a coward toe . but how is he a coward some will aske ? to answer that is but an easie taske , thus he is one : he hauing by his might , a power on him with whome he haps to fight : thinkes if he spare his life , in such a case , he one day may reuenge his foule disgrace ; that thought with feare , of future dangers fils him , which to preuent , he like a coward kils him . but those that iustly in excuse can say , for present safety , they were forc't to slay , i must count blamelesse . thou that hast a foe , seeke not to be his wofull ouerthrow . rather if 't may be keepe him liuing still ; i tell thee 't is a necessary ill , ( inimicus amicus ) my selfe haue some , their liues i do no grutch , for they haue done me seruice very much ; and wil do still for wheresoere i goe , they make me careful what i speak , or doe : and when i step aside i here on 't roundly , or ( as themselues say ) they wil tel 't me soundly . whereas my friend , til i were quite vndone , would let me stil in mine owne follies run , or if he warne me it is so in sport , that i am scarse a whit the better sort . but this same good , i know but few can vse , because that they do better thinges abuse . mans nature 's ill , and i haue noted this , if they vpbraided bewith what 's amisse they cannot brooke it , but are readier still , for to reuenge that , then amend what 's ill . we must not now our lusty-blouds gain-say , no not so much as in a yea , or nay ; but presently we dye for 't ( if we will ) they haue both hand , and heart prepar'd to kil . let them but thinke a man to them iniurious , although he be not so , thei 'le straight grow furious and are so quickly up in a brauado , they are for nothing but the imbrocado : and in this humor they respect not wheither , they be vnto them friends , or foes , or neither ; all are alike ; and their hot choller ends , not only loue , and friendship , but their friends : i know 't were vaine if i should tel to these the peaceful mind of ancient socrates : or if i should lycurgus vengeance shew , how he behau'd himselfe vnto his foe , ●twere but in vaine ( i say ) for there 's no doubt , our watle-headed gallants would but flout at their wel tempred passions ; since they deeme , none now but fooles , or mad-men , worth esteeme● but what 's the cause of their vnbridled rage ? oh know it is a humor of their age , for to be foolish desperate ; and many account not of him wil not fight with any on the least quarrel . therefore most to gaine , a little fame that way , though nere so vaine , wil put their liues in danger : nay there 's some , had rather haue it then the life to come , alas poore men , what hath bewitcht your mind ? how are you grown so sencelesse and so blind , for to affect vaine shaddowes and let slide , the true substance , as a thing vnspide ? ●s reason in you growne so great a stranger , to suffer an affection of such danger to settle in you ? bannish't from your breast , and there let mercy and forgiuenes rest : ●t is a token of a humane mildnes , but vengeance is a signe of bruitish wildnes : not fitting any but the tyger , beare , ●r su●h like creatures , that remorslesse teare what ere they light on . cast it from you then , ●e in condition as in shape y' are men ; and stand vnmoou'd , for innocence ere long , will shew her selfe abroad in spight of wrong : and of your patience you shall not repent , but be auenged to your owne content : yet some may say the counsell i haue giuen , is hard to follow , strict , and too vneuen , and whatsoeuer show i seeme to make , such as my selfe would hardly vndertake . know you that thinke so ; i am not afraid . if that it be a burthen i haue laid , to bear 't my self ; nay , i haue vndergone if this be hard , a more vneasie one : for but of late , a friend of mine in show , being ( indeed ) a spightfull secret foe , i know not why , ( for i did ne're in ought wrong him i 'me sure ; no not in an ill thought . ) yet this man hauing wisely watcht his time , when i ( a stranger , in another clime ) left my owne country ; did meane while repaire , to my best friends , and with dissemblings faire , and showes of loue and griefe , did there vnfold , the grosest slander , euer villaine told . a dam'nd inuention so exceeding vile , that gallants 't would haue made your bloud to boile and out of your abused bodies start , i know it would haue broken veines or heart : i say if you had felt that cruell sting , you would haue fret , fum'd , stampt , done any thing or angry rag'd like mad-men in their fit , till mercilesse reuenge , had quenched it : but what did i ? at first i must confesse , i was a little mou'd , who could be lesse ? but when i felt my troubled thoughts begin to ioyne with brutish passion within , and raise disquiet humors in my brest , i fear'd if i should yeeld 't would mar my rest . and therefore to my selfe i patience tooke , vvhich whil'st i haue about me i can brooke any misfortune . then that patience , grew so much stronger through my innocence that i forgot both wrong and vengeance too ; some thinke 't was cause that i lack't might to doe the hurt i would ; no , it was onely will for i had power enough to doe him ill ; ●t is well knowne the coward dares not stand t' abide the vengeance of my wronged hand were his strength tripled ; nay were i in bands of impotencie wrapt , and had no hands , yet i haue friends ( whom if i had not prai'd and beg'd vnto , to haue their fury stai'd ) had chopt him , and made dogs meat for my sake of his vile carkas ; yea and he would quake , a twelue-month after , had he but the daring , to thinke vpon the vengeance was preparing for that lewd slanderous tale of his ; which he might better raise on one vnborne then me : now though that course my reason did gain-say , i was allow'd reuenge a better way , both law add iustice , proffer'd me a scourge , to whip him for it , which my friends did vrge : shewing me motiues to allure me to it : yet still was i vnwilling for to doe it : for though i might ( beside submission ) gaine , no little summes ; my heart doth much disdaine , for to encrease my substance through his shame , or raise it with the ruines of my fame : now for because there 's some may thinke i faine , or speake a matter fram'd by mine owne braine : know , this back-biter liues and may doe long to doe me more , and many others wrong : and though i doe not mind to staine my verse , the name of such a monster to rehearse , for others satisfaction and to grace it , vpon the margent here i thought to place it : but that perhaps would vengeance counted be , whereas it shall not be reueng'd for me : yet gallants you may see i wish you to no other thing , then i my selfe would doe , you heare that i was wrong'd , and yet withstood my owne mad passion in the heate of bloud : and am not i in as good case as those , that haue reueng'd themselues with stabs & blows in my opinion it is as well , as if that i should pack his soule to hell with danger of mine owne ; and heere remaine , to greeue and wish he were aliue againe ; nay now t is best , for why , he may repent , and i with a safe conscience liue content : ther 's some ( perhaps ) misdeem'd my innocence , because they saw that i with patience indur'd the wrong : t is thought that i did know , my selfe in fault , because i tooke it so . indeed t is true , i let him scot-free passe , what should i doe vnto him ? say an asse had strooke me with his heeles ; how should i qui● the harme he doth me ? you would blame my wit if i should kill him ; if i went to law who would not count me the most asse ? a daw ; the worst of fooles ; i pray what were i lesse , if i had don 't to his vnworthinesse ? one that 's more ignorant of his offence , and seemes as if he had no sparke nor sence of humane goodnesse : one , whom if i touch , or offer to lay hands on , t is as much , as if i in my anger would begin to breake the stoole that erst had broke my shin . i knew in this , and that , the case was one , and therefore i did let reuenge alone : yet will i note him , for this cause indeed , that other men may know him and take heed : and therefore marke , the greatest feast i th' yeare and ioyfullest his name at full doth beare . a sacred syllable makes the first part ; which since t is there alone , and not in 's heart : take it from thence with the ensuing letter , and the remainder will befit him better : hereof enough ; for why there doth remaine , some more of these mad humors to explaine , besides those i first nam'd ; for their brother , they cannot their reuengefull nature smother ; and for because they dare not deale with swords : like valiant champions fight it out with words . such fraies haue made me oftentimes to smile , and yet they proue shrewd combats other while , for from such braules do sodaine stabs arise , and somtime in reuenge the quart-pot flies ; ioyne-stooles , and glasses makes a bustling rumor : yea this is growne a gentleman-like humor : but in my mind , he that so wel can fight , deserues for to be dubd an ale-house knight : i st not a shame that men should at their meeting , welcome each other with a friendly greeting , as i haue seene , and yet before they part , bandy their swords at one anothers heart ? wondrous inhumane , the sauage bore , the wild armenean heards wil do no more : sure such beleeue not it is god hath said , vengeance is his and must by him be paid . for if they did i thinke there would not be , such caruers for themselues : but we may see , the diuel doth so much possesse them than , they haue no honest thought of god or man. as in this humor you shall see 't explain'd , two falling out , would fight , but are restrain'd : yet stil they striue to be each others fall , which shewes their loue to man-kind none at all : but curbed of their wills through standers by , forth breakes their fury , and they straight let flye , such horrid , bloody , fearefull cannon oathes , as their 's no honest christian eare but loathes , almost to heare them nam'd they seeme to teare christs man-hood peece-meal from him when they sweare for foot , heart , nailes , stil vsing god withall their foule-mouth'd-rackets like a tennise ball doth bandy too and fro : his blood and wounds , set forth their vaunts they think with brauest sounds , and makes the simple people to admire ; their courage which is but as a flame on fire . thrice valiant champions whereby should one gather they haue a thought of god that 's good ? but rather that they are vile blasphemers ; for when they cannot haue vengeance they desired , why , as if they scorn'd th' almighties fearefull rod , thus thinke they to auenge themselues on god , who were he not as merciful as iust , might with a blast consume them into dust . of choller . satyr . . bvt now the cause of mens reuengefull thirst , proceeds from rash vnbridled choller first : which passion flowes from imbecillity , and brings vs vnto much absurdity : yea those that are infected with this crime , are in a manner mad-men for the time : 't is a short fury , where-with man possest resembles most a wild vntamed beast : it makes him foolish , quite besides his wit , doing and speaking many a thing vnfit . those men in whom i find this passion raigne , i haue oft seene to storme for things but vaine , yea , and as if they had some greeuous crosse chafe out of measure for a penny losse , and fret as much in loosing of some toy as if therein consisted all their ioy : this too i noted in a chollerick man , ( let any one disproue me if he can ) they are not onely apt for to beleeue , any report that may occasion giue ; but in light matters if they should contend , would pick a quarrell with their dearest friend : yea i haue seen where friends , nay more , where brothers that should & haue bin dearer far thē others : these i haue knowne in choller e'ne like foes . mingling sharpe words , with farre more sharpned blows . when they are in their fit they do not spare , any degree ; no reuerence , nor care doth then remaine ; thei 'le speake though they be sure , their heedlesse words , not foes alone procure , but loose their friends : nor doe they in that case , respect the time , the company , nor place : besides there is this ouersight in some , where choller doth the reason ouercome : they doe not onely blame him that offends , but are displeased euen with their friends , and all that are in presence or in view ; i haue obseru'd it often to be true : then if that any should but tell these men , their anger were without iust reason , then , although it be so and thy know it right , their fury is the more increast with spight : they cannot brooke ●ontroule , nor yet can they endure that a man should nothing say , for then indeed t is presently suspected , he cares not , and his anger is neglected : and in some masters i haue noted this , wherein they doe in my conceit amisse : if they but thinke their seruant doth offend , he must not his suspected crime defend , guilty or no ; but yeild it an offence as if men still were slaues ; but surely hence , springs this abuse , in whom this humour passes : choller beares sway , and they are wayward asses : who though they haue read some strict rules in cat● were neuer schollers , to diuiner plato : oh anger is a wondrous headstrong passion , that hath a beastly , frantick operation ; from which , how can we any man release since we must neither speake , nor hold our peace ? some will be angry , if they cannot make , another their opinions for to take . others haue meanings but they cannot shew them , yet are displeas'd , with those that doe not know and i haue seene ( that anger may be holy ) them : a good man mooued for anothers folly ; yet in such cases let not any chafe , but pray ( as i doe ) they may mend and laugh ; me thinkes they should be men vnfit to weild the sword of iustice that do basely yeild , vnto so brute a passion ; yet haue we some gouernours that ouer-ruled be by this , and worse affections ; yea some now haue charge of others , that doe worse know how to guide themselues : the angry magistrate , to be aueng'd on him whom he doth hate , for priuate causes drawes the publike sword , and all the rigor that the lawes affoord must serue his choller ; such there be , so many you cannot misse one , though i name not any . now diuers doe affirme such men as be hasty , ( so they tearme this infirmitie ) are the best natur'd : who that lesson taught ? if they be best i le sweare the best be naught : moreouer there be many doe suppose , it is a signe of courage ; what meane those ? where is their iudgements ? they me thinkes should gather that it were weakenesse did produce it rather , or else why should the feeble and the sicke , women and children be most chollerick ? againe there 's some ( whose iudgement is as rude ) doe thinke that anger quickens fortitude : but that 's a vertue surely will deny , with such a vice to haue affinity : thou that hast iudgement , tell me , can it be , that fortitude and anger may agree ? i thinke it not , for why , the one is steady , and rul'd by reason , t'other rash and heady : the one doth nothing but on consultation , the other cannot take deliberation : and therefore if that we be well aduis'd , it is a humor ought to be despis'd : and though some thence much help may seeme to gather , to whet on fortitude , it hinders rather : yea t is a strange vnreasonable passion , that brings the owner cleane beside all fashion ; making him speake if ought but discontent him , yea doe the thing of which he shall repent him , and of a friend if i might chuser be : i 'de rather haue a man that 's mad then he : some say 't is inflamation of the blood , and may with carefull heed be soone withstood ; but their 's so few that seeke to stop this ill , that most do let it runne at randome stil : and very faintly yeeld to the inuasion of this wild passion , on the least occasion , but he indeed that would a medcine find for this disease , must haue a setled mind , not giuing credit vnto all reports ▪ nor yet delighting in vaine toyes , nor sports : on dogs , or hawkes his mind must not be set , so much , as for their losse to chafe or fret : he should not fancy fuch fond idle trash , but euer taking heed of being rash ; athenodorus good aduice embrace , and follow cotis that wise king of thrace , whereby he best shall quench this passions tinder , and many an angry fumish fit may hinder . of iealovsie . satyr . bvt though these angry-ones soon breed a braule and are pernicious to conuerse with-all . not one ●ot better is the iealous-head , that thinks his friend , and 's wife are still a-bed : this passion , ( as it plainely doth appeare ) proceeds out of a too-much loue with feare ; loue in a match procures the highest bliss , that for vs men on earth ordained is : but adde a feare of loosing of our ioy , and that we loue so dearely , 't will destroy all our delights ; and strewing good with ill , makes that seeme lost which we haue with vs still : thus doth it often with the iealous proue , vvho carefull in the choosing of his loue , hath gotten her that is not faire alone ; but modest , wise , and curteous , hating none , nor yet affecting any but her peere , for which good parts , her husband counts her deere , as well he may , her vertues he 'll vphold , dares sweare she will not be allur'd with gold . honor , nor beauty ; but as she is chast so hee 's perswaded will be to the last ; and to himselfe so well he seemes to thriue , he thinkes his owne the happiest choise aliue , 't is good : thus for no hurt , he wiued well ; but soft there , there is an after part to tell ; this man when he by daily proofe doth see , his wife no other then a wife should be , it so augments his loue to that extreame , he knowes not if he be awake or dreame ; now doth this loue ( for loue will euer doe it ) for a companion take in feare vnto it ; a feare of loosing what he loues so much ; and then the nature of this feare is such , that it begets suspect ; which creeping in doth by a little at the first begin to make him doubt his spouse doth loosely liue ; whereto vpon a slight report to giue firme credence he seemes loth ; but yet ere long he doth ( but ) think perhaps she doth him wrong , which if he doe , that one false thought 's enough , to giue all former truths the ouerthrow , and why ? suspect growes thereupon so great , see thrusts true iudgement , quite besides her seat : which being done , then straight begins to wane , the good conceit he of his bliss had tane ; for if his friend doth to his house repaire , he thinkes t is onely , cause his wife is faire : but if 't be strangers , he durst pawne his life , there 's some compact betweene them & his wife : yea though their busines to himselfe he find , he thinks t is b●t a hood to keep him blind ; then all the sweet he had is turn'd to sowre , faine would he think well , but hath not the powre ; much care torments his heart , and yet he will , be prying farther to encrease it still : yea , he will seeke , although he truely know , the more he seekes , the more he findes his woe : beside , suspect receiueth in the head , all things that may be mis-interpreted , and the best thought her vertue 's like to winne is onely this : it seru'd to cloake her sinne . in briefe , his liking thus he marreth quight , and there he loath's where once he tooke delight ; but wherefore ? onely cause he doth mistrust , and not on any proofe , that she 's vniust : vnhappy woman haplesly to wed so meere a sot , and such a iealous head ; an owle-eyed buzzard , that by day is blind , and sees not things apparant ; yet can find that out which neuer was . the feare to loose the iewell he aboue all iemms did chuse , that feare , i say , of wit doth so bereaue him , he thinks that 's gone which means not yet to leaue him : oh foolish man , that hauing gain'd a bliss , doost mak 't a curse by vsing it amiss , if iudgement be not blinded in thee ? looke ; try if thou hast not all this while mistooke : is not thy wife still faire ? and to the eye seemes she not yet to haue that modesty , thou didst commend her for ? is she not wary with whom she walks , or speaks , or where to tarie ? is she not still as willing for to please ; as louing toe , as in her former daies ? in shew he sees it , but he thinks 't is fein'd , out blockish dolt that art most iustly pain'd : thou but a few supposed shadowes hast , that makes thee to account thy wife vnchast , but many firme substantiall proofes make cleare , that shee 's vnstain'd , and ought to be as deare as e're she was ; why should an ill in thee make her seeme so , vnlesse she euill be ? a woman that is faire , shall much be view'd , and haue perhaps vnlook't for fauours shew'd , she shall be courted where she will or no , nay be resorted to ; and though she show scarcely so much as common curtesies she shal be censur'd by misiudging eyes , and false reports will fly ; but what of this ? shall he that hath had triall what she is , and ne're saw ought amiss , shall he , i say , cast all the good conceit he had away ; and streight grow iealous , trusting the surmise of the lewd vulgar more then his owne eyes ? it were mad folly ; and yet i doe knowe some that are thus besotted , more 's their woe . and pitty 't were but they had horned him , were 't not a greater pitty so to sinne : should you but sit with such a one at table , to hold from laughter you were scarcely able , to see what note the iealous wood-cock-takes , of his wiues words , and euery looke she makes , in what a feare he eates his meate , and drinks : what signes he vses , how he nods and winks , with twenty scuruy gestures ; though he see no reason he should so suspicious be : now some haue cause enough , but that 's all one ; why should men striue to hold what will be gone , vexing themselues so for anothers ill , which they can neuer help ? let him that will : but this is true , to seeke for to restraine a womans will , is labour spent in vaine ; and he that tries to doe it , might haue bin , one of the crew that bedg'd the cuckow in . why should a man go put himselfe to paine , as some haue done , a iourney for to faine ? and then at night come lurk about his house , where , be it but the stirring of a mouse he doth obserue it : wherefore doth he so ? since if thereby he ought amisse doth know , the greatest good that he shall thereby find , is more vexation to molest his mind : for then the mischiefe he but fear'd before , hee 's certaine of , and need not doubt it more : a goodly meed , but sure those wretched elues , take pleasure in tormenting of themselues ; they hearken , watch , set spies , and alway long to heare some tales or inckling of their wrong : and he that can but whisper some such fable , shall be the welcom'st guest that sits at table , though it be ne're so false ; they loue so well to feele the torture of this earthly hell : but i doe muse what diuell keeps their heart , they should affect the causers of their smart ; those euer-buzzing-deadly-stinging flies ; those that of echoes onely can deuise a formall lie. what if 't be true they say ? it is a meanes to draw thy loue away from her thou ow'st it to ; and that 's a crime , cause she must be thy best belou'd a time , better or worse , be sure thou must abide her , till from thy selse the death of one deuide her : then tell me were it not by much lesse paine ; a good opinion of her to retaine ? could'st thou not be contented by thy will , at least to thinke that she were honest still ? yes sure in heart thou would'st be glad , vnlesse that thou wer 't voide of sense , or mad : why shake off all these claw-backs then that vse thy soone-beleeuing-heart for to abuse ; for ( trust me ) they , are but some spightfull elues , who cause they haue not the like blisse themselues would faine marre thine ; or else i dare be bold , if thou the truth couldst warily vnfold , they are some lust-stung villaines , that did court thy honest wife to some vnlawfull sport : and finding her too-chast to serue their turne , whose euill hearts with foule desires did burne , to spight her ( being far more euill doers , then daniels elders , faire susannaes woers ) to thee they doe accuse her of an ill , vvhereto they sought for to allure her will : nay , this i wish thee whatsoe're he be , that of such dealings first informeth thee ; beleeue him not what proofes so ere he bring . do not giue eare to him for any thing : and though he be the nearest friend thou hast , from such like knowledge shut all sence vp fast ; flye and auoid him as thou wouldst the diuel , or one that brings thee messages of euill : let him be to thee as thy deadliest foe , a fury , or some one thou loathe'st to know ; and be assured what soere he shewes , he is no friend of thine that brings that newes , so if that thou wert his most deadly foe , for any wrong i● were reuenge enough . now some men i haue noted loue as well , the husbands faults vnto the wife to tell , and aggrauate them to : as if thereby they either meant to feed their iealousie , or else stir vp their vnbeseeming hates , against their guiltlesse well-beloued mates : but of these monsters ( fairest sexe ) beware of their insinuations haue a care : beleeue them not they wil coyne tales vntrue , to sow foule strife betwixt your loues and you out of ill-will : or else heere is my doome , they hope to get into your husbands roome by the aduantage of the discontent they 'll worke in you , but their intent they 'l soe disguise , that you shal neuer spy them ▪ til you are snar'd too fast for to deny them : but oh you creatures that for excellence , haue reasonable for a difference , auoid this passion ; if your wiues be ill , aduise them well , but let them haue their will , for curbing makes them worse , and their condition indeed is such they cannot brooke suspition ; restraine them not i say , for as the pouder , being fast stopt makes the report the louder , sending the bullet with the greatest force , so he ●at seekes to barre a womans course , makes her more eager , and can ne're out-striue her , but on she wil because the diuel doth driue her . let those that are so matcht then patience take , and there are none shal know their heads do ake , but beware chiefely that no false surmises , or flying tale some enuious head deuises , make them to wrong their chast and modest wiues , who haue with vertue led vnspotted liues , for though some stand vnmoou'd for that 's the way , to make a woman soonest go astray : but now i think on 't , i do wonder why , the greatest part brand him with infamy , that is a cuckold ? since that all men know , it is not his offence that he is so , i neuer heard a reason for t it 'h schooles , yet sure t is this , the greatest part are fooles : but now i will conclude these i ealous humors , which part i found b'experience , part by rumors ; i feele it not , yet know it is a smart that plagues the mind and gripes the very heart , yet i could wish but for the others sake , their thought-tormenting-paine might neuer slake ; for there 's none iealous , i durst pawne my li●e , but he that hath defil'd anothers wife . of covetovsnes . satyr . . bvt of that passion how mist i to tell , the same that brings her pedigree from hell ? cal'd auarice , a humor vile and base , and yet as common as to haue a face : i muse it scap't , i say , since i le be plaine , i looke not vp but see where it doth raigne ; many i know , and yet indeed but few , that can this slauish dunghill-vice eschew ; i neither can excuse sex nor degree , young folks , nor such as middle-aged be : nay i perceiue them giuen most to craue , vvhen they had need to dig themselues a graue , like earth-bred moles they scramble in the dust , not for the treasure that shall neuer rust ; but for vile cankred drosse is all their care , as if the same their summum bonum were . when all that they haue with their labour bought in my opinion is not worth a thought : i haue knowne chuffs , that hauing well to liue , yea and sufficient for to lend and giue : will naith'less toyle , moile , and take more paine , then a iewes bond-slaue , or a m●●re in spaine ; all day they brooke the raine , haile , frost and snow , and then as if they had not drudg'd enough , they lie and thinke all night with care & sorrow , how they may take as little rest the morrow . 't is strange their minds so much for gold should itch and being gotten that it should bewitch ; it is by nature in a prison pent , vnder our feet i' th' basest element : and shall we pluck't from dungeons , filth , and mire to giue 't the chiefest seat in our desire ? 't were want of iudgement , but braue spirits know t is base , and therefore doe account it so . i haue heard those say that trauell to the east , where this beloued mettaile hath its neast , that in those places where such minerals be is neither grasse , nor herbe , nor plant , nor tree ; a cursed soile ; and this at home i find , that those which too-much do imploy their minde about that trash ; their hearts are ( i le be bold ) as barraine as the earth where men digge gold . this humor hath no bounds , t is a desire , ( or disease rather ) nothing can expire ; 't is hell , for had it all the world , yet , it longs asmuch as if 't had ne're a whit ; a boundlesse gulfe : and i lament their paine who haue this neuer-quenched thirst of gaine ; so bottomelesse a whirle-poole that receaues still , yet the self-same roome still empty leaues ; hee 's mad that food to such a vulture giues that 's neuer full ; and e'ne as good fill siues that haue no bottome , as for to endeauor , to glut a monster that will hunger euer : yet men still striue although it be in vaine ; and though they feele their longing still remaine , they 'l weary out themselues like him that drinks brine , or salt water , and still thereby thinks to slacke his thirst at last ; though he feel 't more augmented , at each draught then t was before : yea , wealth doth as much lessen this desire of auarice in men , as flames of fire alay the heate : besides , though they haue store , this makes them to themselues exceeding poore ; and howsoeuer they may seeme , yet such vntill their dying-day are neuer rich ▪ they very seldome haue respect or care to promise , or religion ; thei 'l not spare to wrong their neighbour , friend , or god himselfe , thereby for to increase their cursed pelfe : they neither reuerence the right of lawes , nor are they touched with the poore-mans cause : they would be well content to shed their blouds , loose soule and heauen , for to saue their goods : to talke to them of better things 't were vaine , for they are onely capable of gaine ; they neuer liue in true societie , nor know they friendship , loue , or pietie ; and in a word , those that are thereby led , neuer doe good till they are sick or dead . and therefore with these vermine i wil place them ▪ that serue to no vse till that we vncase them ▪ i haue obserud ' that such mens children be , borne many times to greatest misery ; for they haue neither mean es nor education , according to their kindred , state nor nation : vvhereby we see that they do often run , into vild actions and are quite vndone ; so then , these greeue to heare they do amisse , but nere consider that their fault it is ; 't is greedines that makes a man a flaue , to that which hee should for his seruant haue , and teaches him for to esteeme of more , the vicioius-ritchman , then the honest poore , alas ! how many are there i could name , iniurious villaines ; that for to defame , or wrong another would forsweare saluation , as if they thought that there were no damnation ? prouided that when they their conscience straine , it be out of a hatred or for gaine : yea there be idle theeuing rogues a many , that haue no vertue , nor wil nere haue any : yet for their wealth shall highly be respected , when honest men their beetters , are neglected , and then●we also see that most men do , put many worthy titles on them toe , that such base scummes must oft entreated be , with good your worship , and with cap and knee : but sure the world is now become a gull , to thinke such scoundrels can be worshipfull ; and yet in these dayes , if that men haue ritches , though they be hangmen , vsurers or witches , diuels-incarnate , such as haue no shame , to act the thing that i should blush to name , doth that disgrace them any whit ? fie no , the world it meanes not for to vse them so ; there is no shame for ritch-men in these times , for wealth wil serue to couer any crimes : wert thou a crooke-back-dwarfe , deform'd in shape ; thersites like , condition'd like an ape : didst neuer do a deed a good-man ought , nor spake true word , nor had'st an honest thought , if thou be ritch , and hap to disagree with one that 's poore ; although indeed hee bee in euery part a man and hath a spirit that 's truely noble , able for to merit euen praise of enuy ; yet if thou wilt seem a man far worthier and of more esteeme , although thou canst inuent no means to blame him yet i can tel a trick how thou shalt shame him , and that 's but this , report that he is poore , and there 's no way for to disgrace him more ; for so this passion doth mens iudgement blind , that him in whom they most perfection find , if that he be not ritch they count him bace , and oft hee s faine to giue a villaine place . moreouer the desire to gaine this pelfe , makes many a braue man to forget himselfe : some i haue knowne that for their worthy parts , their vertue and their skill in many arts , deserued honor ; and ( if any can iudge by the outward looke , the inward man ) for to command men they me thought were born ▪ and seem'd a slauish seruitude to scorne ; yet haue i seene when such as these ( alas ! ) in hope of gaine haue croucht vnto an asse , obseru'd a dolt , and much debas't their merits , to men of vulgar and ignoble spirits ; how many of our finest wits haue spent , their times and studies in meere complement ? greasing with praises many a fat-fed bore , of whom the world thought too too well before : how many now that followed mars his troope whom force of death could neuer make to stoope ? nay more , how many of our graue diuines that should seeke treasure not in earthly mines , what store i say of these , against the haire , ( as goes the common prouerbe ) can speake faire , flatter for gaine , and humor such base groomes , as are not worthy of their horse-boyes roomes ? they wrong themselues , but those are counted wise that now a daies know how to temporize : i cannot brooke dissembling : and i vow , e're i to any golden calfe would bow , flatter against my conscience , or else smother that which i know for truth , to please another , e're i for gaine would faune to please a clowne , or feed great fooles with tales of the renowne of their reputed fathers , when ( god mend them ) thēselues haue nothing why we should commend them , and ere i le coine a lie , be 't ne're so small , for eu'r a bragging thraso of them all in hope of profit ; i le giue vp my play , and fall to labour for a groat a day ; and for my clothing in a mantle goe , and feed on sham-roots , as the irish doe ; for , what contentment can in riches be , vnless the body and the mind be free ? but tush what 's freedome ? look where gold beares sway , it takes that credit , yea and wit away ; corrupts the iudgement , and can make the lawes oft-times to fauour an vngodly cause : besides , a worldly mind doth so affect , where wealth abounds , & beares so much respect to those that haue it : that their vice they deeme to be a vertue , and so make it seeme ; for , say they vse extortion , no men more , vndoe their country , hurt and wrong the poore , be damn'd vsurers , and keep a house , that yeelds not crums enough to feed a mouse : yet they 'l not say hee 's couetous ; oh no , hee 's thrifty , a good wary man , or so . another though in pride he doe excell , be more ambitious then the prince of hell ; if his apparell be in part like vs , italian , span●sh , french and barbarous , although it be of twenty seuerall fashions , all borrowed from as many forraine nations ; yet hee 's not vaine , nor proud ; what is he than ? marry a proper , fine , neat gentleman , or if he be a drunkard that can swagger , goe daily armed with an alehouse dagger , quaffe soule-sick-healths vntill his eyes doe stare , sing baudy songs , and rounds , and curse and sweare ; though he vse gaming , as the cards and dice , so out of measure that he mak 't a vice , turne his owne house into a filthy stewes , keep whores , and knaues , and baudes , as that 's no newes yet if he be a rich man what is he , a rude ranke ruffine if you aske of me , a ruffin ? guep iack sauce-boxe with a wannion , nay hee 's a merry and a boone companion , this is the worlds censure . yet beside , another qualitie i haue espide ; for those diseases they doe shun the poore , they doe abhor a rich-man ne're the more : him i haue knowne that hath disdain'd to sup water , or beere , out of a poore mans cup , for feare of poysoning , or some thing as bad , although he knew no malady he had ; and yet haue i , seene the same curious asse , pledging a rich-man in the selfe-same glasse : when he hath knowne the party ( if you please i le speakeplaine english ) had the french disease : but as the prouerb saith , birds of a feather vvill alwaies vse to flock and feed together : i haue oft mused and doe still admire , that men should hurtfull riches so desire , for weigh it well and you shall find it fils , the owner of it with a thousand ill 's , much worse then these forenam'd : for why we find , it choakes and mar's the vertues of the mind : then we perceiue it greatly doth annoy , vexes the heart , and hinders the true ioy would else be there ; and as it may appeare , loads vs with diuers troubles , cares and feare : it makes vs to grow arrogant , vniust , drawes vnto pleasure , and prouokes to lust : more hopefull for to practise villany , then for to further vs in honesty , it nere contents the owners that enioy it , and those that haue it many times employ it to corrupt iustice ; or for to allure , matrons , or virgins , to an act impure : it hires murthers , and makes men seditious , full of suspect , and enuie , or ambitious : yea it breeds claw-backs , pick-thanks , flattery , makes many theeues and causes periury : it hinders knowledge , for most that haue lands , liue neither by their wisedome nor their hands . they follow sloath and pleasure , not the schooles , and that 's the reason there 's such wealthy fooles : these are the fruits of wealth ; yet that alone seemes now the fairest marke of euery one to make his course for ; and which to attaine , or keep once gotten , we refuse no paine labor nor danger ; yet it doth appeare , they think that all , which they were plac't for here : now ther 's a counterpassion vnto this , which to speake something of 't were not amisse : those , subiect therevnto , haue got a fashion , that 's quite contrarie to the former passion . fore'ne as greedy men are set on fire , with an vnquenched and a soule desire , of hourding riches ( god in heaven amend them ) so doe the other hie as fast to spend them : their 〈◊〉 diuers ; some vaine-glorious asses . consu●n't in gaudy cloathes ; and looking glasses ; others blowne vp e'ne with the selfe same bellowes seeke to obtaine the loue of all good fellowes ; these at the althouse haue their daily pots though they be there or no. and looke what shots , are in their chambers spent , be 't nere so many , he doth them wrong that thinks to pay a penny ; these feast at tauernes their supposed friends , that pay with , thankes , we nere shall make 〈◊〉 : yea , and in more things they haue lauish bin , but those are pathes i'uc no experience in , yet such as they ere many yeares be past , will wish ( i warrant ) they had held it fast , when for their kindnes and their former cheere , they hardly shall procure a cup of beare . but there must needs be some men prone there to , or how a diuell shall our sharker doe ? yet can i not say rightly that these be , from auarice and greedinesse quite free : for though they doe consume it knauishly , and spend it on vaine pleasures lauishly , they gladly would their euill course maintaine , and therefore ouerslip no meanes of gaine , for they haue vsed ( by their owne confession ) secret and open robberies ; oppression , and diuers tricks which show this spending vice , may haue some reference to auarice . others there are , ( but few ) who hauing store , neglect their wealth , and rather would be poore ; and why ? it stops the way to heauen they say ; sure being misimployed so it may : and therefore rather then they should abuse it , 't were good they had it that know how to vse it : for such are lightly weake in resolution , and men but of a simple constitution , or are by some seducing villan taught , that their goods ( rather then their good ) haue sought : now i suppose the man that well obtaines his wealth , and in an honest calling gaines , more wisedome shewes in vsing it aright , then such a cynnick as contemnes in quite . men will be in extreames ; but sure the lesse , is to neglect wealth , for much greedines , makes not the body onely , leane and foule , but also spreads infection to his soule , and clogges her so with things of no account , that she is ouer-poyz'd to much , to mount . but those that for to goe astray are loth , vse their endeuours to auoide them both . of ambition . satyr . . here 's yet another cal'd ambition , little with men of low condition , but 't is a humor which doth euer search , the stout-high-minded , and doth alway perch in men of spirit . this doth farre surmount , the force of loue ; it maketh no account of nature , nor religion ; 't is not law , nor conscience , that can keep such men in awe ; ther 's no estate contents them ; peace and strife are both alike to them ; yea death and life : wiues , children , friends , nor none but such as may ▪ be vnto their ambitious plots a stay , shall be respected ; and so they may reape , what they desire , the 'il not stick to heape murther on murthers ; yea and think 't no sinne , be it of strangers , or their nearest kin : they haue such flinty breasts they can out-beard , danger it selfe , and be no whit afeard ; proud daring spirits ; yet we see , confusion , of such high minds doth prooue the sad couclusion : and he that first was ruin'd by this euill , was our grand foe which wee doe call the diuell : for he aspir'd so high , that higher powers , wrought his iust fall , and now he seeketh ours ; he first infus'd this ill into our brest , for to disquiet and disturbe our rest . this most vnreasonable , strong desire ; this too excessiue longing to aspire to honour and promotion ; which indeed doth from a sottish ignorance proceed ; it is the wild'st and most disorderd'st passion , and a great enemy to contentation , for whatsoeuer state man hath attain'd t is e ' ne as if that he had nothing gain'd ; for he hath hereby still a farther i cope , and neuer reaches to the end of 's hope ; that which he doth possesse he neere respecteth , but altogether things vnknowne affecteth , and counts them best ; which whatsoe're they being once gotten too , are not esteem'd : but what 's the reason that they doe abhor , sseem'd , the things possest that they haue labor'd for ? what is the cause i say they doe contemne , ( or cannot vse ) things hauing gained them ? sure hence it doth proceed ; they doe not know vvhat the things are that they doe long for so . and they obtaine them oft , e're they haue might , and reason fit to gouerne them aright : had many of our reaching yeomanry , that haue growne wealthy through good husbandry , and some of our proud gentry , that haue sought titles , and vndeserued honors bought ; had they , i say , before-hand knowne the shame , and beggery that followed on the same , for want to knowing where to they aspir'd they would not haue those dignities desir'd , and so indeed they might haue walk't the street , and not haue feard the counters nor the fleet : yea and with good-man haue contented bin , where now there 's scarce a good man of the kin . ambitious men wil euer enuious be ; regarding neither loue nor amity , and though that they may make a goodly shew , with reason it can neuer stand i know , they should be faithfull , or with iustice deale , either for princes or for common-weale : for why this humor makes them to attend , and all their labours and best counsels spend , in their owne plots ; and so they haue no losse , they care not whose proceedings they do crosse ; vertuous endeauors this doth also let , yea makes men many a good thing to forget : and though i 'me loath to speake it i protest i thinke it raignes not in the clergy least , for they at first shew great humility , while that they are of meane ability : thei 'l be industrious and take paine to teach , for twise a week shal be the least thei 'le preach : or in their pouerty they wil not stick for catechizing , viziting the sick , and such like dutious workes of piety , as do belong to their society : but if that they can reach a vicarage , or be inducted to some parsouage : men must content the mselues and thinke it well , if once a yeare they heare the sermon bell : now if it be a deanery or so , if not in twelue months it is oft enough , and why ? alas consider that deuotion , is but a busie thing that lets promotion , and if that they should giue their minds too 't all who should haue their great places when they fall ? no , no , t were fitter they their ease did take , and se what friendes and patrons they can make for the next hierarchy ; or learne how to humor and to please the great-ones now ; but , if that they in that aduenture speed , thei 'le be more paineful ; yes , t is like indeed : if they get into their formalibus , and reuerent pontificalibus ; 't is very like i say that we shall heare , they vse the pulpit once in twise a yeare : nay and t is wel if it be done so oft , for this ambition beares men so aloft , they soone forget their duties : and this pride i in the clergy worst of all abide , in them i hold it the most odious , and no ambition so pernitious , eeither for prince , or church , or common good , vvitnesse the beast of rome and his fou'e broo● of clyming cardinals , who from base states , are gotten to be kings and princes mates , yea their superiors . this the diuel makes , his cheefest engine where withall he shakes religions soundnesse ; and rends in it chinks , which he dawbes vp againe with what he think● shall ruin't all in time ; was it not hence , he had his meanes to mar the innocence of romes first bishops ? yes , the church grew strong and flourish't while it was supprest with wrong , but when the worthy emperors embrac't the sacred truth ; and with their fauors grac't their good proceedings ; they then gan to leaue their humble nature off : and closely weaue , vnder a religious shew ( not a bare miter it fits not the successors of saint peter ) a triple diadem ; and such a state , that neuer any earthly potentate enioy'd the like ( yet all with humble preaching ) a long degree i tak 't , beyond the reaching of temporall ambition . but i pray er'e the first beast his time be done away , there rise not vp another monster heere 'mongst our ambitious churchmen ; i should feare a second antichrist , but that i hope they either shall be kept within their scope , or the last iudgement , whose nigh times vnknowne , shall cut him off e're he be wholly growne : but more of these i here omit to speake , because , i thinke there 's no mans sight so weake , but see 's their doings ; yet let none suppose , 〈◊〉 heare meane to defend , or maintaine those that doe our bishops callings disalow . let them that can● for sure i know not how : nor would i haue the world to vnderstand , that i tax all the clergy in the land : or the whole hierarchy : think not so ; for why ; this present age doth yeeld , i know , men that are truely worthy ; i hope many , yea i am sure few times , since christ , had any more knowing or more painefull then some few , and whatsoe're men thinke , yet for to show , though i satyrically carp at those that follow vice and are true vertues foes , i haue not such a spightfull cankred spirit , as to conceale and smother worth and merit : for i le for canterburies grace be bold , out of mine owne experience to vphold , that sea was neuer gouerned as yet , by any one more reuerent or more fit : for ouer and aboue his country cares , wherein he neither time nor counsell spares , besides church busines whereto he applies his mind to further it , what in him lies ; i say beside this publick care at large , few ministers haue , in their priuate charge , showne greater paine : that here the truth i tell , london and lambeth both can witnes well , and thou wert vnhappy london then , when thou didst loose this rare one among men ; yet thou wert blest againe , thy fate did bring , in place of such a father such a king , a maine chruch-piller , and of so great worth , europe can hardly bring his equall forth : and for them both my muse will this put downe , ( who scornes to sooth a king to get a crowne ) had she not thought them to be what she saies , she would haue heere disdain'd to sing their praise : but to go foreword , i do wonder why , men should be subiect to this vanity for i haue seene those that had ritches store , great offices , and fauours , no men more , honor and credit , yea and wisedome to , yet see what an ambitious head wil doe : clyming to high they got so low a fall , they forfeited their honors , liues and all . me thinkes ere they in such an act should stur , t were no't amisse to thinke on aesops cur , who catching but to get a shadow more , did loose the substance that he had before : i might a while vpon example stand , of former times ; but that within this land , the present age , the which i onely view , can yeeld enough to prooue my saying true : and of so many in this kingdome showne , i meane at this time to produce but one : and that shal be the late ambitious plot , the like whereof the world sure yeeldeth not , i meane the pouder treason , and intention , brought ( had not god assisted ) past preuention : yet see ere they could clime to their desire , when they were for to mount but one step-higher ( let god be honor'd for 't ) downe tumbled all , and gaue these hel-hounds a deserued fall : as often as i call to memory , that horrid and detested villany , it makes me sorry such a hellish plot , should scape vnblas'd to be so soone forgot ; but some good wit ere long i do not doubt , vvil vndertake to paint that action out ; and in it owne true sable colour show it , that children that are yet vnborne may know it : and to make plaine that ruine and perdition , are the last periods to conclude ambition : but to that purpose they may labour spend , and per aduenture all to little end : they wil not thinke thereon , for we may see , how lofty-minded stil there 's many be , vvith what desires of titles they haue sought them and at how deare a reckoning they haue bought them : but that with other flowes from vanity , a part essentiall in humanity , vvhich ( if god grant me leaue ) i meane to chase , but must referre it to another place : some haue ambitious heads , but cannot rise , because the want of meanes and friends denies what they aspire vnto : but such are vext , their mind i know is troubled and perplext beyond all reason ; oh strange humor'd men , your folly you wil leaue i thinke , but when ? be with your states content , for do you know vvether you wish be for your good or no ? oyes thinkes one ; if i could once attaine , such offices ; or so much wealth to gaine as this or that man hath ; my wish were ended , and such or such a fault should be amended : but this i say , though they may thinke it strange , vvith the estate the mind doth also change , and when in one thing thou hast thy desire , thou canst not stay there but must mount vp higher and higher stil , vntil thou dost attaine , vnto the top or tumble downe againe : be warned then you that ambitious are , and for to curbe your passion haue a care : else at the length , 't wil certainely deceiue you , but you wil haue your wils to which i leaue you . of feare . satyr . . soft now ; what pasion's this that followes next ? surely i thinke hee 's with a feuer vext , he shakes and lookes so pale ; o me , t is feare ! i le make his humors also to appeare , since i haue found him . this is he that mar's , all our delight on earth : 't is he that bars man the right vse of pleasure . and t is he , that was at first ordaind our plague to be , auoid him you that loue and looke for rest , let a true courage banish him your brest : for this makes not your bodies only num , tremblingly cold , deform'd , and pale become . but 't is a passion vgly , grim , and foule , that doth with greefe e'ne clog the very foule : and comes ( if that i faile not in my skill ) out of a false opinion of some ill , that 's present or to come ; it inly stings , and also for companions it brings both paine and shame ; and diuers haue i seene , that with this feauer haue sore shaken beene ; two but of late whose feare so foolish prou'd , many thereby were vnto laughter moou'd , one came in puffing almost out of breath , as if he hardly had escaped death , and why ? alas ! he thought a whited post , he on a sodaine saw had beene a ghoast : and that surmise did such impression take , that though he after saw 't was but a stake , if yet he do but come that way benighted , he is e'ne with the very place affrighted : th' other came running like a man that 's mad , oh! he had seene the diuel that he had , where in an old house fitting on a block , we lookt and there we found a turky-cock : thus many feare where cause of feare is none , and make themselues a iest for euery one ; yea feare hath made a number so affraid , that they haue oft their dearest friends betraid : for this cause onely i do nere intend , to choose a coward for to be my friend , and if that women be not growne so coy , to scorne to take aduisement of a boy , let them not chuse a coward to their mate , least they repent it as one did of late : for not far off there dwelt not long agoe ( i le tel a tale that many yet do know : ) a gentlewoman not of meanest ranke , whose fauour might haue wel deserued thanke , for that in face and dowry few did match her , many a gallant tride his wittes to catch her : who being kept but narrowly at home , so she were gone she car'd not much with whom ; now see dame fortune that wil seldome part , her fauours vnto men of good desert , brings to the house a fellow that in shew , seem'd worthy of the prize , but was not so ; yet hauing opportunity he tries , gets her good-will and with her thence he flies ; but lo , the parents quickly mist their daughter , rais'd all the towne , and following hardly after . were by meere chance into an old houseled , where this young couple were new gon to bed : you that haue euer in that pickle bin , iudge what a case these naked folkes were in . but what did he ? there leaues his nevv stolne prey , and like a feareful covvard slunke avvay . out on such asses ; hovv could he for shame , so leaue a vvoman to beare all the blame ? and for the greefe s●e suffers vvith her friends , hovv can the villaine make the vvhore amends ? i knovv not : but for playing such a part , 't is certain be hath turn'd the vvenches heart , and she for climing to a cowards bed , hath lost her credit with her maiden-head . such was th' effect of feare . and more , from thence proceedeth cruelty , impacience , breach of our promise , with much enuying together with the hatefull vice of lying ; murthers and treasons toe ; there 's nought so base , so full of villany , shame or disgrace , the feareful would not act with all his heart , to free himselfe from feare of death or smart : yea some would be contented very well , so they might scape death , to goe quick to hell such is their nature ; i my selfe haue seene , feare bring those euils that had else not beene : as it hath brought the plague on some . beside , there 's many a one for feare of death hath dyed : and there be diuers haue so careful bin , to rid themselues from feares which they were in ; that as the ship that doth charibdis shun , they ran on sylla and were quite vndone ; and why ? alas it is the cowards error : to think the present danger ful'st of terror : the feare of euil more tormenteth some , then doth the thing they fear'd whē once t is come men dread what is ; what wil be ; and alas ! many a thing that nere shal come to passe ; if they did only feare apparant things , that likeli-hood of terror with it brings , as troopes of enemies , or theeues , or treason , pirats or stormes at sea ; there were some reason or colour for it then , but they wil quake , at fictions ; at meere nothings ; their hearts ake at their owne fancies : superstitious , at tales of fairies , and of visions , yea i haue seene some heauy and sull sad , because of a poore foolish dreame they had : oh what meanes man that hauing mischeefes store must in his owne conceit needs make them more ? thinkes he those wil not grim enough appeare , vnlesse he apprehend them first by feare ? sure t is a plague the diuel did inuent , to work in man a lasting discontent : and taught it adam , whe revppon he said , i saw my nakednes and was affraid : this is our fault ; but yet i cannot see , a reason why men should so fearefull be : may they not ioy and be as merry still ; with hope of good , as sad with feare of ill ? sure i think yes ; and wil on hope so feed , no ill shal feare me til t is come indeed , for that which likeliest seemes for to betide me , god in his mercy yet may put beside me . and though much proofe hath bred with in my brest , this resolution , yet of all the rest , this last confirm'd it most , for th' other day , when the hard frost had stopt the scullers way , and that the flowing thames with yce was arch't so that the people ouer on it march't , amongst the rest one bolder then was fit , wandring beside the path for want of wit : stept on a peece of yce which with a crack , rent from the maine , and stopt his going back : the ycie fragment ( 't was a heauy token ) swam to the bridge where all the yce was broken , the people look't and he for aid did craue , but oh ! there was no power in them to saue ; which soone conceiuing on his knees he fell , ( i from the bridge perceiu'd him very well ) and lifting vp his handes his ayd implores that sau'd old ionas without sailes or oares ; and see gods mercy when he drew so neere , no hope of safegard seemed to appeare and when that he had three times whirled bin , and that the arch was like to suck him in : beyond our expectation ( in a trise ) there thrusts betweene a greater peece of yce , which comming downe as if it scornd to stay , beat by the lesser for to giue it way , and a while staid it ; but he had beene faine , when that was gone to take his turne againe , had not , next god , the people stood his friend , and sau'd him by a rope that 's some mans end : so this prooues , men may scape a mischeefe now ; when t is so neere them , they perceiue not how , and i do hope this argument is cleere , that we haue as much cause to hope as feare ; more trembling humors i might here vnfold , which , some will be vnwilling to be told , and therefore passe them ; but i do protest , this hurtful monster i so much detest , that i am very loath for to omit , any occasion of disgracing it : yet do i not alow their resolution , that meerely of a hellish constitution , haue such obdurate hearts so hard in euill , they neither seeme affraid of god nor diuell . such i haue noted to , but truely they , are in as bad , but a contrary way . they prate and sweare as if they could affright , and make hobgoblin run away by night , when questionlesse as bold as they appeare , they are perplexed with an inward feare ; yea i haue knowne a trifle or a blast , hath made such champions oftentimes agast . there is a feare that 's good , and hinders sinne , indeed that , euery good man should be in , and there 's a feare that keepes a kingdomes state , from ruine , if it be not taine to late ; t is not a slauish terror , that 's a crime , no rather 't is a wise fore-sight in time : that makes men very heedfull to fore-thinke danger to come , and not as we do , winke at our owne nakednes ; as without care , who spies it , so we see not our selues bare . this feare it is that makes men to prouide against a storme they may the better bide the fury of it ; this 't is keepes off wrong , and makes a city or a kingdom strong , and i much doubt the wanting of these feares , wil make vs smart for 't yet ere many yeares , for since we are become a pretty number , although we can but one another cumber , or serue to make a hubbub , we suppose , there are no nations dare to be our foes , we thinke a wondrous policy we shew , if once in foure years we do take a view , or count the number of our able men , flattring our selues there with ; as if that then ; ( hauing so great and huge a multitude , though we were nere so inexpert and rude ) there were no cause of feare : but a realmes might consists not in the number that must fight , more in their skill , for of good souldiers ten , will foile a hundred vnexperienc't men , such as we are : for , 't is a shame to speake , how wonderfull vnfitty and how weake , this ignorance makes most of vs , except vvhom braue south-hamptons gouernment hath kept in warlike order ; i doe meane indeed our hampshire ilanders , of whom for need a hundred boyes that nere had haire on chin , shal from fiue hundred of vp-landish win both field and towne : by which it may appeare good gouernment with profitable feare vvithin a few short yeares so wel wil thriue , one shal become to haue the odds of fiue : these therefore that haue wisedome for to tell , when they do any thing amisse or well ; stil in this passion obserue a meane , and not to feare nor to presumption leane . of despaire . saty . . no more of feare , for lo his impious brat , lookes now to be admitted ; this is that ; we call dispaire , with ghastly looks he stands , and poisons , ropes , or poin-yards fills his handes , still ready to do hurt ; one step , no more , reaches from hence vnto dam nations dore . this is that passion giues a man instruction , to wrest the scriptures to his owne destruction ; and makes him think while he on earth doth dwel he feeles the very torturing pangs of hell ; it makes men rage , like furies screeeh and houle , with exclamations horrible and foule , like monsters more then men . onely damnation is in their mouthes ; no mercy nor saluation they seeme to hope for : they extreamely feare some monstrous shapes which seeme for to appeare through their imaginations ; and the paine that they in soule and conscience do sustaine , all earthly tortures doth so much exceed , that they haue thought them selues in hell indeed oh what repentant liues , some vow to liue , if god would but once more vouchsafe to giue their health and hope againe : then they would spend their liues , and good , vnto no other end but wholly for his glory : yet there 's now some liuing that haue quite forgot that vow , god giue them grace to looke into their error , or they wil one day find a double terror , some in this agony haue little will , to any thing , vnlesse it be to kill , or make themselues away ; whereto the diuell , the author and chiefe causer of this euill , ( vnlesse that god in mercy him preuents ) is ready to prouide him instruments , i euen quake to thinke what humors be , attending on this hellish maladee ; and for some cause i mean not here to shew them , but pray that all had grace for to eschew them : now some do thinke this passion being taken , can very hardly be again forsaken ; but let none thinke so ; for why ? god in distresse doth neuer leaue man quite without redresse : nor can we say that he hath left vs voyd , of helpe for this , when ere we are anoy'd through satans guile ; for pittying our case , he leaues vs hope of fauour and of grace , if wee 'l lay hold on 't ; which to make more cleare , he let his euerlasting loue appeare , in highest measure , by the sacrifice of christ his sonne for our iniquities ; and also , did not sinne thus make vs blind , for euery greefe of body and of mind , he hath ordain'd a salue : all christians know ( or should at least ) the spring from whence doth flow , a pretious liquor that will quickly cure , our strongest passions , ( if the cup be pure ) or if we do not so presume as stand , and lap it here and there with our owne hand , for that 's the way to sooth vp many a passion , and the all-only cause of desperation ; which from all good-men i do wish as farre , as earth's low center from the highest star , but now dispaire or ▪ , distrust is twofold , one sort of which i haue already told , being concerning matters of saluation , the horriblest and feareful'st desperation , but th' other is alone of earthly things , yet mighty disaduantage with it brings , vvhere it gets entrance ; this makes many loath , to vndertake great matters cause through sloth they do dispaire to reach them ; yea it breeds a carelessnesse in man , and thence proceeds not a few treasons ; for the breach of law , makes many times the subiect in such awe , that he dispaires of pardon for his ill ; and therefore not alone remaines in 't still , but being guilty , for to salue one sore incurs the danger of a thousand more ; and for because he thinkes himselfe vndone , wil for assurance to rebellion runne : besides , there 's some dispairing of their cause , and being brought to triall by the lawes , for some offence are obstinately mute : to these forsooth the commons do impute a manly resolution ; cause thereby , they saue their landes to their posterity ; but sure there is no wise-man wil commend him that so desperately seekes his end ; and wilfully doth cast away him●el●e ( body and soule perhaps ) to saue his pelfe , to some suruiuors ; where as if he bide on hope , and not dispaire for to be tride according to the lawes , he may be cleer'd , and quitted of the danger he so fear'd , as some haue beene : besides , if we indure , but a small paine , if we despaire of cure , ease or amends , 't wil make it seem to be vnsufferable ; whereas if that we haue any hope , the ease we looke to win vvill mittigate the torture we are in ; his winter toyle what ploughman could sustain ▪ if he despaired of his haruest gaine ? and the strong'st army needs must faint and ●ly , if it despaire before of victory . but to conclude it must be vnderstood , dispaires a passion that is no time good , 't is alway hurtfull ; and i can obserue nothing whereto a man may make it serue , vnlesse to helpe a troope of coward fight : for could a man lead them past hope of flight , vvhere they should see there were no remedy , but they must dye or get the victory ; despaire in that case may giue them the day , that would haue lost it to haue run away . of hope . saty . . thrice welcome hope the diuel keep home the tother ( dispaire & feare ar sitting for no other ) this is the passion that of all the rest , we haue most reason to esteme of best : for if it be with good aduise applide , a salue it is god did himselfe prouide to ease not onely euery outward greife , but when the very soule doth want releefe , it wil redresse her paine , although it were the shaking of that hideous monster feare : oh precious balme ! yea , if that man had power , to take it to himselfe at such an hower , when black dispaire doth pinch him , that indeed would quite expell it ; and he should not need apothecary drugs . but what can wee , apply aright and not instructed be , by gods good inspiration ? nay , 't is true ; we are so farre vnlike for to pursue the way we should , that we do follow still , the crooked'st path to loose our selues in ill : this needing hope , we either neuer vse it , or else for want of knowledge do abuse it : yea this that of all passions was the best , is now as much corrupted as the rest ; we must consider then , mans hope is double , one true and certaine : th' other ful of trouble , and most vnconstant : the first hope attends things more immortall , and alone depends , on th' expectation of the certain'st things , and such perfection of true ioy , as brings no trouble with it , this through faith we gaine , and 't is sufficient to make any paine seeme short and easy ; yea it cheares a man , and t is a help , without the which none can endure to liue : but now great store there be , who for because of their infirmity , together through the bad and weake foundation , they build this hope on , make it in some fashion to be blame-worthy : it , cannot indure , nor wil it ( without doubting ) make them sure of what they looke for . now the other kind of hope , which i amongst vs men do find , is of vncertaine earthly things , and this of no continuance and oft frustrate is ; for the best likeli-hoods that may be showne , and the strong'st humane reasons that are knowne , are nothing for to ground a hope vpon ; ( since in the turning of a hand t is gone ) were all the men on earth procured to some easie thing that 's in ones power to doe ; and all were well resolu'd to see it done ; yea , wer 't but one daies work , and that begun , we may wel hope indeed thei 'l bring to passe , so smal a thing as that ; but yet , alas ! none can assure it , for because they know , no warrant from aboue it should be so : and therefore i could wish that euery man , should take vnto him the best hope he can , in all his outward actions ; but foresee , at least on honest grounds it builded be , and therewith be so well prepared still , that if these doubtfull hopes doe fall out ill , he ne're repine , but tak 't as if the same had beene expected long before it came ; and since that fickle trust did nought auaile him , depend on the true hope that shall nere faile him . for that indeed that 's plac'd on wit or strength is vaine , and most vncertaine ; cause at length , how ere it may seeme sure , it will deceiue him , and when he hath most need of comfort , leaue him . besides there 's many to this hope are led , by sundry passions within them bred : as loue , ambition , auarice , and such , 't is true that these will make a man hope much ; but many thereby into errors run so blindly on , that they are quite vndone , cause in their mindes , they hopefully expect , a thousand things which they shall nere effect ; for they giue their desires too large a scope , and doe abuse themselues through fained hope , not hauing plac'd it on a certaine ground ( for then it neuer could be frustrate found . ) but louers hopes , and such as theirs , are bold , on euery paltry trifle to lay hold . and whatsoe're the ambitious doe intend , the hopes they haue to bring their plots to end are drawne frō n' other grounds but their affections which for the most part giue such blind directions , that they , as we may by experience see together with their hopes oft ruin'd be ; but as this passion is now much abus'd , the next that followes is as hardly vs'd . of compassion . satyr . . pitty is knowne a kinde and tender passion , in it owne nature worthy commendation ; and if discretion guide it , well may be of meere alliance vnto charitie ; if not , it then from vertue quickly swerues , and with the rest a like reproofe deserues : now some will muse thereat , such as suppose a man through pitty cannot erre ; but those if they haue any iudgement of their owne , shall say compassion may amisse be showne : yea , and oft is , which they will quickly finde , or else i 'le say their reasons eye is blinde ; first let them tell me , is 't not frequented now , that those the which our country lawes allow iurors for tryall , are oft-times compell'd through a base tender weaknes for to yeeld . vnto this melting passion ? sometime by , a personall respect ta'ne by the eye : sometime for that th' offendor ( it may be , already hath sustain'd much misery : and thinke they not this charity and right ? yet through the ignorance forgetting quite , whilest they an ill deserued life prolong , therein they doe not onely iustice wrong , but by their indiscreete and fond compassion , vnwisely hazard e'ne their owne saluation ; then for their need , or cause they much implore , in common pleas they leane vnto the poore , ( if might o're sway them not , ) and that they trust , ( because they meane well ) may be counted iust : are there not some toe , who would faine be deem'd good common-wealths men ? yet haue misesteem'd that order which for wandring rogues was made , ( and as if they allowd their begging trade ) much pittie those that iustly punisht be , as though it were done void of charitie ? yea they haue dar'd to saie thus much and more , there 's no lawes made now , but against the poore : moreouer , he whose iudgement is so slender , and hath an yeelding heart so fondly tender to stoup vnto this passion , neither spares the lawes of god nor man ; but rashly dares peruert them both ; supposing his intent , shall free him from deserued punishment : these though that god himselfe saies kill ; reply with no alas ? t is pitty he should die : but such as they deserue the selfe same-check he had that spar'd the king of amaleck : for to say truth as vertuous as it showes , a foolish p●tty quickly ouerthrowes , in war an army and in peace a state ; and this i le stand to , 't is as bad as hate , for that and bribes to such a power is growne , iustic● can little in some courts now be showne : yea it is cleere and cannot be withstood , that pitty sometimes hurts the common good , and more we find that god's therby offended , and therefore man must haue this fault amended , and be perswaded 't is his part to see , how farre this passion may admitted be ; for seeme how 't will , all pitty is vnfit , vnlesse gods lawes and mans do warrant it : but i haue noted some kind-hearted asses , worth laughing at , that all the rest surpasses for foolish pitty : but themselues alone , 't is preiudiciall too ; or hurteth none ; to these do you but a tragaedian be , or else recite some ancient historie ; if that the matter which you do relate be sorrowfull and somthing passionate , though it were done a thousand yeares agoe , and in a country they did neuer know , yet wil they weep ( kind-hearts ) as if those men , were of their friends ; and that thing told , but then before their eyes in action : nay , vnfold some new made tale that neuer yet was told , so it be doleful and do represent some strange and lamentable accident : although not only ( as i said before ) it be a matter meerely fain'd , but more ; though that they know it so , they cannot keep their melting eyes from teares but they must weep i might touch parents , chiefly in the city , that mar their children by their cockering pitty , but other passions call me now away ; and yet before i leaue thus much i le say , those fond-kind parents that take rods from schooles haue almost fild the land with knaues and fooles and those that think we need no pitty rue , let them not hold so stil , for this is true , fond pitty rests in no true manly breast ; and therefore you that are , or would at least be counted men ; be not therewith ore ' borne , for t is a passion that novv women scorne . of crvelty . satyr . . bvt here 's another beares vs farther wide , if we embrace it on the other side ; and therefore whilst we seeke for to beware of foolish pitty , we must haue a care least this do ouer-run vs : t is a thing , whose very name doth seeme enough to bring , all men in the opinion to confesse , t is an inhuma●e hellish wickednes : a monstrous passion , so vnfit to rest or harbor in a reasonable brest that beasts , in whom it rather should remaine , doe for the greatest part the same refraine : and yet as odious as it doth appeare , vnlesse men looke to their affections neere , 't will steale vpon them , and they shall begin , not only to be quickly snar'd therein , although at first they doe abhorre it much , ●ut more ; the nature of this passion 's such , it will begin delightfull ; and it makes so deepe impression in the heart , and takes so sound a root , 't will hardly be displac't , whilst that the body by the soule is grac't : and yet some doe supposer i● may with ease , be left or tooke as eu'ry one shall please , but they are wide , like them that ouer-bold , and trusting to their proper strength , vphold , we neede not this same passion discommend , nature sufficient is to reprehend that fault ( they say . ) and they detest it so , reason can neere haue such an ouerthrow , that they should liue themselues for to defile , with any passion that they know so vile : indeed it is a monstrous villany , and most i thinke can raile at cruelty , yet let none be so carelesse , for 't is true , the odious vices we doe most eschew , grow pleasing by degrees : when hasael vvas told what he should doe to israel , full little thought he then his gentle heart , should euer giue consent to act a part , of such a tragick scaene ; and yet we find , he became after of another mind : for our intents and best affections , be exceeding subiect to vncertaintie : those we thinke surest ; and vnlesse each hower , we be remembred such a state is our we should forget our selues . philip , the sire of that bold grecian king that did aspire to be the worlds third monarch , knew full well himselfe to be a man , yet could not tell whereto he might through humane frailty fall , and therefore wil'd his seruant for to call , thus at his window ( ere the day began ) philip , remember that thou art a man. and e'ne as hatefull as this passion is , to be remembred so , 't were not amisse , but men are stronger now they thinke then he , and much lesse prone to imbecillitie ; but you that thinke so , and you that vphold this needs no warning , 'pray let me be bold for to demand some questions , since there be , so few as you thinke stain'd with cruelty ; is he not mercilesse , that without shame doth rob his neighbour of his honest name by raising false reports ? doth not that lord , that to his tenant grudges to afford , what loue and conscience giues ? or he that takes , the common profit to himselfe , and makes his owne good of it , when he knowes thereby many a poore man 's brought to beggery ? doth not i say that landlord hardly deale ? and is he not vnto the common weale . a cruell foe ? some damned vsurers , that are i thinke the diuels treasurers : ( for by the small vse they of riches make they for another seeme their care to take ) are they not cruell , when they cannot be , contented with their statute vsuree but must encrease their gaines by bribes and guifts , with many subtile and vnlawfull shifts ; pinching poore debtors till their greedy hands haue got possession both of goods and lands ? what are out lawyers that can brooke to see , christians like beasts that still a wrangling be , and yet when it lies in their power to part them , will for their owne gaine vnto discord hart them , keeping them still at strife by adding fuell to maintaine an ill flame ; are they not cruell ? yes verily ; and so are not alone , the mercilesse offenders ; but each one : who when he doth perceiue that there is need , is slacke to doe a charitable deed : and what may they be that employ their care , to pamper vp the flesh with curious fare : largely prouiding for the bodies good whilst the poore soule is hunger-steru'd for food ? they are not cruell ? no , t is like that such that can take pittie on themselues so much , are mercifull to others . you will say to poison men 't were ill , then what are they that by false doctrine fraught with errors foule , seeke to enuenome and infect the soule ? cruell they are ( i know ) you must confesse , but then you 'le say t is not that cruelnesse you vnderstood ; as if you did suppose , none through this passion did offend but those that murtherers be : in truth i thinke that this i here recite , not principallest is . for it from other causes doth proceed , whereas true proper cruelty indeed , is when a man delights and longs to see , or doe , some deed that 's full of crueltee : iust such was his that out of a desire , to see how troy burn't when it was on fire , caus'd rome in many places for to flame , and longing to behold from whence he came , ript vp his mothers wombe ; a passiue right vvas also his , that tooke so much delight , for to behold men strangely tortured , that he out of his bounty promised , a large reward to him that could inuent , the cruel'st and vnusuall'st punishment ; vvhich phalaris demanding , was therefore , the first that made his brazen bull to roare ; and like to this are those mens humors to , that vncompel'd , would make no more a doe to murther , till a country were vnman'd , then doth a schoole-boy with a walking wand , to lop downe thistles tops . now these men be passiuely cruell in the high'st degree : and though the first rehearsed be not so , yet thereto they may very quickly grow : vnlesse they haue oft warning to beware , since they already halfe-way entred are : especially the greedy hungry elfe , that would for profit gladly damne himselfe : for auarice doth harden so the heart ; in any mischiefe he may beare a part . no cruelty the couetous refraines , murther nor treason so he may haue gaines . if that i thought 't would any thing auaile , against this passion i could further raile ; but as it raignes in man experience showes ; so that 't is euill there is none but knowes : wherefore i 'le say no more but onely this , as he is blessed that meeke hearted is : so for the cruell lightly doth attend , a heauy curse , and a most fearefull end . of ioy . satyr . . of all the passions handled hitherto , vvith this that followes i had least to doe : and yet by some small trials i haue had , 't is better i perceiue then being sad : yea 't were the greatest blessing that might be , were 't of it selfe , and from all combrance free : but seldome 't is or neuer ; cause that such , is our estate ; as if that fa●e did grutch the vse of simples ; we almost can finde , nothing to pleasure vs in it owne kind : neuer could any man as yet obtaine ioy , but there follow'd either shame or pain : and he no question that 's allowed most , doth deerely pay for what is quickly lost : but now the reason why mens ioy so soone is chang'd to sorrow ; is because there 's none , or very few that doe their gladnesse found vpon a sollid , firme , substantiall ground : but on such subiects as no maruaile tho , it doth receiue so quick an ouerthrow and hath so sharpe a farwel : for one , ioyes in dogs , apes , monkeis , or some such like toyes , and when they faile , as how can they last long ? their mirth is finish't ; they must change their song . some in their honor all their ioy dooe place , but let them take good heed : for if disgrace , adde the least motion vnto fortunes wheele , sorrow takes place , and little ioy they feele : take but away his substance you destroy the miserable rich mens onely ioy , and soone by sicknesse that delight 's defac't , which man in beauty , or in strength hath plac't : yea all our ioy in transitory things they being lost , at last a sorrow brings : and therefore i wish men to make their choice , of that wherein 't were fit for to reioyce , and not in thinges so friuolous and vaine , they must repent them for their ioy againe . some do so firmely settle their delight on things vnworthy that they are e'n quite bereft of vnderstanding when they see , they must of them againe depriued be : but oh you men ( that haue your better parts , of an immortall frame ) awake your hearts , and from●delight in drosse , and clay , remooue your ioyes ; and place them vpon thinges aboue : so shall you still haue cause for to reioyce , and not with sorrow thus repent your choyce . another fault i in mans ioy espy , which i 'le illustrate by this simily , looke how those men that being calm'd at sea , and forc't the leasure of the winds to stay , halfe starud for food , once cast vpon some shore , where , of prouision they are seru'd with store : i say looke how those men by taking in , to their weake stomacks that haue fasting bin a little food ; do then begin to faint ; and cause their pallates they do not acquaint , with a spare dier , ( although it wholsome be ) through former want and their infirmity it workes their bane ; right so it fares in this , for he that alway in some sorrow is , and tost vpon the boistrous seas of care if for his comfort he be landed there where ioy abounds ; his heart , where ( none hath bin full many a day before ) receiues it in , so out of measure ; that it euen makes the soule vnquiet , and thereby he takes a surfet ; whose strong violence is such , the body faints or is endanger'd much . i need not stand on proofes for this , i trow , since there be many by experience know , at sodaine telling of some newes that 's good , diuers haue sencelesse and amazed stood . yea bin so rauisht with the ioy they tooke , that they haue e'ne their liues and all forsooke , though flesh be fraile , me thinkes if eu'ry man , would striue to curbe his nature what he can ; armes of resistance they might better weild , and not so basely to their passions yeeld : yea it befits not him that ought to be , at all poynts fenc't with magnanimity , to suffer any mischeefe to anoy his mind , through either too much care or ioy ; but let these passions of each other borrow , he may be sad with mirth and glad with sorrow , much i might speake more ( some perhaps wil say ) but here my muse is now resolu'd to stay : yet if heereafter i haue ioy in store , if it be needfull , i wil tel you more . of sorrow . satyr . . of this said passion i may knowledge take , and wel say som-what for acquaintance sake , i heare it is complain'd vpon of many , yet i dare say it seldome hurteth any , excepting those by whom 't is entertain'd , and such indeed haue with iust cause complain'd : for whilest they keepe it they shall neuer rest , 't is so vntam'd and troublesome a guest : yet such a guest , though he his host diseases , 't is thought he cannot rid him when he pleases . yet if that man would vse the meanes he might , sure by degrees he might out-weare it quite ; yea t is his part and duty . for should he , that must on ●arth iehouahs viceroy be ? should he to whom his soueraigne lord hath giuen a countenance for to behold the heauen ? should he , i say , blot out this manly grace , and groueling turne to earth his blubber'd face ? it were a shame : yet more shall he that saith , he is a christian and seemes t' haue faith , for losse of friends ; when there 's no remedy , be passionate in such extremity , that childish teares not onely staines his face , ( which may be borne withall in such a case ) but also raues , growes furious , and extends his griefe past reasons limits ; who commends a man for that say , is it any lesse , then to deny by deed what words professe ? for who would think which fees how he bewailes , the losse of breath that in a moment failes , that he beleeues , but rather thinke 't is vaine , to hope or trust , the flesh shall rise againe ; or that there were , as holy scripture saith , any reward for them that die in faith . it 's a plaine token of a misbeliefe , when christians so ore whelme themselues with greef : and therefore though i doe not discommend , the moderate bewailing of a friend ; i wish the extreame hereof men might despise , least they doe their profession scandalize : beside though as i seem'd to say before , vnles 't be common , 't is no common sore , because it hurts but those that entertaine it , yet were it good if all men could refraine it ; for it not onely makes mans visage be wried , deform'd , and wrinkled as we see , himselfe exiling from the common eye , to vexe and greeue alone , he knowes not why : but also brings diseases with his death , by the vntimely stopping of his breath . ●t makes his friends to loath his company , and greatly hinders his commoditie , for who for dealings in affaires is fit , vnlesse with good will he attendeth it . and howsoere it seeme , yet surely this , as farre from vertue as bad pleasure is , for as through one one we to much euill runne , so many good things th' other leaues vndone : i wonder that this passion should touch , the harts of men to make them greeue so much as many doe , for present miseries ; haue they no feeling of felicities , that are to come ? if that they be in paine , let hope giue ease ; it will not alwaies raine , calmes doe the roughest stormes that are attend , and th' longest night that is will haue an end . but 't is still bad thou saist , take 't patiently , an age is nothing to eternitie , thy times not here : enuy not though that some seeme to thee happy ; their bad day 's to come , and if thou knew'st the griefe they must sustaine , thou would'st not thinke so hardly of thy paine : i must confesse 't was once a fault of mine , at euery misaduenture to repine ; i sought preferment , and it fled me still , whereat i greeu'd , and thought my fortune ill ; i vext to see some in prosperitie , deride and scoffe at my aduerstie ; but since aduis'd , and weighing in my minde the course of things , i soone began to finde the vainenesse of them ; these i saw of late in bliss , ( as i thought ) scorning my estate , i see now ebbing , and the once-full tide that ouer-flow'd the lofty banks of pride , hath left them like the sand shore , bare and dry , and almost in as poore a case as i. besides , i view'd my daies , now gone and past , and how my fortunes from the first to th' last were link't together ; i obseru'd , i say , each chance and deed of mine , from day to day , that memory could keep ; yet found i none , not one thing in my life that was alone : but still it either did depend on some that was already passed , or to come ; yea , the most childish , idle trifling thing , that seemed no necessitie to bring ; in that hath the beginnings oft been hid , of some the waightiest things that ere i did : but cheefely to abate the excessiue ioying , in worldly things ; and to preuent th' annoying of any sorrow , this i noted thence , ( and euer-since haue made it a defence for both these passions ) i haue truely seene , that those things wherewith i haue ioyed beene ▪ highly delighted , and the dearest lou'd , euen those very things haue often prou'd , my cheefest care : and i haue found againe , that which i deem'd my greatest losse , or paine , and wherewithall i haue been most anoyd , and should haue deem'd a blessing to auoid ; that which my heart hath ask't for ; and wherein , i thought me most vnhappy ; that hath bin the ground of my best●ioyes : for which cause , i aduise all men that are in misery to stand vnmou'd , for why they doe not know whether it be to them for good or no : they ought not for to murmur nor to pine at any thing , shall please the powers deuine to lay vpon them : for my mind is this , each sorrow is an entrance into blisse . and that the greatest pleasure we attaine ; is but a signe of some insuing paine . but to be plainer , this our life 's a toy , that hath nought in it worth our griefe or ioy : but there are some base-minded dunghill elues , that sorrow not for any but themselues . or if they doe 't is onely for the losse of some old crest-falne lade ; but that 's a crosse past bearing ; be it but a rotten sheep , or two stale egs , they will such yelling keep , as if thereby had perished a brood , in which consisted halfe the kingdomes good : but i intreat them since it must befall , they would be patient ; who can doe withall ? and also let them of much griefe beware ; for there 's small ods betweene the same and care : and they haue heard ( i need not tell them that ) 't is an old saying , care will kill a cat. then let them take heart , chiefly since they see , none liue but sometime they must loosers be , vvhich is an ease : for i haue heard them tell , with mates they care not , if they goe to hell . but in good earnest now let vs not runne , willingly hereinto as we haue done ; rather auoid it as a hurtfull foe , that can effect nought but our ouerthrow : and yet instead receiue into our breast , an honest mirth , which is a better guest ; and whatso'ere our former griefe hath been , let vs nere sorrow more , but for our sinne : thus with this passion end the rest will i , because it ends not till our end is nigh . the conclvsion . thus haue i labour'd some effects to show , that doe from mens abused passions flow ; which from example of old ages past , and wise-mens sayings , i might more haue grac't ▪ but that i am resolu'd to tie my rimes as much as may be to the present times ; also i might amongst these here haue told , the bodies passions ; as hunger , cold , heat , thirst , and such like ; but their force is seene , and most men haue sufficient carefull beene for to preuent them ; they last not so long , nor are by much so violent and strong , or dangerous as these : but if men knew , or with the eyes of reason would o're view these foule-bred maladies , as sure they ought , they would with greater diligence haue sought the cure of them , then of such slight diseases ; the which their bodies and no more displeases : but now the reason men disturbed are , for the most part with such preposterous care is this ; through their corrupted iudgement they , doe onely on things seene depend and stay ; which being most apparant to the sense , so muffles vp the weake intelligence , and blinds her that she hath no power to see , the better things that more subsisting be ; when if they could conceiue but halfe so well the soules estate , they 'd labour to expell all these corruptions , that may cause her woe , all those fell passions that molest her so : but some men haue in this opinion stood , that eu'ry passion 's naturall and good ; indeed philosophers the same doe call , a motion of the soule that 's naturall ; and in some sort we may not be afraid , for to vphold as much as they haue said : but thus we must distinguish on it then , and make a two-fold passion in men , of which , one sort vnto the best aspires , and that alone , things meerely good , desires , therein reioycing ; moderate , and weake in operation ; and the truth to speake ; we haue it rather by gods inspiration , then bred within vs at our generation : the other , as th' effects thereof doe show , doth by our owne corrupted nature grow ; for it is head-strong , rash , insatiate , wondrous disordred , and immoderate , of which kind these are , whereof i haue spoken , and they are oft the cause mens sleeps are broken ; that 't is which makes them raue , or greeue , or ioy so out of measure for a trifling toy ; yea that 't is onely makes them oft so teasie , their friends seem troublesome , their beds vneasie , and lastly , these are the occasions still , of all misfortunes , and of euery ill ; th' effects they doe produce we also see , contrarie to their expectations be ; for he that hopes , or lookes for to attaine , great ioy & pleasure haps on greefe and paine : but by what meanes may men these passions kill ? sure not by the procuring of their will , as some imagine . for first it may be , a thing that 's not in possibilitie for to be reacht vnto . but say it were , will the ambitious-minded-man forbeare to be ambitious , if he once fulfill his longing thoughts ? no ; he will rather still , encrease that passion which first he had or fall into some other that 's as bad ; for altring the condition or estate , the soules vexation doth no more abate , then changing roomes or beds doth ease his paines that hath a feuer ; since the cause remaines still in himselfe : but how and which way then may these diseases be recur'd in men ? why by philosophy , counsell , and reason , these being well appli'd in their due season may do much good . else seek the cause whence rise , these hurtfull and pernitious maladies . let them consider that , and so they may , cut off the ' ffect by taking it away . but if they cannot the occasions find i le tell them 't is a basenesse of the mind : or els a false opinion that 's in some , of good or euill present or to come . respecting good things thus : they do desire and are to yehemently set on fire ▪ with coueting what seemes so ; or anoying , themselues with an excessiue ouer-ioying , in the obtaining . in regard of ill , they are oppressed with some sorrow still ; so that we see if men would goe about , to change their minds , and driue that basenes out through magnanimity , ( and note well this , that passion but some false opinion is , fram'd by the will , and drawne by the direction of iudgement that 's corrupted by affection ) me thinkes they might by reasons help confound , the former errors that haue tane such ground , in their weake hearts , and learne for to esteeme , that which doth either good or euill seeme : ( and in their soules such perturbation wrought ) as things not good , nor ill , and that which ought , ( being vnworthy ) neither to molest , nor breed such passions in their carefull breast . by these and other such like meanes as these , the wise philosophers in elder daies kept out those furies , and 't were now a shame , if that we christians could not doe the same : hauing besides those helps whereon they staid , a certaine promise of a better ayd , if wee le but aske it : le ts demand it then , to rid these euils from our soules agen . if that we feele them yet not stirring in vs , let vs preuent them ere by force they win vs : for 't is more easie ( eu'ry one doth know ) for to keep out , then to expella foe : if any thinke i from my purpose swarue , cause my intent was chiefly to obserue and not to teach ; let them not blame me tho ; for who can see his friends lie sick , and know which way to cure them ? but you 'l say my skill , cannot instruct you : yet may my good-will be worth accepting , and the other neither , a thing to be reiected altogether : for , i haue seene when in a knowne disease doctors with all their art could giue no ease to their weake patient ; a country dame , hath with a home-made medicine cur'd the same : and why not i , in this ? yes , i le abide it ; being well vs'd it helps , for i haue tride it : thus much for that ; but still there doth remaine some obseruations yet for to explaine ; i haue not done , for i am further task't , and there 's more humors yet to be vnmask't , wherein because i will not step astray nor swerue from truth a iot beside the way , i 'le say no more ( least men should seeme belide ) then what my owne experience hath espide ; and then if any frowne , ( as sure they dare not ) so i speake truth , let them frowne still i care not : but if my muse you should so saucy finde , sometime to leaue her notes , and speak her minde , as oft she doth , when she but haps to see , how vaine , or weake , or fickle , most men be ; yet blame me not , 't is out of the good-will i beare to you , and hatred vnto ill : which when i see , my purpos'd course i breake , because , indeed , i am compel'd to speake : yet thinke not , though i some where bitter be , i count my selfe from all those vices free ; rather imagine 't is to me well knowne , that here with others faults i tell mine owne . the end of the first booke . the second booke . of the vanity . inconstancie , vveake-nesse , and presumption of men. precatio . thou that createdst all things in a weeke , great god : whose fauour i doe onely seeke , e'ne thou by whose sweet inspiration , i vndertooke this obseruation ; oh grant , i pray , since thou hast dain'd to show , thy seruant that which thousands doe not know , that this my noting of mans hum'rous passion , may worke within me such an alteration , i may be for my past offences sorry , and lead a life to thy eternall glorie . let not ambition , nor foule desire , nor hate , nor enuy set my heart on fire , reuenge , nor choller , no nor iealousie , and keepe me from despaire and crueltie , fond hope expell , and i beseech thee blesse , my soule ●rom feare and too much heauines . but giue me speciall grace to shun the vice , that is so common ; beastly auarice : yea grant me power i not onely know , but flye those euils that from passion flow . moreouer now inspire my soule with art , and grant me thy assistance to impart , the rest of mens ill customes , yet remaining , and his vaine humors ; that by my explaining , they may perceiue how odious i can make them , blush at the reading and at last forsake them : so let my muse in this and things to come , sing to thy glory , lord , or else be dumbe . the second booke . of the vanitie , inconstancie , weaknes , and presumption of men. of vanitie . satyr . . my muse , that now hath done the best she can to blaze corrupted passion bred in man , goes further here , and meanes for to vndoe , another knot of ill 's he 's prone vnto ; from which , as out of the main root there growes , all whatsoeuer euill , mankind knowes , with thousands of bad humors , of which some , ( such as to mind by obseruation come ; as also , such as are the proper crimes of these vngodly and disorder'd times : ) she means to treat off : the chiefe heads be these , ( consider of them reader if thou please ) first vvanton , and light-headed vanity , next that , camelion-like inconstancy . then , miserable weaknes ; lastly this , damned presumption , that ore-daring is . but ere i doe begin this worke , that i may speake to purpose with sinceritie , lord i beseech thee help me to explaine , and teach me to contemne the thing that 's vaine , i haue begun in thee this my endeauour , and constancie i craue for to perseuer ; also my knowledge i confesse is weake , yet through thy strength and truth i hope to breake these mires of sinne , from which mankind , kept vnder , must be let loose ( like beds of eelles by thunder ) then that i may man's pride the better see , from all presumption lord deliuer me . likewise disperse the foggy mist of sinne , that to my purpose hath a hindrance bin , and th' euill by thy wisedome i perceiue , lord let thy mercy giue me grace to leaue ; that being free my selfe , i may not coldly , tax others faults but reprehend them boldly . so hauing for this good assistance praid , my muse goes forward trusting to thine ayd , to guide me in the wildernes of sinne , great vanities suruey : for being in , i see now 't is an intricate maeander , in which ( i feare ) i shall confus'dly wander : it is a labyrinth so full of wayes , and seemes so endlesse if my pen o●ce strayes , as doth the fisherman amazed stand , that knoweth not , which way to row to land , when all alone in some close misty day ; far from the hauen he hath lost his way . knowing he may as well strike vp the maine , as turne vnto the wished shore againe ; so i doe feare least this may carry me , into an ocean where no sea-marks be . because what way so ere my course i bend , there vanity i see without all end ; which hath not vnder her subiection gain'd such things alone as are on earth containd , or vnderneath the orbs of ayre and fire , but reaches farther and encroaches higher ; according to his meaning , who said plaine , that all things vnderneath the sunne were vaine : but now i thinke it may a question be , whether the sunne , the moone and starres be free , for sometimes false predictions they impart , or are belyed by abused art ; but of man onely here my muse must tel's who is by much more vaine then all things els . for vanity his reason ouerswayes , not onely on some certaine monthes or dayes , but is at all times in him resident , as if it were his proper accident ; neither doth age , in which he groweth on , any thing lessen the proportion of vanities he had . but in the steed , of some reiected follies there succeed others as bad : for we perceiue when boyes , begin to man , ( asham'd of childish toyes ) these then leaue off , their former idle chat , and foolish games ; but what 's the cause of that ? for being ill ? no ; rather they contemne those bad things as not bad enough for them ; and as one poore , playes first for points and pins , once growing rich leaues that , and then begins to venture crownes , dislikes not gaming tho he shun the first game as not fit enough , for his estate ; so yong men doe forsake , the rope-ripe tricks , that their first age did take cheef pleasure in ; not cause they wicked deem them but being men they think 't will not beseeme them ; then hounds & haukes , & whores a● their delight ; quarrels and braules doe fit their humors right , disordred meetings , drunken reuellings , consuming dice , and lauish banquettings , proud , costly robes , this is the yong mans vaine , the which his elder doth dislike againe , not since ill neither : but because his yeares , him vnto other vanities endeares ; as selfe conceit , much care for worldly pelfe , heaping vp what he nere enioyes himselfe , prone to contentions , much desiring still , be it his weale , or woe , to haue his will. extreamely louing lies , and giuen to prate , yet making shew as if he both did hate : yea old men boast of what they did in youth , vvhich none disproouing we must take for truth : and thousands more or else they are belied , each age is pester'd with ; and yet beside , vanities●proper vnto each degree , millions of thousands i suppose there be . princes haue these , they very basely can , suffer themselues that haue the rule of man , to be oreberne by villaines ; so insteed , of kings they stand , when they are slaues indeed . by blood and wrong a heauenly crowne thei 'l danger t' assure their state heere ( often to a stranger . ) they quickly yeeld vnto the battaries , of slye insinuating flatteries , most bountifull to fooles , too full of feare , and far to credulous of that they heare . so giuen to pleasure , as if in that thing , consisted all the office of a king. but if heere in my harmeles halting rimes , were onely ti'de vnto this place and times , and shold of none but of my soueraigne tell , spight of her heart she could not speake but well ; for ( i suppose ) the truth i must confesse . that vanity no prince ere harbord lesse then iames hath done ; vnlesse corrupted stories , rob's former ages of deserued glories . if any say to sooth i now deuise , his heart i know wil tel his tong he lies , for did i not thinke true what heere i sing , i 'de not wrong iustice for to please the king. great men are vaine toe , in much se●king fames , with nimrod and his mates ; they raise their names by building babels ; yea and they suppose , honour consists in titles and in showes . they thraso-like in parasites delight , that do in presence claw , in absence bite . they vse their pleasures not as pleasures now , or recreations as 't were fit , but how ? 't is all their care , their cheefe and only ioy , in satisfying which ; they doe employ , both wealth and wit and all . if they would take somthing in hand for recreations sake , they are wi●h pleasures so o'recloy● we see , it must be that which their affaires should be , a wondrous vanity ! and their care , is for rich rayment and the curioust fare ; pam●ring their flesh when all is but in vaine , for dust it was and shal to dust againe . then since their euils we seeme not to see , in vaine they think that they wel thought of be ; tush , men their lewdnes cease for to repeat , why : cause th' are faultles ? no because th' are great● but for their vices though now none dare shew the , ̄ vnlesse they mend another age shal know them ; and therefore if they count their honors deare , let them be good as wel as great men heare ; let them leaue vanity and not suppose , the world wil euer blinded be with showes , for that great mighty peere that died so lately , ere while was mighty , powerful , and stately , he was most croucht vnto and oft implor'd , yea almost like a demi-god ador'd ; he onely ( as my selfe haue heard some prate , ) was the vpholder of the brittaine state. and all the wit this kingdome did containe , some thought was harbor●d in his little braine , ahd had he liu'd ( if all be true men say ) he might haue wel beene pater patriae . but now alas hee s gone , and all his fame you sees not able to preserue his name from foule reproach ; but each one breaks his mind which shewes though they winkt they were not blind in spight of all his greatnes , 't is wel knowne that store of rimes , and libels now are sowne in his disgrace : but i heare diuers say , that they are slanders , ( then the more knaues they that were the authors ) but if so it be , he were from those vild imputations free ; if that his vertue 's paid with such a curse , what shal they looke for that are ten times worse ? wel nobles i le the court ere long suruay , and if i find among you such as stray , through vanity or pride ; vnlesse it be , into some small faults through infirmity , if there be no man that dare taxe you for 't , my muse shal do it e'ne to make me sport , for though she keepe but a plaine hobling forme , shee shall haue wit enough to make you storme . i wil not spare you thus , til death do fet yee , but rub you whilst you are aliue to fret yee . yet do not think ● meane to blaze your shame , in scattered libels , that shal want a name . no ; i hate that : i le tell the illes you doe , and put my name for witnesse therevnto . then 't is but fetching me ad magistratum , and laying to me scandalum magnatum , which though you proue not , rather yet then faile , you were best hang or clap me into iaile to stay my tongue ; so much you may do to me , and that 's the worst i know that you can do me . but whether runnes my ouer-sawcy pen ? there 's vanity , besides in noblemen . the gentleman , for some repute but vaine , beyond his power oftentimes doth straine , our yeomen toe that neuer armes haue borne to gentillize it makes themselues a scorne ; but their gaine 's enuy , with a greater charge ; yet of these fooles the catalogue is large . then ere that lesson be halfe taken forth , they must ad knight-hood or 't is nothing worth : mony may get it , therefore many sue it , although with shame and beggery they ●rue it . and credit they expect in vaine thereby , for it turnes rather to their infamy ; because it is bestowne without deserts , and yet in troth our knights haue done their parts . for most haue well deseru'd it , but as how ? brauely in field , en'e in a field at plow . but why looke we in meere humanity , for that which sauors not of vanity , since diuine matters cannot quite be free , but with the same must oft corrupted be ? diuines , striue not so much for to impart , the truest doctrines as to shew their art : the grace their speach more with vaine words for sound , then with graue sayings , needful and profound ; but t is a vaine thing , wondrous full of shame , and in my iudgement highly merits blame , to paint o're that whose beautie 's neuer fuller , then when it shines forth in it proper colour . againe they striue what ceremonies fit and best beseemes the church , meane while omit more weighty matters ; who that 's wise would stand , like many wrangling spirits in this land , vpon such idle questions as they know , 't is no great matter on which side they goe ? and such as best in my conceit befits , none but vnquiet and seditious wits . heere 's my opinion : be they not the cheefe grounds of religion , or the same beleefe saluation comes by , that men go about by their inuentions for to bring in doubt , so 't be not that they touch , ( as sure they dare not ) let all the rest go which way 't will i care not , haue not our lawyers many vaine delayes , vnnecessary writs and idle staies , for to prolong mens suites ? when they might foile , the party faulty e'ne with halfe that quoile , they 'l for their fee relate some pretty tale , like the wise story of old iack i'ith vale , which ( if they once haue thorowly begun ) vndo them quite that tarry til 't be done . iack doe , dick roe with whom y 'ad ne're to doe , thei le bring to help your cause and god knowes who and for your benefit they can affoord , many a foolish sencelesse idle word . which they i know will not account as vaine , since that 't is with a vengeance brings them gaine . besides as i suppose their lawes they pen'd , in their old pedlers french vnto this end the vulgar should no farther knowledge reach , then what shall please their maisterships to teach ; or else they haue the selfe-fame policie , as the professors of damn'd papistry , who sacred writ in forraine tongues conceal'd , least that their knauish trickes should be reueal'd . what can they not in our owne language find , words of sufficient force t' expresse their mind ? that cannot be denied , but t is a trouble , so easily to counterfeit and double in a knowne tongue , when th' other but a few , can vnderstand , but that obstreperous crew . these make the lawes almost to none effect , their courses are so wondrous indirect , to them they fauour they delaies can grant , though iustice her due expedition want . sometimes vpon one matter we may see , that sundry iudgments shal pronounced be ; now there 's a motion granted , next day crost , so fee and labour 's to no purpose lost : and stil the clrent shal be so deluded , that when he hope 's al 's done there 's nought concluded nay though we heare the vtmost sentence past , which by all course of law should be the last ▪ why then , i say , ( though all seeme wholly ended ) yet may the execution be suspended : and for some trifle , to the poore mans terror , be cald in question by a writ of error . so that the right oft yeelds vnto the stronger , vvhen poore mens purses can hold out no longer . oh miserable state ! what should we say ? may not the country think themselues a prey these rauens liue on ? may we not suppose , by their delayes , and some such tricks as those , they practise only for to cheat and gull ; and on our ruines fil their gorges full ? yes questionlesse ; for they , themselues do raise , vnto this height on other mens decayes , not their owne vertu●s ; oh though't be too late , yet let me wish that we had kept the state and simple innocence we once retain'd , for then we had not of this ill complain'd , nor yet those moouers of sedition knowne , ( now to a mony-headed monster growne . ) but since that time is past , we may complaine , yet must nere looke to see those dayes againe , we haue good lawes , but they too , seeme in vaine , since they according to each lawyers braine , may be now wrested too and fro to make the matter good that he doth vndertake ; i 'le say it plainely , and yet not belye them , there 's few but rich-men can haue iustice by them . and pray you iudge now , is not that law vaine ? which when it is enacted ( to restraine , some priuiledge or custome that hath stood as a great hinderance to the publike good ) should of it vertue be so slightly gui'd , as by a licence to be disanuld . moreouer there be some too much to blame , or poenall lawes are onely lawes in vaine , made in terrorem tantum , to affright and not for execution of the right : and i may liken them vnto those logges , that iupiter threw downe to rule the frogges ; at first they come forth with such thundring terror , that we doe tremble to commit an error , but in a day or two they are so still , for ought i see , we may doe what we will , vnlesse that we be poore ; or some despight vs , then peraduenture thei 'le go neere to fright vs a tweluemonth after ; if so long they last , twenty to one then all the furie 's past . did you but note it you would much admire , to see how strictly iustices inquire , on daies of sitting , what abuses raigne , how those they threate that slackly doe complain , how they wil raile and fume , and chafe , and storme as if all evils they would quite reforme within a moment : but things violent cannot you know be long time permanent , nor is their zeale ; for surely ( god amend it ) one twise twelue howers will begin and end it . but why are they so earnest then ? oh know , that the small springs within the dales below , glide gently on , vntill a land-flood fils their empty channels from the higher hils . but when thei 'le swell vntill they can discharge , their burthens in some plaine to runne at large , so these low magistrates , would gladly sleepe , and their owne easie crooked channels keepe ; but when that any streame of ivstice showers , and comes downe to them from the higher powers then peraduenture the 'le grow big a day , and iustice shall haue course the nearest waie : yet in a little space she must be faine , to runne within their winding banks againe . some falsely haue affirmed iusti●e blind , yet i am sure she knows how to finde ( if that she be disposed for to looke , ) who giues her daie-workes by her counting books . nay she knowes capon , turkey , goose or swan and thee i warrant from another man what ere thou be : but whilest she sees so plaine , it is no wonder we haue lawes in vaine , also when officers doe vndertake their charge at first , lord what a quoile they make a drunkard cannot with his capring feete , cut out indentures , as he walkes the streete , but he 's straight stockt for 't , or for his offence , by fining to the poore he must dispence . then those perhaps that slackly doe frequent gods deuine seruice , somewhat shall be shent ; and many other goodly deeds thei 'le do , but these grow quickly weary of them toe . againe , sometimes comes out a proclamation , which threatens , on the paine of confiscation , that no recusant doe presume to stay within ten miles o th' court from such a day , yet sure 't is notwithstanding ment , that some should daily to the presence chamber come , and shroud within a furlong on 't or two ; some great-one's may ; and so i hope they doe , and by their owne authority no doubt , may keepe the rest from danger thereabout , pish , they at such a matter will but scoffe 'cause they know surely how to put it off . yet i 'le not say it is in vaine ; for why the printer's sometime set on worke thereby : and 't is moreouer for our satisfaction . who else might think the state were out of action , but oh you noble english senators our kingdomes guard , and princes counsellors how can you see your labours so mis-vs'd ? or brooke , to haue your soueraigne so abus'd ? doe you suppose that it deserues no blame , to make a scar-crow of the regall name ? and to erect it on some common stall , for to be gaz'd on , to no end at all ? respect it more ; and vse it not for course or fashions sake ; but shew it hath some force . pluck out those vipers that for feare of harme their chilled spirits in your bosomes warme : d' ye not perceiue their stings ? no danger feare yet ? oh 't is apparant let them not shroud neere yee ? for if you doe , 't is doubtlesse the conclusion , if god preuent not will be your confusion . yet all ( for ought i see ) should still remaine , were there not some , who ( out of zeale to gaine more then religion , or their countries weale , ) their scuruie base conditions doe reueale , in begging and in rifling of some few ; but they their owne corruptions rather shew then redresse any . more i here could vtter but i methinkes already heare some mutter , as if i should be sure of r●mes great curse : but then ●'me sure i shall be ne're the worse . yea , let them go to rome , curse , ban , & spare not , i 'le sit at home and laugh ; because i care not , but why doe i of lawes alone complaine , since all man deales in , is in some sort vaine ? religion is with ceremonies stuft , and with vaine-glory and presumption puft , now our almes-de●ds and guifts of charitie , are done for shew and with hypocrisie . yea , al 's made vaine , for if you would but view our vniuersities ; indeed 't is true , there you may yet see , how that heretofore , in better daies , hath been erected store of pallaces ; ( whose curious build are still , a faire remembrance of the worke-mens skill ) which , least that knowledge in the land should fade , vvere by the patrons of good learning made , that there the muses shelter'd from the rages of former , present , and succeeding ages might safely liue and not beholding be to pyren for his hospitality . 't is also true , there wants not , to sustaine their proper needs , nor yet to entertaine such as desire knowledge , there 's enough ; the worthy founders haue prouided so , but of these profits now why make they stay ? best sel 't , or let some courtier beg't away . for publike guifts are turn'd to priuate vses , faire colledges are ful of foule abuses . and their reuenues i account as vaine , because they lazy dunces do maintaine , who to themselues do claime the profits , by nothing but witlesse seniority . such as saue beard ( with reuerence be it spoken ) of profound learning haue nor marke nor token . good founders dreaming not of these abuses , gaue them at first to charitable vses ; but we find now all alter'd , and the dues , the which by right vpon desert ensues , like offices in court , are bought and sould , and places may be had , but how ? for gold , there as else-where they now are growne so bad , without quid dabis nothing can be had , 't is strange to see what auarice can doe , but are the muses taken with it to ? oh no ? for they esteeme such gaine a losse , and their high spirits scorne such earthly drosse ▪ how then ? there are some cormorants crept in , who in their youth pretended to haue bin addicted vnto knowledge : when alas . t is wel seene since that all their purpose was to snort in ease ; augmenting still their store , til they grow wealthy and their houses poore ; foule droanes , whose voices must be hir'd with mony steruing the bees , while they deuoure the hony . but oh you birdes of athens , cleare your hals and driue those lazy hornets from your stals . through them it is men thinke you couetous , they make your groues and walks grow scandalous , but how wil you discerne them ? marry thus , since they haue made themselues notorious i le point them out ; and though their heads they shroud as venus did aeneas in a cloud , i 'le so vnmask them ; if their eares they show you shal be able to say , there they goe . first note them ; there are some by bribes and fees , can soone passe thorough two or three degrees : and if they sue for ought are not deni'de it : when better students must be put beside it . then there be others who their nests to fether , can keepe in office nineteene yeares together , enforcing many vnto penury , to haue wherewith to feed their luxury . note you not some at fifty winters study , that haue their wits so thin and braines so muddy , they must procure of other men to doe , the excercises they were cal'd vnto ? and sit there not of dunces pretty store , from sunne to sunne at euery tradesman dore ? huge fat curm●dgeons ? tell me , i think no , do commons of three halfe-pence feed them so ? or can such puffes so humberkinlike set , into a pulpit once in seauen yeare get ? sure if they do , their memorie's so weake , when they come there they know not what to speake , nor are they halfe so fit if 't came to proofe . to serue for pastors as to hang at roofe , it is no maruaile then that blockish rout , retaine their places and keep better out , for no good patron that doth conscience make , will vnto them the charge of soules be take : because if such , the flock of christ should keepe , no question they would make but carion sheepe . then they must stay , yet in their stay thei 'le be a plague vnto the vniuersity . for ouer and aboue the mischeefes nam'd the vice for which the younger sort is blam'd , they are most guilty of ; for forc't to tarry , through want ; and by their lawes forbid to marry . thence springs it that the townes-men are reputed , thus by a common voyce to be cornuted : for i haue knowne that such haue daily beene , where younger scollers neuer durst be seene . and all ( vnlesse that they haue eyes like moles ) may see those foxes vse the badgers holes . nor hath their lewdnesse in that action staid , but on the place a fouler blemish laid . which heere indeed i do forbeare to name , least it be to the place i loue , a shame ; and for because i feare some spitefull mates , may taxe them with it that such dealing hates , brought in by them ; for who is so impure , but he that liueth like an epicure . oh mues seeke in time to root these weeds , that mar your gardens , and corrupt your seeds , and you that are appoynted visitors , who ought for to be strict inqui●●tors , to search the foule abuses of these times and see them punisht oh! let these my rimes moue you for to reforme this villany ; or let the hate of damned periury stir vp your zeale these euils to restraine if not for loue of good for feare of paine : which else ( though you set light as at your heele ) as sure as god is iust , your soules shall feele . do you not see now all the wondrous cost of worthy benefactors vainely lost , the lands , reuenues , customes , charters , rents which they haue left for diuers good intents vainely employed ; see the student poore for whom it was ordain'd stands at the doore and may not enter , whilst the golden asse , is quietly admitted for to passe , and shroud himselfe within those sacred gates , which wer 't not for commodity he hates . you sacred genii that did once attend those wel deuoted patrons to their end ; although your bodies be entoomb'd in claie , since you suruiue , because you liue for aye ; looke downe on your abused guifts and see , be , what oddes twix't th' vse and your good meanings come and behold how the laborious sits , sharing some hungry commons , scarce two bits ; and that but when a double gauday haps full glad alas at other times with scraps ; while that the lazy dunce on dainties feeds ; oh come ( i say ) if you respect your deeds , and fright them with some ghastly visions thence , they may haue more remorse for their offence . if i could take on me some monstrous forme ; i 'de either make them their bad liues reforme , or hare them quicke to hell : but i am vaine , thus for to inuocate , or to complaine , because i doubt this fault will nere be mended , vntill all euill with the world be ended . learning is vaine too , or so made at least , consider it , i speake it not in iest ; doe we not see that those who haue consum'd , halfe a mans age in schooles , and haue assum'd degrees of art , and howrely ouer-looke , many a leafe , many a wise-mans booke , still studying to know ; fellowes that can , as they themselues thinke , put downe any man , that dares of predicables to dispute , yea such as can to , if need be , refute knowne truths ; and that in metaphisicall , much more i thinke in matters naturall , seeme greatly read . doe we not see i say ? that these from study being tane away , for some employments in the publike weale , a man would be ashamed to reueale their simple carriage ? sooner thei le speak treason , then any thing that shall be law , or reason . aske their opinions but of this or that , thei 'le tell a tale they scarcely know of what ; and at the last you must be well apaid , with this the poet , or this tully said ; so other mens opinions shall be showne , but very seldome any of their owne : what is 't to heape vp a great multitude , of words and sayings like a chaos rude , for to be able for to bring in plato , great aristotle , with the wiseman cato : and diuers more , yet like a blockish elfe , be able to say nought at all himselfe ? as if it were all well and he had paid it , if he can once say , such a man hath said it . then by their actions , who gather can they haue more knowledge then another man ? since they doe worse absurdities commit , then thoe that seeme their iuniors in wit , as if they thought it were enough to know , and not with knowledge vnto practise goe . those may be learned and of learning p●ate , but for affaires of country , or of state in my conceit they are as farre vnfit as fooles and mad-men that haue lost their wit ; and notwithstanding all their studious paine , i count their learning and their knowledge vaine ▪ but thinke not i , hold knowledge vaine to be , or all that in the vniuersitie , mispend their times ; vntiftting men to deale about employments of the common-weale . no ; for i euer this accompt did make , that there are those know best to vndertake , great offices ; and surely such as haue both knowledge and desert : yet shall they saue but their owne credits : th' other who are knowne to haue no gifts of nature of their owne , for all their knowledge gotten in the schooles , are worse by much ods then vnlearned fooles . now thou that wouldst know rightly these mens state goe but a while and talke with coryate and thou wilt soone be able to maintaine , and say with me that learning 's somewhere vaine . then if there were ordain'd no other place , where now-despised-vertue should haue grace , she were vaine to , and those that lou'd her best were to be counted vaine aboue the rest . for they be sure , of these worldly crosses , and whosoere gaine , theirs must be the losses , iustice is wanting so ; for if that men commit an ill , the law giues smart , but when they doe performe a vertuous deed 't is hard , there 's no law heere that giues them a reward . nay if a man by wrong suspition be , brought vnto any wofull misery . if he be wrackt and tortur'd so that death may pleasure him by stopping of his breath : and if at last by proofes it doth appeare , that he of the suspected crime is cleare , onely he may his life by that meanes saue , but shall no other satisfaction haue . yea , and he must be glad and well content he hath his life for being innocent : whereof he would full glad haue ridden bin , to scape the torments they had plung'd him in , t is meere iniustice , and i say againe for to be vertuous in this age 't were vaine ; but that it one day shall rewarded be , by heauens chast iustice with eternitie . i will not heere take paines for to reueale the vaine trades crept into our common-weale : onely i le say , and so i thinke will any , would there were lesse , for such there be too many . but i must needesly shew their sympathy , who make their treasures and felicitie of things meere friuolous , as honour , srength , pleasure , and vvealth , & beauty , which at length , yea in short time must fade ; titles wrong plac't without desert , are not alone disgrac't , and loose that reputation of their owne , but shame them too , on whom they are bestowne ▪ vvhat noblenesse of birth but meerely vaine , vnlesse that in the linage there remaine , some noble qualitie ? which in them bred , they haue deriu'd from predecessors dead ? what 's honor ? but e'ne smoke and idle 〈◊〉 ▪ a thing consisting onely in a name ? which if you take away then you take all , ( for alexanders glory was not small , ) yet were he namelesse , what would then remaine , for to inherit honour for his paine , since that his best part from the earth is fled , and t'other though remaining here , now dead ? then if that honour doe aduantage bring , to soule nor body , but doth wholly cling vnto the name : who care , or paines would take if he be wise , such trophirs for to make vnto the same , which may inioyed be , by many thousand other men , whilst he rots ; and which three mens vertues , i 'le maintaine , grace not so much as one mans vice shall staine ? wer't onely for a name , that men did well , and stroue in vertues others to excell , what good had symon the apostle gain'd more then the wicked sorcerer obtain'd ? and how should we giue each of them his fame who liuing , being two , had but one name ? were outward honour all that vertue got , he were a wise-man that esteem'd it not . but shee 's the bodies comfort till it die , and soules companion to eternitie . vulgar repute , what is thereby acquired ? why is 't so glorious , and so much desired ? but i doe chiefely maruell what they ment , that haue prefer'd it before their content . i hold it vaine and wondrous friuolous , extreamely foolish , or ridiculous , that any man should stand in greater feare , what they doe vnto other men appeare then their owne consciences ; or striue , ( poore elues ) to seeme to other , god , when to themselues th' are worse then diuels ; why , i say , should they with vaine repute be so much borne away ? and why boast men of strength that lasts no longer ? and seeing the brute creatures are farre stronger ; a woman may blind sampson with her charmes , and little dauid slay a man at armes , for god doth make , as holy scriptures speake , strong things to be confounded by the weake . then some are vaine in pleasures , like to him , vvho for because he in delights would swim , in these his daies to please his fiue brute senses , made twenty hundred crowns one nights expences ▪ i onely cease for to declare his name , least he should hap to vaunt vpon the same . but why in beauty should men glory so ? as well we may perceiue there 's many do ; since 't is no better then a fading flower , that florishes , and withers in an hower . it could not saue the good king dauids sonne for being iustly by his foes vndone ; nay , their 's searce any that enioy the same can keepe vnto themselues an honest name . vve see moreouer men vaine-glorious grow , in building and apparrell ; al 's for show ; and yet the prince that 's gorgioust in array , must lie as naked as his groome in clay . and though that men to build so curious be , how worthy of contempt it is we see , in that th' arch-king of heauen , earth and all , was very well contented with a stall . what mind are they in who suppose to raise , by such a vanity an endlesse praise ? vvhen as they dayly see by obseruation , time vtterly decayes the strongst foundation . where are those wondrous high pyramides , that were admired at in former daies ? and of those huge colossi what remaines ? ( which to erect now were an endlesse paines ) nothing almost ; no scarce his name that spent the paine and cost of such a monument : if that be so , how much more vanity , is it to hope for fames eternity , by such sleight trifles whose ground-worke needs mending before the roofe be brought vnto an ending ? againe some thinke how e're their liues they spend yet if they can attaine to in the end a glorious funerall , and be inter'd vvith idle pompe and show , or be prefer'd in a bald sermon , for some one good deed they did the common-wealth for their owne need , or by their owne , or friends procurement haue on their vnworthy scarce-deserued graue a goodly epitaph ; they thinke al 's well ; alas poore silly men ! what can they tell how long 't will stand , before 't be razed downe ? but say it bide a while , what faire renowne , can in a peece of carued marble be ? vvhat can a guilded tombe then profit thee ? preserue thy fame ? i know it cannot passe , the wondrous heape that once erected was , and yet e'ne at this day doth now remaine not farre from sarum on the vvesterne plaine , yet who can say directly , ( or what story doth absolutely mention ) for whose glory that was first founded ? or by whom ? or why ? and if a deed of such great wonder die , dost thou suppose by a few carued stones , scarcely enough to couer all thy bones to be immortall ? if thou long to liue after thy death , why then let vertue giue and adde that liuing glory to thy name ; let her sound forth the trumpet of thy fame , and it shall last ; for she knowes how to place it ; nor time , nor enuy shall haue power to race it . i say endeuour to be vertuous heere , so shall thy sacred memory be deere to those that liue , aud whil'st thy body lies , entomb'd on earth , thy soule shall mount the skies . but if in pleasure thou hast liued long , and tooke delight in seeking bloud and wrong : vvhen that the euill day shall come to end thee , the curse of the oppressed shall attend thee , thy soule shall pay for 't ; and the selfe-same graue thou for thy honour didst suppose to haue shall be thy shame ; for those that trauell by it shall often curse it , yea deride , defie it ; and to each other say , there doth he lie , that acted such , or such a villany . then why should gay clothes be delighted in , since they are but a badge of our first sinne ? and yet 't is strange to know how many fashions , we borrow now a daies from sundry nations . some , but a few , in irish trouzes goe , and they must make it with a codpeece too , some ( as the fashion they best like ) haue chose the soruce diminitiue neat frenchmans hose another lik't it once but now hee 'll chop , or chang't as we say for the switzers slop ; and cause sometimes the fashions we disdaine , of italy , france , netherland and spaine , wee le fetch them farther yet , for by your leaues we haue morisco gownes , barbarian sleeues , polonian shooes , with diuers far-fetcht trifles , such as the wandring english gallant rifles strange countries for ; besides our taylors know , how best to set apparell out for show . it either shall be gathered , sticht ; or lac't , else plated , printed , iag'd , or cut and rac't , or any way according to your will , for we haue now a daies learn'd much vaine skill : but note you when these geu-gaues once be made , and that this cunning maister of his trade must bring it home , then lies all the iest , to see vvhen the poore slaue hath done his best to mend what faults he can ( for by his trade , he can set right what nature crooked made ) vvhen he hath fitted to his power , and trickt , whom he wold please ; when he hath brusht & pickt e'ne till he sweate againe : yet ( though he spies scarce any fault ) you rogue the gallant cries . a plague confound thee ; looke here how this sits , zounds 't is a mile too wide ; where were thy wits ? see , this is halfe too long that halfe too short , ' sbloud i could finde in heart to knock thee for 't . then for the faults behind he lookes in glasse , straight raues againe and cals his tayler asse , villaine , and all the court-like names he can , why i 'le be iudg'd ( saies he ) here by my man , if my left shoulder seeme yet in his sight , for all this bumbast halfe so big's the right . how is he seru'd ? this day he should haue went , with such a lord or lady into kent : to hampton court to morrow comes the queene , and there should he with certain friends haue bin , now he shall faile . villaine go straight and mend it and see with all the speed you can , you send it : or by my sword the gallant sweares he will make thee to wait twise twelu-months with thy bil if e're he pay thee . then the other takes it , carries it home againe : turnes , rubs , and shakes it , lets it lye still an houre or so , and then as if 't were alter'd beares it back againe ; then 't is so fit , our gallant cannot tell that e're he had apparel made so well . ere-while , saies he , faith i was anger'd sore , why couldst thou not haue done it thus afore ▪ with many gentle speeches in amends , and so these two vaine fooles grow quickly friends , vvhat shall isay of our superfluous fare ? our beastly , vaine , and too excessiue care to please the belly ? we , that once did feed on homely rootes and hearbs , do now exceed the persian kings for dainties ; in those coates a man would think they liu'd with hay and ●a●es , the diet they are growne vnto of late , excels the feasts , that men of high estate had in times past , for there 's both flesh and fish , with many a dainty new deuised dish . for bread they can compare with lords or knights , for they haue raueld , manchet , browne and white , of finest wheate : their drinkes are good and stale , for perry , cider , mead , metheglin , ale , or beere they haue great plenty of ; but then this cannot serue the richer sort of men . they with all sorts of forraine wines are sped ; their cellers are oft fraught with white and red , be 't french , italian , spanish , if they craue it : nay grecian or canarian , they may haue it , catepument , veruage , if they doe desire , or romney , bastard , capricke , oley , tire , muscadel , malmsey , clarey , what they will ; both head and belly each may haue their fill . then if their stomacks doe disdaine to eate , beefe , mutton , lambe , or such like butchers meate ; if that they cannot feed on capon , swan , duck , goose , or common houshold poultry ; than their storehouse will not very often faile , to yeeld them partrich , phesant , plouer , quaile , or any dainty fowle that may delight , their gluttonous and beastly appetite . so they are pamper'd whilst the poore man sterues , yet there 's not all , for custards , tarts , conserues , must follow to ; and yet they are no let for suckets , march-panes , nor for marmalet . frute , florentines ▪ sweet sugar meats and spice , vvith many an other idle fond deuise , such as i cannot name , nor care to know ; and then besides the tast 't is made for show , for they must haue it cullour'd , guilded , printed , with shapes of beasts & fowles , cut , pincht , indented , so idly that in my conceit 't is plaine , that men are foolish and exceeding vaine , and howsoe'er they of religion boast , their belly is the god they honour most . but see whereto this dainty time hath brought vs , the time hath been that if a famine caught vs , and left vs neither sheepe , nor oxe , nor corne , yet vnto such a diet were we borne , were we not in our townes kept in by th ' foe , the woods and fields had yeelded vs enough to content nature : and then in our needs had we found either leaues , or grasse , or weeds , we could haue liu'd , as now at this day can many a fellow-subiect iris●man . but in this age , if onely wheate doe rise to any extraordinary prize : of if that we haue cheese or butter scant , though almost nothing else that is , we want ; lord how we murmor , grumble , fret and pine , as if we would vpbraid the powers diuine ; yea we prouoke god , as sometime the iewes did moses ; and with vs it is no newes . but you that are so like to sterue in plenties , because you are a little bar'd your dainties , leaue of your luxury ; let me intreat ; or there will come a famine shall be great : when soule nor body neither , shall haue food , or any thing to comfort them that 's good . we talke of scarcity : yet here there came no want this twenty ages , worth the name of famine ; but our gentle god hath bin , exceeding mercifull vnto our sin . vvheat at ten shillings , makes no dearth of bread , like theirs ; where once ( we read ) an asses head , cost foure-score siluer peeces ; where doues dong , vvas highly pris'd : and mothers eate their yong ; there famine raign'd . pray in the like we fall not ; if we can fast with niniue we shall not . but truely much i feare the same , vnlesse vve doe leaue off our gluttonous excesse , for though we quaffe and swill much time away , yet three set meales will scarce suffice a day to satisfie our lust ; whereas but one , suffis'd our predecessors , sometime none . it were a worke too tedious to quote the sundry vanities that we may note sprung from this greedinesse , as our long-sitting , a custome rather in my mind befitting pagans and epicures , then honest men . but 't is a vse now common growne ; and then this fo●lery we haue ; we nothing deeme worthy of our desire , or esteeme , saue that which we haue either dearely bought , or far-away from forraine kingdomes brought : yea notwithstanding here in our land , those things be better ; and more neere at hand . yet we out of an idle humor are , much more affected to all forraine ware then to our owne : although the same be best . so that this vainenesse doth not onely rest in meates , and in apparell ; but 't is showne in many things ; we least affect our owne . our home-made cloth , now quoddam est inanum , we are for serges and perpetnanum ; with other stuffe , as crow-graine , chamblets , rash. and such like new deuised forraine trash . yea though our natiue country-men excell in any trade , we like them not so well as we doe strangers : ( and in very deed ) i thinke for vaine inuentions they exceed . and then moreouer when we doe not want any good wholesome hearbe , or fruit , or plant , that may be necessary , fit or good , either to serue for phisick or for food , yet those we leaue , as if we did abhorre them , and send to seeke in other kingdomes for them . so while we onely make our vse of them , our better home-bred simples we contemne . ( oh vanity ) our country yeelds enough , vvhat need we grecian or arabian stuffe ? why send we for them to those countries thus ? 't was planted there for them and not for vs : what though it help them of diseases there ? the climate , yea , and our complexions are so different , for ought that i can gather , heer 't may not help our griefs , but poison 's rather . my selfe haue heard some trauellers to say , that which will salue their wounds within a day , that of the farthest easterne countries be , vvill not recure an englishman in three . then sure if we should vse that medicine heere , it would not help nor cure vs in a yeare . trust me i thinke , this ouermuch respecting of forraine compounds , and the still neglecting of our owne symples is the cause that wee so little better for our phisicke be ; some in their writings praise tobacco much , perhaps the vertue of it may be such as they haue said , where first the simple grew , but if it be replanted heere a new , from it owne soile where natures hand did place it , i dare not with those properties to grace it vvhich there it had ; nor can the vertue bide vvhen 't is transported to our region , dri'd . yet almost 't is a wonder to behold , how generally now both yong and old suck on that forraine weed : for so they vse it , or rather ( to speake right ) so they abuse it , in too oft taking , that a man would thinke it were more needfull then their meate or drinke ▪ but what 's their reason ? doe not aske them why , for neither can they tell you that , nor i : vnlesse 't be this : so they haue seene some doe forsooth , and therefore they must vse it too . nay , wonder not ; the sunne lights not a nation that more addicteth apish imitation then doe we english : should a stranger come and weare his doublet fastned to his bumme : pluck gloues on 's feet , & put his hands in 's shoes , and we are his rings and iewels on his toes . and come so tired to our english court , attended in some strange preposterous sort ; most of our courtiers would make much ado , but they would get into that fashion too . for when they did but happen for to see , those that with rhume a little troubled be , weare on their faces a round masticke patch , their fondnes i perceiu'd , sometime to catch that for a fashion . nay , we cannot name that thing so full of barbarisme and shame that they 'le not imitate : witnesse this smoake , vvhich though at first it was enough to choake or stifle vp the sence ; though 't were vnpleasing in taste and sauour , oftentimes diseasing the takers bodies ; yet like men halfe mad , not knowing neither what effect it had , onely because a rude and sauage nation , took 't for some vnknowne need ; thei 'le mak 't a fashion , alas what profit england at thy need , hast thou attain'd to , by this indian weed ? what hath it lengthen'd life or maintain'd health or hath it brought thee more encrease of wealth ? it dries superfluous moistures ; doth't ? indeed tane with discretion it may stand insteed , and surely it deserues to be excus'd , being with honest moderation vs'd . but i doe greatly wonder what they ment , that first did tak 't in way of complement . for now it is as common at each meeting , as how d' yee , or , god saue yee for a greeting ; hee 's no good fellow that 's without the pox , burnd pipes , tobacco , and his tinder-boxe : and therefore there be some who scarce abide it , yet alwaies will for company prouide it ; with whom ( though they alone the same eschew ) thei 'le take it till they spit and cough and spue . me thinkes they may as well since this thei 'le doe , at all their meetings take purgations too . there 's not a tinker , cobler , shepheard now or rascall ragamuffin that knowes how in a blind ale-house for to drinke a pot , or swagger kindly , if he haue it not ; you shall haue some among them will not sticke , to sweare that they are for tobacco sicke ; when by their ragged outsides you would gather , it were for want of bread and victuals rather ; and so i tak 't ; but now if you deny , th' affecting forraine drugges , a vanity , yet you , i hope will grant , ( because 't is plaine ) the vsing of tobacco thus is vaine . i meane in those that daily sit and smoake , ale●ouse and tauerne till the windowes roke . and you must yeeld if euer ; quod nunc sumus , e'ne as the old verse saies , flos , foenum , fumus , some vainely much acquaintance seeke to get , and often in a strangers cause will sweate . vvhen none ( vnlesse some one for rarity ) vvill to their kinne shew loue or charitie . the loue of men some striue for to attaine , and they haue iust their labour for their paine ▪ for what 's the fauour or the loue of men ? a thing long getting and soone lost agen , for him i know whose company hath seem'd , in my poore iudgement to be so esteem'd by many , that in show he hath appear'd to be more neerely to their soules indear'd then their owne brothers ; and sure for the time , ( but that inconancie's a humane crime ) he hath been so ; for when he hath departed , as if his absence inwardly had smarted ; out of their eyes full oft against their will , i haue seene , sorrow looke , and teares to trill . and yet againe hath my experience seen , the selfe-same man that hath so made of been , euen of those men he hath been so respected , after some absence either much neglected , wholly forgotten or they so estranged , as if their loue and good conceit were changed . which hauing found , i weighed well the end , and thought them vaine that on the like depend . also methinkes it makes me pretty sport , to note the vainenesse of the greater sort ; how full of congees , curtesies , and greetings , embracements , & kind words they be at meetings . or else what me●orandums past betweene , of great good turnes that nere perhaps haue been , vvhat commendations , and ioyes there be , for one anothers good prosperitie . vvhen howsoeuer they their malice smother , they care not what becomes of one another . to see me well , hee 's glad at heart , one cries , when 't is well knowne that in his heart he lies , another bids me welcome to my face , vvhen he would leaue my presence for my place . yea and to sweare it too he will not tremble , although he knowes , i know he doth dissemble : vvhich in my iudgement is a vanity , too full of shamelesse grosse absurditie , and i much wonder men delight to spend time that 's so precious to so little end , as to consum 't in idle complement , and not so much as to a good intent ; crouching and kneeling , when each peasant knowes much curtesie , much craft : the prouerbe goes . a quality beseeming men i deem 't , for to be courteous and i much esteem't , yet sure without good meaning t is vnfit , and extreame vaine when men are cloy'd with it . when some man's table 's furnished with store , of dainties , that a prince can haue no more , hee 'le bid you welcome , though that by your cheere , it doth not ( as hee 'le say himselfe ) appeare , and yet he sees and knowes well that his bordes , haue what the water , earth , and ayr affords : with pray d' yee eat , i drink t'yee , nay be merry ; and such like words ; i oft haue beene as weary to thank , to pledge , and say i do not spare , as ere was sommers of his trotting mare , but now i think of this , i 'le without ieasting , tell one absurdity l 'ue seene in feasting , amongst my countrymen ; when one intends for to be merry he bids home his friends , and for them all things needfull doth prepare , that they may well perceiue they welcome are ; yea , he would haue them frolick , and 't is good , a signe of loue and honest neighbourhood , but then with all he oftentimes inuites , som lofty statesmen or proud neighbouring knights who all their merriment doth ouerthrow , because they looke for reuerence you know , and he must be a slaue vnto that guest , contenting him , though he displease the rest . now that 's his fault , were i as he , my boord , should neuer entertaine that knight or lord in way of feasting ; that allow'd not me , to be as merry and as blith as he ; or that through his disdaine would thinke amisse , to beare some iests of mine as i beare his ; for who but fooles would while their guest is baiting stand with bare heads like alehouse-keepers waiting ( as if they were some strangers wanted chearing ) in their owne houses ? while they dominering say what they list ; be therefore rul'd by me , bid none but equals if you 'le merry be : at least let them be such as can abide , to lay superiority aside . moreouer ( if they haue the prouidence to bid their friends & keep these mar-feasts thence ) they are too lauish and doe much deuize , how they the appetite may best suffize . but 't is a signe their vnderstanding's weake , and they haue small good matter for to speake ; it showes a shallow pate and muddy braine , when men haue no discourse to entertaine their friends withall , but whiffes of smoake or drinke , or curious fare ; as if that they did thinke they could not shew their honest loue , vnlesse they did abound in gluttonous excesse . but there be many greedy-guts indeed , that will finde fault vnlesse their cates exceed . such socrates shewes how to answer best , who hauing for his friends prepar'd a feast , and hearing one to discommend his store told him directly , friend there needs no more , for be they vertuous her's enough for such , if otherwise ( quoth he ) there is too much a fitter answere we can neuer finde , for such nice gluttons ; differing in minde from certaine deere and learned friends of mine : whom , when i late requested for to dine or sup with me one night ; would not agree , vnlesse i drest that they appointed me : i will said i , and not a bit beside , why then ( quoth they ) we charge thee to prouide one dish , no more , we loue not him that crams , and let our second course be epigrams . well , that they had with more good mirth & laughing , then those that had their dainties , & their quaffing , who can declare that vanity man shewes , in hearing and reporting idle newes ? the foolish tales , and lies that he doth faine , are more then any numbers can containe . and now i thinke on that same lying euill , a mischiefe first inuented by the diuell , i cannot chuse but greatly wonder why , men should delight so in that vanity . it is not onely vicious and base , but also doth their credits quite deface . and truth out of their mouthe● is mis-esteem'd because , oft lying , they are lyers deem'd . i meane not any falshood to maintaine , no though they be officious , or for gaine . yet worst like them , who their wits bo bend to inuent tales vnto no other end . but for to find the company some talke , and cause they loue to heare their owne tonges walke some i haue knowne ( iudge of their vanity ) they haue told tales to their owne infamy ; and yet vntrue , 't is like they haue small care of others credits when they wil not spare to wrong th●mselues : another crew beside among these ly●rs i haue also spide , who , as it may appeare , do like so well , strange newes , and matters past beleefe to tell , that notwithstanding they do surely know , it makes not only modest eares to glow , but that 't is knowne they lie , yet stil they dare gainst truth , their owne , & al mens knowledge swear . yea , when they may aswell , and speake as right , sweare that each man is blind , and all crows white oh too presumptuous and lewd offence sprung from a brazen , ●ellish impudence ! then there 's a number to , that do suppose , all that beyond their little reason growes , is surely false ; and vainely do vphold that all reports which trauellers vnfold of forraine lands are lies ; because they see no such strange thinges in their owne parish be , if that i may not terme such fellowes vaine , i 'le say th' are dul and of a shallow braine . and him i count no wiseman that imparts , to men of such base misconceiuing hearts any rare matter , for their bruitish wit , will very quickly wrong both him and it . for thus the saying goes , and i hold so , ignorance onely , is true wisedomes foe . then thou art vaine that wilt vouchsafe to spend thy breath , with witlesse fooles for to contend in weighty matters ; when it is well knowne thei 'le like of no opinions but their owne . euer disabling what thou dost recite , yea notwithstanding it be ne're so right . and be their owne case false , and all amisse , they 'le proue it true ; how ? thus : because it is . so if there be no more wise men in place , thou bear'st the shame , & thei 'le haue all the grace . and yet the mischiefe hath not there an end , for tell me , you that euer did contend vvith such ; is not their wayward disputation a meere confusion and a strong vexation ? i know 't is so ; for i my selfe haue tride it , and since that time could neuer yet abide it ; but let those follow vanity together with purb●ind ignorance ; and i 'le send thither to keep them company , those that take pleasure in tedious discourse , they be at leasure , and those that loue to heare their owue tong●es walke or still seeke out occasion for to talke shall not stray from them : yet i haue beheld more vanities which must not be conceal'd . as foolish wishes : many a silly asse , couets those things that cannot come to passe . another that in wishing is as heedlesse , desires some trifling bables which are needlesse . nay , i haue heard , without regard of shame , such beastly wishes as i blush to name , vvhat damn'd infernall curses can each brother , in euery angry fit wish one another ? when such as these their iesting words thei●e make ye a pox , a pestelence and a murraine take yee . which if the lord should in his iustice send them , their owne vaine wishes wold e're long time and thē . some free-borne men i haue obserued too who are thought wise , yet very vainely do . these , as if they lackt troubles of their owne for other men are slaues and drudges growne . i tax not such as honestly haue stood in the mainetaining a poore neighbours good . but rather those who are so out of measure giuen to be for other men at leasure : that they can finde almost no time to bee emploid about their owne commoditee . others there are , more knauish , and as vaine , who seeming carefull of an others gaine , intrude themselues into their actions ; when 't is not for any good they wish the men , but for this cause , and sure for nothing more , in each mans boate they loue to haue an oare . 't is good men looke to their affaires , but yet , i hold it for a vaine thing , and vnfit they should be vexed with such extreame care in following them as i perceiue they are : for vnto me it seemes , the greatest part . take businesse not in hand now , but in heart . what meane our wealthy vsurers to hoord more vp for others then they can affoord vnto themselues ? whereas they do not know whether it shall be for a friend or foe . sure such me thinkes should be deseruedly , recorded for their sottish vanity . now as these too well , of the world doe deeme , so others make thereof too small esteeme : as of a thing whose vse were of no weight , but both are led away with vaine conceit . then some mans care is , that when this life ends , hee dying , may be buried with his friends . as if he fear'd his foes had not forgotten to do him mischiefe though their bones were rottē others extremely are distempered to thinke what men will do when they be dead . and vainely sit , ( more wit god one day send ) lamenting what they know not how to mend . for worthlesse matters some are wondrous sad , whome if i call not vaine , i must tearme mad . if that their noses bleed some certaine drops : and then againe vpon the suddaine stops . or if the babling foule we call a iay , a squirrel or a hare , but crosse the way . or if the salt fall toward them at table , or any such like superstitious bable , their mirth is spoild , because they hould it true that some mischance must therevpon ensue . but i doe know no little numbers bee seduced with this foolish vanity : and questionlesse although i discommend it , there wants not some that stoutly will defend it , but all their proofe is onely this , i know by dayly triall they doe finde it so . indeed 't is true , god often by permission , to see if they will trust to superstition more then to him , doth willingly supply , vvhat they so look't for by their augury . then some for to be deemed men of state , of nothing but the court-affaires doe prate , if they but come amongst vs countri-men , lord what magnificoes they will be then . yea though they blow but the kings organ-●ellows vve must suppose them earles and barons fellowes or else we wrong them : 't was my chance to light , in a friends house , where one of these that night tooke vp his lodging ; at the first i deem'd him a man of some great place and so esteem'd him ; and be tooke me for some soft country gull , thinking my wit ( as t is indeed ) but dull , but i perceiu'd his pride , i must confesse , and seem'd as if i had a great deale lesse . i made him more fine congees by a score , then ere he had at court in 's life before , the worship , and the honour too i gaue him , but from the charge of either i dare saue him . yet my high tearmes so pleas'd the courtiers vaine , that vp he rips me newes of fra●ce and spaine , of germany , of denmarke , and of sweed ; and he had french store , thereof i tooke heed , then next he tels me all their life at court , relates st. georges showes and christmas sport , with such like talke ; which i in shew desir'd , and ( as if i had neuer seen 't before ) admir'd : which he perceiuing falls for to deuise , more strange reports , and tels me sundry lyes , which stil i wondred at ; and in his talke i noted though his tongue did euer walke he neuer spake of others then the best , for earles , and lords , and ladies were the least i heard him mentioning ; when sure the foole , is but some seruant to the groome o' th stoole . but howsoeuer for this once he passes , to shew the nature of his fellow-asses , i am affraid 't will be to little end , if i should words and pretious leasure spend , to tel our gallants what vaine , friuolous , discourse they haue , and how ridiculous they are at meetings ; i haue been for laughter , often beholding to them a weeke after . and trust me i 'le not giue a cue so soone , to see an ape , a monkey , or baboone play his forc't trickes , as i would giue a tester , to come and view them and their apish gesture , when they are either frollick in their cans , or courting of their light hee 'ld curtezans they thinke themselues fine men , i know they do , what will they giue me and i 'le think so to , and yet i shall not sure , do what i can , they haue so little in them that is man. for my few yeares hath noted many fruits producted in fine silkes and satten sutes vvorth obseruation : i could recite , their braue behauiour in their mistres sight : but sure thei 'le nere endure 't , they cannot do 't , yet if i list now i could force them to 't , but i spare them ; they are beholding to me , and may perhaps as great a fauour doe me . but faith i may not , nor i cannot hold nor keep in all their vanities vntol'd : at least one humorous tricke i must not misse , vvhich lately i obseru'd ; and that was this . two lads , of late , disposed to be merry , met at a towne not farre from canterbury , where though their busines scarce would let them stay , they 'd frolicke out a night , and then away ; so there they sup't and slept , where i let passe to tell their mirth in what good fashion 't was : but as i heard the parish clocke strocke one , before their merry-mad-conceits were done : and then they went to bed , where i dare say they'd more deuotion for to sleepe then pray . next morne th' one awaking suddenly vpstart , and lightly gert out such a boystrous — it wak't his fellow , who suppriz'd with wonder , leapt vp amaz'd and swore he heard it thunder : and where there was a storme or no , 't was sed , the chamber-pot ore-flow'd and drown'd the bed . then hauing prai'd a curse or two , th' one rises , yea , of his businesse with himselfe deuises , and therevpon like a considerete man , sweares he will thence with all the speed he can , come prethee rise ( quoth he ) and le ts begone , why goe ( quoth th' other ) i will come anon , zonnds harke , i thinke the clock striks eight , why when ? oh soon : enough to breaks my fast by ten . then chamberlaine one cals aloud , dost heare ? come bring vs vp a double iugge of beere . so either hauing drunke a good carouse , downe come the gallants to discharge the house , but taking leaue , oh what d' yee thinke they mist ? their hostesse ( pretty woman must be kist ) then vp she 's cal'd , and in her night attire , downe claps she on a stoole before the fire ; where hauing bid her welcome from her nest , come say ( quoth he ) what wine is 't you like best ? truely ( quoth she ) i vse to drinke no wine , yet your best morning's draught is muskadine : with that the drawer's cald to fill a quart ( oh! 't is a wholesome liquor next the heart . ) and hauing drunk it , whilst their heads were steddy they bad the hostler make their horses ready nay ( quoth the hostesse ) what needs al this hast ? in faith you shal not goe til dinner 's past ; i haue a dish prepared for the none's arich potato pie , and marrow-boxes ; yea and a bit which gallants , i protest , i wil not part with vnto euery guest ; with that the punies laid aside their cloaks , the glasses walke , and the tobacco smoakes , til dinner comes , with which whē they are fraught to get on horseback by and by t is naught . as hauing supt'ts good to walk a mile , so after d●nner men must sit a while . but what ? wil they sit idle 't were a shame , reach them the tables , they must play a game : yet set them by againe , for now i thinke they know not when to leaue , thei 'le rather drink a health or two , to some especiall friend , and then ifaith they meane to make an end , then one calls drawer , he cries what d' yee lack ? rogue bring vs vp a gallon more of sack , when that 's turn'd vp , zounds one wil drinke no more , but bids the hostler bring his horse to doore : the fellow might performe it without stay , for why ? they had been bridl'd vp all day . then like good husbands without any words . on went their cloakes , but first of all their swords , but stepping out of dore their hostes meetes them , and with a full fil'd boule demurely greetes them . this was her pint , but thei 'l giue hir the tother , which drew the third down and the third another , vntill these gallants felt their heads so addle , their bodies scarce could sit vpright it 'h saddle . then for to settle their vnsteady braine , they fell to their tobacco once againe ; at which they suckt so long , they thought no more of the poore iades , which they left ty'de at dore ▪ til that the sun declinde vnto the west , then starting vp th' one swore he thought 't were best , that they went thence ; and to his fellow said ; come we shall be benighted i 'me affraid , what if we be ( quoth tother ) by this light , i know the time when i haue rod all night . by twelue a clocke i le be at home i vow , yet hostesse , by this kisse , i 'le sup with you . and so they did , but after supper th' one , hastens the other that they may be gone ; nay be aduised ( quoth his copesmate ) harke , let 's stay all night for it growes pestlence darke . i marry ( quoth the host ) perswaded be , there 's many murthers now i promise ye . i le bid my seruants to shut vp the gate , no guest shall goe out of my house so late . no surely ( quoth their hostesse ) by s. anne , you may be mischieft , stay and make a man. well , thei 'le be ruld for once , but swere thei 'le goe the following morning ere the cock do crow . introth at farthest , ere the day giues light , then hauing kist their hostesse ouernight , to bed againe these roystering youngsters went , forgetting whereto they before were bent . but when the morne her turne againe did take , and that it grew high time for them to wake ; then vp they busteld and began to lay the fault from one to t' other , of their stay . for this ( the first said ) we may thanke your sl●th , ( but i thinke therein they were guilty both ) nay ( quoth the other ) might you haue your will ▪ you 'd drinke tobacco , and be quaffing stildl who i ( quoth he ) i weigh it not two chips , i could not get you from my hostestesse lips . you doe me wrong ( said th' other ) for i sweare , i seldome toucht them , but you still hung there . to beare the burthen he grew discontent , and swore he would not drinke before he went. but cald , our horses ostler quickly , and our wands , and sirra tapster water for our hands : ( quoth t' other ) you le be ruled yet i thinke ? prethee let me intreat thee for to drinke . before th●u wash ; our fathers that were wise , were wont to say , 't is wholsome for the eyes . vvell he will drinke , yet but a draught at most , that must be spiced with a nut-browne tost . but then 't were good they had a bit beside , for they considered they had farre to ride . so he that would not drinke , a late for hast , is now content to stay and breake his fast . which e're 't were ended , vp their host was got , and then the drunkard needs must haue his pot , and so he had : but i commend my cozen , the cuckolds one can , cost the fooles a dozen . but then perceiuing they began to stay , quoth guts , my bullies , harke ye , what d' ye say ? can you this morning on a rasher feed ? oh yes say they , that 's kingly meate indeed ; they ask't it , and they had it ; but this cheere , quickly drew downe a dozen more of beere ; which being drunk , they had got out of towne , but that their hostesse was now new come downe , with whom they spent ere they could get away in kissing and in quaffing halfe that day . and fiue times as i heard they took the paine , to get on horseback and come off againe but at the last iust as the clock strook two , they were the sixt time hors't with much adoo : but then , as 't is the drunkards vse , they sate tipling some howre and a halfe at gate . so that the night drew on apace and then , thither came riding other gentlemen . and meant to lodge there ; they had friendship showne . t' other were stale guests and their mony flowne . their honest host for all their large expence , and former kindnes , quickly got him thence : yea their sweet hostesse that so worthy deem'd thē , slunk out of sight , as if she nought esteem'd them . and as most will , except a very few , she left her old guls to enter league with new , who at their parting thought for to haue kist her , but were so drunken that they euer mist her . for there they quaft so long they did not know , which way , nor whether , nor yet when to goe . that some suppose , yea and they think so still , their horses brought thē thence against their will. for if so bee that they had wanted wit , ( to come themselues ) the fooles had been there yet if you 't was made by , read with discontent , you are too blame , none knowes by whom 't was ment there is no cause you should dislike my rime , that learnes you wit against another time . when others are thus vaine , could you forbeare it ; and note the follies in 't , you would forsweare it ; as kind's your hostesse seemes , yet this is plaine , shee 'l flout , and vse the next as wel for gaine . now what do you vnto these gallants say , were they not pretty witty ones i pray ? it may be they wil frowne at this , 't were fit , and i am very sorry for 't ; but yet , one humor more which i haue noted vaine , for to be told of , they must not disdaine . it may anoy them if they do not mend it , yea notwithstanding they so much defend it , 't is this ; they too much of their valour vaunt , and so extreamely for vaineglory haunt , that for to get themselues a valiant name , or peraduenture halfe an howers fame thei 'l hazard life and limbe , yea soule and all , rather then in their brauery thei 'l let fall that vaine repute : oh silly sencelesse men ! what wil the breath of fame auaile you , when you lye in dust and molded vp in clay ? perhaps you shall be spoken of a day , in some poore village where your bodies lye , to all the earth besides your fame shall dye . and it may be whereas you looke for glory , you shall but serue for to make vp the story of hare-brain'd fooles : so how soere some deem you men that haue vnderstanding wil esteeme you . but yet there is a crew that much anoyes the common-weale , some call them roaring-boys london doth harbour many at this time , and now i think their orders in the prime : and flourishing estate . diuers are proud , to be one of that brotherhood alow'd . and reason too , for why they are indeed no common fellowes , but they all exceed . they do ; but oh ! now wherein is it think ye ? in villanies ; for these be they wil drink yee from morne til night , from night till more againe , emptying themselues like conduits , and remaine , ready for more stil : earth drinks not the showers , faster then their infernal throat deuoures , wine and strong liquors : these be they wil sweare , as if they would the veile of heauen teare , and compell god to heare their blasphemy these are the patrons of all villany ; vvhoores champions ; deceit and trechery , with the most loathsome vice of lechery , is all their practise . thunder when it roares , ioynd with the raging waues that beat the shoares , together with the winds most rude intrusion , make not a noyse more full of mad confusion , then do these helhounds where they vse to houze or make their most vnciuill rendeuouze : for a more godlesse crew their cannot well , be pickt out of the boundlesse pit of hell . yet these base fellowes ( whom i must confesse , i cannot find words able to expresse ) are great mens darlings , ( as some vnderstand ) the absolutest gallants in this land , and onely men of spirit of our time ; but this opinion's but a vulgar crime , for they which vnderstanding haue , see plaine , that these and all their fauorites are vaine . and sure 't were good if such were forc't to giue , a strict account by whom and how they liue . thus haue i brought to light as wel's i can , some of the vanities i 'ue seene in man. but i do feare in taking so much paine , i haue but showne my selfe to be most vaine ; because i haue spent time , and reprehended that which will ne're the sooner be amended , but yet there 's hope it may , and therefore i will say thus much more ; that this vanity consisteth not alone in words and workes , it hath tane root within , and also lurkes about the heart ; and if it there be sought , i know it also may be found in thought , and that it is makes one man sit and plot , what is by traffick with virginea got . what it may cost to furnish him a fleet , that shall with all the spainish nauy meete , or how he may by art or practise find a nearer passage to the easterne inde . when as perhaps ( poore foole ) besides his coate , he is , not worth a portsmouth passage boate , nor neuer meanes to trauell so much sea , as from high-ferry to south-hamp on-key . another wood-cocke is as fondly vayne , and to no purpose doth molest his braine , to study if he were a nobleman , what kind of carriage would befit him than : how , and in what set wordes he would complaine , of the abuses that he now sees raigne : where he would make his place of residence , how he would keep his house with prouidence , and yet what plenty daily at his dore , should be distributed vnto the poore , what certaine sheepe , and oxen should be slaine , and what prouision weekly to maintaine his lordly port ; how many seruing-men , he meant to keep , and peraduenture then , what pleasure he will haue , as haukes and hounds , what game he wil preserue about his grownds : or else he falls to cast what profits cleare , his giftes and bribes wil come to in a yeare . how hee 'le put off his hat , cause people than shall say he is a courteous noble-man . then vpon this againe he falls to plot , how when that he the peoples loue had ' got , if that the king and all his kindred dye , and if none may be found for to supply that regall office , the respect they beare him , vnto that princely dignity may reare him : then too his thoughtes , on that estate so feed , that he forgets quite what he is indeed , and if a man could hit so iust a time , to come vpon him when his thoughts in prime : and giue him vnawares a sodaine knock ; conceit his vnderstanding so would lock , that i suppose because it stands with reason , he would go neere hand for to call out , treason : for oftentimes mens hearts are so anoyd , vvith those vaine thoughts whereon they are imploid , that for a time they so forgetfull grow , nor what they are , nor where , they do not know , but now since you may see there doth remaine , nothing in man but is in some sort vaine ; and since i must be driuen to confesse , his vanities are great and number-lesse , i 'le go no farther in this large suruey , for feare discourse should carry me away ; and peraduenture so i may become , lesse pleasing , and more tedious to some ; vvhich to auoyd , though i no end espy , yet heare i end to treat of vanity . of in constancy . satyr . . yet there 's another property in men , that meanes to set my muse to work agen , in constancy , and that no other is , vnlesse i vnderstand the same amisse , but an vnsetled humor of the mind , which so vnstable is it cannot find by any study that opinion , of which it dares to be resolued on . 't is meere irresolution and estranging for what is purpos'd by a fickle changing . but since this vice i meane for to detect , women i know will earnestly expect to be sore raild'on , but i le gently vse them , because i see their consciences accuse them , and notwithstanding they deserue much blame , yet i le not tax them by their proper name , so they will think i also meane them , when i vse no more , but this bare name of men : and though their faults i seeme not to vpbraid , cause nothing of them is directly said ; yet they , i hope wil nere the more disdaine , to be thought fickle , proud , and weak and vaine . but now for men ; whereas i did complaine , he both in dee● and word , and thought was vain●● so i in this ( i see ) the like may doo , since he in all these is inconstant to . and first it is a wonder for to see his actions how mutable they be ; he labour's now , and 's altogether set vpon the world how he wealth may get , vpon a sodaine ; then he thinkes to mend it , hee 's in a humor then he meanes to spend it : somtime he is consenting with the diuell , and ready to do any act that 's euill . the which , perhaps , repenting , some diuine or heauenly matter doth his thoughtes refine . so that he is resolu'd to spend that day , in reading what gods holy prophets say ; whlch in his mind it may be worketh so , he leaues it , and wil to a sermon goe ; where by the way a bill he doth espy , which showes there 's acted some new comedy then thither he is full and wholly bent , there 's nothing that shall hinder his intent , but ere he to the theater can come , he heares perhaps the sounding of a drum : thereat he leaues both stage-play and deuotion , and wil forsooth go see some idle motion ; ere he gets in his rouling wandring eyes , beholds some fencer prest to play his prize . faith then there is no remedy hee 'le see 't ; but e're he can get halfe-way o're the street some very neere acquaintance doth salute him , who for a miser would perhaps repute him , vnlesse he kndly offer to bestow the wine or beere at least , before he goe ? vvell then he will ; but while they do deuise , what wine to haue , perhaps they heare the cryes , and howling which the eager mastiffes make , vvhen they behold a bull or beare at stake . oh , on a sodaine then they will be gone , thei 'le see that first and come and drinke anon , but iust as he out of the t●●ern● peepes , some gallant lasse along before him sweepes : vvhose youthfull brow adorn'd with beauty trim and louely-making doth so rauish him , as if that he were bound for to attend , he leaues play , fencer , vvine , bull , dogs , and friend . by which we see his mind doth alwayes vary , and seldome constant on one subiect tary . but stil that thing with most desire is sought , vvhich happens for to be the last in thought . one while he likes best of the country sport , anon prefers the pleasure of the court. another while his mind is all in spaine , then beyond nilus , and straight heere againe . now he thinkes highly of a single life , and hateth marriage as full of strife : and yet e'ne in the turning of a hand , hee 's glad to make a ioynture of his land , and woo with much intreaty to obtaine , a wife which he did but of late disdaine . one while he zealously professeth christ , but shortly he becomes an athe-ist , in turkey he will mahomet adore , among the cursed pagans can implore a carued stone ; in rome he hath profest the worship of that antichristian beast ; and yet in england heere with vs he grants no sound religion but the protestants . and not alone according to the place , can these camelions alter thus their case ; but for a shift themselues they doe apply , to answere both the time and company . gallants shall find them formall , young men wild ▪ plaine men shall think them simple , old men mild. and for the time with edward they wil be , ( i le warrant ) protestants , as wel as he . and when his sister mary comes to raigne , they can be papists easily againe . nay i do feare me though we haue had teaching , and almost threescore years the gospels preaching vnconstant mankind is so prone to ill , ( and to be changing hath so good a will ) too many both of old men and of youth , might soone be drawne for to forsake the truth . let vs but note , and 't will be strange to see . what contradictions in our actions be . sometime the same we do with trophees raise , that we did but a while before dispraise : nor can we alway in one passion keepe , but often for one thing reioyce and weepe . is 't not a signe of humane ficklenesse , and a true note of our vnsetlednesse , when not alone some one , or two , or few , but a great number , a selected crew , pickt out of all estates , and they the wisest , the vnderstandingst , yea and the precisest of a whole empire , and when these ( i say ) haue argu'd pro & con , from day to day , from week to week to haue ( perhaps ) enacted , one law or statute , yet when al 's compacted , and euery thing seemes clearely done and ended then to haue somthing in 't to be amended ? yea and when this is done , and the records , fram'd in their plain'st and most effectuall words , t' expresse their meaning , and they thinke it plaine ▪ yet at next reading 't is dislik't againe . this yeare they make a law , repeal 't the next , then re-inact ●t , and then change the text ; either by taking from , or adding to , and so they haue an endlesse work to do . but some may tel me that thus stands the case , they must haue both respect to time and place and that no law deuis'd by humane wit , can be for euery place and season fit : all which i yeeld for truth indeed ; but then , we must confess 't a misery in men , that he ( camelion-like ) must haue a mind , with euery obiect vnto change inclin'd . i might speake of the ficklenesse i see , in mens external fortunes for to be : for this day he hath friends , to morrow none , now he hath wealth , and in an hower 't is gone , some in their youth there be haue all things store , and yet do often liue til they are poore . again , there 's some in youth at begger states ; become in age for to be potentates . some are of kings made slaues , and kings againe , whilst other with the contrary complaine , for poore eumenes of a potters sonn , by fickle fortunes help a kingdome wonne ; but for him such a dyet did prouide , that shortly after he of hunger dy'd . i many such examples might inferre , but that would wast more time and make me erre from my intent , who purpose to relate , the ficklenes of man , not his estate . moreouer , hee 's a creature knowes not how , to do an act which he shall long allow , or think of wel himselfe ; he cannot tell , vvhat he would haue , nor what he would not , wel . for peraduenture he is now content , to do what he wil in an hower repent , he does , and vndoes what he did before , is discontented , and with no man more then with himselfe ; in word hee 's fickle to , for he wil promise what hee 'le neuer do . if that he tels me he wil be in pauls , i 'le go looke for him in the temple-hals , for soonest to that place resort doth he , vvhereas he saies or sweares he wil not be . oh! had there beene in wordes a constant trust , i needed not to haue done as now i must . i should haue had no cause to haue bewail'd , that which i once thought would haue neuerfaild but since 't is thus , at nothing more i greeue , then that vnconstant wordes made me beleeue , were promises worth trust , what needed than , such written contracts betweene man and man ? and wherefore should they make so much ado , to haue both hands and seales to witnes too ? vnlesse it be for proofes to make it plaine , their wordes are both inconstant , false , and vaine . to morrow he wil earnestly gaine-say . what stoutly is affirm'd by him to day : yea truely hee 's so wauering and vniust , that scarce a word of his deserueth trust . but as a creature of all good forlorne , sweares what 's deni'd , and straight denyes what 's sworne that i suppose , in troth and do not mock , hee 's flt for nothing but a weather-cock . then that same thought that 's likeliest to remaine , another that 's vnlike puts out againe . for appetite , not reason , guides him still , which makes him so inconstant in his vvill. had he a sute at first but made of leather , and cloathes enough to keepe away the weather 't were all his wish ; wel so let vs grant , and ten to one he somthing else will want . but sweares that he for more would neuer care , then to be able to haue cloth to weare , which if he get , then would he very faine , reach to haue silkes , for cloth he faith is plaine , and so his wishes seldome would haue stay , vntill that he hath wisht for all he may . but though from this infirmity there 's no man , that i can well except it is so common , yet surely i most properly may cal 't or tearm 't to be the common peoples fault ; think not i wrong them , for if it may not be , a fault for to digresse , you soone should see their nature and condition ; for i hate it : and now i think vpon 't i wil relate it . tax me who list ( i care not ) heere i le breake , my course a while , i may not chuse but speake , somthing , i say my muse of them must tell , she cannot beare it any farther well . and yet expect not all , for i 'le but shew , of many hundred thousand faults , a few . and to be breefe : the vulg●r are a rude , a strange inconstant hare-braind multitude : borne too and fro with euery idle passion , or by opinion led beside all fashion , they stil desire newes , and to a song , or a bald tale thei 'l listen all day long . soone weary of a good thing , and they try , to al reports how they may adde a lye ; like that of scoggins crowes : and with them stil , custome hath borne most sway and euer will : and good or bad , what their forefathers did , thei 'l put in prastise to , ( else god for bid ) they are seditious and much giuen to range , in their opinions , and desiring change , for if their country be turmoyld with warre , they thinke that peace is more commodious farre , if they be quiet they would very faine , begin to set the warres abroach againe ; i wel remember when an irish presse , had made a parish but a man the lesse , lord what a hurly burly there was than ! these warrs ( say they ) hathe cost vs many a man , the countrey is impouerisht by 't and we , rob'd of our husbands and our children be , with many lamentations : but now peace , hath made ●●ellonaes anger for to cease , their euer discontented natures grutch , and thinke this happy peace we haue too much , yea and their wisdomes beare vs now in hand , that it is warres that doth enrich the land : but what are these ? not men of any merit , that speak it from a bold and daring spirit , but lightly some faint-hearted brauing momes , that rather had be hang'd at their owne ●omes , then for their countries welfare for to stay , the brunt of one pitcht battell but a day , of such as would distract with feare become , to heare the thundring of a martiall drum . they cannot keep a meane , a naughty crime , nor neuer are contented with the time . but better like the state they haue been in , although the present hath the better bin , e'ne as the iewes , that loathing manna , faine would be in egypt at their flesh again , though they were there in bondage ; so do these , vvish for the world as in queene maries dayes ; vvith all the blindnes and the trumpery , that was expeld the land with popery ; vvhy ? thinges were cheap , and t was a goodly m●ny . vven we had foure and twenty agges a penny . but sure they ate them stale for want of wit , and that hath made them adle-headed yet . then this ( moreouer ) i haue in them seene , they alwaies to the good haue enuious beene , mild men they reckon fooles and do vphold , him to be valiant that is ouer-bold : when he with wisemen is and euer was . counted no better then a desperate asse . he that doth trust vnto their loue , shall find t is more vnconstant then the wauering wind , which since my time a man that many knew , relying on it : at his death found true . then they haue oft vnthank fully withstood , those that haue laboure ▪ for the common good . and being basely minded euermore , seeke lesse the publick then the priuate store . moreouer such a prince as yet was neuer , of whom the people could speake well of euer , nor can a man a gouernment inuent them , how good soeuer that shall long content them . their honesty as i do plainely find is not the disposition of their mind : but they are forc't vnto the same through feare , as in those villaines it may wel appeare . who hauing found so vile vngodly cause , if there be any meanes to wrest the lawes , by tricks or shifts to make the matter goe as they would haue it , all is well enow : although the wrong and 〈◊〉 they proffer , be to apparent for a iew to offer . they know not iustice , and oft causles hate , or where their should not are compassionate , as at an execution i hau● seene , where malefactors haue rewarded beene , according to desert ; before they know , if he accused , gui●ty be or no. they on report , this hastie censure giue ; he is a villaine and vnfit to liue : but when he is once arraign'd and found guilty by law ; and heauily led bound vnto the scaffold , then they doe relent , and pi●ty his deserued punishment . those that wil now braue gallant men be deem'd ▪ and with the common people be esteem'd , let them turne hack-sters as they walke the street , quarrell , and fight with euery one they meet ; learne a welsh song to scoffe the brittish bloud or breake a iest on scotsmen , that 's as good , or if they would that fooles should much admire them , they should be iugglers if i might desire them : but if they want such feates for to be glorious make ballets and they shall become not orious , yet this is nothing if they looke for fame , and meane to haue an euerlasting name . amongst the vulgar let them seeke for gaine with ward the pirat on the boisterous maine , or else well mounted keepe themselues on land , and bid our wealthy trauellers to stand , emptying their full cram'd bags ; for that 's a tricke vvhich somtimes wan renoune to cutting dicke . but some may tell me , though that such , it doth not goe against their conscience much : and though there 's boldnes showne in such a case , yet to be tost at tyburns a disgrace , no , 't is their credit , for the people then , wil say , 't is pitty they we e●proper men . with many such like humors base and naught , i do perceiue the common people fraught , then by th' opinion of some it seemes , how much the vulgar sort of men esteems o 〈◊〉 or learning : certaine neighbouring swaines , ( that think none wise-men but whose wisdome games ; where knowledge be it morall or diuine is valued as an orient-pearle with swine meeting me in an euening in my walke , being gone past me , thus began their talke . first an old chuff , whose roofe , i dare be bould , hath bacon hang's in 't aboue fiue yeares old . said : that 's his sonne that●s owner of the grounds that on this pleasant beechs mountaines bounds , d' ye marke me ne ghbors ? this sa●e yong mans vather had a bin my zunne i hud a hangd him rather assoone as he perze●u'd the little voole , could creepe about the house , putten to schoole , whither he we t●not now and then a ●purt , as 't had beene good to keep him from the durt ; nor yet at leasure tim s , ( that 's my zunnes stint ) vor then 〈◊〉 deed there had beene reason in'te b●t vor continuance and beyond all zesse a held him too 't sixe dayes a weeke no lesse that by s. anne ie was a great presumption it brought him no● his end with a consvmption : and then besides he was not so content , to putten there where as our childers went : to learne the horne booke , and the abcee through , no that he thought not learning halfe enough , but he must seeke the country all about , where he might find a better teacher out . and then he buies him ( now a pips befall it ) a vlapp●ng booke , i know not what they call it , t is latine ●ll , thus it begins ; in speech , and hat 's in english , boy , beware your breech , one day my dicke a leafe on t with him brought , which he out of his fellowes booke had ra●g ●t , and to h● s mother and my selfe did read it , but we indeed did so extreamely dread it , we gaue him charge no more thereon to looke , vor veare it had bin of a coniuring booke , if that you thinke i iest goe as ke my wife , if ere she heard such ●ibberish in her life , but when he yonn had cond the same by heart , and of a meny moethe better part ; he went to oxford , where he did remaine , some certaine yeares , whence hee 's returnd againe , now who can tell ( it in my stomack stickes ) and i doe veare he has some oxford tricks . but if it be zo : would he had ne●e come hether , vor we shall still be sure of blustring weather . to what end comes his paine and vathers cost ? th' one's charges , and the tothers labour lost ; i warrant he so long a learning went , that he almost a brothers portion spent : and now it nought auailes him : by this holly , i thinke all learning in the world a folly , and them i take to be the veriest vooles , that all their life time doe frequent the schooles , goe aske him now and see if all his wits , can tell you when a barly season hits . when meddowes must be left to spring , when mowne , when wheate , or tares , or rye , or pease be sowne . he knows it not , nor when t is meet to fold , how to manure the ground that 's wet or cold : what lands are fit for pasture , what for corne , or how to hearten what is ouer-worne . nay ; he scarce knowes a gelding from a mare , a barrow from a sow , nor tak she care of such like things as these ; be knowes not whether , there be a difference twixt the ewe and weather , can he resolue you ? ( no nor many more ) if cowes doe want their vpper teeth before ; nay i durst pawne a groat he cannot tell , how many legges a sheepe hath very well , is 't not a wise man thinke yee ? by the masse , c ham glad at heart my zunnes not zuch an asse , why he can tell already all this geare , as well almost as any of vs heare . and neighbors : yet i 'le tell you more ; my dicke , hath very pretty skill in arsemetricke . can cast accouts , writes his name , & dunces daughter , taught him to spell the hardest words it 'h zauter . and yet the boy i le warrant yee knowes how , as well as you or i , to hold the plow , and this i noted in the vrchin euer , bid him to take a booke he had as lether , all day haue drawne a harrow ; truth is so , i likt it wel although i made no shew vor to my comfort i did plainly see , that he heoreaster would not bookish bee , then when that hauing nought at home to do , i sometime forct him to the schoole to goe , you would haue greeud in heart to heare him whine , and then how glad he was to keep the swine , i yet remember ; and what tricks the mome , would haue inuented for to stay at home you would haue wondred ; but 't is such another , a has a wit in all the world likes mother ; yet once a month , although it greeues vs than , h'ele looke you in a books do what we can ; that mother , sister , brother all we foure , can scarce perswade him from 't in halfe an howre , but oft i thinke he does it more of spight , to anger vs then any true delight . vor why ? his mother thinks as others do , and i am halfe of that opinion too . although a little learning be not bad , those that are bookish are the so ●nest mad . and therefore since much wit makes vooles of many , i hil take an order mine shall ne're haue any . by r lady your the wiser ( quoth the rest ) the course you take in our conceit 's the best , your lonne may liue in any place i th land , by his industrious and laborious hand , whilst he ( but that his parents are his stay ) hath not the meane , to keepe him selfe a day , his study to our sight no pleasure giues , nor me●●es , nor profit , and thereby he liues so little thing the better , none needt doubt it , he might haue been a happier man without it . for though he now 〈◊〉 speake a little better , it is not words you know will free the debter . thus so ne whose speeches shew wel what they be , for want of matter fell to talke of me . of whom , though somthing they haue said be true yet since insteed of giuing act her due , they haue disgrast it ; notwithstanding i , haue not the knowledge that these dol●s enuy , or can so much without incurring blame , as take vnto my selfe a schollers name . yet now my reputation for to saue , since i must make account of that i haue , i le let you know though they so lightly deeme it , what gaine 's in knowledge , and how i esteeme it , as often as i call to minde the blisse , that in my little knowledge heaped is . the many comforts , of all which the least , more ioyes my heart then can be well exprest . how happy then thinke i are they whose soules more wisdome by a thousand parts in rowles ; whose vnderstanding-hearts are so diuine they can perceiue a m●ll●ou more then mine , such haue content indeed : and who that 's man and should know reason is so sencelesse than to spurne at knowledg● , art , or learning ; when that onely showes they are the race of men ? and what may i then of those peasants deeme , the which of wisdome make so small esteeme ? but that indeed such blockish sencelesse logges , sprang from those clownes latona turn'd to frogs ; alas , suppose they nothing can be got by precious stones , cause swine esteeme them not ? ot do they thinke , because they cannot vse it , that those which may haue knowledge wil refuse it ? well , if their shallow coxcombs can containe a reason when it s told them , i 'le explaine , how that same little knowledge i haue got , much pleasures me , though they perceiue it not : for first thereby ( though none can here attaine for to renew their first estate againe ) apart reuiues ( although it be but small ) of that i lost by my first fathers fall . and makes me man , which was before ( at least ) as haplesse , if not more , then is the beast that reason wants ; for his condition still , remaines according to his makers will. they neuer dreame of that , and then by this , i find what godly , and what euill is ; that knowing both , i may the best ensue , aud as i ought the worser part eschew , then i haue learn't to count that drosse but vaine , for which such bores consume themselues with paine : i can endure discontentments , crosses , be iouia●l in want , and smile at losses : keep vnder passions , stop those insurrections , rais'd in my microcosmus by affections . be nothing greeued for aduersitie , nor nere the prouder for prosperitie . how to respect my friend i partly know , and in like manner how to vse my foe . i can see others lay their soules to pawne , looke vpon great-men , and yet scorne to fawne . am still content , & dare whilst god giues grace , e'ne looke my grimmest fortunes in the face . i feare mens censures as the char-coale sparks , or as i doe a toothlesse dog that barks ; th' one frights children , ' other threats to burne , but sparks will die , and brawling curs returne . yea i haue learn't that still my care shall be , a rush for him , that cares a straw for me . now what would men haue more ? are these no pleasures ? or do they not deserue the name of treasures ? sure yes ; and he that hath good learning store , shall finde these in 't besides a thousand more . o● but our chuffs thinke these delights but course , if we compare them to their hobby-horse : and they beleeue not any pleasure can , make them so merry as maid-marian . not is the lawyer prouder of his fee ▪ then these will of a cuckooe lordship bee . though their sweet ladies make them father that , some other at their vvhitson ales begat ; but he whose carriage is of so good note , to be thought worthy of their lords fooles coate . that 's a great credit , for because that he , is euer thought the wisest man to be . but as there 's vertue where the diuil's precisest , so ther 's much knowledge where a fool 's the wisest , but what meane i ? let earth content these moles , and their high'st pleasure be their summer-poles , about the which i leaue them for to dance , and much good do 't them with their ignorance . so this i hope will serue for to declare , how rude these vulgar sort of people are . but herevpon there 's some may question make , vvhether i onely for the vulgar take , such men as these ; to whom i answer , no , for let them hereby vnderstand and know , i doe not meane these meaner sort alone , tradesmen or labourers ; but euery one , be he esquire , knight , baron , earle or more , yet if he haue not learn'd of vertues lore , but followes vulgar passions ; then e'ne he , amongst the vulgar shall for one man be . and the poore groome , that he thinks should adore him , shall for his vertue be preferd before him . for though the world doth such men much despise , they seeme most noble in a wise-mans eyes . and notwithstanding some doe noblest deeme , such as are sprung of great and high esteeme , and those to whom the country doth affoord the title of a marquis or a lord , though 't were atchiued by their fathers merits , and themselues men but of dunghill spirits ; cowards or fooles ; ( and such as euer be prating or boasting of their pedigree ) when they are nothing but a blot or shame , vnto the noble house from whence they came . yet these ( i say ) vnlesse that they haue wit , to guide the common-wealth , as it is fit they should ; and as their good fore-fathers did , how ere their faults may seeme by greatness hid , they shall appeare ; and the poore yeomans sonne , whose proper vertue hath true honour won , be plac't aboue him : but nobilitie that comes by birth hath most antiquitie some thinke ; and tother ( if at all they yeeld as noble ) they an vpstart call , but i say rather no , his noblenesse that 's rais'd by vertue hath most worthinesse . and is most ancient , for it is the same , by which all great men first obtaind their fame ; so then i hope 't will not offend the court , that i count some there with the vulgar sort , and outset others ; yet some thinke me bold , because there 's few that these opinions hold . but shall i care what others thinke or say ? there is a path besides the beaten way ; yea and a safer , for heere 's christs instruction , the broadest way leads soonest to destruction . and truely no opinions deceiue , sooner then those the vulgar sort receiue , and therefore he that would indeed be wise , must learne their rude conditions to despise , and shun their presence ; for we haue bin taught , diseases in a presse are quickly caught . now satyr leaue them till another time , and spare to scourge the vulgar with thy rime , if any thinke thou hast digrest too long , they may passe ouer this , and doe no wrong . but in my former matter to proceed , who , being mans race is so much freed from ficklenes , that he is sure to finde himselfe to morrow , in that very minde hee 's in to day ? though he not onely know no reason wherefore he should not be so , but also though he plainly do perceiue much cause he should not that opinion leaue : may no man do it ? who then iustly can be forced to rely , or trust in man whose thoughts are changing , and so oft amisse , that by himselfe , himselfe deceiued is ? who is so sottish as to build saluation on such a feeble tottering foundation as man ? who is 't that hauing a respect , to his soules safety , will so much neglect that precious assurance , as to lay his confidence on that false peece of clay , which being fickle , merits farre lesse trust , then letters written in the sand , or dust ? do they not see those they haue soundest deem'd , and for their constants writers still esteem'd , all wauering in assertions ? yea but looke , and you shall finde in one , and the same booke such contradiction in opinion , as shewes their thoughts are scarce at vnion . where finde you him that dares be absolute , or alwaies in his sayings resolute ? ther 's none ; i by my owne experience speake , i haue a feeling that we men are weake , whereon much musing , makes me inly mourne , and grieue at heart , that i a man was borne . ( yet herevpon i do desire that no man , vvould gather that i long to be a woman , ) alas ! how often had i good intendments and with my whole heart vow'd and sworn amendments yea purpos'd that , wherein i once thought , neuer vnconstancy should let me to perseuer ? and yet for all my purpose and my vow , i am oft alter'd ere my selfe knowes how : but therefore since it is not i alone , or any certaine number that is knowne , to be vn-stable ; but e'ne all that be ; since none ( i say ) is from this frailty free , let vs confesse it all , and all implore our nere repenting god ; that euermore remaines the same , we may be ( as we ought ) more certaine both in word , and deed , & thought that he will keep vs from inconstancy , yea from all damned , lewd apostasie ; but howsoeuer our affections change , and we in slight opinions hap to range : yet , pray his truth in vs be so ingraued , continuing to the end we may be saued . of weaknes . satyr . . bvt oh looke here ; for i haue surely found the maine chiefe root , the very spring and ground . of our inconstancy . it is not chance that so dis-ables our perseuerance : but a base weaknesse , which to terme aright , is meerely a priuat● on of that might , or a detraction from that little power which should be in those limbs and minds of our : we boast of strength ; but tell me , can our daies affoord a milo , or a hercules ? can all the world , ( and that is large enough ) a match for hector or achilles show : haue we a champion strong enough to weild this buckler ? or sir aiax seauen-fold-shield ? i thinke we haue not : ( but i durst so grant , there be some liuing shall with aiax vaunt . ) nay , now in these daies it is doubted much , vvhether that any former age had such as these fore-named ; but indeed our faith binds vs to credit , that as scripture saith there was a samson , who could fright whole hosts , and rent downe azaths barred gates and posts , whose mighty arms vnarm'd could bring to passe , e'ne with the rotten iaw bone of an asse , a thousands ruine ▪ and yet 't will be long , er'e he shall thereby proue that ma● is strong . for first , the strength he seem'd to haue , was known , to be the spirit of god , and not his owne . and then his proper weaknesse did appeare , when after his braue actiheihad wel-neare , been dead for thirst ; whereas if he in spight of nature had been able by his might , out of this little stony-rocke to wring , to quench his present thirst , some flowing spring , as did a stronger one : or if his power could haue compel'd the melting clouds to shower for present need , such plenteous drops of raine , he might haue had no cause for to complaine , or craue more aid . sure then we might at length , be brought for to beleeue that men had strength ; but ne're till then . hee 's mighty that can make the heaueus , earth , & hell with 's breath to shake . that in his spheare the suns swift course can stop , and atlas with his burthen vnder-prop . he that with ease his massy globe can rowle , and wrap vp heauen like a parchment scrowle ; he that fot no disease or paine will droop , nor vnto any plague infernall stoop . he that can meat , and drinke , and sleepe refraine , or hath the power to dye , and rise again● , hee 's strong indeed ; but he that can but teare , or rent in two a lyon , or a beare , or doe some such like act , and then goe lye himselfe ore-come by some infirmitte , how ere with vants he seemes his deedes to grace , he is both miserable , weak , and base , what creature is there borne so weake as man , and so vn-able ? tel me , he that can . or if that they could number'd be by any , count his disease and what hath so many ? or else what creature is there if he be in bone and flesh of the same quantity , so fraile as man ? or that can worse sustaine . hunger or thirst or cold or heat or paine ? sure none ; and yet in histories we find , til luxury hath weakened thus mankind , they weare much stronger ; could indure the heat , trauel a long time without drink or meat , and their best dainty was no costlier thing then a wild-root or water from the spring . with which small commons nature was content : yea in our climate people naked went ; and yet no question felt as little cold , as we wrapt vp in halfe a dozen fold they had no wast-coats , night-caps for their heads , nor downy pillowes nor soft feather-beds they scorn'd as much to haue such thinges about thē as we in this age sc●rne to be without them . their heads some stone bare vp their brawny sides , vvith ease the hardnes of the earth abides . gluttonous fare that so the pallat pleases , nere fild their bodies full of foule diseases nor any pleasing liquors with excesse , made them grow weak through beastly drunkennes . no lust-prouoking meats made them vnchaste . nor vnto carnall copula●ton haste , for i am in the minde they ne're requir'd it , till nature come to herfull strength , desir'd it , and that it is alone which made them be more stout , more strong , and brauer men then we . it was a noble care in them indeed ; but how are we become such dwarfes and pigmies now ? how are our limbs so weake and feeble growne ? i thinke i need not tell it , 't is well knowne , nice tender breeding , which we well might spare , much drunkennes and our luxurious fare : which ads not strength , as some doe vainely say but rather takes both strength , and health away . yet chiefely this same imbecility , comes by too soone and frequent venery . a beardlesse boy now cannot keep his bed , vnlesse that he be of his night-geere sped , and many giglets i haue married seene , ere they ( forsooth ) could reach eleuenteene . nay 't is no wonder we are growne so weake , for now the 'r matching brats ere they can speake ; and though we yet say that the men are stronger , yet he ( i thinke ) that liues but so much longer , the reuolution of an age to see , vvill say that men the weaker vessels be . but now our strength of body , which indeed , deserues no more respect then doth a reed , is not the strength of which i meant to speake , for we are yet another way too weake . our minds haue lost their magnanimitie , and are so feebled through infirmitie ; that either to be resolute we care not , or else because of some base feare we dare not , where can we finde almost a man so hardy , who through his weakenesse is not somtime tardy , to speake the truth ? or to declare his minde ? though he doe many iust occasions finde . he 'le wink at 's friends offence , and passe it blindly , least ( peraduenture ) he should tak 't vnkindly . and if it be a great man that offends , shew me but him that boldly reprehends , and i 'le admire him ; nay wee 'l rather now bend our endeuour and our study how to sooth and fawne ; or to their lewdnes tell , that all they doe ( be 't nere so bad ) is well . their very looks and presence we so feare , as if that they some monstrous cyclops were , which makes them worse . but howsoe're they trust vnto their might , i 'le tell them ( for i must ) although they threaten , and can slanders make of iust reproofes , my heart shall neuer quake t' informe their honors , thus'tis censur'd by men , if they be great-ones , tanto maius crimen ; one knowes the truth , but dares not to defend it , because he heares another discommend it . yea diuers follow vertues wayes but coldly , because they dare not doe a good thing boldly and doe we not perceiue that many a man fearing for to be ●earm'd a p●ritan , simply neglects the meanes of his saluation , though it be needfull , and worth commendation ? some cannot well endure this or that : others distempred with i know not what shew an exceeding frailty : few can brooke with any patience , that men should looke into their actions ; and though they should loue them , they rather hate them for 't that doe reproue them . is there a man so strong , that he forbeares choller or fury , when by chance he heares , himselfe reuil'd , reproched and disgrac'd ? if there be such a one , he shall be plac'd amongst the worthie , with the formost three : for in my iudgement , none more wothy be to haue renowne for strength , then those that can , on their rebellious passons play the man. this weakenes i do also find in men , they know not their owne happinesse till then when they haue lost it : and they doe esteeme men for their wealth , and them most blessed deeme that are most rich ; supposing no man more accursed or vnhappy , then the poore . some basely doe comdemne each strange report to be vntrue , because it doth not sort with their weake reasons . some againe will be , astonished at euery nouelty . but too much wondring doth discover plaine where ignorance and frailty both remaine . is it not weakenesse when some petty losses , some hindrance in preferment , or such crosses shall make men greeue ? is it no weakenesse when , aduersitie shall so disquiet men that they should not with patience sustaine , or vndetgoe a little crosse and paine ? yes questionles it is ; or were they strong , they would so arme themselues gainst greefe and wrong that no disastrous , or il hap shold fright them though fortune did the worst she can to spight them . nor would they those , as the vnworthiest deeme , to whom dame fortune doth most froward seeme ; but rather such as all their life time be , in quiet state and from disturbance free . for ●he oft giues what their base longing craues , because she scornes to vexe deiected flaues , i haue knowne braue men , braue at least in shew , ( and in this age now that is braue enow ) that in appearance for bold champions past and yet haue basely yeelded at the last . besides there 's many who thought scorne to droop , by fortunes power haue been made to stoop , and with discredit shamefully left vndone , what they with honor at the first begun ; and their weake hearts ( which frailty i much hate ) deiected , haue growne base with their estate . vvhereas ( me thinkes ) the mind should neuer be , subiect to fortunes frownes not tyrany . but here through weaknes , some , offence may take that i of fortune should recitall make : for they by fortune say there 's nothing done , but all things are both ended and begunne , by gods appointment . i confesse indeed , that he knowes all , and all hath fore-decreed : in the respect of whom i cannot say , ought comes by chance ; respecting vs i may . so they are answer'd ; but how can men be , so ouer-borne with this infirmitie ? as those who are in euery matter led , by parasites and apes : where is their head ? i meane their will , their reason , and their sence , what is become of their intelligence ? how i st that they haue such a partiall care , they can iudge nothing true , but what they heare come from the tongue of some sly sycophant . but for because they strength of iudgement want , those that themselues to flatterers inure , i haue perceiued basely to endure for to be plainely soothed , mock't and flouted , made coxcombs to their faces , yet not doubted that they were highly reuerenc't , respected , and by those fauning parasites affected and why forsooth ? they often heare them prate , in commendations of their happy state ; yes , and they tell them that they vertuous be , wise , courteous , strong , and beautifull to see , when if the eye of reason were not lockt they plainly might perceiue that they were mockt . for what i st else , when they are prais'd for many goodly conditions , that had neuer any ? this frailty also merits to be blam'd when fearefull of reproach we are asham'd , our ignorance in those things to explaine , wherin , t were fit more knowledge to attain 't is weaknes also when a bargaines bought , for to dispraise the penniworth as nought , and tell what might haue beene , or fondly prate , of counsel , when he sees it is too late , nor is it any lesse to seeke to stay , him that we know doth hasten on his way , o● be importunate , for that which will ▪ be nothing for our good , yet others ill : also , to be affraid for to gainesay , what men doe know vnture , or to delay the right of any matter to declare , because they feare they vnbeleeued are : for notwithstanding truth doth oft bring blame , it may be freely spoken without shame diuers more waies of which i needs must speake , there 's many men doe shew themselues but weake : in some but lately i obserued this , and must needs say their nature euill is ; if friends to them haue any kindnes showne , or entertainments willingly bestowne , that they confesse they are indebted for it , yet such is their condition ( i abhor it ) if that those freinds do hap to take the paine , to come somtime and visit them againe , in meere good will , because these weake ones see they cannot then so well prouided be to bid them welcome as their loues require , ( though more then loue their loues did ne're desire ) a foolish shame so blinds them that they shall ( for giuing them to much ) haue naught at all ; yea for because they want excessiue fare , or some such things for which their friends neere care , ( though by their will it other wise had beene ) they neither will be knowne at home nor seene . vvhich doth not onely shew impiety , but hindereth loue , and barres society , yet now the greatest weaknesse that i finde , to be in man , is ignorance of mind , it makes a poore man hee 's scarse good for ought , if rich men haue it , they are worse then nought . for hauing riches store , and wanting might , or strength of mind to vse the same aright , t is arrogancies and ambitious fuell , it makes them couetuous , inconstant , cruell ; intemperate , vniust and wonderous heady , yea in their actionsrude , and so vnsteddy they cannot follow any sound direction , but are still carried with a wild affection , this is their nature : ( it is quickly noted ) if they to honour be by hap promoted then they grow insolent , beyond all reason , apt for ambition , quarrels , murthers , treason : or any villany , that followes those , who doe the summe of happinesse repose in worldly glory : but if fortune frowne , and from her fickle wheele once cast them downe , then their deiected hearts againe grow base , they are impatient of their present case : raue or run mad , and can doe nought poore elues , vnlesse it be goe hang or drowne them selues . moreouer the same weakenes that proceeds , from ignorance , this mischife also breeds ; it makes men will conceited of their will , which they will follow be it nere so ill . and they thinke all things needs must fall out bad , wherein their wise aduise may not be had . but heere 's the hell : to them all counsell's vaine , cause they all others wisedome doe disdaine , and wholly on their owne deuises rest , as men perswaded that their owne are best : but as all such are weake , e'ne so i say is euery one that rashly doth repay vengeance in anger ; or that 's male content oft ; or oft mooued and impatient : or those that iudge of counsels by th' euent , or that perswade themselues , if their intent be good and honest , that it doth not skill if that the matter of it selfe be ill ; which were it true then dauid might complaine , that vzzah for his good intent was slaine . others againe thinke superstitious rites , to be the seruice in which god delghts . but since i 'me forst my mind of them to speake , i must needs say their iudgements are but weake : the like i must of them who disesteeme , all forraine customes , and doe onely deeme their owne , praise-worthy ; as also such as do thinke those things best they cannot reach vnto ; yet in the vulgar this weake humor 's bred , they 'l sooner be with idle customes led , or fond opinions such as they haue store , then learne of reason or of vertues lore , we think that we are strong , but what alas ! is there that our great might can bring to passe , since though we thereto bend e'ne all our will , we neither can be good not wholly ill . god giues vs needfull blessings for to vse them , which wanting power to do we oft abuse them , some hold them wise and vertuous that professe , an heremitall solitariness : but it proceeds from imbecillity , and for because through non-ability , those thinges they cannot well in dure to doe , which they indeed should be inur'd vnto : besides , they wrong their country , and their friends . for man ( saith tullye's , ) borne to other ends then for to please himselfe ; a part to haue , the common-weale doth look , and parents craue a part ; so doth his friend ; then deales he well that closely mewd vp in a carelesse cell keepes all himselfe ; and for a little ease , can in his conscience find to rob all these ? i say hee 's weake , and so againe i must , but add withall , hee 's slothfull and vniust : then as hee 's vaine that precious time doth spend , in fond and idle pleasure to no end : so are those weake , that with contempt disdaine all plesure and delights on earth as vaine ; and though they would be zealous thought , & wise i shall but count them foolishly precise ; for man hath cares ; and pleasures mixt with-all are needfull ; yea both iust and naturall . we are no angels that our recreation , should consist only in meer contemplation : but we haue bodies to , of whose due pleasure , the soules must find sometimes to be at leasure for to participate ; but in this kind , though some find fault , we are not much behind then t is through humane weaknes , when that we of a good-turne will soone forgetfull be , and readier to reuenge a small offence , then for that good to make a recompen ● and so 't is also when that we eschew , or shunne them vnto whom from vs is due both loue and mony ; this because their owne th' other cause friendship at our need was showne : but 't is well seen there 's many so abhor , to be in presence with their creditor , that ( thankless elues ) though he be still their friend . they rather would desire to see his end : he 's weake , to that 's not able to withstand , any vnlawfull or vniust demand , as well as he that knowes not to deny , seruing-mens kindness , or pot-curtesie . some simple fellowes , cause that silken-fooles , ( that had their bringing-vp in bacchus schooles . ) in show of loue , but daine to drink vnto them , think presently they such a fauour do them , that though they feele their stomack wel nigh sick yet if to pledge these kind ones they should sticke : or for a draught or two , or three refuse them they thinke in conscience they should much abuse them nay there be some , and wisemen you would thinke that are not able to refuse their drinke , through this their weaknesse ; though that they be sure 't is more then their weake stomacks can indure , and why ? oh 't is the health of some great peere his maisters , or his friend he counteth deare ; what then ? if that the party vertuous be , he 'le not esteeme of such a foolery ; if not , who er 't be , this is my mind still , a straw for 's loue , his friendship , or good will , some muse to see those that haue knowledge gaind and to degrees of art in schooles attaind , should haue opinion stuft with heresie , and in their action such simplicitie as many haue , at first , without a pause , as meere a boy as i may tell the cause : i st not , the reason their acquired parts , and knowledge they haue reacht vnto by arts is growne a m●tch to great , and farre vnfit , for to be ioyned with their naturallwit ? 't is so ; and they insteed of rightfull vsing draw from their leraning errors , by abusing . plaine reason should , and euery man that 's wise knowes though that learning be a dainty prize , yet if that fate with such a weakling place it , who hath no helpes of nature for to grace it : or one , whose proper knowledge , is so small , he is beholding to his booke for all ; it onely breeds , ( vnlesse it be some treasons ) cripled opinions , and prodigious reasons . which being fauour'd brings in the conclusion , publike dissentions , or their owne confusion . for i may liken learning to a shield , with a strong armor , lying in a field : ready for any man that hath the wit to take it vp and arme himselfe with it , now if he be a man of strength and might , that happens on that furniture to light he may doe wonders ; as offend his foe , and keep himselfe and his , from ouerthrow . but if a weake and feeble man should take these instruments of mars ; what would they make , for his aduantage ? surely i should gather they would goe neere to ouerthrow him rather : for they would loade him so , a man more strong although he be vnarm'd , may doe him wrong . so he , that is depriu'd of natures guifts , with all his learning , maketh harder shifts , through his owne weakenes , & incurs more shames ; then many that want art to write their names . we haue some fellowes that would scorne to be term'd weake i know , especially by me , because they see that my vngentle fate , allow'd me not to be a graduate . yet whatsoeuer they will say vnto it , for all their scorning i am like to doe it . and to be breefe they are no simple fooles , but such as haue yauld ergo in the schooles , who being by some men of worship thought , fit men by whom their children may be taught , and learnd enough for that they are allowd the name of teachers , whereof growing proud , because perhaps they heare that now and then , they are admired at by the seruing-men ; or else by reason somthing they haue said , hath beene applauded by the chamber-maid ; they therevppon suppose that no man may . hold any thing for truth but what they say : and in discourse their tongues so much wil walke , you may not heere a man of reason talke ; they are halfe preachers , if your question be , of matters that concerne diuinity ; if it be law ; i 'le warrant they 'l out-face , a dozen p●oydens to maintaine their case : but if it be of physick you contend , old galen and hypocrates may send for their opinion ; nay , they dare professe , knowledge in al things , though there 's none know less : now i should wonder they preuaild so much , did not the common-people fauour such , but they are knowne although their verdit passes , proud dogmatists , and self-conceited asses ; whom i may tearme ( though i cannot out-scold them weake simple fooles , and those that doe vphold them : moreouer some , ( but foolishly precise , and in my iudgement , far more weake then wise , ) misiudge of poetry , as if the same , did worthily dese●ue reproach and blame ; if any booke in verse they hap to spy , oh , out vpon 't , away , pr●fane they cry , burn't , reade it not , for sure it doth containe nothing but fables of a lying braine ; al-as● take heed , indeed it oft pollutes the out-side of thy false-vaine glorious sutes ? and to the blinded people makes it plaine , the coulour , thou so counterset'st will staine . because we see that men are drunke with wine , shall we contemne the liquor of the vine ? and since there 's some that doe this art misuse , wilt therefore thou the art it selfe abuse ? 't were meere iniustice : for diuinitie hath with no science more affinitie then this ; and howsoe're this scruple rose , rime hath exprest as sacred things as prose ; when both in this age and in former time , prose hath been ten-times more profane , then rime ; but they say still that poetry is lies , and fables , such as idle heads deuise , made to please fooles : but now we may by this perceiue their weaknes plainely what it is : yea , this both weake and ignorant doth proue them , in that thei 'l censure things that are aboue them : for , if that worthy poets did not teach , a way beyond their dull conceited reach , i thinke their shallow wisedomes would espy , a parable did differ from a lie . yea , if their iudgement be not quite bereft ; or if that they had any reason left , the precious truths within their fables wrapt , had not vpon so rude a censure hapt ; but though that kind of teaching some dispraise , as there 's few good things lik't of now adaies : yet i dare say because the s●riptures show it , the best e're taught on earth , taught like a poet : and whereas poets now are counted base , and in this worth-lesse age in much disgrace ; i of the cause cannot refraine to speake , and this it is ; mens iudgements are growne weake , they know not true desert ; for if they did their well deseruings could not so be hid , and sure if there be any doth despise such as they are ; it is cause he enuies their worthines ; and is a secret foe to euery one that truely learnes to know : for , of all sorts of men here 's my beliefe , the poet is most worthy and the chiefe : his science is the absolut'st and best , and deserues honor aboue all the rest ; for 't is no humane knowledge gain'd by art , but rather 't is inspir'd into the heart by diuine meanes ; and i doe muse men dare , twixt it and their professoins make compare . for why should he that 's but philosopher , geometrician , or astrologer , physitian , lawyer , rhetorician . historian , arithmetician , or some such like , why should he hauing found the meanes but by one ar● to be renown'd , compare with him that claimes to haue a part and interest almost in euery art ? and if that men may adde vnto their name , by one of these an euerlasting fame , how much more should it vnto them befall , that haue not onely one of these , but all as poets haue ? for doe but search their works and you shall find within their writing lurks all knowledge ; if they vndertake of diu●ne matters any speech to make , you 'l thinke them doctors ; if they need to tell the course of starres , they seeme for to excell great ptolomey ; entend they to perswade , you 'l thinke that they were retoricians made : vvhat law , what phisick , or what history can these not treat of ? nay what mistery are they not learn'd in ? if of trades they write , haue they not all tearms and words as right as if he had seru'd an apprentiship ? can they not name all tooles for workemanship ? we see t is true ; if once they entreat of wars ? of cruell bloudy fraies ? of wounds ? of scars ? vvhy then he speaks so like a souldier there , that he hath beene begot in armes thou 'lt sweare : againe , he writes so like a nauigator , as if they had seru'd neptune in the water , and thou wouldst thinke he might of trauaile make as great a volume , as our famous drake ; old proteus , and vertumnus are but apes . compar'd to these , for shifting of their shapes ; there is no humorous passion so strange , to which they cannot in a moment change : note but their drammaticks and you shall see they i speake for euery sex , for each degree , and in all causes as if they had beene , in euery thing , or at least all things seene . if need be they can like a lawyer prate , or talke more grauely like a man of state ; they 'l haue a tradesmans tongue to praise their ware , and counterfet him right ( but they 'le not sweare ) the curioust phisicians ( if they please ) shall not quoine words to giue their patients ease so well as they ; and if occasion vrge , they 'l choller , yea and melancholly purge onely with charmes and words ; and yet it shall be honest meanes and meerely naturall ; are they dispos'd to gossip't like a woman , they 'l shew their tricks so right , that almost noman , but would so thinke them : virgins that are purest , and marrons that make shew to be demurest , speake not so like chast cynthia , as they can , nor newbery so like a curtezan ; they 'l giue words either fitting for a clowne , or such as shall not vnbeseeme a crowne ; in show they will be chollerick , ambitious , d●sperate , iealous , mad , or enuious , in sorrow , or in any passion be ; but yet remaine still , from all passions free . for they onely to this end exprest them , that men may see them plainer , and detest them . but some will say that these haue on the stage , so painted out the vices of this age , that it not onely tels that they haue bin , experienc't in euery kind of sinne , but that it also doth corrupt , and show how men should act those sins they did not know , oh hatefull saying , not pronounc't by chance , bnt spew'd out of malicious ignorance ; vveigh it , and you will either thinke these weak , or say that they doe out of enuy speake : can none declare th' effect of drunkennes , vnlesse they vsed such-like bestlinesse ? are all men ignorant what comes by lust , excepting those tht were themselues vniust ? or thinke they no man can describe a sin ? but that which he himselfe hath wallawed in ? if they suppose so , i no cause can tell , but they may also boldly say as well they are apprentices to euery trade , of which they find they haue descriptions made , or for because they see them write those things , that do belong to rule best , say th' are kings : as though that sacred poesie inspir'd , no other knowledge then might be acquir'd by the dull outward sence ; yes , this is shee that showes vs no● alone all things that be , but by her power laies before out view , such wondrous things as nature neuer knewe and then whereas they say that men are worse , by reading what these write , 't is their owne curse , for is the flower faulty cause we see , the loathsome spider and the painefull bee , make diuers vse on 't ? no it is the same , vnto the spider though she cannot frame , like sweetnes as the bee thence ; but indeed i must confesse that this bad age doth breed , too many that without respect presume , this worthy title on them to assume , and vndeseru'd base fellowes , whom meere time , hath made sufficient to bring forth a rime , a curtaine ligge , a libell or a ballet , for fidlers or some roagues with staffe and wallet to sing at doores ; men only wise enough , out of some rotten old worme-eaten stuffe , to patch vp a bald witlesse comedy , and trim it heere and there with ribaldry learn'd at a baudy house ▪ i say there 's such , and they can neuer be disgrac't too much , for though the name of poet such abuses , yet they are enemies to all the muses and dare not sort with them for feare they will , tumble them headlong downe parnassus hill : why then should their vsurping of it wrong that title which doth not to them belong ? and wherefore should the shame of this lewd , crew betide them , vnto whom true honors due ? it shal not ; for how ere they vse the name , their works wil show how they do merit fame ; and though it be disgrac't through ignorance , the generous will poesie aduance : as the most antique science that is found , and that which hath been the first root & ground of euery art ; yea that which only brings content ; and hath beene the delight of kings ; great iames our king both loues & liues a poet , his bookes now extant do directly show it , and that shall adde vnto his worthy name , a better glory , and a greater fame then britaines monarchy ; for few but he , i thinke will both a king and poet be ; and for the last , although some fooles debase it , i 'me in the mind that angels do imbrace it : and though god giu 't heere but in part to some , all shall hau 't perfect in the world to come . this in defence of poesie to say i am compel'd , because that at this day , weaknesse and ignorance hath wrong'd it sore ▪ but what need any man therein speake more then diuine sidney hath already done ? for whom ( though he deceas'd ere i begu● ) i haue oft sighed , and bewaild my fate , that brought me forth so many yeeres too late , to view that worthy ; and now thinke not you oh daniell , draiton , iohnson , chapman how i long to see you with your fellow peeres , matchlesse siluester , glory of these yeeres . i hither to haue onely heard your fames and know you yet but by your workes and names : the little time , i on the earth haue spent , would not allow me any more content : i long to know you better that is the truth , i am in hope you 'l not disdaine my youth . for know you muses darlings , i le note raue , a fellowship amongst you for to haue : oh no ; for though my euer willing heart , haue vow'd to loue and praise you and your art ; and though that i your stile doe now assume , i doe not , nor i will not so presume ; i claime not that too-worthy name of poet ; it is not yet deseru'd by me , i know it . grant me i may but on your muses tend , and be enrould their seruant , or their friend . and if desert hereafter worthy make me , then for a pellow ( if it please you ) take me . but yet i must not here giue off to speake , to tell men wherein i haue found them weake , and chiefely those that cannot brooke to heare , mention of death but with much griefe and fear● for many are not able for to take that thought into them , but their soules will quake ▪ poore feeble spirits , would you nere away , but dwell for euer in a peece of clay ? what find you heere wherein you doe delight , or what 's to seeing that 's worth the sight ? what ? doth the heauens thy endeauors blesse and wouldst thou therefore liue for to possesse the ioy thou hast ? seek't not ; perhaps to morro● thou l't wish to haue di'd to day , to scape the sorro● thou then shall see , for shame take stronger hearts and adde mo●e courage to your betteer parts ; for death 's not to be feard , since t is a friend , that of your sorrowes makes a gentle end . but here a qualitie i call to minde . that i amongst the common-people finde , this 't is , a weake one to ; when they perceiue a friend neare death , and ready for to leaue this wretched life ; and if they heare him say some par●ing words , as if he might not stay , nay say not so ( these comforters reply ) take heart your time 's not come , ye shall not die ; what man , and grace of god you shal be stronger ; and liue no doubt yet , many a faire day longer . thinke not on death ; with many such like words , such as their vnderstanding best affoords : but where is now become this peoples wit ? vvhat doth their knowledges esteeme more fit then death to thinke on ; chiefly when men be about to put off their mortal●tie ? me thinkes they rather should perswade them then fearelesse to be resolu'd , to die like men. for want of such a resolution stings at point of death ; and dreadfull horror brings , ●e'ne to the soule ; cause wanting preparation , she lies despairing of her owne saluation ; yea and moreouer this full well know i , he that 's at any time afraide to die , ●s in weake case , and whatso'ere he saith , hath but a wauering and a feeble faith. but what need i goe farther to relate , the frailty i haue seene in mans estate ? since this i haue already said makes cleere , that of all creatures , god hath placed here , ( prouided we respect them in their kind ) vve cannot any more vnable finde ; for of our selues we haue not power to speake , no nor to frame a thought , we are so weake . against our bodies eue'ry thing preuailes , and oft our knowledge and our iudgement failes ; yea if that one mans strength were now no lesse , then all men doe in generall possesse . or if he had attaind to ten-times more then all gods creatures ioyn'd in one before ; yet would his power be eauen then so small , when he stands surest ; he 's but sure to fall ; 't is onely weakenesse that doth make vs droupe , and vnto crosses and diseases stoupe : that makes vs vaine , inconstant , and vnsure , vnable any good things to endure : it brings vs to the seruile base subiection , of all loose passion , and vntam'd affection : it leads vs and compels vs oft to stray both beside truth , and out of reasons way . and lastly we , and that because of this , either doe nothing ; or do all amisse . which being so , we may with dauid then , confesse that we are rather wormes then men . of presvmption . satyr . . soft heedlesse muse thou no aduisement tak'st , wast not of men that last of al thou spak'st : it was : and of the weakness● too of men , come then with shame now and denie 't agen , reca●t : for so the matter rhou didst handle , thou maist be curst for t , with bell booke & candle : is mankind weake ? who then can by their powers , into the aire hurle palaces and towers ? and with one blaste'ne in a moment make , whole kingdomes and braue monarchies to shake . or what are they that dare for toaspire , into gods seat ; and if it might be higher : that forgiue sinnes as fast as men can do them , and make iehouah be beholding to them ? i 'ue heard of such ; what are they ? would i wist ; they can make saints they say of whom they list : and being made , aboue the stars cāseat them yea with their own hands make their gods & eat thē ha ? are they men ; how dar'st thou then to speake , such b●asphemy to say mankinde is weake ? i tell thee this muse , either man is strong , and through thy babling thou hast done him wrong , or else beyond his limits he doth erre , and for presumption puts downe lucifer : i st so ? nay then i prethee muse goe on , and let vs heare of his presumption : for i doe know , cause i haue heard him vaunt , that he 's a creature proud and arrogant : and it may be he is not of such might as he makes show for ; but vsurps some's right ▪ there't goe's indeed , for though he be so base so weake , and in such miserable case , that i want words of a sufficient worth , to paint his most abhorred vilenesse forth : yet such is also his detested pride , that i suppose the diuell is belide by euery man that shall affirme or say he is more proud ; for doe but marke i pray : this creature man ; did natures powerfull king , ( god , that of nothing framed eu'ry thing ) m●uld out of clay ; a peece which he had rent , e'ne from the earth the basest element : and whereas he might haue beene made a thrall , yea and the very vuderling of all ; that god with title of chief ruler grac't him , and as a steward ouer all things plac't him : gaue him a pleasant garden for to till , and leaue to eate of eu'ry tree at will. onely of one indeed he did deny him , and peraduenture of that one , to try him ; but see his insolence ; though god did threat death if he eate , and though that god was great , and so exceeding iust , that he well knew , all that he threatned doubtles would ensue : thogh god were strōg , & could , had mā bin prouder ( pore clay-bred worm ) haue stampt him into pouder● yet ( not withstanding all this same ) did he presume to tast of that forbidden tree . a rash beginning , but he sped so ill , d' yee thinke he held on this presumption still ? to heare he had left that offence 't were newes , but cain and nimrod , pharaoh and the lewes , shew'd it continued ; and grew much more , rather then lesser ▪ then it was before ; caine in his murther , and his proud replie ; nimrod in that he dar'd to build so high ; pharaoh by boldly tempting god , to shew his sundry plagues to egypts ouerthrow ; and many waies the last ; but what need i , recite examples of antiquitie ? or for to taxe old ages for that crime , since there was nere a more presumptuous time then this that 's now ; what dare not men to doe , if they haue any list or minde thereto ? their fellow creatures they doe much contemne , vaunting that all things were ordain'd for them ; yea both the gladsome daies and quiet nights , sun , moone , & heauen , with those glorious lights , which so be spangle that faire azure roofe , they thinke were onely made for their behoofe : when as alas their poore and weake command cannot extend so farre for to withstand the least starres force ; and them and their estate , sunne , moone , and starres too , do predominate . before our fall indded we did excell , all other creatures that on earth did dwell , but now i thinke the very worst that be , haue iust asmuch to boast vpon as we . our soule 's defil d ; and therefore if in sence we place our worth and cheefe prehemmence , t is knowne that there be diuers creatures then vvill haue the vpper hand ; for they passe men ; and though we still presume vpon 't , t is vaine , to challenge our old soueraingty againe ; for when that we from our obedience fell all things against vs also did rebell , lyons and beares , and tigers sought our blood the barren earth deny'd to yeeld vs food : the clouds raignd plagues , and yet dare we go on , we find such pleasure in presumption . but for because there 's some do scarcely know , how we do in that fault offend ; i le shew . first , when that they new worshippings inuent , and cannot hold themselues so well content vvith that which god doth in his word ordaine , as with inuentions of their owne weake braine , it seemes they think their fancies to fulfill , vvould please him better then to haue his will. next i doe reckon them , that ouer-bold , gods sacred legend haue at will contrould , and maugre his grand-curse some places chang'd added to some , and some againe estrang'd ; then those great masters i presumptuous deeme , that of their knowledge doe so well esteeme , they will force others , as the papists doe for to alow of their opinions to , yea though it be a meere imagination , that neither hath good ground nor iust foundation some will be prying though they are forbidden , into those secrets , god ment should be hidden . so doe some students in astrologie , though they can make a faire apologie ▪ and so doe those that very vainely trie , to finde our fortunes by their palmistrie ; these doe presume , but much more such as say , at this or that time , comes the iudgement day . or such as aske , or dare for to relate , what god was doing ere he did create heauen and earth ; or where he did abide , how and by whom , he then was glorifide . but those that into such deep secrets wind . a slender profit in their labours find ; for to make knowne how highly they offend , a desperate madnes is ofttimes their end . yet such their nature is , thei le not beware , but to be prying further still they dare , for sure that longing can no way be flaid , which well the poet seemd to know , who said , man , what he is forbidden still desires , and what he is denide off , most requires . rather then many will a man gainesay , they dare make bold with god , they thinke they may because it seems they deeme him not so strong , or so well able to reuenge a wrong . some such great power to themselues assume , and on their owne strength doe so much presume , they seldome doe for gods assistance craue , as if it were a needlesse thing to haue ; which is the cause that often the conclusion proues their owne shame , their hindrance & confusion ; in praying , men presume , ( vnlesse they be , with eu'ry one in loue and charitie : ) or if in their petitions , they desire such things as are vnlawfull to require ; death 's their reward , we know , that break the law , but neither that , nor yet damnations awe keeps vs from sinne ; a thousand god-heads more , then one we make , and dare for to adore our owne hand-works ; the sabboth we disdaine , and dreadlesse take the name of god in vaine : if but by his lords hand an irish swere , to violate that oath he stands in feare ; least him of both his lands and goods he spoile , for making him the instrument of guile : and yet dare we ( poore wormes ) before his face , ( respecting whom , the greatest lords are base ) both sweare , & forsweare ; vsing that great name at pleasure , without any feare of blame : why should not we as well suppose that he , who in our hearts would haue no fraud to be , will miserable , poore , and naked leaue vs , yea , of those blessings and estates bereaue vs we now hold of him , if we thus contemne , and still abuse his sacred name , and him ? but men secure in wickednes per●ist as if they could please god with what they list ; if they can , lord haue mercy on them say , and mumble some few prayers once a day , there needs no more ; nay , surely there be such , that thinke it is enough ; if not too-much : but what 's their reason ? god made all the man , why should he haue but part allow'd him than ? he in their seruice nothing doth delight , vnlesse it be with all their strength and might , with their whole heart , & soule , and that way toe , as he appoints them in his word to doe : some men their are who hope by honesty , by their almes-deeds , and works of charity to win gods fauour , and for to obtaine saluation by it ; but their hope 's in vaine : also , their 's others cause they haue the faith , for to beleeue 't is true the scripture saith , since they haue knowledge in religion , and make thereof a strict profession : or doe obserue the outward worship duly , do think that their in they haue pleas'd god truely . now these are iust as far as th' other wide , or they gods worship doe by halfes diuide , and for his due which is e'ne all the heart , do dare presume to offer him a part ; but th' one must know he will not pleased be , with a religion that wants honestie : and th' other that as little good will doe , his honest shew without religion toe ; if this be so , ( as so it is indeed ) how then wil those presumptuous fellowes speed ? who thinke ( forsooth ) because that once a yeare , they can afford the poore some slender cheare ; obserue their country feasts , or common doles , and entertaine their christmas wassaile boles , or else because that for the churches good , they in defence of hock-tide custome stood ; a whitsun-ale , or some such goodly motion , the better to procure young mens deuotion : what will they doe , i say , that think to please , their mighty god with such vaine things as these ? sure very ill ; for though that they can mone , and say that loue and charity is gone as old folkes do , because their banquetings , their antient-drunken-summer reuelings are out of date ; though they can say through teaching , and since the ghospell hath had open preaching , men are growne worse ; though they can soon espy a little mote in their owne neighbours eye yea though that they their pater noster can , and call their honest neighbour puritan ; ( how ere they in their owne conceits may smile , yet they are presumptuous , weake , and vile ; also in this abhominable time , it is amongst vs now a common crime , to flout and scoffe at those which we do spy , vvilling to shake off humane vanity ; and those that gladly do themselues enforce , vnto a strict and more religious course , then most men doe ; although , they truely know no men are able to pay halfe they owe ( thought vnto their god , ( as though their wisedomes he migh be serued better then he ought , they count precise and curious more then needs , they try their sayings and weigh all their deeds : a thousand thinges that they well do shal be , slightly past ouer as if none did see : but one thing ill done , ( though the best does ill ) they shal be certaine for to heare of still ; yea not with standing they can daily smother , millions of ten times greater faults in other : vvho are so hated or so often blam'd ? or so reuil'd , or scorn'd ? or so misnam'd ? to whom do we now our contentions lay , who are so much term'd puritans as they that feare god most ? but t is no maruaile men , presume so much to wrong his children ; when as if they fear'd not his reuengefull rod , they can blaspheme and dare to anger god. now by these wordes to some men it may seeme , that i haue puritans in high esteeme ; indeed , if by that name you vnderstand , those that the vulgar atheists of this land , do daily terme so ; that is such as are fore-named heere ; and haue the greatest care to know and please their maker : then 't is true , i loue them well ; for loue to such is due : but if you meane the busie headed sect , the hollow crew , the counterfeit elect : our d●gmatists , and euer-wrangling spirits , that doe as well contemne good workes , as merits : if you meane those that make their care seem great to get soules food , when 't is for bodies meate , or those all whose religion doe depend , on this , that they know how to discommend a maygame , or a summerpole defie , or shake the head , or else turne vp the eye ; if you meane those , how euer they appeare , this i say of them ( would they all might heare ) though in a zealous habit they doe wander , yet they are gods foes and the churches slander ; and though they humble be in show to many , they are as haughty euery way as any . what need i here the lewd presumptions tell of papists in these daies ? t is knowne to well : for them there of each peasant now conuinces , in things as well concerning god as princes , other ▪ i find toe , that doe dare presume , the office of a teacher to assume ; and being blind themselues and gone astray , take on them to shew other men the way . yea some there be , who haue small guifts or spirit , no kind of knowledge , and as little merit ; that with the world haue made a firme cōiunctio● ▪ yet dare to vndergoe the sacred function of christ his pas●or . yea such is their daring , that neither for their charge nor duty caring , insteed of giuing good and sound instruction , they lead themselues and others to destruction . we read that ieremy and moses both , to vndertake their charge were wondrous loth : ( the greatnes of the same so much appal'd them ) yea though that god himselfe directly cal'd them : but our braue clarkes as if they did condemne , the two much bashfull backwardnes of them : or else as if themselues they abler thought ; those diuine callings , haue not onely sought without respect of their ability , a c●ristian conscience or ciuility , but being of old simon magus tribe , purchase it often with a hateful bribe ; vvhich showes that they such places do desire , not for the good of others but their hire : but patrons feare yee neither god nor hell ? dare ye the churches patrimony sell for filthy lucre , in despite of law sacred or humane ? pedants dare yee ? hah ? dare you buy 't of them ? by gods help , vnlesse this villany ere long , haue some redresse , i le find a meanes , or else let me haue blame , to bring some smart , or else eternal shame vpon you for 't ; it may be you do sent it , but all your pollicy shall not preuent it : what do you look for hell and your d●mnation ? vvel you shall haue it by impropriation ; i know now you haue enter'd simony , you le double damne your selues with periury . for , they as oft together may be seene , as is the chilling feauer and the spleene , but oh deare countrymen be more aduis'd , thinke what god is he may not be dispis'd . could you well weigh his iustice and his power , how many infinites it passeth ouer : and knew his iudgements we would not dissemble an outward fained reuerence ; but tremble and shake with horror ; you 'd not dare to venter sanctum sanctorum so vnfit to enter ; his churches good you rather would aduance , then rob it thus of her inheritance ; or make the same ( as men stil vnbeleeuing ) like to a house of merchandise and theeuing . you to whom deeds of former times are knowne , marke to what passe this age of ours is growne , euen with vs that strictest seeme to be , in the professing christianity ; you know men haue been carefull to augment , the churches portion and haue beene content to adde vnto it out of their estate ; and sacriledge all nations did so hate that the meere irish who seem'd not to care , for god nor man had the respect to spare the churches profits ; yea their heed was such that in the time of need they would not touch , the knowne prouisions , they daily saw , stor'd vp in churches : in such feare and awe the places held them ; though that they did know the thinges therein belonged to their foe : but now the world & mans good natures chang'd from this opinion most men are estrang'd ; we rob the church , and what we can attaine by sacriledge and theft is our best gaine : in paying dues the refuse of our stock , the barrennest and leanest of our flock shall serue our pastor ? whom for to deceiue we think no sin ; nay further ( by your leaue ) men seeke not to impropriate a part vnto themselues : but they can find in heart t' engross vp all : which vile presumption , hath brought church-liuings to a strange consumption and if this strong disease do not abate , 't wil be the poorest member in the state ; no maruaile though in steed of learned preachers , we haue beene pester'd with such simple teachers such poore , mute , tong-tide readers , as scarce know whether that god made adam first or no : thence it proceeds , and ther 's the cause that place and office at this time incurs disgrace . for men of iudgement or good dispositions , scorne to be tyde to any base conditions : like to our hungry pedants , who 'le engage , their soules for any curtold vicarage . i say there 's none of knowledge , wit , or merit ▪ but such as are of a most seruile spirit , that will so wrong the church as to presume , some poore-halfe-demi-parsnage to assume in name of all ; no , they had rather quite be put beside the same , than wrong gods right , well , they must entertaine such pedants then , fitter to feed swine , then the soules of men : but patrons thinke such best , for there 's no feare they will speake any thing they loath to heare ; they may run foolishly to their owne damnation , without reproofe or any disturbation ; to let them see their vice they may bee bold , and yet not stand in doubt to be contol'd : those in their houses may keepe priuate schooles , and either serue for iesters or for fooles , and will suppose that they are highly grac't , be they but at their patrons table plac't : and there if they be cal'd but priests in scoffe , straight they duck down and al their caps come off , supposing it for to be done in kindnes , which shows their weaknes & apparant blindnes . moreouer 't is well knowne that former time held it to be a vild presumptuous crime ; such men in sacred offices to place , whom they knew toucht with any foule disgrace : or to allow those whom they did suspect , to haue an outward bodily defect : but be they now not only crooked , lame , dismembr'd , and of the vnshapeliest frame that euer nature form'd ; though they be blind , not in sight onely , but as well in mind , though they be such who if they come to shreeuin● might confess murder , whordom , slander , theeuing and all damb'd villany ; yet these men will be admitted to the sacred ministry : but most of vs do now disdaine that place , accounting it vnworthy , meane , and base ; yea like to ieroboams priests , we see , they of the lowest of the people he : and though we know , the israelites allow'd god the first-borne for his ; we are so proud , vnlesse they either do want shape or wit , or seeme for worldly busines vnfit : few thinke gods seruice worthy the bestowing their child about it ; or such duty owing vnto the same ; but rather that vocation they count a blemish to their reputation . but where 's your vnderstanding , oh you men ? turne from your bruitish dulnes once agen , honour gods messengers for why t is true , to them both reuere●ce and honour 's due ; think what they are and be not still selfe-minded , suffer not reason to be so much blinded ; if not for loue that you to iustice beare , yet follow her ( although it be ) for feare : and see that this presumption you amend , or looke some heauy plague shal be your end . then it is also a presumptuous act , with knowledge to commit a sinfull fact though ne're so small ; for sin 's a subtill else , that by degrees insinuates it selfe into our soules ; and in a little space , becomes too-huge a monster to displace ; yea , it is certaine that one sinne , though small , will make entrance great enough for all ; and what is 't but presumption to abuse , and without-feare and reuerence to vse gods sacred word ; yet we that christ professe , thinke it no fault , or that there 's no fault lesse : else sure we would not in our common talke , let our loose tongues so much at randome walke , we would not dare our iests of that to make , at vttering whereof the heauens shake ; for if god had reueal'd his gospel newes , to vs as heeretofore vnto the iewes he did the law ; who heard him to their wonder speaking through fearefull fiery flames and thunder , we would more dread in any euill fashon : to vse that sacred meanes of our suluation our cursed pagan vnbeleeuing foe , i meane the turke , more reuerence doth show in those his dam'nd erroneous rites then we in the true worship : for 't is knowne that he wil not so much as touch his alcharon , that doth containe his false religion with vnwasht handes ; nor till he hath o'rewent all that his vaine and confus'd rablement of ceremonies vs'd ; much lesse dares looke , on the contents of that vnhallowed booke ; but we in midst of all our villany , in our pot-conference and ribaldry , irreuerently can the same apply , as if 't were some of pasquils letany : but soft my muse in her perambulation hath hapt vpon an excomunication : and though that her commission she wanted yet she made bold to search wherefore 't was granted which if you would know too , why it may be , some were so pleas'd because they lack't a fee : for , had the officers bin wel contented , they say the matter might haue been preuented ▪ but you that haue the wisdomes to discerne when abuse is ; pray tel me , i would learne ; misuse we excommunication ? you know it is a separation from god ; and a most fearefull banishment , from the partaking of his sacrament and good mens fellowship ; a sad exile , ( perhaps for euer , at the least a while ) from the true church ; and ( oh most horrid euill ) a giuing of men ouer to the diuell . and therefore was ordain'd in better times , onely for such who in their hainous crimes with hardned obstinacy did persist , as may appeare : but now we at our list , as if the same but some slight matter were , for euery trifle to pronounce it dare ; and peraduenture to , on such as be , more honest far , and better much than we : but since my muse hath her endeauour done to note how men into this fault do run ; i will be bold to let you vnderstand , one strange presumption noted in our land worth the amending ; and indeed 't is this readers pray iudge how dangerous it is ; we seeing god hath now remooued far , from this our country his iust plague of war , and made vs through his mercy so much blest , vve do in spight of all our foes yet rest exempt from danger ; by vs it appeares , through the great blessing of these quiet yeares , we are so feare-lesse care-lesse and secure in this our happy peace and so cock-sure as if we did suppose or heard it sed , oul● mars were strangled or the diuel dead ; else can i not beleeue we would so lightly , esteeme our safely and let passe so slightly our former care of martiall discipline , for excercises meerely feminine : vve would not see our armes so soild in dust , nor our bright blades eat vp with cankred rust , as now they be ; our bowes they lye and rot , both musket and caliuer is forgot , and we lye open to all forraine dangers for want of discipline 't is knowne to strangers though weel 'e not see 't ; alas will not our pleasure , let vs be once in seauen yeares at leasure to take a muster and to giue instruction ? no rather pleasure will be our destruction ; for that first caus'd the law , that now preuents , and barres the vse of pouder-instruments to be enacted ; why ? for to preserue an idle game , the which i wish might sterue amids our plenty , so that with their curse , the land and people might be nothing worse , cause for that trifle to the realmes abuse , the hand-gun hath been so much out of vse scarce one in forty if to proofe it came , dares or knowes how for to discharge the same : oh valiant english we are like to hold the glory that our fathers had of old . but sure i think some vndermining hand , that studies for the ruine of the land , is cause of this , in hope thereby at length , to weaken ours and let in forraine strength ; what , do we think cause theirs a truce with spaine , that we are safe ? alas that thought is vaine , our dangers rather more ; for while they dar'd , to proffer wrong they found vs still prepar'd ; the profitable feare that we were in preuented danger that might else haue bin . but now the cause of former feare is gone , we haue not only let all care alone , but also are so drunken with delights , and drownd in pleasure that our dulled sprites are so o'reclog'd with luxury ; we droope , more fit for venus then for mars his troope ; that if our foes should now so ventrous be , for to inuade the lan● , vnlesse that wee , with speed amend this error , heere 's my mind , the way to worke our ruine thei 'le soone find ; for iust the troians last nights watch wee keepe , who then were buried all in ●ine and sleepe . we read when cato should a captaine chuse , for the panonian fight , he did refuse his kins-man publius , cause that from the war he often had return'd without a scar , and went perfum'd ; but if such faults as these , displeasd the censor , sure then in our dayes he scarcely would in towne or country find , a man with vs according to his mind , such is our daintinesse ; besides to strangers , ( as if there were no cause to doubt of dangers ) we do not only our great ritches show , ( a shrewd temptation to allure a foe : ) but we moreouer plainely do declare , by fond apparell , too superfluous fare , much idlenesse and other wanton parts , that we haue weake effeminated hearts ; which being knowne are sure a great perswasion , vnto our enemies to make inuasion . but we do say in god's our only trust , on him we do depend ; well so we must , and yet we ought not therefore to disdaine , the lawfull meanes by which he doth ordaine , to worke our safety then , for that 's a signe , we rather lou'd to tempt the powers deuine , then trust vnto them ; worthy brittaines then , leaue this presumption , once againe be men , not weake sardanapali ; leaue those toyes to idle women , wanton girles and boyes : vnto your foes i wish you could betake them , or vnto any so you would forsake them . let martialists that long haue beene disgrac't be lou'd againe and in our fauours plac't : count not them rogues ; but rather such as can so much degenerate themselues from man , in tire and gesture both , to womanize , goc call a parlament and there deuise an act to haue them whipt now ; oh 'twere good , a deed well worthy such a noble brood , meane while let 's trim our rusty armes and scoure , those long vn-vsed well-steeld blades of our : we shal not do the spiders any wrong , for they haue rent-free held their house-room long in morians , helmets , gauntlets , bandileres ; displace them thence , they haue had all their years : and giue it such a lustre that the light , may dimme the mooncshine in a winters night ; away with idle cithernes , lutes , and tabers , let knocks requite the fidlers for their labours , bring in the warlike drum , 't will musicke make ye , that from your drousie pleasures will awake yee : or else the hartning trumpet , that from farre , may sound vnto you all the points of warre : let dances turne to marches ; you ere long , may know what doth to rankes and files belong , and let your thundring shot so smoke and rore , stangers may tremble to behold the shoare , and know you sleep not ; but now to what end do you suppose that i these words do spend ? beleeue me i 'me not male content with peace . or do desire this happy time might cease , i would not haue you foule seditions make , or any vniust warres to vndertake ; but i desire you leaue those idle fashions , that haue beene the iust fall of many nations ; looke well vnto your selues and not suppose , cause there 's a league with spaine you haue no foes : for if vvarres euer make this land complaine , it wil be through some truce it had with spaine : but heere i bid you once againe beware , delay not time but with all speed prepare , repaire your forts againe , and manne them well , place better captaines in them ; i can tell some are growne couetous and there 's no trust to such as they ; that vice makes men vniust : they pocket vp the wages of their men , and one poore soldier serues alone for ten : look to the nauy-royall , wer 't wel scan'd , i doubt it will be found but simply man'd : the pursers study ( if some not belie them ) onely which way they may haue profit by them ; but see vnto it you to whom 't belongs , see the abuses done , redresse the wrongs : and oh ! renew the forces of this land , for there 's a fearefull bloudy day at hand , though not foreseene , a bloudy day for some , nor wil the same be long before it come . there is a tempest brewing in the so●th , a horrid vapor forc't from hell's owne mouth . 't is spread already far into the vvest , and now begins to gather to the east ; when 't is at full once it will straight come forth to shoure downe all it vengeance on the north : but feare not little ile thy cause is right , and if thou hast not cast all care off quite , nor art secure , why by that token then thou shalt driue back that threatning storme agen ▪ through cods assistance for to ruine those , by , and amongst whom , first of all it rose : but if that still thou carelesse snorting lye in thy presuming blind security , tak 't for a signe that now thy sinnes are ripe , and thou shalt surely feele the death-full stripe of that ensuing ill , vnto thy shame , and extirpation of thy former fame : but yet i hope this ouer-fight will end , and we shall this presumptuous fault amend : i hope i say and yet i hope no harmes , to see our english youth trick't vp in armes ; and so well train'd that all their foes shall heare no newes from them but horror , death , and feare ; yea and their march , like iehues king of iury , shal shew they come with vengeance speed & fury , i would we could as easily forsake , other presumptions , and that we could take but halfe the care and dilligence to arme our soules , in danger of a greater harme : would we the holy weapons could assume of christian war-fare , and not stil presume to leaue our better parts all open so , for the aduantage of the greater foe then rome or spaine : oh would wee could begin , to feele the danger of presumptuous sinne ! which soon would be , if we would once be brought for to consider with an equall thought , our base beginning and infirmity , our wauering and wondrous misery : and with this wretched poore estate of our , gods infinite and al-sufficient power : his iustice , with his hatred vnto ill , and threatnings if we disobey his will. or else remember he did still behold and see vs when we sin'd ; for who so bold , vnlesse depriu'd of grace then to offend ? but it should seeme we our endeauors bend to anger god , for we of sinne complaine , yet with our will sinne in his sight againe . say , wer 't not a presumption very great , if comming to a king one should intreat a pardon for some murther , and yet bring the bloudy blade with which he did that thing he would haue mercy for ? & whilst hee 's speaking , sheath it againe with bloud and gore yet reaking , in the kings sonne before his fathers face , and yet stil bide as if he hop't for grace : should we not thinke him mad ? sure yes ; yet we cannot that madnes in our owne selues see : for we dare come before th' almighty king to sue for pardon for our sinnes ; yet bring the selfe same bad mind still , conceiuing murther against his children to prouoke him further . and looke what ill is but in thought begun , with him 's all one as if the same were done , it is no maruaile that no humane law , can keepe our ouer-daring hearts in awe : since that we do so little dread the rod , of such a powerfull and so iust a god : and if in mans and gods owne sight we dare , so searelesse sinne without respect or care , it seemes that we do little conscience make what mischeifes by our selues we vndertake : or think it no presumption to commit , somthing alone in our owne sight vnfit ; oh grosle and ignorant ! why that 's the worst , of all presumptions the most accurst and fulst of danger . silly man take heed , do not before thy selfe an euill deed ; for when god wil forgiue and man forget , thy owne ill conscience will oppose and set her selfe against thee ; tell thee thine offending , and keep thee back from euer apprehending grace of forgiuenesse ; neither wil affoord the smallest comfort of the sacred word : but rather to thy sad remembrance call , each saying that may serue to prooue thy fall : and though that fire wondrous torture brings vnto the body , yet when conscience stings nor fire nor sword , nor hell it selfe can yeeld , aworser to ment ; god defend and shield me from the like ; and giue me grace to feare , so , that i may preserue my conscience cleare in all my actions : and then i shall be , in better case a thousand fold then he that vnto wealth and honour hath obtaind , with a craz'd conscience that is blurd and stain'd : alas how easie wert to climbe or mount to worldly reputation and account ? how soone could i if i had an intention for to contriue or plot a damn'd inuention get golden heapes ? yea and so priuily , that though t were done by craft and villany , i by the blinded world would yet be deem'd perhaps more honest ; but much more esteem'd then now i am ; but god forbid that i such base vaine trash and dunghil stuffe should buy at such a rate ; for there 's no iewell dearer , nor any losse a man can haue goe nearer then peace of conscience ; which for to be true , the ancient poets very wisely knew , and therefore fain'd their f●ries , with intent , for to declare the inward punishment of guilty mindes ; which sure they might do well , for there is in them diuels , yea and hell , with all her torture ; what else was the cause , nero who knew no god nor feared lawes , when he had kil'd his mother tooke no rest , but thought he saw her comming to molest and plague him for 't ? what made him to surmise he was still tortur'd in such hellish wise that furies did to his appearance scorch his liuing body with a burning torch ? wast not his conscience that had priuy beene vnto the fact ? was not the cause within his owne bad selfe ? if t were let 's to amending , of our presumptuous sinnes , aud bold offending , if neither in regard of god nor men , oh le ts for feare of our owne conscience then . yet there 's another thing which wert wel weighd our rash presumption would be som-what staid . the end of life ; with the ne're-ending paine , god for presumptuous sinners doth ordaine , could we note that , with deaths vncertaine times , and how it takes men acting of the crimes euen in the very nick of their offence , and beares them , ere they can repent them , hence , to such a place where nothing shall appeare , but all the gastly obiects of grimme feare : whereas each sense shall seuerally sustaine , the miserable smart of endlesse paine : the tender feeling shall in euery part , be subiect to th' intollerable smart of hellish flames , commixt with chilling cold , tortures beyond conceit , not to be told ; the dainty mouth , that had the curioust tast , and of the choysest cates still made repast , shall be fild vp , yea belly , throat and all , with filth more loath-some then the bitterest gall the once perfumed nostrill , there shall drinke , foule noysome smels : beside the sulpherous stinke of choaking flames ; and there the listning eare , fed with the sound of pleasing musicke heare , shall change it for the wofull screeching cry of damned soules , that in hels torture lye ; vvhose hydeous howlings can by no defence , be kept from percing that amazed sence : and then while they shal trembling thinke to flye from those amazements that do seeme so nigh , to there the feareful'st obiects of the sight , their quite despairing mindes shall more affright , for garish formes of foule mishapen fiendes , and vgly bugs for euermore attends , to thwhart each looke . but if this do not make , thy ouer hardened heart ( oh man ) to quake : if this relation be too weake to win , or to reclaime thee from thy wonted sinne ; reader , if this do no impression leaue , so that thou canst not any feare conceiue through this description ; thinke vpon t at night soone in thy bed when earth 's depriu'd of light i say at mid-night when thou wak'st from sleepe , and lonely darknesse doth in silence keep the grim-fac't night . and but immagine then , thou wert borne all alone to some darke den and there set naked ; though thou felts no paine , yet seeing no way to get out againe , if thou shouldst in that naked loneness heare , some yelling voyce , or some strange noyse drawne●● vvith threatning ; or but calling on thy name ; oh with what patience couldst thou bide the sam● but if withall , thy wandring eyes should marke , and now and then see pearing through the dar● some monstrous visages , or vgly faces vvhich shold make proffer of some rude embr●●● and smetime seeme as if they would begin vvith griping pawes to ceize thy trembling ski● or , but suppose that in thy chamber there , where cannot be the hundreth part of feare : ( because to thee the place well knowne will be and thou must haue wherewith to couer thee ) yet there i say suppose thou shouldst behold nor such grim obiects as are heere foretold , but onely heare the dolefull voyce of men complaining in the darke ; and now and then behold the ghastly shape of friends long dead , wrapt in their sheetes as they were buried , or else from out thy chamber floore to rise a troupe of bony , pickt anatomies come pointing to thee , as if thou wert he that must ere long their bare companion be : then thou wouldst feare i know , and think on him whose might & fearful power thou didst contemn thou wouldst consider better of the feare , and hellish horror i haue mention'd heare . that dungeons estate thou would'st conceiue , and somewhat thy presumptuous actions leaue ; thou wouldst not so cast all thy care behind thee , but watch thy self for feare least death shold finde thee , doing some il ; nor wouldst thou thus delay , times of repentance still from day to day : but oh ! show should i hope that this i plead , will worke in them that shall but barely read what i haue writ ? since i my selfe that know , and haue some inward seeling of that woe for get my selfe ; i thought when i shall be from such , and such like cares and troubles free , then wil i all my vanities forsake , a better course of life i le vndertake , and only seeke the glory of his name by whom i liue ; that day ere long time came ; then i had other lets ; but if that they , as i did seeke they might were once away , i would indeed my duty better doe : well , so it pleas'd god i orepast them too ; yet somthing hindred still that i could neuer in my intended christian course perseuer . but euer found vnto my griefe and sorrow , that i was bad to day and worse to morrow : but oh ! thou god that knowst my hearts desire , do not ; oh do not at my handes require my youthfull sinnes ; though that my flesh be fraile , and my affections often do preuaile : seeing thou knowest the weake estate of man , and what a little his small power can ; accept my will , and let thy blood suffice , to quit the rest of mine iniquities , but now , because i haue obseru'd such store , i needs must tell a few presumptions more . some in contemning others wisdome , show , that they presume themselues do all things , kno● but that vile selfe-conceit nere raised any , certaine i am it is the fall of many : others ( and they in this kind too offend , ) on their owne memories too much depend : such i haue heard so confidently speake , as if they had no thought that men were wea● yea those though twenty men haue all gaine-said what they affirmed , were not yet affraid , their owne bare affirmation to out-face , with sundry oathes : such wondrous trust they place in their remembrance ; yea my selfe ere now haue beene oft-times more rash for to anow what i thought truth ; then ere i le be againe : for what i deemd to be so sure and plaine , that i not onely stood in 't to my might , but would haue paun'd my life ' thad been the right that to my shame , i haue my selfe alone , found to be false when all the rest were gone . vvhich greeu'd me so that i le nere more rely or trust so much to mine owne memory . but what may i terme those , who for a name , or for to get some vile prepostrous fame ; vvill desperately for the nonce begin , to put in action some vngodly sinne that all men loath ; and only as they say , for to be talkt of . vvhat are such i pray ? presumptuous , vaine , or weake , or all that 's bad , the last i thinke and ten-times more then mad ; yet we haue gallants , and great store of such , that in their great brauadoes care not much vvhat villanies they doe ; but 't is their humor , only to fill mens mouthes with idle rumor . and cause they know the vulgar sort do deeme them , youths of great spirit , and do much esteeme them , but amongst wise-men they are sure to gaine . reprochfull shame and wel deseru'd disdaine , yet for to adde some fame vnto this story : we will be queath them erostratus glory . nor haue our old men left that humor yet , for though through feeblenesse they are vnfit to put in practise their old tricks againe , yet for to show they like them , and would faine , thei 'le often with a lie or two recite them , and the rememberance doth so much delight them that whereas they ought rather to repent , and with a grieued heart for to lament their former follie ; they with ioy and laughter seeme to approu't in those that shall come after . yet there 's a crew the which my muse wel knows , to them she here a memorandum owes and yet no commendations , for they are but busie fellowes that doe boldly dare take on them in their comments , for to finde the secret meaning of each authors minde . and to apply that in particular that should extend to all in generall : and in this little booke perhaps they can , say here i ment one , there another man ; and by their names they wil not stick to shew them , when as perhaps i nere so much as knew them . so from my honest meaning they will reare them a slander for some priuat grudge they beare them but though these are so bold , yet i beleeue , or hope at least ▪ no men of wisedome giue credit to any such interpretations , that are but false imaginations ; since each of these what stile soere he craue , doth show him a presumptuous foole and knaue , but heare all you that are quite voyd of care , vvhat you presume in : chiefly you that dare , maugre gods threates , go foreward to fulfill , your naughty , rash , vnbridled hare-braine will ; as if you thought that you your selues made all , and that indeed there were no god at al. know this , ere long time it shall come to passe , that you shall houling sit and cry , alas : cursing your births and miserable state , vvith sad repentance when it is too late , vnlesse you now take time . oh wormes ! oh men ! forsake your sollies , oh forsake them then , vvhat wil you do else when that seiz'd by death , ready to draw the latest gaspe of breath : vvhen as you are so weak that you would faine , but cannot mooue your tongues for to complaine ? vvhat would you do if then their should appeare the authors of most miserable feare , your guilty consciences , and there vnroll to your remembrances the dreadfull scroll , of your presumptions , and with all present , ● vision of th ' infernall punishment , ●repar'd for such ? and if in that bad case , you should behold him you esteemd so base ●t with such power , that at each frown he makes ●he earth doth tremble and the heauen shakes : vvhat would you doe ? oh any thing i 'me sure , ●o paine there is but you would then endure to scape his wrath if you do not dispaire , then wil you beg , entreat , and promise faire ; or any thing , if so it were you might returne to life againe ; then you would quite alter your doings , then forsooth you 'l be a patterne vnto all posterity . you would be humble , meeke , deuout and chaste but now there 's time , and then it may be past : yet i my selfe haue heard those that haue vow'd , much in their anguish , and god hath allow'd a longer time , yea hath vouchsaft to saue and giue them life againe e'ne at the graue : and yet haue these forgot their former paine and turnd vnto their owne ill wayes againe : which hauing seene , this for vs men i 'le speake , not without griefe ; though nothing be so weake : yet we are in our owne conceits so tall , that for presumption we do out-passe all : and if so be that this same hardning sinne do seaze vpon the heart once and get in ; my mind is this 't will nere be purg'd thence well , no not with all the feares and pangs of hell. epilogvs . so in some measure i haue now made knowne . what foule abuses time to me hath showne and what man is : i haue explain'd some crimes that i haue noted in these present times . then though i haue beene stil accounted idle , this showes i haue not giuen time the bridle to run away vnmannag'd ; but did vse it then best , when i seem'd most for to abuse it ? here sinfull man thou maist behold in part thy miserable state and what thou art : thy passions , thy vanities heere see , in part i say for all there cannot be : thy wauerings and thy frailties i 'ue explain'd , with thy presumption , yet nothing fain'd ; if thou hast read it , then i hope thou know'st , though thou seem'st bad , thou art worse then thou show'st and i do trust thy wretchednesse espide , will quell thy most intollerable pride ; i mus'd a while thou wert so prone to sinning , but 't was thy fault i see from the beginning : and as the lord himselfe once said , so stil , t' immaginations of thy heart are ill : that 's one maine cause ; then to performe an euill , thou hast the pronenesse of the flesh , the diuell , with bad examples of his instigation , besides the worldes rash approbation : but yet would i not haue thee think , oh man ! that i with tymon the athenian desire to make thee so much feele thy woe , to goe and hang thy selfe ; i meane not so , or for to driue thee thereby to dispaire , 't is not my purpose , my intent's more faire : this i would haue thee doe , since flesh is fraile , and sathan will be busie to preuaile : with heed and care watch ouer thy affection , and in thy doings follow this direction . first see if 't be thy flesh that mooues thee to those thinges the which thou art about to doe , next to consider well it doth behooue thee , what kind of men they are that do approoue thee : for true it is as i haue oft beene taught , what flesh desires , and most approoues is naught . and since they thrust thee forward vnto euill , thou hast an ill heart , proud flesh , and the diuill with bad example . learne oh man to season , thy hart with sacred , thoughts , with truth & reason thy flesh with labour ; and with fasting tame and t wil not be so subiect vnto blame ; preuent the diuels baits and his temptations , with earnest prayers and good meditations , and see thou heed to thy companions giu'st , since thou wilt be as these with whom thou liu'st ; yea since thou art so subiect vnto sinne , shun all occasions that may draw thee in , so when thy god shall see thou hast a will , and true desire for to amend what 's ill , he will accept it for his sonnes deare sake , and thee more willing , and more able make ; yea should thy sinnes more red then scarlet grow , yet he would make them whiter then the snow . thy now blacke soule , were it thrice more defilde , as innocent as is the new borne child : and thy most miserable body , farre more glorious then is the brightest starre : but if thou , without care or heed , dost leane vnto those lusts of flesh that are vncleane ; if thou take pleasure and delight to doe them , quite giuing ouer thy desire vnto them , they both in soule and body toe , will make thee so fowle a leaper that god will forsake thee ; his holy angels and his saints abhor thee , and onely diuels make entreaty for thee ; yea thou must in gehynnon waile with them , that are excluded new ierusalem . the end of the second booke . the scovrge . my muse i purpos'd to haue rested heere , and so she should indeed , but that i feare a gentle warning wil not now suffice to make men leaue off their iniquities : yea , i do know their negligence so great , t is not enough for to perswade or threat : and therefore i me resolued ere i part , to giue them a remembrance to their smart , and though full loath , cause their ill natures vrge i le send abroad a satir with a scourge , that to their shame for this abuse shall strip them , and being naked in their vices , whip them : and to be sure of these that are most rash , not one shall scape him that deserues a lash , but some will kick , now let them kick & spare not , so he may come and ierk them well i care not ; for be they rich , or poore , or weake , or strong , i le make him finde them that delight in wrong , not in despight , to make reuengefull rumors ; rather in sport to mock the worlds base humors ; but least i make my prologue ouer-large , ' i le let my whipping-satyr know his charge : first though he haue but little manners got ; bred in the woods ; where many vse them not : yet will i send him to suruey the court , and dance the witch to make his king some sport . doe satyr , goe , thou shalt not be disdain'd , loue without merit hath bin entertain'd , and so many thine ; that progenies the most , yea all indeed of which the world can boast , and that so worthy : ( 't is a wondrous matter ) commend it how thou wilt thou canst not flatter . if thou maist get their fauour that 's the best , there is no cause why thou should'st feare the rest the good will help but neuer hurt , then care not , although the wicked would offend they dare not . first lash the great ones , but if thou be wise , in generall and doe not speciallize : yet if thou do , so wisely let it be , none may except but those that faulty be . now peraduenture some will rage or storme , but that 's no matter thou art freely borne ; and though their eies spark fire , and they look big be thou as sterne , thou need'st not care a fig ; and tell them plainely ' t is not all their shew , can make them think them better thē they know ; 't is not great words , nor yet a large possession , shall free them from the scandall of oppression , thogh they can now , to get themselues a name , build babell vp a new , and quickly frame such loftie pallaces as if they ment , to threaten heauen from the batlement . who wonders at it ? none i thinke ; and why ? who is so mad to tel them that , not i ? yet satyr looke that thou before thou part , giue them one ierke to make their honors smart , their stately houses say are things but vaine : an age or two shall rot them downe againe ; and for their vice if there be none dare show it , say i haue vow'd to make the world to know it , then t is not toombes nor yet a heape of stones , shall make men thinke the better of their bones , no , it shall speake their auarice and pride , which those they scorn'd and wrong'd , shall then deride . so let them go their soueraigne to attend , and those that be not at the best , amend : search on for more ; but if thou hap to finde any among them of the female kinde , vvomen or angels , bad or good ; thine eyes shall not looke toward their infirmities . vvhat ere some say , no man will , or can , vvrong him ( i le warrant ) that 's an honest man , for they are good and surely would be still , vver 't not that men did often make them ill : those that are angry with them let them show it , i le say th' are vertuous for because i know it . mens faults i tell , so may he womens too that 's plagu'd by whores , with whom he had to doe . these if thou hap to see , i charge thee skip , and search in euery office with thy whip ; there , there are those that for their priuate store make both th' exchequer & the commons poore , extortion doth maintaine their brauery , yet lay not open all their knauery , but tell them they a new account must bring , that lash perhaps their guilty soule will sting . thou shalt in court another troope espy , such as in show are full of honesty , faire tong'd ; but he that such fine followers wants is happy ; for they are but sycophants , dissembling ▪ villaines : do but note them well , and thou wilt say they are the brood of hell . for pluck away their fain'd fidelity , and they are e'ne a heap of villany : to make them smart these wordes to them commend that beggery and shame shall be their end . yet thou shalt find depending on the court some that wil ieast to make their betters sport , but sift them , i durst pawne a brace of testers , if truth were known they are more fooles then iesters and so they are suppos'd , although indeed , they are more knaues then fooles ; but take thou heed come not within the compasse of their bable , then call them knaues as lowd as thou art able ; if thou come thither at some publike show , as there thou shalt be whether they will or no , remember that thou make a shift to creepe neere to the place where they the re●els keep . there stand a while vnseene , and do no more , but note those fellowes that do keep the doore , if thou perceiue some , as some will do then , keep out a many worthy gentlemen , and let a laundresse or a scoundrel passe , giue him a ierk and tell him hee 's an asse ; but least thou spy what may make thee asham'd , or speake of that for which thou maist be blam'd , leaue thou the court if thy owne ease thou pitty , and come a while to walke about the citty ▪ as soone as there thou ent'rest thou shalt meet great store of gallants pacing out the street : a part from dice , or fence , or dancing come , and peraduenture from a whore-house some , those are goodfellowes that will frankly spend , while land will last or any man wil lend ; and yet to see ( more fooles the world had neuer ) they are so proud as if 't t would last for euer , and though these lightly cannot haue a worse , or deadlier sicknes then an empty purse which wil ensue , yet tell them they must meete at the kinges-bench , the counter , or the fleet , then step vnto the lawyers , peraduentnre they 'l by some vvrit command thee not to enter : yet feare them not but looke and thou shalt spye , vnder their gownes a messe of knauery . pluck off their mask of law that clokes their drifts , and thou shalt see a world of lawlesse shir●s ; but tell them there 's a iudge wil not be feed , and that perhaps wil make their conscience bleed ; then tell the scriueners as thou passest by : that they were best to leaue their forgery , or else , why is 't their eares do scape so well , the diuell meanes to beare them whole to hell ▪ tell the phisitions if thou meet with any , their potions & their drugs haue murther'd many for which thou would'st haue lasht , but dost delay them because the diuel means himselfe to pay thē ; but if thei 'l proue conclusions , bid them then , try't on themselues and not on other men : desire the brokers that they would not yaune , after the forfeit of anothers pawne , it is their right by law thei le say , t is true , and so 's their soule , perhaps , anothers due ; but sting them if their conscience quite be fled , then shall they pay what they haue forfeited : entreat the tailor next , if that he can , to leaue his theft and proue an honest man ; if that he think the matter be too hard , knock him about the noddle with his yard , if he bee ritch and take the same in snuffe , tell him his substance is but stolen stuffe and that the iay would hardly brook the weather , if eu'ry bird should take away her feather . so hauing whipt him , let the priest go shrieue him , and if he haue authority forgiue him : go warn the crafts man that he do not lurke all day at ale-house , and neglect his worke , and then suruey the ware of euery trade , for much , i tell thee , is deceitfull made , which if thou find i charge thee do not friend it , but call him knaue , and bid him go and mend it , oh see if thou the marchant-man canst find , for hee le be gone at turning of the wind , bid him keep touch , or tell his worship how his heart wil tremble when the seas are tough , desire him to , if he doe trauaile thither , where conscience is , that he would bring some hither , here 's little ; some wil haue it ; if none will , he shall gaine by it though he keepe it still ; if he bring none , 't were charitie , i thinke , to pray some storme might make his vessell sinke ; looke in their ships , for i haue knowne deceit hath bin in both the owner and the fraight , yea note them well , & thou shalt finde their bookes are ginns for wood-cocks made like tenter-hooks : well they are ritch , the marchant wealth obtaines and cares not how , so he encrease his gaines ; yet least his wealth may hap to make him proud , satyr i pray thee , tell him this aloude to make him smart , that whilst he like a mome , playes fast abroad , his wife pla●es loose at home ; nor shall his ill-got masse of wealth hould out but he or his become a banquerout : now to thy rest , t is night ; but here approaches a troupe with torches hurried in their coaches , stay and behold , what are they ? i can tell , some bound for shoreditch , or for clarken-well : oh these are they which thinke that fornication , is but a youthfull sportfull recreation : these to hold out the game , maintaine the back vvith marrow pies , potato-rootes and sack : and when that nature hath consum'd her part , can hould out a luxurious course by art : goe stop the horses quickly least thou misse and tel the coachmans wanton carriage this , they of their guide must be aduised well , for they are running downe the hill to hell . their venery will soone consume their stocks , and bring them to repentance with a poxe . so other crimes committed without light , let such reueale as see like owles by night : for many men a secret fault can finde , but in apparant rougeries are blind or else they will not see ; but thou wertst best leaue whipping and betake thee to thy rest ; if in an inne it be , before thou sup , will that the tapster call his maister vp and bid him kindly , since he giues thee lodging , to vse plaine dealing and detest all dodging . dissembling's naught , hard rekonings they ar wors● light gaines ( they say ) will make a heauy purse . and let them not ( this fault is very rife ) make any guest familiar with his wife . for many men ( they weare but what they should ) do make their wiues more wantō then they would . thereby they gaine , their innes are wel frequented but such ill courses are too late repented ; so schoole him well and do thy whip refraine , and send him to his other guests againe . then thou shalt see the nimble tapster flie , still yalling , here , anon sir , by and by , so dilligent , till thou thy selfe acquaint with his ●ly tricks thou 'lt ●'take him for a saint . but i suppose that they haue tane an oth , neuer to ●●ll a pot but halfe with froth ; and there 's an old shift if they leaue it not , there must be something added to the shot . but wilt thou swagger with him for it ? no , but take him as he is and let him goe , now for most hostlers if thou hap to try them . knaues thou maist say they are and not belie them , for they deceaue the poore dumb traueling beast , and for the same deseru'd a ierke at least ; yet do thou spare them , for there is no doubt , some guest will finde a time to pay the lout . well , hauing rested and discharg'd thine host , i le send thee downe , into the country , post ; for i haue bus'nes , no man would beleiue , with whom d'ye thinke ? e'ne with the vnder-shreeue tell him thou heardst ( and that 's a fault indeed ) that in some causes he is double-feed . and that moreouer he deserues a portion , with those that are indited for extortion . yea and for other things as well as that , tell him the country tearmes him he knowes what ▪ a● which if he make light as if he care not , whip him in conscience soundly for 't , and spare not now for our knights ; their much formality , hath made them leaue their hospitality , yet , le●t they should be angry say no more , this age hath made a number of them poore ; and that some toe ( or else they are belied ) haue begger'd their posteritie with pride , and since thou art so neere them doe not cease vntill thou see our iustices of peace , there try if thou canst get but so much fauour , to bind the country to the good behauiour , and tell them how thou hast informed been , that they haue granted warrants vpon spleene ; are partiall , and haue ouer-sway'd by might the poore mans cause that 's innocent and right : if this thou finde be true , thou hast permission ; to lash , or put them out of the commission ; the cunstable if he were bid , i wiss , be good in 's office , 't were not much amiss : for he , they say , a many meanes may haue , if so he be dispos'd to play the knaue ; see how he deales and makes thy message known , for he hath stocks and whipping-posts of 's owne : there are church-wardens to , i shame to see how they runne into wilfull periurie , partlie in fauour and in part for feare , they wink 't at much disorder in a yeare ; but if thou hap to take them in the lurch , ierke them as euill members of the church ; if they reply , offenders are so friended though they present , 't is little thing amended , yet tell them 't is their duty to discharge , their consciences in euery thing at large ; vvhich if they doe , ill doers shall be sham'd or the corrupted visitors be blam'd and prethee tell the b. chancellor , that thou art sent to be his counsellor : and will him if he meane not to be stript , and like a schoole boy once againe be whipt , his worship would not so bad minded be , to peruert iudgement for a scuruy fee. then next go tell the reuerent good maisters , thou and the clergy needs must fall at wasters : faith thou shalt find their doctorships perhaps , disputing of their surplesses and caps , about the holy crosse , and gowne , a hood , or some such matters for the churches good , but tell them there are other thinges to doe , a great deale fitter to be lookt into . and if they please to go their visitation , there 's waightier matters looke for reformation , yea say there 's many an infirmity , which they both may and ought to remedy . but touch them with remembrance of their place , and they perhaps will alter then the case , then bid those dunces in our colledges , that they prouide them good apologies : for 't is reported lately they haue borh , betooke themselues to venery and sloth , and seek not learning only as they should , but are back friends to many a man that would 't were fit they made a publike recantation , and were wel whipt before a congregation . sole auing them their wits for to refine , thou shalt be bold to looke on the diuine ; they say , hee 's growne more carefull of his stock , his profits and his tithes then of his flock : now if thou find report hath not belied him , with a respect vnto his calling chide him , i had almost forgot our ciuill doctors ; i pray thee warne them and their lazy proctors , they would not vse to make so many pauses , before they do determine poore mens causes , and let them not suppose their fees are small , since they at last wil get the diuell and all , there be court barrons many in the way , thus maist thou to the guardians of them say , their policy in raising fines and rents , hath put poore men beside their tenements : and tel them , let them answer if they can , their false court-roles hath vndone many a man ; say thou hast seene what to their place belong'd and knowst , ofttimes both lord & tenāts wrong'd yet spare thy whip ; for why ? the peoples curse , already hath prepared them a worse , so when that thou hast punisht vices slaues , and roundly ierk't the country petty-knaues , then march we to the camp to bloody nero and tel the ruftling shuffling caualero ; he whose hard-heart can brooke to rob or spill , his friend or foe , to ruine , wound or kil , tel him , i say , there is a misery must follow to reuenge his cruelty ; and see that thou the ruffaines courage quaile , or lash him till the stock and whipcord faile ; walke but the round , and thou maist hap to catch , the carelesse souldiers sleeping in their watch , or in a march perhaps thei le goe astray , but if thou see them in their best aray , and without leaue and warrant roming out , to fetch some desperate booty there about , remember them ; and for their stout brauado's , let them be wel prefer'd with bastinadoes , then bid the captaines in their garisons , not lay to paune their rich caparisons , nor come vppon the score til they are forc't , to be disarmd for payment , or vnhors't , nor keepe the soldiers hire , least they be faine , to make an insurrection or complaine , for that indeed prooues oftentimes the cause , they do so much transgresse the martiall lawes ; yea tel him 't is a scandall to be drunke and drowne their valour , or maintaine a punk ; then if he mend not for to blot his fame , in steed of honor whip him for 't with shame , then lastly there are selfe-conceited wits , whose stomacks nought but their own humor fits , detractors , critticks ; who en'e at the best , do bite with enuy or else snarle at least , and in thy progresse if discern'd thou be , 't is out of question they wil snap at thee , to spight them then the waie 's not to out-brawle them , but say thou car'st not , & that lash wil gaule them : now satyr leaue me to my selfe alone , thou hast thy message and thou maist be gone , whip any that shall offer to withstand thee , in executing that which i command thee ; and yet so , ho , ho , ho , come back againe , be sure that thou do vnderstand me plaine : first note ; i from my scourge do here except , the guard by whom the kingdomes peace is kept the vertuous peeres : alas ! i nothing grutch them , and on my blessiing see thou do not touch them : and if in all our offices there 's any ; that is an honest man amongst so many ; him did i euer meane that thou shouldst spare , because i know that such a one is rare ; physick and law i honor both ( god blesse it ) with euery vertuous man that doth professe it , i do not ayme at such as they , nor when i flout our gallants , meane i gentlemen , such worthy brittaines as maintained be , according to their fashion and degree : no , those i loue ; and what can i lesse doe , since i of them am wel-beloued to ; to blame all marchants neuer was my will , nor do i think all trades-mens work is ill ; my meaning must not so be vnderstood , for the last shooes i had were very good ; yea and so farre am i from such a thought , thou shouldst against the vertuous doe ought , that if thou but an honest tapster see , tell him i wish we might acquainted be ; and i 'le that hostler loue which in amends , will vse my horse wel , that we may be friends ; and to be breefe good satyr vnderstand that thou maist not mistake what i command : 't is not my meaning neither do i like , that thou at this time shouldst in speciall strike , because my hatred might appeare as then , not to the vice , but rather to the men ; vvhich is not so , for though some malice me vvith eu'ry one am i in charitie ; and if that thou doe euer come to sight , and bring thy yet concealed charge to light ▪ i wish it might be tooke as 't was intended : and then no vertuous man wil be offended : but if that any man doe thinke amiss , vpon my life that partie guiltie is ; and therefore lash him , so get thee out of dore come what come will , i 'le call thee back no more : so , now he 's gone the way that i direct him , i wonder how the world will now respect him , if that she maruaile why he was not bolder , perhaps he may be when that he is older ; he hath too smooth a chin , a looke too mild , a token that he is not wholly wild ; but may i reach the yeares of other men , if that this loose world be not mended then , i le send a satyr rougher then a beare that shal not chide and whip , but scartch & teare . and so i 'le teach him he shall be too strong , for all your paris-garden dogs to wrong . this satyr hath a scourge , ( but it wants weight , your spanish whips were worse in eighty-eight , ) that shall not onely make them howle for paine , but touse them , till they hold their peace againe : now if the world , frowne vpon me for 't , shall i be sorie ? no , 't wil mend my sport ; but what if i my self should hap to stray , out of my bounds into my satyrs way ? why then ; and that 's as much as i need doe , i giue him leaue to come and lash me toe . so now my muse a resting time requires , for shee 's or ' wearied and her spirit tires . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 finis . certaine epigrammes to the kings most excellent maiestie , the queene , the prince , the princesse , and other noble and honorable personages , and friends to whom the author gaue any of his bookes . to the kings maiestie . epigram . . loe here ●read sou'raign and great brittans king first to thy view i haue presum'd to bring , these my essaies ; on which but ge●ly looke , i do not make thee patron of m● booke : for 't is not sit ●ur faiths-desender ( still ) take the protection of each trifling quill ; no ; yet because thy wisdome able is , of all things to make vse ; i g●ue thee this : the picture of a beast in humane shape , 't is neither monkey , nor baboone , nor ape , though neere conditioned ; i haue not sought it brought it in affrick deserts ; neither haue i out of ignota terra : those wild lands , beyond the farthest magalanick strands yeeld not the like ; the fiend liues in this il and i mu●'d that you spied not all this while that man-like monster . but ( alas ) i saw , the looke of maiestie kept him in awe ; he wil not , for he dares not before thee shew what ( indeed ) he vses for to be ; but in thy presence he is meeke , demure , deuout , chast , honest , innocent , and pure : seeming an angell , free from thought of ill , and therefore thou must needs so thinke him stil. but for because thy soueraigne place denies , the sight of what is view'd by meaner eyes : this i haue brought thee , with much care and paine , 't was like to haue bin forced backe again : so loath the world was , that thou should'st view , the portrature that i haue drawne so true ; yea yet , ( i feare ) she findes her selfe so gal'd , that some wil study how to haue 't recal'd ; but t is too late ; for now my muse doth trust , when thou hast seen 't thou wilt approoue what 's iust . and if i may but once perceiue , or heare , that this sounds pleasing in thy kingly eare , i le make my muse for to describe him fuller , and paint him forth in a more liuely cullour : yea i wil to the worlds great shame vnfold , that which is knowne , but neuer yet was told ; meane while great king a happy monar●h raigne , in spight of rome , the diuel , hel , and spaine . another to his maiesty . epigr. . as he that feedes on no worse meat then quailes , and with choice dainties pleaseth appetite : wil neuer haue great list to gnaw his nailes , or in a course thin diet take delight , so thou great king that still dost ouerlooke , the learned workes , that are most deepe , most rare ▪ canst not perhaps these my rude satyrs brooke : thou dost not for such sharp fang'd critticks care : oh do not yet thy selfe so much estrange , from wonted curtesie to others showne , a country dish doth often serue for change , and something heere is worthy to be knowne . sharpe sauce giues sweetest meat a better tast ; and though that this to many bitter be , thou no such sicknes in thy stomack hast , and therefore 't will be pleasing vnto thee : vvhat though i neither flater , fawne , nor sooth , my honest plainenesse shall more truely praise thee , then those that in court language filed smooth , striue vnbeleeuing tropheis for to raise thee , my loyall heart cannot so well impart , the loue it beares your maiesty as other●s : the want of time , encouragement and art , my purpose in the embrio still smothers . obscurity , grosse-fates , and want of meanes , would haue made romes great maro harshly sing ▪ but if once caesar to his musique leanes , his tunes through all the world will sweetly ring ▪ and why are english wits so perfect growne ? but for because thy kingly hand peruses , their wel tun'd poems ; and hath bounty showne , yea it is thou giust light vnto their muses . oh! had i such a star for pole to mine , i 'de reach a straine should rauish all the nine . to the queenes maiesty epigr. . daughter , wife , sister , ' mother to ' in posse . a king ▪ and empresse of the north , enrich your name ; yet do you chastity and wisedome bring , bounty , and curtesie to make vp true fame . vvhich ●ince ( faire queen ) my muse hath vnderstood , she 's bold into your presence to intrude , assured , honest meanings that are good , shall find acceptance there , though they seeme rud● , looke and hehold the vanities of men , their misery , their weaknesse , and their pride , daigne to suruey this booke ( i say ) and then , vvhen you haue each particular espi'de : thinke with your selfe , how highly blest you be , for to enioy a prince that both knowes how , to keepe himselfe , from such fell passion free , and make so many mad-wild creatures bow , indeed here 's vices tablet plainely made , not veiled ouer , or obscurely drawne ; t is in a colour which shall neuer fade , that men may blush , on such a hag to fawne ▪ but if your grace will fauour what i sing , though vertue be in durance i le erpreeue her that now despised nimph to honour bring , set al her hidden beauties forth ; and giue her so sweet a looke , and such a deft attire , men shal grow loue-sick and burne with desire . to charles prince of wales . epig . . see here faire of-spring of the royall stem , what all the world almost is subiect to ; behold it so , thou truely maist contemne , and from thy heart abhorre what others doe , now is the fit and only time to season , that young , rare-vnderstanding breast of thine vvith sacred precepts , good aduise , and reason ; but there 's no doubt thou wilt to good incline , inheritance , great prince , will make it thine : and were mans nature , yet more prone to fall , soe to be borne , and so taught , helpes all . to the princesse . epig . . sweet princesse ; though my muse sings not the glories , of faire aduenterous knights or ladies loues : though here be no encomiastick stor●es , that tender hearts , or gentle spirits moues , yet in an honest homelie rustick straine , she shews the creature ( such may you nere know ) forgiue her though she be seuere , or plaine , truth that may warrant it commanded so . yea view it ouer with beleefe ; but than , i am afraid you will abhor a man. and yet you need not ; all deserue not blame , for that great prince that wooes for to be yours if that his worth but equalize his fame , is free from any sat●r here of ours . nay they shall praise him ; for though they haue whips to make the wicked their offences rue , and dare to scourge the greatest when he trips , vertue shall still be certaine of her due . but for your sake ; ( if that you entertaine him , ) oh would he were ( a man ) as i could faine him yet sweet elizabeth : that happy name , if we lost nothing else by loosing thee ; so deare to eng●and is , we are to blame if without teares and sighes we parted be ; but if thou must make blest another clime ; remember our ; and for that ; though i vse , a crabbed subiect and a churlish rime , daine but to be the mistris of my muse ; and i le change theames , and in a lofty stile , keepe thee aliue for euer , in this i le . to the lords of his maiesties most honorable priuy counsell . epigr. . most honor'd lords ; i heere present this book , to your graue censures , not to shew my art : nere did you on so rude a matter looke , yet t is the token of an honest heart , i did it not to please , nor flatter any , nor haue i made it for the thirst of gaine : for i am sure it wil not humor many , and i expect much hatred for my paine . here somthing you may see that now requires , your care and prouidence to haue 't amended : that 's the maine poynt to which my muse aspires , and whereto i haue all my labour tended : it may be there be some out of their hate , will mis-interpret what is plainely ment ; or tax me as too saucy with the state , in hope to make me for the truth be ●hent , yet know great lords , i do acknowledge heere , it is your wisdomes that next god maintaines , this kingdomes good ; and from my heart i beare● a reuerent respect vnto your paines . i do not , as such faine would haue it seeme , presume to teach your wisedomes what is best , i do not my owne knowledge so esteeme , vile selfe conceit i from my heart detest . but for because i know the percing'st eye , can neuer into all abuses see ; and since the greatest in authority , may not behold some-time so much as we : what therefore i haue thought to be amisse and worth amending i haue told it heere : i know your honors wil be pleas'd in this , though some ( it may be ) cannot rage forbeare . but if there 's any take this writing badly , had it told all , it would haue vext him madly . to henry earle of south-hampton . epigr. south-hampton ; since thy prouince brought me forth● and on those pleasant mountaines i yet keepe ●ought to be no stranger to thy worth , nor let thy vertues in obliuion sleepe . nor wil i ; if my fortunes giue me time : meane while read this , and see what others be ; ●f thou canst lik 't , and wil but grace my r●me , ●wil so blaze thy hampshire springs and thee , thy arle , test , stowre , and auon shal share fame , either with humber , seuerne , trent or thame . to william earle of penbrooke . epig . . thou whom respect of kin makes not vniust , true noble spirit free from hate or guile ; ●hou whom thy prince hath for thy care and trust , ●●ac't for to keepe the entrance of this i le , ●e heere th' abuses of these wicked times , ●haue expos'd them open to thy view : ●hy iudgement is not blinded with like crimes , 〈◊〉 therefore maist perceiue that all is true . ●take't , though i seeme a stranger , yet i know thee ; ●nd for thy vertues penbrooke , this i owe thee . to the lord lisle , lord chamberlaine to the queene . epigram . . being a sidney and so neere allied , to him whose matchlesse rare immortall pen procur'd of fame to haue him deifide , and liue for euer in the hearts of men : the loue my soule hath euer borne that name , would certainely perswade me for your sake ; in honest seruice to aduenture blame , or any open dangers vndertake , yet shall not that your titles , nor your place , your honours , nor your might , nor all you haue , cause me to flatter for reward or grace ▪ fortune shall neuer make my mind a slaue , but seeing that your vertue shines apparant , and honorable acts do speake your praise : since good report hath giuen forth her warrant , which none so much as by himselfe gaine-saies , that ( and naught else but that ) compels my muse , to sing your worth and to present her owne , if this imperfect issue you 'le peruse , i le make her in a better forne be knowne , and teach her , that is now so rude and plaine , to soare a pitch aboue the common straine , to the lady mary wroth. epigr. . madame , to call you best , or the most faire , the vertu'st and the wisest in our daies : is now not commendations worth a haire , for that 's become to be each hus-wifes praise . there 's no degree , below superlatiue , vvill serue some soothing epigrammatists : the worst they praise , exceeds comparatiue , and best can get no more out of their fists . but , arts sweet louer ; ( vnto whom ! know , there is no happie muse this day remaines ; that doth not for your worth and bounty owe , euen himselfe , his best and sweetest straines . ) vouchsafe , to let this booke your fauour finde , and as i heare haue mans abuses showne , i le with like iust , and vncorrupted minde , so make your true vnfained vertues knowne , while others false praise , shall in one's mouth be , all shall commend you , in the high'st degree . to sir thomas ridgeway , knight barronet , treasurer of ireland . epigr. . sir , you first grac't and gratifi'd my muse , which nere durst try til then what she could do that which i did vnto my selfe was newes , a matter i was little vs'd vnto : had you those first endeauours not approou'd , i should for euer more haue silence kept ; but now your good encouragement hath moou'd and rous'd my spirits , that before time slept ; for which i vow'd a guift that should be better : accept this for 't , and i le be still your debtor . here you shall see the images of men , more sauage then the wildest irish kerne : abuses whipt and stript , and whipt agen , i know your iudgement can the truth discerne , now so you will thinke well of this my rime , i 'ue such a mind yet to saint patrickes ile , that if my fate and fortunes giue me time , i hope for to reuisit you a while , and make those sparkes of honour to flame high that rak't vp in obliuions cinders lie . to his father . epigr. . others may glorie that their fathers hands haue scrapt together mighty summes of gold boast in the circuit of new purchast lands , or heards of cattell more then can be told . god giue them ioy ; their wealth i le nere enuy , for you haue gotten me a greater store , and though i haue not their prosperitie , in my conceit i am not halfe so poore . you learn't me with a little to content me , shew'd how to bridle passion in some measure ; and through your meanes i haue a talent lent me , vvhich i more valew then all indies treasure ; for when the al-most boundlesse patrimonies , are wasted ; those by which our great ones trust to be eterniz'd : when their ceremonies shall be forgotten , and their toombes be dust ; then to the glorie of your future line , your owne and my friends sacred memorie , this litle , poore , despised , wealth of mine , shall raise a trophee of eternitie , which fretting enuy , nor consuming time , shall ere abolish or one whit offend : a toplesse statue that to starres shall clime , far greater then your art shall comprehend : but i must needs confesse t is true , i yet reape little profit in the eyes of men : my tallent yeelds small outward benefit , yet i le not leaue it for the world agen , though 't bring no gaine that you by artful sleight can measure out the earth in part or whole ; sound out the centers depth , and take the height , either of th' artick , or antartick pole : yet t is your pleasure , it contentment brings , and so my muse is my content and ioy , i would not misse her to be ranckt with kings , how euer some account it is a toy , but hauing then ( and by your meanes ) obtaind ▪ so rich a patrimony for my share : for which with linkes of loue i 'me euer chaind , vvhat duties fitting for such bounties are ? moreouer nature brought me in your debt , and still i owe you for your cares and feares : your paines and charges i doe not forget beside the interest of manie yeares : vvhat waie is there to make requitall for it ? much i shall leaue vnpaid doe what i can : should i be then vnthankefull ? i abhorre it , the will maie serue when power wants in man : this booke i giue you then , heere you shall finde somewhat to counteruaile your former cost ; it is a little index of my mind ; time spent in reading it , will not be lost ▪ accept it and when i haue to my might , paid all i can to you ; if powers diuine shall so much in my happi●es delight , to make you grandsire to a sonne of mine : looke what remaines and may by right be due ▪ i 'le pay it him as 't was receiud from you . your louing sonne . george wither . to his mother . epig . . vngrateful is the child that can forget , the mother 's many paines , her cares , her feares , and therefore though i cannot pay the debt , due for the smallest drop of your kind teares ; this booke i for acknowledgement do giue you , wherein you may perceiue my heart ▪ my mind ; let neuer false report of me more grieue you , and you shall sure no iust occasion find , loue made you apt to feare those slanders true , which in my absence were but lately sowne : it was a motherly distrust in you , but those that raisd them are false villaines known for though i must confesse i am indeed , the vilest to my selfe that liues this time , yet to the world ward i 'ue tane such heed , there 's none can spot me with a hainous crime . this i am forct to speake , you best know why , wherer's that man liuing that dare say i lye . to his deare friend maister thomas cranly . epigr. . brother , for so i call thee , not because thou wert my fathers , or my mothers sonne , nor consanguinity , nor wedlock lawes , could such a kindred twixt vs haue begun , we are not of one blood , nor yet name neither , nor sworn in brotherhood with ale house quarts we neuer were so much as drunke together , t was no such slight acquaintance ioynd our harts but a long knowledge with much trial did it ( which for to chuse a friend are good directions , ) and though we lou'd both well at first , both hid it , till 't was discouered by a like affections . since which , thou hast ore-gon me far in showing the office of a friend ; do 't stil and spare not , lo heere 's a memorandum for what 's owing ; but know for all thy kind respect i care not , vnlesse thou 'lt show how i may seruice do thee , then i wil sweare i am beholding to thee . thine g. vv. to his louing friend , and cousen-german , m. william wither . epigr. . if that the standerds of the house bewray , what fortunes to the owners may betide : or if their destinies , as some men say , be in the names of any signifi'd ; t is so in thine for that faire antique shield , borne by thy predecessors long agoe , depainted with a cleere pure arg●nt field , the innocency of thy line did show . three sable crescents with a cheueron gul'de tel's that black fates obscur'd our howses light ; because the planet that our fortunes rul'd , lost her owne lustre and was darkned quite : and as inded our aduersaries say ; the very name of vvither showes decay . but yet despaire not , keep thy white vnstain'd , and then it skills not what thy crescents be what though the moone be now increas't , now wain'd learne thence to know thy lifes inconstancy , be carefull as thou hitherto hast beene , to shun th' abuses man is tax't for heere , and then thy soule , that 's now ecclips'd with sin , when moone and sun are darkned shal look cleere and what soer'e thy english name may threat , the a haruests sonne the greekes entitle thee , ere thou shalt wāt , thy a h●re wil bring thee meat , and , to kill care , her selfe thy make-sport be , yea yet ( though enuies mists do make them dull ) i hope to see the wained orbes at full . for the better vndersta●●ing of this epigram , note that his armes are in a field argent a cheuron , gules betwixt three crescents sable , his name accord●ng to the greekes is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and his crest is a hare with thre● wheat eares in her mouth . to his schoole-maister , maister iohn greaues . epigr. . i feuer i doe wish i maie be rich , ( as oft perhaps such ilde breath i spend ; ) i doe it not for any thing so much , as for to haue wherewith to pay my friend . for trust me , there is nothing grieues me more then this ; that i should still much kindnes take , and haue a fortune ( to my mind ) so poore , that ( though i would ) amends i cannot make : yet for to be as thankefull as i maie , snce my estate no better meanes affords , vvhat i in deed receiue , i doe repaie in willingnes , in thankes and gentle words . then though your loue doth well deserue to haue better requitals then are in my power ; knowing you 'l nothing vltra posse craue , here i haue brought you some essaies of our : you may thinke much , perhaps , since ther 's so many learn'd graduates that haue your pupils beene ; i who am none , and more vnfit then any , should first presume in publike to be seene : but you doe know those horses in the teeme , that with their worke are ablest to goe through , seldome so forward as blind bayard seeme , ( or giue so many twitches to the plough ) and so though they may better ; their intent is not , perhaps , for to be fooles is print . to the captious reader . vvhat thou maist say or thinke , it is no matte but if thou busily imagine here , since most of these are mighty , that i flatter ; know , sacred iustice is to me so deare , did not their vertues in my thoughts thus ra●●ther to get an empire by them i 'de not praise the●● finis . quodlibets lately come ouer from new britaniola, old newfound-land epigrams and other small parcels, both morall and diuine. the first foure bookes being the authors owne: the rest translated out of that excellent epigrammatist, mr. iohn owen, and other rare authors: with two epistles of that excellently wittie doctor, francis rablais: translated out of his french at large. all of them composed and done at harbor-grace in britaniola, anciently called newfound-land. / by r.h. sometimes gouernour of the plantation there. hayman, robert, or - ?. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : , : ) quodlibets lately come ouer from new britaniola, old newfound-land epigrams and other small parcels, both morall and diuine. the first foure bookes being the authors owne: the rest translated out of that excellent epigrammatist, mr. iohn owen, and other rare authors: with two epistles of that excellently wittie doctor, francis rablais: translated out of his french at large. all of them composed and done at harbor-grace in britaniola, anciently called newfound-land. / by r.h. sometimes gouernour of the plantation there. hayman, robert, or - ?. owen, john, ?- . epigrammata. book - . english. selections. rabelais, françois, ca. - ? habert, francois, ca. -ca. . [ ], ; [ ], [i.e. ] p. printed by elizabeth all-de [and felix kyngston], for roger michell, dwelling in pauls church-yard, at the signe of the bulls-head, london : . in verse. "certaine epigrams out of the first foure bookes of the excellent epigrammatist, master iohn ovven" has separate dated title page (lacking the printer's name), pagination, and register; within this, "seuerall sententious epigrams, and witty sayings out of sundry authors both ancient and moderne" has title page with imprint "london, printed by felix kyngston .."; pagination and register are continuous. the parts attributed to rabelais, are also attributed to francois habert, ca. -ca. --cf. prescott, a. imagining rabelais in renaissance england. the last pages of the second series are numbered , , . part identified as stc on umi microfilm reel . reproductions of the originals in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery (reel : ) and the bodleian library (reel : ). created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams, english. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion qvodlibets , lately come over from new britaniola , old newfovnd-land . epigrams and other small parcels , both morall and diuine . the first foure bookes being the authors owne : the rest translated out of that excellent e●igrammatist , mr. iohn owen , and other rare authors . with two epistles of that excellently wittie doctor , francis rablais : translated out of his french at large . all of them composed and done at harbor-grace in britaniola , anciently called newfound-land . by r. h. sometimes gouernour of the plantation there . london , printed by elizabeth all-de , for roger michell , dwelling in pauls church-yard , at the signe of the bulls-head . . to the kings most excellent maiestie , charles , by gods especiall mercy , king of great-britaine , france , and ireland , &c. emperour of south , and north virginia , king of britaniola , or newfound-land , and the iles adjacent , father , fauourer , and furtherer of all his loyall subjects right honourable and worthie plantations . may it please your most excellent maiestie , this last right worthy attribute of yours ( no way insinuated , but iustly affixed to your more ancient stile ) perswades these vnworthy papers to presume ( with your gracious leaue and permission ) to take the hardines to kisse your sacred hands ; hoping of the like successe , that some vnripe eares of corne , brought by me from the cold country of newfound-land , receiued from some honest , well-minded louers of that action when they saw them : who with much-affected ioy often beholding them , tooke much comfort in what they saw : but more , when they suppos'd it might be better'd , by industry , care , and honestie . these few bad vnripe rimes of mine ( comming from thence ) are in all humility presented with the like intendiment to your maiestie , to testifie that the aire there is not so dull , or maleuolent , but that if better wits were transplanted thither , neither the summers heat would dilate them , nor the winters cold benumme them , but that they might in full vigour flourish to good purpose . for if i now growne dull and aged , could doe somewhat , what will not sharper , younger , freer inuentions performe there ? they would not walke as i here doe , with short turnes , leaning sometimes on others inuentions , skipping weakly from bough to bough ; but with large walkes , with long , and strong flights . i suppose it not fit at this time ( but attending the successe of this presumption ) in some other larger manner to make knowne vnto your maiestie , the inestimable riches of the seas circuling that iland : the hopefull improuements of the maine land thereof : the more then probable , vnualuable hidden treasures therein : the infinite aboundance of combustible fierce materials fit for such an imployment . it is only the aire at this time i desire to dignifie , and that which is within that horizon : yet is my proofe rather in hope of others , then in any actuated performance of mine owne . if your maiestie will be pleased to giue credit to your meanest subiect , i may ingage my selfe on this asseueration , that not only in this vnprofitable ( though not vnpleasant ) art , better wits would thriue there : but all other sollid learning would walke vprightly without conuulsions . i cannot but know , how almost all your royall houres are taken vp in most reall , serious , sollid imploiments : did i therefore imagine , that either your maiestie could , or graciously would vouchsafe the reading of these ; they would be found some mine owne , the rest , translations . meane and vnworthy though they are , yet because some of them were borne , and the rest did first speake english , in that land whereof your gracious maiestie is the right , and lawfull soueraigne , and king , by ancient descent and primary possession , and being the first fruits of this kind , that euer visited this land , out of that dominion of yours ; i thought it my duty , to present and to prostrate these with my selfe at your royall feete : for what i haue mistakingly offended herein , or shall hereafter , i humbly beseech your maiesties gracious , mercifull , generall , indulgence and pardon , vnfeinedly beseeching god to blesse your maiesty with aboundance of all earthly and heauenly blessings . and that you may see an happy successe of all your forraigne plantations , especially of that of newfound-land , i remaine your maiesties well meaning and loyall subiect , robert hayman . my humble muse , desires likewise to kisse your sacred hands . faire , bright , illustrious day-starre of our times ! cast a faire aspect on my short breath'd rymes : if these to kisse your hands , are found vnmeet , i throw my selfe downe at your royall feete . humbly kisseth your sacred hands , the short-breath'd muse of robert hayman . to my deare friend and fellow-planter , master robert hayman , who with pen and person prepares more roome for christians in the newfound-world . whilst worldlings most build castles in the aire , nibbling on baytes , like orpheus and sems heire : you spend your time both with your muse and hand , to edifie our hopefull newfound-land . to tame the rude , doth argue a braue spirit : but to saue soules , are workes of greatest merit . to plant and fish , from sloth you those perswade : from errors these , to a more heauenly trade . thus whil'st but dorsse some raking slaues ingrose , you digge new grounds , and roote vp trees and mosse . you shew the meanes to cut off suites and strife ; meanes for good men , to leade a pleasant life . you search the seas , and anchour with strong cables : which deeds you build on faith , as those on babels . thus he who borrowed twice sweet orpheus name ; poore cambriols lord , addes to your rising fame . your true friend william vaughan . to the facetious epigrammatist , my louing kinsman , mr. robert hayman , who composed these quaint quodlibets at harbor-grace , in newfound-land . your modest lines begot in harbor-grace , doe grace that harbor in old newfound-land , your witty lines the muses doe imbrace . pernassus nymphes admiring , mutely stand , seeing such sweet flowers from that barren soyle , as your neat quodlibets which there did spring , to owens genius you haue giuen the foyle . by your sweet epigrams , you there did sing . i would you had the grace with our great king ; to doe there your desires : a greater thing . your louing kinsman , richard spicer . to the louers of the muses , vpon these quodlibets . why doe so many fondly dote vpon parnassus tempe , and that helison renowned by the greeks ? why praise they so the muses haunting tiber , thame , and po ; as if no other hill , or groue , or spring , should yeeld such raptures , as these forth did bring ? behold , e'en from these vncouth shores , among vnpeopled woods , and hills , these straines were sung : and most of theirs they seeme to paralell , who boast to drinke of aganippe's well . despaire not therefore , you that loue the muses , if any tyrant , you , or yours abuses : for these will follow you , and make you mirth , eu'n at the furthest angles of the earth , and those contentments which at home yee leese , they shall restore you among beasts and trees . yours , george wither . an acrostick-sonnet . to his learned and welbeloued friend , mr. recreated with sweet sauours of thy various curious labours , beautified with arts trim treasures , ex'lent for poeticke-measures ; rapt ( i say ) with so rare view , thanks ( me thinks ) at least , was due . heere , i found such fragrant flowers , as , best drest vranias bowers ; yelding sents and sights admired , meet , the muses browes t' haue tyred : as , they ( then ) are , thus grac'd by thee , neuer , may they , grace , deny thee . ad eundem : per eundem . if newfound-land yeeld such commodities , i 'd thither trade , for so rare marchandize . yours , iohn vicars . vpon this anagram of my name , and the deuice of the west-indian guane . . harm i bare not . depiction of iguana if some should meete this beast vpon the way , would not their hearts-blood thrill for great affray ? yet the west-indian that best knowes his nature , says , there is not any more harmelesse creature . so though my lines haue much deformity , their end mine anagram shall verifie . aa the first booke of qvodlibets , done and composed by the avthor himselfe . . of mine owne quodlibets . though my best lines no dainty things affords , my worst haue in them some thing else then words . . to my readers . i kept these closely by me some few yeeres , restrained by my knowledge , and my feares : i feare they are too shallow for the schooles , i know they are too deepe for shallow fooles , yet there are many of a middle breeding may thinke them good : nay richly worth the reading . . to the perpetuall renowne of our learned king iames , king of great britaine , &c. of famous memorie . wales , england , scotland long did disagree , yet like a threefoldcord accord in thee , such a cord hardly breakes , being wisely twist : these three combind , may the whole world resist . . old lelius to his wise friend scipio . let vs sit downe and by the fiers light , let our discourse be without saucy spight , wee 'll tell old tooth-lesse tales , which cannot bite , whilst yong fooles to talke treason take delight . . why god giues some fooles riches , and some wise men none . to a discreet friend . why fretst thou so , and art so sullen growne ? thy neighbour foole gets wealth , and thou getst none . wise , mercifull , and iust is god in it : for he hath giuen him riches , and thee wit. alas poore foole , if that he had no wealth , he hath not wit to comfort his sad selfe . . an old apothecary made a new doctor . hee kill'd by others warrant formerly , hee kils now by his owne authority . . god doth all in all . it 's held , the stars gouerne the works of men : it 's likewise held , wisemen may gouerne them : i hold , god ouer-rules wise , wayes , and stars : it 's he that humbleth , and it s he preferres . . a worldly man will haue it by hooke or by crooke . if wealth i cannot catch with vertues hooke , i 'le haule it to me , by my crafty crooke . . thrifty charity , to a namelesse friend . on this text thou dost seaze , with griping hold , who giues the poore , he shall receiue fourefold . this text thou dost some pretty roome afford , who giues the poore , doth lend vnto the lord : but this hard text doth goe against thy graine , giue cheerefully , looking for nought againe . . borrowing on time , is worse then bird-lime . as fowlers vse to take their fowle with lime : so vsurers take borrowing fooles with time. great danger'tis , for birds , bird-lime to touch ▪ not to keepe touch with vsurers it 's as much . . to a kinde foole. oft into bonds for others thou hast runne , but by those bonds , thy selfe thou hast vndone . no luggler euer show'd vs such a cast , to be vndone by being bound so fast . so drunkards doe with a like iugling tricke , by gulping others healths , themselues make sicke . . trauelling in england . the trauelling fashion of our nation , to pay without examination : what our hard-rented oasts may get thereby , is noble , loose , braue , prodigality . . a perswasion to humilitie . as when the moone after the sunne doth goe , she daily doth , fairer , and fuller growe ; but when that she doth goe before the sunne , her light growes lesse , and lesse , till she haue none : so whilst wee follow god in humble feare , his grace in vs , will beauteously appeare : but if we goe before god in presumption , his grace in vs will soone haue a consumption . . why there are so few hospitals built . it us hath will , but wants good meanes to doe it . croesus hath meanes , but wants a will vnto it . . lawyers profitable pastime . lawyers doe call plaintifes defence , their plea : it rather might be called lawyers play. . the polycie of the whore of babylon . as common queanes haue seuerall quaint deuices , to hooke all kind of men , by their intices : so the spirituall whore of babylon hath seuerall ginnes to intrap euery one : for villaines , wantons , easie indulgences : for zealous , wise , angelicall pretences ; for high-mindes , spenders , honor she dispences ; for women , fooles , fine shewes to please their sences . . to bald-pate . though i want yeeres , yet hoare i am through cares : but whores haue made thy head white , without haires . . worse then naught . thou art not worthy of a satyres quill : an epigram's too short to shew thine ill . . two filthy fashions . of all fond fashions , that were worne by men , these two ( i hope ) will ne'r be worne againe : great codpist doublets , and great codpist britch , at seuerall times worne both by meane and rich : these two had beene , had they beene worne together , like two fooles , pointing , mocking each the other . . fooles are more masters of their wiues then wise men . scarce a paradoxe . wise men for shame mildly away will goe , fooles will stand stifly to 't and haue it so : wise men for quietnesse will sometimes yeeld . though fooles be beaten , they 'll not quit the field . . to a pardon-buyer . the pope giues thee a sweeping indulgence , but thou must giue him good store of thy pence : so my lord mayor giues spoones all guilded o're , receiues for each foure or fiue pounds therefore . . worse then a whore. our common whores turne roman catholicks , by that meanes they get pardons for tricks : these wandring stars of common occupation , are rightly sphear'd in this large constellation : i enuy not that church , that vs so spites , for fingring such notorious procelites . . why kings speake in the plurall . princes speake in the plurall vs , and wee : it is their charge , from wrongs to keepe vs free , and we are wronged when they wronged bee : thus plurals with their plurall charge agree . . the effects of gods word . gods word , to sheepe is grasse ; to swine , hard stones ; vnto beleeuers , flesh ; to others , bones . . a scottish honest man. a londoners good man. an honest man , as scot'shmen vnderstand , is one , that mickle gudes hath , at command . a good man , in the londoners account , is one , whose wealth to some summe doth amount . lord , make me honest , good by thy instruction : then good and honest after their construction . . how and whereof to iest . iest fairely , freely : but exempt from it , mens misery , state businesse , holy writ . . the worlds whirlegigge . plenty breeds pride ; pride , enuy , enuy , warre , warre , pouerty , pouerty humble care. humility breeds peace , and peace breeds plenty ; thus round this world doth rowle alternatly . . on a good fellow papist , who makes no bones to eate flesh on fasting dayes . thou holdst , thou saist , the old religion , yet i know , the new dyet best likes thee . that which thou call'st the new opinion , i hold , yet the old dyet best likes mee . . poperies pedigree . papistry is an old religion , some part more old then circumcision , and some as ancient as are moses lawes , from whose lees she some ceremonies drawes , which she will hold , by old tradition . it is indeed a new hodg-podgerie , of iewish rites , elder idolatry : of these old simples a new composition . . the married , to the chaste . it would this world quickly depopulate , if euery one should dye in your estate . . the chaste , to the married . therein you haue the odds , herein wee 'r euen : you fill the world , but we doe people heauen . . a description of a puritane , out of this part of the letany , from blindnesse of heart , pride , vaine glory , &c. though puritanes the letany deride , yet out of it they best may be descride : they are blind-hearted , proud , vaine-glorious , deepe hypocrites , hatefull and enuious , malitious , in a full high excesse , and full of all vncharitablenesse . a prayer hereupon . since all tart puritanes are furnisht thus , from such false knaues ( good lord deliuer vs. ) . loue is betwixt equals . rich friends for rich friends , will ride , runne and row , through dirt and dangers , cheerefully they 'll goe : if poore friends come home to them , for a pleasure , they cannot find the gentleman at leisure . . the difference betwixt good men and bad , is best seene after death . good men like waxe-lights blow'n out , sauour well : bad men like tallow , leaue a stinking smell . bad mens fame may flame more while they haue breath , but good mens name , smell sweeter after death . . to sir peirce penny-lesse . though little coyne thy purse-lesse pocket lyne , yet with great company thou art ta'en vp , for often with duke humfrey thou dost dyne , and often with sir thomas gresham sup . the reward of charity . to a rich friend . would'st thou be pittied after thou art dead ? be pittifull whil'st thou thy life dost lead : if whilst thou liu'st , the poore thou dost releeue , fearing the like supply for thee they 'll greeue : if now thou giu'st them nought , when thou art gone , they will be glad , hoping for a new gowne . . what haue foolish men to doe with princes secrets ? thought vpon , on the preparation of a great fleet , and may serue for all such actions hereafter . fond men doe wonder where this fleet shall goe : i should more wonder , if that i should know . . a secret of state. though peace be loue lyer , honourabler then warre , yet warlike kings most lou'd , and honor'd are . . kings paramount subiection . what wayes kings walke , subjects the same will goe . and many kings , expect they should doe soe : therefore should kings follow the king almightie : kings are gods subiects , if they gouerne rightly . . why women are longer attyring of themselues then men. women tyring themselues haue many lets , their fillets , frontlets , partlets , and bracelets : whilst downe-right-neatlesse-plaine men haue but one , a duoblet double-let in putting on . christ and antichrist . christ in the temple shopboords ouerthrew , whipt thence the buying and the selling crue . the pope in his church , sets vp his free faire , and whips all those , that will not buy his ware. . wise men may be mistaken . puritanes ragged reason of the rag of popery , and papists rotten reason of thread-bare antiquitie . some too precize , will not some customes vse , because that papists did them once abuse : as good a reason in sinceritie , as papists oldnesse without veritie . though these deserue to be hist off the schooles , yet they are held by those that are no fooles . vnrighteous mammon . poets faind pluto , god of wealth , and hell : for they perceiu'd few got their riches well . . a dialogue betwixt a wise king and a good christian. the wise king. my neighbours secrets i desire to know , that i their priuate plots may ouerthrow . the good christian. i doe neglect my neighbours words , and deedes , i carefully suruey mine owne proceeds . the wise king. if that my friends offer to doe me harme , i smite them first , and seeke them to disarme . the good christian. though that my foes doe wrong me euery houre , i doe them all the good lyes in my power . the wise king. by these and iustice , i shall wisely raigne . the good christian. by this and faith , heauens kingdome i shall gaine . . sad-mens liues are longer then merry-mens a paradox . to him , whose heauy griefe hath no allay of lightning comfort , three houres is a day : but vnto him , that hath his hearts content , friday is come , ere he thinkes tuesday spent . . poperies principall absurdities . of all the hud-winkt trickes in popery , this is the lamentablest foppery : when god is made to speake , and to command men , in a tongue they doe not vnderstand , and men commanded are to sing and pray to such fond things that know not what they say , and these men hauing madly , sadly pray'd , themselues doe not know , what themselues haue said . . of those who are too kinde , too courteous , &c. who ouerdoe good things . exuberant goodnesse , good mens names haue stain'd , their too ranke vertue is by some disdain'd . yet 't is not vice , but vertue ouer strain'd . . some mens testament is not their will. he that will nothing spare whil'st he doth liue , and when he dyes , vnwillingly doth giue , bequeathing what he gladly would keepe still , makes a good testament , but an ill will. . why wiues can make no wills. men , dying make their will● : why cannot wiues ? because , wiues haue their wills , during their liues . . a iust retaliation . dead men bite not : great reason is there then , that we which now doe liue , should not bite them . . a prayer . lord , send me patience and humility , and then send plenty , or aduersity : so if i be obseru'd , or disrespected , i shall not be puft vp , nor yet deiected . . reuerent graue preachers . on holy dayes , i would heare such a man , graue , holy , full of good instruction . neat , quaint , nimble pulpit wits . these nimble lads are fit for working dayes , their witty sermons may keepe some from playes . . diuers complections , and diuers conditions . a quiet , chast mind , in flesh faire , and neate , is like to dainty sawce , and dainty meate . a hansome body , with a mind debaust , is like to dainty meate sluttishly saust . a good wise mind , in flesh ill-fauoured , is course meate , sweetly saust , well-sauoured . a froward , lewde mind in an ill shap't seate , is scuruy-scuruy sawce , and scuruy meate . . our births , and deaths , reioycing , and mourning . when we are borne , our friends reioyce , we cry : but we reioyce , our friends mourne when we dye . . the vanity of a papisticall shift . you say you worship not the wood , nor stone , for that 's but the representation . wise heathen vs'd this fine distinction . millions that know not this subtility , commit plaine , palpable idolatry . which you in them , doe take some paines to breed , that on their offerings you may fatly feed : why cause you else your saints to weepe , sweate , bleed ? . curious barly brethren . those that will haue all names out of gods booke , and hold all other names in detest●tion : poore begging lazarus name , these neuer tooke , they more feare pouerty , then prophanation . . a scriuener on a trotter . scriueners get most by riding trotting horses , copper-ars , and gall , for inke towards their losses . womens wise teares . disburthening teares breeds sad hearts some reliefe , and that 's one cause , few women dye of griefe . . to my reader . if breuity my reader doe displease . i vse it more for his , then for my ease . . youths conceit , and ages knowledge . i thought my selfe wise when i was at schoole , but now i know , i was , and am a foole. . hearbe-grace commonly called rewe . chast men with name of hearbe of grace this grac't , because thereby , they thought they were kept chaste . some women hereupon did name it rew. because thereby they thought they lost their due . . to writers of hereticall , and keepers of false books . when yee before gods iudgemen seat shall come , out of your owne books , yee shall read your doome : god need not to produce his owne true booke , for he doth daily on your false books looke . . to a periwiggian , who hopes to gaine by some friends death . thou maist well hope to be some dead-mans heire , for thou already wear'st some dead-mens haire . . gossipes and good-wiues . whither goe these good wiues so neat and trimme ? they goe a sipping , or a gossiping . come hither , boy , wipe cleane my spectacles , i shall see none of these good-women else . . a young saint , an old deuill , to a contous old man. thou changed art of late ( as i am told ) lesse charitable growne , as thou grow'st old ; thy former good was heate of youth in thee , for grace once rooted , will grow like a tree . which neuer can eradicated bee . . a mad wenches iustice. since not to be thy wiues head thou do'st scorne . thinke this as just , the head must weare the horne . . wee are gods husbandry , or gods crop out of a fortile christian soule . a good soule drest with zeale , plow'd vp with feare , water'd with gods grace , a large crop will beare , the roote firme faith , hope , the blade spreading faire , from these springs loue , into a large full eare : the roote is sure , the blade endures the storme , with sheaues of loue we must fill full gods barne . . to a faire whore. when we doe see a woman sweetly faire , we say that god hath done his part in her , thou passing faire , but passing wicked art , in thee therefore satan hath play'd his part . . riches is now a dayes the house vpon mens heads . in elder times good manners made a man : in our wise age , good mannors maketh one . . monyes etymologie . mony that 's mone i : for when i haue none , i pensiue am , and sad , and sigh , and mone . . the treasure of the church , or the popes exchequor . wert not for the huge , large , imagin'd chest , the key whereof hangs at the popes owne brest , where ouer-doers works , are rang'd for buyers , for prophane traytors , gripers , leachers , lyers , the popes strong-bard-chest would be lin'd but thinne , a bagge would serue to keepe his treasure in . . a wicked , contentious mans epitaph . none liuing lou'd him , for his death none grieu'd , saue some say , griefe it was he so long liu'd . . an epitaph . on euery well meaning man vndone by his kindnesse . my rich heart made me poore , comforting sad , my helping , impotent , my goodnes bad. . to one of fortunes white sonnes . thou hast liu'd many yeeres in perfect health , great friends thou hast , for thou hast got much wealth , all things fall pat with thee , which thou would'st haue , were it not pitty thou should'st be a knaue ? . death , and vvarre . warre begets famine , famine , plague , plague death , war breathes forth woes , but death stops all woes breath , warre is great a of ills , and death is z. in warres red letters , deaths feast-dayes are read . . the popish legend . the iewish talmoud . mahomets alcheron . the legend , talmoud , and the alcheron , are differing lyes , for one intention , they worke for differing works fram'd on one frame , like , lewd , large lyes , fit for the whet-stone game : one way they tend , though seuerall wayes proceed , hee well beleeues , who makes them not his creed . . to an armenian canary bird. thou that think'st good works in gods nose so sauory , what sauour think'st thou smells he in thy knauery ? . faith without works , works without faith. to beleeue and liue ill , is but to thinke , without faiths salt , good-works will quickly-stinke . . vngirt , vnblest . vngirt , vnblest : a prouerbe old , and good , a true one too , if rightly vnderstood : vnblest he shall be euerlastingly , who is not girt with christian * verily . . true chastity . not , who doth not , yet gladly would goe to it , is chast , but he that may , and will not doe it . . from hardnesse of heart , good lord deliuer vs. it s god alone that makes a tender heart . to make hearts hard , ours and the deuils part ▪ . a perswasion to heauen . where heauen is , all our diuines agree , they cannot well tell , where hells seate should bee . why should we not , to knowne heauen bend our race ? rather then by sinne seeke an vnknowne place ? . to a namelesse religious friend . why dost thou euery sermon gods word call , since preachers broach damn'd errors , flatter , brawle ? indeed thou maist sermons this praise afford , it is , or should be , gods owne holy word . . to king iames , king of great britaine , &c. of blessed memory . our ministers in their euangeling , praying for thee , stile thee great brittaines king : our lawyers pleading in westminster hall , of england , and of scotland king thee call . for what great mystery , i cannot see , why law , and gospell should thus disagree . only i judge , that preachers giue thee thine , by their law it s as lawfull as diuine . . the most catholike king of spaine . the spanish king is stil'd most catholicke : in it is hid a quaint mysterious tricke , his meaning is not in religion , but he intends it in dominion . . what vse old moones are put to . what doth become of old moones thou dost aske , and where her borrowed influence she shades ? for me to tell thee , t were too hard a taske , a witty wagge sayes , they fill womens heads . . little legges , and lesse wit. at first me thought a wise man thou should'st be , for calfe about thee i could no where see : t is thought thy calfes are walkt into thy braine , for all thy talke is in a caluish vaine . . problematically prouing , that the city of rome is not the seat of christs vicar generall . since christ his old choice citie ruined , 'cause it despis'd him , and his saints blood shed , why should he rome , with supreme grace inable ? who kil'd him , and of his innumerable ? . i proue it thus . our lord was crucifi'd by pilats doome , his death was roman , and his iudge of rome , and of his death the chiefe pretended cause , * was for the breach of romes imperiall lawes : and the ten bloody persecutions , was by th' authority of romes great ones . . two prouerbs coupled . as those that get goods ill , doe them ill spend , so an ill life makes an vngodly end . . good counsell , ill example . those that perswade others to godlinesse , and liue themselues vngodly nerethelesse : are like a ships cooke , that calls all to prayer , and yet the greazie carle will net come there . . to an vpstart . thine old friends thou forget'st , hauing got wealth : no maruaile , for thou hast forgot thy selfe . . christ in the middest . he that on earth with low humility , betwixt two theeues vpon mount caluary , acted his passiue-actiue passion , in highest heauen in supreme dignity , seating himselfe betwixt the deity , acts his actiue-passiue compassion . o let me beare what thou dost act in me , and act what may be suffered by thee ! . gods word is a two-edged sword. gods word wounds both wayes like a two-edg'd sword , the preachers , and the hearers of the word : the fore edge wounds the hearers on the pate , the backe-edge on the preachers doth rebate . . to the admirably witty , and excellently learned sir nicholas smith , knight , of lorkbeare neere exeter , my ancient friend . taking occasion of an anigram of his . n. s. tulaus mihi cos es . praises on duller wits a sharp edge breeds , your wit 's all edge , he no such whet-stone needs . yet your steeld iudgement , sharpe inuention , temperd with learning , and discretion , millions of praises merits as their due : who knowes you well , knowes well that i speake true . . to the right worshipfull william noy , esquire , one of the benchers of lincolnes inue , long since of my acquaintance both in oxford and london . noah the second father of all soules . had in his arke all beasts , and feathered fowles . you in your arke , as in a plenteous hoord , haue stor'd what wit , or learning can afford : for all lawes , common , ciuill , or diuine , for histories of old , or of our time , for morall learning , or philosophy , you are an exact , liuing library . but your rich mind mixt with no base allay , is ancient opher of the old assay . i may feare drowing , lanch i further forth , in the large , full , deepe deluge of your worth . . to the right worshipfull nicholas ducke , esquire , one of the benchers of lincolnes inne , and recorder of the city of exeter , my cousin german . although those creatures , called by your name , for their delight in dirt , deserue much blame ▪ and though that some of your profession , are glad when they haue got possession . of the foule end , or will dirt a cleere case : you in your circuittread a cleaner pase . i know it , you abhorre those sordid things , and where 't was foule before , you cleere the springs : for which , wise honest men you high esteemes , may your yong duckling paddle in like streames . . to the right worshipfull arthur ducke , doctor of the ciuill law , and chancellor of london , bath and wells , my cousin german . to correct sinne and folly to disgrace , to find out truth , and cunning steps to trace , to doe this mildly , with an vpright pace . are vertues in you fitted for your place . . an epithalamium . on the marriage of doctor arthur ducke , with one of the daughters and coheires of henry southworth esquire . amongst your best friends i am not ingrate to god , who hath you giuen so good a mate , faire , vertuous , louing , with a great estate . would i had such another at the rate . . to the right worshipfull william hackwell esquire , one of the benehers of lincolnes inne , my ancient kind friend . your large , compleat , sollid , sufficiency , hid in the vaile of your wise modesty , your quaint , neat learning , your acute quicke wit , and sincere heart , for great employments fit : beside your law , wherein you doe excell , because you little shew of your great deale , none can know well , except they know you well . . to the reuerend george hackwell , doctor in diuinity , archdeacon of surry , my ancient & kind friend . should i dilate all your great gifts at large , which for my weake muse were too hard a charge , an epigram would to a volume grow , if i their large particulars should show . you haue your brothers whole sufficiency : saue for his law , you haue diuinity : this may i adde , and with great ioy relate : for which to you oblig'd is our whole state , in our blest best plot , you haue sow'd good seeds , which doe out-grow natures quick-growing weeds . . to the right worshipfull iohn barker esquire , late maior of the city of bristoll , my louing and kind brother in law. bristoll , your birth place ( where you haue augmented much , your much left you ) is well recompenced . in counsell office , and in parliament , for her good you haue shew'd your good intent : as you doe grace the place that did you breed , i pray , your sonnes sonnes may there so succeed . to the wise and learned s. b. k. knight . a poet rich , a iudge , and a iust man , in few but you , are all these found in one . to the right worshipfull iohn doughty , alderman of bristoll , of his right worthy wife , my especiall good friends . i haue heard many say they 'd not remarry , if before them their kind wiues should miscarry , i feare , some of them from their words would vary . should your wife dye , sad sole you would remaine . i haue sufficient reason for my aime , you cannot find so good a wife againe . . to the worshipfull , richard long of bristoll , merchant , and his good wife , my kind and louing friends . vnthankefulnes is the great sinne of sinnes , but thankefulnes to kindnes , kindnes winnes . for your deare loue accept my thankes therefore . an honest heart is grieu'd he can no more . to the reuerend doctor , thomas winnife , deane of glocester , prebend of pauls , and chaplaine to king charles , anciently of my acquaintance in exceter colledge in oxford . your sollid learning , and sincere behauiour , haue worthily brought you into great fauour , and you are deane of gloria caesaris , such chaplaines our great caesars glory is . to the right worshipfull richard spicer , doctor of physicke , my louing and kind kinsman . apollo , first inuentor of your arte , his hidden secrets doth to you impart , old galen , auicen , and all the rest , haue with their knowledge your graue iudgement blest , you are both wise and happy in your skill , doing continuall good , and no man ill . . to the right worshipfull robert viluain , doctor of physicke , my ancient friend , in exeter colledge in oxford . let me change your paternall name vilvaine , somewhat more aptly , and call you feele-vaine , in physicke still you are as good as any , and with your recipe's you haue holp't many , wherefore in troopes the to sicke you repaire , who hath your helpe , need not of health despaire . . to the reuerend , learned , acute , and witty , master charles fitz-geoffery , bachelor in diuinity , my especiall kind friend , most excellent poet. blind poet homer you doe equalize , though he saw more with none , then most with eyes . our geoffery chaucer , who wrote quaintly , neat , in verse you match equall , him in conceit , featur'd you are like homer in one eye . rightly surnam'd the sonne of geoffery . . to a right worshipfull , discreet , sober gentleman , a iustice of peace , who of a wild demeand yong gentlman , is now become a reuerend minister , a painefull preacher , and a worthy example . you know , i know , what kind of man you were ; not like to make the man that now you are : your buds of grace , were ouer-growne with folly , these weeds pluckt vp , you are growne wholy holy , from a strange , loose , wild , waggish libertine , a doctor learned , preacher sweet , diuine . many take orders , liuings to obtaine . plenty you had , christs glory was your aime , your friends ioy'd much , when they saw you so giuen , ineffable's the ioy that was in heauen . . to the same reuerend doctor . you are turn'd old saint , leauing your yong euils , whilst many yong saints , doe become old deuils . . to my honest bed-fellow the priuatly charitable , discreetly beneficiall , master edward payne , merchant of bristoll . piein is greeke , to drinke : pain , french , for bread : with paine ( god sayes ) with these we shall be fed , yet without payne , many these needfuls gaine , only by thanking god , and master payne . . to squint-eyed , enuious momus . for praising these , doe not thou dispraise me ; if thou wilt be as these are , i le praise thee . . a little of my vnworthy selfe . many of these were my familiars , much good , and goods hath fal'n vnto their shares , they haue gone fairely on in their affaires : good god , why haue i not so much good lent ! it is thy will , i am obedient : what thou hast , what thou wilt , i am content , only this breeds in me much heauines , my loue to this land i cannot expresse , lord grant me power vnto my willingnesse . . a skeltonicall continued ryme , in praise of my new-found-land . although in cloaths , company , buildings faire , with england , new-found-land cannot compare : did some know what contentment i found there , alwayes enough , most times somewhat to spare , with little paines , lesse toyle , and lesser care , exempt from taxings , ill newes , lawing , feare , if cleane , and warme , no matter what you weare , healthy , and wealthy , if men carefull are , with much-much more , then i will now declare , ( i say ) if some wise men knew what this were , ( i doe beleeue ) they 'd liue no other where . . a napkin to wipe his mouth that waters at these deserued commendations . thus for this hopefull countrie at this time , as it growes better , i le haue better ryme . the end of the first booke . . to the reader of my reprehending generall epigrams . i doe not , nor i dare not squib the state : such oultrequidant sawcines i hate : nor doe i meane any one man herein ; in priuate tearmes , i lash a publique sin ; if any guilty thinke i him doe meane , he iudgeth right : for i at him doe ayme . . of the like epigrams . to the right worshipfull and learned , simon baskeruile , doctor of physicke . epigrams are much like to oxymell , hony and vineger compounded well : hony , and sweet in their inuention , vineger in their reprehension . as sowre , sweet oxymell , doth purge though fleagme : these are to purge vice , take them as they meane . . a probleme of children . since god complaines of too few children , and satan hath for gods one , more then ten , yet still would haue more . why should man alone repine at some , nay ? wish that they had none ? . to a close sinner , more fearefull of shame , then sinne. dauid saith , stand in awe , and doe not sinne thou standst in awe , but t is , lest thou be seene : . to curious criticke wit , head-constable . search close , thou maist some felony find here : from all foole-hardy treason these are cleare . . on erra pater and his almanacke . the often printed gull-foole erra pater , is in conclusion but an erring prater . to baldpate . surely , paldpate , thou some times hadst a brow before thou lost thy haire ; no man knowes how . thy brow doth now reach home vnto thy crowne , but vncrown'd thou art , he comes further downe ; how farre he comes , now cannot be descride : for he comes downe , downe , downe to thy backeside . . to a paultry acquaintance . thou dost accuse me , and condemne my rymes , because to thee i dedicate no lines . thou dost as well deserue an epigram , as baldpate , who is trim'd with many a one . . to a certaine periwiggian . thy smooth , sleeke head-haire , daily settled on , though some say not , i say it is thine owne , thou paid'st for 't : yet the haire thou hast lost , when thou did'st lose it , did thee much more cost . . of the antiquity of the true church , to a iesuite . thou doost demand , and acclamations raise , where our beliefe was , before luthers dayes ? as christ did answer to a question , by such a like expostulation : so doe i aske , answer me when thou please , where was your faith , long since the apostles dayes ? . to the same iesuite . art thou a iesuite , yet dost vs reproach with want of faith , ere luther his did broach ? your race was raiz'd , since he preach'd : your new errors are odious to your owne , to others terrors . a hated race , spew'd in these latter dayes , though fathers cal'd , y' are the popes roring boyes . . to a sober , sly , penurious , vsurious companion . godlines is great gaine , god sayes no lesse , but thou saist , thou canst make gaine godlines : what thou hast got by craft , and vsury , thou wilt bequeath in deeds of charity . such distribution i doe emulate ; the way vnto it , i abominate . . the indefatigability of a shrews tongue . what long wants naturall rest , cannot indure : in all things , but a shrewes tongue , this is sure . . the goe-out and the goute . thou grieu'd art with the goe-out , and the goute ; for if thy wife doth chide thee out of doore : which of these ills is worst , some make a doubt : i thinke the goe-out , is the greater sore . the goute doth ostnest but the great toe paine : the goe-out doth afflict both heart , and braine . . to father taylor iesuite , sometimes my familiar friend in oxford . you say that images are lay-mens bookes . he learnes most error , that most on them lookes . and to say truth , what-euer you doe say , they 're fit bookes for the learned , not the lay , . to an idoll worshipper , or an obstinate recusant . idols are sencelesse , speake them foule or faire ; and those that trust in them , as sencelesse are . trusting in them , thou art obdurate made , that law nor gospell can thee not perswade . . a meditation for such simple innocent people as i am . since thou all-wise hast made me not so wise , with subtile serpents for to subtilize ; accept my plainenesse , and my good intent , that with thy doue i may be innocent ; from subtle trickes guard my simplicitie . and make me simple in subtility . . the force of repentance . our sinne enforceth god to raise his hand : but our repentance doth the stroke withstand . . most men want somewhat . some honest well-bent mindes their strength is slacke ; strong men haue strength , some of them wisdome lacke ; wisemen haue wit ; but some want honestie ; some men are neither honest , strong , nor wittie . . too much , too little , hurts . light corne beares ground that 's not with dressing dight ; without some learning , wit growes vaine and light ; as too much dressing cause weeds , ranck , and bad : so too much learning makes a quicke wit mad . . greatnes and loue moue not in one spheare . greatnes soares vpward ; loue is downeward mou'd ; hence 't is that greatnes loues not , nor is lou'd . . to an enuied fauorite , right worthy of his preferment . enuious , and bad , 'gainst vertue , goodnesse fight ; would good , and wise , did vnderstand you right . . to a casheard fauorite , who hath deserued his disgrace . i grieue at thy disgrace , blush at thy shame , but this drawes teares ; thou hast deseru'd the same . . how little , how great . the least of all the fixed stars , they say , is some times bigger then the earth and sea. poore little i that from earth haue my birth , am but a clod , compared to the earth . how little now , how great shall i be then , when i in heauen , like to a starre shall shine ? . on young weekely newes-writers & old chroniclers . currantiers lye by vbiquity ; but chroniclers lye by authority . newes-writers , trauellers are , historians old : trauellers and old men to lye may be bold . not then , not there , cannot their lyes vnfold . . conscience . whilst concious men of smallest sinnes haue ruth , bold sinners count great sinnes , but tricks of youth . . to a weake braind good-fellow . thy braine is weake , strong drinke thou canst not beare : follow my rule , strong drinke doe thou forbeare . . the only foundation rocke of christs church , to the diuines of rome . out of the creed , wherein we both consent , peter , i proue is not the rocke christ ment . doe we belieue in god of all the maker ? in that , the iew with vs is a partaker . doe we belieue , that christ was borne and dy'd , and that he was vnjustly crucifi'd ? the turke beleues so , and sayes he did stand , till theirs came mediating at gods right hand . that he shall iudge all that beleeue in him , both iew and turke , forgiuenes of all sinne belieue ; the fleshes resurrection , the blessed saints holy communion , and life eternall almost as we doe , and that their church is catholicke , and true . they doe beleeue the spirits influence , though not like vs , but in a larger sense . but all within our creed , which doth conduce , to proue christ iesus is the only sluce of our saluation , and gods only sonne ; in that , we christians doe beleeue alone . this is the rocke whereon christs church is built . take away this , all our faiths frame will tylt . and this was peters wise confession : whence i deduce this firme conclusion ; not peter his confession the rock is , and christ said not , on thee , but , vpon this. . an honest wrong'd mans meditations . since for my loue , friends me vnkindly serue , god will not vse me , as i doe deserue . . the good effects of corrections . sea-water , though 't be salt , salt meates makes fresh ; so doth correction our ill liues redresse . . preachers fame , and ayme . young preachers , to doe well , doe take much paine , that all may doe well , is old preachers ayme . . to the reader . this one fault ( reader ) pardon , and endure , if striuing to be briefe , i grow obscure . . a christian meditation . i hope , and i doe faithfully beleeue , that god in loue will me saluation giue : i hope , and my assured firme faith is , god will accept my loue to him and his . i hope , by faith his loue will me afford all this only , through iesus christ our lord. . a messe of mistakers . lewd , loose , large lust , is loue with familists . papists chiefe hope in their owne workes consists . some protestants on barren faith relye . atheists haue no faith , hope , nor charity . . an appendix to this epigram . loue is the fruite ; hope the leaues ; faith the tree . who hath a perfect faith , hath all these three . only by such a faith men saued be . . a guilty conscience . when god did call to adam , where art thou ? he meant not thereby , where , or in what place ? god knew in which bush he was well enough : but , where art , adam ? that is , in what case ? . to giue the church of rome her due . to a separatist . though thou art loth to put it in thy creed , the church of rome is a true church indeed : so is a thiefe a true , truely a man , although he be not truely a true one . how is it else that children there baptizde , by other christians christians are agnizde ? . to quick siluer headded innouators . because of the vncertainty of wits , our law commands a certainty in writs : for as good cause is our church lythurgie wisly reduced to a certainty . if that were yeelded to that some men seeke , we should haue new church-seruice euery weeke . . faire good wiues . cleare-skind , true colour'd wiues , with exact features , with wise , mild , chaste soules , are the best of creatures . . faire shrewes . cleare-skind , faire colour'd wiues , with exact features , with shrewd , lew'd , wild minds , are the worst of creatures , . a probleme hereupon . if fine flesh be so ill with an ill mind , what is a foule outside thus inward lin'd ? . a trestick to these three , disticks by way of answer . to all constant batchelers , especially to my good friend mr. roger michell . caribdis one , the other sylla is ; and though the first an harbour be of blisse , you steare the safest course , these rockes to misse . . to an honest old doting man , such as i may be , if i liue a little longer . a lyer should haue a good memory ; for want of it thou vtterest many a lye , thou dost remember many things in great : but the particulars thou dost forget . thou tell'st thy lyes without ill - thought or paine ; th' are no malicious lyes , nor lyes for gaine . . a crue of cursing companions . to the bishop of rome . with bell , booke , candle , each ascension day , thou cursest vs who for thee yeerely pray . but on good fryday the greeke patriark , doth banne thee , branding thee , with this lewd marke , he stiles thee , father of corruption , of ancient fathers the corrupting one : they saw long since thy knauish forgery , as we now see thy purging knauery . . to the same man. he that doth dead saints reliques idolize , their liuing writings lewdly falsifies . . enuies dyet . old wits haue seuerall wayes drest enuies food ; each hath his sawce ( if rightly vnderstood ) her owne heart , her owne flesh , a toade , a bone , which she deuoureth sitting all alone : though these are faire , this dish doth me best please , when i find her gnawing a wreathe of bayes : for her chiefe food , is well deserued praise . . to a hansome whore. one told me , what a pretty face thou hast ; and it 's great pitty that thou art not chaste . but i did tell him , that did tell it me , that if thou wert not faire , thou chaste wouldst be . . the mad life of a mad sea-man of warre . he liues , and thriues by death , and by decay , he drinkes , sweares , curseth , sometimes he doth pray , that he may meet somewhat to be his prey , and spends the rest in sleepe , at meat , at play . . of the gunpowder holly-day , the . of nouember . the powder-traytors , guy vaux , and his mates , who by a hellish plot sought saints estates , haue in our kalender vnto their shame , a ioyfull holy-day cald by their name . . on these blacke saints . the first day of nouember is alway , all - saints feast : and the fift , all - deuils day . . to a great gamester . saint paul doth bid vs pray continually , but thou would'st rather play continually . . most men are mistaken . to mr. robert grimes . good , bad , rich , poore , the foolish , and the sage , doe all cry out against the present age , ignorance made vs thinke our young times good ; our elder dayes are better vnderstood ; besides , griefes past we easily forget ; present displeasures make vs sad , or fret . . the tree of sanctification . first growes the tree , and then the leaues doe grow ; these two must spring before the fruite can shew : faith is a firme tree , hope , like shaking leaues , from these two , charity her fruits receiues . faith without hope , and loue , is a dead tree , hope without loue , and faith , greene cannot be . loue without hope and firme faith is no more then hansome fruit without , rotten at core . . real presence praying to saints . each contradict the other . if christ be reall , corporall in the bread , after the consecrating words are said : what need you goe to saints , since you may take him and vse him as you please like them that bake him ? . an antidote for drunkards . if that your heads would ake before you drinke as afterwards , you 'd ne'r be drunke , i thinke . . womens tyers . womens head-laces and high towring wyres , significantly , rightly are cald tyres ; they tyre them and their maides in putting on , tyre tyremakers , with variation . i thinke to pay for them , doth tyre some men ; i hope they 'll tyre the deuill that inuents them . . the grant. i 'm but a man , though i in length exceed . the dwarfe . though i want length , a man i am indeed . the gyant to the dwarfe . my syre out-shot the marke , begetting me . thy father shot too short , when he made thee . the dwarfe to the gyant . although short shooting often lose the game , to ouer-shoot the marke , is as much shame . . to a namelesse friend , whose head is said to be full of proclamations . to fill the head with proclamations , is no disgrace , so they be well penn'd ones . . the good of punishment . plagues make proud , big , swolne hearts , fall low againe : as causticks bate proud flesh , though with much paine . . a chyrurgions good qualities . to my good friend mr. p.s. chyrurgion . a surgion should haue , well to vse his art , ladyes hands , eagles eyes , a lyons heart . not one of these good properties you lacke , but when you hide them in the white strong sacke . . a pill to purge bribery . those that doe liue heere by corruption , shall dye in the next generation . . papisticall faith . what a strange doubtfull blind no-faith you hold , which cannot be imagind , held , or told ? what lay-men know not , clarks doe thinke they know , sayes the pope otherwise , it is not so . the weather-cocke of your religion is in the popes shifting opinion . . some poore comfort for these multifidians . if this pope , millions drawes with him to hell , the next wise pope may reset all things well . . spirituall weapons to encounter with satan . to my louing and good aunt , mistris elizabeth spicer of exceter , mother to doctor richard spicer physition . these are strong armes to buckle with the deuill , fasting , faith , prayer , bearing , forbearing euill : if with these weapons god doe vs assist , satan will ne'r stand to it , nor resist . . confidence ill vsed , and confidence abused . cursed is he that puts his confidence in man : onely in man is the right sense . and that man shall like punishment receiue , who doth an honest confidence deceiue . . a caueat for buyers and sellers . in this world silly buyers must beware : in the next world , deare sellers of bad ware . . to politike bankerupt . thou hast broke fiue times ; thou wilt breake once more : what a braue tilter thou wouldst make therefore ! . a mad answer of a mad-man . one askt a mad-man , if a wife he had ? a wife ( quoth he ) i neuer was so mad . . a lusty widdow , to one of her sutors . to haue me , thou tel'st me , on me thou 'lt dote . i tell thee , who hath me , on me must doo 't , i may be coozen'd ; but sure if i can , i le haue no doting , but a dooing man. . to mammonnists , who put their trust in vncertaine riches . some haue too many goods : some would haue none : you haue too many , though you haue but one ; for yellow mammon is your god alone . . god and mammon . seruice to god , and mammon none can doe : yet we may serue god , and haue mammon too : . there is no fooling with edge-tooles . to a friend . thou hast sped well in many a former plot , thou vndertook'st a great one , fail'st in that , men must haue mittons on , to shoo a cat. . my iudgement on men of iudgement . to a kind friend . thou talk'st of men of iudgement . who are they ? those , whose conceits successe doth still obey . wise mens , wise counsell , is but their conceits ; if they speed ill , they are sad wise deceits . . to all the shrewd wiues that are , or shall be planted in new-found-land . if mad-men , drunkards , children , or a foole , wrong sober , discreet men with tongue or toole , we say , such things are to be borne withall . we say so too , if women fight , or brawle . . some preuention for some of these misdooers . mad men are bound ; drunkards are laid to sleepe : fooles beaten are ; toyes children quiet keepe : i wish vnruly shrewes were turnd to sheepe . . masters behauiour . to my good friend master thomas mil-ware , of harbor-grace in newfound-land . sterne , cruell vsage may bad seruants fetter : wise gentle vsage , keepes good seruants better . . too much familiarity breeds contempt . though some wise men this prouerbe doe apply , for a defence of their austerity ; i thinke this way this prouerbe might be meant , chiding too oft , brings chiding in contempt . . the foure elements in newfound-land . to the worshipfull captaine iohn mason , who did wisely and worthily gouerne there diuers yeeres . the aire , in newfound-land is wholesome , good ; the fire , as sweet as any made of wood ; the waters , very rich , both salt and fresh ; the earth more rich , you know it is no lesse . where all are good , fire , water , earth , and aire , what man made of these foure would not liue there ? . to all those worthy women , who haue any desire to liue in newfound-land , specially to the modest & discreet gentlewoman mistris mason , wife to captaine mason , who liued there diuers yeeres . sweet creatures , did you truely vnderstand the pleasant life you 'd liue in newfound-land , you would with teares desire to be brought thither : i wish you , when you goe , faire wind , faire weather : for if you with the passage can dispence , when you are there , i know you 'll ne'r come thence . . to a worthy friend , who often obiects the coldnesse of the winter in newfound-land , and may serue for all those that haue the like conceit . you say that you would liue in newfound-land , did not this one thing your conceit withstand ; you feare the winters cold , sharp , piercing ayre . they loue it best , that haue once winterd there . winter is there , short , wholesome , constant , cleare , not thicke , vnwholesome , shuffling , as 't is here . . to the right worshipfull iohn slany , treasurer to the newfound-land company , and to all the rest of that honorable corporation . i know , that wise you are , and wise you were : so was hee who this action did preferre : yet some wise men doe argue otherwise , and say you were not , or you are not wise : they say , you were not wise to vndertake it : or that you are not wise thus to forsake it . . of the same honorable company . diuers well-minded men , wise , rich , and able , did vndertake a plot inestimable , the hopefull'st , easiest , healthi'st , iust plantation , that ere was vndertaken by our nation . when they had wisely , worthily begunne , for a few errors that athwart did runne , ( as euery action first is full of errors ) they fell off flat , retir'd at the first terrors . as it is lamentably strange to me : in the next age incredible 't will be . . to the right honourable sir george calvert , knight , late principall secretary to king iames , baron of baltomore , and lord of aualon in newfound-land . your worrh hath got you honour in your dayes . it is my honour , you my verses praise . o let your honour cheerefully goe on ; end well your well begunne plantation . this holy hopefull worke you haue halfe done , for best of any , you haue well begunne . if you giue ouer what hath so well sped , your sollid wisedome will be questioned . . to the same nobleman . yours is a holy just plantation , and not a iustling supplantation . . to the right worthy , learned and wise , master william vaughan , chiefe vndertaker for the plantation in cambrioll , the southermost part of newfound-land , who with penne , purse , and person hath , and will proue the worthines of that enterprise . it ioy'd my heart , when i did vnderstand that your selfe would your colonie command ; it greeu'd me much , when as i heard it told , sicknes had layd on you an vnkind hold . beleeue me , sir , your colchos cambrioll is a sweet , pleasant , wholesome , gainefull soyle . you shall find there what you doe want ; sweet health : and what you doe not want , as sweet ; sweet wealth . . to the same industrious gentleman , who in his golden golden-fleece stiles himselfe orpheus iunior . your noble humor indefatigable , more vertuous , constant yet , then profitable , striuing to doe good , you haue lost your part , whil'st lesser losse hath broke some tradesmens heart : yet you proceed with person , purse and penne , fitly attended with laborious men . goe on , wise sir , with your old , bold , braue nation to your new cambriolls rich plantation , let dolphins dance before you in the floods , and play you , orpheus iunior , in her woods . . some diseases were neuer in newfound-land . to the right worthy mistres , anne vaughan , wife to doctor vaughan , who hath an honourable desire to liue in that land. those that liue here , how young , or old soeuer , were neuer vext with cough , nor aguish feauer , nor euer was the plague , nor small pox heere ; the aire is so salubrious , constant , cleere : yet scuruy death stalks heere with theeuish pace , knocks one downe here , two in another place . . to sir richard whitborne , knight , my deare friend , sometime lieutenant to doctor vaughan for his plantation in newfound-land , who hath since published a worthy booke of that most hopefull country . who preaching well , doth doe , and liue as well , his doing makes his preaching to excell : for your wise , well-pend booke this land 's your debter ; doe as you write , you 'le be beleeu'd the better . . to my good friend mr. thomas rowley , who from the first plantation hath liu'd in newfound-land little to his profit . when some demaund , why rich you doe not grow ? i tell them , your kind nature makes it so . they say , that heere you might haue gotten wealth . adam in paradise vndid himselfe . there is more gaine in an honest enemy , then in a flattering friend . a flattering friend in 's commendations halts : an honest foe will tell me all my faults . . to the right honourable , sir henry cary , knight , viscount faukeland , lord deputy of ireland . i ioy'd when you tooke part of newfound-land ; i grieu'd , to see it lye dead in your hand : i ioy'd when you sent people to that coast ; i grieu'd , when i sawe all that great charge lost . yet let your honor try it once againe , with wise , stayd , carefull honest-harted men , i am to blame , you boldly to aduise : for all that know you , know you wondrous wise : yet neere-hand , dull bleare-ey'd may better see , then quicker cleare-ey'd , that a farre off bee . . to the honourable knight , sir perciuall willoughbie , who , to his great cost , and losse , aduentur'd in this action of newfound-land . wise men , wise sir , doe not the fire abhorre , for once being findg'd , more wary grow therefore . shall one disaster breed in you a terror ? with honest , meet , wise men mend your first error . if with such men you would begin againe , honor and profit you would quickly gaine . beleeue him , who with griefe hath seene your share , 't would doe you good , were such men planted there . . to my very good friend , mr. iohn poyntz , esquire , one of the planters of newfound-land in doctor vaughans plantation . 't is said , wise socrates look't like an asse ; yet he with wondrous sapience filled was ; so though our newfound-land look wild , saluage , she hath much wealth penn'd in her rustie cage . so haue i seene a leane-cheekes , bare , and ragged , who of his priuate thousands could haue bragged . indeed she now lookes rude , vntowardly ; she must be decked with neat husbandry . so haue i seene a plaine swarth , sluttish ione , looke pretty pert , and neat with good cloathes on . . to the right honorable knight , sir william alexander , principall , and prime planter in new-scotland : to whom the king hath giuen a royall gift to defray his great charges in that worthy busines . great alexander wept , and made sad mone , because there was but one world to be wonne . it ioyes my heart , when such wise men as you , conquer new worlds which that youth neuer knew . the king of kings assist , blesse you from heauen ; for our king hath you wise assistance giuen . wisely our king did aide on you bestow : wise are all kings who all their gifts giue so . 't is well giuen , that is giuen to such a one , for seruice done , or seruice to be done . by all that know you , 't is well vnderstood , you will dispend it for your countries good . old scotland you made happy by your birth . new-scotland you will make a happy earth . . to the same wise , learned , religious patriot , most excellent poet. you are a poet , better ther 's not any , you haue one super-vertue 'mongst your many ; i wish i were your equall in the one , and in the other your companion . with one i 'd giue you your deserued due , and with the other , serue and follow you . . to the right honourable , sir george caluert , knight , baron of baltamore , and lord of aualon in britaniola , who came ouer to see his land there , . great shebae's wise queene traueld farre to see , whether the truth did with report agree . you by report perswaded , laid out much , then wisely came to see , if it were such : you came , and saw , admir'd what you had seene , with like successe as the wise sheba queene . if euery sharer heere would take like paine , this land would soone be peopled to their gaine . . to the same right wise , and right worthy noble-man . this shall be said whil'st that the world doth stand , your honor 't was first honoured this land. . to the right worshipfull planters of bristoll-hope in the new kingdome of britaniola . when i to you your bristoll-hope commend , reck'ning your gaine , if you would thither send , what you can spare : you little credit me : the mischiefe is , you 'le not come here and see . here you would quickly see more then my selfe : then would you style it , bristols-hope of wealth . . to the right worshipfull william robinson of tinwell , in rutland shire esquire , come ouer to see newfound-land with my lord of baltamore . . strange , not to see stones here aboue the ground , large vntrencht bottomes vnder water drown'd . hills , and plaines full of trees , both small , and great , and dryer bottomes deepe of turfe , and peace . when england was vs'd for a fishing place , by coasters only , 't was in the same case , and so vnlouely't had continued still : had not our ancestors vs'd paines , and skill : how much bad ground with mattock and with spade , since we were borne , hath there beene good ground made ? you , and i rooted haue trees , brakes , and stone : both for succeeding good , and for our owne . . to the first planters of newfound-land . what ayme you at in your plantation ? sought you the honour of our nation ? or did you hope to raise your owne renowne ? or else to adde a kingdome to a crowne ? or christs true doctrine for to propagate ? or drawe saluages to a blessed state ? or our o're peopled kingdome to relieue ? or shew poore men where they may richly liue ? or poore mens children godly to maintaine ? or amy'd you at your owne sweete priuate gaine ? all these you had atchiu'd before this day , and all these you haue balk't by your delay . . to my reuerend kind friend , master erasmus sturton , preacher of the word of god , and parson of ferry land in the prouince of avalon in newfound-land . no man should be more welcome to this place , then such as you , angels of peace , and grace ; as you were sent here by the lords command , be you the blest apostle of this land ; to infidels doe you euangelize , making chose that are rude , sober and wise . i pray that lord that did you hither send , you may our cursings , swearing , * iouring mend . . to my very louing and discreet friend , master peter miller of bristoll . you askt me once , what here was our chiefe dish ? in winter , fowle , in summer choyce of fish. but wee should need good stomackes , you may thinke , to eate such kind of things which with you stinke , as rauens , crowes , kytes , otters , poxes , beares , dogs , cats , and soyles , eaglets , hawks , hounds , & hares : yet we haue partriges , and store of deare , and that ( i thinke ) with you is pretty cheere . yet let me tell you , sir , what i loue best , it s a poore-iohn * that 's cleane , and neatly drest : there 's not a meat found in the land , or seas , can stomacks better please , or lesse displease , it is a fish of profit , and of pleasure , i le write more of it , when i haue more leisure : there and much more are here the ancient store : since we came hither , we haue added more . . to some discreet people , who thinke any body good enough for a plantation . when you doe see an idle , lewd , young man , you say hee 's fit for our plantation . knowing your selfe to be rich , sober , wise , you set your owne worth at an higher price . i say , such men as you are , were more fit , and most conuenient for first peopling it : such men as you would quickly profit here : lewd , lazy lubbers , want wit , grace , and care . . to the famous , wise and learned sisters , the two vniuersities of england , oxford and cambridge . the ancient iewes did take a world of paine , and traueld farre some proselites to gaine : the busie pated iesuites in our dayes , to make some theirs , doe compasse land and seas : the mahumetan , heathen , moderne iew , doe daily striue to make some of their crue : yet to our shame we idly doe stand still , and suffer god , his number vp to fill . yee worthy sisters , raze this imputation , send forth your sonnes vnto our new plantation ; yet send such as are holy , wise ; and able , that may build christs church , as these doe build babel . if you exceed not these in * righteousnes , i need not tell your wisedomes the successe . . to answer a friend , who asked me , why i did not compose some encomiasticks , in praise of noble men and great courtiers , as my friend iohn owen hath done . i knew the court well in the old queenes dayes ; i then knew worthies worthy of great praise : but now i am there such a stranger growne , that none doe know me there , there i know none . those few i here obserue with commendation , are famous starres in our new constellation . the end of the second booke . the third booke of qvodlibets . iustice epigram . kings doe correct those that rebellious are , and their good subiects worthily preferre : iust epigrams reproue those that offend , and those that vertuous are , she doth commend . . to my delicate readers . when i doe read others neate , dainty lines , i almost doe despaire of my rude times : yet i haue fetch 't them farre , they cost me deare , deare and farre fetcht ( they say ) is ladies cheere . . to my zealous , and honest friend , master w. b. of bristoll . if thou canst not to thy preferrement come , to be christs red rose in best martyrdome ; with patience , faith , hope , loue , and constancie , a pure blest , white rose in christs garden dye . . gods loue : the deuils malice . he that made man , only desires mans heart : he that mard man , tempts man in euery part . . god rewards thankefull men . what part of the moon 's body doth reflect her borrowed beames , yeeldeth a faire prospect ; but that part of her , that doth not doe so , spotty , or darke , or not at all doth show : so what wee doe reflect on god the giuer , with thankefulnes : those graces shine for euer : but if his gifts thou challeng'st to be thine , they 'll neuer doe thee grace , nor make thee shine . . to a dissembling , sober , slye protestor . 't is so , or so , as i 'me an honest man , is thy assuring protestation , when it 's as true as thou art such a one . . dissemblers coozen themselues . whilst in this life dissemblers coozen some , themselues they coozen of the life to come . . on a wide-mouthed prating companion . he prates , and talkes , and railes , and no man heares . yet he hath mouth , to make a skore of eares . . latin prayers by number . christ spake no latin , though he could doe so , nor any of his twelue , for ought i know . why should you in that tongue pray by the skore ? it is the language of the mounted whore. somewhat more merrily ; here lies the iest : most of hers speake the language of her beast . in such hobgoblin words they sing , and pray , scaliger full-tongu'd knowes not what they say . . to the bishop of rome . of bishops i dare stile you principall , 't is antichristian to be generall . . a wife more deare then sweet . to a complementing kinde husband . come hither , deare wife , prethee sweet wife goe , sweet wife , doe this , or deare wife , pray' doe so . she 's deare indeed , but not so sweet , i trow . . plaisters for a gald-heart . on euery married man that hath a shrowe , ( as many a married man hath one , i trow ; ) these foure , poore , pittious plaisters i bestow , except their wiues death , the best helpe i know . or to thy friend reueale thy wofull plight ; or let her hot words thee inflame to fight ; or else withdraw thy selfe from her by flight ; or with thy patience all her wrongings flight . . a husbands desire to his wife . laugh with me , make me laugh , whilst i doe liue : when i dye , choose where thou'lt laugh or grieue . . to a weeping widdow . thy husband 's dead , and thou dost weepe therefore . no : 't is , cause thou canst make him weepe no more . . ill-fauoured huswifery . to one shrewdly married . though you fall out , yet you agree herein , when as thy wife doth wash , then doo'st thou wring . . to all chollericke people . shrewdnes is like vnto a grauesend toast , abhorred by those that doe vse it most . in vs we doe contentedly it beare , we cry , fought at it , finding it else-where . if shrewes say they cannot their choller smother , i say , for healths sake we must vent that other . 't is hugg'd at home , abroad , at home it is abhor'd , thence i conclude shrewdnes is like a t. . to those who i feare will find fault with this comparison . if you will say that this is odious , comparisons are so ; this should be thus . . reasons for the taking of tobacco . since most phisicions drinke tobacco still , and they of nature haue th' exactest skill , why should i thinke it for my body ill ? and since most preachers of our nation , tobacco drinke with moderation , why should i feare of prophanation ? yet if that i take it intemperately , my soule and body may be hurt thereby . . the fiue properties of good tobacco . tobacco to be good , it must be strong , cleare smoak't , white ashes , hard and lasting long . . a citty sheriffe . before , and after , sparing he doth liue , brauely he spends , when he is master shrieue . . si sennior : spaniard . signore si : italian . of spaniards and italians thus i find , as arsee-versee they auerre their mind . so one before , the other sins behind . . why astrea left the earth . on earth astrea held the ballance euen : but she long since with them is fled to heauen . why hath astrea bid this world adieu ? her lease was out , she would not buy a new . . on a priuate , rich , close-liuing churle , alluding to him in terence , who of himselfe sayes , populus me sibulat , &c. walking abroad like a great turkie-cocke , some fleere , some geere , eu'ry one doth me mocke : at home amongst my puddings and my eggs , i hugge my selfe , looking on my full bags , finding my selfe fortunes white sonne to be , i laugh at them , that euen now laugh't at me . . to the same fellow . thou ar● deceiu'd , selfe-flattering-golden asse , whil'st thou behold'st thy selfe in a false glasse . . to the pope . christ said vnto the people , reade and see the scriptures : for they testifie of me . wherefore didst thou thine reading them deny ? that thou art antichrist , they testifie ; . papisticall cruelty . were there no other argument but this , it proues our faith , then yours the better is . we are not cruell , bloody , enuious , ( though your late-lying legends slander vs ) we meekely seeke but your conuersion , weepe at your sought for execution : you bloody , slanderous , and inexorable at all times , euery where , where you are able ; witnes maries short raigne , french massacre , which in red letters , your lewd minds declare . our god , though iust , his mercy 's ouer all , a blood-sucker , satan was from his fall . . a prayer hereupon , to the god of iustice. when thou for blood mak'stinquisition , thinke on the bloody inquisition . . to our wise roman diuines . why enforce yee a blind obedience ? all else would see your glosses enforc't sence . . why the fiue-footed iämbicke fits best in our english verse . iäbicks in our language haue best grace : they with graue spondies dance a cinquepace : if wanton dactils doe skip in by chance , they well-neere marre the measure of the dance : to end a verse , she may a foot be lending , like to a round tricke at a galliards ending . . to the diuine soule of that excellent epigrammatist , master iohn owen . let thy celestiall manes pardon me , if like thy shaddow i haue followed thee . . why preachers stand , and auditors sit . to his louing friend , master robert burton . would'st know why preachers stand , and we doe sit ? because what they speake with , or without wit , not we , but they themselues must stand to it . . what prosperity cannot perswade , aduersity will enforce . he that in zeale is calme , in calmes at sea , in stormes if he haue zeale , in zeale , he 'le pray ; so though our zeale be cold whil'st fortune shines , 't will be more feruent in tempestuous times . . to a friend . shew such as mine to young-briske butterflyes , ( who haue as many hearts as they haue eyes , ) they 'll sweare to you , the best that e're they saw : behinde your backe , they are not worth a straw . this shuffling shewes , that in their puffe-paste wit , momus and guato doe at random sit . . talking beasts . when aesop said beasts spake ; aesop said true . i heard beasts speake within this day or two . . the gowte . 't is said , that rich men only haue the gowt , of that old-rusty-sad saw , i make doubt . indeed the gowt , the child is of rich men ; this froward elfe , poore men nurse now and then . . when i was of lincolns inne , the fashion was , ( and i thinke is still ) after dinner vpon grand and festiuall dayes , some young gentlemen of the house would take the best guest by the hand , and be the next , and so hand in hand they did solemnly passe about the fire , the whole company , each after other in order ; to euery staffe a song , ( which i could neuer sing ) the whole company did with a ioyn'd voyce sing this burthen : some mirth and solace now let vs make , to cheare our hearts , and sorrowes slake . vpon this kind of commencement of these reuels , i conceited this : when wise , rich lawyers dance about the fire , making graue needlesse mirth sorrowes to slacke . if clyents ( who doe them too dearely hire , who want their money , and their comfort lacke ) should for their solace , dance about the hall : i iudge their dance were more methodicall . . an old prouerb , though a strange one , truely exemplified . a prouerb 't is , how true i cannot tell , happy are those , whose fathers goe to hell , sure , some would thinke , their happinesse it were , if their close-fisted fathers in hell were , that they may of his wealth haue out their share . for whil'st they liue , but little they will spare . . to a namelesse one . thou marri'st one , whom thou before didst know : it is the fashion now to marry so . . the first arithmeticke . adam at first in number was but one ; vntill god added eue , he was alone : they were deuided , till the lord them ioynes , and bade them multiply out of their loynes : and so from them substracted are all nations , vnto these present generations . . the seeming good workes of vnbeleeuers . the glorious deeds of vnbeleeuing ones , are glittering cleare abominations ; so said st. hierom : and thus saith st paul , they 're shining brasse , and a tinkling cymball . for good workes without faith and louing feare , doe neither please gods eye , nor yet his eare . . heauenly , and earthly hearts . the earth is firme , the heauens mutable , yet heauenly mindes are firme , earthly vnstable . . to a superstitious papist , fearefull of purgatory , who to his cost desires to haue a quick dispatch from that fearefull place . with faith pray feruently , religious liue ; thou need'st no money , for an obit leaue , thy soule in purgatory to relieue . . to rich papists . if the popes sawes by his authority , were truer then christs written verity ; those rich men , asses were , that went to hell , if they within romes churches limits dwell : for though you ne'r so lewdly spend your breath , your coyne will buy you pardons after death . . an humble , contrite , and a double-deuided heart . gods fauour breaks forth on a broken heart : but in a parted one god hath no part . . a short dialogue betwixt two ancient philosophers , laughing democritus , and weeping heraclitus . heraclitus . vaine , foolish man , why dost thou alwaies laugh ? democritus . mans vanity , and foolish pride i scoffe , wherefore dost thou such a strange puling keepe ? heraclitus . for mans bad sinnes , sad miseries i weepe . . counsell to my young cousens , iohn and william barker , sonnes to my brother barker , and his now wife . abel and mathew rogers , sonnes to my brother barker , and his now wife . ill company is like infection , it soone taints a good disposition . take heed into what company yee fall : vice is a sicknes epidemicall . . to one , who on his gossips pratlings in a dangerous disease , thinks and hopes so much of his recouery , that hee neglects the consideration of his mortality . 'cause some haue scap'd that haue beene almost dead , thou think'st that thou may'st be recouered : but because many healthy men doe dye , i thinke on that , knowing that so may i. . to my reuerend sicke friend , w. g. of bristoll . when folke are sicke , we say , they are not well . my country phrase is , that they are not quiet . both of these phrases fit all those that mell with physicke doses , and prescribed dyet . the first of these two phrases fit sicke men : the last fits best women and children . . papisticall miracles . primitiue miracles were strange and true , and did confirme the doctrine then held new . yours falsely , faign'd , ridiculous , and bold , bolster new doctrines , contradict the old . your apparitions , new-faign'd miracles , doe ouerthrowe the ancient articles . . an aduertisement to all tradesmen , and may serue for souldiers , or any others subiect to casualtie . who doth refuse a reasonable proffer , had need to haue good fortune in his coffer . . to a card-cheater . to cut , and shuffle , in a horse is ill : to shuffle , and to cut , is thy prime skill . . to one that hath lost both his eares . some that haue two eares , heare not what we say : thou that hast not an eare , hear'st more then they . . whome discretion doth not , correction will keepe vnder . if head-strong iades will not gods bit obey , his rod will whippe their restines away . . ne quid nimis . a meditation of too much and too little winde at sea , wracking stormes , and staruing calmes . mans state on shore , is like mans state at sea ; too much , too little , causeth sad decay ; hence poets fained fortune heretofore sayling , one foote on sea , and one on shore . fearefull hell-fire . at sight of fire , bold lyons runne away bold sinners , who men fearing sinne , vpbray : the sight of hell-fire will these lads dismay . . to sir senix fornicator . winter hath seaz'd vpon thy beard , and head , yet for all this , thy wilde oates are not shed . me thinkes when hills are ouerspred with snow , it should not wantonly be hot below . but thou most like vnto a leeke dost seeme : for though thy head be white , thy tayle is green . . some standers by see more then gamsters . . some standers by leese more then gamsters . some wise by-standers more then gamesters sees ; some standers by more then wise gamesters leese . . to nobly descended recusants . 't is said , you came from noble ancestors , who did strange wonders in the old french warres , you say you are of their religion , and that it is the true and ancient one : it was your ancestors , for ought i know : but new , vntrue , gods old true word sayes so . . traditions and gods word . to papists . 'twixt your beliefe , and our religion , there hath beene long , and strong contention : you proue yours by mens word : but we abhorre it : our proofe is better , we haue gods word for it . . to one that askt me why i doe write so briefely . what i doe write of , i but only touch , who writes of many things cannot write much , or thus , who writes of many things , must needs write much . . to my kinde louing bedfellow , mr. edward payne , on the gift of a ring , wherein there was a poesie of patience . in your last gift you wish me patience . i know you meane it in the better sence ; not a sad , bad , stout patience , stoicall . but one that knowes , that god sends , and mends all . . wise mens ill successe , and fooles fortune . a paradox . as many wise men hurt themselues through wit , as there are sosts grow rich , for want of it . . to the pope . wherefore should'st thou blinde ignorance inhance ? ( on which all wiser times did looke ascance ? ) saying it doth deuotion much aduance ? all thy mysterious skill , is ignorance . . one of the popes titles is , seruant of seruants . seruant of seruants , popes themselues haue nam'd , by that stile cursed * canaan was defam'd . . all things are vendible at rome . in romes full shop are sold all kindes of ware , * mens soules purg'd , fyre-new , you may buy there . . to fault-finding more faulty zoilus . when others faults thou dost with spite reueale , the kettle twits the pot with his burnt taile . . to a hard-fauour'd rich widdow , who , because she hath many suitors , thinkes well of her selfe . we know thee rich , and thou think'st thy selfe fine : thou think'st we loue thee , we know we loue thine . . why physicians thriue not in bristoll . in bristoll water-tumblers get small wealth : there doctor good-wine keepes them all in health . . to my readers . an arsee-versee request , to my friend iohn owen . doe not with my leaues make thy backeside bright : rather with them doe thou tobacco light . i 'd rather haue them vp in flames to flye , then to be stiffled basely priuily . . health and wealth . health is a iewell , yet though shining wealth , can buy rich iewels , it cannot buy health . . to inuocators of saints . to saints you offer supplication , and say , gods face beholding , they them know . this is a strange bold speculation . whence came the doctor that first told you so ? in gods word wee doe read , that god sees all : of such a glasse no mention made at all . . to those papists , who shew their ignorant deuotion in their aue maries . how long shall ignorance lead you astray ? whil'st to our lady you 'd a prayer say , you her salute , and needlesse for her pray . . to one of the elders of the sanctified parlor of amsterdam . though thou maist call my merriments , my folly , they are my pills to purge my melancholly , they would purge thine too , wert not thou foole-holy . . great mens entertainement . though rich mens troubles , kindnes are esteem'd , yet poore mens kidnes , troubles are still deem'd . . to a bad-minded , cholericke , vngratefull man. thou soone forget'st those wrongs thou dost to men : all small wrongs done to thee thou dost remember ; euery good turne thou dost , thou count'st it ten : for good done to thee , thy record is slender . kindnes from thee , like vomits make thee sweate ; thou swallow'st others kindnes as thy meate . . to master fabian sanford , master of our shippe and voyage in newfound-land , and may serue for all masters trading there . men wearied are with labour other-where : but you are weary , when you want it here . and what in england would quite tire a horse , here the want of it , tyres you ten times worse . labour was first a curse to curbe mans pride ; the want of it , makes you to curse , chafe , chide . to see you worke thus , better would me please , did you not worke thus vpon sabbath dayes . . goodnes and greatnes . to my good and louing cousin , mistris thomasin spicer , wife to doctor richard spicer , physicion . goodnes and greatnes falling at debate , which should be highest in mens estimate ; after much strife , they vpon this did rest , great-goodnes and good-greatnes is the best . . mary magdalens teares . to my pretty neece , marie barker . to wash christs feet , maries bath was her teares , to wipe them drie , her towell was her haires : what her teares could not cleanse , nor haires makes dry , her corrall lips did wipe , and mundifie . she did anoynt him with a sweet , rich oyle , and spared for no cost , nor for no toyle : this storie merits to be registred , and to be practised as well as read . . to my neece and god-daughter , grace barkes . i promist , you should doe good , and fly ill , before that you had power , or will , or skill . lame nature i knew could not walke that pace , without gods grace : therefore i nam'd you grace . let mild grace so sway nature in you then , that you may obtaine grace with god and men. . to a namelesse , wise , modest , faire gentlewoman , my louing and kind friend , whom reciprocally i loue as hartily . iuno is wealth , pallas is vertue , wit , venus loue , beautie is in poets writ : pallas , and venus haue in you their treasure , why should hard iuno offer vs such measure ? . to our most royall queene mary , wife , daughter , and sister to three famous kings . venus , and pallas , at your birth conspir'd , to make a worke , of all to be admir'd : venus with admir'd feature did you grace , diuine complection , an angellike face . pallas inspir'd a quicke , sweet , nimble spirit , vertue , and wit , of admirable merit , but i admire them most , how they could place so much ; so admirable in so small space : and they themselues admir'd when they had ended , a piece which they knew could not be amended . . to the same most royall queene . when wise columbus offerd his new-land , to wise men , they him held , vaine , foolish , fond , yet a wise woman , of an happy wit , with god successe aduentur'd vpon it : then the wise-men their wisedomes did repent , and their heires since their follies doe lament . my new-land ( madam ) is already knowne , the way the ayre , the earth , all therein growne , it only wants a woman of your spirit , to mak 't a land fit for your heires t' inherit . sweet , dreaded queene , your helpe here will doe well : be here a famous second isabell. . a newfound-land poeticall picture , of the admirable exactly featur'd young gentlewoman , mistris anne lowe , eldest daughter to sir gabriel lowe , knight , my delicate mistris . the preface to her picture . at sight , loue drewe your picture on my heart , in newfound-land i limm'd it by my art. , the pourtraite . if paris vpon ida hill had seene you 'mongst the three , the apple yours had beene . * had curious zeuxis seene your-all-excelling , whilst iunoes picture he was pencelling ; you had him eas'd in his various collection : for beautie hath in you a full connection . . to the faire and vertuous gentlewoman , mistris mary winter , the younger , worthy of all loue . your budding beauty , wit , grace , modesty , i did admire , euen in your infancy , these blessed buds , each growne to a faire flowre , much haue i lou'd , since my first lawfull houre . whome few crosse-winters haue made old and sad , one such fayre winter would make young and glad . . to the same beauteous modest virgin , an aenigma . had not false shuffling fortune paltered , hymen had hyems long since altered . . to a faire modest creature , who deserues a worthy name , though she desires here to be namelesse . niggardly venus beauty doth impart to diuers diuersly , and but in part . to one a dainty eye , a cherry cheeke : to some , a tempting lip , brests white and sleeke : to diuers ill-shap'd bodies , a sweet face : cleane made legs , or a white hand , doth some grace , on thee more free her gifts she doth bestow ; for shee hath set thee out in folio . . to my outwardly faire , and inwardly vertuous kind friend , mistris marie rogers , widdow , since marryed to master iohn barker of bristoll , merchant , my kind and louing brother in law. lillies , and roses on your face are spred , yet trust not too much to your white and red : lillies will fade , roses their leaues will shed : these flowres may dye , long before you are dead . your inward beautie ( which all doe not see ) then white and red , and you , more lasting be . . to the faire , vertuous , wittie widdow , mistris sara smeyths . if it be true , ( as some doe know too well ; ) to louers heauen , we passe through louers hell : be confident , you shall enjoy earths glorie , for you on earth are past your purgatorie . . to my kind and worthy friend , mistris e. b. wife to captaine h. b. by my captaines leaue . your outward , and your inward graces moue my tongue to praise you , and my heart to loue . i hope , it will not god , nor man offend , if that in loue your vertues i commend : and by his leaue who is yours in possession , he loue , and praise your goodnes in reuersion . . to my perpetuall valentine , worthy mistris mary tayler , wife to master iohn tayler merchant of bristoll . my sweet discreet perpetuall valentine , in your faire brest vertue hath built a shrine , bedecking it with flowres , amongst the rest , mild bearing your not-bearing is not least . you know the worthy husband that you haue , is worth more children then some fondlings craue ; besides the blessed babes begot by good , more comforts bring then some of flesh and blood . kind valentine , still let our comfort be , children there are ynow for you and me . . to my best cousin , mistris elizabeth flea , wife to master thomas flea , of exeter merchant . if one were safely lodg'd at his long rest , i could wish you a flea in my warme nest . who writes this , loues yee both so well , he prayes , long may yee skip from death , like nimble fleas . . to the faire modest , mayd , pretty mrs. martha morris , and of her hansome sister , mistris marie philips , both of bristoll . though martha were with mary angrie for 't , yet christ told her , * she chose the better part . faire , chaste mayd martha , you haue chose the best : your sister mary , a life of lesse rest . . another to the same , being since married . but since i heare that you haue chang'd your state , i wish your choice may proue kind , fortunate , and that he may deserue you euery deale ; he well deserues , that doth deserue you well . . to the pretty , pert , forward greene , mistris l. b. nature tooke time your pretty parts to forme , she hastes her worke in you , since you were borne , your buds are forward , though your leaues are greene : i thinke you will be ripe at eleuenteene . . to the modest , and vertuous widdow , mistris elizabeth gye of bristoll , whose dead husband master philip gye , was sometimes gouernour of the plantation in newfound-land , where he , and she liued many yeeres happily and contentedly . though fortune presse you with too hard a hand , i heare , your heart is here , in newfound-land . . to a debausht vniuersity . a complaint against drunkennesse . thy sonnes ( most famous mother ) in old time , to quench their thirst , pernassus hill did clime . some of thy sonnes , now thinke that hill too steepe , their holliconian springs doe lye more deepe . their study now is , where there is good drinke , the spigot is their pen , strong beere their inke , i could with democrit ' laugh at this sinne , if it in any other place had bin : but in a place where all should be decent , a sinne so nastie , inconuenient , so beastly , so absurd , worthy disdaine , it straines me quite out of my merry straine . i could with heraclit ' lament , and cry , or write complaints with wofull ieremy : nay , much-much more , if that would expiate what 's past , or following follies extirpate . many rare wits hath it infatued , their climbing merits quite precipited , and hopes of ancient houses ruined . fooles and base sots this sinne hath made of them , that by sobriety had beene braue men : yea i doe know , many wise men there be , which for this dare not trust their sonnes with thee , fearing this cerberus , this dogge of hell , within whose ward all other follies dwell . i hope , thy sister better lookes to hers , indulgent elies are thy officers , if they will not assist my motion , to apply causticks , and no lotium ; deare mother , on my knees i beg this boone , afford this inconuenient vice no roome , but whip it in thy conuocation , or strip it of matriculation . . a short iigge after this long lachrymae pauin . as drunke as an old begger , once 't was said . as drunke as a young scholler , now we reade . . to the reuerend , learned , sober , and wise gouernours in this famous vniuersity . i heare , this sinne you will shut out of doore : it ioyes me so , that i can write no more . . that euery one may take his . to my worthy readers . faire , modest , learned , sober , wise , and wittie , praising i praise you , if those praises fit yee . . to my vnworthy reader . fond , wicked , misse-led , if thou guilty be , although i name thee not , yet i meane thee . the end of the third booke . the fovrth booke of qvodlibets . an vnfinisht booke . . to the reader . sermons and epigrams haue a like end , to improue , to reproue , and to amend : some passe without this vse , 'cause they are witty ; and so doe many sermons , more 's the pitty . . to the reader . of my small course , poore wares i cannot boast : owen and others haue the choyce ingrost : and if that i on trust haue ta'ne vp any ; owen hath done so too , and so haue many . . redargution or payd with his owne money . when pontius call'd his neighbour , cuckold asse , being mad to see him blinded , as he was , his wife him standing by , repli'd anon : fie , husband , fie , y' are such another man. nay , i doe know ( quoth pontius ) that there be nine more in towne , in as bad case as he . then you know ten , if you ( quoth she ) say true . fye , husband , fie , what an odde man are you ? . catholique , apostolique roman faith . to papists . if the word catholique yea truly straine , to neither of vs doth it appertaine . apostolique we dare our selues afford , and proue it by their practice , and their word . the now new roman faith yee stifly hold , and brag of it , as if it were the old . . to elder pelagians , more fine later papists and our refined arminians . though seu'rall wayes you one opinion twine , 'twixt your conceipts there 's but a little line : for all of you with free-grace are too bold , withgood workes laying on presumptuous hold . with your weake works , binding your boundlesse maker , without whome , none can be an vndertaker . whilst god tyes vs by faith to doe good deeds , you will tye god to you by your fond creeds . satan , that lowres at faithfull , fearefull workes , likes your good deed , because he knowes your querks . at weake , faith-propt , due works satan doth grieue : at tip-toe good works , he laughs in his sleeue . it 's god that giues vs grace , and makes vs able , hauing all done , we are vnprofitable . worke , and worke on with fond credulity , mercy with faith is our security . . a chronagram of the yeere wherein queene elizabeth dyed , and king iames came to the crowne of england : both of blessed memory . wee made a happie change this yeere . mdc iii. this yeere of grace , by gods especiall grace , when all our foes expected our disgrace , god crusht their malice , and allai'd our feare : we made a happy change this present yeere : a change we made , but yet no alteration ; of former happines a transmigration : two froward sisters long at enmity , became the birth-twinnes of virginity , from a chaste , vertuous , blessed barren wombe , from the ill-boding north , our spring did come ; whilst many wise foreseeing men did feare , who should with quietnes be the next heire , our feares , so sodainly to ioyes did passe , we cannot well tell in what yeere it was . this yeere our iust victorious warre did cease , and we enioy'd a sought-for proff'red peace . assoone as our wise debora was gont , god sent this land a peacefull salomon . our warlike pallas hauing rul'd her dayes , apollo came , adorn'd with learned bayes . lastly herein our chronogram doth hold , this yeere we chang'd our siluer into gold. siluer a female is , gold masculine : good god lengthen , strengthen this golden lyne . if any wise man iudge it otherwise , i may well iudge that wiseman ouerwise . . of the great and famous , euer to bee honoured knight , sir francis drake , and of my little-little selfe . the dragon , that our seas did raise his crest , and brought back heapes of gold vnto his nest , vnto his foes more terrible then thunder , glory of his age , after-ages wonder , excelling all those that excell'd before ; it 's fear'd we shall haue none such any more ; effecting all , he sole did vndertake , valiant , iust , wise , milde , honest , godly drake . this man when i was little , i did meete , as he was walking vp totnes long street , he ask'd me whose i was ? i answer'd him . he ask'd me if his good friend were within ? a faire red orange in his hand he had , he gaue it me , whereof i was right glad , takes and kist me , and prayes , god blesse my boy : which i record with comfort to this day . could he on me haue breathed with his breath , his gifts elias-like , after his death , then had i beene enabled for to doe many braue things i haue a heart vnto . i haue as great desire , as e're had hee to ioy ; annoy ; friends ; foes : but 't will not be . . to the right reuerend father in god , ioseph hall , by gods especiall prouidence , lord bishop of exceter . borne in a christian new plantation , these kneele to you for confirmation ; to you they come , that you might them adorne : their father in your diocesse was borne : . to the reuerend and diuinely witty , iohn dun , doctor in diuinity , deane of saint pauls , london . as my iohn owen seneca did praise , so might i for you a like piller raise , his epigrams did nothing want but verse ; you can yours ( if you list ) that way rehearse : his were neat , fine , diuine morality ; but yours , pure , faithfull , true diuinity . . aristotles ten predicaments , to be reduced into questions , is an excellent rule for examining any busines for matter of iustice . to the hopefull and right worthy young gentleman , thomas smith of long - ashton in the county of sommerset , esq. the thing , how much , conditions of the men , for what cause , what was done , who suffer'd then , where , when ; their postures , how clad , foule , or cleane . . their vse . who hath power of examinations , if he desire to finde out guilty ones , let him reduce these into questions . so if to finde out truth , be his intent , before that all these questions be spent , the guilty's brought in a predicament . . the cause of dedication . strange not , that i these lines to you haue sent ; i know , your worth will make you eminent . grace , wisedome , learning , vertue , you haue store ; were you not modest , i could say much more . . to the reuerend , learned , and iudicious , thomas worall , doctor in diuinity , and chapaline to the right reue. father in god , george , l. bishop of london . of my reprehending epigrams . it is for one of your gifts , and your place , to looke bold-staring-black sinne in the face , to wound , and launce with the two-edged blade , to clense , and heale those wounds that you haue made : yet suffer me , with my sharp-merry pinne , to prick the blisters of some itching sinne . and though diuines , iustly loose rymes condemne , my tart , smart , chiding lines doe not contemne . . to the reuerend , my worthy ingenious friend , mr. abel louering , one of the preachers of the word of god at bristoll . of my commending epigrams . those i commend , you would commend them too , if you did know them truely , as i doe . preachers like you , may praise men at their ends , laymen like me , may praise wise-liuing friends . . to a reuerend and witty friend . since few yeeres studying hath improu'd your wit , that for the place you hold , you are held fit , when you preach , you preach sweetly and compleat , and other things you doe , smooth , witty , neate . what place in church would you not fitly hallow ; if you your study soberly would follow ? . of epigrams . short epigrams rellish both sweet and sowre , like fritters of sowre apples , and sweet flowre . . to the wise and learned sir iohn stradling , knight baronet , the author of diuers diuine heroicall printed poems . robert fitz-heman drew your ancestor to wales , to be his fellow conqueror . and robert hayman would draw all your worth , if he true knowledge had , to lymme it forth . wise sir , i know you not , but by relation , sauing in this , which spreads your reputation : your high diuine sweet straines poeticall . which crownes , adornes your noble vertues all . therein to dight a full feast , you are able , whilst i fit fritters for apollo's table . . to master beniamin iohnson , witty epigrammatist , and most excellent poet. my epigrams come after yours in time ; so doe they in conceipt , in forme , in ryme ; my wit 's in fault , the fault is none of mine : for if my will could haue inspir'd my wit , there neuer had beene better verses writ , as good as yours , could i haue ruled it . . to one of my neate readers . thou say'st , my verses are rude , ragged , rough , not like some others rymes , smooth , dainty stuffe . epigrams are like satyres , rough without , like chessnuts , sweet , take thou the kernell out . satyres . . to the acute satyrist , master george wither . the efficient cause of satyres , are things bad , their matter , sharpe reproofes , instructions sad , their forme sowre , short , seuere , sharp , roughly clad : their end is that amendment may be had . . to the same mr. george wither , of his owne satyres . what cause you had , this veine too high to straine , i know not , but i know , it caus'd your paine ; which causeth others wisely to refraine : yet let some good cause draw you on againe . you strip and whip th' ill manners of the times so hansomely , that all delight your rymes . . to my right worthy friend , mr. michael drayton , whose vnwearied old muse still produceth new dainties . when i was young , i did delight your lines , i haue admyr'd them since my iudging times : your younger muse plai'd many a dainty fit , and your old muse doth hold out stoutly yet . though my old muse durst passe through frost and snow , in warres your * old muse dares her colours shew . . to my worthy and learned good friend , mr. iohn vicars , who hath translated part of mr. owens epigrams . who hath good words , and a warme brooding pate , shall easier hatch neate new things , then translate : he that translates , must walke as others please : writing our owne , we wander may at ease . . to my good friend , mr. t. b. vintner , at the signe of the sunne in milke-street . bacchus desiring an auspicious signe , vnder which he might sell his choysest wine , desiring much to choose one of the seuen celestiall planets , reel'd one night to heauen , he found old bent-brow'd saturne melancholly , ioue stern , mars stout , venus repleat with folly , sly mercury full of loquacity , and luna troubled with vnconstancy : disliking these , he middle sol espy'd , who vnto sober drinkers is a guide : he liking this , in * via lactea plaste it , and with his best wines , he hath e're since graste it , and finding you no brewer , as your due , he doth commit the charge thereof to you. . to a friend , who asked me why i doe not compose some particular epigrams to our most gracious king , as my friend iohn owen did to his famous father , king iames of blessed memorie . thou ask'st , why i doe not spinne out my wit , in silken threds , and fine , smooth , neat lines fit , in speciall epigrams to our wise king ? all these my selfe i dedicate to him . it s all too coorse , what my wit can weaue forth , to wrap the little finger of his worth . . sinnes short grammar . to my louiog cousin master iohn gunning the younger , of bristoll merchant . the grammar . sinnes easie grammar , our grandmother eue to her sinfull posteritie did leaue . sinnes part. in speach are eight parts , in sinne there are seuen , we may put satan in , to make them euen . satan a noune . satan , sins grandfather , stands as a noune , to all ill things giuing an ill renowne , inticing mildly ; roaring if withstood , being thereby felt , heard , and vnderstood . sloth , a pronounne . sloth is a pronoune : idle men in name are men , but otherwise a sencelesse shame . sloth is the deuils best sonne primitiue , and from him most sinnes doe themselues deriue . anger , a verbe . anger a verbe is ▪ for at euery word , his actiue and his passiue spleen is stir'd , in mood and tense declined is this sinne , moody it is , at all times full of spleen . couetousnesse , a participle . couetousnes may be sinnes participle , to helpe himselfe , from each one takes a little , with euery sinne he will participate , so he thereby may better his estate . pride , an aduerbe . pride is an aduerbe , if you 'll take his word , nor heauen , nor earth the like thing doth afford . in his conceit he is the thing alone , he holds himselfe beyond comparison . lust , a coniunction . lust is a lawlesse , lewde coniunction , for lust desires not to act sinne alone : so ioyning sinnes his sinfull dayes dost waste , vntill they joyne him with the deuill at last . enuie , a praeposition . enuie may be sinnes preposition , 'gainst things well compos'd shewing opposition . ablatiues , and accusatiues hee 'll chuse for he loues to detract , and to accuse . gluttony , an interiection . gluttony is an interiection , into his paunch all his delights are throwne . as nothing but good bits , can make him glad , so only want of them , can make him sad . sinnes declension . o god! in what bad case are we declin'd ? since thou in euery case our sinnes maist find , in nominatiue , by furious appellations , in genitiue , by spurious generations . in datiue by corrupting briberie . in the accusatiue , by calumnie . in vocatiue , by grudging , and exclayming . in ablatiue , by cooz'ning , rape , and stealing . number , and gender . singular sinnes , and plurall we commit , and we in euery gender varie it . number . our single sinnes are wicked cogitations , our plurall , ryots , combinations against thee , lord , and thy anointed ones . gender . our masculine , first sin's vxoriousnes , our feminine , to sin's sleights yeeldingnes , our neuter sinne , is cold neutralitie , common of two , too common venerie . thrice common we commit sinnes against three ; against our selues , our neighbours , against thee . doubtfull is our dissimulation . in all sinnes , hee s and shee s take delectation . the conclusion . thus we in sinne vse regularitie , whil'st wee with grace haue no congruitie . . to lashing , fault-finding zoilus . i know , thou wilt end , as thou hast begunne : put vp thy rod ( great whipper ) i haue done . . to the ineffable , indiuiduall , euer blessed trinity in vnity . to one in three , three in one be all praise , for planting in me , this small bud of bayes . the end of the authors quodlibets . at this time . to the reader , in stead of an epistle . if these faile in worth , blame me , but consider from whence they came ; from a place of no helps . if in printing , blame the printer , and mend it . i haue omitted many of mine owne and of the translatiōs . as thou likest those , thou maist haue the rest . farewell . certaine epigrams ovt of the first fovre bookes of the excellent epigrammatist , master iohn ovven : translated into english at harbor-grace in bristols-hope in britaniola , anciently called new-found-land : by r. h. pax ⁙ opvlentiam sapientia ⁙ pacem printer's or publisher's device fk at london imprinted for roger michell , and are to be sold at the signe of the buls head in pauls church-yard . . to the far admired , admirablly faire , vertuous , and witty beauties of england . it was , faire , vertuous , wittie , for your sake , that i this harder taske did vndertake . i grieu'd , such wit was out of your cōmand , lock'd in a tongue you did not vnderstand . to doe you seruice , not my selfe to please , did i at first aduenture vpon these . i thought to haue proceeded in this method , but the ragged , bashfull slut my muse ( hauing not seene your like before ) is amazed , and strucken dumbe at the sight of your excellencies : i must therefore take vp the speech for her , and as she hath heretofore twatled much for me , i must therefore entreat you in her behalfe . indeed i told her , she should finde you very louing and kinde , and should be admitted to kisse your whitest hands . she is a stranger , i humbly therefore pray you , to take her into your protection , kindly take her into your hands , and entertaine her courteously ; none can doe it better then your selues ; whilst you looke kindly vpon her , let her with admiration , and contentment gaze on your beauties : you may looke vpon her boldly with vnuailed countenances , you shall finde her euery where modest , either she hath vailde , or quite omitted what she feares might offend your chast eares , she hath taken paines to let you know what enuious mē haue too long kept from your knowledge . if she speake any thing against your sexe , it is but what malicious men sometimes mutter in an vnknowne language against your inferior frailties , and hath answered somewhat in your behalfe : you shall finde her no importunate companion , for you may begin with her when you please , and leaue her when you list : euery small parcell is an entire treatise , and depends vpon it selfe ; they may serue you for pastime , if you please , for vse , for embellishing in your discourse , as spangles in your attire : the translations were the better , if they are not made worse in the change . for our owne , they are the best we can at this time . the grace and loue i receiued sometime from one of your sexe , makes me confident of your gracious goodnesse : but my muse hath a little recouered her spirits , and requests me she may speake a little vnto you . your beauties , wonder and amazement bred in me , that still i am astonished : yet this request i pray doe not deny , giue me good words , for you haue more then i. in recompence one day i le sing a song of your rich worth with my laste buskins on . the admirer of your excellencies , the short-breath'd muse of robert hayman . a praemonition to all kinde of readers of these translations of iohn owens epigrams . as one into a spacious garden led , which is with rare , faire flowers well garnished , where argus may all his eyes satisfie ; centimanus all his hands occupy , he will chuse some fine flowers of the best , to make himselfe a poesie at the least : or he will , if such fauour may be found , intreate some slips , to set in his owne ground : so fares it with me , when in owens booke , at leasure times , with willing eyes i looke : i cannot chuse , but choose some of his flowers , and to translate them at my leisure howres . but as 't is not for this admitted man , manners at once to gather euery one , but mildly to cull a few at a time , i pray thee doe so too , kinde reader mine : for as a man may surfet on sweet meates : so thou maist ouer-read these quaint conceits . some at one time , some at another chuse ; as maidens doe their kissing confects vse . reade therefore these , his ; by translation , mine : as some eate cheese , a penny-waight at a time . an encomiastick distick on my right worthy avthor , iohn ovven . the best conceits owens conceits haue found , short , sharp , sweet , witty , vnforc'd , neate , profound . part of master iohn owens epigrams translated into english . the first booke . epig. . to the reader . thou that read'st these , if thou commend them all , thou 'st too much milk ; if none , thou 'st too much gall . to master iohn hoskins , of his booke . my booke the world is , verses are the men , you 'll finde as few good here , as amongst them . know thy selfe . nothing worth knowledge is in thee , i trow , seeke some-where else , some worthier thing to know . gilberts opinion , that the earth goes round , and that the heauens stand still . thou sai'st , the earth doth moue : that 's a strange tale , when thou didst write this , thou wert vnder sayle . physicions , and lawyers . our sicknesses breeds our physicions health , our folly makes wise lawyers with our wealth . o times , o manners ! scaliger did times computation mend : who , to correct ill manners doth intend ? or thus to scaliger . thou mended hast the bad score of old yeares : who dares take old bad manners by the eares ? to a poore , bare , beggerly , fie on such a physicion . thou wert a poore , bare , fye on such a one , but now thou art growne a physicion : thou giuest vs physicke , we with gold thee please : thou cur'st not ours ; but we cure thy disease . cold fire . if that loue be a fire ( as it is said ) how cold is thy loues fire , my pretty maide ? an impious atheists pastime . i ioy in present things , and present time : a time will come that will be none of mine : grammarians talke oftimes past and hereafter : i spend time present in pastime and laughter . an atheist's epitaph . he liu'd , as if he should not feele deaths paine , and died , as if he would not liue againe . married alanaes complaint . all day alana rayleth at wedlocke , and says , 't is an vntolerable yoake : at night being pleasd , shee altereth her rage , and sayes that marriage is the merriest age . a prophet and poet. of things to come these make true predication , these of things present make a false relation . free-will . free-will for which christs church is so diuided , though men it lose , wiues will not be deny'd it . new rhetoricke . good arguments without coyne will not stick to pay , and not say is best rhetorick . to an atheist . each house , thou seest here , some one doth possesse , yet thou dost thinke the great house masterlesse . a trade betwixt physicions and patients . physicions receiue gold , but giue none backe , physicke they 'll giue , but none of it they 'll take : their hands write our health bills , ours greaze their fist : thus one mans hand , another doth assist . iuris-prudentes , wise men of law. lawyers are rightly cald wise men of law , since to themselues , they wisely wealth doe draw . to the same purpose more largely thus . wise men of law , the latines lawyers stile , and so they are , fooles clyents are the while : lawyers are wise , we see , by their affaires , leauing so much land to their happy heires . to courtiers . if good thou be at court , thou may'st grow better , but i doe feare thou hardly wilt grow greater : if great thou be , greater thou may'st be made : but to grow better is no courtiers trade . a mortall conceit . to eternize thy fame , thou buildst a tombe , as if death could not eat vp such a roome . a comfort for baldnes . so young and bald , take comfort then in this , thy head will ne'r bee whiter then it is . on old alan . old alan ioynes his couch to his wiues bed , and thinkes himselfe thereby most sweetly laid . new-yeeres-gifts . some mens pride , some mens basenesse . olus giues not to rich , to receiue more ; to poore he cannot giue , 'cause he is poore : quintus for gaine giues gift with long low legs , and what he would haue giuen , by giuing begs . a caueat for cuckolds . when pontius wish'd all cuckolds in the sea , his wife replide : first learne to swimme , i pray . physicions and lawyers . physicions , lawyers , by one meanes doe thriue , for others harmes doe both of them relieue : by sicknesse one , the other by contention ; both promise helpe , both thriue by this pretention . the bald-pate . trees haue new leaues , in fields there growes new graine , but thy shed haires will neuer grow againe . gyants and dwarfes . gyants and dwarfes are men of differing grouth , dwarfes are shrunke men ; gyants are men stretcht forth . a sergeants case . to lawyers . if a man with a wench should make a match , and in stead of her should his owne wife catch : tell me if a childe borne by this deceit , be a base bastard , or legitimate ? a begging poet. i heare , thou in thy verses praysest me : it is because in mine i should praise thee . an old churle . what-euer of this friend i begge or borrow , he puts me off , and sayes , you shall to morrow : for this thy promise shall i fit thankes fit ? to morrow then , thee will i thanke for it . double dealing . wherefore loues venus , mars , vnlawfully ? vulcan is lame in lawfull venery . much haire , little wit. thy beard growes faire and large ; thy head grow's thinne ; thou hast a light head , and a heauy chinne . addition . hence 't is those light conceites thy head doth breed , from thy dull heauy mouth so slow proceed . a dead reckoning . what death is , thou dost often aske of me : come to me when i am dead , i 'll tell it thee . to selfe applying , and fault-finding zoilus . when i finde fault at faults , thou carp'st at me : it may be , therein thou think'st i meane thee : why should'st thou thinke i reproue thee alone ? finding fault with faults , i doe fault mine owne . to bald-pate . surely thy brow had some dimention , before thy haires were with a hoare-frost gone : thy haires are all like leaues fallen from a tree , that thy whole head a fore-head now may be : none know the length , bredth , depth of thy brow now , therefore there is no trust now to thy brow . plaine downe-right bald-pate . i cannot count my haires , they are so thicke growne , nor canst thou number thine , for thou hast none . fortunes apologie . to all , iust fortune deales an equall share , to poore men she giues hope , to rich men feare . the chyrurgion . whether for warre or peace should i desire ? i gaine by mars his sword , and venus fire . complainers and flatterers . old anaxagoras said , snow was black : our age such kinde of people doth not lack : the foxe said , that the rooke was white as snow : many such flattering foxes i doe know . a reasonable request . sweet , let thy soule be smooth as is thy skin : as thou art faire without , be so within . not seene , no sinne . thou think'st all sure , when none doe see thine ill , though with a witnesse , thou goest to it still . to a scalded leacher . though thou hast scap'd commuting , and the sheet , thy head-lesse thing hath had correction meete . to a minsing madam . thou art displeasd , and angerly dost looke , 'cause a mans thing thou find'st nam'd in my booke : for writing it , why dost thou chafe at me ? a man without it would more anger thee . saturnes three sonnes . doubtfull diuines , lawyers that wrangle most , nasty physicions , these three rule the rost . to his married friend . single and married liues . woe to th'alone saith married salomon : yet paul sayes , there 's no life like such a one : the married cry , woe vs : single , woo mee . woo mee , i 'll take : take thou , woe vs , to thee . addition out of his owne welsh annotation . and single woes better then double be . wine and women . since venery is vendible as wine , why hath not venus an inticing signe ? addition . they need no signe to hang ouer the doore , whil'st in it stands the foule bawd or fine whoore . rare sarah . a wife to yeeld her bed-right to her maid , of none but sarah could it e're be said . to d. t. thy masters master , pupils slaue the while , i doe both enuy , and lament thy stile . a waggs bolt . happy is he ( good sir ) that hath a care of others harmes , and hornes for to beware : a sonne so whisper'd in his fathers eare . an vxorious asse . quintus obserues his wiues words , nods , and hands , her words are lawes , and her requests commands : she drawes , she driues , she swayes her husband so , you cannot tell where she haue one or no : against all grammar rules , they lead their life , that you may say , his husband , and her wife . a wary wench that stood vpon her tearmes . vnfaithfull to her first mate , and her last , in the vacation shee liued wondrous chast . shame , and not sinne , made her forbeare the deed , she knew she had good ground , had shee good seed : though shee were hard beset both first and last , still out of terme her checker-doore was fast . addition . yet still when she of her terme-time was sure , some dayes before , she op'd her checker-doore . a doctor in promising , but a dunce in performing . much thou dost promise , nothing thou dost lend , like doctors that write , take , and nothing send . a pretty wench scuruily cunny-catcht . would the old spartan law were vp againe , that naked maides should marry naked men : i thought to haue cockt away my maiden-head , in naked truth , i did a capon wed . a forked probleme . since she defiled hath the marriage bed , why must he weare the hornes ? he is the head . verses giuen for a new-yeeres-gift , vnrewarded . giue some-what , or my verses backe to me : on that condition , i doe giue them thee . christs church colledge in oxford . though men looke sad at thy vnfinishing , which makes thee looke like to a ruin'd thing , thy quadrangle shewes what thou should'st haue binne . phillis loue. phillis sayes that shee 's rauisht with my verses : verses she loues well : better she loues tar — pastime . i spend my time in vaine and idle toyes , so fearing to lose time , my time i lose . short and sweet to the reader . brand not my breuity with ill beliefe , beleeue me , 't is my paine to be thus briefe : i speake not much , and fond , as many a one , if i speake foolishly , i soone haue done . a request to the reader . rather then my leaues should tabacco light , i pray thee with them make thy back-side bright . of his booke . what if my booke long before me should dye ? many a sonne doth so vnwillingly . what if he should liue some time after me ? all my braines children fraile and mortall be . part of master iohn owens epigrams translated into english . the second booke . epig. . though fooles are euery where , ( as there are many ) i cannot , nor i care not to please any : few readers i desire , and 't were but one , it should not trouble me , if there were none . to sir iohn harrington , most excellent poet. a poet meane i am ; yet of the troope though thou art not , yet better thou canst do 't . a court wit. at court , who cannot his wit nimbly fit , to fit each humour ; hath at court no wit. the spurre of knighthood . thou knighted art , to get thy wiues good will ; shee 'll loue her selfe the more , thee little still : she'ath cost thee much , but now shee 'll cost thee more ; shee 's dearer therefore to thee , then before . chymicks folly . th' vnskilfull chymick toyles , and boyles , and spoyles , to make a stone ; vnstones himselfe the whiles . a true troian . when all was lost , the trojans then grew wise : who is not a true trojan in this wise ? the remedy of loue. pray much , fast oft , flye women as the fire , thinke not on earthly things , but thinke on higher : if these worke not this , med'cine doth excell , the fire of marriage will lust-fire expell . london , anciently called troynouant . as from the old phoenix ashes anew springs : so from troyes ashes , london her birth brings . to master adam newton , tutor to king charles , when he was prince of wales . the hopefull'st prince that euer this land breed , is from thy learned mouth so discipleed , that times hereafter will be arguing , which he was ; greater , more learn'd , better king ? addition . to the same master newton , to whom for kindnesse receiued , i am further indebted . i know thou art as learn'd as arist'le , thy pupill will his farre surpasse in battle , in goodnesse , good iosiah , dauid rather ; in learning tresmegist , or his owne * father . sir francis drake . drake like a dragon through the world did flie , and euery coast thereof he did descrie : should enuious men be dumbe , the spheares will shew , and the two poles , his iourneys which they saw : beyond cades pillers farre , fame steerd his way ; great hercules on shore , but drake by sea. the diuine . though thou know much , thy knowledge is but lost , vnlesse that other men know what thou know'st . the politician . though thou know much , thy knowledge is but lost , if any other man know what thou know'st . women would haue their will. a papist maid marrying a lutheran ; two sects much diff'ring in opinion , she said , sweet heart , be not vnkind to me ; all shall be well , for i 'le be kind to thee : let me of my old faith hold but free will ; in other points i shall your mind fulfill . an english wife . let me set alwayes vppermost at boord , the vppermost in bed i 'le you affoord : thus wee 'll deuide our rule ; i rule all day , all night , kind husband , you shall ouer-sway . a prating companion . thou still ask'st leaue , that still thy tongue may walke : thou need'st no leaue , if thou would'st leaue to talke . the order of the golden fleece . philip of burgundy did first ordaine the order of the golden fleece of spaine , he prophised , when he this order made : for his heires since haue got the golden trade . to mistris iane owen , a very learned woman . of thy fiue sisters , iane , i know but thee , i onely haue heard what their number bee : i cannot one of them by their names call ; yet if they be like thee , i know them all . addition . faire , modest , learned , wise , beyond my prayse : happy is he shall marry one of these . to one like neither of his parents . why art thou so vnlike either of those who thee begot , with a ioynt willing close ? whilst each did striue hard , who should forme thee most , ill-fauouredly their fauours thou hast lost . two gallants that went to venice vpon returne . towards faire venice both of yee are gone , at your returne , to receiue foure for one : and now you are return'd to your owne coast , your friends welcome you home vnto their cost . to a drunken rimer . thou drink'st , and think'st , drinke makes a man a poet , thou think'st , and drink'st , thou art one by that diet . adde but two letters vnto versifier , and then thou art a drunken vers-defiler . more epistle then gospell . full often thy epistles i receiue , thou seldome writest gospell , i perceiue . naked loue. natures preserue , from cold as with a freeze , the ground with grasse and corne , with barke green trees , with feathers , birds ; and beasts , with wooll , and haire : where nature wants , art couering doth prepare . why then loues loue her naked to vnfold ? the nakeder she is , she 's the lesse cold . the exchequer . collected coyne into the exchequer flowes ; as fresh streames daily to the salt sea goes : from thence coyne is disperst by secret veines , as through the earth the sea refils vp streames ; yet neuer will this sea be satisfide , these riuers by their tribute neuer dride . this worlds wisdome . who 's rich ? the wise . who 's poore ? the foolish man. if i were wise , i should haue riches than . who 's wise ? the rich . and who 's a foole ? the poore . if i were rich , i should be wise therefore . to play and study together . when i handle a graue and serious thing , lightly , and slightly , i play studying : when i light and slight triuiall matters way , too seriously i study in my play . to fault-finding and enuious zoilus . praises are praised , louers loued are : if thou commend vs , we will speake thee faire ; loue vs hereafter , we will for thee care . the couetous man. thy gold is lockt vp in thy iron chest : thy loue is blockt vp in thy iron brest . the plague in england , . this hungry leane plague did so many eate , that we shall hardly finde a new plague meate . to a very faire woman . if that thou wert as rich as thou art faire , then no one liuing could with thee compare . if thou hadst liu'd in time of trojan warres , for thee more iustly had been all those iarres . addition on my author . rare , faire was she to whom he this affords , or he disposed to giue her faire words . a phantasticall courtier . of wise men thou art thought a foolish elfe : fooles thinke thee wise : what think'st thou of thy selfe ? a hansome whore. would ' thou wert not so faire , or better giuen : then a faire whore there 's nought worse vnder heau'n . to bald-pate . thou hast lost all thy haire vpon thy pate , thy faithlesse forhead is in the same state , before , behinde , all thy haires being fled ; what hast thou bald-pate for to lose ? thy head . nolens volens . claudius might soone be honest , if he would : lynus would be vnhonest , if he could . on a couetous gowty-fist . if thou a gift giu'st to this clung-fist man , hee 'l finde a hundred hands , though he haue none : but if thou for thy gift , a gift do'st craue , no hand he hath , though hundred hands he haue . kings misery . whil'st some dares not tell him the truth of things . and those that may , nought but placebo sings , how miserable is the state of kings ? might and right . might ouercomes right , and right masters might , yet change one letter , right makes might , might , right . on a scalded ill-fauored knaue . in a knowne part , hot venus branded thee , that thou some where might'st in her liuery heel . to adr. v. thy laughing epigrams ridiculous , make vs not smile , but laughter cause in vs. they haue no iests : the reader laughs at that , because ther 's nothing worth the laughing at . sir francis drakes epitaph . if romish bloody superstition should for our sinnes into our land returne , and that they should vse their vile fashion , their aduersaries bodies for to burne ; braue drake , thy body in the sea lies free from their bold , beastly , bloody cruelty : addition , alluding to the legend of the floating lady of loretto . except some loret miracle doe float thee . of virgils georgicks . thy verses , maro , husbandry expresse , thou dost thy readers grounds and his wit dresse . to poet persius . persius , when i sometimes thy verses touch , thy sence i see not , thy darke lines are such , thou dost neglect thy reader too-too much . to poet martiall . thou iest'st at things , yet men thou dost not wrong , no gall , much honey flowes from thy salt tongue . to excellent poet petrack of his laura . as often as thy laura shall be read , amongst thy readers 't will be questioned , whether thy laura , lawrell doth deserue better then thou , that didst her so well serue . on his owne epigrams to samuel daniel , most witty poet. 't is not strange , if my epigrams be meane , i doe not bite my nailes , nor beate my braine . hunger makes meate taste sweetest . if with much pleasure thou would'st eate thy meate , be hungry then , before the meate thou eate . satyrs and epigrams . satyrs are epigrams ; but larger drouen , epigrams satyrs are , but closer wouen : an epigram must be satyricall , a satyr must be epigrammicall . deafe and blind . deafe men looke wilde : blind men thrust out their eare : blind with eares see : deafe with their eyes doe heare . sunday . sunday i 'le call that day , spite of precise , in which the glorious sonne of god did rise . fashions in clothes . old out-worne fashions young mens fashion growes : and old men weare late strange new fashion clothes . the commodity of a silly sheepe . if leather , flesh , milke , compost , dice , or cords , or wooll you want ; all this a sheepe affords . an egge , which though it be mine owne , i 'le adde to this , because it goes to the same tune . if flesh , or skinne , or bones , feathers , or strings , or blood you want ; all this one round egge brings . to mine author , a little to be merry with him . when i did write this , i did thinke vpon the egge , sup't vp by thine owne countryman . parret , and prater . parret and prater , iumpe iust in their names , one to the other are right anagrams . satyrs and good lawes haue one originall cause . good lawes and satyrs from one cause proceed ; wicked behauiour both of them doth breed . addition . these ends are alike . tart , byting satyrs haue the selfe-same end , that good lawes haue , bad manners to amend . a merchants account . or rich , or poore , account my selfe i may , whilst with my goods i trust the bankrout sea. lust. in the darke , foule sluts are esteemed faire : blind lust is cause thereof , not the darke ayre . eccho . caruing , nor painting , cannot expresse words ; yet prating eccho that quaint-art affords . looking-glasse . to expresse motion , painting is nought worth ; my looking-glasse can liuely set it forth . eccho , and looking-glasse . nothing of man but voyce eccho affords ; my looking-glasse wants nothing else but words . a good chapman . i gaue thee three books , three pounds thou gau'st me ; no man hath bought my books as deare as thee . to the blessed memory of king iames , the happy vniter of this so long-diuided iland of great brittaine . great brittaine seuer'd from the world by sea , was in it selfe diuided many a day , in many kingdomes , and in many parts , which did diuide her people , and their harts : vnhappy then was parted albion , happy in thee , for in thee all-be-on . addition to king iames. oft haue i wish'd ( o pardon my wishing ▪ ) that thou hadst stil'd thy selfe all-be-ons king. part of master iohn owens epigrams translated into english . the third booke . epig. . the happy virgin-issue of blessed queene elizabeth . scotland with england was twinn'd happily , in the blest birth of thy virginity : to vnite , is more blessed then to breed , from thy not-bearing this birth did proceed . to the vertuous lady , mary neuil , daughter to the earle of dorset , his worthy patronesse . thy glasse presents thee faire , fame chast thee stiles : neither thy glasse nor fame doe lye the whiles . loud-wide-mouth'd fame swifter then eagles wing , dares not report against thee any thing . to the same right worthy lady , of her little daughter , cicill . to limme soules beauty , painting is nought-worth : this pretty image liuely sets thine forth . to the white-handed reader . my good excell : my bad ones well may passe : such grace ( white reader ) thy kind iudgement has . to the black-mouth'd reader . my meane are nought , my bad intolerable : thy enuy doth ( black reader ) them disable . diues and lazarus . the rich man hath in gods booke but his shame : poore lazarus in gods booke hath his name . the spirit and flesh. the spirit this , the flesh drawes me that way : caesar and ioue in me beare seuerall sway : if there were once a good peace 'twixt these two , in earth there would not be so much adoe . gods sight , and mans ouer-sight . men few things see , god all things doth fore-see : god seldome speakes , but men still prating bee . the broad and narrow way . heau'ns way is narrow : but heau'ns roomes are broad ▪ hells way is large : but narrow his aboade . who goes not the straite way to the broad place , the broad will bring him in a narrow case . a catechisme . we must beleeue twelue , and we must do ten , and pray for seuen ; if we 'll be godly men . rich mens repentance . why are so many rich men to hell sent ? they repent nothing but their mony spent . wisedome , iustice , and fortitude . he 's wise , who knowes much : iust , who iust doth deale : he valiant is , who knowes , and dares doe well . to camber-brittone . wales , scotland , england , now are ioynd in one : henceforth wales is not brittany alone . christ iesus god and man. because the purer god-head could not dye , nor could the impure man-hood satisfie : therefore our wise god suffered bodily . adams fall was our thrall . since our first parent , father adams fall , our bodies goods , and soules are thus in thrall : diuines haue got the sway ouer our soules , physicions , bodies , lawyers goods controwle . a good preacher . the mornings trusty herauld chantecleare , before he tells vs that the day is neere , russels himselfe , stretching forth euery wing , and then his good newes lowdly he doth sing : so a good preacher shoud rouze himselfe then , when he intends to stirre vp other men . niggard and prodigall . niggards nothing will giue , whil'st they haue breath : vnthrifts haue nothing to giue after death . old criticks . new phantasticks . his enuy is too grosse , who likes no new diuice : and he that likes nothing but new , his enuy is too nice . a christians death . as in a way death doth vs to life bring : death 's no enterring , but an entering . holinesse is better then learning . to reade saints liues , and not liue like them holy , doth not respect , but doth neglect them wholly . an atheists godlinesse . thou hast no faith on any thing that 's past , nor dost thou hope on any thing at last , but on the present all thy loue is plast . the diuers effects of praise . praise doth improue the good man , hurts the bad , infatuates fooles , makes wise the crafty lad. the enuious and the foolish man. the foole wants wit , the enuious a good mind , whil'st this sees not , the other will be blind . diuine vertue . vertue an act is , not an idle breath , in workes , not words , are found loue , hope , and faith ▪ young dayes . then now time was , when first of all time was , when the new world was fram'd out of the masse , now tell me , reader , of antiquities , are these the elder or the newer dayes ? desire , and haue . would'st thou doe good ? continue thy good will , he that gaue thee desire , will giue thee skill . good men are better then wise men . wise men are wiser then good men . what then ? 't is better to be better then wise men . much preaching . to preachers . 't is signe of much ill , where much preaching needs , for what needs preaching , where you see good deeds ? a reply to mine author . yes , preaching may doe good , where goodnesse growes , t' incourage , to confirme , to comfort those . eloquence . not he that prates , and takes a foule great deale . is eloquent : but hee that talketh well : as that is not good ground that ranke weeds beares , but that which breeds good grasse ; or great full eares . loue comes by seeing : faith comes by hearing . to princes . now out alas ! zeale , and the ancient faith you doe pretend , and warme her with your breath : religion you pretend t' increase your honour , not to restore religions honour on her . o times , o manners ! with our faults we doe times and manners blame , accusing times and manners with the same : neither in times nor manners is the crime , by times we are not viced , but in time . knowledge-hunters . philosophers of our time . most would know all , little beleeue , but such doe know but little , and beleeue too much . more zeale then godlinesse . diuines striue , and their case is in the iudge : would god till he did bid , they would not budge : diuines striue , and who 's iudge , they do contend . would god that that were all they did pretend , that strife of loue were their intention , not loue of strife , and of contention . a quiet and a temperate life frees a man from lawyers and physicions . if men would temperate be in thought and dyet , eating that's good , and keeping themselues quiet : if men would patient be , and not be stird , with couetice , and euery testy word : those that now pleade in gownes , might then part lice , and veluet caps goe poyson rats and mice . the vicissitude of marriage . one bed can hold a louing man and wife : a great house cannot hold them being at strife . death sudden and sure . death hath his day , which he will not for-slow : to morrow is that day , for ought we know . a prayer . good god that dost all wills to thy will tye : giue me a will to liue , a will to dye . good counsell without a fee. if that the iudge be deafe , then heare thou mee , good counsell i 'll thee giue without a fee : study thy iudge more then thou dost thy case , so in that case thou shalt haue no disgrace . to a belly-god . fasting was first ordained as a rod , to awe flesh to the spirit , the spirit to god : but fasting-dayes most of thy feast dayes be , thy spirit serues thy flesh , both of them thee . it is no marueile that we haue no miracles . is gods arme short , that miracles are gone ? no : our short-arm'd faith now can reach vs none . griefe and pleasure . bodies and soule-griefes vex , till they are past , griefes vex vs first , they comfort vs at last : but present pleasures please , though bought with paine : their present pleasures future sorrowes gaine . an argument against sleeping . if dying sleeping , be sleeping to die : why , then the more i sleepe , the lesse liue i. contrary to the prayer of the apostles , luk. . . the multiplicitie of beliefes in our dayes , doth rather require this prayer . decrease our faiths , lord , 't is increast too farre : as many men , so many faithes there are ; and each one dotes on his fond misteres , neuer more faiths , nor more vnfaithfulnes . vanity of vanities . heraclitus , that shed so much salt brine , for those few small ills of his better time : if hee did see , and know the best of our , hee 'd weepe out both his eyes in halfe an houre . and did democritus laugh out his life in his dayes , when folly was not so rise ? if he dip see those parts that we doe play , hee 'd laugh out all his spleene in halfe a day . works consequence . their workes doe follow them , that still doe well : those that doe ill , follow their works to hell. feare begets zeale . we shall desire heauen , if we feare hell fire : cold feare of hell , inflames heauens hot desire . owens bracelet . our senses without reason , are nought worth ; nor reason , vnlesse faith doe set it forth : neither is faith without loue to be deem'd ; nor is loue without god to be esteem'd . wisdome and valour . wise men feare harmes , but valiant men do beare them : so wise men beare them not , nor braue men feare them . in the sweat of thy browes . our blessed god , that bade vs for to get our daily maintnance , by our daily swet ; did neuer promise vs , without our paine , we should our euerlasting maint'nance gaine . retaliation . to an ignoble nobleman . thy ancestors did many glorious acts ; but thou ne'r read'st the record of their facts : iustice 't will be in those , who thee succeeds , if they reade not thy vile ignoble deeds . iohn against all . though all men argue 'gainst thee in the right , thou hast one answer for them ; i deny it . iustification . doth faith or good works iustifie the iust ? neither , except god iustifie them first . . a strange wish . to a poore friend . 't is bad enough ; yet worser god thee send : for when 't is at the worst , then it will mend . the earths division . cosmographers the earth in foure parts share . as many parts , so many creeds there are . addition . asia , affrick , america , europe . iewish , mametan , pagan , christian hope . . the cause of quarrels . all sauour their owne sense , their reasons sway ; all will haue their owne will , and their owne way : this is the cause of quarrels , and debate ; for if will would be still , we should not hate . a wise man. who knowes the cause of things , can temporize , rule passions , order actions ; he is wise . wisdomes souerainty . fate gouernes fooles , wise men o're-rule the starrs : not fate , but their pate orders their affaires . a chrisoms epitaph . aske not the name of him that here doth lye ; namelesse , and blamelesse , i poore child did dye : without a name , o christ , i am ingrau'd , that onely in thy name i might be sau'd . socrates knowledge . nothing thou know'st , yet that thing thou dost know ; thou know'st some thing , and that 's nothing i trow this something 's nothing , nothing's something tho . a generall epitaph . thou wert borne with not one ragge on thy back ; when thou went'st hence , a sheet thou didst not lack : therefore thou carriedst more vnto thy mother , then thou didst bring with thee , when thou cam'st hither . the two eyes of the world . law and religion doe herein agree ; good and bad minds and hands ; they tye and free . death , better then life . wee cry , being borne : from thence thus argue i , if to be borne be bad , t is good to dye . to doctor iohn gifford , a learned physicion . in physicke still thou art exactly seene ; thy selfe thou know'st both without , and within : whilst gallen shewes thee rules for others health apollo teacheth thee to know thy selfe . saint pauls in london , and saint peters in westminster . saint peters church is by the exchequor plac'd . hard by white-hall with the kings presence grac'd : but by saint pauls learned diuines doe preach , and there are sold those bookes which learning teach . they 're fitly plac'd , pauls here , saint peters there ; peter the richer , paul the learneder . miserable iob. god gaue the deuill leaue to spoyle iobs wealth , to kill his children , and impaire his health : his friends vpbray'd him with his wretched life , yet had he one worse plague ; he had a wife . on those traytors , who the fift of nouember , . intended to blow vp the parliament house with gunpowder . these ▪ like the old fain'd gyant-generation , would pluck the gods out of their habitation , with raising pelion vpon ossa hill . and babel towre build with a strange new skill , burne troy to ashes , and her peace disquiet , and bring all things vnto a second fiat . addition . on this neuer the like heard of treason , and neuer to be forgotten deliuerance . ne'r did the like report sound in mans eare : god blest vs , that that sound wee did not heare . . to the reader . to those gunpowder traytors , who on a tuesday intended to blow vp the parliament house . traytors , would you with fire new-troy destroy , 'cause trayterous greekes with fire destroyd old troy ? tuesday is mars his day , the god of warre , a day fit for a plot of gunpowder . . to the reader . thou that readst these , shalt find them shor and few , were these few many , they would larger grow . thou that read'st these , shalt find them few , and short : were these few long , they 'd be the larger for 't . voice and writing . though voice be liuing , writing a lead better , yet voice soone dyes , writing liues long and etter . part of master iohn owens epigrams translated into english . the fovrth booke , which he call his sole booke . epig. . to his booke . thou now must passe euen through a world of hands , thy censure vnder diuers iudgements stands : who doth not reade thee , may thee discommend ; more fault-finders then readers thou wilt find . to the inhabitants of great brittaine . as bad , as mad , we well that man may hold , who doth despise needfull free-proferd gold : he worthy were to weare a bedlam fetter ; you did despise the vnion that was better . the three dimensions to a prating iack. in thy talke are but two dimensions found ; 't is large , 't is long , but not at all profound ; to a great courtier . if the king smile on thee , all will doe so ; as shaddows doe after our bodies goe : if the king frowne , all the court will looke black ; as when the sunne is set , we shaddows iack. baldnesse through vice. though not one haire can on thy head be seene : on that white table all may reade thy sinne . to pontilian . calls he thee into law , pontilian ? he calls not thee , he calls thy mony , man. addition . he hopes to worke on thee by bribery , by thy feare , comprimise , or forgery . enuies genealogie . to the admirably-vertuous , sir iohn harrington , then heire to the lord harrington . faire vertue , foule-mouth'd enuie breeds , and feeds ; from vertue onely this foule vice proceeds : wonder not that i this to you indite : 'gainst your rare vertues , enuie bends her spite . a rich promiser , but a poore performer . we should performe more , then we promise can ; for god hath giuen one tongue , two hands to man : nothing thou giu'st , yet grantest each demand , as if thou hadst two tongues , but not a hand . euery man flatters himselfe . of all the planets betwixt vs and heau'n , the moone , though least , seemes greatest of the seu'n : to best conceits that other wayes doe know , because she 's neerest vs , she seemeth so . so though i am a poet small , and bad ; to my neere selfe , i seeme the finest lad. thy shaddow in thy looking-glasse . when thou dost laugh , thy shaddow seemes to smile ; whilst thou dost weepe , he mourneth all the while : sleeping he winks , all postures hee 'l afford ; yet when thou speak'st , he speaketh not a word . to a sleeping talker . in sleepe thou speak'st vnfore-thought mysteries , and vtt'rest vnfore-seene things with clos'd eies : how well would'st thou discourse , if thou wert dead , since sleepe , deaths image , such fine talke hath bred ? mans misery . angels want bodies , and are neuer sick ; beasts wanting soules , their conscience neuer prick : onely poore man , of soule and body made , their bodies paines ; sadnesse their soules inuade : reason that should rule passion , is not able ; she only shewes men they are miserable . to an vnmarried friend . good doers deserue heau'n after this life : thou hast thy deseru'd heau'n , thou hast no wife . woe to the alone . to a married friend , proposing god for an example . god made him angels to attend his throne : and why ? because god would not liue alone . addition . hauing made man , makes woman of his bone : and why ? because man should not liue alone . an atheists inheritance . when any man of heau'n doth talke to thee ; thou say'st , they vaine , and idle prattlers be : what 's aboue vs , to vs doth not belong , hell is below thee to burne such a tongue . to the readers . dost thou aske me , why i take so much paine , to be thus briefe ? reader , 't is for thy gaine . as trauellers find gold lesse cumbersome then siluer , such is breuity to some . the new roman computation . rome that sayes , she holds all points without change ; why doth she old feast , from the old ranke range ? to an enuious momus , who found fault with his three first bookes . had fiue iust men amongst a wicked brood been found , gomorah to this day had stood : for a few bad , loose verses thou findst heere , my whole booke thou ( black reader ) wouldst casheere . the poore cuckolds complaint . for my wiues close-stolne sports , why am i blam'd ? and of the common vulgar , cuckold nam'd , and pointed at ? for what i did not act , but you , i know not who ; call 't not my fact . cardinall wolseys ego & rex mens : i and my king. grammarians will allow i , and my king : the courtier say's , it was a saucy thing : grammarians teach words ; courtiers words well sort : this phrase might passe in schooles , but not at court. deaths trouer . death finds some , as vlysses found his wife , with care and sorrow spinning out her life . addition . to her , vlysses was a welcome guest , to some as welcome is deaths sad arrest . a bad debtor . i know , thou tak'st great care both night and day , not how thou mayst , but how thou mayst not pay : thou payst me nothing , that 's thy wickednesse : but payst thy lawyer , that 's thy foolishnesse . the deriuatiue church . there is but one true church , as one true faith , which from th' eternall spirit hath her breath : from primitiue all would themselues deriue , to proue it , they strange arguments contriue . the good of want . if how good things are , by want best are knowne , i should know mony 's good , for i haue none . democrates many worlds . if all those worlds were , those innumerable , which fond democrates did earst belieue : i doe beleeue , that amongst all that rabble , this world would be the worst wherein we liue . of epigrams . an epigram that 's new , quick , tart , sharp , witty , is like a wench that 's new , faire , smooth , neate , pretty : whilst they are new and fresh , they are respected : once commnon ( though still good ) they are neglected . a couetous mans bounty : or a sure marke-man . he giues to take , takes not to giue againe : giuing his arrowes are , his marke is gaine . penelope's patience . penelope's patient fidelity was once a prouerbe , now a prodigy . to anetta . nature ( 't is said ) with little is content : that saying of thy nature is not ment . to an one-eyed souldier . of thy two eyes , thou now hast left but one , which by his moistnesse alway seemes to mone : one eye being lost , why alway weeps the other ? because that in the warres he lost his brother . why there is no peace in europe . princes make warre , and soone their warres doe cease , oft times they warre to haue the better peace : diuines striue , and with venome fill their veines , with gall their stomackes , and with spite their braines : longer and worse they warre with quills and words , then princes vse to doe with fire and swords . an antidote , lest women should be proud . when thou thy faire face see'st in thy fine glasse , be not puft vp , because it beauty has : brittle and fraile is thy faire , fine , neate feature : how like thy fine glasse art thou pretty creature ? natures horizon . two elements we see not , fire and aire ; water and earth wee see , 'cause they are neere : so wee know men and beasts that are below ; high angels , highest god , we doe not know . an ambo dexter . a fencer with a two-hand scabberd . if pompey ouercome , i am his man : if caesar winne , i 'm a caesarian . a kings behauiour . to king iames. all subiects in their manners follow kings , what they doe ; bids : forbearing , forbids things : a kings behauiour swayes his subiects lyues : as the first moouer all the fixt starres driues . the head is worth all the body besides . to king iames. reason and senses in the head resides : nothing in man worth any thing besides . kings feare death . what kings feare most , what men feare them to tell : fame boldly tells them , and the passing bell. a losing gaine . adam did lose a rib , to get a wife . poore gaine ! by her he lost eternall life . head tyres . huge , high-topt-wyres and tyres with toyes bespred , doe rather build , then beautifie the head . the east and westerne churches . the right hand faith is in the worlds left coast : the right hand of the world hath left faith most . to his reader . thirsty those are that doe eat salt meats first , would my salt lines might cause in thee such thirst . how to rule a wife . who begs not , nor commands what he would haue : his wife is not his mistresse , nor his slaue . addition . a probleme . yet some are so ill-natur'd , or ill bred , with whom request commands ; threats haue ill sped : what bit is fit for beasts that so take head ? to anabaptists and such kind of mealy brethren . you build no churches , churches you destroy : this zeale doth not heale , but christs church annoy : the spirit ( you say ) doth presse you fiercely on . what spirit is your spirit then ? * a-badd-on . alchymists folly . god at the first of nothing all things wrought : our alchymists reduce all things to nought . the crosse in cheapside ouer against saint peters , and pauls crosse in the booke-row . why is saint peters guilt ? pauls crosse of lead : vnder pauls crosse are golden lectures read . seneca the philosopher . thy writings are fine epigrams in face , they nothing want but poets cinquepace . to the honourable , wise , iudicious knight , sir henry neuil , sonne and heire to the lord of aberguenny . i thinke i heard you once say at your boord , that your taste , the sharp taste of salt abhord . wise sir , you need not to eat salt : wherefore ? all your wise talke hath salt in it good store . contention is fit to dwell no where . in heauen or hell is no dissention , in heauen all good , in hell ill euery one : in earth mens diuers dispositions doe cause both long , and strong diuisions . therefore the earth shall be quite emptied , and heauen and hell be fully peopled . the poore mans poore comfort . to a rich man. vnconstant fortune quickly changeth cheare : hence springs my future hope , thy present feare . the heart . why is the right side of the heart bereft ? and on the left plac'd ? wisedome it hath left . the worlds blacke saunts : or musicke for the deuill . the world 's so full of shrill-voyc'd iangling , of deepe repyning , and base murmuring : the base so deepe , the treble is so high , that meane and tenor we cannot discry . the world growes worse and worse . our syres were worse then theirs : we worse then they : for still the world growes worser eu'ry day . if our posterity grow worse then we , a worser race then theirs there cannot be . londons loadstone . as thames deuoures many small brookes and rills : soe smaller townes with their wealth london fills : but though that thames empts it selfe in the sea , wealth once at london , neuer runnes a way . fooles and dwarfes . though wit or vertue haue in vs no treasure , yet we are great mens sports , and great mens pleasure . euery man is full of care . poore men haue care , because that they are poore : rich men haue wealth , and haue much care therefore : who hath no wife , takes great care to haue one ; who hath a wife , hath more then who hath none . the blessed virgin mary , the mother of christ iesus . a blessed virgin , that 's thy common name ; aboue all women blest , that is thy fame : thy virgins blessed state had me nought wonne , had'st thou not beene the mother of thy sonne . new fashions in words . old words are new reuiu'd , and those shall dye , which now are in discoursing prized high , and with bold flights in our set speeches fly . our now new pleasant words will not please long , because they cannot still continue young : and other newer words will them out-throng . to an old churle . thou that did'st neuer doe good any way , when wilt begin to doe good ? thou dost say , when i dye , to the poore i le leaue my state : who 's not wise till he dyes , is wise too late . a fearefull soules flesh-farewell . why should the immortall soule feare bodies death ? feares shee to expire with the bodies breath ? or feares she going hence , she must resort to long long punishment , but iudgement short ? cold , shaking feare of the hot fire of hell , makes this sad soule loth bid the flesh farewell . addition . a good christians soules flesh-farewell . a thought so base hath not that soule surpriz'd , who knowes the flesh shall be immortaliz'd : he feares no punishment , who is assur'd before he dye , his pardon is procur'd . body and soule thus chear'd by gods grace , part like friends , pointing a new meeting place : therefore who hopes for heauen , and feares not hell , may chearefully bid the fraile flesh farewell . an epigram on both these . hee feares not death , who hopes for heauens glory ; he may feare death , that feareth purgatory , or he that thinkes this life shall end his story . a prayer hereupon . good dreadfull god , though i liue * fearefully ; yet when i dye , make me dye cheerefully . a woman may be too proud . if i should praise thee , thou wouldst prouder grow : and thou already art too proud , i trow . a muck-worme . heau'n still views thee , and thou shouldst it still view , god gaue heau'n lights , and hath giu'n eyes to you : thou canst at once little of this earth see , but with one turne , halfe heau'n obseru'd may bee . since heau'n is louely , why lou'st thou earth rather ? wantons doe loue their mam more then the father . cor vnum , via vna . to king iames , the first king of great brittaine . two scepters in thy two hands thou dost hold : thy subiects languages are iust foure-fold : though brittaine folke in tongues deuided bee , yet all their hearts vnited are in thee . the diuell it was that first deuided hearts : speach god diuided into many parts . a king and a prophet . a king out of his countrey hath no place : a prophet in his country hath no grace . vertues attendance . these two like genij follow vertue still : a good one , and a bad ; glory , ill-will . to a foolish inquisitiue vaine prattler . many fond questions thou dost aske of me , to all i answer little vnto thee : 't is not because thy questioning is much , but because thy fond questions are such . sleepe is the image of death . when i doe sleep , i seeme as i were dead ; yet no part of my life 's more sweetned : therefore 't were strange that death should bitter be , since sleep , deaths image is so sweet to me . how worldly men range their cares . first , we send for the lawyer in all haste ; for our first care is , to care for our wealth : next , the physicion with request is graste , the second care is , to care for our health : diuines that should be first , may come at leasure ▪ if vnbid they come , they may goe at pleasure . a lawyers life . to plead thy clyents cause , and please thy wife ; little for thy selfe thou dost spend thy life . addition . in little quietnesse , but in much strife . preachers and players . preachers like heraclite , mourne for our sinne ; prayers like democrite , at our faults grinne : one alwaies laughs , the other mournes alwaies ; one tells our faults , the other our sinnes wayes . schoole-boyes study . when i was young , i was a studying boy ; my study was , when 't would be playing day . euery thing is as it takes . if archy should one foolishly aduise , and it speed well ; he shall be iudged wise : if wise aduice should come to an ill passe ; though cato's 't were , he should be iudg'd an asse . how to handle griefe . grieue onely for those griefes which now thou hast ; t is too late for to grieue griefes that are past ; to grieue for griefes to come , 't will too long last . the poet , of his maecenas . not words for words , good coyne he me affords . maecenas to his poet. hauing no coyne for coyne , thou coynest words . blind homer . whe'r it be true that men doe write of thee , that thou ne'r saw'st ; i 'm sure thy writings see . to goe about , worse then the goute . thou hast two diffring griefes ( i vnderstand : ) one in thy feet , th' other in thy wiues hand : for when thy feet are fett'red with the goute , thy wiues sore nimble hand ferkes thee about . pride is womans colloquintida . learned , neate , young , faire , modest , and bening ; wert thou not proud , thou wert a pretty thing . of king brute . to master camden . bookes may be burnt , and monuments decay ; my lines may dye , and so in time thine may : yet whil'st some of the brittaine blood shall liue , the story of king brute some will beleeue . to a couetous carle . wealth thou hast scrap'd vp for a thousand yeares ; a hundred yeares is more then thou canst liue : yet to scrape vp more wealth thou bendst thy cares , and thinkst a short life will long comfort giue . thou say'st , if i liue long , i shall be rich : liue i long , i must dye , should bee thy speach . death and life are neere neighbours . one natures skreene death and life hang so neere , as doth the muddy earth to waters cleere : of lifes white death , blacke nature makes one robe , euen as the earth and water makes one globe . moores eutopia , and mercurius brittanicus . moore shew'd the best ; the worst world 's shew'd by thee : thou shew'st what is ; and he shewes what should be . . vide ad cor. vers . hope faith charity epist. . cap. . , . we haue three ladders to helpe vs to heau'n ; one hath foure steps , one fiue , and one hath seu'n : hope reacheth to the moone , faith to the sunne ; but charity doth reach vp to gods throne . addition . hope , as the moone , is alwaies variable ; faith , as the sunne , more constant , yet vnstable : when both these with the world shall be consum'd , loue into endlesse ioyes shall be assum'd . of himselfe . some men doe say , i am a poet no way : they doe say true , because the truth i say . the nullity of our lawes . how many lawes are made , or rather none ? not kept , or not made , we may count all one : that former lawes be kept , if an act were ; that would be kept as all the others are . besides women and children . in holy bible it is somewhere read ; women and children were not reckoned : and by the ciuill , and the common law , womens and childrens gifts are worth a straw . vvomen and children are exempt from warre ; vvomen and children long-side coates doe weare , and on the chins neither of them haue haire . vvomen and children shead teares with much ease ; faire words and toyes , women and children please : and last , of loue and dallyance we may say , venus a vvoman was ; cupid a boy . addition . a disparison betweene these . children fondly blab truth , and fooles their brothers ; vvomen haue learn'd more wisdome from their mothers . of those that make the scripture a nose of waxe . doth holy writ promise vs any good ? 't is easily beleeu'd , and vnderstood : doth it require ought , or reprooue our sinne ? 't is a hard speech ; wee haue no faith therein . the harpe and harrow of the court. an enuious and a flattering knaue . these agree not , though in one place they dwell ; momus of none , gnatho of all speakes well . the foure efficient causes of man. what is mans forme ? onely a garish toy ; what is his matter ? frailty and annoy : ●hough for this cause , we may these two neglect , making , and finall cause we must respect . deaths sweet and sowre . to those that haue their liues in much mirth spent ; death's sadnes is to sad men , merriment . or thus . to those that liue in sinne , death is good night ; good morrow 't is to those that liue vpright . death and life . one way we liue , death many wayes is had : all 's for the best ; death is good , life is bad . an old decrepit man , a builder . old , and weake , thou build'st many a faire roome : what build'st thou now ? a house , or else a tombe ? an envious mans charity . the dead thou spar'st , the liuing thou dost bite : yet rather then i 'd dye , i 'le beare thy spite . great brittaine vnited euerlastingly . as in beginning 't was , is now agen ; euer shall be , till this world ends . amen . finis . an excellent anagram on this excellent poets name , with the verses annexed , translated . iohannes audoenus . ad annos noë vives . although that this cannot be said of you : yet of your booke , this anagram is true . d. du . tr. med. this of thee , and thy booke , auerd may be ; thou mak'st thy booke liue , and thy booke makes thee . iohn rosse . i.c. d. du . med. his latine distick to the readers , translated . art thou a clerke , or lay-man ? reade thou these ; they will both profit you , and you both please . one of mine owne , to the same purpose . art thou a merry man , or art thou sad ? to sute you both , fit stuffe may hence be had . praise-worthy verses of learned mistris iane owens of oxford , in praise of my iohn owen , translated out of her latine . it was , and is poets quaint property , to carpe at men , and womens vanity : yet this i iudge , thy salt lines merit it ; both men and women will commend thy wit. to the same learned woman , whose vertues i reuerence ; i dedicate this encomiastick . i 'd rather haue thy praises on my side , then any womans i doe know beside : thy wit and iudgement is more iust and able , then many miriads of the vnlearned rabble . finis . severall sententiovs epigrams , and witty sayings ovt of sundry authors both ancient and moderne : translated into english at harbor-grace , in bristols-hope , in brittaniola , anciently called , new-found-land ; by r. h. pax opvlentiam . sapientia pacem . printer's or publisher's device fk london , printed by felix kyngston for roger michell , and are to be sold at the buls-head in pauls church-yard . . a weake apologie for my weakenesse in these following translations . we think it no strang thing ; nor do we laugh , to see an old , weake man walke with a staffe : i that could with strong legs runne a large fit , must now with short turnes , rest on others wit. translations ovt of severall avthors . beauties excellencie . vertue to all complections giueth grace : but vertue graced is by a good face . the deuils hospitality . satan keepes open house ; though sorry cheere : his blacke-wicket stands open all the yeere . a rule for periured lecherous votaries . if that against your oathes you must needs doe : to 't closely then that none may sweare 't was you . cares birth . in yonger yeeres black melancholy cares breeds with hard throwes , hoare , white , abortiue haires . a scuruy comfort . it is a comfort , though a scuruy one , to haue companions in affliction . womens leuity . what 's lighter then the wind ? thunder , you know . what 's lighter then that cracke ? lightning , i trow . what 's lighter then that flame ? why sure a woman . what 's lighter now then that ? nay that knowes no man. to answer him who wrought this in defence of those women who can well enough defend themselues . good wiues , i thinke , the man that made this iest , ne'r felt the weight of your words , nor your fist . dangerous weapons . there are not kild so many by the sword , as by the throat , by meate , drinke , and the cord . a merry mate . a merry way-mate that can tale and skoch , with a tyr'd horse , is better then a c'roach . patience prouoked . if doubled wrongs inflame cold patience blood : her mildnesse will conuert to a mad mood . womens properties . to weepe oft , still to flatter , sometimes spin ; are properties women excell men in . to this women may answer . we weepe for pittie , and we speake men faire , and of their houshold thrift we haue great care : yet enuious men our credits would impaire . froward nature . deny a thing , fond men the more will craue it : deny a woman , and shee 'l cry , or haue it . in defence of these soft creatures . alas , good creatures , teares are all their armes ; to beat backe griefe , and to reuenge their harmes . miserable want . luxurious men may want particulars : but misers all things want ( except their cares . ) impatible wrong . those that wrong other men beyond all measure , will take wrongs done to them in great displeasure . law and fortunes difference . wise law corrects those that commit offence : blind giddie fortune plagueth innocence . a miserable comforter . he that can helpe his friend but with his breath ; is in the case of him he comforteth . a rule for trauellers . being at rome , i hold it good discretion in manners , and in clothes to vse their fashion : and when that thou art any other-where , 't is fit to vse the fashion thou find'st there . a riddle . my mother got me , i beget my mother : alternately thus we beget each other . womens teares . when women weepe in their dissembling art , their teares are sawce to their malicious heart . i answer for women . he that wrote this , was sure some sawcie iacke : against your sex , malice he did not lacke . necessity . necessity hath no law , no , not any ; yet shee the mother is to a great many . doubly-guilty . he that commits a shamefull hainous fact , is doubly-guilty , by that single act . necessary restitution . thy sinnes , be sure , will on thy backe remaine , till thy ill-got goods thou giue backe againe . ranke couetousnesse . the ranke desire of money growes alwayes , faster then money's coyned now adayes . natures frailtie . i see , and doe allow the better way : yet still i know not how i goe astray . miserable misery of miseries . three times vnhappy is that man at least , to whom milde mercie 's an vnwelcome guest . innocencies comfort . for a good cause to dye , is honest shame : although a halter should procure the same . preachers principall properties . that preacher with a liuely voyce doth preach , that with his life as well as voyce doth teach . how to end well . he surely hath his businesse halfe well done , who hath at first his bus'nesse well begun . on a pretty virgins virginall posie . musicke is a sad minds physicion , if a faire maide be the musicion . blind ignorance . blinder then cupid is he in desire , in whom blind ignorance puts out the fire . womens credit . a woman is not to be credited : if you will credit me , though shee be dead . that women be not angry with me , nor my author . mine author makes a man speake this in snuffe : himselfe was wise , he knew you well enough . teares vanity . our outward teares may show our inward woes : they are a poore reuenge against our foes . fortunes flowers . whil'st wealth doth last , great store of friends thou hast : if thou it waste ; thou soone may'st tell the last . armour against lust . if thou from idle thoughts canst guard thy heart : thou mak'st it musket-proofe 'gainst cupids dart . anger . the sting-taild small muscheeto hath his spleene : the busie ant sometimes is angry seene . a builders humor . he buildeth vp what he threw to the ground ; and changeth former foure-squares into round . truths and flatteries effects . flattery gets friends , and truth gets enemies : soft and proud fooles this adage verifies . exemplified . flatter an easie foole , on you he 'll doate : tell a proud foole his faults , hee 'll cut your throat . refractory nature . dull oxen long for saddles and the dorses ; whil'st chaines and yoakes , desires hot stomackt horses . addition . dull people need the spurres , more then the saddle ; yet yoaking may young hot-spurres better bridle . three wilde coach-horses . wine , venus , dice , fit iades for such a feat ; draw men to beggers-bush without a baite . from the frying pan into the fire . from vshing coueting himselfe to free , on sillaes bishop and his clerks fell hee . womens extreme passions . women doe fondly loue , or foulely hate ; their extreme passion hath no middle state . to reforme this error in this man. why shouldest thou their goodnesse thus decline ? vertue is of the gender foeminine . a citizens thrift . o citizens , learne first your bags to fill ! and then ofhonesty goe learne the skill . hels highway . there is an easie downe-descent to hell : those that goe there , doe know it too-too well . coozening knaues . to coozen coozeners , is no cooz'ning : to coozen any , it 's a knauish thing . no penny , no pater noster . homer , if thou nothing with thee dost bring ; thou mayst without reward without doore sing . a wicked vbiquitary . the wicked doth his wickednesse declare at all times , against all , and eu'ry where . a wise choise . raile at me rather , till thou breake thy guts ; then coldly praise me with thy ifs and buts . customes inconuenience . what sinnes thou vsest often to commit : will flow from thee , without sence , feare , or wit. as for example . reprooue a swearer , who doth vse to teare gods holy name : hee 'l sweare , he did not sweare , or for your loue , or that sinne will not care . nothing new . speake old words , or coine new words by the score : what-e're thou speak'st , hath spoken been before . a true inquisition . not of my out-side , nor of those that dwell with me , nor the report my neighbours tell : come to me , into me , to know me well . painters and poets properties . painters and poets haue like power and skill ; to adde , to foist , to feigne euen what they will. wicked women . women are of the gender feminine ; proud , cruell , seruile ( in mine authors time . ) addition . a claw . although of women he could say so then ; women may say so now of naughty men . perfect patience . what-euer comes , i alway hope the best : and till that come , i mildly beare the rest . a good womans reward . there is not one good woman to be found : and if one were , she merits to be crown'd . in the behalfe of good women , who cannot speake for themselues . good women , he that blurr'd you with this blot , deserues a crowning with your chamberpot : with enuious eyes he sought for you ; or else he might haue found you with my spectacles . a churles good . the couetous doth nothing as he should , till lauish death doth spread abroad his gold . light of beliefe . let the wide-throated circumcised iew swallow it , and beleeue that it is true . addition . the baptiz'd papist , circumcised turke , if for their church aduantage it may worke ; one swallowes all , * the other all saue porke . sweet gaine . the smell of gaine smels pleasantly indeed , although from stinking parcels it proceed . hunger breakes stone walls . of gold the holy hunger , who can tell , to what will it not mortall minds compell ? addition . gold maketh bad men to doe what good is : too often it makes good men doe amisse . complaints out of spanish . the old man weepes , for want of loue , being grieu'd : his young wife weepes , 'cause he so long hath liu'd . addition . sad reuerence ( he saith ) should affection moue : sir reuerence ( she sayes ) hath out-liu'd his loue . virgils cloze . come on , my boyes , stop-vp the water-groofe , the thirstie meddowes now haue drunk enough . finis . a rayling epistle , written in french by that excellently witty doctor , francis rabalais : wherein though i follow him not verbatim ; yet whoso can compare them , shall find i haue done him no wrong . thou toothlesse wither'd hagge , defam'd , accurst ; empty of gods grace , by the deuill nurst : thou that didd'st neuer deed of charitie ; but art the patterne of all villanie : thou , in whose hairelesse braines ill thoughts do throng , and tak'st chiefe ioy to heare a bawdie song : thou that didd'st neuer drinke water with wine , senting each bed with lust , where thou hast line : thou that doost weep at eu'ry draught thou drink'st : but hast dry eyes , when on thy sinnes thou think'st : thou that ador'st no bed , but priapus : thou that didst ne'r , but for inticement blush : thou that hast piss'd away thy vnknowne shame : thou that hast entertain'd each one that came : thou martyrer of men , 't is not the pose , that causeth thee to speake thus through the nose . thou that art slow to churchward as the louse ; but quick as lightning to a bawdy-house : thou with whose age hot lust doth not declyne , thou more insatiate then tyr'd messaline . thou stinking , with'red , stale ; thou past a whore ; thou lust procurer , keeper of the doore : thou that dost tempt faire maydens to their shame , and for gaines sake , rob'st wiues of their faire name : thou damn'd damn'd bawd , that do'st procure thy meales , by tempting wenches to turne vp their — thou that did'st neuer take delight to worke ; thou in whose bosome snarling quarrels lurke ; thou that in angrie mood dost neuer stay ; worse then megera or tesiphonee , vntill thine anger be with blood appeas'd ; like a shee-wolfe , that her mild prey hath seaz'd , lyons , and beares , and griffins gentle bee , and free from rage , being compar'd with thee . in thee , mercy is pent ; but rage hath scope : thou fitter for the fire , then for the rope . thou witch that dost delight foule toads to foster ; and alway say'st the diuels pater noster . thou that excell'st medea in vile charmes : thou that kill'st children in their mothers armes ; thou that from heau'n canst call the crooked moone , and make the sunne darke at the brightest noone . for these good parts , a secret marke vnknowne , satan hath mark't thee with , to be his owne : and he to thinke on thee , for ioy doth swell , hoping ere long to fry thy bones in hell. thou soone wilt kill his ioy with future sorrow , when he shall know the pox hath eate thy marrow . thou whore , thou witch , thou bawd , crusted in euill , thou that mayst be schoolemistres to the deuill , thou that with stinking breath speak'st ill of many , wert neuer heard speake good words of any : and though thy toothlesse gummes can doe no wrong , those slanders bite , that flow from thy lewd tongue . thou hag , from whose blaspheming wide mouth goes worse then ranke poyson to a fasting nose : thy dugs by thine owne bastard brats defil'd , are yet thought fit to nurse the deuils child : thy head hangs downe through thy sinnes weightines , thy body doubles with thy wickednes : thou treuet , hadst thou but one mite of grace , thou wouldst forethinke thy miserable case . what hope hast thou , continuing as thou do'st , to scape hell fire ? hope not : to hell thou must . thy soule as wise , i doe repute her for it ; ( although her purenesse did at first abhorre it ) keepes still her loathsome cabinet ; foreseeing , if she leaue this , her worser place of being , she needs among the damned soules must throng : and that 's the reason that thou liu'st so long . what hast thou good in thee , but onely this , that thy loath'd outside a true patterne is of thy vile liuing ? sinne , and want of grace , are ditched in the wrinkles of thy face : thou bunch-back-bug-beare-fac'd , splay-foot , cat-hand ; thou rough-bark'd-stinking elder , worse then damn'd ; thou , about whose scurse-head the deuils flutter ; thou viler vild , then i haue words to vtter : amend thy lewd life ; or i sweare to thee , for one ill-fauour'd word , i 'le giue thee three . another epistle of the same witty author , francis rabelais , in praise of a graue matrone ; translated as the former . thou reuerend matrone , whose sweet grace & forme , would a young , faire , sweet , hansome face adorne ; thy modest carrying , and thy reuerend wit , shewes that gods grace within thy heart doth sit : thou in whose hands are alway found good books ; but on loue-toyes thy chaste eyes neuer looks : thou that hast in thy braines imprinted deepe christ iesus , who from thence ill thoughts doth keepe : in thy milde soule rich vertue hath her store ; as god giues wealth to thee , thou giu'st the poore . thy heart is alway open to relieue , and comfort those whom miseries doe grieue : and with thine owne white hands dost not disdaine to plaister those poore folkes , whom sores doe paine . the hungry thou do'st feed with thine owne meate ; the naked , cold , with thine owne cloathes do'st heate ; thy poore sick neighbours thou dost kindly visit ; thou giu'st them counsell , mak'st them kitchin physick : thou free'st poore pris'ners with thine owne estate : the fatherlesse thou do'st compassionate , and do'st so many godly deeds withall , that iesus christ may thee his sister call . from foolish vanities thou turn'st thine eyes , and shutt'st thy eares against malicious lyes . although foule sluttish smells thou do'st abhorre ; perfumers get nothing by thee therefore . thy table 's furnish'd with cleane , wholsome fare ; but for luxurious cates thou do'st not care : and when thou drink'st , it is pure vnmixt wine ; not those hot drinks that vnto lust incline . thy heart did neuer feele th'vnlawfull flame , which hath drawne looser wiues to publique shame : thou neuer lay'st on any am'rous bed ; but where thy husband had thy mayden-head ; and onely there for procreation , and for thy husbands recreation : thou art so zealous , godly , mercifull , and with such heauenly , goodly graces full ; that we may stile thee , the rich christian palace , wherein the holy ghost doth take his solace . thy outward graces haue such excellence , that all salute thee with graue reuerence : thy head is fraught with holy meditations ; thy heart is fill'd with heau'nly consolations ; thy eares are open to the poores sad cryes , and from them thou dost neuer turne thine eyes : thy hands are open to each godly deed , and feet are swift , when of thy helpe there 's need . thou art so faire , so vertuous , and so good ; thou seem'st an angell clad in flesh , and blood . thou art so hansome , proper , neat , and faire , as if but yet thou a young maiden were : ( sweet-heart beleeue ) all honest men with me , are truly , heartily in loue with thee . thou often hast the bible in thy hand , and humbly pray'st , thou mayst it vnderstand ; and what with sober knowledge thou do'st reade , thou putt'st in practice , or into thy creede . thou peerelesse paragon ! thou past compare ! such as thou art , i wish all women were . thou extract of good women now adayes ; thy worthines so farre exceeds my praise ; to write it , i doe want an angels quill ; and i as much doe need an angels skill . if thou beest liuing , mayst thou neuer dye , i humbly pray the blessed trinity : and that thou mayst in honour , health , and rest , liue in this world , and in the next be blest . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e euery lord maior of london doth yeerly giue a guilded spoon to most of his company , & at a solemne feast , each guest giues him . or . l. or more towards his charge . he walks out his dinner in pauls , and his supper in ●●e exchāge . rom. . ver . . in the yeere of iubile . in papisticall churches , they both read the scripture and sing and pray to images , and all in lattaine . * ephes. . . * iohn . ● . some deriue gloster from gloria caesari , others from claudius caesar. notes for div a -e as the egyptians hierogliphicks . psal. . ver . . , , . vide , the collect on good-fryday . nicholas de nichola . lib. . cap. . vide , the collect on good-fryday . nicholas de nichola . lib. . cap. . boniface arch-bi . of mentz . apud gratian. dig. . ierem. . . * a word frequently vsed by the west-countrymen , and signifies muttering or murmuring dogs and cats are fishes so call'd , and hounds a kind of fowle * cald in french poure gens , in english corruptly poore iohn , being the principall fish brought out of this countrie . * mat. . . notes for div a -e greg. lib. epist. . and - numration . addition . diuision . multiplication . subtraction . contrary to christs saying , mat. . , . not quiet , an vsuall phrase for sicknesse in deuonshire . * gen. . . * reuel . . . owen , lib. . epig. . * zeuxis drawing this picture had all the choice beauties of greece naked before him . * luke . . . cor. . . notes for div a -e owen , lib. . epig. . * he wrot battell ofthe of the agincourt , when he was aboue . yeers old * milk-street notes for div a -e * our late most learned king iames. notes for div a -e * reuel . . . * phil. . . notes for div a -e pulchrior est virtus veniens è corpore pulchro . patet atri ianua ditis . si non castè tamen cautè . cura facit canos , etiam si nesciat annos . solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris . quid vento ieuius ? fulmen . quid fulmine ? flamma . quid flamma ? mulier . quid muliere ▪ nihil . plures gulá quàm gladio . comes facundus pro vehiculo est . laesâ patientiâ fit furor . fallere , flere , nere : haec tria sunt muliere . nitimur in vetitum , semper cupimúsque negata . luxuriae desunt multa , auaritiae omnia . qui faciunt , oderunt iniuriam . legem nocens veretur , fortuna innocens . prodesse qui vult , nec potest , aequè est miser . cum fueris romae , romano viuito more . cum fueris alibi , viuito more loci . mater me genuit , eadem mox gigniter ex me . muliebris lacrima condimentum malitiae . necessitat dat legem , non ipsa accipit . in turpi re peccare , bis delinquere est . non tollitur peccatum , nisi restituatur oblatum . crescit amor nummi , quantum ipsa pecunia crescit . video meliora , prob●●quee ; , deteriora sequor . quam miser est , cui ingrata misericordia est ? est honesta turpitudo pro bona causa mori . viuâ voce docet , qui vitâ & voce docet . dimidium facti , qui benè caepit , habet . musica mentis . medicina moestae . ignoti nulla cupido . mulieri ne credas ne mortuae quidem . gemitus dolores indicat , non vindicat . dum fueris foelix , multos numera bis amicos : nullus ad amiss●s ib●● amicus opes . otia si tollas , periere cupidinis arcus . habet & musca splenem , & formicae sua bilis inest . diruit , aedificat , mutat quadrata rotundis . obsequium amicos , veritas odium parit . optat ephippia bos piger arare cuballus . id est , marrying . alea , vina , venus , tribus his sum factus egenus . incidit in syllam , cupiens vitare charibdem . aut amat , aut odit mulier , nihil est tertium . o clues ciues , quaerenda pecunia primùm : virtus post nummos — facilis descensus auerni . fallere fallentem non est fraus : fallere quenquam , non est laus . si nihil attuleris , ibis homere foras . nequam nequitiam monstrat vbique suam . mallem me vituperari quàm frigidè laudari . consuetudo peccandi tolb't sensum peccati . nil est iam dictum quod non fuit dictum prius . nec me quaesiveris extra . — pictoribus atque poētis , quodlibet audendi semper fuit aequa potestas . foeminium seruile genus , crudele , superbum . optima spero , quaecunque feram . foemina nulla bona , sed si bona , digna coronâ . auarus nisi cùm moritur , nihil recti facit . credat iudaeus apella . * vid. the legend printed in hen . time . i thinke the conformitie presse hath suppressed it . whilest stigmaticall francis in the legend dares eate a capon on a friday at supper ; to worke a ridiculous miracle the next sunday : yet to satisfie his canonicall host , can vrge our blessed sauiours words , mat. . . i beleeue a turke would not swallow a miracle in his owne behalfe , if it were done by pigs-flesh . lucri bonus est odor , ex re quâlibet . quid non mortalia pectora cogit auri sacra fames ▪ cludite iam riuos puêri , sat prata biberunt . epigrams. by h.p. parrot, henry. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) epigrams. by h.p. parrot, henry. [ ] p. by r. b[radock] and are to be soulde by iohn helme at his shoppe in s. dunstans church-yarde, imprinted at london : . h.p. = henry parrot. in verse. printer's name from stc. signatures: a-h⁴. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams, english -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - andrew kuster sampled and proofread - andrew kuster text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion epigrams . by h. p. mortui non mordent . imprinted at london by r. b. and are to be soulde by iohn helme at his shoppe in s. dunstans church-yarde , . ad candidum lectorem . diues arabs aurum , gemmas dat laetior orbis , et queis confines indus et americus : terra benigna quibus thesauros diuite vena effundit ; larga dant opulenta manu . at storilis gens ista mea est , fulgentis eoi lumina , quam solis nulla beare solent . quae tamen indigno concessit iupiter almus , ( nulla licet tanto iudice digna ) , dabit . to the vngentilized censurer . if my ill-tuned rimes content the wise , whose deeper iudgements i desire to please : let not the ruder sort be so precise , that ( critticke seeming ) cannot censure these . i write not to the rusticke rablement , nor fawne vpon the curious kinde of men , but hold it more then bootlesse labour spent to begge their poore applause : nor care i then if such repine , whose enuy cannot hurt , though like a raging sea they foame their durt . epigrams . et manibus pedibusque leuis . lays of lighter mettall is compos'd then hath her lightnes till of late disclos'd , for lighting where shee little comfort feeles , her fingers there proue lighter then her heeles . sic vos non vobis vellera fertis oues . heard you with what surpassing rich aray , rutellus ruffled on s. georges day ? t was pitty , more then spite it should be knowne , that none of all those garments were his owne : so that in stead of what reporte did scatter , he simply was non-suted on the matter . virescit vulnere venus . susan 's well sped , and wears a velvet hood , why not ? more like , her breeding hath ben good : it 's reason she should rise once in her life , that fell so oft before shee was a wife qui quondam lixa , lanista . t' is said that whittington was rais'd of nought , and by a cathath many wonders wrought : but fortune ( not his cat ) makes it appeare , hee may dispend a thousand markes a yeare . sic ars diluditur arte . marke but the semblance of fucatas face , how to the life her picture doth excell : for louely feature , sweete and comely grace , ( surely the painter hath done wondrous well ) : but heer 's the doubt , ( both faces made by art ) which you would choose to be of best desert . quam partus ventrem sequitur . ralph hath an office in reuertion bought , but rues the time that yet no wit hath wrought : content thee ( ralph ) for wealth to let it passe , thou art no worse foole then thy father was . qualis vita , finis ita . leno lies sicke and to the doctor sends , who bids him looke for what he least intends : and being oft to make his will requested , refuseth , saying , he will die detested . grata superueniet quae non sperabitur hora. perswade not romulus to take a wife , that is to wedlocke sworne an enemy : and euer vowes to leade a single life , which he accounts most honest purity . besides a thousand reasons that constraines him , amongst the rest t' is known whose wife maintains him . iuueni quid curua senectus ? silla hath got a wife that 's wondrous old , t' is true : he woo'd her only for her gold : i hope her maides are young and serue for hire , which is asmuch as silla doth desire . quisquis sibi quaerit egenus . this obseruation seemes ( quoth fisco ) strange , why marchāts walk in pauls & knights th'exchāge : belike the one seeks those their debts should pay , whiles th' other goes to craue a longer day . spoliatis arma supersunt . graund captain cosmo liues of coine bereft , whose page was wont his purse & coine to carry : now neither page , purse , coine , nor ought is left , saue what hee 's forc'r to pawne at th' ordinary . thus squint-eyde fortune partiall in her gifts , puts men of note sometimes to needy shifts . nec vultus indicat illum . dicke in a raging deepe discourtisie , called a lawyer meere necessitie the more knaue hee ? admit he had no law , must hee be flouted at by euery daw ? plus moechus omnis amat . peace , weepe no more ( sweete sisse ) and all is well , say i had found thee false thinkst thou i le tell ? no by this iron and steel , ( which plainly showes it , ) an honest wit-all is no gull that knowes it . latet anguis in herba . hilus hath hid himselfe this year and more , not in respect of feare to shewe his face : but for herashly in his humour swore , the sessions-house should no more sift his case : would you the trueth more plainly vnderstand , he hath ben twice before burnt in the hand . habet et musca splenem . mopsus maintaines that banckruptship lesse mooues him , then such a slaue as for his wiues sake loues him : though well the weazill woteth to his griefe , he cannot liue without her friends reliefe . fallentem fama fesellit . priscus gaue out he went to prester iohn , presuming to haue purchast three for one : but see what lucke his trauailes did beguile , priscus hath tane the diet all this while . sictandem vincit inermis . fell-foughten furio hath now met his match , and is seuerely sent vnto the gayle , for blurting at mas-constable and his watch , who bids away with him , admits no baile : as who shal know hee 's now the kings peace-maker that was the last yeare but a kennell-raker . — habet sua castra cupido . faedus hath got his neighbours wife with childe , and yet hath not her husbands bed defil'd : for why , the plot within moore-fields was wrought , from whence a place was for that purpose sought . sapiat qui vendit oportet . ianus doth iesting vse equinocation alluding it , as doubtfull words of art , to hide the couller of his occupation , but to the deuill he bears an honest hart . est mollis flamma medullas . cucullus hath disguis'd his former feature , and like pithagoras transformed shape , is now ( me thinkes ) become another creature , halfe french , halfe english , ( pox on such an ape that imitates all fashions far and neere ) though 'gainst the haire he buies them ne're so deer . parturiunt montes murem . dego will drawe and stoutly stand vnto it , vpon the vtmost of his words brauado : but being vrg'd on equall termes to do it , he basely pockets vp the bastynado . . non omnia possumus omnes who saies alcides hath more beard then wit ? whose place and countenance controlleth it : pish 't was not meant he should more vnderstand , then might concerne him to subscribe his hand . nimium ne crede colori . battus beleeued for a simple truth , that yonder gilt-spur spruce and veluet youth was some great personage or worthy wight , vntill one told him he was but a knight , a knight ( quoth battus ) vaith i chud a zworne , he had at least been zum gud gen-man borne . qui , modo rusticus , olim . po-lo peckes vppe a pretty prolling trade , that hath him prouder then his master made : but yet when all is done , the world mistakes him , for not his mony , but the tailor makes him . furor arma ministrat . magus hath studied long to breake a iest vpon these rimes he doth somuch detest , and can you blame him ? well he may be chiding that hath so often spurgald been with riding . qui fuit ante pedes . the case is alterd with mercutio , since his preferment to that noble man : what erst he hath been , boots not now to know , those times are chāg'd with him , what 's thē was thā i dare presume mercutio doth forget , that euer he a bill in pauls did set . mortalia cuncta caduca . stella the starre that whilome shinde so bright , is now eclipsed and hath lost her light : 't was pitty ( stella ) that thy starres were such , better for thee they had not shinde so much . hic laqueos tendit qui laqueo moritur . who euer held mendoza halfe so wise , to haue attempted such an enterprize ? as had not tyburne soone preuented it , mendoza would haue learnd but too much wit. nocet empta dolore voluptas . what cause had liuia to leaue the cittie , where she so florisht vntill now of late , oh ther 's a fault escapt ( the more 's the pittie ) , which the church-wardens would not tollerate , and yet the yeare before , they could dispence , taking no knowledge of the like offence . fas est , quod foemina fingit . maddam ventoza can no longer frollicke , for she is troubled with a sore wind-chollicke , which to the standers by may lesse appeare , because her fyesting-curre is still so neare . quàm bene notus amor . should spruso leaue the wearing of his muffe , his golden night-cap and his double ruffe : yet , manning still one mistrisse , makes him noted whether to loue or lust hee s more deuoted . castus erat vultu , monstrat quem facta cynaedum . know you not criticus , our citties mule , that haunts the harbors of iniquitie ? yet like a beadle of disorderd rule , lasheth at lust to cloake his villanie : critick 't is not your lookes ( i can assure you ) shall feare the surgeon that of late did cure you . trahit sua quemque voluptas . wat wills you know how much he skorneth it , to be a pick-purse of anothers wit : but in a pocket bids you vnderstand , he hath a borrowing , deep , and diuing hand . quid non speramus amantes . peirce was espoused ere he went a wooing , what should such fooles as he belong a dooing ? his wife ( the wiser ) thought to saue that paine , by getting her a cloake fit for the raine . faeminae ludificantur viros . luce had a secret longing to go see her childe at nurse : for that she dreamt t was sicke , and would by no meanes pacified be , till she had seene her yongest little dicke : full little knowes her husband ( silly groome ) who by this match ere midnight takes his roome . omnibus hoc vitium . pru that had patience to haue borne with any , and lou'd plain dealing , ( witnes all that knows her , ) is now vndone by bearing one too many , so that you see plain-dealing ouerthrowes her . senibus voluisse satis . aesop must yeeld when rodope will ryde , and take no knowledge where , nor who 's her guide , yet could the wizard wish her still in sight , since she at braynford log'd this other night . turpe est hoc foenore , lucrum . lanus hath liu'd this last vacation vpon his wiues bare charge without all reason who since she knew at first her occupation nere saw worse takings in a lenten season : fy lanus rather shouldst thou her beshrow that would so many burdens vndergoe . linguam vis nulla domabit . muns skill in horses doth so much excell , as no man liuing breaks them halfe so well but see , one sillie shrow controls his art : and worse then all those horses , breaks his hart . roganti dabitur . marcus stood musing maugre all his might , where he should go to lodge this other night : at length the marshall vnawares comes on him , and volens nolens thrusts a bed vpon him . — ortus nouus vrbe britannus . who braues it now as doth yong hystrio , walking in paules like to some potentate , richly replenisht from the top toth' toe , as if he were deriu'd from high estate ? alas ther 's not a man but may discrie , his begging trade and bastard facultie . hoc aliquid nihil . guido hath gained very goodly sutes , that of his labours are the onely fruites : i meane no other sutes then those he weares , which how to compasse is that guido feares . sat saltem sic habeatur . some say this rabblement of new-made knights , makes coaches deere , and chandlers sell their lights : but scarce a seruingman the more is fed , for foot-boyes onely bring their sirs to bed . sequitur inuidia famam . two madams once were striuing for the wall , each standing much on termes of worthines , the one but yong ( howbeit rich withall ) the other auncient , though of substance lesse said , soft and faire , till time hath tane fruition , your ladyship is of the last edition . sic nunquam cessat quo perdat perdere lusor . aske ficus how his luck at dicing goes , like to the tide ( saith he ) it ebbes and flowes : then i suppose his chance cannot be good , for all men knowe , t is longer ebbe then flood . errantes errare licet . pandorus spends the day by telling newes of such his trauails as will make you muse , nay sir beleeue it , hee 'l discourse at large . how should he els be fed at others charge . dant otia iocum . young master newcome late of thin's of court hath newlie laide aside his littleton and for his pleasure deignes no other sport , then these vnsauored rimes to seaze vpon : which hauing read hee coments on the weather , how iump his law and learning met together . sequitur vestigia matris . maud being mou'd at fourteen yeares to mary , wisht ( were she tall enough ) , she need not tary : i would her sister but so wise had been that had a bastard ere she was fifteene . duibtat mens conscia recti . vulcanus wiselie doth himselfe perswade , some of these epigrams by him were made : but dares not tell you wherein for his life least men should play on him , as on his wife , quem suspicaueris , ipse . fuco is fled more for his credit sake , then to be burdened with so base a deede : would hee think you such trifles vndertake : hauing that kindred and so little need ? damn'd might he be , that euer ment to do it had not his whore or something vrdgd him to it . confuetudo est altera natura . mat in the mood of his distemp'rature , sweares he must fight to keep his hands in vre . for being wearie of his theeuing trade : vvhat should he do but exercise his blade ? ingenio pollet cui vim natura negauit . if nanus had but common guifts of nature , and no arts cunning to his cubit-stature : he neuer could with ladies come so neere , nor get his victuals gratis all the yeere . non caret effectu quod voluére duo . constant renaldo who can but commend thee . that still one mistrisse in reuersion seruest ? she could do little , if not least befriend thee , with gleaning licence for so long a haruest : gleaning said i ? nay more , to mowe her corne , and catch the hare , whiles others blow the horne ▪ volucrem sic decipit auceps . hydrus the horse-courser ( that cunning mate ) doth with the buyers thus equiuocate : claps on his hand and prayes he might not thriue , if that his gelding be not vnder fiue . perdat qui caueat emptor . nor lesse meant promus when that vow he made , then to giue ore his cousening tapsters trade : who checkt for short and frothy measure , swore , he neuer would from thence forth fill pot more . quod mora tardat abest . see how silenus walkes accomplished , with due performance of his fathers page , looks back of purpose to be honoured , and on each slight occasion gins to rage : you villaine , dog , where hath your stay been such , quoth he , the broker would not lend so much . — latuit benè qui male vixit . francisco flies , not daring once come neare , making th' infection to be most his feare : but his arch-creditor that least beleeues him , knows t' is his debts more then the deu'll that driues him . indomitae tandem veniunt ad aratra inuenca . lesbia the faire that would be wood of none hath since been wone by many more then one and like a flower ( whose coullour soone doth fade ) with often wearing prooues a hackney iade . probitas laudatur et alget . say that caryna keepe a vitling house i hope t is for no vulgar base or meane resort that onely will a cast of canns carowse , or at some game at cards but idely sport t is knowne her weekly risings and downe-fallings , equalls her state with some of higher callings . sequitur post gaudia luctus . aye me ( quoth amy ) who would ere haue thought so great a mischiese should arise of nought , which had she knowne ere she began to swell : each yard of pleasure should haue prou'd an ell . tremuit sub pondere cymba . had not formosa verie foule ill luck who stooping simply but a rose to pluck , made to the hearers that so loudly knowne , which neuer yet report before had blown ? pulchra semyramidis facies imitata sepulchrum . fine mistris foetida perfumes her selfe with sweetest odours that she can deuise , more deare and pretious then all worldly pelfe , that nought auaileth when her bewty dies : but this dispaire is very death in thinking that one so faire should haue a breath so stinking . post dulcia finis amarus . what griefe it was grace had no better fortune , but that bridewel must her disgrace importune : and which is worse , if worse it might perplex her ; the beadle comes behinde her back to vexe her . par pari reserre decet . caluus ( to blame ) runs in his laundresse score and will not pay her scarcely once a yeare : but then his shame is twise so much the more for she hath truely paid him to a hayre . non omnibus omphida dormit . what reason is it omphida should yeeld to any man that 's but a stranger to her ? thinks he at first assault to win the field ? tutlet him doe his worst that worst can do her , had there but cullour beene for such intent , she could allow your weakest argument . naturā expellere durum . parcus not sparing cost sweres hee le begin , to enter commons , in some chancery inn , and will no longer once a day be fedde : thatstill before went supperles to bed . coitum , non oscula laudat . when kester courted kate but for a kisse , she coyly told him that he aimd amisse : thou maist beleeue her ( kester ) what she said : for halfe the parish knowes shee is no maid . tunc tua res agitur &c. a iellious marchant that a saylor met , askt him the reason why he ment to mary knowing what ill their absence might beget , that still at sea constrayned are to tary ? sir ( quoth the saylor ) make you that so strange , t is done the time whiles you but walk the'xchange . impar aetas , imparesque mores . it could not be ( me thinks ) imagined that iulia should haue lost her maydenhead being so young but that her selfe first told it , to whome and where shee this last lent had solde it . timidos fortuna repellit . when miles the seruingman my lady kist she knew him not ( though scarcely could resist so sweet a youth and well apparelled ) had not the dunce himselfe discouered : for this ( quoth he ) , my master bad me say — which hearing made her frowne and fling awaie : why thus it is , when fooles must make it knowne , they come on others busines , not their owne . si nihil attuleris , ibis &c. planus an honest swain , but monylesse , besought a lawyer to be good vnto him : who either ( gratis ) must his cause redresse , or promise what he neuer meant to do him , being asked why he careles lingred it , made this replie , ex nihilo nihil fit . similis doctrina libello . craesus of all things loueth not to buy so many books of such diuersitie : your almanacke ( saies hee ) yeelds all the sence , of times best profit and experience . frustra , qui sero consulit . aske not vincentio now when things are past , why hee so often sported with his punck , or wherfore so much hath bene spent in wast , ( as good you told it to a man that 's drunck ) let it suffice he hath consum'd it all , and ( as you see ) walks like the prodigall . non patitur res seria iocū . tib tooke an oath that tomisin was no maid , vvho angry bad beare record what she said , as good haue publisht it with trumpets blowne , as call for witnesse in a case so knowne . semel & semper . celso but newly wedded doth repent , and meanes to be diuorc't incontinent alas ( poore celso ) knewst thou not before , she was , and is and will be still a ( — ) mole ruit sua . questo that quaint and brisk italian when first his trade for merchandize began , would so much vndertake more then his owne . ( i thinke of purpose to be ouerthrowne , ) for when t was thought his fulnesse did abound , euen then he brake for seauenty thousand pound . satis est ditescere fama . clitus with clients is well customed , that hath the lawes but little studied : no matter clitus , so they bring thee fees ) how ill the case , and thy aduise agrees . incidit in syllam cupiens vitare charibdim . marcellus museth how to spend that day , wherein it likes him not to see a play : but then he falls into some place ( i doubt , ) and staies so long till he be fired out . male parta male dilabuntur . old colins sonne is newlie come to age , and may dispend fiue hundred marks a year , but wants the wit to hold his heritage , which hath been euer yet his vncles fear : for that his father got it by extortion : and therfore ill to be a woodcocks , portion . quid queat esse diu ? signior fantasmos ne'r such pleasure found in any thing , as in a deepe mouth'd hound : small was that pleasure , when vpon one day , he lost his hayre , and hunted all away . sors vniuersa rotat . sam swore an oth that those late lotteries , were meere deceits , and idle mockeries : for of a hundred , if he two did pluck , the standers-by would say t was cuckolds luck . olim haec meminisse iuuabit . grunto lies groaning of a grieuous gout , and would giue thousands to be soundly cured : but all the cunning that his coyne findes out , cannot expell his paines so long endured : oh grunto thou hast liu'd so vnrepenting as scarce two helles sufficeth thy tormenting . ignoti nulla cupido . castus of all sinnes makes most conscience , that men should thus with chastity dispence : she that weds him , must haue his maidenhead , at least may chance to bring a foole to bed . sero sapiunt phryges . festus who feasted long on delicates , now such fantastick fulsome dyet hates : is it not reason he should spare at last , that hath consumed more then all in waste ? labor improbus omnia vincit . now yea and nay quoth mistris temperance you are to blame to be so vainely giuen , cannot your eyes vpon a woman glaunce , but they must couet ? sooth you should be shriuen : fye that you 'l sweare so rashly by your troth , thinke you i le doo 't wer 't not to saue your oath ? fouent periuria furtum . piso hath stolne a siluer boul in iest , for which ( suspected onely ) not confest : rather then piso will restore the boull , bouldly aduentureth to damn his soule . ne sutor vltra crepidam . philippus flouteth at such ragged rimes , that much distasting , taxe not these his times : indeed i iudge him much more better seene , in other trades that he hath trayned beene . aliud simulat aliud agit . young mistresse ioyce her husband doth solicit , to hire a garden-house neere to the fields : which with her gossip she might weekely visit , ( for something must she haue that comfort yeelds ) i feare this bower for common recreation , will proue a place of priuate occupation . similes habent labra lactucas . dick swash ( or swaggering dick ) through fleetstreet reeles with sis & bettrice waiting at his heels , to one that would haue tane the wall , he swore , zounds dost not see my punck and paramout ? cito parata venus . let mistris su be stirring ne'r so soone shee 'l not be readie vntil afternoone , nor scarcely then : for why this sommer season , the least thing makes her sweat beyond all reason . maxima tobacchi , maior vis nulla veneni . cuthbert our cobler can no more forbeare , to take tobacco , then to liue vnknowne : he drinkes all whiffes at least , and learnes to sweare by heauens : his oathes and humors are his owne . but adding hereunto a pot or more , he stands to nothing which he spake before . enecat amplexu nimio sic simia foetum . call dauus knaue , he straight way drawes his sword , and makes you proue as much or eate your word , but if you call him honest rogue or iew , he hugges you then for giuing him his dew . mala crescunt deteriora . soto is lately gone to sturbridge faire , whose little takings makes him halfe dispaire : t were good some friend of his would tel the mome his wife hath had takings inough at home . vwlle placere sat est . mistrisse parnella hold's it requisite to keep more maids at home then need requires aswell to please her husbands appetite , as for a broad she like exchange desires . thus doe they absent best content each other : that els should be but baudes to one another . vilescit diues auarus . rusus is wondrous rich , but what of that ? he liues obscurely like a water-rat : and his apparell , which he seldome buyes , are such as houns-dich and long-lane supplies . nocet empta dolore voluptas . sisley and kate are gone to frollick it , late in the euening with their tom and kit , what luck had they to buy their sport so deere , that in the morning must haue whipping cheere . aeger , cui chara libertas . briseo that gallant yongster keepes his bed , as faining to be sick , but wot you why ? not of an ague , nor an aking head , no burning feauer , or french maladie : tush , none of these can halfe so much molest him , as yonder flat-cap foole that would arest him . quae placuit domino nupta est ancilla sodali . madam rugosa knowes not where to finde , one chamber-mayde often to please her minde : but yet my lord so likes their comely car'adge , as he prefers them to his men in mar'adge . quàm sumus ergo pares . damon his dick had not these three yeeres seene , but rather thinks he hath concealed beene : was it not strange that they so iump should meete , both at a bawdy house in turnebull street ? non est iocosapudica . mistresse finetta , for her ready witte , is much admired and belou'd of many : but this one fault of hers confoundeth it , she will deride , and iesting scoffe at any . which by an ill accustom'd vse comes on her , yet there is one that playes as much vpon her . diuitijs durant firmae pereuntibus artes. silus hath sold his crimson satten sute , and needs would learne to play vpon the lute , t is well done ( silus ) for such sutes soone wast , whereas thy skill in lutes will euer last : asperius nihil est humili cum surgat in altum . the world is well amended with sir hugh , since from the time he was a shepherd swain , and little dreamed then ( i may tell you ) he should be made one of the knightly traine : but ( for his substance answeres not his will ) as good haue dreamt , or been a shepheard still . multorum vulnera vincunt . much moues not mal : but let the queane bee mou'd , hee l swear shee 's hot that hath her next approu'd . frustra sapit qui sibi non sapit . zant hus that wise and cunning sophister , lyes now in limbo for a small offence : vvho when he came before the officer , had not one word of wit to free him thence : vvhy thus it fares , when he should best dispute , the deuill or some ill planet strikes him mute . aurum volat ocyus eur● . mounsier flemingo , fraught with angels store , would see faire london , neuer seene before : where ( lodging with his mistres but one night , ) had ( ere he parted ) put them all to flight . humilis prostrata quadrante . fine mistresse delia defies the man , that proffers lesse to her then golden fees : what think you her some cōmon curtizan , that will her credit or her custome leese ? in faith sir no : but ere you shall goe hence , shee will for once accept of eighteene pence . ingentes vastant coniugia gazas . musco , that alwayes kept with pollicy , what he had scraped since his infancie : scarce one year wedded ( for he needs would marry ) hath taken ludgate to his sanctuarie . cucullus non facit monachum . siluanus is become so pure and holy as he accounts all mirth but idle folly , aske him wherefore , he giues you ghostly reason , but then his whore comes neuer out of season . o infelicaes quos fata sequntur iniqua . pontus is posting hitherwards apace , to dine with diuers that in fleetstreet meets him . but see the lucklesse chance of such a cafe , assoon as he alights the sergeant greets him , so that the burthen he should haue de fraid , was wholly now vpon his hostesse laide . vsus promptos facit . this makes menalcas muze aboue the rest , to see how qnaint my lady is adrest : for from the girdle vpwards ( durst he sweare , ) she doth the shape of very man appeare . musae spernuntur egenae . faunus for feates of fencing beares the bell. for skill in musick on each instrument , for dancing , caruing , and discoursing wel with other sundry gifts more excellent ▪ but striuing still to make his credit stronger , the taylor will not trust him any longer . sic transit gloria mundi . i pray sir , did you note on sunday last , how richly rubin was apparrelled ? well may he be compared to a blast , or lik'd to one that 's metamorphosed . for the next morning ere the day did dawne , all that he wore , and more , was laid to pawne . nocte latent mendae . what meaneth rosamond to walke so late , when no man can discerne her face or feature : ( but by her habit may preiudicate , she is some faire , or rather famous creature : ) oh good sir vnderstand thatin the darke , one man of twenty may mistake the marke . crede quod habes & habes . lorellos wife is lately brought to bed , ( as luck would haue it , of a goodly boy , the hopefull issue of her maiden head , and onely iewell of the fathers ioy : then who would doubt the tyme or once but note it when t is as like him as himselfe had got it crescit amor precio . how like you darkis in her deepest ruffe ? seemes she not now as propper as the best ? you thinke you may commaund her , marry muffe ? shee scornes the motion , fough , that were a iest : because she sold her wares so cheape of late , must they be alwaies prised at one rate ? fronti nulla fides . gallus that greatest roost-cock in the rout , swels now as big as bacchus did with wine : like to a hulke , he beares himselfe about , and bristles as a boare or porpentine . t is not his locks that makes him looke so big , for all men knowes he weares a periwig . fortuna multis nimium dedit . now fie vpon thee coward nemius , that oft hast puld thy ladies slippers on : yet still wert bashfull , not so venturous as once so much her leg to looke vpon . were i thy father and thou heyre to mee , i should for certaine disinherit thee . degeneres animos timor arguit . mounsier montanus is no little man , of vnapprooued valour to his foe : perswade , or wooe him with what words you can , hee le be reuenged all the world must know . but when he found one with his wife in bed , for feare or shame he durst not shew his head . cri●●ibus coelare studet sua crimina maechus . when cacus was accused of a rape , for stealing secretly to his maids bed : he hardly could the doome of law escape , had hee not thus the matter couloured , that tooke his oath ( nor did he sweare amisse , ) he went not into hir bed , for 't was his . redit orbis in orbem . young codrus land-lord to his fathers rents , which happy time ( long lookt for ) did expire , addresseth him with those habiliments , as least beseemes the son of such a sire . and thus he gallants it some yeare and more , vntill his tenants thrust him out of doore . male parta peribunt . brutus , that braue and compleat caualier , who thus of late in fleetstreet florished : thought then no pleasure or expence too deare : but see how soone the case is altered : as that constrained to forsake the streete , he now betakes himselfe vnto the fleete . noctes atque dies patet atri ianua ditis . the times are waxen dead with dalila , who since the terme hath felt but little sturring , then was she sought-to more then helena , when gallāts gallopt with their coaches hurring : but now she speakes with all that please to call , loe thus her trade doth termely rise and fall . sine fuco pulchra venustas . mistris morinda is more coy then wise , but faire she is , and that most richly faire : her husband beares it out ( let that suffice ) and all defects is able to repaire . but yet i wonder they should so excell , that haue been bankrout , all the world can tell . negat ofcula gratarogata . priscilla proues most dainty of a kisse , when she intreated , woo'd , and courted is : lord how she simpring sits , and minceth it ! in very deed sir , shee le not eate a bit . as full of manners as of modestie , true , if her vertue be hypocrisie . prodit se lumine luscus . luscus that once lay with his mistresse maide , and ( fearing much to haue the matter knowne ) went to his fellow , whome he friendly praide , to counsell him as were the case his owne : he that ( more cunning ) knew what should be done , tooke this aduantage for his better speede , to finish that which th' other had begun : but then alas she prou'd with child indeed : and made the woodcock ( who did first bewray it ) stand to the reckning , that could better pay it . se fugit adulter a custam . nisa , who from her window glaunst her eies , saw mopsus come , as fast as foot could trot : for ioy whereof , vpon her bed shee lies , as who should think , she slept and saw him not . t was very strange , vnlesse shee meant herein , her eyes should not be open to her sinne . ostendit hadera vinum . a scoffing mate , passing along cheap-side , incontinent a gallant lasse espied : whose tempting brests ( as to the sale laid out , ) incites this youngster thus to gin to flout , lady ( quoth he ) is this flesh to be sould ? no lord ( quoth she ) for siluer nor for gold , but wherefore aske you ? ( and there made a stop ) to buy ( quoth he ) if not , shut vp your shop . caelum non animum mutat , quae trans mare curr● , naye fie how strange you make it mistris iane , will you not know your quondam tried friends ? remember since you lodg'd in cart-her lane shall former kindnesse merit no amends ? i say no more : well may you change your name : but once a whore , you should be still the same . spernit gens rustica musas . what tell you me of porcus pesant groome , that scrapeth vp together so much thrift , vvhich he obscures within some desart roome , and basely liues vnknowne by any shift . his lookes are characters of his discent , sprung from the loynes of some mechanick syre , that neuer knew what ciuill vsagement , but to be onely rich doth still aspire : spurre such a one in ought but in his trade , and you shall see how soone he 'le proue a iade . nemo omni parts beatus . t is plainly known that our yoūg knight sir adam . had his beginning from an auncient name . who ( though not rich ) may make his wife a madā that brings hir dowrie to maintaine the same . say that the herrald cannot blaze him forth : must knight-ship therfore be of no more worth ? pari iugo dulcis tractus . when caecus had been wedded now three daies , and all his neighbours bad , god giue him ioy . this strange conclusion with his wife assayes , why till her marriage dâye shee proou'd so coy : ( quoth he ) we man and wife in manner were , a month before : then could we haue repented ? alas ( quoth she ) had i not cause to feare , how you might conster it , had i consented ? fore god ( quoth lie ) t was well thou didst not yeeld . for doubtlesse then my purpose was to leaue thee . oh sir ( quoth she ) i once was so beguild , and thought the next mā should not so deceiue me now out alas ( quoth he ) thou breedst my woe : why man ( quoth she ) i speake but quid pro que , i ndor est sua damna referre . peter hath lost his purse but will conceale it , least she that stole it , to his shame-reueale it . quos ego ? sed motos praestat &c. flaccus giues out ( because the world shall knowe it ) how bitter shortly he intends to write threatning therein to firk his fellow poet , gainst whome he beareth such reuenging spite : but soft ( quoth flaccus ) should i say hee s poore ? oh no : least others talke as much of me , or shall i tell him that he loues a whoore ? tush therein likewise we both iump agree . faith , flaccus doubtles will his spleene recall : as good bee friends and neuer write at all . diues quis stultus habetur ? t is true that symon ( simple though you think him ) knowes how to execute his fathers trade , which ( no disprayse ) may with that substance linck him , as quickly shall amend what nature made , do not your most fooles thriue exceeding well , that haue but wit inough to buy and sell ? cupit meretrix pudibunda videri . who brutes it , mistresse parnell is no maide , and will not answer such discourtesie : she scornes the very worst that can be said , and stands so much on her virginity . as flatly to their teeth she doth retort it , presuming none so vile that will report it . impar impares odit . sotus hates wise-men , for himselfe is none : and fooles he hates because himselfe is one . de●●rare est periurare . dacus hath damn'd himselfe on due regard , from tauernes , plaies , tobacco , and from wine , swearing he le liue like iohn of paules church yaard , at least will sometimes with duke humfrye dine . t were well done ( dacus ) had'st thou power to do it . but dice and drabs ( i feare ) will hold thee to it . frustra times qui sperat nihil . tush hang it : haue at all ( sayes curio ) comes not deuze ace , assoone as six & three ? who would not rather halfe his lands forgo , then be out dar'd by such a one as he . damne me i le venture all vpon a cast , wert not as good turne rogue at first as last . poculo iunguntur amici . a health ( saith lucas ) to his loues bright eye , which not to pledge , were much indignity . you cannot do him greater curtesie , then to be drunke and damn'd for companie . clero struit impia fraudes , when rose had reck'ned her ful time at large , she then bethinketh whom to nominate , that might partake with hir insuing charge , at length with wisedome more considerate , she gesseth none mongst all the rest so fit , as is the parish priest to father it . sapiat , qui diues , oportes . t is knowne how well i liue , sayes romeo , and whom i list i le loue , or will dispise : indeed it 's reason good it should be so , for they that wealthy are , musts needs be wise : but truly to describe and set thee foorth , thou ow'st thy belly more then thou art worth . natura paucis contenta . mecus is now become a frugall syre , that spends no more then nature doth require : and yet his wife will prooue a traueller , although but once a yeere he lye with her . nil gratum , ratione carens . paulus a pamphlet doth in prose present , vnto his lord ( the fruites of idle time : ) who farre more carelesse , then therewith content wished it were conuerted into rime , which done and brought him at an other season , said , now'tis rime , before nor rime nor reason . haesitat in dubijs ars stupefacta malis . vrbanus that committed an offence with a young country lasse ( poore silly foole ) to salue his credit , soone conueyes her hence , vnto a garden-house , or vaulting-schoole . where now ( vnloaden of that lucklesse ill , ) and all dispatched ( saue the houshold charge : ) the goodman-bawd , or pander , ( which you will ) brings him no ticket but a bil at large . item for pipkins pap & other things , amounting all to twentie marke or more : and this alowd into his eares he rings , pay sir ( quoth he ) for shame discharge your score , vrbanus loth to be proclaim'd a gull , was willing to compound in any wise : but yet not tendring his demaund at full , said he had seene the lyons once or twise . the lyons ( answers he , ? that may be true , but think you thence to meritany prayse ? each lobcock may those lyons dayly view , haue you not seene the dragons in your dayes ? no ( quoth vrbanus ) that i must confesse , then ( said the pander ) you must pay no lesse . meretrix inimica quieti - philo is wondrous iealous of his wife , and vrgeth termes of shrewd suspition : but knowes not him the cause of this his strife , yet will hee yeeld to no condition . for more he vexed is that knowes it not , then if you horn him to his face god wot . vinitur ex rapto &c. lieftenant lentulus liues discontent , and much repineth at the want of warres : for when his credit , coyne , and all is spent , what should he do , but idly curse the starres ? content thee lentulus with thine estate , that wert not idle when thou sto'lst the plate . turpe se●ilis amor . old doting claudus doth in hast desire , with beautious young penelope to wed , whose frozen appetite is set on fire , vntill the match be throughly finished . indeed as good dispatch , as make delay , that must be horned on his wedding day . laesus amor in surorem vertitur . where hath sir iohn so long beene resident , leauing his pensiue lady all amort ? who will not say ( woe worth the time mispent ) for griefe where of she hath no list to sport . but leaue her not againe in such a plight , least ( out of mind ) she proue more out of sight , nullus ad amissas ibit amicus opes . heard you not yet of captaine ferdinand , that was so wont to swagger and carowse ? he lodgeth now no longer in the strand , but is remoued thence to such a house : where all his best acquaintance that he knowes , will not redeem th' one halfe of what he owes , ingenium natura dedit queis non dedit vti . nay see if momus yet can ceasse to flout , how should he choose ? his meere conceits are such : t is good sir : i le not say you are a lout , but may not one presume to think as much ? i feare when we haue both done all we can , the best will scarce proue good gramarian . patria est vbicunque . braue minded medon can no more endure , to liue in england then to brooke the lye : tut your temptations cannot him allure , he scornes them as an idle mockerie - vrge him no more , i tell you t will but grieue him . for heere his meanes no longer may relieue him . hoc tibi sorte datum . nay ( good sir ) giue vs leaue at least to know you , was not your father once a man of trade ? you now are riche : i know , who may . beshrow you , that for your sake , were yonger brothers made , hearke in your eare , t is not the wealth you haue , can shield you from the scandall of a — alea nil moderabile suadet . when milo meanes to spare , then spends he most : let him but come where sport or gaming is , his humor cannot hold till all be lost , and neuer thinketh he hath done amisse . for thus resolued , milo cares not whether he pay th' one halfe , or lye for all together . velle placere sat est . fie , would you offer winifride that wrong , thus to attempt her virgin chastitie ? well wotteth she , you cannot loue her long , and ( which is worse ) the world maye it espie . which is the thing that makes vs looke into it or els ( you know ) how easie t wer to do it : et genus et pr●auos iactant ignobile vulgus , sir , can you tell where young pandorus liues , that was surnamed here the prodigall ? he that so much for his silke-stockings giues , till nought is left him to buy bootes withal . oh blame him not to make what shew he can : how should he else be thought a gentleman . auro cedit honos . bindo hath lost his bess● 〈◊〉 ●nowes not where , and ( frantick ) seekes her all the streete throughout : take courage bindo , and be of good cheere , tomorrow shalt thou finde her , ther 's no doubt . tomorrow came : deseru'd she to be shent , that brought him home inough to pay his rent ? magni constabit parlla voluptas . hand off sir sauce-box , shee 's no meat for grooms or common wights of base-borne parentage alas , your leane expence fits ale-house roomes , that with maid-malkin holdeth equipage , because sir tristram late intreated me , you therefore think to doe as much as he . sapiunt quaecunque probantur . ●e make our epigrams , as men taste cheese , ●hich hath his rellish in the last farewell : 〈◊〉 as the purest liquor hath his leeze , 〈◊〉 may you harshly end the tale you tell , the tayle ( of all things ) some men ayme at most , those that had rather fast , may kisse the post and ther 's an end . thus haue i waded through a worthlesse taske , wherto ( i trust ) ther 's no exceptions tane : for ( meant to none ) i answere such as aske , 't is like apparrell made in birchin lane : if any please to suite themselues and weare it , the blame's not mine but theires that needs will beare abijcis ista ferus ? moritur mea musa dolendo : accipis ista libens ? illa quod optat habet . laquei ridiculosi: or springes for vvoodcocks caueat emptor. parrot, henry. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) laquei ridiculosi: or springes for vvoodcocks caueat emptor. parrot, henry. [ ] p. printed [by thomas snodham] for iohn busby, and are to be sould at his shop in s. dunstans church-yarde in fleetstreet, london : . "lectori benigno" signed: hen: parrot. verse epigrams. with a title-page woodcut. printer's name from stc. signatures: [a] b-q (-[a] ). running title reads: epigrams. the last leaf is blank. identified as stc a on umi microfilm. reproduction of the original in the folger shakespeare library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams, english -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - rina kor sampled and proofread - rina kor text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion laquei ridiculosi : or springes for woodcocks . caueat emptor . london : printed for iohn busby , and are to be sould at his shop in s. dunstans church-yarde in fleet street . lectori benigno , scienti , & ignoto . dvo propemodum anni elapsi sunt , ex quo primum epigramata haec ( qualiacunque ) raptim & festinanter perfi●ebam : quae cum capellano siue officialitiam ●isa ( sicuti mos est ) & approbata , ●unc equidem aut non omnino in lucem pro●irent : partim quod secundum tempora & occasionem composita aptiora magis & ●ece●ntiora gustare videantur ; & quod hisce studijs aut potius vanitatibus minus iam dudum versatus , valedixissem . sed num placuerit ei cum typographo citius agere , cui gratís ( vt priora ) lubenter contuli : aut alia ( qu● nescio ) impeditus occasione , eadem sine me edita iam sunt , & in publicum diuulgata : si tamen cuicunque fortasse placeant perlegenti , mihi etiam gratissimum fuerit & perplacebunt , dummodo quae commissa sint errata , humaniter condonauerint , aut quae omissa , non culpauerint imprudenter . at non sum nescius quam a●●ara & virulenta quoru●dam sint ingenia , qui cum mellis nihil habeant , a●uleu● tamen venu●atum gerunt , quo obuiu● quemque vulnerent atque insectentur hisce , ego absinthium & graueolentes her●as potius quam suauissimas rosas grati●ue odoris thymum ( hyblaeis apibus degu●tandum ) offerrem . sed vt desistam pau●is ; si qui de●ique laqueis istis ( quem●dmodum appellantur ) necesse & volenter ●iodo incidere certabunt , ita quod de me ●essimè & immeritò postea loquentur , tali●s ego proxima tantummodo editione , ●lanculum ( si coactus ) responsionem fa●am . hen : parrot . vni , sipossim posse placere , sat e●t . diues arabs aurum , gemmas dat laetior orbis , et quaeis confines indus & americus : at sterilis gens ista mea est , fulgentis eoi lumina , quam solis nulla beare solent . quae tamen indigno concessit iupiter almus , ( nulla licet tanto iudice digna , ) dabit . to the reader . to the courteous , generous , and scolasticke readers : i cannot stoop too submissiue-low with that ●bseruance which to them belongeth . but to th' illiterat and home-spun-pea●ants , proue i as harsh and indigestable as is their spite and ignorance vnre●roueable . i know i shall be fowly censured of some slauonians that scarce haue any taste or feeling of inuention ; yet will be medling though they cry but mew , whom to reuenge were lesse expedient by how much the labor in so base a busines would proue impertinēt . if any one in the reading hereof shall ought assume to his owne particuler ▪ and say expresly it is ment by him , ● cannot helpe his incredulitie , but rather wish his folly more apparant ▪ that men might note him as a publick● cockscombe . for mine owne part , i had long since bidden adue to these idle toyes not thinking my labours ( done then● should now againe be brought vnto the presse , which is indeed withou● ●y priuitie . vvherefore , if any thing ●oeuer be escaped or misplaced , it shall ●ot be imputed vnto my fault , being ● neither was nor would be thereunto ●onsenting or assisting : nor shall i ●eede be so obsequious , seeing it was onely done then to please my ●elfe ; much lesse to vse any long apol●gie , which were to erect a large portall to a little cottage . in briefe , ●t is to me no otherwise then as a cast ●r game at passage , that am indifferent ●hough i ●ling out at first : and therefore to conclude , as i seeke to please none , so looke i for as little thankes , ●sse prayse , & least reward : so farewell . to the vulgar censurers . if my ill-tuned rimes content the wise , whose deeper iudgements i desire to please , let not the ruder sort be so precise , that ( critticke seeming ) cannot censure these . i write not to the rusticke rabblement , nor fawne vpon the curious kinde of men , but hold it more then bootlesse labour spent to begge their poore applause ; nor care i then if such repine , whose enuy cannot hurt , though like a raging sea they foame their durt . finis . my honest friends that reades , i you bes●ec● to make the best construction of each lett● and not to blame my lauishnesse of speech , in paying soundly where i am a debter : my word and credit else you should infringe , which was to catch the woodcocke in a spring springes for vvoodcocks . crispati erines , plumae , dant calcar amori . why is young anas thus with feathers dight ? and on his shoulder wears a dangling lock : the one foretels he 'l sooner flie then fight ; the other showes hee 's wrapt in 's mothers smock . but wherefore wears he such a iingling spur ? oh , he deales oft with lades that will not stur . pariiugo sociantur asini. cothurn●s thinks he hath the rarest wit , that any sel●e-conceit can glory in ; doe but applaud him , and you are as fit vnto his purpose as an asse to 's skin : marke if to paules the gallant be not gone , you seldome there see one foole walke alone . consuetudo , lex . two wooers for a vvench were each at strife , which should enioy her to his wedded wife ; quoth th' one , shee 's mine , because i first her saw , shee 's mine , quoth th' other , by pye-corner law ; where , sticking once a p●ick on what you buy it 's then your owne , which no man must deny . ingrata gratia , grace , i confesse ▪ she hath a comely face , good hand and foote , as answerable to it : but what 's all this except she had more grace ? oh , you will say , t is want that makes her doe it . true : want of grace indeed ; the more her shame , disgrace by nature , onely grace by name . quo maior , peior . aetus , that late a great deuine did meet , ● would , iesting , needs presume his health to gree● , ●ho ( not offended ) told him he was well : ●o●d then , quoth letus , see what lyes men tell , last day i was abroad , where i did heare your worship hath beene speechlesse all this yeare . magnis fortuna nocet . two knights in london ( the tearme being ended ) would of a scriuener borrow fifty pound : ●ho said , by him they could not be befriended ●lesse a citizen with them were bound : for , quoth the scriuener , thus much vnderstand , the men we trust haue eyther goods or land. videantur quae non sunt . saltus goes booted to the dauncing schoole , as if from thence his meaning were to ride ; but saltus says they keepe his legs more coole , and which for ease he better may abide : tut , that 's a cold excuse . it rather seem'd saltus silke stockings were not yet redeem'd . vmbras non scelus metuit . mistresse marina starts to see a frog , a naked rapier , or a creeping mouse ; to heare a gun , a barking mastiue dog , or smell tobacco that de●iles her house , to taste of fish no man aliue shall woe her , yet feares she not what flesh can doe vnto her ▪ sal●em videretur . a welshman and an englishman disputed , which of their lands maintain'd the greatest state ; ●he englishman the welshman quite confuted , ●●t would the welshman nought his brags abate , ●en cooks ( quoth he ) in wales one wedding fees ▪ true , quoth the other , each man to●t● his cheese . latet aliquid intus . mistresse mallina waxeth ill at ease , and keepes her bed , sicke of a burning feuer : ●t shee 's perswaded t is some worse disease , ●nd that the foolish doctor doth deceiue her ; for why ? shee feeles it shooting in her bones , that griping puts her to most grieuous grones . naturam expellere durum . profus● borrowes , but ne'er payes againe , ( a custome he hath kepte'er since his cradle ) although you binde him in an iron chaine , can any man pay debts more then hee 's able ? fore god , not he . let nouerints sinke or swim , hee 'l sooner deale with kate , though she pay him . tempora praesagit venus . kate , for a need , deales in astronomie , and can of times and things prognosticate ; for as they vse vpon their backes to lie , and censure of the weathers changing state ; so she ( her body laid ) can prophesie whether it shall proue colde , hot , moyst , or dry . sensus falluntur ●ept● . vvat told his wife she closely plaid the whore , for , ipso facto , he himselfe espide it ●rom forth the key-hole of the chamber dore : ●ut she regardles to his teeth denide it saying , thou rascall , wilt beleeue thine eyes before thy wife , that in thy bosome lyes ? improbè neptunum accusat qui bis naufragium fecit ▪ svsan hath sworne to deale no more on trust , what shift so euer she be forst to make her ; ●r such as promise most in heat of lust ●ill least performe ( saith susan ) but forsake her : and can ye blame her then ? iudge those that know it , ●wice to be got with childe and no man owe it ? ingl●uiem seauitur fames . cvrio would feed vpon the daintiest fare , that with the court or countrie might compare ▪ for what lets curio that hee need to care , to frolick freely with the proud'st that dare . but his excesse was such in all things rare , as he proou'd bankerout ere he was aware . omnis vicessitudo grata . parnell accompts it deepest pollicie , to shift her lodging euery month at least ; t is strange you should demand the reason why , are not her clyents thereby more increast ; besides , her yeares and actions yet in prime , that els might proue a baude before her time . nunquam saturata libido . ●vcas so long lies surfetting in 's bed as seldome it permits him rise to dinner ●ntill his lustfull appetite be fed , ●hiles hee 's consorting with some femall sinner , whom hackney-like he hires from night till noone , and turnes her off his iourney being done . spreta tamen viuunt . ●ocunda is become an idle liuer , supported by the bounties of so many ●s may be thought the fault is in the giuer , ●hen pitty t were she be releiu'd by any . and yet you 'l say , if there were none to giue , how should such creatures as iocunda liue ? no● omnia possumus omne● . fvscus forgets since first he was a clarke , and ( now i thinke on 't ) well he might doe 〈◊〉 , that had of learning but so little sparke : should he remember what he did not know ? no matter ( fuscus ) halfe t'hexchequer knowes thee , that now so ancient shall not need to poze thee . sequitur vestigia matris . 't is maruail'd much how martha holds it out , that 's thought to haue so little commings in , pish , none that knowes her duely makes that doubt : besides , she comes not of so base a kin , for though her father were of gentry wide , shee 's borne a mad wench by the mothers side . quantum mutatus ab illo . ●edes growne proud , makes men admire thereat , whose baser breeding should ( they think ) not beare it , ●ay he on cock-horse rides , hovv like you that ? ●ut pedes prouerbe is , win gold and weare it : but pedes you haue seene them rise in hast , that through their pride haue broake their neckes at last . malum commune pri●atum inc●ndium . hellen of tr●y , was held a wondrous woman , ( if all things wondrous be which vve admire ) ●et neuer was she knowne so wondrous common , ●hough gainst her will , she caus'd that vvondrous fire : but wondrous is our hellens more mistrust , that kindles thousands with her fire of lust . modò diues , pessimus vocetur . prauus th'atturny prooues himselfe to blame , by taking , as t is said , excessiue fees ; but his excuse is others doe the same , which else for want of asking they should leese : tut , who is he but scandall may depraue , that twice was vnder-shreiue and yet no k. ? sat , si formosa camilla . camilla hath a faire and pleasing face , but it 's as common as her conuersation , she like esteemes your praise as her disgrace , that with a poxe bids farewell reputation ; for shee 'l maintaine the course she first began , to sweare , carowse , or lye with any man. vritur omnis amor. ● wonder petrus lookes so paily on it , whose late resemblance seem'd of sanguine hue ? ●ou shall not need ( sir ) question much vpon it , ●is too well knowne how ( with a poxe ) it grew : t was ne'er yet sound with him since first he swore , to loue rebecca that polluted — domi parcus , for as prodigus . vvhen toruus seldome sups or dines abroad , he seemes more curious then the best at table , ●nd with the daintiest dishes layes on load , ●lthough it cost him more then 's meanes is able : thus at one meale himselfe the buzard robs , that basely feedes at home on hearing-cobs nummorum impensas , non veneris luxum fugit . ga●fridus growne a flincher now of late , mongst his comrages ( as men he neuer knew ) will henceforth ( sweares ) those cursed courses hate ; and truely learne to lead his life anew , for proofe whereof and to auoyd such cost , he keepes him onely to one wench at most . ingenium , vent●is amor , et pocula laedunt . vvhy should not pr●cus haue a pregnant vvit , that hath so many proofes thereof profest , i see no reason much should hinder it , hee 's rich inough , and fareth of the best : drinckes as good liquor as is made of malt , but vvith his meat he eates too little salt. quis tantiemeret poenitentiam ? simplex , a citizen was guld of late , who sporting scarce a minute with his wench , ●ought his repentance at so deare a ra●e , ●s ere he could the panders fury quench was forst through coward feare , to pay the shot , which might ensue that simplex neuer got . quam sequimur deteriora . ● aurentius hath of ladies long beene lou'd , but he adonis-like regards them not , ●or by their best inticements can be mou'd , ●nd yet an issue of his loynes hath got : by whom thinke you ? some beautious nimph at least : to tell you true by ioane his kitchin-beast . vindicta vim sequitur . kit being kickt and spurn'd pursues the law. that doom'd the damage at twice forty-pence , which vvhen the partie that had vvrong'd him savv ▪ thought t' was too great a fine for such offence , why then ( quoth kit ) if i too much request , thou maist at any time kick out the rest . sic iupiter ●lim . vvhen siluio seekes a broad for venery , he sutes him euer in some strange disguise , and like the lapwing farthest off both flye , that none his dwelling know in any wise : hath he not reason to be close and fearing , that iustice giues for others good abearing ? opinio maior veritate . vvhat tell you grosus now of grammer rules , that hath a chequer-clarke so long beene bred , ●s good you question him of mares , or mules , ●s poze him in a thing he neuer read : and yet your clyents stoope with cap and knee , to some ( god wot ) as scuruey clarkes as he . turpe lucrum veneris , vvill in a wilfull humour needes would wed a wench of wonder : but without a stocke , ●hose fame no sooner through the street was spred ▪ ●ut thither straight our chiefest gallants flocke : put case she 's poore : brings she not chapmen on ? i hope his stock may serue to graft vpon . fronti nulla fides . cantus , that woolward went , was wondred at , which he excus'd as done through meere cont●tio● but who so simple ( cantus ) credits that ? t is too well knowne thou art of worse condition : and therefore if no linnen thee begirt , the naked truth will proue thou hast no shirt . lucri bonus odor . faber , not fond or iealous of his wife , ( though nere so faire ) from no mans sight restrai● for well he knowes t' would proue a hellish life , besides the want of that which oft it gaines her : taking no knowledge then they come for sinne , sayes , please ye enter sirs ? my wif 's within . magnis ●ors ausibus obstat . mounseir le graund , is hence from london go● , on vrgent businesse that concernes him neere , ●nd more disturbs him but to thinke vpon , ●hen any suddaine chance that came this yeere : which might haue wrought his vt●er dissolution , had he not scap'd that scuruy execution . curiorum bacchanalia . ●aulinus poasteth euery day to powles , but not to pray : that holds he out of fashion , ●rom whence returning , to some tauerne troules , ●here of his sinnes he makes more due relation : and calling most to minde the scriueners band , he then bethinkes him domes-day is at hand . voluisse satis , si non datur vltra . behold yon greene-goose in his hauking suite , that 's booted still a month before he rides , to vrge the reason were but vaine dispute , ther 's no man liuing knowes all times and tides : what can he more then pawne his scarf●e and swor● and yet the ostler will not take this word . quod amamus laudamus . marcus maintaines it boldly with his pen , and will approue it by philosophy , that greatest clarkes are not the wisest men , ( and therein shewes you many reasons why : ) amongst the rest not least considerate , brings his defence from tom the coryate . suum cuique pulchrum . ●osthumus not the last of many more , askes why i writ in such an idle vaine , ●eing there are of epigrams such store , ●h , giue me leaue to tell thee once againe , that epigrams , are fitted to the season of such as best know how to make rime reason . fama mendax . report thou sometimes art ambicious , at other times too sparing couetous , ●ut many times exceeding enuious , ●nd out of time most diuellish furious : of some or all of these i dare compound thee , but for a lyar haue i euer found thee . quid non ●brieta● ? rvbin reports his mistrisse is a punck , which being told her , was no whit dismaid , for sure as death ( quoth she ) the villain 's drunck , and in that ●aking knowes not what he said : t' was well excus'd : but oft it comes to passe , that true we finde in vino veritas . ex nihilo nihil . t' wer wondrous , niger should so long neglect to take a wife , either for wealth or wit , but that t' was knowne he had some close defect , which from his very rising hindred it : for what to women most content should bring , was flatly found in him to proue no thing . nescit modum rationis expers . vvhen late bartellus wife began to breed , she long'd for crabs , and dagger-puddingpyes ; ●ext time on pickeld oysters must she feed , ●ll which , and more , her carefull husbands buyes , so oft she longs for sundry dainty things , as all is spent er ' she her bastard brings . non penna , sed vsus . caius accompts himselfe accurst of men , only because his lady loues him not : ●ho ( till he taught her ) scarce could hold her pen , ●nd yet hath since another tutor got . caius it seemes thy skill she did but cheapen , and meanes to try him at another weapon . pari iugo ●ulcis tractus . vvil and his wife so well loue one another , as oft their strife is which would first be dea● meane while ( the better to partake with other ) lye closely kissing all day long a bed : for so their fancies both iumpe on the nick , he cals her cunny , she him little prick . manus manum fric●t . caecus indebted , wants wherewith to pay , vnto mine host ; but doth therewith appeale to his kinde hostise , crauing longer day : that with her euer yet did kindely deale , for let her speake ( quod caecus ) iust and truely , she cannot say , but i haue payd her duely . opus & vsus . opus for need consum'd his wealth a pace , and ne'er would cease vntill he was vndone ; ●is brother vsus liu'd in better case ●hen opus did , although the eldest sonne ; t was strange it●should be so ; but here was it , opus had all the land , vsus the wit , posse non velle , virum nobilitat . festus could finde in 's heart to eat good cheere , to weare rich garments , and conuerse with ear●e● , ●o reuell it with the best , and domineere amongst the choisest and most sweetest girles . but this ( quoth festus ) feeles to him curse , to finde in 's heart , and cannot finde in 's purse . vulgaria sperno . some maruaile why these epigrams i write , to one proportions limit me confines ; as if i could no more nor lesse indite , but iust the measure of so many lines . to answere such as therein thinke i erre , spite of their spleene i will be singuler . dulce lenimen , miseriarum . raueus restraind of libertie , lies by it , but therewith is resolu'd to take no care : for raucus reckons not who ere espie it , so long as there are yet some chincks to share , let fortune doe the worst that she can doe him , if but his doll , that dainty duck come to him . o tempora , o mores . sam sayes this new world differs from the old , who knowes not that ? there 's no man can deny it : ●ictuals were nere so deare , nor loue so cold , the matter is , he wants where with to buy it . but ( sam ) thou neuer yet couldst heare or see , that beggers were more proud then now they be . regina paecunia quid non ? nvmmus subborn'd a counsellor on his part , gainst innocence that knew not what to speake ▪ ●ut free in conscience had a cheerefull hart : and yet constrain'd , his minde at length did breake vnto him , saying , sir , you play the poet , that know the truth , yet will not seeme to know it . veniunt spectentur vt ipst . vvhen yong rogero goes to see a play , his pleasure is you place him on the stage , the better to demonstrate his aray , and how he sits attended by his page , that onely serues to fill those pipes with smoke , for which he pawned hath his riding cloke . sic ar● diluditur arte . a sarieant that a seruingman arrested , bad him bring bayle , or else to prison goe , which , to procure on 's word , the man requested , and left his ring as in deposito : the saricant hauing staid till sun had set , was forst ( as fortune would ) to pay the debt . naturam ducern sequi●ur . mestus growne dull and dead through discontent : but if his trull , that sees him sotted , say , ●ow cheere you syr ? or is impatient ●f her dispatch , and sweares she will not stay , oh , then hee 'l rouze himselfe , and gins to fall vnto his busines , like a naturall . rediculae admirationis facetum responsum . lanius that late a load of calues did bring , vpon his horse through fleet street to his dore , was of a studient thought so strange a thing , as if he nere had seene the like before : when boldly lanius ( looking backe ) replide , ther 's many a calfe ( syr ) doth on horsebacke ride . conscius ipse sibi , &c. reader , perhaps thou think'st i aime at thee , yes , much : to meane a man i doe not know ? besides i hope thou neuer iniur'dst me , then t' wer vnlikely ( faith ) it should be so : but as by chance the blind-man takes the hare , so may i hit thee ere i am aware . male agens , odit lucem . dorus disdaines those verses he compos'd , should to the presse or publike view be broug● least greater matter be thereby disclos'd , then euer yet before was done or thought : prouided alwaies you may see him drunck , spend , sport , or spue , with any shoredich punck . inuisibilis forma . mistrisse madrill weares euermore her maske , which makes the people very much admire ; ●●t none so saucy dares the reason aske , ●●r contradict it since t is her desire : for painted pictures , must ( you know the guise ) be alwaies curtain'd from the vulger eyes . mali corui , maelum ouum . squinto that peasant , with his meager face , whose tongue is like vnto an adders tayle , ●ust out of spleene these epigrams disgrace , and if you 'd hang him cannot chuse but raile ) his reason is that old distemperd rage , who writing nere but once was hist from stage . vsur●em damnat● vim patitur . craesus a gallant , but of no great wit , inueighes gainst vsury and interest ; main●ayning simplie that it is vnfit mens substance by such profit were increast : but craesus , talke no more , for i haue knowne , when you your selfe haue put vp three for one . canis ad vomitum , 〈◊〉 that each night goes duely drunck to bed , forgets to pray vntill her●●en is ; and hath next morning druncke againe and fed , then sweares as fast at whatsoeres amisse , so much hee 's mou'dat wagging of a haire , as dick dares damne himselfe fore morning pra● ictus piscator sapit . brutus at length escap'd the surgions hands , begins to frolick as if all were well ; ●nd would not for the worth of thrice his lands , ●ndure the brunt of such another hell ; but leaues this farewell for his phisicks hire , the child that 's burnt , for euer dreads the fire . contemptae i●cent artes . ●oung valentinus writes as many hands as any clarke within the towne he dwels ; ●e latin , french , and du●ch he vnderstands , multis alys more then much excels : ●here's no man knows how fortune yet may lift him , ●hough at this time he wants a shirt to shift him . caecus amor , caeca libido . secretus in the night a drabbing goes , that lurking liues by day-light like the owle ; but then his lustfull lims vpon her throwes , and nere lookes on her , be she faire or foule , or lewd , or loathsome , lam'd , diseas'd , or commo● it onely likes secretus shee 's a woman . quorsum purgatio haec ? cornelius thinkes it best he take purgation , as well t' expell those homours that abound , as to beguile some others expectation , that for his pleasure pleaseth not be found : i doubt cornelius then will purge so long , as hee 'l not leaue himselfe a penny strong . tunica pallio proprior . tiburnus keepes a tauerne neere the fields , where ba●chus fild with nectar nightly sports , and venus pleas'd , with sweet perswasion yeelds ; vnseene of vulcan when as mars resorts , but to iumpe plainely to the point indeed , t' is thought his wife best serues the turne at need . stultorum sapientia . corinus waxen poore deuised best what art or skill might next aduantage bring , so many proofes his cunning had profest , as could be fram'd almost on any thing : at length resolu'd , his countrie he for sooke , and of his trauailes wrote a fustian booke . non brachia sed nasus . nick being druncke one night disgrac'd his nose against the poast , he groping could not feele , nor how he hurt himselfe doth yet suppose , but that his head was lighter then his heele : ) but nick , if i might censure of thy harmes , i thinke thy nose was longer then thine armes . faetido sic fla●u , turget superbia . as young renaldo stood diuising best to please his lady with some pretty tale , ( whose setled countenance there to addrest and bashfull blushing did him then appale ) he therewith coughing , chanc'd to let a fart , which euer since hath dasht him out of hart . nec caste , nec cautè . vvlcanus vowes to prosecute the law , gainst one that wronged his beloued nell ; whom for her part she neuer felt nor saw : and how she liues that let her neighbours tell , if she her cariage doe not closely beare , though he , her husband , once a bankerout were . infamia , fama . sardinia swaggers , but with good report . though she preserue a morsell for her friend , the course she takes is of another sort ; then doth to groomes or wastcoat wenches tend ; for , ( but her selfe excepted ) shee 'l be sworne , the worst are knights on gentlewomen borne . nescis quò serus vesper vehat . lincus deuiseth as he lyes in 's bed , what new apparell he were best to make him ; so many fashions flow within his head , as much he feares the tailor will mistake him : but he mistooke him not that by the way did for his olde suite lay him vp that day . est mihi diua parens , &c. owinus wondreth since he came from wales , what the description of this i le should be , that nere had seene but mountaines , hils , and dales , yet would he boast , and stand on 's pedegree , from rice ●p richard , sprung from dick a cow , be cod was right gud gentleman : looke ye now ? nulli thai negat . lvcina likes not to be ouer coy amongst those friends that come in loue to greet her for mirth and musick euer was her ioy , and therein failes she none that dares but meet her : so firme her fancies doe on pleasures fixe , as she is wholy made of merry-tricks . matrimonium meritrici pallium . marcella doth her daughter oft aduise , she take example by her sisters fall , least worser danger should to her arise , and may her credit in like question call , till she in marriage so her selfe aduance , as may support it whatsoeuer might chance . simul & semel . cantus both wood and wedded in one day , ( nor was it wondrous , as the case required ) for she with childe , no reason had to stay , and he contented , lik't what loue desired : vntill he saw how soone her wombe did rise , which she excus'd , was now the common guise . bacchus triumphans . cocus that quondum kept both horse and man , and could haue tane what not ? vpon his word : now walkes the suburbs without cloake or wan , and fares as fortune pleaseth to aford ; more shame then pittie t is , a man would thinke so great a portion could be spent in drinke ? sequitur vestigia matris . ●idus too franckly brings his wife abroad , amongst our roysters of the deepest ranck , ● who should say she that awry hath troad , ●ll play the same , but not a worser pranck , vnlesse she iumpe so iust her mothers mould , as like to her shee 'l proue as often sould . monstrum intus & extra . monsieur mendoza weares a nose notorious , not like the luster of each malmsey nose ; ●t such whose splendor is more glorious , ●en richest rubies , or the reddest rose , briefly the tenor , if i must di ●elose , mendoza hath indeed a monstrous nose . par pari , referrs decet . old menedemus that would neuer wed , but made his wenches serue in stead of men , is now at length of such a morsellsped as quits his quondams with a carde of ten ; for all those mungers did her most maintaine , she now payes home with twice as much againe . quid cogit necessitas ? vvhen luscus late beheld a proper lasse , and of her dainties had desire to taste , not knowing how to bring his sute to passe , he vow'd to speede or hang himselfe in haste ; she , fearing luscus would haue don 't indeed , yeelds , more to saue his necke then serue his nee● . ingentes , tollunt aminos . qvint●s by nature was so hot and fierie , as on the least occasion straight would draw , and run himselfe into a proeminiri , ●ith resolution , in dispight of law , vntill the gaile for twelue moneth taught him diet , where ( purg'd of choller ) quintus now liues quiet . parturiunt montes , &c. petrus will bring forth epigrams heereafter , but i deliuered am : my paines are past . ●hen must his muse be but my muses daughter , ●ecause ( you see ) mine giues the name of last : but petrus meanes t' inlarge his booke with blancks , fearing more labor , and more lines , then thanckes . furoris praecipitium . iosephus hath his learning quite forgot , yet , hence these epigrams he headlong flings , that by no meanes his fancy feedeth not , they are such brutish beastly baudy things , was 't not well aimd at , on so short a sight ? few of your fooles doe alwaies iump so right . superbioe comes , inopia . svsan that whilome wore her gownes of sattin , and far'd deliciously from day to day , ( translated into french from out of latin , ) is faln at length into that foule decay as all the meanes and mony she can win , will scarce procure the spittle take her in . tempus ed●x rerum . vvhen mistris win did first her wastcoat weare , she scarcely could that cariage then maintaine , ● now on float her selfe a lost doth beare , ●h flaggs and top-sailes launching forth amaine : whose force in hottest fight exceeds so farre , as dares encounter any man of warre . asp●●um nimis condimentum . mounseir albanus new inuested is with sundry suites and fashions passing fit , ● neuer any came so neare as this , ● ioy where of albanus frollickes it , vntill the tailors bill of solui fias , diuerts his humour cleane to another byas . tobacco , vinum , venus . focus growne fat , liues like an epicure , and studies daily how he shall be fed , that can no more your walkes in powles indure , but takes tobacco as he lies in 's bed : where belching ( like a boare ) he cals for sack ▪ and only keepes a whore to scratch his backe . mulus mulam fricat . how comes it mildred our next neighbours m● that serues for wages scarce foure markes a ye● should goe so rich and gorgiously arai'd , as to no little wonder may appeare ? oh , t' is her maister deales so like a brother , as one good turne deserues to quite another . quis ebrius laudat temperantia● ? seuerus likes not these vnseasoned lines , of rude absurdities , times soule abuse 〈◊〉 all posterities , and their assignes , ●●at might haue beene ( saith he ) to better vse : what sencelesse gull , but reason may conuince , or lade so dull but being kickt will wince ? facies , non vxor amatur . canutus knowne a man of substance plenty , and growne a grandsire to no meane a stocke ▪ ●ath wedded one suppos'd was vnder twentie , ●hom poorely he receiu'd but in her smocke : that since for recompence a sonne hath brought him , so old and able who would ere haue thought him ? nobilitas ignota , ignobilis . 〈◊〉 boasts his kin and pedegree , are such as may compare with greatest peeres , nor can your coate by halfe so ancient be ; before the conquest knowne for many yeeres ; if that be ancient , which we doe not not know , then i conclude , his gentry may be so . summis negatum stare di● . tharsus in office beares himselfe as great as 〈◊〉 bastard , who such labour won : or 〈◊〉 himselfe that sate in 〈◊〉 seate , or 〈…〉 said to rule the sunne : but so presum●tuous he forgets his calling , as with young ica●us i feare his falling . nonre , sed nomine sponsus . lvcina languishing through long dispaire , that since her marriage-day ner'bred yong bones , ( and yet a woman lusty , young , and faire , ) 〈◊〉 now deliuered of two boyes at once : for which the midwife prais'd her husbands skill , yes : true ( quoth she ) the man did his good will. vadas si inuideas . momus , thy mallice i haue lookt for long , and made prouision fit to entertaine thee ; ●ut if thou guerdon my good will with wrong ●hy comming i le preuent , and much disdaine thee . my boord for bitter foes no meat affords , thou therefore shalt be forst to eate thy words . quam fallimur in certis ? iocus in 's humour weareth out the day , counting it sinne to take thought for to morrow , and makes a iest when he should come to pay ; but pleads good earnest when he meanes to borrow . yet see how iocus iests at length deceaues him , that in the hole of wood stre●t-counter leaues him ▪ inequales trahunt iuu●ncae . cvrta nere mourn'd her husband being dead , because she was too young , and wanted wit ; but curta since ( the second time ) hath sped , with one as much too olde , and more vnfit , which ( if you marke it ) makes the prouerbef● she that hath borne a calfe , now beares a bull. ambitio faeminini generis . mistres matressa hopes to be a lady , ( not as a dignitie of late expected ) but from the time almost she was a baby , that hath your richest gentlemen reiected , but yet not dubd in present , as she should be , proues in expectance still , my lady would be . amor non est acceptor personarum . ivlia hath sworne to loue her seruingman , on whom she dares before her husband smile ; and enterchange those greetings now and than as may the times and his mistrust beguile , for iulia thinketh it in conscience meet , ( sweet who tastes the sowre , should sometimes feele th●● vnus diabolus dominatur intribus . ascriuener and a vsurer contends against a sarieant , which performeth most : th' one sayes , he bindes ; th' other his money lends then what ( quoth they ) remaines that thou shouldst yes ( saith the sarieant ) if you note it well , ( boast ? i can conduct men liuing into hell. sublata causa tollitur effectus . mounseur riero hath his wedlocke lost , that gainst his credit proues a strong inuectiue : some censure this , and that ; but by the most it 's found apparant that he was defectiue : and therefore must he in a case so slender be forc't perforce his right and clayme surrender . aquila non capit muscas . grandus that great colossus gins to learne him the rules that longeth to a cunning clarke : but saucy he 's to thinke my lines concerne him , or any drunkard stumbling in the darke . no grandus , know , i write of greater men , thou art too base a subiect for my pen. praestat otiosum esse quam male agere . vcres liues lazely , and loues her ease , medling with nought that toyle or labour brings ; ●ut to be idle lesse doth lucres please ●hen to be medling with the meanest things , which she accompts but as a veniall sinne , hauing ( alas ) no other commings in . quot capita , tot sensus . some much commends your humours ordinary , others doe more affect the louely greeke ; but most extols our english secretary , no one can please all : all loue not alike . giue me that fellowes wit , whose follies rime , was bare-arst pictur'd on the backe of time. nititur in vetitum . aske minos why he marries not , hee 'l say because he will not liue at rack and manger ; whiles he may take a snatch , and so away in common corners , as a common ranger ; t were no great matter if a man should name him ▪ pish , bring him on the stage you cannot shame hi● ▪ vnusquisque suo sensu . as are my epigrams no way precise , or curiously compact , but plaine indeed ; so wish i not the reader , ouerwise , to wrest or censure where there is no need , but if thou wilfull wilt apply them to thee , all that i say , is , much good may they doe thee . aliud simulat , aliud agit . ●roface ( quoth fuluio ) fil's the tother quart , nay , since w' are met , let vs not budge till tenne : ●hat's he that will not pledge me with a heart ? ●ll this to any one dares say amen , but calling for a iourden , steales away , and leaues the reckoning for the rest to pay . serio , si sero . no more carowsing tomki● , if you loue me ; when was there seene a ciuill woman drunke ? in any thing but this command or proue me : nay , then you 'ld vse me as a common puncke . faith syr , i scorn 't : nor care i for your wine , giue me your money ere you haue what 's mine . ede , bibe , lude . come on , sayes mounseur rake-hill , what shal● do● shal 's kill a sarieant , or go rob for treasure ? what hath thy stomacke most a minde vnto ? we ne're shall yonger purchase greater pleasure : liue still , and lacke ? s'●ut , something wee 'l intend , they can but hang vs for 't and ther 's an end . moritur cum tempor● mutant . svperbus lookes no lower then the skie , yet is vnskilfull in astronomie : ●is like he knowes for certaine he must die , ●ut would not see the place where he should lie : take heed saperbus , may a number cry , thou be not damn'd for pride and villanie . nocturnae lu●ubrationes periculos● . ●lora gaines more by labor in the night , then can her husband purchase any way : ●hat would she not procure her if she might ●e so imployd ' with businesse all the day ? that might be censur'd soone by him , or those who best the burthens of her labour knowes . sequentur tandem deteriora . hang 't , a poxe on 't ( quoth vincent ) let it goe , t' is not the most that i haue lost before , he was a rascall to abuse me so : spent i as much as he is worth and more t' will not vndoe me : but ( braue vince ) it will , if you continue in this humour still . quod roget natura ●iat . matilda growne to age , full fourteene yeares , betroths her selfe against her fathers will , and lesse the threatnings of her mother feares to ioyne in wedlock , proue it good or ill : which to vndoe she scorneth with her heeles , so much she now the pricke of conscience feeles . sic ars diluditur absen● . vvhen ralph returnes each euening from a play , he tells his wife he was at shop that while , which simply she beleeues and goes her way , ●hen laughes to see he could her so beguile and come vpon her : but if all be true , ther 's many ( ralph ) playes on her more then you . quisque sua vindicat . my epigrams how euer poorely borne , and at an instant hudled vp in hast , ●oe boldly yet the name of bastard scorne , ●hat sauour not of stolne or borrowed taste : many haue father'd what they haue not knowne , my comfort onely is , what 's mine 's mine owne . quaesola , magis errat . young mistris rose to pymlico is gone , ( a place i hope no city creature blames , ) but it 's suspicious that she walkes alone , and not in troopes amongst our london dames : because the wicked tearmes it as a bursse , to meete and talke , but afterwards doe worse . facile obliuiscuntur maximi . gallanto fall's in rage this other day , missing a suite he thought was stolne , or sould , but presently remembred where it lay , for by his page t' was peremptory told , he knew before ( which need no such vexation ) that that and more was pawnd the last vacation . audentes fortuna iuuat . ●souldier once a widdow would haue woo'd , but being poore and loath to be deni'd , ●st not impart how he affected stood , ●ich she as soone thus censur'd as espi'd : you may be valiant ( sir ) but seeme vnlusty , that either haue no weapon , or t' is rusty . exclamat sydera sero . ●oung maister pignus sweares he lesse indures to deale with brokers then so many diuels , ●ich next to baudes , and panders him assures , euen as bad or rather worser euils : that more inflict ( saith he ) then sword , or dearth , and therefore cals them very diuels on earth . forma , bonum fragilè . rvgosa waxen old hath broke her glasse , and liues in hatred with her owne complectio● remembring but the forme it whilelome was , which when she lookt on gaue that sweet reflecti●● but now despayring , thinkes no christall stone ▪ can shew good count'nance that receiueth non● conscia mens quaeritur . lysanders wife nere ioy'd her harts content , since now this second time she prou'd with chil●● for well she knew the labour ill was spent , that had her husband secretly beguild : but most to thinke ( which is the worst shee f●● the worlds suspicion when it comes to yeeres . amica omnibus , inimica nulli . ned with his first espoused neuer thriu'd , the reason was her vnalluring feature , ●ut now at length with such a wench hath wiu'd , 〈◊〉 is compos'd another kinde of creature : who faster then a man bespeakes her wares , deales all she can to free her husbands car●s . fatinecessitas . vvhen taurus plagues the people through his might , hee 'l still alledge the law shal beare him out ; ●hough conscience knowes t' is neither iust nor right , ●et threats by law to bring the same about : but taurus for a cuckold 's pointed at , i wonder taurus hath no law for that ? in caud● non in capite . silla in rage hath sworne to leaue the law , that will not halfe suffice to beare his charge , such takings in a tearme he neuer saw , and little reason hath to spend at large , were not his wife of clients better sped , silla had long ere this beene dead , or fled . cynicus . na●ure hath fram'd fastidius like a dogge , of that vnhumane shape , so true a dogge as he 's reputed for a very dogge , or rather one more biting then a dogge : who since by due he is so deem'd a dogge , it must ensue that he will dye a dogge . aliquid bonum propter vicinum bonum . vvhen borus with his betters ●its at board , he vomits straight his humours bitternes , ●nd will exceptions take at euery word : ●lthough it poyson proue to more or lesse , who patient must perforce therewith partake , not for his owne , but for his phillis sake . tam notus vt nasus . tom takes it as a pride that i should name him within the circuit of my bookes precinct ; 〈◊〉 intercepts me , with , i can not shame him , ● if he knew my meaning by instinct : for thus , hopes he , the more a man rayles on him , the more he will in time bestow vpon him . theatrum licentia . cotta's become a player , most men know , and will no longer take such toyling paines ; for heer 's the spring ( saith he ) whence pleasures flo● and brings them damnable excessiue gaines , that now are cedars growne from shrubs and sprig●● since greenes tu-quoque and those garlicke ligs . sola meamecum porto . some , that my lines haue madded , make report , what er ' i write is all by imitation ; others , of whose abuses i make sport , say , that i want more matters variation , or that from borrowed-wit i seeke my fame , let them haue patience , i 'le pay each his shame . equitare i● arundine longa . ●oane loueth not this iesting with edge-tooles , that oft were wont to hurt her vnawares , ●nd therefore meanes to deale with none but fooles ●●frich inough ) how blunt , she neuer cares ; though well 't is knowne her iesting's too too euill , for shee is able conny-catch the deuill . maximus ignotis . gorgonius brags what wonders he hath wrought , tickling himselfe with selfe-conceit vaine-glory , ●sin what fray or skirmish he hath fought : ●o strangers whom hee meets hee 'l preach a story , but what thou art gorgonius well i wot , 't is best thou tell it them that know thee not . audi , cerne , tace . fortune ( it seemes ) respects not honesty , nor enuyes any man that doth her scorne ; for tassus seem'd her honest friend to be , and yet his fortune is to weare the horne , which kindely he puts vp and will not blow it , because his foes , to spite him , shall not know it . contra vim durare noluit . parnella pines away with discontent , and of mis-fortunes deepely doth deplore her ▪ deeming the powers no way indifferent , her younger sister should be match before her : and herein will the case no longer smother , for since shee is no wife shee 'l proue a mother . peccatum vetus , paenitentia nou● . ●agus , with 's wit , at length was ouer-reacht , who hauing won a widdowes chastitie , 〈◊〉 more her credit then his owne impeacht , ●her with childe through importunitie , but since supposing all things done and ceast , ●s forst to pay an hundred pounds at least . o stulte hac nocte , &c. ●varus wisht his coyne and cou●●les store , might in a moment yeeld him so much more ; 〈◊〉 saw behind him in a looking glasse , ●worthlesse wish at length was come to passe : ●ut then came death that did the miser smother , ●nd gaue him equall ioy of th' one as th' other . stultus varietatis auidus . zoilus expects my verses more should vary , to please the readers eare with choise digress●● tut zoilus , know , i am not mercenary , besides , it is no badge of my profession : yet few haue writ more epigrams then i. who sayes the contrary , i say , they lye . tandem sese ●urgit in al●um . dick swore he doubted not to mount ere long , and be no more the man he whillome was , for he would liue or lie in prison strong , which to make good he quickly brought to pass● that hauing rob the vestry at al-hallowes , was forc'd within a fortnight mount the gallo●● non intus sed extra . a citizen ( whose wife would sometimes sport ) spying her tricks , first grieu'd , and then fell sicke , to whom his friends would oftentimes resort , and aske him where his paine did ake or pricke ; no where ( quoth he ) yet well i shall be neuer , the paine i feele , is long of my bad liuer . vt populus nanus . nanus , though dwarfish , hath a diuellish wit , whose tongues the harbenger , that gets him diet , ●nd therewith striues all companies to fit , though what he wants , hee 'l boast his gold shall buy it : aske how he liues , hee 'l tell you straight ( with oathes ) by trickes , tobacco , strumpets , and good cloathes . amalo ad peius . milo with 's swearing makes absurdities amongst the vulgar , seeme as verities ; for that ( thinks he ) a man esteemes his oath , whom otherwise to credit would be loath : but now such is his chance whereat hee 's grieu'd , the more he sweares , the lesse he is belieu'd . quae vetera non curamtu . my epigrams escap'd the printers hand , eyther on stationers stal's regardles lye , or must on posts , for pennance , nayled stand , that euery one may gaze on , passing by ; which to preuent , and therewith purchase pelfe , tom coriat solde the bookes he made himselfe . non honos , sed onus . a knight that bought his order , straight grew ill , complaining much that he had caught mischance ●●isitions could not cure him with their skill , ●or he himselfe with all his strength aduance : he straind his backe so stooping to the ground , as he nere since could lift vp twenty pound . dignum , quod merito . ●ammon the vsurer hath such a wife , as layes it on , though he himselfe doth starue ; 〈◊〉 is resolu'd to liue a ladies life , ●●e whilest his pelfe may her in pompe preserue : mammon , this curse pursues thy wealths abuse , she spends for pleasure what thou gots by vse . patris aegrotans . dego grew sicke because his dad left giuing , and of consumption would haue dy'd out-right ▪ had not the churle the sooner left his liuing . whereby mas dego since was dub'd a knight . vnhappy sonne , to draw such vitall breath , that phoenix like liu'st by thy fathers death ? facile parta , facilius locata . two lawyers opposite in two mens cases , rayld at each other in most vehement sort ; with many bitter termes and foule disgraces , as those that hard them , blusht at such report : next night they meeting , laught at their past-ia● and what they got , spent freely at the barre . a malo ad peius . a country farmer had a friend at court , that for his coine procur'd him to be knighted on whom his neighbours now giues worse report , saying , that since all house-keeping is slighted , therefore , in truth , they did him much vnright , to spoile so good a clowne for such a knight . vt tempora , mores . a pander once appareld wondrous braue , was askt why fortune fauor'd such a knaue ; who said , by fortunes-wheele he did not clime , our riches comes ( quoth he ) by this bald time , wherein we free our selues from paines and care , liuing , like barbers , by mens losse of haire . non verbera , sed verba . two schollers late appointed for the field , must ( which was weakest ) to the other yeeld ; ●he quarrell first began about a word , ●hich now should be decided by the sword : but ere they drew , there fell that alteration , as they grew friends againe with disputation . vera filia matris . a gentle virgin sprung of gentle blood , much on her birth and reputation stood , who prou'd so gentle to gentillitie , as she was got with childe apparantly : for if men gently would put kindnesse on her , she neuer would vngently put it from her . in fundis parsimonia . caius hath vow'd it for this yeere at least , to sup no more in tauernes at such charge , but in his priuate chamber meanes to feast , and send for victuals by his men at large , tut , what should caius in such cost excell , when egges , and butter will suffice as well ? suum cuique pulchrum . cvruus being askt why he such roses wore , vpon his durty calue-skin-cobbled shooes ? ●nd euermore in summer sockes forbore ? his answere was , he could nor will , nor chose : but curnus know such roses are vnmeete , to help the sauour of thy stincking feete . post dulcia finis amarus . ienkin a welchman that had suites in law , iournying to london chanc'd to steele a cow , for which ( poxe on her lucke , as neare man saw , ) was burnt within the fist and know not how : being askt if well the lawes with him did stand , was haue her now ( quoth ienkin ) in her hand . ignotae , nulla cupido . florella , fal'n a yeare before her time , ( to salue the forfeit of her mayden head that must no longer for promotion clime ) prostrates her selfe vnto a vintners bed , where gallants knock each midnight at her do to taste the iuyce that had no bush before . nemo nascitur artifex . ●f these ( quoth potus ) proue not things admir'd , when poore mechannick toyling water-men , ●●all with apolloes muse be straight inspir'd , ●o leaue their sculls , and deale with poets-pen : let hercules be henceforth tearm'd a dwarfe , and paules-church-yard exchang'd for puddle-whar●e . praui magis p●osunt . ●ionus the scriuener by procurements gets more in a month then keepes him all the yeere , ●owing those mountibanckes that mony lets , 〈◊〉 forfeit-pledges ( proue they neare so deare : ) let baudes ( quoth pignur ) beg , and brokers fall , it 's too well knowne , he gaines the diuell and all . mala crescunt deteriora . philo takes phisicke euery spring and fall , presuming thereby to prolong his life , but neuer notes the danger therewithall that comes by nigling with his neighbours wife , poxe on 't : but last yeere shauen to the chin , must now againe this tearme anew begin ? tandem saturata cupido . ieta that whilome lady-like did let it , vpon the wheele of fortunes highest top : and scorn'd to feare mischance ( if gold could let● now prostrate keepes a poore tobacco-shop , where wonted paines to win the golden fleece ; of each , is purchast but at pence a piece . foeminae ludificantur ●irs● . ●inde katheren to her husband kist these word● , mine ownesweet will , how well doe i loue thee ? ●●rue ( quoth will ) the world no such affords , ●nd that it 's true i durst his warrant be : ) for nere heard i of woman good or ill , but alwayes loued best her owne sweet will. timet , seipsum noscere . ●acus doth daily to his doctor go , as doubting if he be in health or no ; 〈◊〉 vvhen his friends salute him passing by , 〈◊〉 aske him how he doth , in courtesie , he will not answere thereunto precise , till from his doctor he hath tane aduise . cignus per plumas a●ser . pvt off thy buskins ( soph●eles the great , ) and morter tread with thy disdained shancks , thou think'st thy skill hath done a wondrous feat , for which the world should g●ue thee many thancks ▪ alas , it seemes thy feathers are but loose , pluckt from a swanne , and set vpon a goose. fingit quod foemina vellet . clara halfe angry with my bawdy song , straight tolde her husband she had done with 〈◊〉 fie clara , i should suffer much more wrong , ere i would tell what i haue done with thee ; but clara , should i speake my conscience plain● i know thou wouldst it were to doe againe . per linguam ●audam . frisca saith faine she would be rid of me , and in that scorne she takes a wondrous pride : frisca , hearke hither what i le say to thee , thou art too rancke a iade for me to ride : and therefore prethee ( frisca ) doe not raile , for feare they venom'd tongue disclose thy ( ) dupliciter beatus . a freeman once of london made a knight , would in that order still maintaine his trade , ●nd trafficke as before , taking delight ●o say , his wealth would grow when titles fade , t' was wisely thought vpon , so let it be , thy sonne shall braue it for himselfe and thee . sic surd● canimus . a welshman vvas to an italian tolde , that could his language perfectly dispute , which he beleeu'd as gospell vncontrold , and with italian gins him straight salute , th' other , admiring as a man dismaid , answer'd in welsh he knew not vvhat he sayd . conscia quae nota . lexander cald carina hackney-woman , true : borne at hackney ; that was no disgrace : oh yes , she doubts you deem'd her hackney-commo● alluding more her person then the place . for why ? her conscience tels her vnrequired , how like a hackney she hath long beene hyred . praestat latrare quam mordere . old chub for cheapnes chose to liue in commons , but not to study more then kitchins law ; 〈◊〉 harkning when the cooke a manger summons , ●nd that 's chubs chiefest care , to cramb his maw , oh no , i lye : he keepes in cleanly case , the pumpe , the priuie , and the pissing-plac● . dignior faemnia marito . ●aius shifts not so oft his seruing men as doth his wife exchange her chamber-maid● , ●e one but notes him iealous now and then , ●'other ( should seeme ) her secrets more vpbraids , the poore effect whereof consists in this , he but the shadow , she the substance is , senibus voluisse satis . old caecus that a young wench sought to win ▪ protested he would proue an honest man , sauing this one prouiso putteth in , you may not barre his feeling now and than ; for though his stomack doth your flesh dispise , to sup the broth would caecus yet suffice . quid non verba suadeant ? sextus halfe salu'd his credit with a iest , that at a reckoning this deuise had got , when he should come to draw amongst the rest and saw each man had coyne ; himselfe had not , his empty pocket feeles , and gins to say , by iesu syrs , here 's not a crosse to pay . nemo ●isi per vultum notus . cacus constraind on suddaine to vntrusse , turn'd vp his podex in the open street but hid his face : and to them answerd thus that passed by , and told him t' was vnmeet , ther 's none ( quoth cacu● ) by mine arse that knows me , how beastly els soeuer they suppose me . posteriora placant . druso his darkis had not kist all day which he intreated she would beare in minde , that longing at her lips prouok't him stay : but therewith tolde her t' was the more behinde , till fit occasion might desire fulfill ) as much behinde ( quoth darkis ) as you will. sat , satis esse diues . c●im , since his fathers death , is cleane vnapt , to follow now his former course began , that better sutes to be in veluet wrapt , and seemes to braue it out with any man ; why may not clim such garments boldly weare ? being left more money then an asse can beare . aliquid in nubibus . scorus giues reckonings most irregulate , for sallats , thus : for fruit and sweet-meats , so much ▪ but that is commonly when mistresse kate sups in the flower-d●-luc● with syr iohn owe-much : who , if his credit be ●o longer tooke , will morgage him the mannor of goe-looke . nil violentum perpet●um . ●haedra transform'd from being a chambermaid , ruffled a while with robes of richest price , ●ll of a bastard she was lately layd , ●●d had foretold , her lord did her intice , but then she carelesly repuls'd , and gon , fell for the seruing-groomes to seize vpon . formidat stollidus vmbr●s . ●oung tregoose would by no meane● seale that bill which worse ( saith hee ) then drabs or dice enthrall men , ●edging this to be the onely ill , cause t' was written , be it knowne to all men , for wer 't ( quoth tregoose ) to my vather knowne , hee 'l thinke me sure some bastard , not his owne . huic fronti fides . creta scornes any but her owne complexion , wishing her spotles liues integrity , were but as free from faults and foule detection , as is her face from filthy mercury : 't shall nere be said but creta for her part , delt plainely vpwards without tricks or art . prosunt modo , verbera verbis . mvsco would alwayes vse to beate his maides , vnlesse t' were little susan that came last , not caring which his seruice most vpbraids with deeds of darkenesse that are done and past , but here the question is how susan delt , that she with childe his weight yet neuer felt . si hodie tibi , cras mihi . a scorn●full dame inuited ouer night , to come and dine next morrow with a knight , refus'd his sudden bidding with disdaine , to whom this message was return'd againe , since with so short time she could not dispence , to pray her come as that day twelue month hence . vt populus mundus . plancus complaines the world's still worse & worse , whether he meanes the people or his purse , or both in one , or one in both combines but thus i thinke , he rather it defines , like as with people there 's lesse conscience found so yeelds his purse , of late , more lighter sound . occulta tandem prodiunt in lucem . as curios page lay sleeping in the porch , that had beene watching th' other night before , a seruingman in th'intrim stole his torch , which after missing made him much deplore : to whom quoth some that saw him in such plight , peace boy , thy torch ( no doubt ) will come to light ; adte ( scabiose poeta ▪ ) scalpo hath got an itch in poetry , with which conceit doth oft his elbow scratch , and sooner hopes to come in print hereby , then any young beginner of his match : as cast-off chamber-maides conuert to drabbes , so may thy itch in time breake out to scabes . ebrius plus vitium t●ahit . cestus must sometimes sollace with his punck , which he accounts more needfull then his meat , ● nd holds it phisick to be often drunck , ● both which mesteries hee 's so compleat , as seldome with the one hee 'l dine or sup , but will be sure to cast the other vp . magnus persona , paruus crumena . grandus growes great , yet liues he poore with all how meane you then ? hee 's fat and well set forth ? ●rue : but t' is strange his incomes are so small , ●man of that huge show and seeming worth , how could his belly halfe so big haue beene , but that it showes he had great commings in ? quos amat , ampleclitur . franciscus loues to feast men at his table , sparing for nought that mony can procure , all which he thinkes too little and vnable , their least of loues or friendships to allure : yea master francis ; vse you so to doe ? prethee feast me and haue my friendship to . bis monitus , armatus . mistris mallina vowes shee 'l neuer mary , whiles some suruiue ; that her am●nds should m● hath she not reason to be wise and wary , that would so great aduentures vndertake , thrice to be got with childe by younger broth● that swore to wed her , and are matcht with oth● clericus sine libro . promus the puritaine though clownish , knowes , atricke of tenne which he from clarkes hath found , ●ho to the tennant in possession goes , ●o proue him if for purchase hee 'l compound : and thus doth promus like a tumbler toyle , whiles greater dogges expect to share the spoyle . incerta , somnia . ●orastes dreamt he was so fortifi'd , in spight of fates , with fauour and protection , ●s through the streets he did in triumph ride , ●nd proudly rule the rost by his direction : but waking since , with passions most extreame , hee 's vext that all this while he did but dreame . ad th●mam coriat . nuper admirabilem . vvonder of writers ( for so once thou wert , ) what pitty t' is thy fame no longer lasted , that such of note in trauell and desert , like time-lesse blossomes should so soone be blaste● for thus farre boldly may thy booke compare , how ill so euer sure t' was passing rare . a●eundem . vvhat fame at first exceeding worths in 〈◊〉 had thy late trauels and aduentures wroug● wherein thou simply didst put downe that vvoma● which to the court a deuonshire white pot brough● hers for reward vvas quickly done and past , thine on record will euer extant last . to iohn of powles-church-yard . haile iocund iohn made all of iouizance , and midst the garden of the muses dwellest , ●hou best deserues my verse should thee aduance , ●hat with those curious complements excellest : and galla●●s gret'st with that abundant grace , vssh'ring thy flat-cap fore thy fleering face . to the guilty coxcome . ●ease gald-backt gull to question what or whence , or who i am that did these lines compose , 〈◊〉 thou not priuately with shame dispence , 〈◊〉 needes must haue it publisht to thy nose ? will any foole suspect what no man thinks ? knowst not a ● . the more it 's stird it stincks ? improbè quae parta , periunt . gigas that iourneth daily to and fro , mongst courts and clarkes his causes to retai● will no aduantage , time , or toyle , foreslow , to bring him damn'd and detestable gaine : all which and twice as much will not defray , the charge that gigas ( with a pox ) must pay . duplex pudor , impudentia . scruto the scriuener that had lost his eares , whereon his locks he much more pendant wea● hath late the like or worser cousnage wrought , and to the pillory againe is brought , where now the hangman ( nought suspecting ) 〈◊〉 why sl●●e quoth scruto , must i still finde eares ? quaere aliud diuerscri●m . pontus in 's iourney trauelling towards lyn , grew wondrous weary and of force would inn● , where he an ostler cals , who cryes , anon , but staid so long that pontus would be gon : with that he heard within one laugh , and say , prethee make haste the cockney will not stay , but pontus cryes againe , and would not passe , vntill mine hoast himselfe put vp the asse . si quae latent , peiora puta . mvrus when first he maried with a whore , was truely tearm'd a cloake to sheild the raine , but he his cloake since that time neuer wore , because the world should doe him right againe ▪ mens hominis nouitatis a●ida . young prodigus new fashions still inuents , and ought that ancient is will nought esteeme , what others fancies likes least him contents , but all things needs will out of order deeme ; which is the vrgent cause i vnderstand why prodigus did sell his fathers land. ne sutor vltra , &c. a cobler and a curate once disputed , before a iudge about the kings iniunctions ; wherein the curate being still confuted , one said , t' were good if they two changed function● nay ( quoth the iudge ) i thereto should be loth ▪ but and you will wee le make them coblers bot● magnis , minora a grata . ●ewde lalus , came to me sixe crownes to borow , and swore ( god damne him ) he would pay 't to morow , ●ew his word as currant as his band , 〈◊〉 therefore gaue him but three crownes in hand , ●his i to part with , he to take was willing , ●nd thus he gaind , and i sau'd fifteene shilling . domina , non sponsa perita . ou wisht me to a wife fayre , rich , and young , that had the lattin , french and spanish toung ; 〈◊〉 thankes i told you , i desir'd none such , 〈◊〉 , one language might be tongue too much , 〈◊〉 loue not i the learn'd ? yes as my life , learned mistresse , not a learned wife . amicus incertus in re certa . coquinus vow'd all kindnesse that he could , i should command and finde him as i would , no sooner thankt i him , but presently he crau'd my help , which i could not deny : but then he swore since i his friend so stood , sfoot he would dye the death to doe me good , it chanst i claim'd his vow in time of neede , but to performe it he proou'd dead in deede , artes laudantur et algent . plancus the poet liues but poore and bare , yet nere was knowne a man , of miccle spendin● for puddings still were wont to be his fare , tut , bad beginnings may haue better endings . sudor serui pascit dominum . largus hath offices so great so many , as he can scarce directly serue in any , no matter largus , thou look'st to the gaines , and tak'st the profit who ere takes the paines : thy clarkes sufficient are to doe thee grace , that on thy gate this emblem well may place . a penman prostrate at an idiots foote , ( this being the motto ) sir , my mam shall doo 't . vulgaris vt nomen . paruus whose purse at recknings nere appear'd , caries a conscience blacker then his beard , which to the world doth boldly testifie , 〈◊〉 not so damn'd as yet he meanes to dye . signum ventris , apetitus . vvhen trustie tom his maister durst reproue , that once a wench besides his wife did loue ▪ he angry seeming at his bold report , requires him shortly after in this sort : calling to minde how much beyond all meate , his man would most these butterd parsnips ●ate , he caus'd his cooke according to his wish , to dresse that onely and no other dish ; which tom ( suspecting nought ) deuoures apace , and neuer ceased to debate the case . but fell vpon them like a hungry boare , that had not fed himselfe a day before , but n●xt meale , findes the like and falls aboard , eating what then his stomack could afford , 〈◊〉 now presuming of some other change , 〈◊〉 finding parsnips still ; thought then t' was strange , 〈◊〉 once againe ( quoth tom ) i meane to eate them , 〈◊〉 , to his maister ( sweares ) he will repeate them : 〈◊〉 still that dish was drest accordingly , ●●ich when as tom the fourth time did espie , 〈◊〉 to his maister goes to know the meaning , 〈◊〉 onely this , and other meates restrayning , 〈◊〉 ( qouth he ) you askt me this last day , 〈◊〉 i for change of pasture went astray : 〈◊〉 butterd parsnips you so much desire , 〈◊〉 strange you then should other meates require , sir , ( quoth tom ) i now picke out the sence , 〈◊〉 parsnips teach me that experience . sic daemon daemona fallit . zanthus arrested , did the sarieant pray he might not straight vnto the counter goe ; but thence perswades him in some tauerne stay to send for baile , and fees on him bestow : whereto the sarieant freely condiscends , and being come they call for wine at large , which zanthus seeing , doth inuite his friends that past along , to make the greater charge : for nought he meant ( nor could he ought defray , though seeming takes it to himselfe alone , ) but when the reckning came at length to pay , draw that haue coyne ( quoth zanthus ) i haue no● ●he vintner vexed , swore he should not part ●rom thence that night , till he were satisfide ▪ ●ary ( quoth zanthus ) euen with all my hart , could desire i might with you abide ▪ ●he sariant daunted in this case to see him , ●as volens nolens forc'd discharge the shot , ●or being now growne late he thence must free him , with coyne or credit where he would or not , but well yong z●nthus knew they would not faile him , ●hat did next morning from the counter bayle him ▪ rarus , qui publicus olim . of all the toms that euer yet were nam'd , was neuer tom like as tom coriat fram'd : tom foole may goe to schoole , but nere be taught speake greeke , with which our tom is richly fraugh● tom asse may passe , but yet for all his ●ares no such rich iewels as our tom he weares : tom tell-troth is but froth , and truth to tell , of all toms our tom beares away the bell. similis cum simili . ●om went to th'market where tom met with tom , tom asked tom , what tom● how far'st thou tom ? ●ho tom , i tom ? yes tom ( quoth tom , ) you tom : ●ell god a-mercy tom : how doe you tom ? ●ayth nere so well ( quoth tom ) since tom was tom , and thus was the greeting past twixt tom and tom. foras parcus , domi prodigus . vvhiles caius doth remaine beyond the seas , and followes there some great important sute 〈◊〉 lands bears neither oats , nor beans , nor peaz , 〈◊〉 yet his wife beares full and faire growne fruit ; his lands wants occupiers to manure them , but she hath store enough , and can procure them . postrema grauiora . incul●us comes to towne to learne new fashions , and will no more these rusticke imitations , but not resolu'd as yet what course to affect , intreats some stranger-friend would him direct ▪ who first my gull to birchin-lane doth cary , to sute himselfe : from thence to th' ordinary , where , after many a pledge with full carouse , he needes must visit next a baudy●house , b●t there incultus gan anew to quaffe , and euer since was forc'd to leaue his staffe . timidus gloriosus . ●orbeare t' attempt my patience if you loue me , for i shall draw vpon my deerest friends : he least occasion on the earth will moue me , ●nd then t' will be too late to seeke amends . ●ill you be quiet whiles i warning giue ? ●hat ? yet againe prouoke me to this geare ? ●rike but once more , as surely as i liue ●e be thy priest though 't cost me nere so deare ; 〈◊〉 , now remember you haue drawne my blood , ●elpe me , some honest man , or i shall sowne , ●eigh ho , hee 'l neuer doe me so much good : ●eare witnesse gentlemen , he struck me downe , ●hich to reuenge ( oh that my blood would cease ) ●rue as i liue i 'le binde him to the peace . fronti●ulla fides . vo●us hath vow'd to doe me many fauors , and by no meanes i must him gratifie , but all his oathes and protestations ●auors of nought but periur'd vile hypocr●sie : well , for this trick i le nere haue more to doe with one so wicked and a wit-all too . dura●d● sordida surgunt . vvhen nut browne nancy newly made a brid● ( that vs'd before to feede her fathe●s swine should more ( sir reuerence lucke ) be ladifi● and all remembrance of what 's past resigne : thereto preferd , alas poore pigges quoth she , now i am gone , who must your mistresse be ? cedant arma nummis . ●h spare you syr , you offer great disgrace to wish me sell my rapier ? fie , t' were base : ●arshall gentleman of my profession 〈◊〉 should be prostitute to such condition ? ●ooner part from forth the house i dwell 〈◊〉 leaue my pleasure i esteeme so well : rapier is my harts sole excellence , liues chiefe propagation and defence : ● blade syr , i le besworne is such a one ●arther came from hence then prester-iohn , ●et if it needs will please you looke vpon it , would but borrow some small siluer on it . clericus sine libro . vvhen crassus in his office was instal'd for sums of money , which he yet doth ow● a clyent by the name of clarke him cal'd , as he next day to westminster did goe , which crassus hearing , whispers thus in 's eare , sirra , you now mistake , and much doe erre , that henceforth must the name of clark forbeare , and know , i am become an officer , alas , quoth he , i did not so much marke , good master officer that are no clarke . durum telum necessitas . coquus with hunger , pennylesse constrain'd , to call for meate and wine three shillings cost , ●ad suddenly this proiect entertaind , 〈◊〉 stead of what 's to pay , to call mine hoste ; ●ho , being come , intreateth him discusse , ●hat price the law allots for shedding blood , ●hereto mine hoste directly answeres thus , ●was alwayes forty pence , hee vnderstood , so then ( quoth coquus ) to requi●e your paines , pray breake my head , and giue me what r●maines . amalo ad p●ius . in elders time , as ancient custome was , men swore in weighty causes by the masse ; but when the masse went downe ( as others note ) their oathes were by the crosse of this same groat : but then the crosse was likewise held in scorne , and by their faith their common oath was sworne , last hauing sworne away all faith and troth god damne me , now is vs'd their common oath . and thus by custome kept from times gradation , they loose masse , crosse , and faith , to finde damnation habet & rosa spinam . a cater that of late some wild-foule bought , incontinent vnto his master brought ; ●ho smelling at them neere about the rump ●ayd out , thou knaue these sauor of the pump ; ●is man that was a rude and saucy loute ●ounds , answeres , syr , swell you them thereabout ? smell your fayre lady there , and by your fauour , you 'l finde a foule if not a fulsome sauour . omnia probato , quod bonum est teneto . my epigrams dispatcht , abroad i send them , to good and bad , that but a looke will lend th● if any proue so kinde that can befriend them , when they shal heare or know t' was i that pend th● euen so ▪ if otherwise , i le not defend them , much lesse ( which were a shame ) i should comm●th then reader ( if thou wilt ) i prethee rend them ▪ v● case●s li●er . ●eywood affirmes , and prooues in some degrees , that one may well compare a booke to cheese : euery market some buy cheese to feede on , euery mart some men buy bookes to read on , sorts eat cheese , but wherefore ? there 's the question , 〈◊〉 poore for food , the rich for good disgestion : sorts read bookes , but why ? will you discerne , 〈◊〉 foole to laugh , the wiser sort to learne : 〈◊〉 sight and sent of cheese to some is hatefull , 〈◊〉 sight and sence of bookes to some vngratefull : no cheese there is that euer pleas'd all feeders , no booke there is that euer pleas'd all readers . liber secundus . dulce , quod v●ile . an honest vicar riding by the way ( not knowing better how to spend the day ; ) 〈◊〉 sing vnto himselfe geneua psalmes . blindman hearing him straight beg'd his almes , 〈◊〉 whom ( quoth he ) with coyne i cannot part , 〈◊〉 god thee blesse ( good man ) with all my hart : oh , said the blind man , greater is our losse , when such as you doe blesse without a crosse . sequitur inuidia famam . two madams once were striuing for the wall , both standing on their tearmes of worthinesse : the one but young ( howbeit rich withall ) the other ancient , though of substance lesse , said , soft and faire , till time hath tane fruition , your ladyship is of the last edition . quo se vertat , nescit . cvcullus hath disguis'd his former feature , and like pythagoras transformed shape , is now ( me thinks ) become another creature , halfe french , halfe english ( pox on such an ape ) that imitates all fashions farre and neere , though gainst the haire he buyes them ner'e 〈◊〉 credit colori , baitus beleeued for a simple truth , that yonder gilt-spurre spruce ●nd veluet youth , was some great personage , or worthy wight , ●ntill one told him he was but a knight . a knaight ( quoth battus ) vaith i chud a zworne , a hod not beene lasse then zome gen-man borne . locabunda , ludibund● . mistresse finetta for her ready wit , is much admired , and belou'd of many : but this one fault of hers confoundeth it , she iesting will deride and scoffe at any : which by an ill accustom'd vse comes on her , and yet ther 's one that playes as much vpon her . sequitur fortuna nefanda . craicus through craft redeem'd his credit crackt , that forc'd to leaue his bankerout occupation , clos'd with a widdow e're he was contract , whose riches once more rais'd his reputation . that now mid'st fortunes floating to the brim , craicus keepes strumpets , whiles his wife keeps hi● non omnibus dormit . say that carina keepes a vitling house , i hope 't is for no vulgar men of meane resort , that basely will a cast of cannes carouse , or at some game at cards but idly sport : t is knowne her weekely risings and downe-falling equals her state with some of higher callings . multum principia suaden● vvhen kate with country clyents courted is , she seems more coy then any new beginner , ●iuing , as if she knew not how to kisse , euer saw the man that yet could win her : but all to draw the gulles more eager on , ●hat shares her gaines with tinkers being are gone . mag●is non est mo●andum . e● how silenus walkes accomplished , with due performance of his fathers page , ●kes backe of purpose to be honoured , ● on each sleight occasion gins to rage , ●ou villaine , dog , where hath your stay beene such ? quoth he , the broker would not lend so much . fingit adultera castam . nisa , who from her window glaunc'd her eyes , saw mopsus come as fast as foote could trot : for ioy whereof , vpon her bed she lyes , as who should thinke she slept and saw him not . t' was very strange , vnlesse she ment herein , her eyes should not be open to her sinne . filius terrae . lvcas that hath beene long conceal'd of late , vpon the pennance of some purchast blame , liues now at court in most heroicke state , ( but you must note t' is by another name : ) call him not lucas now , least you disclose him , nor aske whose sonne he is , for then you pose hi● turpe est cum foenore lucrum . anus hath liu'd this last vacation , vpon his wiues bare charge without all reason , ●o since she knew at first her occupation , ●e saw worse takings in a lenton season . a man would thinke thou shouldst her more beshrow , that did so many burdens vndergoe . criminibus celare studet sua crimina maechus . vvhen cacus was accufed of a rape , for stealing secretly to his maids bed , hardly could the doome of law escape , ● he not thus the matter coloured : that tooke his oath ( nor did he sweare amisse ) he went not into her bed , ( for t' was his . ) non videmus manticae quod in tergo est . naso could wish the people would forbeare , to scandalize his more then honest n●n : who for this twelue month will expresly sweare he hath not found her false with any man : if otherwise she doe , he knowes not what , why should poore nafo be so pointed at ? luditur ●rte . marke but the semblance of fucatas face , how to the life her picture doth excell , for louely feature , sweet and comely grace , ( surely the painter hath done wondrous well : ) but here 's the doubt ( both faces made by art ) which you would choose to be the better part . sp●liatis arma supersunt . grand captaine quid , of coyne is quite bereft , whose page was wont his purse & coyne to carry , ●ow neither page , purse , coyne , nor ought is left , ●ue what he 's forc'd to pawne at th' ordinary . ● thus squint-ey'd fortune partiall in her gifts , ● puts men of note oft-times to needy shifts . duo i●nguntur in v●u● . vvhy was yong lancel●t , lynsey-wolsey nam'd , whose ancestors were of one linage fram'd ? ●t that t' was knowne wa●ling and fridaystreet , one coniunction coplatiue did meete . anguis in he●ba . hilus hath hid himselfe this yeere and more , not in respect of feare to shew his face , but for he rashly in his humour swore , the sessions-house should no more sift his case : but if you 'l needes the reason vnderstand , he hath beene burn'd already in the hand . labor impr●bus omnia vincit . clogo will needs be knighted for his lands , got by the labours of his fathers hands , and hopes to proue a gentleman of noate , for he hath bought himselfe a painted coate . magni constabi● parua vo●upt●● , hand off sir saucebox , she 's no meate for groom● ▪ or common wights of b●se borne parentage : as , your leane expence fits ale-house roomes , ●at with maid-malkin holdeth equipage : because sir tristram late intrcated me , you therefore thinke to doe as much as he . quantum mutatus ab illo . vvould any deeme m●●●sses now the man , that whilome was not worth a woodden can● ●●ubtlesse the dunce in some thing doth surpasse , his red nose is still the same it was . quifuit a●te p●des . the case is alter'd with mercutio , since his preferment to that noble man , what er'st he hath beene , boots not now to know , those times are chang'd you see , what 's then wasth i dare presume mercutio doth forget , that euer he a bill in paules did set . omnibus hoc vitium . pru that had patience to haue borne with any , and lou'd plaine-dealing ( witnesse all that kn●● is now vndone by bearing one too many , so that you see plaine dealing ouerthrowes her ▪ v●rijs mutata figuris . ettis length hath left her old profession , ●and closely coucheth in a sempsters shop , ●ich may the burden of her late transgression , ●h lesse suspect support and vnderprop : to such as knowes her not , she and her wares , for perfect purenesse with th' exchange compares ▪ plus quàm prudentia nummus . mongst our later knights , sir thomas knew it , ● by common practise more then cunning wooing , ●t being rich inough he could not rue it , ●icke should take him with his doll a dooing . hoc omnibus datur . cvt●bert our cobler can no more forbeare , to take tobacco , then to liue vnknowne : he drinks all whiffes at least , and learnes to sweare by heauens ; his oathes and humours are his owne : but adding hereunto a pot or more , he stands to nothing which he spake before . premit altum corde . vvleanus guil●y , doth himselfe perswade , some of these epigrams by him were made : but dares not tell you wherein for his life , least men should play on him , as on his wife . velle placere s●t est . mistresse parnella holds it requisite to keepe more maides at home then need requires well to please her husbands appetite , for abroad she like exchange desires : for thus they ab●ent best content each other , that else should be but baudes to one another . pocule i●●●gnutur ●mici . a health , saith lucas , to his loues bright eye , which not to pledge were much indignitie : ●u cannot doe him greater curresie , ●en to be drunke and damn'd for company . redit orbis in or●em . yong codrus , land lord to his fathers rents , which happy time ( long look't for ) did expire addresseth him with those habiliments , as least bescemes the sonne of such a sire : and thus he gallants it some yeere and more , vntill his tenants thrust him out of dore . oculus adulter . of all the pleasures that our london yeelds , caluus commends the walks about moore - 〈◊〉 there 's many reasons that prouokes him to it , he must be looking though he cannot doe it , mutauit fortuna genus . rvfus was reckoned once a man of might , that would seuerely domineere and swagger , ●ring the stoutest of the guard in fight ● single rapier , or at sword and dagger : who would not muse that such a great commander should be translated to a lousie pander ? vi●escit vulnere venus . ● vsan's well sped , and weares a veluet hood , as who shall know her breeding hath been good : 〈◊〉 rcason she should rise once in her life , ●●at fell so oft before she was a wife . voluptat is prae●ium dolor . vvhat cause had liuia to leaue the citie , where she so flourish't vntill now of late ? oh , ther 's a fault escap't ( the mores the pi●● which the church-wardens will not tollerate : and yet the yeere before they could dispence , taking no knowledge of the like offence . et manibus p●dibusque leuis . lays of lighter mettall is compos'd , then hath her lightnesse till of late disclos'd , for lighting where she light acceptance feeles , her fingers there proue lighter then her heeles . faeminae ludsficantur viros . lvce had a secret longing to goe see her childe at nurse , for that she dream'd t' was sicke ; ●nd would by no meanes pacified be , ●ill she had seene her pretty little dicke : full little knowes her husband ( silly groome ) who by this match e're midnight takes his roome . fallentem fema ●efellet . ●riscus gaue out he went to pr●ster-iohn , presuming to haue purchast three for one ; ●t that t' was knowne , which did him sore beguile , ●iscus had tane the dyct all the while . dominatus seruilis . fell foughten furio hath now met his match , and is seuerely sent vnto the gaile , for blurting at mas constable and his watch : who bids away with him , admits no baile : as who shall know hee 's now the kings peace-make although the last yeere was but kennell-raker . par pari . bal●us ( too blame ) runs in his laundresse score ▪ and will not pay her scarcely once a yeere , but then his shame is twice so much the more , for she hath paid him truely to a haire . sic vos non vobis ●ellera fer●is ones . heard you in what surpassing rich aray , young roger ruff●ed on s. georges day ? t' was pitty more then spite it should be knowne , that none of all those garments were his owne , so that in stead of what report did scatter , hee simply was non-suted on the matter . praestat videri que esse . clitus with clients is well customed , that hath the lawes but little studied , 〈◊〉 matter clitus so they bring their ●ees ▪ ●ow ill the case and thy aduise agrees . — ortus nouu● vrbe bri●tannus . vvho braues it now as doth yong histrio ▪ walking in pauls like to some potentate , richly replenisht from the top to●'h toe ; as if he were deriu'd from high estate : alas , ther 's not a man but may descry , his begging trade , and bastard faculty . iuueni , quid curua senectus ? silla hath got a wife that 's wondrous old , but 't is well knowne he woo'd her for her gold : i hope her maides are yong , and serue for hire , and that 's as much as silla doth desire . castus erat vul●● , &c. know you not criticus our cities mule , that haunts the harbours of iniquitie ? ●er like a beadle of disordred rule , ●asheth at lust , to cloake his villany : cruicke , 't is not your lookes ( i dare assure you ) can feare the surgeon that of late did cure you ▪ plus maechus omnis amat , ●eace , weepe no more ( sweet s● ) and all is well , say i had found thee false , thinkes thou i le tell ? ●o by this iron and steele , which plainly showes it , 〈◊〉 honest wit all is no gull that knowes it . fugit huc i●risque pe●itu● . tobi● hath euery tearme great suites in hand , but sits at home like lohn indifferent ; his wife hath law enough to vnderstand , what by ioint-tenant and in-●●●le is ment , haue not our clarkes with fees beene faine to woe her and for bare knowledge put their cases to her ? omnes querunt sua . this obseruation seemes ( quoth f●sco ) strange , why merchants walk in pa●les , & knights th' exchange belike the one seekes those their debts should pay , while● th' other goes to craue a longer day . quicquid oritur inoritur . zonus our neighbour , and his spouse are parted , true demonstration of her whoorish hate , 〈◊〉 could she not haue beene so stony-hearted , ●o leaue her husband for a stragling mate : but then the statute ( zonus ) sets thee free , thou didst not banish her , she fled from thee . qnàm partus ventrem sequitur . ralph hath an office in reuersion bought , but rues the time that yet no wi● hath wrought ▪ ●ntent thee ( ralph ) for wealth to let it passe , ●ou art no worse foole then thy father was . non omnibus dormit . vvhat reason is it omphida should yeeld to any man that 's but a stranger to her ? thinkes he at first assault to win the field ? tut let him doe his worst , that worst can doe her : had there but colour beene for such intent , she might allow your weakest argument , mors vt vita ita . leno lyes sicke , and to the doctor sends , who bids him looke for what he least intends and being oft to make his will requested . away ( saith leno ) i will dye detested . tunc tua res agitur , &c. a iealous marchant that a saylor met , ask't him the reason why he meant to marry , knowing what ill their absence might beget , that still at sea constrained are to tarry ? sir ( quoth the saylor ) thinke you that so strange ? t' is done the time whiles you but walke th' exchange . ingeniosa venus . foed●s hath got his neighbours wife with childe , and yet hath not her husbands bed defil'd , for why the plot within moore-fields was wrought , from whence a place was for that purpose sought . sine crimine nemo . gvido hath goodly lodgings , which he lets to knights and ladies , of the better sort , nor careth he how little gaines he gets , so they be honest , and of good report : but maugre all the meanes that may be try'de , guido's braue house will still be baudifide . nec vultus indicat virum . dicke in a raging deepe discurtesie , cal'd an atturney meere necessity . the more knaue he , admit he had no law , must he be flouted at by euery daw ? iugum suaue patientia . minos a man of much impatience , proues himselfe cuckold in his owne defence ; ●nd further doubts of greater danger fearing , ●tends to prosecute the good abearing : his reason is , because he would seeme loth to be cornuted , and bumbasted both . sat saltem sic habeatur . ralph saies , this rabblement of new made knights . makes coaches deere , & chandlers sell their lights , ●t scarce a seruingman the more is fed , 〈◊〉 foote-boyes onely bring their sirs to bed . dant otia ludum . young maister newcome , late of th'ins of court , hath newly laid aside his littleton , and for his pleasure deignes no other sport , then these vnsauoured rimes to seaze vpon : which hauing read , he comments on the weather , how iumpe his law and learning met together . citò parata venus . let mistresse su be stirring nere so soone , she 'l not be ready vntill after-noone , nor scarcely then : for why this sommer season , the least thing makes her sweat beyond all reason . quem suspicaueris , ipse . ●vco is fled , more for his credit sake , then to be burdened with so base a deed : ●ould he ( thinke you ) such trifles vndertake , ●auing that kindred , and so little need ? damn'd might he be that euer meant to doe it , had not his whoore , or somthing vrg'd him to it . mala crescunt deteriora . soto is lately gone to sturbridge faire , whose little takings makes him halfe dispaire : ●were good some friend of his would tell the mome , ●is wife hath had takings too much at home . non caret effectu quod voluêre duo . constant renaldo , who can but commend thee , that still one mistresse in reuersion seruest ? she could doe little , if not least befriend thee , with gleaning licence for so long a haruest : gleaning said i ? nay more , to mowe her corne , and catch the hare whiles others blow the horn enecat amplexu nimio , sic simia foetum . call danus knaue , he straightway draws his swor● and makes you proue as much , or eate your wor● but if you call him honest rogue ▪ or iew , he hugges you then , for giuing him his dew . si nihil attuleris , ibis , &c. planus , an honest swaine , but monylesse , besought a lawyer to be good vnto him , who eyther ( gratis ) must his cause redresse , or promise what he neuer meant to doe him , being asked why he carelesse lingred it , made this reply : ex ni●ilo nihil fit . semel & semper . celso but newly wedded , doth repent , and meanes to be diuorc'd incontinent : ●ut , hang it ( celso ) since t is done and past , as good proue cuckold at the first , as last . form●sa facies . fine mistresse foetida perfumes her selfe , with sweetest odours that she can deuise , which she preferres before all worldly pelfe , that nought auaileth when her beautie dies : but this dispaire is very death in thinking , that one so faire should haue a breath so st●●king . sapiat qui vendit oportet . ●anus doth iesting vse equiuocation ▪ which he alludes as doubtfull words of art , to hide the colour of his occupation , but to the diuell he beares an honest hart . consilium post factum . aske not vincentio now when things are past , why he so often sported with his puncke , 〈◊〉 wherefore so much hath beene spent in wast ; ● as good you told a tale to one that 's druncke : ) let it suffice , he hath consum'd it all , and as you see , walkes like the prodigall . ne sutor vltra crepidam . philippus flouteth at these ragged rimes , that much distasting , taxe not these his times : ●ndeed i iudge him much more better seene , ●n other trades that he hath trained beene . mole ruit sua . qvesto that quaint and briske italian , when first his trade for merchandize began , would so much vndertake more then his owne , ( i thinke of purpose to be ouerthrowne ) for when t' was thought his fulnesse did abound , euen then he brake for seuenty thousand pound . parturiunt montes murem . dego will draw , and stoutly stand vnto it , vpon the vtmost of his words brauado , but being vrg'd on equall tearmes to doe it , he basely pockets vp the bastinado . degeneres animos timor arguit . monsieur montanus is no little man , of vnapproued valour to his foe , perswade , or wooe him with what words you can , hee 'l be reuenged , all the world shall know : but when hee found one with his wife in bed , for feare of knocks he durst not shew his head . vilescit diues auarus . rvfus is wondrous rich , but what of that ? he liues obscurely , like a water-rat , ●nd his apparell , vvhich hee seldome buyes , ●re such as hounds-ditch , and long-lane supplies . mal● parta , male paeriunt . old collins sonne is newly come to age , and may dispend fiue hundred markes a yeere but wanteth wit to holde his heritage , which hath beene euermore his vncles feare : because his father got it by extortion , and therefore ill to be a woodcockes portion . habet & musca splenem . mopsus maintaines that bankruptship lesse mou●● then such a slaue as for his wiues sake loues 〈◊〉 yet well the wit-all woteth though it grieue him , his tonuge might starue except her tayle releeue 〈◊〉 olim haec meminisse dolebit . gruntus lies groaning of a grieuous gout , and would giue thousands to be soundly cured , but all the cunning that his coyne findes out , cannot expell those paines so long endured : oh grunto , thou hast liu'd so vnrepenting , as scarce two hels sufficeth thy tormenting . matrimonio patrimonium . mvsco , that alwayes kept with policy , what he had scraped● since his infancy , scarce one yeere wedded ( for he needs would mary ) hath taken ludgate for his sanctuary . duplex iniquitas . now yea and nay , quoth mistresse temperance , you are to blame to be so vainely giuen : cannot your eyes vpon a woman glance but they must couet ? sooth you should be shriuen : fye , that you 'l sweare so rashly by your troth , truely i would not doo 't but for your oath . non omnia possumus omnes . vvho sayes al●ides hath no wit , they lye , his place and office proues the contrary , though t' was not meant he should more vnderstand then might concerne him to subscribe his hand . sumus omnes deteriores . cornutus boasteth of the debts he owes , as who should thinke his credit then was such : ●ut all his substance valued now , god knowes , ●mounts not to the twentieth part so much : t is to be thought , because his vvife growes old , and hath lesse doing now a thousand fold . cani facile inueniendum baculum . madam ventoza can no longer frolick , she is so troubled with a sore winde-cholicke , ●hich to the standers by may lesse appeare , ●ause her fyesting-cur is still so neare . aliud simulat , aliud agit . young mistresse ioyce her husband doth solicit● to hire a garden-house neere to the fields , which with her gossips she might weekely visite , for something must she haue that comfort yeel● pray god this bower of priuate recreation , proue not a place of common occupation . quae placuit domino nupta est ancilla sodali . madam rugosa knowes not where to finde one chamber-maid of ten to please her 〈◊〉 but yet my lord so likes their comely car'age , as hee preferre● them to his men in mar'age . crede quod habes & habes . lorellos wife is lately brought to bed , as lucke would haue it , of a goodly boy , the hopefull issue of her maidenhead , and onely iewell of the fathers ioy : then who would doubt the time , or once but note it , when it 's as like him , as himselfe had got it . mendici mendaces . pandorus spends the day by telling newes , of such his trauels as will make you muse : nay sir , beleeue it , hee 'l discourse at large , how should he else be fed at others charge ? aeger , cui chara libertas . brisco that gallant yongster keepes his bed , as faining to be sicke , but wot you why ? not of an ague ▪ not an aking head , no burning feuer , nor french malady : tush , none of these can halfe so much molest 〈◊〉 as yonder flat-cap foole that would arest him . qui modò rusticus , olim . po-lo peckes vp a pretty proling trade , that hath him prouder then his maister made but yet when all is done , the world mistakes him , for 't is not's money , but the taylor makes him . ab equis ad asinos . brutus that braue and compleat caualier , ( who but of late in ●leetstreet flourished , 〈◊〉 thought no pleasure or expence too deere ) 〈◊〉 now how soone the case is altered : as that constrained to forsake the street , he hath betane himselfe vnto the fleet. furor armae minis●rat . ●agus hath studyed long to breake a iest , vpon these rimes he doth so much detest : 〈◊〉 can you blame him ? well he may be chiding , 〈◊〉 hath so often spurgal'd beene with riding . dubitat mens conscia cornu . let iealous ralph but reade of capricorne , or simply of the signe that 's in the ram , he straight way thinkes you tax him with the horne , and thereon haue compos'd some epigram : if ralph on euery rime the worst will conster it must conclude , in time hee 'l proue a monster . volucrem sie decipit a●ceps . hydrus the horse courser ( that cunning mate ) doth with the buyers thus equiuocate , claps on his hand , and prayes he may not thriue . if that his gelding be not vnder fiue ☞ quod mora tardat , abest . ●vscus hath long since learned his accidence , and now turn'd sexton ( clarke i meane at least ) ●ight yet for age more further farre commence , 〈◊〉 lost his time wherein he was a beast . ●or why his vather kept him still a calfe , and would not weane him at twelue yeares and halfe . perdat qui caueat emptor . nor lesse meant promus when that vow he made , then to giue or'e his cousening tapsters trade , ●ho ( checkt for short and frothy measure ) swore , 〈◊〉 neuer would from thence forth fill pot more . humilis iam surgit in altum . the world is well amended with sir hugh , since from the time he was a shepheards swaine , and little dreamed then ( i may tell you ) he should haue beene one of the knightly traine , but ( for his substance answeres not his will ) as good haue dream'd , or beene a shepheard still post dulcia finis amarus . what griefe it was grace had no better fortune , but that bride-well must her disgrace importun● and which is worse , if worse it might perplexe her , the beadle comes behinde her backe to vexe her ? frustra sapit qui fi●i non sapit . ●anthus , that wise and cunning sophister , lyes now in limbo for a small offence , ●ho when he came before the officer , 〈◊〉 not one word of wit to free him thence , why thus it fares , when he should best dispute , the diuell , or some ill planet strikes him mute . vsus promptos f●ci● , ●his makes menalcas muse aboue the rest , to see how quaint my lady is adrest , 〈◊〉 from the girdle vpwards would he sweare , 〈◊〉 doth the shape of very man appeare . humilis prostrata quadrante . fine mistresse d●lia defies the man , that proffers lesse to her then golden fees , what thinke you her some common courtizan , that will her credit with each lobcocke leese ? in faith sir no , but ere you shall goe hence , she vvill for once accept of eighteene pence . qu●m bene ●otus amor . should spruso leaue the wearing of his muffe , his golden night-cap , and his double ruffe : he would be still the same he was before , for halfe the parish knowes he loues a ( ) o infoelices quos fata seq●untur iniqua . pontus is posting hitherwards a pace , to dine with diuers that in fleetstreet meets him , but see the lucklesse chance of such a case , as soone as he alights , the sergeant greets him : so that the burthen he should haue defraid , is wholy now vpon mine hostesse laid . cucullus non facit monachum . siluanus is become so pure and holy , as he accounts all mirth but idle folly : aske him wherefore , he giues you ghostly reason , but then his whoore comes neuer out of season . cres●it amor pretio . how like you dorcas in her deepest ruffe , seemes she not now as proper as the best ? ●ou thinke you may command her , marry muffe ? ●he scornes the motion , fough , that were a iest : because she sold her wares so cheape of late , you thinke they should be still the selfe-same rate . senibus voluisse satis . ●esop must yeeld when rodop will ride , and take no knowledge where , or who 's her guide ●et could the wizard wish her more in sight , ●●nce she at braynford lodg'd this other night . nocte latent mendae . vvhat meaneth rosamond to walke so late , when no man can discerne her face or feature ▪ ( but by her habite may preiudicate , she is some faire , or rather famous creature : ) oh good sir vnderstand , t' is in the darke when many a good man mistakes the marke . natura paucis contenta . mecus is now become a frugall sire , that spends no more then nature doth require ; and yet his wife will proue a traueller . although but once a yeere he lay with her . fortuna multis nimium dedit . now fie vpon thee coward nemius , that oft hast puld thy ladies slippers on , yet still wer't bashfull , not so venturous , as once so much her leg to looke vpon : were i thy father , and thou heire to me , i would for certaine disinherit thee . hic laqueos tendit , qui laqueo moritur . vvho euer held mendoza halfe so wise , to haue attempted such an enterprise , as had not tyburne soone preuented it , mendoza would haue learn'd but too much wit. sic transit gloria mundi . i pray sir , did you note on sunday last , how richly rubin was apparelled ? well may he be compared to a blast , or vnto one that 's metamorphosed : for one next morning , ere the day did dawne , all that he wore , and more , was laid to pawne . post ga●dia luctus . a ye me ( quoth amy ) who would ere haue though so great a mischiefe should arise of nought ? which , had she knowne , ere she began to swell , each yard of pleasure should haue prou'd an ell . noctes aique dies patet atri lanua ditis . the times are waxen dead with dalila , who since the tearme hath felt but little sturri● then was she sought to more then helena , when gallants gallopt with their coaches hurring : but now shee speakes with all that please to call , lo , thus her trade doth tearmly rise and fall . linguam vis nulla domabit . mvns skill in horses doth so much excell , as no man liuing breakes them halfe so well : and yet one filly quite comptroles his arte , he neuer backs her but she breakes his hart . fronti nulla fides . gallus that greatest roost cocke in the rout , swels now as big as bacchus did with wine , ●ike to a hulke , bearing himselfe about , ●nd bristling as a boare or porpentine : t is not his lockes that makes him looke so 〈◊〉 , for all men knowes he weares a periwig . roganti dabitur . ●arcus stood musing , maugre all his might , where he should goe to lodge this other night , ●till the beadle vnawares came on him . ●●d volens nolens thrust a bed upon him . dat census honores t' is plainly knowne that our young knight , sir ad●● had his beginning from an ancient name , and ( though not rich ) may make his wife a madam , that brings her dowry to maintaine the same : say , that the herald cannot blaze him forth , must knight-ship therefore be of no more worth ▪ tremuit sub pondere cymba . had not formosa very foule ill lucke , who●e stooping simply but a rose to plucke , made to the hearers that so loudly knowne , which neuer yet before report had blowne ? negat o●cula gratè r●ga●a . ●riscilla proues most dainty o● a kisse , when of a stranger she intreated is , ●ord , how she simpring fits , and minceth it ! 〈◊〉 very deed sir , shee 'l not eate a bit : what , would you haue her by and by suspected , that for a whoore hath beene so long detected ? coitum , non oscula la●da● . vvhen kester courted kate but for a kisse , she coyly told him , that he aim'd amisse : ●ou maist beleeue her ( k●ster ) what she said , 〈◊〉 halfe the parish knowes she is no maid . calum non animum mutat , nay fie , how strange you make it mistresse iane , that will not know your quondam tryed friends , remember since you lodg'd in cart-her-lane : shall former kindnesse merite no amends ? i say no more , well you may change your name , but once a whoore , you should be still the same . purtus ventrem sequitur . maud being mou'd at foureteene yeares to ma● said ( were she tall inough ) she would not car●● t' were good her sister but so wise had beene , that had a bastard ●re she was fifteene . di●es quis stultus habetur ? t is true that simon ( simple though you thinke him ) knowes how to execute his fathers trade , ●hich ( no dispraise ) may with that substance link him ●s quickly shall amend what nature made . doe not your most fooles thriue exceeding well , that haue but wit inough to buy and sell ? hoc aliquid nihil . gvido hath gotten very goodly suits , that of his labours are the onely fruits , ●eane no other suits then those he weares , ●hich how to compasse , is that guido feares . qui deierat peierat . dacus hath damn'd himselfe on due regard from tauernes , plaies , tobacco , and from win● swearing hee 'l liue like iohn of paules-church-yard , at least will often with duke humphry dine : t' were well done ( dacus ) hadst thou power to do 〈◊〉 but dice and drabs ( i feare ) will hold thee to it . impar aetas , impare sque mores . it could not be ( me thinkes ) imagined , that iulia could haue lost her maidenhead being so yong , but that her selfe first told it , to whom , and where she this vacation sold it . soluat ecclesia . vvhen rose had reckned her full time at large , she then bethinketh whom to nominate ●hat might partake with her ensuing charge , ●t length , with wisedome more considerate , she gesseth none mongst all the rest to fit , as is the parish priest to father it . indomitae tandem veniunt ad aratra i●●encae . ●esbia the faire , that would be woo'd of none , hath since beene won by many more then one : ●●d like a flower , whose colour soone doth fade , ●th often riding , proues a hackney iade . casta est quam , nemo roga●it ▪ vvho bruits it mistresse parnell is no maid , and will not answere such discurtesie ? she scornes the very worst that can be said , and stands so much on her virginitie : as flatly to their teeth she doth retort it , presuming none so vile that will report it . aurum volat ocius euro . monsieur fleming fraught with angels store , would see faire london , neuer seene before : where lodging with his mistresse but one night , had ( ere he parted ) put them all to flight . musae spernuntur egenae ▪ fa●nus for feates of fencing beares the bell , for skill in musicke on each instrument , for dancing , caruing , and discoursing well , with other sundry gifts more excellent : but striuing still to make his credit stronger , the taylor will not trust him any longer . ●● non patitur res seria iocum . tib tooke an oath , that tomesin was no maid , who angry , bad , beare record what she said : as good haue publisht it with trumpet blowne , as call for witnesse in a case so knowne . frustra timet , qui sperat nihil . tvsh , hang it , have at all ( sayes curio ) comes not duze ace as soone as sixe and three ? who would not rather halfe his lands forgoe , then be out-dar'd by such a one as hee ? damne him , hee 'l ventur't all vpon a cast : wert not as good turne rogue at first as last ? sic ne perdid●rit non cessat perdere lusor . aske ficus how his lucke at dicing goes , like to the tide ( sayes he ) it ebbes and floes : then i suppose his chaunce cannot be good , for all men know , t' is longer ebbe then flood . sapiat qui diues , oportet . t is knowne how well i liue , sayes romeo , and whom i list , i le loue , or will despise : ●●deed it 's reason good it should be so : ●or they that wealthy are must needs be wise : but this were ill , if so it come to passe , that for your wealth you must be beg'd an asse . similis doctrina libello . craesus of all things loueth not to buy so many bookes of such diuersity : ●our almanacke ( sayes he ) yeelds all the sence , ●f times best profit , and experience . nilgratum ratione carens . paulus a pamphlet doth in prose present , vnto his lord ( the fruits of idle time ) who farre more carelesse then therewith content , wished it were conuerted into rime : which done , and brought him at another season , said , now'tis rime , before nor rime nor reason . ingenio pollet cui vim natura negauit . if nanus had but common gifts of nature , and no arts cunning to his cubit-stature ; he neuer could with ladies come so neare , nor get his victuals gratis all the yeare . turba graui paci meritrix . enkin is wondrous iealous of his wife , and vrgeth tearmes of shrewd suspition , ●●t knowes not him the causer of his strife , ●●t will he yeeld to no condition : for now you offer ienkin more disgrace , then if you horne him to his very face , quid queat esse diu . signior fantasmus ner'e such pleasure found in any sport , as in a deepe mouth'd hound : ●●all was that pleasure , when vpon one day , 〈◊〉 lost his haire , and hunted all away . non hospes ab hospite tutus . lieftenant lentulus liues discontent , and much repineth at the want of warres , for when his credit , coyne , and all is spent , what should he doe but idly curse the starres ? content thee lentulus with thine estate , that wert not idle when thou stol'st the plate . i am sumus ergo pares . damon his dick had not this three yeares seene , but rather thinkes he hath concealed beene : was it not strange that they so iumpe should meet , both at a bawdy house in turne-bull street ? turpe senilis amor . old doting claudus doth in haste desire , with beautious yong penelope to wed , ●hose frozen appetite is set on fire , ●ntill the match be throughly finished : indeed as good dispatch as make delay , that must be horned on his wedding day . incidit in syllam cupiens vitare charibdim . ●arcellus museth how to spend that day , wherein it likes him not to see a play ; ●t then he falles in some worse place ( i doubt ) 〈◊〉 staies so long till he be fired out . laesus amor in furor . vvhere hath sir iohn so long beene resident ? leauing his pensiue lady all amort , who well may say ( woe worth the time mis-spent ) for griefe whereof she hath no list to sport : but leaue her not againe in such a plight , least ( out of minde ) she proue more out of sight ▪ nocet empta dolore voluptas . sisly and kate are gone to frolike it , late in the euening with their tom and kit : what lucke had they to buy their sport so deere , that in the morning must haue whipping cheere ? nullus ad amissas ibit amicus opes . heard you not yet of captaine ferdinand ? that was so wont to swagger and carouse : he lodgeth now no longer in the strand , but is remoued thence to such a house , where all his best acquaintance that he knowes , will not redeeme th' one halfe of what he owes . quid non speramus amantes ? ●lerce was espoused ere he went a wooing , what should such dunces be so long a doing ? ●is wife ( the wiser ) thought to saue that paine , 〈◊〉 getting her a cloake fit for the raine . ingenium natura dedit , queis non dedit nay , see if stark as yet can cease to flout , how should hee chuse ? his meere conceits are suc● t is good sir : i le not say you are a lout , yet may a man presume to thinke as much , i feare , when we haue both done all we can , the best will scarce proue good gramarian . lateat benèqui malè vixit . francisco flyes , not daring once come neare , ●ut makes th' infection to be most his feare : w●en those his creditors that least beleeues him . knows 't is his debt more th● the deuil that driues h● patria est vbicunque . braue minded medon can no more endure to liue in england , then to brooke the lye , tut , your temptations cannot him allure , he scornes them as an idle mockery : vrge him no more , i tell you t will but grieue him , for here his meanes no longer may relieue him . ignoti nulla cupido . castus of all sinnes makes most conscience , that men should with their chastities dispence ; she that weds him , must haue his maiden head , at least may chance to bring a foole to bed . hoc tibi sorte datum . nay ( good sir ) giue vs leaue at least to know you , was not your father once a man of trade ? you now are rich , i know who may besthrow you , that for your sake were yonger brothers made : ( hearke in your eare ) t is not the wealth you haue can shield you from the scandall of a — nec castè , nec cautè . mounsiur du prie hath promis'd to take heed , that in the darke he doe no damned deed : fye monsieur , fie , a man of your faire meanes , and found a bed with filthy oyster queanes ? alea nil moderabile suadet . vvhen milo meanes to spare , then spends hee most let him but come where sport and gaming is his humour cannot hold till all be lost , and neuer thinketh he hath done amisse ; for thus resolued , milo cares not whether , he pay th' one halfe , or lye for altogether . sero sapiunt phryges . festus , that feasted long on delicates , now such vnpleasing foolish dyet hates ; is it not reason he should spare at last , that hath consumed more then all in wast . sine fuco pulchra venustas . mistresse morinda is more coy then wise , but faire she is and that most richly faire , her husband beares it out , ( let that suffice ) and all defects is able to repaire ; but yet i wonder they should so excell , that haue bene ●ankerupts , all the world can tell . mortali● cunctacaduca . stella the starre , that whilome shin'd so bright , ●s now ecclipsed , and hath lost her light ; 〈◊〉 pitty ( stella ) that thy starres were such , better for thee they had not shin'd so much . pestis , cum finis amarus . fye , would you offer winefrid that wrong , to set abroach her virgine chastity ? well wotteth shee , you cannot loue her long , and which is worse , the world may it espy : which is the thing that makes her looke into it , or else you know how easie t' were to do it . similes labris lactucae . dick swash ( or swaggering dick ) through fleet-street reeles , with sis and bettrice waiting at his heeles ; ●o one that would haue ●ane the wall , he swore , ●ounds , dost not see my puncke and paramore ? ● nec te quaesiueris extra . sir , can you tell where young pandorus liues , that was surnamed here the prodigall : he that so much for his silke stockings giues , till nought is left to buy him shooes withall ? oh blame him not , to make what shew he can , how should he else be thought a gentleman . qui quondam li●a , lanista . t is said that whittington was rais'd of nought , and by a cat , hath diuers wonders wrought ; but fortune ( not his cat ) makes it appeare : he may dispend a thousand markes a yeare . auro cedit honos . bl●do hath lost his besse he knowes not where , and franticke seekes her all the streets through-out , take courage ( bindo ) and be of good cheere , to morrow thou shalt finde her , there 's no doubt ▪ to morrow came : deseru'd she to be shent , that brought him home inough to pay his rent ? sors vniuersa r●tat . sam swore an oath that those late lotteries , were meere deceipts , and idle mockeries , for of a hundred , if he two did plucke , the standers by would say , t' was cuckolds lucke . omnia vincit amor . how comes it malcus liues vnmarried , that whilome was a sutor to so many , doubtlesse his loue hath still miscarried , and he mis-led , was neuer lou'd of any . so that i feare , the griefe of what is past , will cause the cockscombe hang himselfe at last . prauis communia praua . aske minos why he marries not , hee l ' say , he loueth not , to liue at racke and manger , whiles he may take a snatch and so away , in common corners , like a common ranger . hic laque●s rendit , qui laqueo leditur . i●us , that like to aesops spaniell snatcht , 〈◊〉 the shadow , for the substance , in the water , ●hought his egges chickins , being yet vnhatcht , ●●d needs would thriue ere lady-day the later : sure thou wert blind , that couldst , or wouldst not see , to lay a trap for them that now catch thee . trahit sua quemque voluptas . vvat wils , you know how much he scorneth it , to be a pick-purse of anothers wit : ●●t in a pocket , please you vnderstand , ●e hath a reaching , deepe , and diuing hand . tempora mutantur , &c. i cry you mercy sir , i knew you not , thus courtly metamorphosed of late , your country kinsfolkes haue you quite forgot , you braue it out with that maiesticke state , as but i now recall whose sonne you were , you might haue passed for some nobles heire . na●uram expellere durum . parcus now sparing cost , sweares hee 'l begin , to enter commons in some chancery inne , and will no longer once a day be fed , that still before went supperlesse to bed . nummos & demona iungit . bat bids you swell with enuy till you burst , so he be rich , and may his coffers fill , ●ringing th' example of the fox that 's curst , ●nd threatning folkes that haue least power to kill , for why 't is knowne his trade can neuer fall , that hath already got the diuell and all , viuit post funera virtus . silus hath sould his crimson satten sute , and needs will learne to play vpon the lute , ●is well done ( silus ) for such sutes soone waste , ●hereas thy skill on lutes will euer last . grata superueniet quae non sperabitur hora. perswade not romulus to take a wife , that is to wedlocke sworne an enemy , and euer vowes to lead a single life , which he accounts most honest purity : besides a thousand reasons that constraines him , and more ( but mum ) t is known whose wife maintai● hi● opinio preualet veritati . i asked pontus . why he tooke such paines , to trot in tearme-time for so little gaines , his answere was , that such as stand on wooings , must , howsoeuer , seeme to haue some dooings . moritur , cui fama perennis . amongst our poets rauchus reckoned is , but lesse beholding to be so reputed , for honest truth it selfe knowne to be his , with fained poetry was neuer suted : then must it certainly be said amisse , amongst our poets rauchus reck'ned is . canis ad vomitum . mat in the mood of his distemp'rature , sweares he must fight to keepe his hands in vre , for being weary of his theeuing trade , what should he doe , if not approue his blade ? sper●it gens rustica musas . vvhat tell you me of pontus peasant groome , that tearmely posteth vpto purchase pelf● which he obscures within some desert roome , and basely liues a slaue vnto himselfe ? spurre him in any point , but in a lease , you 'l sooner tire the iade , then melt his grease . f●uent periuria furtum . piso hath stolne a siluer boule in iest , for which ( suspected onely , not confest , ) rather then piso will restore the boule , to quit the body he will cast the soule . timodos fortunae repellit . vvhen miles the seruingman my lady kist , she knew him not , ( though scarcely could resist so sweet a youth , and well apparelled ) had not the dunce himselfe discouered : for this ( quoth he ) my maister bad me say , — how 's that ( quoth she ? ) and frowning flings away : ●ext to the heart , she tooke her marke amisse , and th●●●hee should a seruing● creature kisse ▪ why thus it is , when fooles must make it known● , they come o● others businesse , not their owne . venaeli veneri suspensa haedera . a scoffing mate , that past along cheap-side , incontinent a gallant lasse espide : whose tempting breasts ( as to the sale laid out ) incites this yongster thus to gin to flout . lady ▪ ( quoth he ) is this flesh to be sold ? no lord ( quoth she ) for silver nor for gold : but wherefore aske you ? ( and there made a stop ) to buy ( quoth he ) if not , shut vp your shop . nonnunquam iactat egenus . iacke is a gentleman , i must confesse , for ther 's no womans taylor can be lesse . nemo omnibus horis sapit . nisus that doth his night-cap so much vse , was neerely brought vnto his winding sheet , whose guilty conscience did him most accuse , that he was plagu'd for walking late the street ; and well deseru'd , nor could he well doe worse , then deale with drabs , be drunke , and lose his purse pudor est suae d●mna referre . ●eter hath lost his purse , but will conceale it , lest she that stole it , to his shame reueale it . prodit se lumine luscus . lvscus that late lay with his mistresse maid , and ( fearing much to haue the matter knowne ) went to his fellow , whom he friendly praid to counsell him , as were the cause his owne : he that ( more cunning ) knew what should be done , tooke this aduantage for his better speed ; to finish that which th' other had begun , but then alas , she prou'd with childe indeed , and made the woodcocke ( who did first bewray i● stand to the reckoning , that could better pay it . quos ego ? sed motos praest at , &c. flaccus giues out ( because the world shall know it ) how bitter shortly he intends to write , threatning therein to firke his fellow poet , gainst whom he beareth such reuenging spite : but soft ( quoth flaccus ) should i say hee 's poore ? oh no : least others talke as much of me . or shall i tell him that he loues a whoore ? tush , therein likewise wee both iumpe agree . faith , flaccus doubtlesse will his spleene recall , i , i : as good be friends , nor write at all . quid non pecunia ? shall squint-ey'd mopsus , old cincanters sonne , be matcht with beauty for his little pelfe ? much better were the lobcocke lost then wonne , vnlesse hee knew how to behaue himselfe . but this hath euer beene the plague of it : that such are lou'd more for their wealth then wit. forma bonum fragile . marce●la now growne old hath broke her glasse , because it flatters not as 't did : alas , who would desire that any sencelesse stone , should shew good count'nance , that receiueth none ? sorte tua contentus . bartus being bid to supper to a lord , was marshal'd at the lower end of the boord . who vext thereat , 'mongst his comrag's doth fret , and sweares , that he below the salt was set . but bartus th' art a foole , to fret and sweare , the salt stands on the boord , wouldst thou sit there ? malum est quod tegitur . bartellus for a swelling in his groine , hath cut his shooe , and of his toe doth whine , ●ut what by that ( bartellus doest thou gaine ? ) ●he neighbours know too well where lyes thy paine . vox impedit esurienti . glute at meales is neuer heard to talke : for which the more his chaps and chin doth walk● when euery one that sits about the bord , makes sport to aske , what gluto , nere a word ? he forc'd to answere , being very loth , is almost choak't ▪ speaking and eating both . semper tibi pr●ximus esto . the will that women haue , doth shew the want of wit we 〈◊〉 for we fro women take our woe , by giuing way to wom●● post dulcia finis am●rus . haue you not heard of monsieur maximus , that liues by lending without interest ? but then he tels you with prouiso , thus , you must assure your lands for such request : which done , be sure you ner'e in peace shall rest but more perplext , then with the diuell possest . ● he● domus antiqua , &c. brutus whose buildings cost a thousand pound , ( being newly fram'd , of late , euen from the ground ) is fayrer farre then when his father liu'd , because it 's richer and more rare contriu'd ; yet many times i heare the poore man weepe , saying , his father better house did keepe : which vnto me a paradox doth seeme , that what is worser that men better deeme . nil refert loqui , dum v●iliceat . an english lad long wood a lasse of wales , and entertained her with pretty tales : although she vnderstood not how to try him , ●et gaue consent at last to vnder-lye him ; ●oth hauing dallyed with full saciety , the wench to manifest the more sobrietie ) ●old , in her language , she was fully p'ayd : ●nd degon , degon , once or twice she said , degon in welsh doth signifie enus● , ) ●hich he mistaking , answer'd thus in snuffe , degon that will , ( for i protest ) so sore haue dig'd already , i can dig no more . lenones leones . vrbanus that committed an offence , with a yong country lasse , ( poore silly foole ) to salue his credit , soone conueys her hence , vnto a garden-house , or vaulting-schoole . where ( now vnloden of that lucklesse ill ) and all dispatched ( saue the hou should charge : ) the good-man-bawd , or pander ( which you will ) brings him no ticket , but a bill at large . item for pipkins , pap , and other things , amounting all to twenty markes , or more : and this aloud into his eares he rings , pray sir ( quoth he ) for shame discharge your score . vrbanus loath to be proclaim'd a gull , was willing to compound in any wise : but yet not tendring his demand at full , said , he had seene the lyons once or twise , the lyons ( answeres he ) that may be true , but thinke you thence to merit any praise ? each lobcooke may those lyons daily view , haue you not seene the dragons in your dayes ? no ( quoth vrbanus ) that i must confesse , then ( said the pander ) you must pay no lesse . pud●re suo impudens . a certaine fellow of the purer sect , who outwardly did holinesse respect , could not endure a surplice in the church ; yet was he lately found in such a lurch , that though he could not with a surplice beare , did in the chancell yet a white sheet weare . non nouit seipsum . could titus deeme the times he now bestowes , to be the same he did prognosticate , ●hat thus of late transform'd himselfe not knowes , he is become so great a potentate , who would haue thought ( his father but a tanner ) the son should braue it in that pompeous manner . spernit gens rustica musas . vvhat tell you me of porcus pesant-groome , that scrapeth vp together so much thrift , which he obscures vvithin some desart roome , and basely liues vnknowne by any shift . his lookes are characters of his discent , sprung from the loynes of some mechanick syre , that neuer knew what ciuill vsagement , but to be onely rich doth still aspire : spurre him in any thing but in his trade , and you shall see how scone he 'le proue a iade . ictus piscator sapit . vvhen caecus had beene wedded now three daye and all his neighbours bad god giue him io● this strange conclusion with his wife assaies , why till her marriage day she prou'd so coy ; ( quoth he ) we man and wife in manner were , a month before : then could we haue repented ? alas ( quoth she ) had i not cause to feare , how you might conster it , had i consented ? fore god ( quoth hee ) t' was well thou didst not yeel● for doubtlesse then my purpose was to leaue thee . oh sir ( quoth she ) i once was so beguild , and thought the next man should not so deceiue me now out alas ( quoth he ) thou breed'st my wo , why man ( quoth she ) i speake but quid pro quo . detur quod meritum . a courtier kinde in speach , curst in condition , finding his faults could be no longer hidden , came to his friend to cleare his bad suspition , ( and fearing least he should be more then chidden , ) fell to a flattering and most base submission , vowing to kisse his foote if he were bidden : my foote said he ? nay , that were too submisse , you three foote higher ; well deserue to kisse . ●enus in specie . vvhat curl'd-pate youth is he that sitteth there so neere your wife , and whispers in her eare ? and holds her hand in his , and soft doth wring her ? and slides her ring oft vp and downe her finger ? sure 't is some man that 's seene in both the lawes . retain'd by her in some important cause : prompt of behauiour in his words and action , that doth her bus'nesse with great satisfaction . a malo ad peius you sent to me to borrow twenty marke , but to that suite by no meanes would i harke , then presently you sent a man in post , to tell me that a lord with you would host : and you must haue to entertaine his state , a siluer bason with some other plate , are you a cockscombe ? or thinke me a foole ? that should be set againe vnto the schoole ? indeed i were a woodcocke to be wondred , ( denying twenty markes ) would lend a hundred . la●et aliquid occultum ●f doll step out of dores into the street , ● but towards church or with a friend to meet , what is the cause ( it may be some will aske , ) why she still hooded goeth in her maske ? oh shee 's afraid it would be much disgrace , the wind or raine should marre her painted face . vsus promptos facit vvhy striues old turnus still to haue the wall● oh , he is euer druncke and feares to fall . semper idem incultus . tor●●s hath left his late mechannick trade , and vseth now another new profession , but being still the same that nature made , yeelds to his former stampe the same impression : of whom i well may write this epigram , ne quisquam sutor vltra crepidam . foras expertus . priscus hath beene a traueller for why , he will so strangely swagger , sweare , and lye . leui , responsio leuis . pretus that late had office borne in london , was bid by 〈◊〉 good morrow pretus quondom , he , with a iest ( no whit put out of temper ) reply'd incontinent ad●e kn●●● sempe● : another in a kinde of scoffing speeches , would needes request his gowne to line his breeche● not so quoth he , but sure t will be thy hap , that for thy knauish head thou line thy cap. nil perdit ign●tus . vnto a certaine gentlewomans chamber a pedler came , ( her husband being thence ) to sell her linnen , ciuit , muske , or a●ber : ●he francke of fauours , sparing of expence , ●o bargaines with him ere he par●ed thence , that for a parcell of his purest lawne , to grant dishonest pleasures she was drawne . next day the man repenting of his cost , began to thinke vpon some r●stitution , how to be paid at length for what was lost , which he intends to put in execution ; and therefore bent with setled resolution , vnto her husband presently repaires , to aske him fiftie shillings for his wares . her husband ignorant what cause had bred it , saies wife , how comes it you haue spent such store , and must with pettie chapmen runne in credit ? now for my honour sake doe so no more . good sir ( quoth she ) i meant it to restore , that tooke it of him onely for a tryall , and finde 't is too high prised by a ryall . vt nascimur , morimur . when to the world we came , we nought did bring borne therefore first of nought , & nought dying in obitum promi . that death should thus from hence our butler catch , into my minde it cannot quickly sincke , ●●re death came thirsty to the buttry hatch , ●hen he ( that busie was ) denid him drincke : ●ut 't was not so : 't is like he gaue him liquer , ●nd death made drunke , tooke him away the quicker , yet let not others grieu● too much in minde , ( the butler gon ) the keyes are left behinde . imp●r impares odit . sotus hates wisemen ( for himselfe is none ) and fooles he hates because himselfe is one . quod nimis , nequicquam . creta respects her husband wondrous well , it needes no proofe , for euery one can tell how kinde she is , that if i not mistake , her loue extends to others for his sake . ignauis stimulum . vorax is vext that i thus reprehend him , faith if words will not , silence cannot mend him . sapiunt quaecunque probantur . vve make our epigrams , as men taste cheese , which hath his relish in the last farewell : like as the purest liquor hath his leeze , so may you yearely end the tale you tell , the tayle ( of all things ) some men aime at most , those that had rather fast , may kisse the post . and ther 's an end . semel insaniuimus omnes . thus haue i waded through a worthlesse taske , whereto ( i trust ) ther 's no exceptions tane , for ( meant to none ) i answere such as aske , 't is like apparrell made in birchin-lane . if any please to sute themselues and weare it , the blam's not mine , but theirs that needes wi●● beare vt tibi lecta placent , mea sic mihi scripta placebu● i●dicio seruit gratia nostra tuo . abijois ista ferus ? mo●●tur mea musa dolendo , accipis ista libens ? illa quod optat hab●t . finis . linsi-woolsie. or two centuries of epigrammes. written by william gamage batchelour in the artes gamage, william. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) linsi-woolsie. or two centuries of epigrammes. written by william gamage batchelour in the artes gamage, william. [ ] p. printed by aug. mathewes for henry bell, and are to besold [sic] at his shop in bethelem without bishops gate, at the signe of the sunne, london : . in verse. signatures: a-f. the first and last leaves are blank. reproduction of the original in the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams, english -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - olivia bottum sampled and proofread - olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion linsi-woolsie or two centvries of epigrammes . written by william gamage batchelour in the artes. patere , aut abstine . london , printed by aug. mathewes for henry bell , and are to be sold at his shop in bethelem without bishops gate , at the signe of the sunne . to the right noble , a●…d my much honoured ladie , katherine ▪ ladie mansell , daughter to the right honourable lord , l. viscount de lisle : earths glorie , and heauens happinesse . rare paragon of vertne , affying , or rather presuming on your heroicall disposition , i haue aduentured to conduct to the open field of the world two centuries of epigrammes , which , if they bee deign'd to march vnder the banner of your ho : protection , i doubt not , but that they may the safer , as they say , passe the muste●… . and the rather i build on your all-fauourable patronage by reason of your ladyships neere affinitie with that worthie , and tres●…ble sir phillip sidney , whose golden pen vouchsae fed to apologize the renowned art of poetry . if thimy rurall , and vnacquainted muse limm's no●… forth either in matter , or manner the viue ●…ort traitur of an epigramme , your ladyship may ea●… coniecture , that it was rather cherillus pen , and not apelles pencill that shadowed it ; but hoping the acceptation , with your ho : protection hereof , if not for the worke , yet for the names-sake , i euer rest your worthy ladyships most deuoted votorie : william gamage . ad ingeniosum , & modestum amicum , g. gamage de epig. alpha epigrammatewn per me sit noster oënus , hic primum , aut nemo est , dignus habere locum : tuquotus es gammagi ? ex nominis indice , gamma . sed te musa facit beta epigrammatewn . ad eundem de eisdem . grata diù fuerant quae linea-lanea , nostris , gratatamen nostris tegmina , si qua diù . talia tu texis ( gamage ) poemata , plus quàm lanea sunt vsu linea deliciis . grata vt sint , dubitas , bruma atque aestate placebunt , his delectari femina , virque queant , hoc tantùm distant aestatem tegmina durant , aetates durant haec tua texta , vale , mo. fortune in art mag. è col. ie. hexasticon . in fideliss . amici g. gamage epigrammata . laeta inuant releuando graues epigrammata mentes : sunt tua laeta satis , sunt tua casta satis . i●…da nè metuas mordacis murmura mo●… : colla●…det mo●…us , vel meliora ferat . 〈◊〉 documenta boni , ●…ta futura posteritatis erunt , scribere perge , 〈◊〉 . ro harris in art mag. ad cordatum amicum g. gamage de epig. faecunda est aetas , multos tulit ista poetas , at tibi ( gamagi ) non tulit ista parem . aliud ad lectorem . perlege , quicunque es , decies repetita placebunt , aut tibi , quicunque e●… , nulla placere queunt . hen. atho , in art mag. ad amicum amantiss . g. g. in epig. laudibus excelsis tua sunt epigrammata salsa , digna , legat puer haec , haec legat ipse senex . quamuis es in●…enis , tame●… experientia rerum ingeni●…que b●…num , te facit esse senem . sacre sacra canis , reso●…sque profana profanè , vax quoquè cuique rei qu●…libet 〈◊〉 s●…at . apparet docta 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lingua 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 coluisse ch●…ros . io. vauhan , art. mag. idem ad librum in zoilum . si te quis zo●…lus rabido vult rodere dente , aetatem domini ponderet ipse tui . in epig. cognati , & amici explorati gu gamage . si●…cinè disparibus lusisti moribus orbem , innumeris numeris ( trux epigramma ) tuis ? rustieus vrbanus , quid vis ? bellosus , amator , magmatibus nitidis aulicus ? hoc & habet . chaire suum cuique est , nec vot●… ludimus vno , his diuersa placent : quid culis ? hoc & habes . in zoylum . tam benè compactos calamos vult dente repelli zoylus edax nostrum ? subfugat , hoc nec habet . uult numeris nostris includi moribus ? ecce rem teneat ; numeret furcifer : hoc & habe . gul hughes , in art. bacc. idem ad librum . eià agè per genios faciles , momosque per ignes : per vari●… rerum faeces , per saxa , per vmbras . tetra●…ichon . ad suum amicum gu. ga. in sua epig. la●…dabunt omnes epigrammata docta priorum , hoc opus excultum vincit ( amice ) tuum . haec mandes scriptis ; es cedro digna locutus ; te presens aetas , posteriorque canent . hop . price gener. ad cognatum perchariss . g. g. in laudem libelli . hic liber est parvus , non parui : gratia paruis est sua : sic libro gratia magna suo . pergas ; quid densis latitas , philo●…use . sub vmbris , aspiret coeptis aura secunda tuis . io. powel è coll. oriel . to his friend , and familiar w. gamage of his epigrams . oft haue i fed on epigrammes before , with which my appetites i ouerprest ; thy better wit hath kept me these in store , 〈◊〉 a sweet banquet to disgest the rest : ●…'d in with plates of christall , scour'd so cleere , 〈◊〉 to each guest his picture may appeare , another to the same . if what pythagoras hath wrote be true , some antique satyre liues in thee auew , nature and art are with themselues at strife , to whom thou hast giu'n greater praise or life ; on both alike , for nature first began , then art made perfect what from nature ran . w. hughes . to my lo friend w gamage in the praise of his epigrams . thy ouerlooking of the pleasant fields , in sport abroad to spend some idle howres : hath gath'red fruit not of vnfruitfull weeds ; but set a banke of sweet and fragrant flowers . continue then both earl'e and late to rise to walke abroad , to vse this exercise . another of the same . in my conceipt this thy conceipted booke , deserues the stamp of euerlasting praise : feare no mans face that on his face doth looke , his forehead shines with complementall raies . gamage thy name and of thy age the game thou dost deserue , tho not desire the same . matth. bennet . the author to the praisers of his booke . it feare●… me , that your kinde heroicall layes are too transcendent for my humble straine : and load-stone-like drawe to themselues the praise ; and so my muse receiue a dull disdaine . no force , i hope your lines will sooth some one to read my booke , and descant thereupon . linsi-woolsie . the first centvrie . epig. . to his heroike , and splendent patronesse . katherine , lady mansell . this stuffe of mine , i grant , is ouercourse , for your fine wearing loadstarre of our clime , yet let it serue , i pray , tho few be worse as a course garment for this winter time . ere sommer else , i do most highly feare , that momus will my loome in sunder teare . epig. . on her name . c cell of vertue thou art rare , a any with for to compare , t that doth dwell in cambers clime , h hauing ●…oble sydneys line ▪ e euer beautifie thy name , r royall , worthy peereles dame : i in vertue still let be thy dwelling , n neuer ill , in good excelling ; e eternizing so thy fame . m might my praier be accepted , a accept it , lord , and graunt her ishue : n neuer none to be reiected s send her , children , cloath●…d in tishue ▪ e erect her calling at thy pleasure , l let her life be vertues treasure : l lead her soule where angels are . epig. . to the worthy founder of our famous oxonian librarie , sir thomas bodley built in the forme of a t. the forked y , as learned sages write , containes in it deepe mysteries diuine : thy target t if that i true endite ▪ doeth shelter in 't more many a sacred line then all the letters of that * sage his name ; such is the glory of thy vaticane . epig. . to the reader of his poëmes . some of these poeme , some will satyres call , what tho some be grim satyres-like , and tall ? which monsters be , pertaining to the wood. ) these do molest the bad , but please the good . epig. . on zoylus , of his booke . ●…oets doe stile thee oft a biting mate ; which argues thee the eater of some bookes : eate this withall , but leaue to barke thereat , so that in fine this morsell quite thee choakes . epig. . a courtizan , etymologized . a courtizan most fit deriues her name , by her conditions from a courteous dame. what nature did to her so gratis giue , with this shee will all such as begge relieue . epig. . the noone-tide walker of paules . what makes thee stay ? wel nie , since all be gone . thou telst me , cause some verses thou wouldst make . i st so ? thou mai'st since thou art most alone , and cause all day thy panch must emptie quake . epig. . garnet , with his twelue apostles . ioseph , with his apostles twelue first plants , in englands soile , religion pure to grow ; but thou , and thy twise sixe infernall wants , didst this endeauour to supplant ; and sow thy popish d●…rnell ; but the season fail'd , and thou with thine , to tyburns post was nail'd . epig. . the sickmans dialogue . sicknesse what art ? the bodies schourging rod ; what else ? the queller of thy lofty blood . moreouer what ? the path vnto thy god. and what in fine ? deaths message for thy good . since thou art then the soule and bodies weale , come when thou wilt from thee i le ne're appeale . epig. . on our bacchanalians . to magistrates . thunder as anc'ient poets fabulize , begate god bacchus , lord of all misrule : no wonder then his nephewes , which portize till they be drunke , vse clamors like the mule. remoue the cause th' effect soone take away : yee 'll aske me how ? lop downe the iuie bay. epig. . to his deare interessed friend mr. m cradocke . as i thy ground did compasse and o're-looke i compassed well nie , this triuiall booke . epig. . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bucci●…s . to his 〈◊〉 . mr rob lloyd . ore many are , as we may daily see , that start too soone to moyses sacred ●…eat ; before they fit beneath g●…aliels knee , to sucke the nectar of his flowing teat . these bro●…hers be of schisme and heresie , not skilling how to teach or edifie . epig. . to the worthie mecoenas of learning mr. anthony guin , esquier . amongst the scythians anacharsis sage was their sole clearke , the * prouerbe verifies . i will not say , in this our learned age , thou art sole phoenix , in arts mysteries . but this i 'le say , in this our barren clime : thou ●…t the best mecoenas vnto thine . epig. . to the studious gent , mr. i. carne . thy s●…dious booke , thy bla●…ed fame shall ring : when others pastime ●…o great shame shall bri●… epig. . un●… 〈◊〉 . to his respectiue fr. mr row harries , of pious , religious scholler , mr. hop . price , lately deceased . some graue in yeares ▪ in lore but childish yet , in stud'ing , fleering , fleeting , fading toies . but thou , yong price , hadst cert's a grauer wit in conniug precepts of aye lasting ioyes . let these alone t' enioy their fruitlesse art ; thou doubtlesse now hast chose the * better part . epig. . to our moderne epigra●…matists , of his poems . al arts , which latest come to common view , are commonly the best without compare ; but in these lines you cannot finde this true , like timelesse fruits , vnmellowed right which are , for you haue gatherd all the sommers flowers . heere are but leauings mixt with hyems showers . epig. . one mouns●…er elatus , deceased . it lately seemd by thy aspiring mind , thou totall wast compos'd of loftie fire : which vpwards tends , the place to it assign'd , but thy downefall vnto the basest * mire , betokens now thy substance was but clay ; which should haue stoopt thy loftinesse alway . epig. . a new conuert . thy change was good , from bloody ▪ killing sword ; to preach and teach the euer liuing word . epig. . a rare metamorphosis . is it not strange in this our yron age ? to see one clime to pulpit , from the stage . epig. . the epitaph of the studious gent. mr. hop . price , to the worshipfull , his louing father mr. wm. price , esquier . as my true loue was loyall vnto thee , whiles that thou breathst within this valty cell ; which shall not end with thy mortalitie , but in the graue with thee shall euer dwell : so take these farwels as thy only due , of thy deare friend , thy death which doth 〈◊〉 . farewell , bright gem of learnings worthie grace ; farewell , great hope of all the muses nine ; farwell , sweet impe , with thy angellike face ; farewell embracer of the word diuine . farewell , deere price , whose price i cannot count : farewell , vntill we meet in sions mount. epig. . duke humfrey 〈◊〉 . thy tombe has gratis more spectators e're then those of westminster for coine i wote ; 't is strange , therefore they doe not pay more deare , but as i gesse , they be not worth a grote . epig. . gullus , grillus . gu : how goes the world , my grillus , now with thee ? gr : comrade , my life naught is but slauerie ; gu : how so , a freeman for to be a thrall ? gr : free borne , but yet , don magnus tenis ball. gu : cashiere his yoke cast of his seruile badge . gr : oh , no , for feare of his most furious rage . gu : what world is this ? must you be rombus slaue ? gr : yes ; else for such , iust nothing we can haue . epig. . to i g. thy crosses were full many in account ; but , ay , one * manie , doth these many moun●… . epig. . tillage . to his fr. mr. ie. cradocke . tillage is good , the husbandmans true badge ; while youth remaines , still fructifies , till age. epig. . the symp●…hie of law , and logicke . to his academ●… cousen , io. powel . the subtile logicke , and the craftie law , most equally within one yoke doth draw . both vse * deceipts , the one for glorie vaine , th' other doth abuse it for his gaine . both brawlers be , and doe for euer iarre . th' one at schoole , the other at the barre . but of all 〈◊〉 we must chuse the lesse ; and from impostors vs for euer blesse . to logicks quipping tongue , i 'ld rather stand : then to lawes cruell , shearing , shauing hand . epig. . quicquid in 〈◊〉 venerit . to mi●…r futilis . thy siuie breast can keepe no secrecie , but force●… all things there●…ut for to ●…e : if there were vent to gable lie , or truth ; thy breast should be in lieu of open mouth . epig. . fides so●… 〈◊〉 . to mr wadams , the worthy founder of a new co●… ledge in oxford . the popi●… sect faire colleges did 〈◊〉 whereby they tho●… themselues to ●…tifie ; but sole true faith we see doth now adaies , produce good daughters , workes of 〈◊〉 . which caus'd , i thinke our wadam so to wade , in building columnes , which shall neuer fade . epig. . on cur●…s , and c●…riosus . i did forcee thee present my faultlesse b●…ll , and praid there●… thy hand to vnder-write ; thou toldst ●…ay ; for that t' was framed ill , ●…d why ? thou s●…st , cause faults it did not cite . thou differst then from curiosus quite , which will subscribe to all but to the rite . epig. . to m●…nsier after . after , in what ? in name , sure not in lore , for most sr. iohns thou wentest bold , before . epig. . to king iames , brittaines royall monarch . the vnico●…e , and lion ioine in loue , which props the armes of our most gracious king ; tho enemies in all things else they proue themselues vnto themselues ; a wondrous thing ; that beasts should be more humane in their kind , to 〈◊〉 pearle ; then mens diuisions blind . epig. . to the ●…st illustrious brothers , the earles of pembroke , and 〈◊〉 . wales stiles you both with titles great of fame : you pay ' ir alike , your greatnesse mounts 〈◊〉 name epig. . to the learned and ingenious diuine , mr. d. hall , of his uowes cent. some vow , and breake ; thou vowstand dost fulfill ; such is the difference 'twixt good , and ill . epig. . in the praise of brasen-nose coll. thy nose more famousis , tho 't be of brasse , then many a head of many a golden asse . epig. . to his louing fr. mr. ie. price . batch of diuinitie . vvell may we liken gods most sacred writ , vnto the forme of alcibiades : which outwardly lookt plaine , and nothing bright , but inwardly , most like faire goddesses : so doth gods word seeme rude , in outward face ; but the cleare spirit yeelds a shining grace . epig. . on perfidious carle , the loue-maker . carle will not keepe promise , wote ye why ? he thinkes by law all suiters well may ly . epig. . to his friend and phisition mr. wm. voyle . my friend thou hast a griefe in phisicks art , called , me noli tangere , by name ; for being touch't it forthwith yeeldeth smart . how caust thou then to this a med'cine frame ? each griefe , i thinke within thy * bookish cell , with this griefes name will be contented well . epig. . to his golden gildus . the feign'd vtopian * weareth in his eare a ring of gold in lieu of infamie ; but , gildus thou , gold eare-rings still dost weare , which is thou sa●…st , thy selfe to glorifie . what glorie i st ? it serues to hide the sore , which in thy eares the pillorie did bore . epig. . to sober mr. beuans . sobrietie thou count'st a sinne , and why ? because thou seldome liuest soberly . epig. . the sheepheards calenders arithmeticke . thou kalender of sheepheards farre didst err●… , in numbring gods commandements by rote ; when nine for ten for truth thou didst auerre , leauing the second out , not least of note . this thy substraction serues no other sheepe but thine ; which basely to the image creepe . epig. . perkin●… . thou sweet , profound diuine , with one sole hand , didst raze more buildings of the popish frame , then many a one , that seeketh to withstand with both at once the gunshot of the same . heere doth the maim'd , ( a wonder ) as we see the whole o're-match , in christ his soulderie . epig. . to sr. io. stradling , knight and baro●…et , of his learned epig. thy muse fits not the vulgar in effect : for reading , s●…ns conceit , is to neglect . epig. . iewell , the hammer of heretickes . thou iewel wast a iewel rare indeed ▪ of value more then is the ophir gold : for this doth only decke the bodies weed ; but thy most heau'nly words most sweetly rowld doe decke the soule ; and thy keene english pen did cut * his throat , that sung the popes amen . epig. . d. rainolds ghost . vvhat made thee atlas of our church diuine ? for to decline so vnder thy light paise : which neuer stoopst to any popish shrine in all thy life ; but loth'st such trash alwaies . thy answer is hereto most right i doome , burning to vs thou didst thy selfe consume . epig. . to mr. blable the tale-teller . dame nature gaue thee two eares and two eies , my wheel-tongu'd gemy ) which doth seldōe stay , and but one mouth ( through her fore-knowledge wise ) that thou shouldst more both heare , & see , then bray . but thou dost blab against minerua's law more then thy eares did heare , or eies ere saw . epig. . to the h●… : and most vertuous lady , barbara , vicecountesse de lisle , the omega of the gamages . al riuers that do run to neptunes vast , do loose their names let them be ne're so great : so thy great gransiers names in thee at last , do loose their stile , and coyties royall seat . what tho ? is not the sea of more renowne then riuers , which in him themselues do drowne ? epig. . gabriel goodman , heretofore deane of westminster . goodman wast hight , ( and lesse i misse to scan ) thou wast indeed a zealous right good man. epig. . t●… baccho , quam vulcane . to hugh , the ale-draper . thou art a crafts-man good ; yet all thy craft cannot detaine thee from too deepe a draft . epig. . to the noble heroicke gent : sir william sidney knight of the place of his natiuitie . zeland did blaze thy birth , be like thy name ; then sea , and land , shal trump thy golden fame , epig. . to zutphen , a towne in gilderland , at the beleagring of which , the renowned sir phillip sidney was killed . i wist not which thy fame or infamie , doth more exceede , in causing sidney : fall : but yet , i rather thinke thy fame , for why ? before that time thou hadst no fame at all . epig. . on elizabeths embleme , late queene of england , tanquam ou ts . thou wast a sheep , & wolues thy shepheards were ; how didst thou then escape deaths bloody hand ? another * shepheard which doth rule the spheare , did these fell shepheards wondrously withstand . epig. . 〈◊〉 du bartas praise , and his transsator . right well du bartas may we call thy name , for * d●… in welch betokens more then ma●… . so wast , i thinke , when thou thy laies didst frame , such heaunly muse sole man could scarcely scan . and iosuah thou that tookst this verse in hand to turne ; for ere thy .. sunne of praise shall stand . epig. . to wise lusca i wonder , lusca , of thy foolish pate , which to thy husband hast so wise a mate ; he should haue powr'd into thy selfe being one linkt to himselfe , some wisdome long agone . but , as i gesse , thy head is farc'd so full with folly , that no lore can pearce thy scull . epig. . to publicke lata , alias , wh. vvhy do men call thee , publicke ? for i weene , what thou commit'st is not in publick seene . epig. . on fabius , to the readers . thou didst resigne thy office , wot yee why ? because thou sai'st thou hardst a rat to squeake : none would haue wondred at thy foolerie , in leauing it , if thou hadst hard her speake . epig. . pilling and poling , to damon , and damon . da how i st comrade ? we both professe the law , therfore we should in one yoke equal draw . da : we do ; but in the manner we disioine , i ciuill do , thou common dost purloine . da : no force , our maners both shall manours buy ; da : why then i le shaue , and sley thou equitie . epig. . to the most learned , and heauenly diuine , doctor holland , doctor of the chaire , lately deceased . thy sacred chaire did oft from earth thee mount : no maruell ; for of earth thou nought didst count . epig. . to sir hebes , the 〈◊〉 empericke . vvhat difference twixt the papists vnction , and thine ? for both we see be quite extream ; no great ; they vse it when all helpe is gone , and thou hereby more kill'st then curst , i deeme . epig. . to his louing friend mr. ie. mayos , preacher of gods word . in the church primatiue , * deuoted men , did lay their treasures at the apostles feete ; but the derivatiue , alas , since then , allowance poore allots to preachers meete . but like their brother ananias , they , yeeld their poore pastors , but a :: part of pay. epig. . to his friend r. loue. loue oft is taken for blinde cupids game , so is allloue , that 's only but in name . epig. . to the illustrious l : viscount de lisle , brother to noble sir phil. sidney . though not in name vnto thy brother deere , yet thou in nature art his worthy peere ; his fame extolled , blazed forth his name , thy name exalted , trumpets loud thy fame . epig. . to the worthy mecoenas of learning , oliuer , lo : st. iohn , baron of bledso . vve scholers may , st. iohn , thee stile right well , which gratis giu'st to a saints what others sell. epig. . the gilden mile . if that same mile were farced full with gold , that 's gilden call'd , for her smooth-silken face ; then would our mony miners sure be bold her path faire-superficies to deface . then should she right her gilden name forsake ; and for the same a gauled name might take . epig. . ius , and iurista robbing poore luscus . ius : how i st colleague ? how goes don-luscus case ? iur : clean backwarts ; sans of angels bright a brase ius : these heau'nly be , how then canst thou then haue ? iur : friend , thou mistak'st the earthly i do craue . epig. . on thrasc●…o , the kill cow. i meete percase dell thrasco at the shore , as he came fresh from irelands dismall warre ; i askt what newes ? he told me all , and more , how he himselfe did thousands kill , and skarre . i him beleeu'd , for he did beare about whole multitudes of the * rebellious rout. epig. . to his louing friend mr. r. tho. a these seeme in peace to liue in b midst of war , so blind we iudge when with c our selues we iar . epig . brittaines burse . to the famous late earle of sarisburie . fvll fraught with store shall be thy famous bursse , when p●…nilesse shall be the misers purse . epig . to the ingenious epigrammatists io. owens , and io. heath , both brought vp in though you were both not of one mother bore , yet nursed were you at the selfe same a brest : for fluent genious , and ingenious lore , and the same dugges successiuely haue prest . t is true yee are but fosterers by birth , yet brothers right in rimes conceiptfull mirth . epig. . to blincke , the archer . cvpid is blinde , yet neuer misse the white : but thou dost see , yet neuer shoot'st aright . epig. . on franticke fiscus . the prouerbe is , a dame mony can do all ; it instigates the theefe to kill and steale . it spurres the merchant on , to round the ball of this vast orbe , to'enrich his common-weale . what can it not ? it causeth vs runne mad , and fiscus too , being therewith ouerclad . epig. . the capring corde . to theeuish lato , and clownish leto . vvhat wouldst haue done with that strong , halter nick which , lato thought t' exchange for thy gold thou in it wouldst haue showne a capring trick , and stretch thy necke in that racke , long of old . but since thou scap'st , giue lato's corde againe , his right , t' is pitty from him to detaine . epig. . on the worldlings question . the common question now a daies doth passe , not what shee is ▪ but what sweet mopsa ha's . epig. . one the natiuity of q●…ne elizabeth ▪ borne ●…n the eue of the natiuitie of m●… . thy virgin birth vpon a virgins eue , did true presage thou should'st a virgin liue. epig. . to our nauigators , seeking heare the port of rest. yee neptunes plowmen , yeare cleane astray , which seeke on earth the port of quiet rest ; direct your course vnto olympus bay , this of all other capes is sure the best . but your calme sea must be the liquid aire , your ships , your sailes the wings not of despaire . epig. . a paire royall of fiends : if friendship true did ere in bad ones stay , it did remaine in bengfield , winchester , and constable , three men of hels array , which sought elyza'in in hir prime to smoother . i may not tearme these paire of royall friends but rather paire of most disloyall fiends . epig. . to his louing cosen mr rees myricke . thou shalt now light on many a compleat frie , that will thee call , most louing cosin , kinde , which neuer skill'd it by arts heraldrie ; ●…ake heed , this cosin , mai'st a cousner finde . for iudas-like hee 'll haile thee with a kisse ; and to betray , such cheaters seldome misse . epig. . on fu●…ke , the gor●…diser . to his cousen row : vaughan , student in physicke . physitians sav , all sicknesse doth proceed from o're aboundance , or vacuitie ; whereof , the first thou verifi'st in deed my fuske , by gorging thy profunditie . and 'fore that nature should a vacuum graunt within thy panch ; death-surfeit thou wilt haunt , epig. on an inne , grac'd with the flower-de-luce . th' art brauely deckt without , with frānce faire armes , but stain'd within with her most lothsome harmes . epig. . coytie castle , and radyr house exclaiming on time. world wasting time , thou worker of our woes thou keene edg'd rasor of our famous name , that antique was but now obliuious growes , the subiect almost of contempt and shame . yet doe thy worst , our names shall liue for ay , altho our fame thou buried hast in clay . epig. . almes deeds . on pinch-peny , tent. some treasures cast into the poore mans box , some slender mites according to their state ; but thou didst neuer ( tent ) once o'pe thy lockes , thy mydas muck for to anihilate . but stuff'st his maw with roundings for to eate , to still his crie , which did for coine intreate . epig. to the studious , and noble gent sir r. sidney knight of the bath . the waters giue thee titles ; but the earth shall adde great trophies to thy greater birth . epig. . lalus , and lelius . lalus presuming on a dram of lore , did lelius daughter for his mate implore . tush princocke proud who scornefully repli'de , think'st thou to haue my darling , for thy bride ? la : i am a scholler , so i may growe great , and may heereafter sit in princely seat . le : what dost professe ? what is thy facultie ? la : i study sacred deepe diuinitie . le : tut , what a priest ? a tenant but for life ? pack hence thou getst not my ioy for thy wife . la : be patient sir , let me win your good will , i am a lawier , full of playdons skill . le : i' st so ? why then i 'le instantly thee wiue vnto my child , for thou art like to thriue . epig. . on prudentius , a christian poet. t is not thy name makes thee deale prudently , but thy profession , christianitie . epig. . to the most reuer in christ. francis : b. of landaffe on his though no record shall register thy fame , * thine owne records enrowled haue the same . epig. . the crab tree . of all the trees , the crab tree , i thinke best ; the oake is strong great buildings to erect , the firre tree faire to frame thereof a chest , the ew most fit an arrow to direct ) but this has in 't a pretious baulme to cure the poys'ned stings which womens tongs procure . epig. . on our fleering , fawning , trecherous gnathoes . the temp'rat zones , as a naso testifies , participate of heate , and cold commixt . heerein i thinke , he vents out truth , not lies ; because that many in these climat's fixt , doe , as the prouerbe saith , in either hand , both carry water , and a burning brand. epig. . on golden simonie . to his deere affectiue cousen , mr. i. pralpth . at first , i know , our ghostly simonie , his name deriu'd from simon magus , iust , but now adaies , i thinke it verily , it tooke his name from see-money accurst . heereby sir iohn gets him a liuing fat , that neuer knew the latine for his hat . epig. . heauens diademe . to his fr. and familiar , w. io. most wonder will to heare a beggars brat should haue as good , as large an heritage , as the rich heire of some great potentate , that whilome was , or is in this our age. but so it is , the heauens hirarchie to spade belongs , as well to scepter hie . epig. . perkins cases , the diuine . thy sacred cases conscionable bee , and why not fips because he nips the fee. epig. . to the most reuer . father in christ , anth. b of st. dauids . of his learned conceipts painted in his hall . some pen conceips their ingine sole to shew , but thine doe wit , and sacred lore containe : which tho domesticke be , for priuate vew , thy fame to publish yet , they doe pertaine . if any question why they secret lie , i say because the pencill cannot flie . epig. . on his brother buried in zealand . vvhat though thy corps , as is the a custome old , with thy forefathers doth not lie ingrau'd ? i trust thy sonte with theirs be safe enrowl'd within the b booke of life , most certaine sau'd . epig. . to the hypocriticall papist , wearing the gospell of saint iohn about his necke . thou well this book about thy neck mai'st weare : for , this , i know thy heart it comes not neere . epig. . to his cordiall fr. mr. moore fortune , heeretofore a traueller . of virginia . the naturall a virginianist's beleeue , all creatures , both visible , vnseene ; that were , or shall , or doe on earth now liue , to be composed of light water greene . a light beliefe , more light then is the water ; to deeme that all was made of such a matter . epig. . in ●…edio virtus . to his friend rich. iohnes . vertue they say 'twixt two extreames doth stand , to separate superlatiues in ill : which true we finde in brodefoord with her strand , that parts lauryddian , 'gainst lanellies will. else sure the bibbers of these famous townes , would meet full oft to cracke their giddie crownes . epig. . to the learned , honest , and pious gent. mr. th. leysons , phisitian ; of the bathes . your bathes partake of waters cold , hot too , a wonder 't were , but that they wonders doe . epig. . on the orchadians with their bestiall fellowship . it ill befits for man and beast to lie i●… one selfe roome without partitions shreene ; which the orchadians hereof testifies . 〈◊〉 match ill made together as i weene . vnlesse it be for loue of buggerie , the worst of kinde with beasts to multiply . epig. . to the censurers of these vulgar poesies , epigrams . some carping criticks doubtlesse will auerre , this kind of rime to haue a common hew , and therefore harsh , because it doth inferre no nouell forme ; like to the fashion new ; no maruell , for it is the worlds true guise , the new to loue the ancient to despise , epig. . to ingenious ben. iohnson . if that thy lore were equall to thy wit : thou in apollo's chaire mightst iustly sit . epig. . the tra●…ller , costing catita , t' was my chance to meet alumnus poore , whom kindly i did greet : and askt what newes ? who , sighing , did impart , which to vnlace , said he , torments my heart . but hoping , friend thou wilt condole with me : i will vnfold what i too common see . the vnderling in church , and common-weale , must trauaile , trudge , of bondage the viue seale ; and when his sorrie sallarie would game , he oft receaues his labour for his paine . the poore pedant , who liues a seruile life , which euer toiles , turmoiles in endlesse strife ; must be to all , yea to the clowne a slaue , and for his owne , with cap and knee must craue . the needy student wanting meanes to liue , detesting by the former waies to thriue : the ocean furrowes , being quite out of hope , and either serues fierce mauors , or the pope . alas , quoth i , is this the best reward ? that good deserts reapes in this fertile soile ? yes certs , said he , but for the soules regard , t' were better farre at the plow's taile to toile . epig. . to long megge of westminster . all cald thee , long megge , true ; they did not misse ; if broad megge too , they had not fail'd , i ●…is . epig. . to the kinde reader , of the censure of my booke . some will , no doubt , thee aske of this my booke , whither't be good ; perhaps thou 'lt say ; so , so . thy iudgement giue not so , i pray thee , looke : but heereof rather answere him ; no no. then i le be sure to shun each curious frie : that nought but faults in writings can espie . the end of the first centurie . patere , aut abstine . the second centvrie . epig. . to his worthy ho : patronesse , catherine , lady mansell . thy splendent name , i doe not know right well , or blazed fame , in praise doth most excell ; but both vnite , and both shall equall be , such is thy praise , sans partialitie . epig. . on our vulgar pie-poets . to the readers . an epigram , i graunt is common grown , squis'd out of coblers , tinkers , base of trade ; ( whereby of yore the learned well was knowne , whose warbling songs was not by coopers made . ) such sordid stuffe we should cast of in hast , and will sr. sutor not to passe his last . epig. . to the learned diuine mr. francis sydney . some of thy name doe braue trill pallas lance ; and thou most graue her lawrell dost aduance . epig. . on the mercilesse niggard . to his decre cosin , edm. basset . the base we see do commonly admire , and high esteeme the baslings of this earth : as siluer gold , brasse , yron lead , and wire , so that if famine fals , or pining dearth , scarse will they spare , yea to themselues one crum , much lesse to others , to their doores which come . epig. . to his lo : friend mr. m. hopkins . with dolefull sighes right well may we compare , the leuit's liuing par'd on either side ; by greedy patron thence which culs his share , and dunstus dumbe , in learning little tri'de : vnto the cheese , which banbury doth yeeld , which looks most poor , on both sides cleanly peeld . epig. . the naturalized dutch-man . to his kinde comrade , and lo : cosin , mr. william hughes . we say , one fault marres somes good qualities ; but contrary in the right flemming borne , one good'mends all his superfluities of bad conditions , to be ere forlorne : his bibbing , rashues , mercenary fight ; but worthre praise , for a seruing god aright . epig . on the worldlings auarice . to his lo : friend mr. io : roberts , alaborious preacher of gods word . the faithfull abr'am for his heritage did rest content with promise of a land : whereto the faithlesse bastards of our age , words nought auaile without performance-band . yet see the difference 'twixt the sonnes , and sire , he heauen gate , base earth they sole desire . epig. . agriculture . to his lo : friend io g. like nero , many do enbowell deepe their mother earth , for white and yellow mine : and others do into her concaues creepe like pluto's swart , darke coles to digge that shine . but thou art farre more naturall then they , which dost but , rase thy mothers face of clay . epig. . to one , declining vnder the yoke of affliction . vvhat tho thy cofers be not stuffed hard with caesars crosses , all of beaten gold : and all the crosses of the popes be bard thy house ; yet faint not ; but be euer bold . for thou hast had those crosses , that exceede farre these ; which be christs crosses , best in deed . epig. . a babylon metamorphosed . to his lo friend mr. math. bennet . thou boastest proud , that thou dost rule as a queene , thou art mistake , 't is rather like a b quene . a epig. . on sir phill. sidneys arcadia . thy workes are worthy praise , and why , i pray ? because that none can these dispraise , i say . epig. . to his lo : friend mr. m hop : for the loane of dod , and cleauer on the decalogue . dod with his cleauer cleaues the stonie rocke of our hard hearts through their laborious pain : and plaines the way most plaine for christ his flock , that leads o're hils to the celestiall plaine . these paire of friends with thankes i send againe , though two in name , in nature yet not twaine . epig. . on the monstrous sin of drunkennesse . that a stoicall sage did drunkennesse prescribe a salue most sure vnto a quiet minde ; which spuing potion most of euery tribe , now takes , which workes most brauely , as we finde . it causeth vomits , doth phlebotomize , and more , the dumbe doth cause to rhetorize . epig. . to the hopefull , and courteous courtier , young st. edw. lewis . the court , thy name may better , i confesse : but not thy nature , lesse i misse to gesse . epig. . worm'shead . to his approued good fr. t. rog. a rocke there is that 〈◊〉 shead has to name , within whose concaues , fish , and fowle do br●…ed : a wonder strange , which merits blazing fame , that stones , the selfe same rocke , and eke indeed at the same time , the feathered bird , the fish should feed , and stanch their appetites at wish . epig. . christ , and apollo . to physitians . both , sores of soule and bodie christ doth cure . which cannot synthius , which you say is sure a god ; and a god , they say , can all effect , but certs , i thinke , your god has this defect . epig. . on curious questionists . to his lo : fr. har : iohnes . too many are of curious questionists , that proud demands what god himselfe did frame , before a'fram'd the world wherein consists all cre'tures that both sauage be , and tame . which cannot yet their pater noster say , vnlesse perhaps in latine cleane astray . epig. . to his lo : fr : mr. w. awbrey , an ingenious a●…agr ▪ matist , late turned a minister . i●… that the censure of the gabalists 〈◊〉 true , which saith their lies in each mans name by the inuersion of hieroglyphists , his fatall fortunes , or his blazed fame . which in thy name thou didst , i thinke out finde when to that sacred coat thou gau'st thy minde . epig. . pengwin , the eight wonder of the world. to ●…s cousen rees griffith a peregrinator . the vniuerse , as we may reade , containes but only seauen wonders , strange and rare ; the eight , to make the number eu'n , remaines , which disticke-wise , herein i will declare . this is a bird , that pengwin has to name , which neuer slew , and yet was neuer tame . epig. . to the cour●…us ge●… . m. arth. mansell . as thou art arthur excellent in name , in nature to , i wish thee eke the same . epig. . the i le of the crosse. i gesse , a columbus gaue that fitting name to that same clime , which he cals crucis ile ; because there cannibals without all shame , doe eate mens flesh , which they to them beguile . which first they fix vnto a crux to feede , like to an oxe , being fat they cause to bleede . epig. . on curious damaetas . to his cousen h. tho. studious in the bible . th' ignorant in this our curious age , or little lesse , some asse of shallow reach , will seeme to prate in myst'ries deepe , and sage ; the greatest clearkes which vex , that write , or preach and if you tell him , a doe this thou shalt liue , 't is nought , vnlesse vnto the depth you diue . epig. . iesus college in oxford , speaking to king iames. al things , a they say , doe wish a perfect end , i being vnperfect , doe eke wish the same , thy royall hand my ragged wals can mend , and perfect that what priscious e'ne began . an easier taske , to ioine foure corner stones in me , then lincke in one foure nations . epig. . mors , sceptra ligonibus equat . alluding to the death of the most renowned h. fredericke , prince of wales . ofatall death , can none escape thy dart ? o gastly ghost , must all obey thy hest ? must princes , as the beggar feele thy smart ? must great ones die , sans mercy , as the least ? henry was yong , therefore thou mightst him spare ; henry was sage , then shouldst his life prolong : henry was war like touch him how could'st dare ? henry was learned , death thou hast vs wrong . mauors farewell , and learned mercury , since henry left too soone our company . epig. . to the most famous , and heroike lady , mary , l. wroth. thy worthy husband ladifies thee wroth , pray be not so with my poore pen , to place 'fore r the o ; then iustly lady worth i might thee stile , worth what ? hie honours grace . epig. . the a canaries . those iles were wont to be cal'd fortunate , haue now their names canaries , for the curres that breed therein ( a metamorphos'd state , and strange ) which thinks her blest for beastly burres . but brittaines ile should certaine more be blest , if with mad dogs she were the lesser prest , epig. . goddesse fortune . th' vnfortunate denominates his name and fortunate also , from fortune blind : in polycrates , and vlysses fame , her constancy vnconstantly we finde . th' one she euer cros'd by sea and land , th' other blest with her vnblisfull hand . epig. . hispana , in hispanos . hispana i le , has in 't a wonder rare , which serpents be without all poison strong ; and do not hurt ( as a stories do declare ) th' inhabitants , which do dwell them among ; which should teach those that conquer'd first the i le , to shun to kill , through veno●…'s poisned guile . epig. . on terhernes sepulture . terherne thou li'est enterd within the graue , of a blind monke , in those daies compted wise , and thou a foole ; a sepulture most braue , which doth the idiot , and the sage comprise . yet , thou a foole to greater blisse maist rise , then the blind monke , that was esteemed wise . epig. . on the feminine supremacy . i often heard , but neuer read till now . that women-kinde the codpeeces did weare ; but in those iles , the men to women bow , which do their names of a male , and female beare . i should therefore the woman iudge to be the vessell strongst , but b paul denies it me . epig. . to the right worshipfull and most courteous knight , sir lewis mansel , of his he : a mariage , the porcupine , with launces sharpe , and keene , doth now not seek to pearce the fawchi'on faire , nor is the fawchi'on 'gainst the griffon seene to ●…y , but ioies as friends , a royall paire . what is the cause of this their league ? thy a loue , which doth the birds , that 's strange , to vniō moue . epig. . on cottulus the vnconstant professor . vnconstant cottulus , which primly wast , preciscian like , most curious of thy life : but thou that faction thou hast ouerpast , and turn'd a papist , seeds man full of strife , i wonder , what thou thirdly wilt professe , camelion-like , a newter , as i gesse . epig. . to his antiquious academian friend mr. william ie. the swan , they say , doth sing before he die ; but thine , i wis , did mourne most dolefully . epig. . on the beloued gossips , laena , and larga . lae. vvhy wilt not larga , marry mr. steere ? a p●…oper man , & wise , no meacocks gul : la : i tell thee why , i hate a castred pheere , ●…nd rather chose my suiter , maister bull. epig. . the picture of a paramour . most pretty loue , of all our loues , which louest neuer to feed on one sole dainty dish ; but many more do'st taste , and often pronest , through sweat of body , and a louely kisse . thou euer lou'st variety of cares , which honest vesta and maechaon hates . epig. . to the gastly ghoast of terherne . some are , which haue grow'n famous by their lore , by dint of sword , and eke by prudencie ; but thou ( terherne ) renowned wast of yore , for a pure foole , and nat'rall foolerie . but here 's the difference 'twixt your brinted fame , theirs , for their wit , and thine , of folly , came . epig. . cord franke. of the knights of st. denis bathe , i wonder why men did thee nominate coed franke , in antique brittains copious tongue ; vnlesse thou got'st it through the french-mans fate , the gallian griefe , which blasted thee along . if it be so , let fleshmen learne by thee to shun the pox which burns the very tree . epig. . of the lamentable deaths , of h. . and h. . the french kings , murthered by a brase of fryars . if a patriarches twaine , in holy writ be nam'd b brethren in euill for reuenging wrong ; then may those brase of friars well be blam'd , ( which burns sans mercy , 'mongst the hellish throng ) for doubtlesse they were brethren in ill , which trat'rously france royall blood did spill . epig. . to his sickly friend . store is no sore , the prouerbe verifies ; which thou find'st false , in store of malladies . epig. . to reuerend vida , the filching preacher . gods zeale , ( most zealous vida , ) prelate graue , did eate thee vp , while that the borrowed oyle of others lampes , did furnish thee most braue , with budget lore , to keepe a preaching coile . what meanes thy silence ? sure the oile is out , and being thrust from movses chaire , art mute . epig. . to plaine io. the versificator . vvhat kinde of poem's thine , i thee beseech ? no wittie one , therefore a witlesse speech . epig. . to battus , the cat●…chiser . magister battus of the a. b c. i do commend thy conscience for to teach thy punies raw , without reward or fee ; th'wilt serue to catechise , but ill to preach . whereas thou dost thy pupils teach for nought , right well thou maist , thy lore deseru's not ought . epig. . on mistresse wag-taile . thy gadding head , my pretty mysa sweet , did cause thy taile to be most wagging still ; herein we see both head , and taile do meet thy lust ne're satiate seeking to fulfill . 't was not thy head that did thy taile enflame , but t' was thy taile , that did thy head defame . epig. . lex taliouis , on rot , the tyrant . proud cruell rot , which now dost rot in graue , that e're wast wont to tread on poore mens necks and force the harmeles gull to be a slaue , vnto thy threts , and eke commanding checks . these all requite thee now with talio's law. and on thy head doe trample without awe . epig . the cacademons epitaph . h●…ere batcocke lies , a cocke too bad by kinde , which euer wak't his prentises to play at cardes , he had a zelous minde , for them he bore insteed of bookes to pray . which being dead , a paire of cards was found vnder his head , to play with vnder ground . epig. . socrates . thou socrates the wisest sage foretold , that was on eath , while that on earth thou breth'st wast not so wise yet , for to choose that scold , to be thy wife ; thou wisedome herein leau'st . vnlesse it were thy patience , for to trie , if so , our dayes yeelds thee many a fry . epig. . to his honest kinde friend mr. edw. andrewes , of the epithit , honest. honest , a word , i sweare an adiectiue , for now a daies , it little stands in steed : but he that to the depth of crafts can diue , he is the wiseman that doth now exceed . epig. . an anothomie for husbandrie . paterne for husbands , choake thou art of right , which dost not choake thy good seed with the thornes of worldly care to be a miser hight , thy lands brings better fruit , then wild acornes . this shining candle of thy husbandrie , vnder a bushell doth not hidden lie . epig. . to the worthie and famous earle of notingham , high admirall of england . great number doe on the firme land beare sway , these thou excell'st , thou mak'st the sea obay . epig. . the flushing fray . to his couser , leiftenant ie , watkins . the flemmings fight is reasonable , yea ; being a reasonlesse , he 'ill but or sticke , or snee . epig. . omnium rerum vicissitudo est . master , messenger . ma : vvhat 's thy name ? messenger ? for what i pray ? me : t is master kind , for your deere loue , i say . ma : tush , i doe hate , detest thy lawlesse bed , me : you may helpe that , if you doe me but wed . ma : fie 't is not fit for females for to sue ; me. tut , let 's conioine , it is the fashion new . epig. . amicus certus in re incerta cernitur . to trustie m. gage . thou faithful gage , that wast a gage indeed . for loyaltie , and eke for seruice true , ( vnto that famous a prince by god decreed to quell the pope , religion pure to shew ) in her distresse ; which few of thin owne name , to thy pure faith , themselues doe wholly frame . epig . to the faire fac'd margaret . what odd's 'twixt margarit , a precious pearle , and margaret , a sweet and peerelesse girle . no odd's i see , for we must buy the one , and gratis thee , i thinke possesse shall none . epig. . the voluble wheele of fortune . to the interne friend mounsier hie , and mr. low. lo : thou clim'st the wheele of fortune mounsier hit and gap'st for glorie , and preferment great ; hie. true mr. low , and thou as fast do'st flie , and lowe descend'st from fortunes highest seat despaire not yet if fortune , a fortune be , shee may thy name appropriate vnto me . epig. . to the worthy gent. mr. rawley bussie , in voluing the earthly globe , & tossing of the tents ball , most expert . thy solace is to volue the orbicke ball of this round earth , and eke this tenis pile ; th' one in sporting , which we pastime call , th' other , when thy fluent muse do'st file . epig. . to mistris lightfoot . i chaunc'd , as once i trauail'd to o'retake one mistris quick , being found'red , making mone : i ask'd , what did her pace so halting make , i did my foot quoth she , hurt 'gainst a stone . t is nothing so , said i , kind mistrisse quicke , your griefe i take , came rather of a pricke . epig. . uincit qui patitur . to his lo fr. rich. gibons , a teacher . if any wish his patience for to try , let him , but practise sole thy ministrie . epig. . to his fragile firtree staffe . the prouerbe se's , t is better for to bow then for to breake , a note of gentlenesse ; but thou , my prop , dost scorne to stoope so lowe as bend , a signe , se'st thou of basefulnesse . but breake wi lt rather ( my most brittle tree ) yet doe not so , i prethee , vnder me . epig. . on stephen , the bloody persecutor . good gardiners doe vse for to supplant their bad grow'n weeds , their fruitfull hearbes to saue ; but gard'ner thou the a flowre of troynouant , did'st thinke to weed , and burie in her graue . to heauens reapers , far vnlike wast thou , to weed the wheat , and let the a euer grow . epig. . to the worthy knight , sr ro. wroth , of his house call'd durnnce . thy durance keeps in durance none , i heare , ' lesse be to pertake of thy a bounteous cheere . epig. . on our popish fugitiues . they say , o'refasting doth procure a paine , ( virtigo hight ) the turning of the head : which true we find in male contents most plaine , when of preferments long they haue not sped . and a arrius like , which mist his bishopprick , th' ill change their faith , and shewe a popish tricke . epig. . mother b's tranflation . goode'n , most antique , zelous mother b , this salutation well befits your age : for while you liue , a vestall you decree to be , and shun the toies of pupillage . and as of old , on beds you lou'd to play : so now on beades you wholy like to pray . epig. . * licentia poetica . to the carping criticke . ivdge not so hard , that poēts still doe lie , for what they write , 't is ' llow'd by libertie . epig. . on the popes holinesse . the romish canons shamelesly auer , their holy father , god , nor man to be ; what is he then ? if that , i doe not erre , h 'is no angell , of heauens hierarchie . vnlesse be a him , that puts on euery hue for to deceaue , and this , i thinke , is true . epig. . to the paracelfian empricke . if all the world were like to socrates , that neuer stood in need of phsicks hand ; how then couldst liue , if this thy art should cease , poore iack , in this , or any other land ? wouldst thou thenbe a graue sr. iohn by skill ? so , sure more soules , then bodies wouldst thou kill . epig. . of h. king of england , whose inuenomed braine , being dead , kill'd his owne physitian . what men aliue , being sick , would oft fulfill , thou being a dead did'st thy physitian kill . epig. . to mr. monoculus , the sagittarie . vvhat dire mishap befell you mounsier blinck ? that you haue lost your most respected eie : you tell me , tush , you shall the better winck to hit the marke , and l●…t the arrow flie . i' st so ? your shot ●…i gesse , will be farre wide , when that you shut the other eie beside . epig. . to zantippa the scold . vvhat mary muffe , what makes thee sweet of hew and sowre of speech , most bitter , waspish , bad ? i thinke , thon art a most detested shrew ; or with the ague , or burnt feuer clad . which euer fils thy tongue most full of gawle , to all distastfull , but to ban , and brawle . epig. . the epitaph of his deerely beloued schoolemaster , mr. w. edwards . here lies the picture of pure honestie . here lies , the sire of many a learned sonne , here lies , the zeale of christianitie , here lies , the patron of religion . here lies , that man , whose life was naught to none , here lies , that friend , whom yong and old bemone . epig. . to rome , with her romish brood . paule a saith , a bishop should a husband be of one wife , for to liue a sober life ; but the great bishop , of the high'st degree , will haue his bishops for to haue no wife . i wonder how from all he cuts this band ? they' are either eunuches , or play vnder hand . epig. . to gill : the fingring lawyer , and ambodexter . vvhat mak's thee , gill , the perfect vse to haue , as well of left , as of thy right hand faire ? thou galen-like wilt answer very graue , 't is o'remuch heat that doth from heart repaire . i thinke not so , but thy poore clients gold mak's thee to be an ambodexter bold . epig. . a new formo of finding out petigrees to don stolidus . my vpstart gull , that would'st right noble be in royall blood ( thy labour quite is vaine in voluing bookes of old antiquitie for thy base line , not worth thereof the paine ) b' aduis'd by me , ope thou an old made graue ; there thou thy first genologie shalt haue . epig. . tom of christ church in oxford . to our ceremonious papists . the clapping sound of antichristian bels , they say , expels from them their airie ghosts : so , tom thy sound which all thy mates excels , doth thine oxonians cause to flie their hoasts . but if thy sound could sound as far as spaine , their bodies ghosts , i thinke , would them refraine . epig. . god , and the pope . the sacred scripture doth for truth record , that god is only of the liuing god , and of the dead , he claimes to be no lord ; but father pope recalleth with a nod they say the dead , from purgatories griefe ; th' are dead in sinne , that makes this their beleefe , epig. . to glorious mopsa , of her stolen feathers . why mistris noll , dost thou adulterate ( from others royall lines , thy selfe to grace ) their noble birth , and titles high of state ? that wast at first but poore , obscure and base . if each should pluck from thy patch't pedegree his feathers of , right aesops iay might'st be . epig. . on cornutus , the monster . to his lo : friend wil : arne . of all wilde birds , i loth the monstrous batte , which is a bird , and eke a filthy beast ; but of tame birds , i do most deadly hate , that 's man in shape , yet hath a beast-like creast . which of these monsters do'st abhorre the more ? i thinke the tame , that with his hornes doth gore . epig. . to boorish petita . the latine a prouerbe doth for truth relate , that eu'ry land doth arts diuine embrace : which euery where most true , i estimate , but in petita , 'mongst that rusticke race . which studies nought , but most the crooked law ; and will effect no goodnesse , but for aw . epig . to his cosin , lieftenant william watkins , of flushings scituation . vvhere flushing stands , the walkers ile , t' was wel so nem'd for in 't walkes many a sentinell . epig. . on nic : herberts posie , ( i le y kymero . to his worthy son mr. will : herbert . thy ( i le y kymero ) did well sympathize , ( right worthy nich'las ) with thy noble minde : for where thou took'st , thou didst not temporize , but all thy friends did a sure friend thee find . thou wast not like the glosers of our age , which disagree most from their posies sage . epig. . to the right reuerend father , io : kinge , bishop of london , a most perswasiue preacher . vvhat tho thy hand doth not the scepter sway , thy tongue doth cause full many to obey . epig. . tobaccho . to his respectiue good friend mr. m cradocke . the maior part of our tobacchonists , tak 's sole the shaddow of this smoakie weed : but thou hereof contrary often whift's the substance all of this prodigious reed . i grant the substance doth the shaddow pafse in all besides ; saue in this indian grasse . epig. . a paire royall of clerkes . to his frtend tho : prichard . three sorts there be , which clerks be call'd by nam●… the first of right is the superlatiue , the bible clerke , that doth expound the same ; the next in rancke is the comparatiue , the pen and inkhorne clerke ; that bandeth men ; the third , the positiue , that cries , amen . but prowd comparisons were odious farre , 'twixt these same clerkes , for their scholaritie ; yet my braue scribe will make no bones to iarre , yea with the best , in case of felonie . but poore ding-dong will not offend his sire , for feare to loose his small collected hire . epig. . of the ambitious . to his cosen io : vaughan of his fall from a wor●…eshead . some fall , whose falling doth their deaths procure , thy fall was great yet doth thy life remaine ; the ods is , they themselues to climbe inure , and sithence , thou from climing do'st refraine . epig. . to sir humfrey the recorder . thou humfrey ke'pst a calender most streight of others faulrs , by word , or deed , ere sure ; but neere i thinke , most hatefull , carelesse weight , kep'st true accompt of thine owne crimes vnpure . i deeme thou could'st not , cause they did surmount the'others slips , which thou so nigh didst count . epig. . to morus , the baldepate . good mr. more , what made your pate be bawle ? you say , you were borne vnder venus starre , whose constellation made your haire to fall , and eke the credit of your crowne to marre . but , as i cast , of this your great mishap , you lull'd were rather vpon venus lap . epig. cupid the blind god. to his lo : friend mr. william williams . why is 't that poets stile the but a boy ? since that thou art a thousand yeares of age ; no maruaile , for thy a dotage loue , thy ●…oy , with childish youth doth euen equipage . epig. . to caecus , the painefull preacher , of our dumbe dogges . thou seest not yet makest other see their hainous sinnes , through thy laborious paine : when linx-ei'd drones , which euer idle be , with taking paines doe neuer one soule gaine . thy sight , their liuings eke , i wish to thee , so that thou wouldest then not idle be . epig. . to his louing friend io : spencer , skilfull in arith meticke , of mounsier mutilus . thy numbring art the plurall number loues , and doth casheere the singular , as none : but mutilus , grammarian-like stout proues the singular ; as lapis , his sole stone . epig. . on bibbing belgieus . to his cosin io : watkins ensigne bearer . flemmingo vseth after euery whiffe , his kinde comrade to take fast by the hand : he se's , it is to shew his kindnesse rife , but 't is , i gesse , because he cannot stand . epig. . on del lucifer . to his friend mr. edw. robinson , cler. what though superbus from the dunghill crept , thy holy function scornes with open throat : yet be content , forgiue and eke forget , sith christ himselfe did dignifie thy coat . yet suffer cinicke , when that he is dead , to hearse him , where the cuckoe first was bred . epig. . the imparatiue moode . to my lady myso . i wonder greatly what thy mood should be , indicatiue ? no , that doth reason shew , but thine is madd ; nor subiunctiue i see , that should depend sole on thy husband true . but thine , sans doubt , is the imparatiue , which makes thee dayly with thy mate to striue . epig . to the ingenious poet , mr. william herbert of his booke intituled the prophesie of cadwalader . thy royall prophesie doth blaze thy name . so poets must , if they will merit fame . epig. . to the snarling censurer . reader , perhaps thou wilt my muse dispraise of barrennesse , which was a curse of yore ; it is not so , note thou her fathers daies , a yongling , able to beget yet more . if idle , vaine , thou deeme it , and vnfit : an idle vaine becomes a childish wit. epig. . on moneanus , the bibber . to his louing friend mr. william thomas . thy nectar , quondam , was but whiggin small , alias sowrew hay , how is 't that nought but wine thy slippery palate now doth taste at all ? that ne're was prest in bo●…eas freezing clime . no maruaile , for thy body is so bet with cold , which thou dost seeke with ale to heat . epig. . on simon magus , roman , to his lo. fr. and familiar , m. i. vaughan god gratis giues his grace most liberally , but man will not without a simons fee. which was the cause , as farre as i perceaue , t●…at caused thee sweet oxford for to leaue . epig. . on luke-warme loue . to his lo. and approued good cousen mr. edw gamage . loue now adaies is neither hot , nor cold , th'wilt aske me then , what i' st ? i say luke-warme ; why then 't is bet , thou se'st , then that of old , o , no , this warme has in 't the greater harme . epig. . tempus edax rerum , to the learned historian , his lo. friend , mr. w. meyricke . time doth in time they say , all things devoure , and eke forgets each learned mercurie , saue the historian , only times fresh flowré , which neuer fad's , much lesse doth euer die . for 't cannot be that time can blot his name , which doth of time records most antique frame . epig. . on iudeas the vsurer . to his louing cosen iohn stradling . what makes that beggars in thy neighbourhood , poore silly wtetches , numberlesse to swarme ? t is not i weene , for thy deuotion good ; but rather 't is for thy purlonging harme . which suffer'st uone to thriue that liues at hand ; but begger'st all , by purchasing their land . epig. . to the readers of his epigrams . in the popes tongue i list not to endite : cause of my time all men should haue the sight . epig. . to the printer , of detractors . the captaine presse the souldier to repell the furious force of foemens cruell hand : so do'st thou presse some papers , that excell , yet must they cankred tongues of men withstand . a wonder t' is , the tongue for the hand , right should warre ; no force , t' is but a womans fight . the end of the second centurie . patere aut abstine . disce aut discede . w. g. forlorne hope , sayling , and salling forth , vnder the duskie colours of the enuious vniuerse . epig. . march forward , muse thy patronesse is great , and if she proue as good , i feare no ill . but spac'ious fields has ta●…es as well as wheat , besides the dolphin , sea has crocodill . if one mecaene yet , vnder heauens cope thou find'st ; th' art not a quite forlorne hope . epig. . on tricongius , who was made by consull tyberius caesar , only for his drinking . if that our bibbers now a daies , should haue as large a guerdon , as thou hadst of yore ; i thinke we should , of euery tankard slaue , great magistrats , then priuat men , haue more . epig. . on conscionable surdaster . thouse'st , that all thy hearing thou hast lost , that 's true ; withall , i thinke , thy feeling too ; how then canst liue ? fo●… this maintaineth most within vs life , as often reade we doe ; and yet thou liu'st tho quite without remorse , so , many doe , to sin that nothing force . epig. . on lollus loftie tombe . what made thee build thy statue eu'n'so hie ? whereas thy stature low on ground did lie ? this was to grace a stupid , liuelesse stone more then thy selfe ; t' was well , for thou hadst none . epig. . on cherillus the poet. pan is not dead , since pas began to sing . who all excels in consorts iarring string . epig . to his louing , and beloued cosen , m. i. pralph cler. of the sager , a hill scituated in parish , apud heref. moses , before the heauenly canan saw , did first ascend the top of a nebo's mount ; where from he might a viue description draw of ●…hly canan , the first 's type in compte . so maist thou climbe to sagers loftie hill , and canan vew as t' were , a pleasant plaine ; to meditate of heau'nly canan t' will thee instigate assured , as i faine . vse to ascend this hill most pleasant , hie : so , heauen on earth thou mai'st see , ye●… thou die . epig. . nusquamtuta fides . to firmus , the camelion . i wonder , firmus , why thy faith is fraile to some ? whose name approues a constancie ; t is certs , because they be not head , and taile thine ; both in falsehood , as in veritie . epig. . to the holy well , on mawverne hill. we often read that myracles haue ceast , which otherwise seemes by thy golden fame , ( blaz'd farre and wide : almost to east and west ) which curest all , the vlc'rous , blind , and lame . these myracles , god grant , they be not mould in the popes forge ; as counterfeits of old . epig. . to mr. heauen of heauen , in the countie of heref. thou happie seem'st , two heauens which possest , thy dwelling one , the other is thy name ; striue to enjoy , ( and sure thou shalt be blest ) the third , which was that a saints , of greatest fame . epig. . to the ministers of gods word . this * phrase you vse for your small tithes by rat●… : and for your greater too , you may vse that , epig . on cressa's feminine flatterie . perfidious wretch what made thee cracke thy faith ? which once thou vow'st for to obserue and keepe : but that is true , which the old prouerbe saith , beware a woman when she gin's to weepe . epig. . on a bariefus , the magician , and his sectaries thy hatefull name agrees with thy black art ; who v●…'s it , bar●…'s quite iesus from his hart . epig. . on the whore in graine , helen of greece . one staine , we read , did staine thy sunnie face ; but thy stain'd life , thy corps did more disgrace . this one spot did not more , thy sweet face marre , then thy lust ilion did ; in troian warre . thinke not therefore it shame to haue a staine : but count it shame , to be a whore in graine . epig. . to his lo. fr. m. w. galloway , an irish gent. a student at grayes inne , of his fortunate escape of shipwracke at gorwer'sland . the drowning waters , and the burning fire , are elements , sans mercy , as we say ; whose foamers fo●…ing rage , thou didst admire , when shipwrack thou sustaind'st in a sillies bay : yet mercifull was neptunes god to thee , which selde is cruell to scholaritie . epig. . blind affections picture . to dunce the pesaunt . what mak's thee , dance , dick truncus to commend ? of no deserts a boore , a corridon ; thou saist , because he is thy worships friend , and , whom the current of thy loue runnes on . but wherefore do'st nick l●…s . so dispraise ? a gentleman of fashion , and of sort . forsooth , thou sai'st , thou canst not brooke his way his comely carriage , or his seemely port . see then affection , whether good or ill : laud's or defames according to his will. epig. the epitaph of sir will : herbert of swansey . to his right h●… : brother sir iohn herbert second secretary of state. if home-bred knowledge , or yet foreigne skill , if sundry tongues , or physickes princely art , if noble carriage , eloquence at will , could thee haue kept from deaths pale-ebone dart , thou yet hast liu'd , a glory to thy name , the poore mans prop , and eke thy countries fame . epig. . to our wise brittish barde , mr. w. mathew , esquire ; for wit , and iudgement excellent . i wote not which thy outward sense , thy eare , or inward els , thy braine , doth most excell ; for , as we say , the former is the chaire of iudgement , the other is inventions cell , thy braine , doth thine owne litterature invent , thy eare , on others labours , doth comment . which most excell's i cannot well impart , but leaue it thee , the fi●…'st for logick's art. epig. . to his louing cosin h. price , of neptunes purgation . if thou art sicke , and wouldst a vomit take ; if thou art well , and willing wouldst be sicke . the sea for both will thee a med'cine make , killing the whole , the dead reuiuing quicke . this brackish purge excells farre hellobore , for nought , besides perbraking , pai'st therefore . epig. the papists , and anabapstis sympathized . through imitation , the anabaptists say their sinnes proceed , from their forefathers old ▪ the papists eke their sinfull fect obey : because their sires were hattcht in the same fold . epig. . to his old friend and schoolefellow , mr. d. ienkins , a worthy barrister in the lawes . ovr famous ploydon we as yet embrace , since thou dost liue to plead graue ploydons case . epig. . patience is a vertue . to his lo : cosin , and deere alismar , hop : thomas . patience endures the brunt of all assaults . eor frowning fortune can it nought displease ; nor , can it 〈◊〉 base feigned frindships faults , nor yet , being wrong'd , from constancie will cease ▪ therefore , a peerelesse vertue , patience is , whereto nothing , at no time , comes amisse . epig. . of the wonder , in herefordshire ; being a peece of ground , that mou'd of it selfe . philosophers , for truth doe testifie , our mother earth immouable to be ; but thy selfe motion strange philosophie , these sages wise , proues liers , as we see . if this thy motion had continu'd ay , our a aristotle we might iust gainesay . epig. . to his lo. and constant friend mr. moore altho a thy name might thee vnconstant proue ; the contrary we finde in thy firme loue . epig. . an adonicke . on mysa and mopsa , two honest scoulds . yow both togither iarring a sunder : farre should be rather birds of one feather . since your pure liuing , ioin'd in one trading : neuer omitting your mates defaming . epig. . semel insaniuimus omnes . to his cosin , mr. i. p. the prouerbe se's , that all the best of any hath once bin mad ; that once is certs too many ; but , after once , we come to perfect wit , worth small dispraise , i deeme that franticke fit . epigr. . to the best indenture drawer , titubus , the night-walker of fleetstreet . vvhat mak's thee walke so late against the law ? kind mr. chach i doe endendures draw : indentures drawe , in the darke gloomy night ? whose manuscript require a brighter light . you are mistake , we feld vse light or hand : we write e're best , whenscarse we see , or stand . epig. to the euerliuing , and never dying memory of the most reverend fatther in god , io : whitgift , late archbishop of canterbury right reverend prelate of our church diuine , strong , sollid piller of gods holy arke , bright beacon , which incontinence didst shine , ●…ole , chiefest scholars comfortable marke . thy name whitgift , for nought was sure not hight : for both in life , and lore thy gifts were whit : epig. . on the most ho : and worthy lo : lord viscount de lisles posie . quo me fata vocant . thy splendent posie , well agrees with thee , renowned lord , bright sydney's shining lampe : for where so e're th' art call'd by destenie , thou ready art for court , or els for campe. in one , or both thy praise doth most surpasse ; such euer , sidneys trophies noble , was . epig. . to the malevolent , and taxing censurer , of his epigrammes . if thou of glory vaine wilt me accuse , these worrhlesse lines in promulgating out ; beleeue it then , i will not , mome refuse the lye to giue thee , if a souldier stout . t was friends , not fame that these made publik then in lethe's lake , els drench ' had bene my pen. epig. . to his friend the printer of his booke . some volumes bring in folio to the presse , in quarto some , according to their lore ; 〈◊〉 all the learned ; i w●… am the lesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…ring th●… all any store . ●…ie it not fould in sexto 〈◊〉 least , as the tome , his 〈◊〉 a●… little grow . respect the paper , though a p●… worth small ; t will s●… for one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thee at thy stall : ●…ig . ●… . on the ●…thers 〈◊〉 period of his 〈◊〉 hope . thy hopelesse name , stiles thee with no good hap , thy numbers od●… approues thee happy yet : for ioy therefore thy plaudities forth ●…ap ; thy one and thirty right the game has hit . disce a●…t discede . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e a pythagoras . * anacharsis ●…ter scytha●… . * luca . . * qui cadit in 〈◊〉 , non habet vnde cadat . * ins●…ia . * 〈◊〉 . * his studie . * ex mo. vtopia . * h●…dings . * psal. . . * god. .. ios. . . * act. . . :: act. . . a ephes. . . * pediculos . a spiritus , & car●… . b gal. . c . cor. . a new coll. in oxenford . a pecunia potest omnia . * catalogue . a . meta. a gen. . . b apoc. 〈◊〉 . a ex lib. aug. nau. notes for div a -e a ne suter vltra cripidam . a a pure protestant . a apoc. . . b apoc. . . a s●… de tranquil . ●…im . a mat. . . a exilih . munst. cosm. a mat. . a arist. eth. a ex munst cosm. a ex lib. nauig . aug. b cor. . . a gen. . . b gen. . . a drunke . a qucene elizabeth . a vnconstant . a mat. . . a a famous housekeeper . a ex e●…seb . a c●… , . . a ex lo stovve . chron. a tim. . a mat. . . a quaeuis terra alit artem . a senes his pueri . notes for div a -e a vlt. deut. a a cor. . * decimae minutae . a acts . , a a pro rossilie . a est aristotelus . a fortune . a pleasant purge for a roman catholike to evacuate his evill humours consisting of a century of polemicall epigrams, wherein divers grosse errors and corruptions of the church of rome are discovered, censured, refuted, in a facetious yet serious manner / by william prynne ... prynne, william, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing p estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a pleasant purge for a roman catholike to evacuate his evill humours consisting of a century of polemicall epigrams, wherein divers grosse errors and corruptions of the church of rome are discovered, censured, refuted, in a facetious yet serious manner / by william prynne ... prynne, william, - . [ ], p. by r.c. for michael sparke, senior ..., printed at london : . errata: p. [ ]. reproduction of original in harvard university libraries. marginal notes. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng catholic church -- controversial literature. epigrams, english. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - pip willcox sampled and proofread - pip willcox text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a pleasant pvrge , for a roman catholike , to evacuate his evill hvmovrs . consisting of a century of polemicall epigrams ; wherein divers grosse errors , and corruptions of the church of rome are discovered , censured , refuted , in a facetious , yet serious manner . by william prynne , an vtter-barrester of lincolnes-inne ; who composed these poems , to solace himselfe , in his late tedious imprisonments . horatius de arte poetica . omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci. jeremiah . . flee out of the midst of babylon , and deliver every man his soule ; be not cut off in her iniquity ; for this is the time of the lords vengeance ; he will render unto her a recompence . thessalonians . , , . because they received not the love of the truth , that they might be saved ; for this cause god shal send them strong delusions , that they should beleeve a lye : that they all might be damned who beleeved not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse . printed at london by r. c. for michael sparke senior , dwelling at the blue bible in greene arbour , . to the most illustrious charles , prince of wales , and heire apparant to the crowne of great britaine . great britaines present joy , her future hope , and faiths defender against romes proud pope ; vouchsafe to cast your gracious princely eye on these unpolish't poems ; which descry , refute some foule , grosse errors , practises of romes false church . by one short view of these , your highnesse may conjecture of the rest , and be stirr'd up for ever to detest with greatest zeale , romes errors , blasphemies ; which make good hearts with indignation rise against them . great jehovah crowne and blesse your highnesse with all kindes of happinesse ; and , through your favour , make this pvrge of use , si●ke roman soules to true health to reduce . so prayeth , your highnesses most humble devoted servant , william prynne . to the courteous reader . meeting with sundry * papists whiles that i remain'd a prisoner under custody ; we oft conferred in a friendly way , of divers points of doctrine , wherein they dissented from us ; and some practicall corruptions , which they , rome , devotion call . on this occasion , to helpe passe the time , i some of our discourses turn'd to rime ; that so i might with greater liberty , and lesse offence , their errors lash , descry ; both to convince , and cause them to despise , their fond false tenents , worships , blasphemies . which poems since , being licensed the presse , as usefull for these times ; fit to represse romes spreading errors ( * some whereof i finde not yet oppugn'd by any in that kinde , as here they are ; ) i them shall recommend unto thy use ( kinde reader ) to this end , that thou maist weigh their matter , not their dresse ; which is but rude , unworthy view , or presse . minde then their substance , not lame poetry ; and all defects in friendly sort passe by . if any health thou by this pvrge shalt gaine ; blesse god ; and pray for him who shall remaine , thine in the truth , william prynne . a table of the epigrams herein comprised . . on , and against popish ave maries . page . on , & against popish beades and pater-nosters oft repetition on them . p. . on , and against popish crucifixes , and images of christ . p. . on , and against popish crucifixes , and adoring them with latria . p. . on , and against popish pictures of the virgin mary , as a crowned queene , sitting on a throne with christ a sucking infant held in her armes ; and on the reliques o● her milke , which they keepe and shew . p. . on , and against papists painting the virgin mary , and other saints in new fashions , with frizled haire , and rich dresses . p. . on saint dominickes vision of fryers of his order , hid in heaven under the virgin maries peticoate ; and on the reliques of her garments , which papists keepe and shew in sundry places . p. . . on , and against papists reserving the host , and carrying it in procession . p. . . on popish tapers . p. . on saint michaels buckler and poynard kept for a relique in the chappel of saint michaels mount , in base normandy . p. . on the reliques of josephs han , and the asses taile , whereon christ rode . p. . on the popish sacrifice of the masse . p. . on romes . sacraments . p. . on romes . deadly sinnes . ib. . on romes latin prayers . p. . on popish miracles ib. . on popish whippings and satisfactions . p. . on papists abstaining from flesh on fasting dayes . ibid. . on papists making marriage a sacrament ; yet forbidding their priests to marry , and permitting them to keepe whores . p. . on romes extreame unction , and its being a sacrament . ib. . on papists implicit faith , & images . p. . on popish blinde obedience . ib. . on popish pilgrimages , offerings , kneelings , prayers to the images of the virgin , and their worshipping of her and them . p. . on romes worshipping the crosse , nailes , and what ever touched christs body , with latria , or divine worship . p. . on romes prayers to dead saints , and for the dead . p. . on romes divine adoration of her painted crosses . p. . on papists supposed looking-glasse of the trinity , for their saints to see prayers in . ib. . on prayers in an unknown tongue . p. . on romes idoll , and idle worship . ib. . on transubstantiation . ib. . on popish transubstantiation , and annihilation . p. . on transubstantiation , and the popes vicarships repugnancy . p. . on the reall presence , pix and crucifixes repugnancies . ib. . on transubstantiation , and popes leaden buls . p. . on popish priests , taking away the cup from the people . ib. . on popish concomitancy , and the sacred cup. p. . on popish concomitancy ; and halfe communion . ib. . on praying to , and representing of god and saints by pictures . p. . on worshipping images . ib. . on popish confessors and pardons . p. . on popish altars and masse-priests . ib. . on popish purgatory and its fire . ib. . on popish indulgences . p. . on popish merits , and prayers to saints . . on papists praying to christ , to save them by thomas beckets blood . p. . on romes freewill . ib. . on popish priests shaven beards , and shorne nunnes . ib. . on popes buls , and doubting of salvation , their contradict on . p. . on pop●sh sa●nts 〈…〉 for partiticular coun●●●●s , 〈…〉 , & kindes of 〈…〉 p. . 〈…〉 p. ● . 〈…〉 ib. ● . on pop●sh merits . ib. . on auricular confession . p. . on romes prayers to saints . ib. . on popish monkes , players , prayers , and merits . p. . on romes taking away the scripture , cup , and second commandement from the people . ib. . on the romish masse . p. . on the popes two swords . p. . on the popes two keyes . ib. . on kissing the popes feet . ib. . on the popes being peters successor . ib. . on the popes not erring , whilst he sits in peters chaire . p. . on the popes not erring . ib. . on popes not sinning and erring as popes but as men . ib. . on the popes not erring , and falling from grace . . on the popes pardons , and mortall sins . p. . on the popes being christs vicar generall upon earth . . on popes pardons of sinnes . p. . on the popes being head of the church . on romes sins , curses and pardons . . on the pope and his cardinals . . on the popes being christs vicar p. . on the popes vicarship , and vicars . . on the popes porpherie chaire , wherein they are groped , and tryed to be men . p. . on christs crowne of thornes , and the popes triple crowne of gold . on peters poverty , and the popes great wealth ; and being peters successors . . on popes prohibiting priests from marriage . p. . on protestants damnation by papists , and the reason of it . p. . on romes saviours and jesuites . . on no salvation out of the church of rome . p. . on papists making apocrypha canoninicall , and canonicall scripture lesse than apocryphall ; with their blasphemies against it , and popes power over it . p. . on the two arch-patriarches of popish fryers , saint francis and saint dominick and their blasphemies concerning them . p. . on the strange popish miracles , attributed to , and forged of saint vincent ferryer , and saint anthony of padua . p. . on the popish blasphemous legends of their saint katherine of sennes . p. . on a popish miracle of their deified hostia . p. . on papists prayers to those for saints , who neither were saints nor men . p. . on popish blinde obedience . p. . on romes making perpetuall visibility a note of the true church . p. . on romes making multitude , and roman , another note thereof . p. . on romes engrossing the name of the true church of christ to her selfe alone . . on romes religion turned to policy . p. . on popes right , to interpret scripture , and their strange glosses on sundry texts to prove their supremacy , and the lawfulnesse of deposing and killing kings , who disobey them . p. . on the popes supremacy and soveraignty over kings , emperours , and kingdomes . p. . on popish images . p. . on romes doctrine and practise of equivocation . . on papists blasphemous assertions touching the virgin mary , to the dishonour of god the father , and christ his sonne . p. . on romes novelties , notwithstanding her pretence of antiquity . p. . on , and against romes halfe-communion , and sacrilegious depriving of the people of the sacramentall cup. p. . on , and against popish and superstitious bowing to altars , and rayling in the lords table altarwise . p. . on , and against popish bowing to altars , and adoration of the host . p. errata . page . l. . for you , read your , l. the , four . p. . l. . hers , his , p. . l. . it , is . p. . l. . nazarene , p. . l. . ascend , p. . l. . eternity ; extremity , p. . l. . there tarry , p. l. . the baker , p. l. you saint , p. . l. . advocate , p. l. . constans , p. . l. . for to , p. . l. great feast , l. . guest , p. . l. . received , l. . no ; nay , l. . whom when received , p. . l . makes , p. l. . that , as , p. . l. . dranke , l. . sacraments of ; sacramentall : p. l. . yet , it . p. . l. . and some , l. . publike , vulgar , p. . nor , not ; p. . l. they , th●are . in the margin , p. . l. . dele and , p. . l. . novae , l. . capreolus , p. . l. . molanus , p. . l. . rosella , p. . l. . eutropius , p. . l. . eucharistia , l. . carnotensis , l. . spe●●● . p. l. sam. sacr. a pleasant pvrge for a roman catholick , to evacvate his evill hvmors . consisting of sundry epigrams ; wherin divers errors , and grosse corruptions of the church of rome are discovered , censured , refuted , in a facetious , yet serious manner . on , and against popish ave-maries . no ave-marie now ? no salutation of the blest virgin since her exaltation ? the a angell sayd it whilst shee here did live ; must we not then this honour now her give , in state of glory , mounted up on high to gods b right hand , above the starrie skie ? no. why ? because it is a c salutation , and so casheer'd by this her elevation . friends , neighbours use none to salute or greete by speech , whilst absent , but when as they meete . if men in england should salute with ave their friends in spaine , & cry to them , god save yee , all haile good sirs , and with them complement whiles absent there , as if they were present ; or should they aves to their pictures say , and them salute , as you doe hers each day , all would them deeme mad , foolish ; are not ye then mad , craz'd , sottish thus to cry ave , hayle mary full of grace , to mary here , and to her pictures , as if still she were here present with you ; when you all grant , know , she 's now in d heav'n above , not here below , * ten millions more remote from you all , then ▪ those now in spaine are from us english men. no doubt your wits are fled , you quite erre , dote , thus to salute her from you so remote , since fooles , yea little children still deny to aske their parents blessing , if not by ; go to salute them with cap , congie , knee , except they see them , and they present be . the angell courted her not till he e came into her presence ; pray doe ye the same ; stay , till you meete her person , then salute ; the angell else your folly will confute ; who in her absence us'd no complement , nor ave , but when , where she was present . nor did he her salute , nor ave cry till he f was sent by god in embassie to her from heav'n above , and to her came with speciall tydings : doe you than the same . stay till god sends you to her , then salute : the angell , else , your dotage will refute . when you come to her with an embassie from god , then her salute and aue cry : but not before , since t is presumption her to salute without commission . none but g an angell , not one mortall man saluted her with ave here : how can you then ( no angels , but meere men ) presume the angels salutation to assume ? and this great h queene of heav'n greet thus ? i feare you are too bold with him and mary here , first , to vsurpe his words , and then to cry ave to this grand queene familiarly , without their leave or god's , as if you were their equals ; till you be so , pray forbeare your aves : it s not manners , nor decent for you with this grand queene to complement : it stands not with a princesse royalty , that all should her salute familiarly . the angle sayd his ave i once , no more then ceast , and did not oft repeate it o're . how then can you your aves every day repeate oft times together , when you pray , and never cease ? the angle certainely did never teach you such battologie . * your legends write of great s t marguerite , that she a thousand times us'd to recite the ave mary , prostrate on the ground on each feast , vigil ▪ which she sacred found vnto the virgin , and did cry ave when and where ere she did her image see ; yea , popes and k masse-bookes order you each day by sound of bell , nine aves for to say , morning , noone , evening , three aves together without one pater noster them to sever ; so that you pray to mary nine times more each day , than unto god , if not nine score . for , in your ladies beades or rosary ; ( which all dominican monkes , and sundry besides , are bound to use still ) you each day l an hundred fifty ave maries say . successively ; ten ave maries to one pater noster ; and so pray unto , her ten times more than to god the father , and so her ten times before him preferre , at least , if not farre more , m beginning all your houres , with aves to her , ere you call on god , your lips to open , and to be your aide ; proceeding , ending with ave to her : with it you still begin and end your sermons , prayers ; her , more than god intend . fooles , why doe ye thus her preferre before god , and than him invoke thus ten times more ? why doe you vexe her with battologies , and peales of oft rehearst ave maries from day to day ? for shame this clamour cease , the angell else will bid you hold your peace , who sayd his ave onely once , no more for ought we reade ; give then your aves o're ; you have repeated them so oft each day , that now t is time to cast them quite away , the angell his ave to mary sayd n before his tydings to her were display'd ; to informe her of something she before knew not at all ; which done , he spake no more . you not to informe her of ought that 's new , or of a thing which she before not knew ; but out of feare least she forget what he inform'd her then through flux of time , ave by o millions to her still cry night and day unceasantly , and nought but aves say ; no doubt she heares them not , for if she did , she would as many times each day have chid you for your folly , as you ave cry , not to her honour , but great infamie ; who thinke her deafe , dull , voyde of memory , forgetfull of her grace , felicity , and of the angels message ; at least wise delighted with your vaine tautologies , that you such peales of aves to her thunder ; if she heare ought for them it is a wonder . cease than to cloy , deafe , shame , vex her with ave , else shee 'l heare nought else , nor have time to save ye ; tooke up , deaft , tyred with aves alone ; to her no pleasing , but distastefull tone , which at the first p perplext ; made her admire , but now thus babled , her provokes to ire . learne manners from the angell , ave cease when utter'd once , then after hold your peace . cease aves now for shame ; if you proceede you are no angels but the cuckoo's breed . he , as a q preface to his embassie vs'd his ave , whiles she was here onely among women , in state of grace , not glory ; be you then guided by the angels story . you have no embassie unto her grace , from god himselfe , to preface thus ; her case , state , place , are altred much from what they were when as the angell her saluted here : she was then r among women ; now on high , she hath no women in her company : there are no women yet in heav'n ; its true good womens soules are there in blisse , but you cannot their soules call women ; since soules are not male nor female , and nought doth declare , make , differ sexes but bodies alone ; and womens bodies yet in heav'n are none ; therefore no women doubtlesse are now there : but grant they be , yet no women are neare where you place her , s at gods righth and on high , on the throne of the blessed trinity , above all angels , saints , who come not nigh the virgin , whom you mount , advance so high . you cannot then say truely , blest art thou among women ; unto the virgin now ; sith no women are in her company : when you say aves now , you still doe lye. he , as a t salutation , not a prayer his ave mary uttered first to her : you as a prayer to her it say alway ; this doth your error , sottishnesse display ▪ his salutation was not , cannot be a * prayer to her , as you shall clearely 〈◊〉 . first , t' was an v angell sayd it ; angels pray not unto men , whom they x gard , save alway ; god never sent an angell to teach men , to pray to him , much lesse to mary ; then it is no prayer ; no angels but christ may presume once to prescribe what men shall pray . he spake it when he y came her newes to bring of christs conception , craving her nothing . it was a z greete from god ; to make it then a prayer to her , makes god to pray to men. there is no word in it which possibly his greete a prayer to her can once imply . besides , the a text , b you , it expressely call a salutation , and no prayer at all . and that a meere salute a pray'r should be to her , seemes strange , nay senselesse unto me . the text addes further ; c she was troubled at his saying , and did cast in her minde , what manner of salutation this should be : which made the angell say , ( c ) feare not : had she thought this a prayer made to her , certainely she had not thus bin troubled , scar'd thereby . nought this a prayer , unto her can import , to make it then a prayer now is mad sport , unlesse be for her : if you this deny , a prayer for her the words it prove clearely . first d ave , which all haile , or happinesse attend you , signifies , is an expresse prayer for , not to her ; and is just the same with our salute , god save you blessed dame ; which all confesse to be a pray'r not to but for those we salute ; than ave's so . next , dominus tecum ; the lord be with thee , is a prayer for , not to her : this to be so , is most cleare by all your liturgies , houres masse-bookes , where the priest thus prayes and cryes . e dominus tecum oft times ; which all call a prayer to god , for , not to men at all . by this then see your madnesse , folly , shame , in saying aves to the blessed dame. you thinke thereby you onely pray unto not for the virgin , when you quite crosse doe , praying not to , but for her alwayes when you say your aves : o mad , senselesse men ! if she thus neede your aves her to save , blesse , bring to god , how can you then ought crave pray , gaine from her ? if she needs prayers from you she can ill ayde , save those who to her sue . you f write , she is in height of happinesse ; that god , christ , she , doe now one throne possesse . it is meere folly then and surplusage to power out aves for her in this age : at least wise salves ; which you make the same with aves in your masse-bookes ; where the dame is oft saluted , prayd for thus , g salve maria , or regina , god save thee mary , or queene of heav'n ; which doth imply , that she is not yet saved perfectly ; because you pray god thus to save her still ; ( a pray● re not to , but for her grace , as will appeare by this prayer often mentioned , h god save the king ; us'd when kings were crowned , not to , but for them , by their subjects : ) or if she be sav'd already , this prayer for her ( made for none but those not saved yet , and men on earth , if i doe not forget ) must needes be idle , vaine , absur'd ; and she with it no doubt , will much displeased be , since it her not yet saved doth imply , as it did when she was i here , not on high. before she saved was you might well say , aves and salves for her ; but not pray thus for her now , when saved perfectly , in heav'n ( as you hold ) k both soule and body . the angell had no ave mary l bell , sounding each morning , noone , night , him to tell when he should say his ave to mary , as you have , by whose sound your aves cry , thrice trebled dayly which bell , no popes ban or interdicts from ringing silence can , as m calderin most sagely notes ; though they . all other bells from ringing wholy stay . the ringing these bells is of such moment , that the orders of monkes at rome once n went to law about it , before the popes grace , to know which of them foure should in first place it ring each morning : where after long sute , much cost , more wrangling , and no small dispute : it was at last resolved finally , by an unalterable act , that they who did first rise , should ring it first of all each morning , men to aves thus to call . but since the angell sounded no such bell , you should not ring it if you would doe well . the angell had no beads whereon to say his aves by set number every day ; he sayd it but once , without beads , then you must o beades and dayly aves bid adue . he sayd it not by way of pennance ; ye p injoyne men for their penance the ave to mumble over by set scores , and then they are absolved and meere guiltlesse men. the angell fell not on his knees when he unto the virgin spake his first ave. why then doe q you before her image fall , and kneele when you with aves on her call ? the angell sayd his ave onely to her r person , not her picture ; you unto , before her s image , not her person say your ave maries onely , when you pray . is it that you her pictures deeme to be her self , that you them greete thus with ave ? if not , belike it is because you feare she is so t farre off now she cannot heare your voyce , but yet her images close by may chance to heare you , when you ave cry before them : but i doubt they both have lost their hearing quite , she , and the painted post : and so your babled aves are lost , vaine : you may doe well then from them to abstaine . the angell sayd no pater noster as a prologue to his ave ; neither was the ave heretofore joyn'd to the pater ad its part or apendix why of later times than doe ye in your houres v offices prayers , masse-bookes use to preface your aves with pater nosters , yea make them a part of the lords prayer , or codicell by art ? conjoyning them so neare , that none may say a pater without ave , when they pray : as if they both were prayers alike , and all who pray ovr father , ought likewise to call on mary as their mother , queene , else they shall not be answered though they paters say . had this beene so , the angell , or christ would have them conjoyn'd thus , or at least we should have found them coupled thus in sacred writ ; which since it doth disjoyne them as unfit to match , sute , run together ; you both erre and sinne no doubt to yoke them thus together . belike the pater is a beggerly prayer , and ave * is infinitely better than it , as some held heretofore , that you conjoyne them , and say halfe a score aves for one sole pater noster ; this angell neere taught you thus to pray amisse . his ave did in time and place preceede the pater : you , in both make it succeede . his ave x was before christs birth , but the pater long after it ; luke , his ave records in his first chapter ; the pater in his eleaventh , in time , place later than it : you ave after pater say , place , and so from the text run quite astray . nay you the angles ave farre out-goe joyning y elizabeths salute thereto as if it were the angels owne ; whereby you wrong the text , and make the angle lye and speake non-sence , in saying , blessed be the fruite of thy wombe ; when t is cleare that she z had then no fruite conceived in her wombe : whence he tels her , the holy ghost shall come vpon thee , and the power of the highest shall over-shadow thee , both these exprest not in the present , but the future tense , her clause as his , makes him lye , speake non-sence , it being true when she it spake after maries conception ; false when he to her . sayd his ave before it . this is bad , but that is worse which you to his words adde . a sancta maria ora pro nobis , &c. holy mary pray for us , none of his nor of elizabeths words , nor once found in * scripture why then doe you joyne , confound this cursed pray'r thus with the angels speech as if the angels mary did beseech to pray god for men , and this clause indite which you as part of his salute recite , to make poore people to the virgin pray , who thinke all scripture , angels words they say . since b all it tearme the angells salutation , when these words are romes damned innovation , patcht to the angels greete : which forgery the silly people cannot possibly discover , since rome takes gods word away from them , which should this jugling trick display and leaves them none but such bookes where they finde this clause annext , the better them to blinde . the angle did not such forg'd aves say : you must them then discard and cast away . th' angell before , and after offices , psalms , lessons , hymns , houres , sermons and glories no aves sayd , c like , you ; much lesse did he into the . psalme his ave : and lord be with you , insert , as you doe foure times within this psalme , annexing two aves more unto its close , e placing one before it , though in the old testment none can finde one ave : nay , whereas in the whose bible there is onely one ave us'd by the angell , you doe it record repeate at large , omitting not one word an hundred and fifty times in one small rosary onely ; and in most of all your offices , houres , missalls i it finde , well nigh as oft recited in this kinde . o monstrous babling and battologie ! g the angell taught you no such cuckooes cry. the angell sayd his ave onely to mary her selfe ; you say , ( nay write that you may say ) these aves , paters to , before those other saints whom you invoke , implore , as you now use to say your beades and pater to mary and her image , as your father , and then say aves at your paters end to god the father : this for shame amend , since t is the height of madnesse , blasphemy to god , to saints to say ave mary , and to say paters to saints , and to her as if they were god , your heav'nly father . he never sayd an ave too , before the crosse , which you now pray to and adore with h ave lignum triumphale ; nay with i ave maries which you to it say or k ave crux spes unica ; all haile o crosse our onely hope ; doe thou availe in godly men to judgement righteousnesse , and pardon to the guilty to adresse , he never sayd an ave to the speare that did christs blessed side both pierce and teare , when you sing ave lignum triumphale , felix hasta , all haile , l or god save thee triumphant iron , happy speare , these you , salute , adore with m latry as their due ; and the crosse , nayles , speare , n worship , deifie , because they did christs body crucifie , o as you salute , adore , mary for that she bore , p preserved , nurst christ ; and did flat contrary to them , these your aves be quite crosse to hers , and cannot well agree the virgin cannot take it well that these should be ador'd with latry and aves as well as she , and equaliz'd to her for killing christ , who did him nurse and beare . yea , you say ave chrisma to that oyle and chrisme wherwith you children grease & soile : and to s. anne , p roch , others aves say , in all these you quite from the angell stray . he never said his ave at no one day by sound of bell , as you it use to say q by pope calixtus precept , to the end that these aves might those aide and defend who did against the turkes fight usually , a goodly charme , no doubt , to make turkes fly . nor did he ever chaunt ave mary to r rescue searcht sovles out of purgatory , or rather hell , as you doe , when you say your ave mary prayers at nooneday , and in your offices for the dead where you ave maries say , and pray god there to s free the dead from satans power , gods ire endlesse damnation , t bells torments , and fire without one word at all of purgatorie whose name in missals , houres , appeares rarely : good proofe there is no purgatory : you must than this kinde of aves bid adue . the angells ave was but arbitrary , not sayd of duty but of v curtesie , you deeme your aves , maries right and due , though neither god , christ , she , them crave from you . the angell greeted mary with ave onely x before christs birth ; you since , when ye cannot produce one text , proofe , that any thus greeted her since christs nativitie : whereas we reade , the y wise men from the east who came to worship christ , and did not rest vntill they found him , when they came into the house , and saw him with his mother too , fell prostrate , worshipt him onely , not her and to him offred gold , incense , and myrrhe , but offered naught , we reade , to her at all ; nor her saluted ; you quite crosse z downe fall worship , salute , present , invoke onely her , and the babe christ , in her armes , passe by uncourted , uninvoked , no ave is said to him , knee bow'd , thing offered ; she ( a crowned queene ) hath all the ceremonie , prayers , worship , off'rings , whiles he a babie in her armes , is neglected : o fooles see how opposite to the wise men you be , who a did salute , adore , present onely the sucking babe , but past the mother by . no doubt the b angell would have done likewise had he seene christ with her , before his eyes : or in her armes : you must not ave cry then , or her greet henceforth , if christ be by , as he is still , in picture , when you say your aves to her image , as you pray . he never did his ave mary say to purge all mortall , veniall sinnes away , as c you your aves and your rosary vse for to say ; a new found purgatory to purge men from all sinnes without christs blood , which the apostles never understood . he did establish no d fraternity of our ladies chapter or rosary , as you have done , to cry ave each day an hundred and fifty times without stay ; to all of which order pope innocent the eight by his hand , voyce and full consent e gave two plenary indulgences ; in life one , in death the to'ther of all sinne ; and five yeares after gave an hundred yeares and quarantines of pardons to each beares the chaplet but about him ; and many popes since , to those who say the rosary and ave , have granted them , seven , five , two yeares indulgence , with quarantines thereto . nay alexander the sixth gave pardon for thirty thousand yeares , to every one who before the altar of our lady with christ and her mother , should say onely a speciall ave , importing that she was without sinne conceiv'd ; such pardons he did neither give nor grant to any here for saying his ave , f popes may well forbeare then for to grant them ; till god , christ , mary , this angell give them such authority . the angel which appear'd to gideon , did use to him this salutation ; g the lord is with thee o thou man of might : yet none this greete to gideon will recite : an angell unto manoahs wife , also brought downe from god these happie tidings ; lo thou shalt conceive and beare a sonne ; the same in substance with those he to mary came ; yet none to her this greeting message use : you must then both repeate , or both refuse . an h angell to the shepheards , zachary brought tydings of johns , christs nativity ; and sayd to them as unto mary here , feare not , and so forth ; yet it is most cleare that none to them these greets or aves say ; you must your ave maries cast away then by the selfesame reason , since that ye can shew no precept , ground to say ave to mary onely , and to pretermit the angels words to all these , as unfit to use each day alone , or joyn'd to the lords prayer , as your ave maries be . the angell never dreamp't that his ave , could reprobates and damned soules set free from hell it selfe , when as your rosary of ave maries , ( if i alanus lye not , ) but devoutly used will obtaine eternall life for reprobates , and gaine damn'd tortur'd soules out of hell fire , whence ye record , that abbot k odilo did free the soules of reprobates and damn'd men by his prayers , and his covents of clary from hell , or vuleans pots , in whose flames they by devils were tormented night and day : all which the devills did oft times lament in hearing of an anchorite , who sent this newes to odilo ; who then ordaines all-soules day hereupon , damn'd soules from paines of hell to free , and not from purgatory , as most now write against the sirst pend story . if ave maries , rosaries can free damn'd soules from hell , few then shall damned be . in fine , his ave was esteem'd no part of maries or gods worship : by what art have you then l made it both ; who thinke that she , and god too , by your aves worshipt be : yet mary more than god , since that you all your offices , houres , psalters ; masse-bookes call not gods , but maries , so that you adore , serve , her onely now , at least-wise her more by farre than god , christ , since your bookes thus beare her name and title , not theirs , as is cleare by your new printed masse-bookes , which stil'd be in all their titles , fronts , as you may see , our ladies psalters , primers , offices , houres , rosaries , and such like : this aves use hath in time produced , you to make her m servants and devoti ; who forsake god , christ , the holy ghost , and trinity adoring none for god , but her onely : she is romes goddesse ; god , father , son , sp'rite , trinity , mother ; and none else of right . the b stateliest churches , altars , images most monkes , nunnes , orders ; all houres , offices , bookes of devotion are hers , beare her name , and all grace , pardon comes from this blest dame , as rome avers now . this aves have wrought beyond , contrary to the angels thought , and maries too ; who by them hath undone , ungodded both the father , and the sonne . on , and against popish beades , and pater-nosters oft repetition on them . i wonder much why papists on * bedes pray , and all their pater-nosters by them say . is it because they set them out to sale , and none will buy them by their weight but tale ? as they doe wodden billets ; and therefore they must have beades to keepe true count and score ? if so ; it seemes a just and lawfull act ; though to sell prayers , be no christian fact. or is it , because they contract each day with god , how many paters they will say to him ? and so their bedes serve to keepe true account , that god from them may have his due ; so many pater-nosters just as they by contract , vow , or pennance , ought to pay ? this seemes an honest practise , and most just , to render god his due : yet then they must first prove , that god takes all their prayers by tale not weight ; but this would marre their price and sale . their paters are so light , that god must take them all by tale , sith they no weight will make . for should he ballance them , their endlesse tale of paters , would not poyse , nor turne the scale . bedes then keepe equall scores , 'twixt god and them ; god would forget else what they pay to him : he is oblivious , if not false ; therefore they dare not trust him , they must keepe the score . or else they deeme he mindes no more than they their mumbled paters ; else they would not pray by count ; i doubt they cheate god in the score sometimes , to make him minde their paters more . or doe they use their bedes alone to finde that tale of paters which they seldome minde ? their thoughts being else-where when their pater's sayd , the bedes must tell them still how oft they pray'd : their paters sure are sayd with great devotion ; they doe not know their summe , but by bedes motion : should god them take by weight , than , not by count , so many feathers would their poyse surmount . i doubt their beades , though light , will overweigh all paters , aves , which they on them say ; and are far more worth were they to be sold , than all the paters , aves , on them told . but why must paters thus be said by score ? did christs apostles , prophets , saints before time use it ? no , reade scripture new or old you finde no paters , prayers on beades told . some thinke our bede , these beads did first invent , from whom they tooke their name ; if i consent ( * though false , ) yet for sev'n hundred yeares , or more next after christ , none paters by beades score said ; now the case is alt'red ; few can say their paters , unlesse they on beades them pray . pray on them ? no : let him marke who this reads they never use to pray , but say their beads : this is their proper language , so as they confesse , their beades helpe make them not to pray ; to say indeede , nay use vaine repetition , against the paters and christs prohibition , who first ordain'd the p pater purposely vaine babling , and your bedes quite to put by , which christ condemnes as heathnish , and defends all his to use , because it god offends . but chaplets now this remedie hath mar'd , and made it the disease it should discard : some scores of pater nosters must be said on beades , ere god can heare , minde what they praide : he 's growne now deafe belike , and cannot heare their first , next , third , fourth pater ; or they feare he is asleepe , or dreaming ; so that he with peales of paters must awaked be , or with their beads great ratling sound and noise , ere he can heare or listen to their voyce . if he heares the first dozen paters , all the next are idle , bootelesse , prodigall , yea , a grosse q taking of gods name in vaine ; which if it merits ought , it s nought but paine . such idle babble , and battologie god doth condemne , reject , hate , and defie , especially when they kneele downe before saints images , and say their paters o're to them , as if they god the father were , and did their beades and babled paters heare : which damned common practise rome allow's in her r trent catechisme , not disavou's ; yea , hubberdin , with others long agoe , maintain'd , s that they might pater nosters to s. peter say , and other saints full well without offence ; and t george douly doth tell us now of late , in his instruction of the chiefe points of your religion , that doubtlesse men may say the pater , or the ave marie unto the honour , or invocation of any other saint or angell , with this intent , either to pray to god that he would have mercy vpon their soules , for this saints , angels cry ; or to craze of the saints themselves , that they will offer to god for them what they pray . a new point of faith and devotion , not knowne to christ , but to romes priests alone : had papists sense or reason , they might see how oft repeated pater nosters be most irkesome , loathsome to god , not pleasing . for if men here should to a judge , lord , king , ten , twenty , thirty , forty times , or more together the same words , requests , say o're , ( as they to god say paters ) all would thinke them mad or foolish ; yea their suites would stinke and be denide for this their clam'rous cry , thougst just , since mar'd by such battologie . if it be folly , frenzie , babling then oft to repeate our suites and plaints to men , yea , the next way to make them us deny ; is it not just the same to god to cry thus pater , pater , for an houre or more untill your beades be fully numbred ore ? v doubtlesse it is , nay a meere mockery of god , who turnes his eares from this vaine cry . all deeme the cuckoos , which doe oft times sing nought else but cuckoo , cuckoo , in the spring for three moneths space ; most foolish birds because they oft repeate their cuckoo , without pause ; and we thinke children , fooles , the cuckooes play , in counting then how oft they cuckoo say . papists are worse than cuckooes , which forbeare their cuckooes song for nine moneths space each yeare ; when they their cuckoo-paters night and day , all the yeare long repeate , and never stay . yea , whereas cuckooes never keepe account how oft they cuckoo cry ; they them surmount in this , that they cry cuckoo and keepe score how oft they doe it , on beades made therefore ; so that they are more sottish , foolish , vaine than cuckoos , children , fooles , and so remaine ; whose severall follies all conjoyned be in them , and linkt in one , as now we see . if they on beades to pray will still proceede , they are fooles , children , and the cuckooes seede . on , and against popish crucifixes , and images of christ . no pictures can so lively represent christs death and passion , as the x sacrament and word , the onely crucifixes he hath left his church , his death , to minde , and see . what neede of pictures , crucifixes then to shew christs death , or person unto men ? had they beene usefull , he had instituted them too , like these : sith not , they are refuted . if we christs person , or humanitie at any time would set before our eye . let us behold our selves : no image can so lively set forth christ to us , as man , gods and christs perfect y image ; whose likenesse and z nature christ assum'd : if man expresse not christ sufficiently unto our view , no pictures can ; they false are , he the true , and perfect living image of christ ; why neglect they truth then , and behold a a lye ? the scripture no description of christs face forme , feature , person makes , but of his b grace that none should dare presume to undertake his c unknowne image , vnseene shape to make , which cannot but be false , and a meere d lye , because no ground , shape 's left to draw them by . and none now know christs true forme , portraiture : how can the papists , others then be sure those crucifixes they adore , keepe , see are christs true pictures , and not one of the two c theeves that were with him then crucifi'd , since both alike upon their crosses dy'd ? and those who made them for ought they can tell intended to present by them as well these theeves as christ ; sith nothing doth appeare from the bare picture , this great doubt to cleare ? you must then know the painters thoughts ere ye them for christs pictures can once take to be . which nought can make them , but your fantasie , and theirs that made them , but by guesse onely . but grant them true , what fruites , good can accrue to men by christs meere outward shape they view ? since all our comfort rests in this , that he mans f nature tooke , not that shape which we see ; his incarnation , not his countenance was that which did our natures , states advance ; which men alone , not pictures can expresse unto the life , they then are vaine , uselesse . christ was unlike to most , or all in face , his * visage saves none , but his nature , grace ; we must strive to be g like him inwardly in graces , but not paint him outwardly . gods word h forbids such images to make , or use at all : we must them then forsake . the holy noynting oyle which sanctifi'd the arke , priests , tabernacle , all beside which did thereto belong , with that perfume which god prescrib'd of old , none might presume on i paine of death to make the like ; sith they were holy ; and in type did christ display , who doth us k sanctifie , and quite consume the stinke of all our prayers , with his perfume . if then it were so grand a crime for men to make the like to these types of christ , then to make christs image , likenesse for a use civill , or sacred , is a great abuse . it s civill use , walls , windowes , roomes to grace , doth christ , prophane , abuse and much debase ; christ , is an l holy and most sacred thing , ordaind for holy uses ; the making then of him common , for a civill use is prophanation , and more grand abuse than to turne churches , lords bords , chalices to prophane uses ; damn'd by popes decrees for prophanation , grosse impiety . it s civill use you then must needs denie . t is sinne , prophanenesse , by all mens consents , for to translate the sacred elements of bread and wine ( which christs * death typifie and paint his body , blood-shed to our eye , ) unto a vulgar use ; then by the same reason it must deserve as great a blame , to make christs image for a civill end , since both alike to prophanation tend . it s sacred use , to worship , or adore , makes it a sinnefull m idoll ; and therefore be it for common , or for sacred use , to make christs image is a grosse abuse , nay sacriledge , falshood and blasphemy , sith it presents christs bare humanity unto mens eyes , thoughts , fancies , separate quite from his godhead and divine estate , which hypostatically is joyn'd to his humane nature , in such sort , that no man must behold , view his humanity but as n conjoyn'd still to his deity , which o no picture can possibly expresse vnto the eye , since voyd of all likenesse and visibility . christ as meere man unto us no christ , jesus , saviour can be , therefore 't is both falshood , blasphemie to picture christ as a dead man onely , hanging upon his crosse , quite severed from what made him a saviour , his godhead . what comfort , profit can it be to eye christ hanging on his crosse as man onely ? ah , none at all . thus you him alwayes view in crucifixes . therefore bid adieu unto them : and the rather because they mis-represent christ to you day by day ; not onely as meere man , but as hanging yet actually upon his crosse : a thing both false and dangerous , which doth quite p confound our faith , hope , joy , and cast them to the ground ; christs hanging on the crosse was transient , past in q few houres , which done he r rose and went vp into heav'n , where he now reignes onely , and lives free from his crosse s no more to dye . to paint him then still hanging on his crosse , or as a sucking infant , it most grosse abuse , controuling sacred history , and representing nothing but a lye . o than with n indignation cast away these idoll pictures , and aside them lay ; which at the best are o lies , and different from christs forme which the scriptures represent . the p papists paint christ very lovely , faire , and like a nazarite , with long compt haire , and somewhat fleshy ; when the text saith , he should q like a roote which springs in dry ground be ; and that he had no forme nor comelinesse of person in him , ( as they him expresse ) so that when men should see him , no beauty , him to desire , they should in him espie ; whence they should him reject , despise , despite , and hide their faces from his gastly sight . he was no nazarite , nor long haire wore ( as some yet dreame , and many heretofore : ) for he r dranke wine , oft s toucht , nay rais'd the dead which t nazarites might not , nor shav'd he his head when he came neare dead corps as nazarites were bound to doe , nor us'd ought of their rites , he was not , could not be v defil'd at all like x them ; no sinne in him was , nor could fall . into him . he no sinne-peace-burnt-offring , or such like for y himselfe had neede to bring , as z they : he was not then a naz●rite nor yet could be , as some men vainely write : it s true , he dwelt at nazareth ; whence he a a nazaret ( not rite ) is sayd to be , and oft stil'd jesus of b naz'reth , but not a nazarite by order , as these dote , who paint him with long baire , to men a c shame saith paul , yea nature , and so him defame . nay , where the d scripture saith , that his body was like a pot-sheard , so leane , withered , dry , that men might all his bones tell ; these mistake in that they in their images him make plumpe , fleshy , so that none can tell his bones ; his pictures than are meere lyes , and false ones , expressing not christs true shape , but onely the painters fancie , and grosse forgery : those than who these false images adore , worship the painters fancy , and no more , instead of christ himselfe ; which certainely is both false e worship and idolatry : it is no doubt a great sinne to misdraw , mispicture christ thus , f ' gainst his word and law , which popes have g taken from the laity whom these false h pictures must now edifie and teach in stead of them : in this deale they like men with children from whom they away take gold or silver , and then them content with babies , counters , their cryes to prevent . papists are children , or the children play , to set up pictures , cast gods word away . on , and against popish crucifixes , and adoring them with latria . vvhat , christ still hanging on the crosse ? not yet quite dead ? or doth he his pains so forget as to take pleasure thus to hang , not dye for sundry ages ? or are none there by to take him downe , if dead ; that he thus stayes . so long upon his crosse , both nights and dayes ? is he not yet interred , rais'd againe , ascended into heav'n there to remaine at gods right hand ? and so i our faith , hope , gone ; salvation lost , and our poore soules undone ? is not the i evening come him downe to take ? no sabbath nigh ? hath joseph yet not spake to pilate for to take him downe ? shall he thus on his gibbet alwayes hanging be ? not among jewes in jury , but in rome , his spouse , some say ; o where 's her love become ? hath peter now for ever and a day k renounc'd his master , and fled quite away ? i feare he hath , else christ had long ere this beene taken off the crosse by him , or his . but once tooke downe ; popes hang him up againe upon it , there not l few houres to remaine as at the first ; but from age unto age . this is small shew of love , no doubt 't is rage ; yea , greater malice farre than ought we finde in pilate , jewes , high-priests , who were so kind as not to suffer christ to hang m one day vpon his crosse , when first they did him slay . rome's turn'd jew , judas , high-priests , worse than all ; their malice joyn'd , of hers farre short doth fall : they nayl'd him onely to one crosse ; no more ; she to ten hundred thousands , past all score and number ; taking pleasure and delight to see christ ever hanging in her sight . they on a crosse of n wood hang'd christ alone , rome upon crosses of gold , silver , stone , tin , lead , brasse , copper , glasse , wood , tapestrie , waxe , bricke , past , leather , paper , christ hang , tye ; and least she should not him sufficiently , on all these crosses , kill and crucifie ; she doth it in as many o masses more each day . o blessed jesus what great store of crosses , tortures , deaths doth rome provide to pierce thy hands , feete and thy blessed side ? and kill thee every day oft times afresh ; nay eate thy body , p teare and gnaw thy flesh ? is this thy vicars , spouses love to thee , thus worse than pilate , jewes , high-priests to be ? but this their malice makes notorious , that they deeme all this q meritorious ; no doubt it is so if they glosse it well ; it doth deserve the deepest place in hell. but why doe they thus fixe thee to the crosse ? because romes pope else should sustain● great losse ; he could not else possesse thy throne , and reigne , not as thy vicar but thy soveraigne ; thy lawes else must be kept , thy word obey'd , thy will by him fulfill'd , and not gaine-sayd : all which popes doe against , beside thy word should then be voyd , and by all men abhor'd ; they must be peter then in truth , not name , else thou wouldst thrust them from his chaire with shame . good reason have they then to nayle and tye christ to these crosses for eternity . in this they shew their peerelesse faith , and love , to bind christ fast that he should never move from off these crosses , to oppose their-will , they doe so love his precepts to fulfill . if this be love , i may then truely say , the jewes in love did crucifie and slay christ at the first ; were popes but loved so , they would all crucifixes damne , forgoe , and never more the crosse , nayles , speare adore for saints , which kil'd christ , and his body tore : but whilst they thus adore these , they imply that to kill christ , deserves a deity : the souldiers than and jewes who crucifi'd him more than these , must now be deifide , and worshipt with r latrie ; like nayles , speare , crosse , by which hell , devills , shall receive great losse ; since none to hell can damned be , if they demerrit heav'n , and latry , who christ slay . on , and against , popish pictures of the virgin mary as a queene , sitting on a throne with a triple crowne on her head , and holding christ , painted like a sucking infant , in her armes ; and on the reliques of her milke , which they keepe and shew . fie , mary , fie ; what give sucke to a baby ? it is not decent , fit for queene , nor lady : with them it 's out of fashion ; thou wilt shame thy selfe with these , they will thee taxe and blame : wer 't thou no lady , queene , as heretofore , thou migh'st doe this ; but now not doe it more since queene and lady too : thy childe growes great or old enough to be wean'd from the teat . he hath suckt sixeteene hundred yeares and more , thirty mens ages , shall he ne're give o're ? shall he be still a suckling , or a foole to sucke so long ? t is time he were at schoole . others give sucke but for one yeare , or two ; thou , sixteene hundred yeares , what doest thou doe thus to turmoyle thy selfe ? and all in vaine , he doth a little infant yet remaine , where some not halfe so old as he , have knowne ten generations unto old men growne . sure thy milke , i doubt , is very bad , thy babe ere this might else have beene a lad ; out of his coates , at least ; no age hath knowne one sucke so long , and yet so little growne . no doubt , if noted , t is a miracle whose strangenesse doth all wonders else excell . but ( blessed virgin ) can thy milke be ill , sith nought but s goodnesse all thy members fill ? this cannot be the reason , milke is scant more likely , with thee ; and thy babe doth want milke , that hee thrives not ; and hee 'le sucke no other nurse thou wouldst put him to , but thee his mother . yet , since i finde , thou hast much milke to spare , as hogges-heads of its reliques now declare t kept fresh and sweete , by sundry priests and fryers ( and t is thine own true milke , else they are lyers ; ) the want of milke is not the cause why he growes not , there must some other reason be : how these thy milke have got it is not knowne , belike they stole it , and thy babe's not growne , because these cheates each day commit high-treason in stealing of his milke : loe here 's the reason : no milke they shew , but i'ts fresh , sweete , not sowre ; no doubt they steale thy milke from thee each houre else it would wast , * grow stale , soure , putrifie as other milke ; such theeves deserve to dye at least , for stealing thy babes milke so long , else he ere this had growne more great and strong ; why rome hath so much virgins milke to shew , and christ is yet a babe in part you know . but can such theft be without her consent ? no sure ; i feare his mother is content to keepe him still an infant , that she may the better rule , and make him her obey : were he but growne once unto mans estate , her regency would be quite out of date : men would no longer to her pray , and say , v command thy sonne , make him thee to obey , now shew thy selfe a mother , would no more be heard , few would her ayde , or grace implore , but his alone , whom papists now passe by because a babe , and worship , honour , eye his mother more than him ; when as the wise men from the east , the x babe did onely prise ; they ran in pilgrimage to him ; they fall downe and odore him , not her ; present all their gifts to him alone , but ne're once bent their knees her to salute in complement , much lesse her to adore , for ought we read : rome will not here the wisemens footesteps tread . nor suffer christ to mans estate to grow , sith this her church , monkes , faith would overthrow . romes ladies prayers , her primers , offices , houres , masse-bookes , psalters , and such blasphemies , must be casheer'd then , and her new faith too ; most monkes , nunnes , fryers it would quite undo ; to hinder christ from doing all this ill he must be kept a little sucking still . meane time his mother rules al , weares the crown , and he ( poove infant ) is depos'd , kept down ; least this should be forgot , or men it doubt rome though it fit to paint , print , set it out , in all her churches , psalters , bookes we find● by statues , pictures , all of this to minde ; where mary sits as lady , yea , as * queene of heav'n upon a royall throne , betweene two angels , wearing a great triple crowne , vpon her head , to adde to her renowne ; with christ a little babe , held in her armes or lap , which she so over-rules and charmes with threates , or flatt'ries , that he there still lyes . for sundry ages , and yet never cryes , though thus abus'd , kept from his crowne and right so long ; perchance his mother doth affright him with the rod , and should he but once cry for justice , she would whip him instantly . but mary thou art full of innocence , not guilty of these crimes ; it s romes offence thus to abuse thee , and thy sonne , and make him still a babe ; thou from him thus to take his rule , crowne , kingdome : o sweete jesus thou art very patient , and to anger slow ; else thou couldst never suffer rome so long , thee and thy blessed mother thus to wong with these blasphemous pictures , images , false reliques , legends , and idolatries : no doubt thou wilt avenge these in due time ; meane while let me her censure , in this rime . it s not thy person , nor thy mothers , i here lash , taxe , censure , but romes blasphemie ; i onely jeare , discover to her eyes her damned follies , and idolatries in these her pictures , reliques , that she may discerne , renounce , and cast them cleane away . lord cleare her eyes by this , that she may see her cursed follies , and them henceforth flee . beholding thee , not as a small suckling , but as her onely crowned lord and king : not as thou once waste , but as thou art now ; then all their knees to thee alone shall bow , not unto mary , who is grieved sore , to see rome thee neglect , and her adore . on , and against papists painting the virgin mary , and other saints in new fashions , with frizled , poudred haire , and rich dresses . vvhat ? lady mary frizled , spotted , painted ? i feare the blessed virgin is un-sainted ; or hath quite lost her old virginity , she now appeeres so wanton to the eye ; so rich , and stately , in such dresses she never here used , and abhorr'd to see . i feare some ladies who curle , powder , paint , to warrant these , have made her such a saint : stript her of all her modest , course aray , put her in fashion , made her rich , compt , gay , curled and spotted ; yea , as wanton , vaine as those lew'd females who in stewes remaine . she was a modest virgin heretofore , now she may be a lady , or a whore. fie ladies , fie ! you may your selves defame and antique thus , but not this blessed dame , who spits at all such dresses , and defies her selfe and you , whiles clad in such disguise . no wonder if lewd rome the whore now play ; shee makes the virgin one by such aray , to grace her trade , and keepe her company : how dare her nunnes then save their chastitie ? alas y they doe it not ; but seemingly ; they were romes bastards else , not progeny . i 'le never thinke romes church chaste any more , who paints the blessed virgin like a whore ; nor wonder why the female sexe curles , paints , they learne to doe it from the roman saints . these are now lawfull by canonisation ; not ill , but holy by romes consecration ; no doubt most madams will now curle , spot , paint , since to doe these things is to be a saint , at least in shew ; and that may well suffice ; no matter for the heart , these please the eyes . if by nought else , by this at least we know romes saints are voyd of substance , nought but shew ; nay , romes great vaunting church to be a whore , since farre more painted , gaudie than before , more stor'd with baudes and panders to intice men to her lusts , and to uphold her vice . setting her saints out to mens publike viewes in such attyre as suites best with her stewes . joyne but her z publike stewes to this her paint ; she 's than a true whore , but a varnisht saint . on saint dominicks vision of fryers of his order hid in heaven under the virgin maries peticote ; and on the reliques of her garments which papists keepe and shew in sundry places . saint a antonine of dominicke doth write , that he to heav'n was rapt up in his sprite , where he monkes of all orders did espie , but of his owne , not one could there descry : whereat amaz'd , the lord christ bids him be of good cheere , for of his owne companie . there were great troopes in heaven bid , ( where i wot ? ) vnder the virgin maries peticoate ; whom he there shew'd him ; none being so nigh or deare to her as his fraternitie : this storie 's canoniz'd , we must give faith to what this saint saw , and another saith . belike this chast pure virgin , who b here fled mans carnall knowledge , and the marriage bed , mounted to heaven , and in state of joy is growne more wanton , common , not so coy as here she was ; or hath forgot , cast by her virgins state , and pristine chastity , since swarmes of leacherous fryers thus reside under her coates , too neare her skin , thighes , side . t' was well this order had no being when she was on earth ; sh 'ad scarce beene virgin then . these jacobines who now so neere her lye , i doubt had rob'd her , of her chastity . but is the virgin in her robes there clad ? this news perchance may make some monks look sad . the c relikes of her garments they shew here will prove all false , hath she her wardrobe there ; unlesse they say , she left her cloathes behind : how doe they then her coates in heav'n thus find ? perhaps she hath new suites made there , her old she them be queath'd to be kept , shew'd , bought , sold . if so , then taylors shall be sav'd , and skip to heav'n , to make coates for her lady-ship : have they no merits , faith , grace , yet their trade will save them ; else her cloathes could not be made . and to make robes for her deserves doubtlesse a place in heav'n , she cannot give them lesse . but how came fryers by those cloathes which she here wore on earth ? or how can they or we for certaine know them to be hers ? since they so rich , fresh , gawdy , not like her aray , ( not heard off in the world nine hundred yeares or more from her decease , ) may breede just feares they are * not hers ? nor can they shew us by what trusty hands they were kept anciently , and thence transmitted to them , for to make blind sots adore them for the virgins sake . besides , her cloathes were old when first off cast ; full sixteene hundred yeares since that are past , they then were rotted , perisht long agone , and so the fresh , rich ragges , they shew are none of hers , no doubt ; unlesse they chance to say new shreds of reliques drop from heav'n each day from her into their wardrobes ; whence their d store of reliques now is more than heretofore ; sagreat , that they ten thousand times or more ex●eede all garments which on earth shewore : their store of new , sine , gaudy reliques now must needes then fall from heav'n to them below : she 's now a queene , a lady , hath each day or weeke at least , rich suites of new aray , which once put on , the old droppe to them here , because none will adore such reliques there , as * some doe here , and trot from place to place in pilgrimage them to see , kisse , embrace . againe , her robes are now of e larger size , sith under them an host of fryers lies : i wondred much how papists got such store of maryes ragges , but i wonder more , they have so few , since her coate is so wide and long , that it whole tooopes of monkes can hide . o mary ! now thou hast a monstrous traine , me thinkes its weight , length , breadth , should thee lade , paine , and sinke to earth , unlesse supported by those strong fat monkes who under it hid lye . on , and against papists reserving the host and carryning it in procession . vvhy doth rome keepe christs body * prisoner still within her pixes , quite against his will ? nought of the paschall lambe ( which f typified christ and his supper ) might g remaine , abide vntill the morning , if ought did they then must burne it in the fire forthwith : yea when christ did his supper institute , he sayd , h take eate forthwith , and nothing then up laid , reserv'd within a pix : christs guesse must eate not keepe nor closet up their sacred meate . the i paschall lambs flesh none were to carry abroade out of the house ; to typifie , that none must carry christs body abrode out of the church , the place of its abode . yet rome in her k processions carries it abroad about the streetes , and deemes it fit . christ rode but once , and then upon an l asse ; but now he doth oft in state , triumph passe on great mens shoulders in procession , as if he could not stand , walke , goe alone : by which they turne christs supper to m a play ; when they processions goe , they ever stray . besides , rome doth her hosts still n elevate and them adore ; these customes are but late . christ , the apostles , neither us'd nor taught them ; doubtlesse , than they are not good , but naught . rome may ill boast of her antiquity , her pactise in all this is novelty . but here o rome pleads , that aaron did reserve a p pot of manna , and the same preserve . within the arke , by gods command : therefore she may and doth her hosts reserve in store , thus in her pixes : but this will not serve her turne , for he the manna did reserve by gods q expresse command : but she hath no command from god her hosts to pix up so , but onely them r to eate without delay , as s manna eaten was the selfe-same day : by gods procept , and might not be kept till the morrow , as her sacred hosts are still . besides , this manna was not kept to eate , as are her hosts : nor did they oft repeate , renew the same ; when rome her hosts ea●h day or weeke doth change ; nor did manna decay , or putrifie , as t romes hosts oft times doe , wanting christs warrant to reserve them so ; nor was it kept , but for a v memory , to shew unto the jewes posterity in future ages , when all manna ceast , with what bread god did their fore-fathers feast in wildernesse , when he from egypt land them brought , and rescude with a potent hand : so is the text expresse : now hosts remaine and shall not cease till christ shall x come againe . you then no ground from manna have to store , reserve your hosts in pixes any more , but rather not to doe it ; since none might y reserve their manna till the next dayes light : and manna was a z type of sacred bread , of christ , wherewith our soules are nourished . nor is the arkes removing , any ground whereon rome can her hosts processions found , for that remov'd not but by gods a command whilst israel journeyed towards cana's land ; wherein when they were seated , it did b rest still in one place , which by it was much blest . nor did the arke once in procession ride about the streetes , as your hosts doe : beside when it remov'd none did fall downe before and worship it , as you your hosts adore in your processions , on set dayes kept still : whereas the arke c remov'd still at gods will : but you have no command your hosts to beare thus in procession , and you seated are in peace within your countries ; therefore you to these processions must quite bid adue till god command them , and you journey to the land of canaan , as the jewes did tho . on popish tapers . tapers at noone day burning ? why ? to light a blind religion to which day seemes night . papists thinke all else blinde : how blind are they who thus need burning torches at noone-day ? but t is to d shew , that christ is this worlds light : doth not the shining sunne shew this more bright than any tapers ? which gives e light to all the world alone , and is the radicall fountaine of all light ; whereas tapers give light but to few , who cannot well perceive their light at noone-day : none then neede such light but romish owles who hate the sunne , love night ; and are so senselesse , that they cannot see feele , taste , their sacred host still bread to be . f lactamius deem'd this madnesse heretofore in pagans ; then in papists 'tis much more . on s. michaels buckler and poynard , kept for a relique in the chapple of s. michaels mount in normandy . in g michaels chappell in s. michaels mount is kept a relique of no small account , arch-angel michaels double buckler , made of fine red velvet , which doth never fade ; and his steele poynard , with which armes he fought against the h dragon , when he cast him out of heaven , with all his angels : certainely these famous reliques are a forgery , since angels i spirits ) in a spirituall warre , as this was , could use no corporall armes , instruments of warre ; nor doe i finde by scripture , they had weapons of this kinde : i doubt these armes were forg'd by romes clergie , who use such k armes , and lay devotion by in all their warres , since michael as they say clad with these armes , not prayers got the day of the red dragon , satan , and his host ; who else perchance the day and field had lost . how spirits can repel'd , or conquered be with swords and bucklers , i cannot yet see . those who this dragon will repulse or slay must use no armes , but onely l fast and pray , and neede no other buckler , shield , or sword , but prayer , faith , and gods most sacred word saint michaels buckler , poinyard , and such armes cannot defend men from the devils charmes . on the reliques of iosephs han , and the asses tayle . in france , at m courchiverni neere to blois within a bottle they keepe , shew the noyse , or h●n which joseph , ( christs reputed father ) vs'd when he cleft wood , or when squar'd it rather . a famous relique : 't was , a skilfull man who could both catch and bottle up his han in such good pickle , that it keepes fresh still for sixeteene hundred yeares and more : what ill fortune had josephs body to decay , when as his breath and han last to this day , and are preserved with such speciall care , when as his body , bones , flesh perisht are . his han at first was not seene , onely heard ; now onely seene , not heard ; t is false , or mar'd : the n asses tayle whereon christ rod , which they have yet to shew , to this han joyne they may , nay weare the asses tayle , eares , skin and head , since they such lyes for truths have credited ; which fooles and children would deride and jeare : they are more sottish than the asse , i feare . on the popish sacrifice of the masse . vvhat , masse no sacrifice ? this mine heart cooles yet courage ; t is the o sacrifice of fooles . why so ? they thinke priests offer christ againe , yet doe not , cannot do 't : the p text is plaine . they say , q it is for use , worth , better , more than that which christ made on the crosse before . as if that pictures were more excellent than any persons which they represent . it strangles , murders , christ a fresh each day ; and yet it is unbloody , as they say : yea meritorious ; then the high-priests , jewes for killing christ , heav'n merit , its strange newes . it doth availe ( they hold ) both quicke and dead : true ; priests who live , by it are nourished ; yea much inricht , and buried sumptuously when dead ; thus quicke and dead priests gaine thereby ; when as lay-men by it are oft undone ; the deade mans masse , quite breakes his living sonne . on romes seven sacraments . two sacraments ? no more ? too few by five , had popes no more to sell they could not thrive : r seven's a compleate number ; they may sell one sacrament each day , and so gaine well ; it s fit each day should have its sacrament to vent , else popes would hardly be content , now they may market keepe all weeke , yeare ; this popes well remembring , thought it not amisse to adde five sacraments to christs owne two , the sale of which if lost , would them undoe . on romes seven deadly sinnes . but s seven deadly sinnes rome ? if thou sell all sinnes but these , thou mayst thrive pretty well : but thou to raise thy holy fathers rents mak'st veniall all thy seven sacraments : the sale of each which is a mortall sinne : thou must thy tale of deadly sinnes begin to double , since they seven sacraments thus sold , prove deadly sinnes in their events but are these deadly , sith thou selst them all ? not so : at rome all sinnes are veniall . on romes latine prayers . rome will have none but t latine prayers to god ; t were just to whip her with the selfe same rod ; give her but latin , henceforth , and no coyne , she will to latin any language joyne : nay damne the tongue , and to gaine gold good store , sweare she will ne're receive the latine more . on popish miracles . miracles still ? after so many done ? is such a wonder as the world might stonne . doth romes faith stagger ? is she yet in doubt that she for v miracles thus still cryes out ? either the old were false , x the faith untrue they did confirme , else ther 's no neede of new . the old faith 's lost in rome , she hath a new one , she needes new wonders , it to make a true one : y such she hath store of too , and yet she cryes for more : i doubt she knowes they are but lyes , and false impostures , else she would not call for fresh , her new false faith to keepe from fall . hold then thy peace rome , else i must thee tell thy faith is false , and thou an infidell ; on popish whippings and satisfactions . if whipping might sinnes purge and satisfie ; each bridewell should then be a purgatory ; and rogues there dayly whipt , should merit more than all the members of the roman whore ; who now to satisfie and merrit well should still be kept , whipt , tortur'd in bridewell . on papists abstaining from flesh on fasting dayes . papists in z lent , on fasting dayes will eate no roast , boyld , backt flesh : its unlawfull meat , yea , mortall sin to taste it , yet they will on all these dayes of raw flesh take their fill rome against drest flesh , on these dayes hath law ; she might doe well to make some acts ' gainst raw : gainst flesh in chambers , not in halls onely ; for her their fasts , prove feasts of venery . how ever it s no a fast no flesh to eate , and yet to feast on fish or better meate ; as papists doe , who on their fast dayes feede on choycest fish , and in their cates exceede . which doe their flesh more pamper , more inflame their lusts , than flesh , which they for this cause blame . on papists making marriage a sacrament , and forbidding priests to marry , yet permitting them to keepe whores . rome b marriage makes one of her sacraments , yet that her priests should marry disassents : they are too holy , wives to have ; yet they keepe c whores good store ; rome will not say them nay , but force them to it by an annuall rent : she should make whoredome then a sacrament not marriage , since to her sacred clergie she doth the last , not first , as ill , deny : it is no sacrament , but thing unclean ▪ which doth d unpriest , unhallow sacred men : this marriage doth , not whoredome now in rome , nought is her sacrament then but whoredome . on romes extreame unction , and its being a sacrament . apostles e noynted sicke men to restore them to their health againe , onely , wherefore doth rome then noint them soly at the last , to dye , when all hopes of health , life are past ? well may she this her unction terme , extreame ; t is extreame madnesse , folly or a dreame : she saith a f sacrament too ; this i doubt since ne're done in the church , but alwayes out . it is a chamber , not church sacrament ; in this it doth from all the rest dissent . on papists implicit faith , and images . papists have no faith : for they * all beleeve as doth their church ; they hang all on her sleeve ; their saith is in their church , not g them ; they then are infidels , at least wise faithlesse men : there is no h true faith in their church now left , they then of all faith must needs be bereft : we may then call each papist infidell , who hath no faith , or what he cannot tell . no wonder than if papists so delight in images , they onely walke by sight , not i faith ; and so must have before their eye the * pictures of christ and the deity ; which cannot stand with faith , the k evidence of things not seene , not subject unto sense . on popish blind obedience . papists must l ne're once doubt what priests have told : why tell they then priests money , weigh their gold ? belike their doctrine's currant , not their scale : their cayne not doctrine , needes both weights and tale. if they may erre , cheate , prove false in their coyne ; why may they not then in faith erre , purloine ? [ which they than money lesse mind , and esteeme ; ] it s safe to try their faith by weight and beame . the m noble wise bereans heretofore by scripture try'd pauls doctrine , you much more then ought to n prove your priests by scriptures test , since they are sinnefull , erring men at best . on popish pilgrimages , offerings , kneelings prayers to the images of the virgin mary ; and their worshipping of her and them . vvhat , * pilgrimages still ? crosse too and fro ? they erre no doubt , who thus a wandring goe ; their way , light , guide are lost , yea faith , i doubt ; perhaps they straggle thus to finde them out . the o wise men which came to jerusalem out of the east , when christ at bethlehem was newly borne , led by a wondrous starre , tooke all this paines and pilgrimage so farre to worship christ alone ; whom when they found , saw with his mother mary , to the ground they p fall and worship him , not her ; present their gifts , gold , incense , myrrhe , with joynt consent to him alone , though then a babe ; but to his mother they no gifts give ; nor yet doe her any worship that we reade off : why doe foolish papists then quite contrary to these wise men , q trotting in pilgrimages from place to place ? to sundry images ( not persons ) of the virgin ; and before them fall downe on their knees and r them adore , present with gifts , pray , supplicate for grace ; whilst christ in all this worship hath no place , or very little ; no nor yet his mother , whose images ador'd are , and not her . but they them for her s sake alone adore , and honour thus : what then ? these heretofore did not her person worship , when they came into her presence , nor fall to the same , but worshipt christ alone ; why then give you more to her picture than was ever due , or done unto her person anciently ? no doubt it is most grosse idolatry , point blanke against gods law : which doth defend men t to ; before an image once to bend bow , fall , or worship ; though the imagry be of no creature , but the deity . if then none must gods , christs statues adore , nor make ; much lesse may they bow , kneele before the virgins ; or as pilgrims to them goe to offer gifts ; the wisemen did not so ; and those who these wise mens steps will not trace , no doubt are errant fooles , sots , voyd of grace ; we finde a v leaper , jairus , one borne blinde , a man possest , two of the female kinde , both maries , the disciples , worshipping christ , and to him falling , kneeling , praying ; but reade not in the whole new testament of any that in pilgrimage once went unto the * virgins person , or that pray'd , or made suite to her for grace , helpe , or ayde , or once ador'd , or worshipt her : what ground , what shew have papists then whereon to found their worship of , their offerings , pilgrimages and prayers too , before her images ; their ladies-masses , psalters , houres ? truely none that i know , but their priests knavery ; who to enrich themselves make fooles by flockes to run , pray , offer , to their ladies stockes : substract these offerings , then your priests will say you neede not to her statues runne , kneele , pray , as now you doe without all warrant , ground ; take heede lest god your soules for this confound . on romes worshipping the crosse , nayles and what ever touched christs body , with latria or divine worship . rome holds for truth , that what x toucht christs body must be adored with divine latry . hence , she adores the crosse , nayles , speare with it and makes them saints ( at least the * speare ) t is fit they should adde judas to this number , who hath y kist his lippes , betray'd and kild him too , and toucht him oftner , hurt him more than crosse or nayles ; his saint-ship must not suffer losse ; rome must adore him too ; with all the traine that z led christ to the crosse when he was slaine ; each thorne that crown'd him , all his vestments ; yea , the a asse he rode on , earth he trod on , sea he b walkt on , c shippes wherein he sate , or sail'd , all those his very d touch to cure prevail'd . if these be not enough , rome , to adore , i will yet shew thee something else in store , thou must adore his very excrement ; t was in him , from him , hath a pleasant sent : all other reliques , hadst thou store of these , would lose their honour , worship , dignities , there is one yet left , thou dost most adore , the devill , will you know the cause wherefore ? he e toucht christs body too oft times , when be first tempted him , as we in scripture see , proffring him all earths kingdomes , glory , store if he would fall downe , and but him adore ; christ then resus'd his bribe , and worship too his vicar takes it , will the homage doe not for the bribe ; no , he doth f him adore because he toucht christs body heretofore ; and that not with dulia , but latrie ; yet rome is guiltlesse of idolatrie . on romes prayers to dead saints , and for the dead . all men beleeve f god heares them when they cry : where saints doe so , g most doubt ; some quite deny . it s madnesse then to leave a certaine way and chuse a doubtfull , when we goe to pray : saints cannot ●eare , h unlesse god first reveale : why doe they then from him to them appeale ? this done ; they must rebound prayers back againe , why doe they trouble god and saints in vaine ? in fine ; not they , but god alone must grant : why run they then to saints for what they want ? fly then to god alone who heares , grants all : it s i bootelesse , senselesse , on dead saints to call . rome prayes to , and for dead men ; well she may ; her prayers dead are , fit for none else but they . th' one heares them not ; th' other no good thereby reape ; they that make them lesse ; such prayers then fly . prayers to , and for dead men , well agree ; they both dead , faithlesse , bootelesse , sinfull be . on romes divine adoration of her painted crosses . rome thy crosse-worship now is at a losse , not one of all thy reliques of christs crosse , or peeces of his vestments did once k touch his body ; for his garments were no such . but grant these did , yet sure not one of thy carv'd , painted crosses had this dignity , unlesse thou say his bodie 's nail'd to all those crosses before which thou now dost fall : thou must then make as many christs or more , as thou hast crosses , or not one adore . on the papists supposed looking-glasse of the trinity , for their saints to see prayers in . strange newes ! romes god is now a l looking-glasse ( a brittle god ) to which her prayers passe that saints may there behold them ; she doth feare her saints are deafe , and cannot prayers heare ; nor see at all unlesse god turne a glasse , god is no god ; saints deafe , or rome an asse : glasses dense bodies are , not spirits , frayle ; god is no god , but glasse , if rome prevaile . she hath no glasse , if god ; if glasse , no god : thy glasse i doubt is now become thy rod. no glasse , no prayer to saints , their sight is gone ; a glasse , no god , but thy deafe saints alone . prayers , were onely m heard , not seene of old , now seene , not heard by saints , as we are told , saints can doe more than god ; n he doth but heare , they see romes prayers , they sure have lost their eare , or else their eares are all turn'd into eye , that they no prayers now heare , but all espie . nothing is seene but what is coloured , corporall , painted , guilt or varnished : romes orisons are such of late , therefore her saints must onely see , not heare them more : but if they barely see them , and not beare , they will not grant , nor answere them i feare ; sith god , men never answere nor reply but when they heare , as well as see men cry ; yet say they did , i doubt romes painted prayre which must be seene , will vanish in the ayre , before it can ascended above the skie into this new glasse of the trinity : see then they frenzie , pray no more to saints , they cannot heare , grant , nor yet see thy plaints : sounds are the proper objects of the eare , you cannot see , smell , taste , feele them , but heare them onely ; you may colours heare , as well as see mens prayers ; it is impossible as all men know well by experience for eyes to see the objects of eares sense . romes looking-glasse then is a meere fancie , and saints sight of prayers in it , a grosse lye. on prayers in an unknowne tongue . pray in o a tongue unknowne , to god ? to saints ? neither , i doubt , will heare or know your plaints . it s fit that those who know not what they pray'd , should not be understood , or else gaine-sayd . on romes idoll and idle worship . rome thou hast in thee idoll and latrie , conjoyne them , then , thou hast idolatrie : deny me idols ; idle , and latrie thou must yeeld ; joyne them , here 's idel-latrie : idoll , or idle worship , chuse thee whether , if neither like thee , take them both together . on transubstantiation . pardon great rome , i hope it is no treason , to call thy transpanation voyd of reason : its non-sense to the eye , hand , mouth which finde the substance of the bread still left behinde : it is non-reason , yea , * non-scripture then , because non-sense to all the sense in men ; sith nought is reason , but what first is sense , it s voyd of reason than , because non-sense . if ought be lost in transubstantiation , it is romes senses onely ; and her reason : she cannot finde what all else feele , taste , see , and findes that there which is not cannot be . if sense may erre , then ( sweet rome ) tell me why thy vicars , priests , all else by sense doe ●●y ? they know the bread , wine , which before them are then to be hallowed , such , and so declare for p certaine by their sense ; yet presently when sacred , ' gainst sense they it bread deny . if sense were certaine , at the first , to know them bread and wine ; how doth it senselesse grow within a moment ? sure thy sense is fled , else thou must judge them stil but wine and bread : thy meate thou tryest by sense ; thy silver , gold by sense are alwayes felt , weigh'd , try'd and told . thou ever sel'st , but never takes backe lead for gold : thy sense here erres not , nor is dead . if then rome tries all else so sure by sense , she must , her host judge nought but bread from hence , since christ himselfe hath made the q sense onely the proper judge of his humanity , birth , miracles , death , resurrection , the truth whereof are prov'd by sense alone . on popish transubstantiation and annihilation . this r is my body , words of s consecration ; how can they change , or worke annihilation ? it is a t curse , not blessing , to destroy that bread which christ would have us to enjoy ; which if quite vanisht in the consecration , these words must cause , or need breads re-creation . or else be idle : for if bread begone nought can be sacred , but the words alone . rome saith , the v species are : i doubt the shade cannot be hallowed , if the substances fade ; else by this doctrine , a meere hypocrite for shew were sacred though his heart 's not right ; and priests who lose their substance by sacration , must by their shadowes worke out their salvation . yea , all romes * churches , bells , saints , shades must be when hallowed they from substance were made free . if consecration make the substance fade , romes , popes , priests , churches , altars , saints are shade , for they are hallowed too , as well as bread , their substance then as well as its is fled . o rome , recant this errour , thou hast made ; else all thou hast is nothing but a shade . in all romes hallowings of priests , churches , dayes , and other things their substances alwayes remaine without change or destruction : why then must breads , wines substances alone in hallowing be destroy'd or changed ? ye can give no reason why . in fine , tell me , what priests doe hallow ? if you say wine , bread : they then remaine such , though thus hallowed : if you say ought else , t is an error , lye , since you confesse , you y hallow them onely ; now what you hallow , that you take , eat , drink , its bread , wine , then ; not true christ , as you think on transubstantiation and the popes vicarship . is not the pope christs vicar here ? yes : why ? christs z absence upon earth still to supply : is not christ present in the sacrament , in reall manner ? we have romes consent . thy pope his vicar then cannot here be , sith christ's here present by romes owne decree . not in one place or country , as of old ; but in so many as cannot be told . if his meere presence in one place ; whilst here , banisht all vicars ; thou hast cause to feare his omni-presence in each church , pix , host , will quite exclud popes from the wide earths cost , to be his vicar no where but in hell ; sith he in heav'n and earth doth alwayes d well . pope chuse thy fate , to be his vicar there , or else deny his reall presence here ; else canst thou be no vicar generall on earth for him , no vicar , pope at all . but if to save thy place , thou wilt deale faire , confesse thou erdst ; then z popes may erre in chaire : and if in this , why not in more ? in all ? turne where thou wilt , pope ; here thou hast a fall . on the reall presence , pix and crucifixe . is reall presence true ? christ in the pix ? what neede his pictures than , or crucifix ? pictures are uselesse when the person 's by , either your pictures or your pixes lye : both cannot stand together , one must part : you lye but are unskilfull in the art. lyes must keepe quarter ; if they chance to jarre , or meete too neere , they will the tale quite marre . ye must disclaime christs presence in the pix , or else breake downe your lying crucifix . you were unwise to place these two so nigh , that now they fight , and give each o're the lye. on transubstantiation and popes leaders bulls . those who can each day change lead into gold , bread to christs body chang'd , may safely hold . the first , wants scripture , but hath reason store ; the last , a * shew of scripture and no more . gaine proves the first , i thinke the latter too , should both prove fals , it would popes quite undo . meane while they take the last by scriptures shew ; the first by sense , not text they will still know . on popish priests taking away the cup from the people . i wonder not that a priests alone ingrosse the sacred cup ; they love the pot to tosse . should lay-men drinke , vines would not them suffice with wine , at least , the price thereof would rise . by this device they have ingrossed all the wine to them , and made the price to fall . men wondred much before , why priests were drown'd so oft in drinke ; the reason now is found . on popish concomitancy and the sacred cup. b priests say , that laickes christs cup and blood drinke in eating of dry bread , and so they thinke . could they perswade them thus to drink at table , drunkennesse then would soone become a fable with them ; and none but joviall priests be found in wine or other liquors henceforth drown'd : and so they onely of right should possesse , both pot , cup , barrell , wine , and drunkennesse . but since they cannot make fooles , children think ( much lesse men , drunkards ) that they wine , beare drink in eating of bread , or meate at their table , they should disclaime this whimsie , as a fable . on popish concomitancy and halfe communion . the c priests say laymen when they the bread eate , doe therein drinke christs blood ; bread's drinke and meate . if laickes , then priest likewise : pray then , why doe priests not to themselves the cup deny ? belike they neede the wine their hearts to cheare , and wash their throats to chaunt their massemore cleare : if so ; they say , that they in * drinking take and eate christs body ; let them then part stake . priests drinke the wine , laickes eate all the bread , else priests will twice , laickes but once be fed . on praying to , and representing of god and saints by pictures . vvhat ? goe by pictures both to god and saint ? you deeme both shaddowes then , or else but paint . if god or saints be like to what you see , they then no substance but meere shaddowes be . and dare rome shaddowes for her gods adore ? she 's then more sot than pagans heretofore . are they not like , nor what their picture●●re , then are thy pictures d lyes , ( rome ) and popes erre more than the painte● for he onely paints these lyes and errours , but they make them saints , by consecrating them for sacred use ; for shame now see , detest this great abuse . on worshipping images . vvhat ? must we have no images nor stockes to worship ? * yes , you are not men , but blockes ; the e idols , makers , worshippers are one ; all , at the best but mettle , blockes or stone : your whole religion 's blockish , or a play ; you just like it ; your puppits this display . on popish confessers and pardons . if men f confesse to god , absolv'd they are ; what neede they then their sinnes to priests declare ? if to their priests , not god , they may them paine , but not absolve : confession then is vaine . if men repent , god g pardons instantly without a fee ; why will they pardons buy ? if they h repent not , popes cannot forgive ; their pardon 's voyde ; why will they money give ? on popish altars and masse priests . no altars now ? priests then are quite undone there were no masse-priests till altars begun ; take them away , masse , massing-priests must cease , and christs rent church shall live in greater peace : no sweeter sacrifice can men devise , than priests and altars both to sacrifice . on popish purgatory , and its fire . all papists hold a fiery i purgatory ; the wise , to gaine ; the fooles to spend their money : the first , to fill ; the last , to purge the purse : the ones great blessing ; but the others curse . if it hath any fire , t is fed with gold ; substract but it , this fire will soone grow cold . on popish judulgencies . vvhat neede men pray to god , angels or saints if popes can pardon sinners , grant their plaints ? * they that can loose from hell , and men heav'n grant , no doubt will give , if askt , all things they want . give did i say , if askt ? no , they sell all , else none to god , angells , or saints would call to give what popes can grant ; their sales to high , force most from them , to these to runne and cry . if popes would give , as free as sell ; they might in grosse all suites from these , be god's out right . on popish merits and prayers to saints . papists have k merits store , themselves to save and others too ; yet not enough to crave pardon , or almes from god , unlesse some l saints ( not christ ) put up their undeserving plaints : they who can finde no merit once to cry for almes , or pardon ; sure have none to buy heav'n for themselves , or others : they must now their prayers to saints , or merits disavow . on papists praying to christ to save them by thomas beckets blood , an arch-traytor and rebell . papists to christ * himselfe pray , them to save by beckets blood shed for him ; an arch-knave , and ingrate n traytor to his soveraigne : yet his blood 's saving , christs , but shed in vaine ; else they would pray to christ to save them by his owne , not beckets blood , yet t is onely to make them to ascend where thomas went : if to the gallowes , be their sole intent which he deserv'd , and some of them , it s well ; else they shall doubtlesse but ascend to hell as becket did ; a place almost too good for those who will be saved by his blood . it s signe rome traytors loves , else would not she by theirs , not christ's blood , pray thus sav'd to be . on romes freewill . rome saith , o she hath free-will to good , as well as unto ill : why doth she then excell in nought but ill , and no good thing pursue ? her practice proves this her doctrine untrue . either doe good , rome , if thou hast free-will ; else confesse thou art free to nought but ill. on popish priests shaven beards , and shorne nunnes . romes priests their p beards shave , least christs blood should stay thereon : t were better quite to take away the cup from them , which they from laymen , take for feare their beards should of christs blood partake . let them his blood drinke onely in the bread , no drop thereof can on their beards be shed . they q shave their crownes like r pagan priests of old , that so their heads may some proportion hold with spheares above , and earth below , both round bald , hairelesse , yet is neither shaven crown'd : when spheares and earth shave their crounes , then priests may shave theirs ; till then , let them their shaving stay . rome s shaves her nunnes crounes , heads too , though s. paul a shaven crowne , a womans t shame doth call , whose long haire is her * glory , covering , by gods and natures dictate ; yea a thing which for them thus to shave and sheare away is shamefull , sinfull , both to disobey . whence some who us'd it , dam'd , accursed were by two old v councils , others to deterre . this shaving of their nunnes did thus begin ; some germans wives convicted of the sinne of whoredome and adultery , were by the ancient custome of old * germany shav'd by their husbands , to their infamy , and then shut prisoners in a nunnery ; some empresses , and ladies of great name thus us'd , for to abate and cloake this shame of shaving , turning nunnes and abbesses , brought in nunnes shaving with them by degrees . so long till none at last nunnes made be might till they were * shaven first in open sight . no wonder then if nunnes prove y whores , they beare this badge of whores , and by it hallowed are . did they respect their fame or chastity , shorne crounes , the badge of whores , they would defie , and rather follow gods , pauls , natures lores than this invention of notorious whores : the patterne doth the practise so disgrace , that honesty forbids it to take place in any females , in nunnes specially , who vow , professe nought else but chastity . on popes bulls and doubting of salvation . popes heav'n to men by such firme z bulls intaile , that none must doubt but that they will availe , and yet they deeme salvations certaintie a a grand presumption , if not heresie . see how they damne themselves ; if to beleeve be such a crime , what is it then to give assurance of salvation ? give ? i lye , alas they sell it , and this b symony makes voyd their sales ; they then to doubt have cause , since these sales voyd are by all kinde of lawes ; rome now must hold , and give heavens certainety hence forth ; else none but fooles her bulls will buy . on popish saints and patrons for particular countries , professions , diseases , and kindes of cattle , and their maladies . papists have severall saints for each c country , profession , sickenesse , and infirmity in man or beasts ; to whom for helpe they call , god is no god , but these who gard , helpe all ; to whose bands , guidance , care , and custody , they still commit their whole soule , sprite , body , wits , senses , members , thoughts , words , actions , ways for ever ; so romes church in d masse-bookes prayes . if they say , these are but gods substitutes ; they must them prove , that god these saints deputes to these distinct climes , trades , beasts , maladies which they assigne them : this their great rabbies , popes , doctors , monkes , and jesuites cannot doe ; these patrons then are false ; they fooles , sots , to rely upon , pray to them ; god alone make then your patron , since these saints are none . rome hath e false reliques store , but this surely is a true relique of idolatry , and sottish pagans , who had f gods for all climes , trades , diseases which men , beasts , befall . rome playes the g pagan in most things , but here that she turnes pagan , is to all most cleare . on workes of supererogation . some popish monks , h priests doe more than they neede , and thinke this is a meritorious deede : true , they doe all besides , against gods will , not it ; i feare the merit then is ill. heav'n , say they ; hell , i ; else there 's no hell if men may merit heav'n by not doing well . on papists good workes to merit salvation . papists dreame to be sav'd by i workes alone : they must doe so , for true faith they have none . but since their good workes from no good saith flow no doubt at last they will no good workes grow . on popish merits . god , mens good workes of k mercy , not of debt or right rewards : this papists quite forget l according to , not for their workes ; of grace and promise onely ; debt hath here no place . hence saints in scripture , still for m mercy call not wages , merits they knew not at all . if rome hath merits , workes , and trust thereto , i doubt at last they will her quite undoe . rome by her faith will not be justified : good reason , it s not true , but false if try'd ; her workes , or nought , must then her justifie ; but these prove ill , not good , if god them try : since then her faith , workes , both prove ill , when tride , rome must be damn'd by them , not justifi'd . on auricular confession . if men confesse to god , will that suffice ? no : tell me why ? priests should not then be wise : lay-men should then have secrets , and lose paines impos'd for sinnes confest , priests cheifest gaines . priests now know all mens secrets , none preists know ; and by injoyned penance , wealthy grow . confesse and so be hang'd sayd once of old ; by confesse and absolv'd , seemes now control'd . not so , both stand well , sith priests absolution , makes men neglect gods , to their just confusion . at leastwise hangs them in priests halters , paines ; who torture , racke them , to improve their gaines . when priests their owne faults n first confesse , and mend , they to confession may all others send . on romes prayers to saints . vvhy hath rome o store of saints her prayers to heare ? is god deafe to them ? or else doth she feare , so faithlesse , heartlesse , dead , ill , are here plaints , they are not fit for god , but for her saints ? or doth she try her patience thus to pray to saints that cannot heare or else delay to heare or grant ! hence oft her cause is mar'd before her pray'rs by her dead saints are heard ; and we who goe to god immediately , are heard and answer'd ere saints heare her cry . on popish monkes , players , prayers , and merits . our church hath some who worke not , but still play : romes more , who worke not , but yet always pray : prayer's no worke with rome to merit by vnlesse with * gold you will her prayers still buy : her prayers therefore are players , and doe play not worke , but when men wage them for to pray . how can they merit then by workes , who play still , and no worke doe for which god can pay ? men over-pay them for their prayers still here , god than cannot owe , pay them any arreare : they should be double payd if god and men should both reward them ; wher 's their merit then ? on romes taking away the scripture , cup , and second commandement from the people . laickes reade scripture ? fie , it is not fit ; rich rome might soone lose all her wealth by it : her popes & canons then must both dismount ; her faith , workes , pardons , be of no account , her monks , nunnes , fryers , abbots , prelates then would soone be banisht and cast out by men . better the people lose their soule , heaven , all , than romes popes , prelates , monkes , catch such a fall . christ p oft commands all , scripture day and night to search , reade , meditate , that so they might obtaine eternall life : the k pope saith nay , and from lay-men the scripture takes away : he is not here true vicar unto christ , but anti-christian , and true antichrist . the q second commandement , cup , and scripture popes steale from people too : theeves are they sure of highest ranke : in that they stollen have what father , some , and holy ghost men gave ; for robbing men and the whole trinity : they then deserve lawes , deaths eternity i wonder papists dare their soules once trust with these arch-theeves , to god , men so unjust : they will not trust theeves with their coine , i feare their soules than money are to them lesse deare . on the romish masse . masse is a wonder ; it s a r sacrifice for quicke and dead ; and for all maladies in man or beast , a rare receit and cure ; a sicke man , beast , asse , oxe , cow , hog , is sure to be releast from any malady , if you a masse for them , of priests will buy : physitians , farriers will be now undone , all sickemen , beasts to priests for cure will run , they neede no other physicke but a masse , which you may s buy for oxe , cow , horse , hog , asse , or any creature else , all which must pay priests well , for gratis they will no masse say . on the popes two swords . popes have t two swords , to smite , one hooke to keepe , no wonder they more slay than feede christs sheepe . on the popes two keyes . popes , v hold , they keepe the keyes of heav'n and hell ; some doe oppose : i like it very well , sith they locke heavens straite gate fast up to all their flocke , but ope hells wide , wherein they fall . on kissing the popes feete . other folkes lips are kist , onely x popes feete : their breath is poyson , but their shooe is sweete ; y vnder their lips doth addars poyson lye , they therefore will have none their lippes come nigh . on the pope being peters successour . some say z that popes succeed to peter , i confesse it , both their master christ deny . peter but a thrice : they oft , and so preceed in sinne ; him , they in place , not grace succeed . but are they peters successors alone ? th' are b judas , simons too , it s ten to one . on the popes non erring whilst he sits in peters chaire . popes c cannot erre , in peters chaire whilst set ; t is true , for sure , they nere once sate there yet : no wonder then if they nought else but erre , sith they in his un-erring chaire sat ne're . on the popes not erring . all d error is from rule ; popes will have none , to judge , doe , live by , but e themselves alone : they cannot then once erre , because not stray quite from themselves , unto gods rules and way . on the popes not sinning and erring as popes , but as men. the f pope as man , not pope , may sinne and erre : why doth not then the pope the man deterre from sinne and errour ? can he not this doe ? the man the pope may make sinne , and erre too : and if the man for sinne and error goe to hell , i feare the pope too must doe so . on the popes not erring , and on falling from grace . popes cannot erre ; yet they may g totally away from grace fall , yea and finally , by romes owne doctrine ; which they oft times doe , to prove her doctrine by their practise true . it is no errour thus to fall from grace , since popes herein romes doctrines footsteps trace . i wonder not at romes apostasie , her practise else her doctrine would belye : now both accord , and she falls quite away from faith , grace , truth , that none once question may , or doubt her doctrine , which was questionable ; but thus confirm'd , it must be true and stable . on the popes pardons , and mortall sinnes . may men h buy pardons , and for mortall sins ? pardons are truely veniall then , not sinnes : but yet at rome alone , for god , kings , all but popes , hold pardons i free , not veniall . on the popes being christs vicar generall upon earth . the pope on earth's christs vicar generall , he 's nothing then ; christ , k here had nought at all : but be he something , t is in earth , or hell , not heav'n : christ lets no vicar ne're him dwell : who being still l present both in heav'n and here , popes are his vicars but in hell i feare . on popes pardons of sinnes . the popes doe pardon sinnes ; i thinke so too ; all , which men for them ; none , they against them doe . all against god ; against themselves , not one . what can , is not , what cannot they , is done . on the popes being head of the church . popes are m supreame heads of the church by due , but of the false church onely , not the true. the true church hath but one head , n jesus christ : the false but one , the pope , true anti-christ . on romes sinnes , curses and pardons . at rome all 's veniall , some say ; i say no ; her sinnes , and curses doubtlesse are not so : the first are mortall ; last not sold , but free bestow'd , all is not veniall rome in thee . on the pope and his cardinals . cardinalls o hinges are ; the church the dore which hanges on them : o pope thy fate deplore ; if the church on them , onely hanged be , nought but an halter 's left by them for thee ; thou mayst goe bang thy selfe therewith ; for they , not thou , the church uphold , support , and stay . on the popes being christs vicar . if popes christs vicars be , his flocke to teach , why do they not like him , than feed and p preach ? they are his vicars , but to sheare his sheepe ; when they should feed them , they are fast asleepe . christ but one vicar can have here ; he many , to doe his office ; he then is not any . either the pope must doe his worke alone , or if by vicar , he must make but one : else christ may chance to make more vicars too by his example , and so him undoe , unlesse he tye christs hands from making any , because himselfe before had made too many . on the popes vicarship and vicars . a vicar by the q law can never make another vicar : see how popes mistake , who make so many vicars of each kinde , in every country were they profit finde , either this law is error , or these be no vicars , but meere factors for romes see. true , for they onely his rents helpe get in ; he , not they keepe them , else it were a sinne : they are christs rents , tithes , peters patrimony ; popes must be still sole vicars of the money : t were sacriledge , at least , for to assigne another vicar to keepe peters coyne . on the popes porphiry chaire , wherein they are groped and tryed to be men . popes neede no r porphry chaire now for to try if they be males or not ; they it descry to all the world before-hand by the store of s bastards they beget . it then were more fit now , their testicles to cut , than grope , for feare a leacher , not a whore , turne pope . on christs crowne of thornes and the popes triple crowne of gold . christ wore one t crowne of thornes , popes three of gold ; no wonder then that christ's by them control'd . christ v rode but once , and that upon an asse ; popes ever ride and oft on x kings backes passe the streetes : no wonder , they make christ their page he never rode in such state , equipage . popes now no vicars , but lords paramount are , since they kings , and christ so far surmount . on peters poverty and the popes great wealth and on the popes being peters successors . peter y no gold nor silver had , or wore : his successors both z have , and weare great store . the church , poore then , had peter a poore head ; she 's now grown rich , great , since that peter's dead . her head must then grow rich , great , like her body ; else 't were unseemely , and he were a noddy : peter had no such court , state , table , traine as popes ; who neede much gold them to maintain : peter was but a fisher , not a pope , they popes , nay a monarchs of the world : i hope they must have gold store to support their state , they cannot now live at s. peters rate . it were no lesse in popes than b heresie . to succeede peter in his povertie ; whose very name they scorne , sith none of all the popes [ who c change their names ] did ever call himselfe by this name peter , but still by some other name , as john , paul , gregory , and such like , which in all great doubt may breed , that popes , who peter never will succeede in name , doe lesse in office , grace , chaire , state succeede him : then succession's out of date : till popes resemble peter more : say i , that they succeed him , is an arrant lye . on popes prohibiting priests from marriage . priests are the seede of adam , noah ; why should they not then have wives to multiply and store the earth ; as well as other men , as d god commands ? from e adams dayes till ten hundred yeares after christ , or more , priests were still free to marry , and did not forbeare but use the marriage bed : why doe popes now priests marriage f quite condemne , and disallow ? which ●oth before , under the g law , gospell , was used by , allow'd to priests as well as any others ; yea god did prescribe wives , with their qualities , to levies tribe . s. paul writes , h marriage is honourable in all men ; popes say it is i detestable in priests ; belike romes priests are beasts , not men for if they were , by pauls rule marriage then to them were lawfull , honourable , all priests under his all men , if men , must fall . we read that k peter , philip , james , paul , were al married ; why should priests then wives forbeare , when these apostles ; yea , l some popes of old and godly bishops did wives wed and hold ? which they no doubt would not have done , if it had beene unlawfull , or for priests unfit . to put this out of doubt , we finde that paul himselfe among the qualities which all bishops and deacons , ought to have , saith m they the husbands of one wife must be ; none may this text controule , found in popes n canon lawes , which to this day retaine this very clause ; priests , bishops , deacons then may lawfully keepe wives ; this clause else were a nullity , vaine , idle , nay repugnant , and s. paul mistaken in prescribing it to all bishops , and deacons , midst those qualities which simply needfull are . if rome denyes this meant of wives enjoyed actually by bishops , deacons , whilst such ; certainely s. paul confutes her by prescribing there o what wives they ought to abuse , how they must beare themselves , and rule their children well ; else they gods church unfitting were to rule and sway : all which were needlesse , vaine ; if meant of those not yet in orders as rome doth it glose . besides , paul speakes of such as p actually are priests or deacons , and not futurely to be so ; and this quality , to be the husband of one wife , is in degree and tence the same with the p rest specifi'd there , which to priests in act must be apply'd in the present not preterperfect tense : priests marriage then must needs be lawfull hence . in fine , s. paul avers , that q marriage and meates , men to forbid in this last age , [ both which romes popes doe ] is apostasie from faith , meere devills doctrine , and a lye. whence i conclude , that popes have falne away from faith , and that lyes , devills doctrines sway and rule them now , since they priests marriage , free use of meates forbid , in this last age ; r permitting priests whores , s not wives ; which doe make them quite unfit orders to keepe or take , whereas grosse whoredome and adultery from orders none thrust out , nor yet put by ; which sinnes of priests , should t cause the roman whore the lawfull use of marriage to restore . we reade , the v selfe-same day the marriage bed was first to english priests prohibited , in councell , by john crema , legat to the pope , by whose command he this did doe , that he himselfe at night in bed was tooke by priests , lying with a whore , and so forsooke and fled the realme with publicke shame , whereby the priests their wives retained quietly long after : were romes popes , priests narrowly watch't , men them with whores might too oft espie ; yea , it s a common trade now , and no newes at rome , for x priests to baunt the publicke stewes , which popes maintaine , and have in italy dispenc'd with priests to commit sodomie in the hot monethes , with boyes and ganymedes ; that is not good , but ill which such fruits breeds ; which i forbeare at large to specifie , since y romish writers , fully them descry , wishing that popes , priests marriage would restore , the want whereof hath made their church a whore . there is no pia-mater in popes braine who priests from marriage , ' gainst gods word restraine , and them quite barre from this their sacrament , yet give them free leave , whores , stewes to frequent . on protestants damnation by papists , and the reason of it . protestants damned are , say z papists ; why ? because they to one saviour , christ , all fly . few or none damn'd are in romes church if any , sith she besides christ , saviours hath full many . if a few be saved , as the scriptures say , one saviour is enough to whom to pray ; who seldome us'd in romes church , which him wants not , may finde leasure to save protestants . lest this prove true , romes church may now doe well , all saviours , but christ onely , to expell . on romes saviours and jesuites . no wonder if all romes flock saved be , they have ten thousand saviours more than we ; so many that to keepe them from disorder , she marshalls some into a distinct order , grac'd with the saving name of jesuites , they are such active good , sweete , saving sprits , saviours no doubt to romes church , popes , and crowne , which their plots , wits , pens keepe from tumbling downe . t is not their goodnesse , vertue , grace or merits that make them saviours , but their treasons , wits ; saviours to popes ; could kings and states say so , they jesuites were in name and nature too . but whilst their treasons , plots , ' gainst these them shame , they are not such in truth , deed , but in name : nay meere antipodes to this name , they it into judasites now alter may , or jebusites , since they disturbe , annoy al states , kings , churches , & would them destroy . on no salvation out of the church of rome . rome saith b out of her church none saved be , and that no church is catholicke but she . it 's pride and gaine that make her thus to boast , since she faith and salvation both hath lost . the patriarchs , prophets , holy jewes of old , christ , his apostles , were not of romes fold ; yet were all saved : greekes , with sundry more since them were , and are sav'd without the whore of romes precincts ; whose whoredomes , vices are now catholicke , her faith , grace none , or rare . she then had neede prevent her owne damnation , not others ; doubt her owne , not our salvation . on papists making apocrypha canonicall , and canonicall scripture lesse than apocryphall , and their blasphemies against it , and popes power over it . papists ( against the c joynt consent of all fathers ) apocrypha , canonicall make , and all protestants revile , condemne , for not consenting in this point with them . meane time [ ô wonder ] that which both confesse to be true scripture canon , they farre lesse esteeme , than what is meere apocryphall , and deeme no scripture text canonicall ; stiling gods sacred booke , d a leaden sword , a nose of waxe , a dead letter or word , a leaden parchment rule ; no judge , rule , guide of faith , by which all doctrines must be try'd . they write , it hath its force , authority , sense , exposition from the pope onely , who can , may , doth it change , controule , annuall , repeale , dispence against it , by his bull. if this be true , rome no canonicall text grants ; but makes all meere apocryphall : and so unchurcheth , yea quite overturnes her self , whilst she against gods word thus spurnes on e which all christian churches built , must fall , if scripture cease to be canonicall . o rome recant thy fearefull blasphemie against gods word , which doth for vengeance cry against thee ; and shall f judge thee at the last , and into hell , without repentance cast . on the two arch-patriarchs of popish fryers s. francis and s. dominicke . i hope i may without offence , recite what papists of their great s. francis write , the father of their fryers minorites , in printed g bookes , made by his favorites . they write , that he john baptist did surpasse in foure respects : for first , john baptist was but christs fore-runner , francis [ as they say ] both his fore-runner to prepare his way , and standard-bearer too : john received the word of penance , but from christ our head ; francis , from christ and the pope , which is more : john , but the bridegroomes friend was , heretofore , francis was like the bridegroome : john , on high , is but exalted to the company of seraphins , where francis on the throne whence lucifer was cast downe , sits alone . they write , that francis in worth farre excels all the apostles , and that now he dwels in heav'n in christs owne bosome , more : that he was here a jesus typically : yea a figurative saviour : who upon his body receiv'd in a vision the selfe-same wounds that christ did , yea suffred the selfe-same paines : and thereby renewed christs passion in him , for to save man-kinde : of which the prophet david doth men minde who saith . h thou hast with glory and honor him crown'd , and thou hast him also set o're the workes of thine owne hands ; of whom did write the prophet thus , i thou gavest him a light unto the gentiles k whose day abraham saw , and rejoyced for to see the same . [ all meant of christ alone . ] besides they write , that what the gospell saith of christ , of right may be sung of him , l all things unto me are given of my father ; whence we see the scripture of him faith : m a father i will be to him ; and he againe shall my son be ; [ both meant of christ . ] they adde , that all the vertues of the saints , both great and small , in the old and new testament , doe rest vnited and conjoyned in his brest . that by his merits he deserv'd to be the sonne of god , and that leo did see a roll descend from heav'n , which rested on his head , containing this inscription : this man , is the grace of god , conformable wholly to christ in all things , the example of all perfection ; deified in the glory of god the father , and now in the glory of the saints united , to god , whereby he precedes and doth out-goe all living creatures , is made one and the same spirit with god : nay , they averre , that he deserves with god to be the advocate of the who●e militant church on earth : that christs passion is in him renu'd , for the salvation of all mankind : so as he by one masse onely hath god pacifi'd for all the world : this must not be deny'd . they adde ; that all are saved certainely who in s. francis order , rule shall dye . for francis prayed and obtain'd likewise from god , that none who in his order dyes should dye an evill death [ which is far n more than christ obtained from god heretofore for all who him professe : ] that the same grace descendeth on him , who shall but embrace his order of religion , as doth fall on him that is baptized . is this all ? no : they say further , the meere putting on of francis hood gives full remission of sinnes , and frees from their guilt , punishment : that the bare resolution and intent to take his order , though not put inure , is a new baptisme , doth pardon procure . they teach ; that christ hath but prayed , but francis hath impetrated or obtained . all this ( with sundry such like fearefull blasphemies ) appeares in the booke of conformities presented to the chapter generall of cordiliers , and there approv'd by all with this expresse clause ; we have carefully searched , perused , examin'd throughly this booke , and we have nothing in it found worthy correction ; all there is so sound that they it terme , a golden booke [ so prise they their s. francis , and these blasphemies ] which gregory the ninth , pope alexander the fift , nichlas the third [ a whoremaster ] sent unto all the faithfull ; charging all s. francis wounds to credit , and not call them into doubt , on paine of heresie : and benedict the twelfth , lest this grosse lye should be forgotten , did enjoyne all men yearely to keepe that day as holy , when s. francis these forg'd wounds receiv'd . after , the hill averna by pope alexander the fourth his bull , was tooke into the see of romes protection , because these scar's he thereon receiv'd ; which sundry deeme a ly , and damne for a notorious blasphemie . not to relate , how o francis oft times preacht vnto the very birds , who their neckes reacht out to receive his blessing , and did stay their singing whiles that he his masse did say : or , how his haire did suddenly cement a great new house from top to bottome rent and like to fall , so that they could not get the haire out thence : or , how his cord but wet in water , and that drunke , did instantly cure divers sicke men of their maladie : i shall but one thing more of him relate , recorded as a truth past all debate ; to wit , that at p assize in italy about the yeare twelve hundred thirty three an angell to s. francis did appeare , and told him that in maries great church there , cal'd angels , jesus christ , the virgin mary with sundry angels did for him tarry ; where being come , christ jesus to him spake thus : francis , for saving soules one suite make , for thou are sent to be a light unto the gentiles ; francis answered thereunto , i crave that thou the pardon of all sinne wilt grant to every one who enters in to this church , and i likewise supplicate the virgin mary , mankindes advocate , to ayde me in this suite : then jesus sayd freer francis , that which thou of me has●pray'd is a great matter , but thou art worthy of greater things : i doe accord to thy request , and grant it : but yet goe to rome vnto the pope my vicar , unto whom i have given power to binde and to unty in earth and heav'n , and of him aske in my behalfe this indulgence : on which he goes to pope honorius , and doth this disclose . demanding of him for these plenary indulgence , without offrings or money . the pope reply'd , that this could not be done , because he that would gaine such full pardon must * merit it , by putting helping hands to peters treasure , and this suite withstands . by this we see , popes can , doe , will deny those suites which christ hath granted formerly . the pope demanded next , for how many yeares he desired pardon : his reply was , i not for yeares , but for soules did crave pardon , and will no bulls for this grace have ; adding , the virgin should unto him be insteed of paper , christ his scribe , and the angels his witnesses . the pope at last , this indulgence at his intreaty past , that whosoever this church visited each first of august , and therein entred during that whole dayes and nights space , should gaine perfect remission from the guilt and paine of all his sinnes , from baptisme till that day : an easie rate to purge all sinnes away . now least s. francis merits , wounds , and fame should quite eclipse s. dominickes great name , i shall from antonine , one of his sect [ a romish saint ] him cleare from disrespect ; who writes as much of dominicke well nigh as others doe of francis dignity , comparing him with christ , in such a sort which makes christ of him oft times to fall short . for christ [ writes q he ] but three dead men in all rays'd up , when dominick● within romes wall did raise up three ; and forty that were dead and drowned neere tolouse , he restored to life : christ when immortall , the r doores shut entred in to his sad disciples : but s. dominicke [ which is far more ] whiles yet a mortall man into the church did get at night , the gates fast shut , least he should wake his brethren : christ , after his death thus spake s all power in heaven and earth is given to me ; and this power to s. dominicke [ writes he ] was not communicated sparingly whiles here , 'ore all things in the heavens high on earth , and underneath the earth : for he had the blest angels at his service ; the foure elements did unto him obey , the devils trembled at his sight , and they vnable were to dis-obey him ; as he doth by legends prove : that ere he was borne or brought forth into the world , there were in venice two statues : in markes church there , the one of paul as they use him to paint , over the which was this inscription , saint paul , but under the image feete was writ , by this man we come unto christ ; neare it the other of s. dominicke was plac'd in a poore preaching fryers habit , grac'd with this motto , s. dominicke , above , but underfoote with ; by this man we move and goe more easie unto christ ; for why the doctrine of st paul [ writes anthony ] and other apostles , did but onely lead to faith , and keeping of gods lawes we reade ; but dominickes did teach men to obey counsells , which is the shorter , easier way to goe to christ : oh horrid blasphemy s. dominicke thus to advance so high above s. paul , all the apostles ; and to make his doctrines take the upper hand of the apostles , as the shortest , best , way unto christ ! he addes yet to the rest , that he was aptly named dominike , because he was to christ himselfe most like : for dominicke was that principally , and by possession , what absolutely , and by authority christ was [ marke ye his proofe ] for the lord saith thus , t i am the light of the world , and the church doth thus sing of dominick , thou art the light , day-spring of the world : yea , as the prophets of old of the lord christ bore witnesse , and foretold in divers wayes : so prophet zachary of dominicke and his order saith v i have taken unto me two staves , ●ne i did call beauty , the other cords : beauty is the sect of saint dominicke , for the beautifull habits of their prelates we behold : the cords , are nought but minor fryers girt with a cord , and thence cald cordeliers [ a worthy glosse on this text ; ] thus they play with sacred scripture : furthermore they say , christ was borne on the bare earth , but mary for feare of cold , did him x swath presently , and put into a manger . dominicke , whiles yet an infant , oft times off did kicke his clothes , and getting from his cratch , was found by his nurse lying naked on hare ground , detesting , as it were , all the delights of the flesh : anthony yet farther writes ; that at our lords birth there appear'd a y starre , which guided the wise men who came from farre vnto him : which did intimate that the whole world by him should then inlightned be . so in the forehead of dominicke , when he was baptiz'd his god-mother did 〈◊〉 a shining starre ; which signifi'd , that he a new light come into the world should be . he addes : the prayer of christ was heard alway when ere he would : but yet when he did pray within the garden , z that the cup might passe f●om him , this suite of his denyed was ; because he praying thus but sensually , he would in reason have god him deny . but dominicke did never ought require of god , but he obtain'd his full desire , because he nought requested according vnto the flesh ; they harpe more on this string : the a lord hath loved us , and washt away our sinnes in his blood : dominicke , say they , out of perfection of his charity , spending the whole night with god fervently in prayer , did with his owne hands every day a threefold whipping undergoe [ i pray by what command from god ? ] not with whipcord but with an iron chaine , wherewith be goard and lasht himselfe to blood-shed ; one was done for his owne sinnes , which were but small or none ; another for those soules in purgatory ; the third for those who in this world yet lye : in fine , ( to passe by and not name the rest of their blasphemous parallels , at best ; ) when our lord christ would leave this world , be to his griev'd disciples [ loth him to fore-goe ] promis'd to send a b comforter , that is the holy ghost : saint domincke to his disciples , neere his death , sayd ; doe not ye my deare friends mourne , nor vexe at all for me , nor let my now departure hence you move , for in the place to which i goe , above the cloudes , i shall be far more profitable to you than i , whiles here , to be am able : for after my decease you shall me have a better advocate by much , to crave ought for you then i now am ; by which speech he doth c christs office usurpe , and impeech . who that hath any conscience , saith , grace , feare or love of god , can once with patience heare such grosse blasphemous speeches ? or not hate those shamelesse fryers who dare them to relate ? yet romes church , popes approve , and d canonize for saints , those who spake , writ these blasphemies . with what face than can any man averre , that e romes popes , church , can never stray nor erre ? no doubt in this they erre so shamefully , that all who love god , truth , their soules , will flye from their communion , since they canonize such men for saints , approve such blasphemies . on the strange popish miracles , attributed to , and forged of s. vincent ferrier , and s. anthony of padua . some popish saints in miracles out-reach christs owne apostles ; who sent out to f preach to sundry nations , were most wondrously endow'd with all tongues knowledge , from an high , that so they might to all men preach in their owne language : but g saint vincent ferrier , preaching in spanish to strangers who knew not this his language [ if the tale be true ] was understood by all as perfectly , as if he had preacht to them severally in their owne tongues ; nay , some who earnestly ▪ desir'd to heare him preach , not possibly able to come unto the church , did heare him more than one whole league off , very cleare ; he had a lowder voyce belike than all christs twelve apostles , joyned with s. paul , since none could heare them preaching halfe that space as these this saint heard . nor was this his case alone ; b for i reade that s. anthony of padua , who preacht in one onely language , to those of sundry nations , who were unacquainted with his tongue , was so well understood of them , as if that he had preacht in their owne dialect : yea the good wife who would have come to his sermo● but hindred by her husband , got upon her barne to heare it , heard him perfectly halfe a league off the place he preach't in ; she had very good eares doubtlesse , or else he a thundring voyce . they make him yet doe more than christ , or his apostles heretofore . for preaching at ariminum unto the heretiques , who stopt their eares that so they might not heare his voyce ; he presently went to the sea-side , to that towne then nigh , and there with great affiance in gods ayde , called unto the fishes , and them pray'd to bearken to him , whom the sectaries and heretickes to heare did then despise . this sayd : an infinite scooll of great , small and middle sort of fishes , ranged all in their set order , lift their heads above the water , him to heare ; who out of love , calls them his brethren , then did to them make a sermon of the blessings they partake , and still receive from god , instructing them what thankes and service they should yeeld to him : which sermon ended , all the fishes bow'd their heads his blessing to receive ; the crowd of people seeing this strange sight , were all astonied , and the heretiques did fall downe at his feete , desiring him to preach to them , and gods truth among them to teach : i wish he had it taught to those who write these lyes of him , and them for truths recite . then had we never further i read , that he to bouivil his asse or mule , brought the host with great reverence , when she had beene kept three dayes fasting , and no meate had seene , commanding the beast in the lords name , he then held in his hands , to come how the knee forthwith to his creator , and adore him , that christs presence therein might no more be henceforth doubted , heretiques thereby confounded ; which spoke , the asse instantly her master , and her provender forsakes , though hungry , and upon her knees there makes prostration to the host , as to her maker and lord [ though made by the priest or baker . ] which miracle so evident , greatly the catholickes did comfort , edifie : but did encourage heretiques much more , who the host as their lord would not adore for all this miracle : rome might let passe this peece of worship , prov'd thus by this asse , sith they at least are asses , if not more , who from an asse learne how god to adore . on the popish blasphemous legends of their s. catherine of sennes . t is strange what romish k legends write of their saint catherine of sennes , who cut her haire to shun her marriage , having formerly espous'd her selfe to christ most solemnely , and ●ow'd to be his spouse alone . they say that she did whip her selfe three times each day for three houres space , with a sharpe iron chaine , so that her blood did issue forth amaine out of all parts of her body ; willing to repay christ by this her blood-shedding , the blood which he for her sinnes shed on the crosse , that she might no debtor to him be . to passe by all her strict fasts , disciplines , strange visions , as requiring many lines , they write , that christ did so familiarly converse with her , appeare so frequently to her , when she did pray , or meditate , walke or repose her selfe , early and late , that he seem'd alwayes present with her , yea and talke with her saying , thinke thou of me and i shall thinke and take of thee the care , with sundry such discourses which i spare : that jesus christ enamored with her , appeared to her with his owne mother and other saints , and her most solemnely espoused in their presence visibly , the virgin mary leading her unto her sonne christ jesus , as a person who was worthy to be wedded specially to him ; who condescending , presently to this her motion , put a ring of gold with foure rich stones on her finger , then told her : i betroth thee to me thy maker and saviour : after which act he did her continually visit familiarly , bringing with him oft times virgin mary , and sometimes other saints , yet usually comming alone , keeping her company , walking , reciting psalmes with her , which she vnlearned knew not how to read , till he at her request , did teach her instantly by miracle to reade them perfectly . they write , that christ himselfe the sacrament gave unto her , that the host it selfe went vnto her mouth without helpe , and that she the child jesus in the host oft did see : that christ his wound in his left side opened for her , who thence christs owne warme blood sucked : that he stampt on her his five wounds , that she in suffring torments might like to christ be . in fine ; they write , that christ did really change hearts with her , tooke out of her body [ opened on the left side ] her heart ; which he tooke with him for some space : that meane time she lived without an heart : that soone after christ in his glory did appeare to her with a red beautifull heart in his hand , and comming neere to her , where she did stand he thrust it in to her on the left side , saying to her , my daughter and my bride , i here deliver my heart unto thee in leiw of thine : which uttered then be her side clos'd up : and that this really was done , not in a vision , shew onely , the scarre remaining in her side descry'd , which her companions oft times view'd and ey'd . these most blasphemous , grosse , notorious lyes which every christian soule abhors , defies , romes church proclaimes for truths conformable vnto her faith : and them approves full well . witnesse the l sorbon doctors approbation prefixt in print before their late relation of rabadeneira the jesuit his flours of saints lives , [ saints lyes a more fit title were for it ] re-printed lately with approbation in french. certainely romes church must needes be false ; which justifies such monstrous lyes , such horrid blasphemies , and deemes them very usefull , necessary , for all to know ; true ; them , her to defy . on a popish miracle of their deifide hostia . our m walsingham relates this miracle , that otho , when deposed , not being well , at point of death did earnestly desire his extreame viand , ere he should expire : which he [ unable to retaine ought , he then tooke ] desired onely but to see , not eate christs body ; which when the priest nigh him brought , he it with great humility ador'd , then drawing neere to it stretching his armes out , as if he were most willing it to embrace , his body quite naked , the host out of the priests hands then leaped , and through an hole which opened instantly in his flesh , just whereas his heart did lye entred into his body : which done , the hole forthwith clos'd up so that none could see the print of any scarre : when he the host had thus receiv'd , he rendred up the ghost . this nimble skipping host was certainly ill tutored , to leape so wondrously into the heart of one deposed by the pope himselfe , as the church enemy ; and to breake christs owne institution not being n eaten , nor once fed upon . which makes me feare this monstrous miracle is but a fable , coyn'd in some monkes cell . on papists prayers to those for saints who neither were saints nor men. i much admire , deplore the sottishnesse , of romes deluded flocke , who oft addresse their prayers unto o s. martiall , christopher , george , margarite , and saints who never were ; nay , to the p wodden-crosse which crucifide our saviour ; to the q speare , which pierc'd his side ; which they have made a saint , and him now name saint r longis , writing legends of the same . they pray unto the nayles , which nayl'd his feete and hands ; saint them too ( t is very meete ) and then saint eloy nominate . i feare these woodden , iron saints will hardly heare their prayers : s if they doe not , yet verily the three chiefe graces , faith , hope , charity , ( which they have made three saints of later dayes , and in their solemne liturgies alwayes invoke thus ; t o s. faith , pray for us , saint hope pray for us , s. charity our plaint heare and pray for us ) will undoubtedly both heare and give an answere to their cry , else they would not them invocate : i feare these saints are deafe too , and cannot them heare , since they are sacred v graces , not saints , and extreame remote from those , not neare at hand , who them for saints invoke , who certainely have in them no true faith , hope , charity ; sith they yet know not what they are , or where ; and cry to them as saints in heav'n , not here . on popish blinde obedience . christ writes expressely , z if blind lead the blind they both shall fall into the pit , nay finde destruction , as the y prophet punctually determines : 't is then false divinity which z tollet and cusanus teach of late ; that he who doth beleeve his owne prelate , when as he shall propound an heresie against the faith , shall merit much thereby , although it be an errour , because he is bound for to beleeve him , till it be apparent to him that t is contrary to what the church beleeves ; whence they thus cry ; a o how strong is the churches building ? why ? for no man can be deceiv'd , no not by an evill bishop . if thou to god say , o lord i did thee in my priest obey ; this shall suffice thee to salvation , for thou by the willing submission that thou yeeldst to thy bishop canst not be deceived , although he shall command thee other things than he ought to doe ; for the church doth presume his sentence good to be ; which sentence , though false , if thou shalt obey thy reward shall be great . therefore [ say they ] obedience without reason is a most full and compleate obedience , when thou dost obey without inquiring reason why , as beasts obey their masters : a beastly b vnreasonable doctrine , which should make all men suspect romes priests ; and them forsake ; who make them worse than beasts , cause thē deny their reason , senses , lest they should descry their grosse erronious doctrines , which if try'd by scripture , reason , sense , would be deny'd of all , receiv'd of none ; romes faith would fall , did not her blind obedience most inthrall . on romes making perpetuall visibility a note of the true church . rome saith c the true church is still visible ; if popes ( her d church and head ) were so , 't were well : but they dye , and then e oft for sundry yeares monthes , weekes at least , no church , nor head appeares at all in rome , which sometimes two or three popes hath at once , so as no man can see which is the true church , head , pope , since each one doth then pretend he 's true church , pope alone , rome then must bid this marke of hers adieu , else it will prove her a false church , not true ; since popes [ her church ] are not still seene , & she hath oft no pope , head ; sometimes two or three . on romes making multitude and roman a note of the true church . some f romanists averre , that multitude a churches truth and goodnesse doth conclude , if so , the damn'd in hell a truer church are than saints in heav'n , since they g are more by farre . then world , flesh , devill , whom most serve , adore , and mahomet , whose worshippers are more than christs or gods , shall truer , better be than christ , god , christians . rome thine errour see in this , which thou must needs retract , recall , because christ saith , his true flocke is but h small . thou add'st ; that i roman , is a marke ; then all those famous churches to whom john , james , paul , writ their epistles , and that church from whom all other churches are deriv'd , ( yea rome her selfe ) i meane k jerusalem , were no true churches , since not roman . and if so , the scriptures erre , who them true l churches terme of god and christ ; this rome dares not affirme . but if these were true , though not roman , then roman's no note of the true church to men ; at least in this age , when romes church of due , is either no church , or corrupt , untrue . on romes engrossing the name of the true church of christ to her selfe onely . rome boasts , that she is christs true church only when as in scripture none can her descry so much as once a * church stild , unlesse she the church of n babylon there called be , and that by peter , when as sacred writ doth other o churches oft so stile , not it . why so ? i doubt not but to signifie her future errors and apostacie , by which she should so far from true faith fall that none should her a true church deeme or call , but that she should become a p babylon of errours , lewdnesse and confusion . on romes religion turn'd to policy . vvhat romes religion now decay'd ? pray why ? t is chang'd to state , wealth , worldly policy : but what 's exchang'd for gaine , is not decayd but much improv'd , it cannot be gaine-sayd ; profit , and worldly honour comprise all those points which rome doth now religion call : substract these two , and all romes faith is gon ; its policy then , not religion which rome professeth : if these will her save her machiavill chiefe place in heaven shall have . and her m peresius , who in policy durst write and print , this fearefull blasphemy ; it is the devills invention to permit the people to read scripture ( no way fit for them to know ) may by meere policy escape hell flames , and mount above the skie . on popes right to interpret scripture , and their strange glosses on sundry texts , to prove their supremacy , and the lawfulnesse of deposing and killing kings , who disobey them . must not the pope interpret scripture ? yea good reason , else a pope he could not be . no text him makes christs vicar , peter , pope ; his glosse must helpe here , else he had no hope of being either , that makes him these , more : no reason then he should this right give o're . popes q claime it as their proper right and due to expound the scriptures , which none doe so true , so well as they , in all points , specially in defence of their owne supremacy , and right to judge , depose , kill kings , here they such comments make on texts , as will display their learning , wisedome , and unerring power ; for instance , they say , that our saviour sayd unto , peter , r feede my sheepe : therefore the popes supreame head of christs church : nay more they hence inferre , that they may judge , depose , kill christian kings , & of their crownes dispose : feeding is killing now with popes , and they good shepheards are , when they their flockes spoyle , slay . christ sayd to peter , t lanch out from the shore into the deepe , and loose your nets ; therefore the pope is supreame head , may kings put downe and loose his net , to catch their kingdomes crowne : i doubt s. peter never had one thought of catching such fish when he lanch't his boate . christ sayd to peter v whatsoever thou shalt bind , or loose here upon earth below , shall be bound , loos'd in heav'n , therefore popes may kings excomunicate , depose , judge , slay ; nay loose those subjects from their oathes , which tye them to obedience , truth , and loyalty ; and bind kings so , that they shall vassals be to popes , and ne're once strive against romes see ▪ i feare this kind of binding , loosing fall besides this text , which meant them not at all . once the disciples sayd to christ , x behold here are two swords , upon which christ them told , that is enough ; therefore both swords , with all soveraigne power , as well temporall as spirituall doth appertaine of right unto the pope ; he may with both swords smite , i thinke s. peter did not then descry that these two swords did so great power imply as his successors have since in them found ; who on the sword , not word their empire ground . no wonder if they slay , not preach the word ; they sticke not to the text , but to the sword. christ saith y all things in heaven and earth to me are given of my father ; therefore the pope hath all power , crownes , kingdomes of meere right belonging to him , and by his owne might may dispossesse all kings who them enjoy , when he thinkes meete , if they him disobey , yea hence they plead , z that the keyes of heav'n , hell and purgatory [ wherein they christ excell ] belong to popes , who can redeeme , release men from hell , purgatory when they please , or send or keepe them there , or let in men or shut them out of heav'n : they gods are then i deeme this text belongs to christ onely , its error then it to popes to apply . christ sayd to peter , b arise , kill and eate ; [ that is , such beasts , fowles onely made for meate which he saw in a trance , from heav'n let downe in a great sheete : ] therefore popes may uncrowne , depose , kill kings , and princes at their will , if they refuse their mandates to fulfill : nay send them soule and body unto h●ll . i feare the pope expounds this text not well , sith there was no king , man within the sheete , bu● creeping things , foules and beasts with fowre fe●●e . if popes from hence will kill kings , they must eate their flesh likewise . o'tis a royall meate . christ b two disciples sent , and bad them loose an asses colt , and bring him [ can you choose but laugh at this rare glosse ? ] the pope therefore hath right to all mens goods , both rich and poore : yea , to kings crownes , & may them binde , unty ; depose ; free subjects from their loyalty , oathes of allegiance , fealty , even as christs two disciples did untie the asse : popes are hard driven when they must repaire unto this asse , to prop up peters chaire . christ sayd , c if i be lift up from earth , i will draw all things unto me : popes hereby all kingdomes , crownes , things of right to them draw and claime them as their due , by christs own law . but since christ drawes al things to him , on high , not to the pope , on earth , i must deny this roman glosse , till popes can make it cleare that christ speaks of them , of crowns not soules d in the beginning [ not beginnings ] god created heav'n and earth [ note here popes odde here . glosse and deduction ; ] therefore there 's but one beginning , monarch ; who ? the pope alone , whence all kings , princes , prelates , priests powre springs ; and popes may make , judge , sway , depose , kill kings . in this beginning popes were not at all ; this text then to their ayde they cannot call . e god two great lights created , the great'st light to rule the day , the lesse to rule the night : hence f innocent the third , writes , the greater light is the pope , the lesse the emperour ; and then concludes most learnedly from hence , that there 's as great and vaste a difference betweene the pope and emperor , as is twixt sunne and moone : which his g glosser in this sort manifests ; that as the sunnes greatnesse and magnitude exceeds the moones , no lesse than forty seven [ nay fifty sixe ] times ; so , the pope in greatnesse , might , power , doth out-goe him , no lesse than forty seven times ; and as the moone no luster , nor light in it has but what the sunne derives to it : so kings and emperours power , lustre from popes springs ; whereas in truth , the popes authority , and greatnesse was h deriv'd from them onely . but sith the sunne , not pope , was this great light here meant , i doubt the glosse is false , not right . christ sayd that i peter should be cal'd cephas ; that is , an head saith k innocent , whereas christ there interprets it to be , a stone whence he inferres , that none but popes alone are heads of christs church and lords paramount to kings , and may them censure , kill , dismount . this glosse was made but by an innocent , who understood not what this cephas ment , nor what 's the duty of an head , to l guide not kill the members , or them rule with pride . christ sayd to peter , m put thou up thy sword into the seabbard ; from which very word pope n boniface the eight most learnedly resolves , the temporall sword doth rightly belong to popes ; and that the temporall sword subject is to the hierarchicall . but since christ sayd , put up , not use this sword , this text no such conclusion will afford . god sayd to jeremie the prophet , see i o over nations , kingdomes have set thee to roote out , pull downe and destroy [ namely by threatning judgements for their sinnes onely : ] therefore say p innocent and boniface [ two learned popes ] the pope hath power , right , place , over all monarch's and their kingdomes , crownes all subject to him , and within the bounds of his grand empire ; and he may at will destroy all kingdomes , kings dethrone , judge , kill . this , not to peter spoke , but jeremy makes little for the popes supremacy : and if q s. bernard rightly glosse the place , confounds , not proves the popes , state , power and grace . it s writ of christ , r that he should tread upon the lyon , adder , yea the young lyon and eke the dragon trample under feete : s pope alexander the third , thought it meete and lawfull for him , from this text , his foote on fredericke the first his throate to put , and tr●mple on him , uttering this clause , whiles he 〈◊〉 on him with his papall paws . the t devill and his power is meant onely by adder , lyon , dragon , certainely in this text , not the emperour , therefore this pope mis-glost , abus'd it heretofore . v have we not power to eate and drinke ? saith paul : popes hence have right to all things temporall , and may dispose of kings crowns , as some write , then all men sure may claime the selfe-same right sith they have power to eate and drinke ; but yet not kings , crownes , kingdomes , but their drink and meate . store of such learned glosses every where in popes x decrees , epistles , workes appeare ; which i omit , since these doe well descry that popes all else excell , in glossery , and can from any text , high treason draw . good cause then they alone should glose gods law on the popes supremacy , and soveraignety over kings , emperours , and kingdomes . the emperours , y nine hundred yeares , and more romes popes confirm'd , chose , judg'd , ruld heretofore ; who swore them homage and fidelity as their supreme lords , who did summon , try , censure , depose them oft for crimes , as we by histories of former times may see . by what right then do romes popes now of late themselves , 'bove z emperours , kings elevate , and them elect , confirme , crowne , judge , depose , kill , excommunicate , their crownes dispose , their kingdomes interdict , absolve , untye their subjects from their oathes , faith , loyalty , and stir them up to fight , revolt , rebell against their lawfull princes , them to quell , exempt all clergie mens goods , persons , lands from publicke taxes , and lay-judges hands ? a christ , peter , tribute did to caesar pay , and charged all to b give caesar alway the things that are caesars ; yea blessed paul writing unto the romans , saith , c let all , or every soule be subject to obey , the higher powers , and to them tribute pay , not out of feare but conscience , since they be ordain'd of god. the like precept reade we saint peter gives to all ; d your selves submit to the king , as supreame , why so ? for it is the will of god , and for the lords sake you must this doe ; here popes peter forsake , and quite abandon : his divinity they now at rome condemne for e heresie . the jewish high-priests to their kings of old did still submit , and were * judg'd , rul'd , controld by them ; nay f christ himselfe , g paul , peter , all th' apostles unto h caesars tribunall appeal'd , submitted ; if popes vicars be to christ , or peters successors , their see , goods , persons , lands , they must to emperours and kings subject , as did their ancestors ; they must no longer them judge , kill , depose , accurse , command , nor of their crownes dispose ; else they will prove the devills vicars , who all earthly kingdomes claim'd , [ as popes now doe in sundry h printed bookes ] and sayd i all these are mine to give unto whom i shall please ; but neither devill , pope have right to one kings crowne or kingdome , but k christ , god alone ; and kings from under them immediately . if popes lay claime to any , certainely they from the devill must their right derive , and such bad title , doubtlesse will not thrive ; which if they looke not well unto , i feare the devill will at last them to hell beare for their encroachments on his royalties . popes than forbeare this claime , if ye be wise ; christ , peter did no l earthly crownes possesse , therefore popes claimes to them are vaine , groundlesse . on popish ●mages . papists in lent ( a time of most devotion ) their images m still hide of their free motion in all their churches ; so that none can eye them when they pray . this practise certainely is an undoubted signe that images and pictures placed , us'd in rome churches doe hinder mens devotion , since they hid● them thus in lent : than lay them quite aside at all times else , since no saints heretofore had images in churches , or before them us'd to pray , bow , kneele , or worshipped them as romes creatures of late have learned to doe ; who pagan like stockes n deisie , and after them when lost like pagans cry , as some of late have done in spaine ; 't were well therefore if images were damn'd to hell , wherewith romes flocke as grosse idolatry commits , as pagans with theirs anciently . on romes doctrine and practise of equivocation . all rome for a false church should damne , flye , hate , because she teacheth to o equivocate ; the worst of all p lies , cheates , that is ; no truth can be in rome , who this defends , pursu'th . how can men pin their faith on romes church sleeve , whose doubling faith , words , oathes none can beleeve . they may more faith , truth finde in devills , then in most of romes popes , jesuites , clergie-men ; whose strange equivocations , lyes , should make , all them , and their false church quite to forsake . on papists blasphemous assertions touching the virgin mary , to the dishonour of god the father , and christ his sonne . q bernard de busti , and some romanists since him , record , that gods kingdome consists chiefely in these two , iustice and mercy : that god this last hath resign●d to mary as his kingdomes best halfe ; whence all who by gods justice griev'd are , may appeale and flye , from god to her , as men here commonly from courts of law , appe●le to chancery : who by her mercy , will them ayde , releeve against gods justice when ere it them grieve . so that if god in justice men condemne her mercy , mauger god , will absolve them , and free from condemnation ; if this be true , god's but halfe a god ; no god but she : god hath nought left but justice , which damnes all ; not one for justice , all for mercy call : mary hath all gods mercy ; is all grace nay mercies r fountaine : all then will embrace her for their onely goddesse ; all will flye , sue , pray to her , not one to god will cry ; nor yet to christ , who being just as well as mercifull , doth oft delay , repell poore sinners suites ( writes s anselme , ) when mary compos'd of nought but mercy , clemency , heares and grants all mens suites without delay , as soone as they unto her seeke or pray . so as all those who their suites would obtaine with speede , must unto her resort , complaine . which ( if true doctrine ) all to her will run , and christ , as mediator , be undone , since all will sue to her , who doth first grant , and ne're demand of god one thing they want for christ his intercession , but seeke all from her , whom they their t advgcate oft if these write truth , the virgin hath undone un-godded both the father and sonne : ingrost their mercy , office , di●ty , and made herselfe romes onely god : truely then well might bonaventure , in his psalter our lord unto our lady v change and alter throughout the psalmes : and the x lord sayd to my lord , sit thou at my right hand untill i thine enemies make thy footestoole ; translate ; the lord sayd to our y lady , sit thou at my right hand , untill i thine enemies thy footestoole make : and in like sort disguise , y o lord in thee have i put my trust , let me never be confounded , and to set it thus : o lady i my trust in thee have put , o never suffer me to be put to confusion : in thy righteousnesse deliver me , for thou art my fortresse : with sundry such like : this grosse blasphemy which romes popes church approve , use , justifie , to gods and christs dishonour , should now make all them quite to abandon and forsake . on romes novelties , notwithstanding her pretence of antiquity . rome is still vaunting of antiquity , though all , or most in her be novelty . her popes , arch-prelates , prelates , cardinals , arch-deacons , prebends , deanes , officialls , subdeacons , readers , clerkes , acolythists , abbots , abbesses , priors , massing-priests , monke● , friers , nunnes of all sorts , anchorites , con●essors , ●egats , pard'ners , jesuites , chancellours , vicars , proctors , commissaries , dataries , chaplaines , are all z novelties not found in scripture , mens late forgery . now since rome these her a church cals , deemes only , her chuch is but a novelty built on mens fancies , not on b christ the corne● stone : her blotting out the second commandement , and doubling of the tenth , to give content . her monstrous transubstan●●●tion , masse , ladies psalters , h●lfe communion ; her drinking of christs blood within the bread she eates , and that 〈◊〉 in the veines not shed ; making , ado●●●g gods , saints images , 〈…〉 crosses , pixes , crucifixes ▪ pray●●s to god in unknowne tongues : to saints departed , who cannot heare their complaints ; auricular confession , exempting delinquent clerkes from justice of their king ; election for mens fore-seene workes ; freewill , falling from grace , new miracles wrought still ; her markes of a true church , the priests intent essentiall to make a true sacrament , adoring of the host conditionally , if it in truth be turn'd to christs body ; saints seeing prayers in the looking-glasse o' th' trinity , to which mens prayers still passe ; her worshipping of all things with latry ( as crosse , speare , nayles , thornes ) which toucht christs body ; her pictures of our lady on a throne crown'd queen of heav'n , with christ a little one held in her armes : her praying unto her , c command thy sonne , shew thy selfe a mother ; d reliques of her milk , haire , combs , gowns , smocks ( all still fresh , sweete ) sinnes in nature veniall ; prayer to angels , limbus , purgatory , popes indulgences , pardons sold for money , for any sinne ; five new coyn'd sacraments , her publicke stewes allow'd to raise popes rents , her merits , workes of supererogation ; doubt , no certaine assurance of salvation ; popes right to both swords , their supremacy over all persons , clergie , laity : their excommunicating , deposing , iudging , nay killing kings , interdicting whole kingdomes ; absolving from loyalty and solemne oathes of that fidelity which subjects make unto their kings ; arming , exciting subjects ' gainst their lawfull king ; processions , pilgrimages , reservations of hosts in pixes , with their elevations , and adorations : lay men not to read gods word : that it must be interpreted , confirm'd by popes : that romes popes may dispense against gods word ; controll the text , and sense ; that popes are above councels generall , and must confirme , nay over-rule , and call them of due right : that councels cannot erre , nor popes in peters chaire , where they sit ne're : saints canonizing ; romes rich treasaury of merit , whereof popes must keepe the key ; cases reserved to his sanctity , buls , masses to free soules from purgatory , justification not by faith alone but workes , more mediators besides one ; that mary is the churches advocate , damning priests marriage , vowing celibate , saints legends , holi-dayes , strict abstinence from meates at set dayes out of conscience ; bowing at altars , shaving priests , nuns crowns , great difference in habits , coules , frocks , gowns , beades , pater nosters , aves , sayd by score , yea ave mary bels , not known afore time ; holy-water , holy-bred , candels burning at noon-day ; e christning , hallowing bells , palmes , churches , church-yards , altars , chalices , salt , spittle , chrisme , swords , pals , ro●bets , abbees , copes , altar-cloathes ; organs , strange duckes , bowings , nods , gestures , ceremonies , and crossings ; chaunting of masses , praying toward the east , chusing of some saints more than all the rest for certaine kingdomes , countries , diseases ; cities , professions like the pagans ; these with sundry other things , are novelties , not found in scripture , but mens forgeries ▪ cease then thy bragges rome , thy religion 's new , vaine , false ; ours onely is old , saving , true . on , and against romes halfe communion , and sacrilegious depriving the people of the sacramentall cup. tell me lewde rome , with what sense , reason , grace canst thou fly in our blessed saviours face ? and crosse his precept , f drinke yee all of this ; as if it were superfluous , or amisse ? yea , bid a non-obstante unto it , to christ , apostles , fathers , as unfit here to be follow'd , in a full g councell , and curse damne all those to the pit of hell who dare tread in their footesteps , or say , lay men ought to drinke christs cup , and him obey herein ; stiling receiving in both kinde , a perverse custome , error , as we finde in the councell of constan insolent , blasphemous act , against christs sacrament . had rome not lost her wits , sense , grace , all shame , she would not thus christs lawes annull , acts blame and those as h heritiques damne , & pursue , who hold the cup to be to lay-men due . to salve this sore : rome first saith , she being christs spouse , hath power , right to decree this thing . this i deny : no wives have power , right to . annull , or change those acts their husbands doe . the lawes of god and men , bid i wives obey their husbands mandates , not them crosse , gainesay ; she is no true spouse , but whore , who dares rent , divide or change her husbands testament . he is no good childe , servant , or subject , but rebell , traytor , who dares change , dissect his fathers , masters , princes testament , or their edicts oppose , controule or rent : rome is no true spouse , servant , childe , subject of christ then , as she boasts , who dares neglect , change , disannull his will and testament , and thus divide his blessed sacrament , against his precept : nor can she of right it doe . for what authority , law , might hath any wife , child , servant or subject ( commanded to k obey , nor crosse , correct , their husbands , parents , masters , princes will , and their acts , edicts , pleasures to fulfill ) to alter , nullifie , halve , disobey their testaments , acts , edicts , or to stray from , runne crosse to them ? romes church cannot be more than christs spouse , childe , servant , subject ; she then being no more , if this , cannot cancell christs ordinances , nor his lawes repeal , much lesse deprave , pervert his testament , his cup restraine , divide his sacrament . christ threatens l death to those who dare detract ought from his word , much more from his last act , the sacrament , by his death ratifi'de , and m doe this as oft as ye drinke : beside , christ doth forbid to n stea●e or take away what is anothers right : none can gainesay christs cup and blood to be the peoples right as well as priests ; since christ in the same night he did ordaine the sacrament ; bids o all to drinke of his blest cup in generall ; and p shed his blood alike for all ; as much as well for laymen , as for priests , and such as be in orders . since then lay-men by christs owne gift , charter , as great property and right have to christs cup , as romes clergie or any pope or prelate ; certainely it cannot but be sacriledge and theft them to deprive of what christ to them left ; and that at his death , by his testament , to which the church must yeeld , not disassent . christs owne apostles here had no right , power to change his acts , lawes ; hence our saviour tels them q if ye love me , my commandments keepe : adding , for he who loves me , assents to , and keepes my commandments . romes church then who keepes not christs commandments , and doth when she please , annull , controule his acts and will , loves not christ , but rebells against him still . all the apostles , and s. peter say r we ought rather god than men to obey , therefore we rather must obey chri●t here who bids us drink , than popes who say forbeare . the sacred cup , blood in the sacrament is the s seale of christ cov'nant , testament : whence christ not of the bread , but cup saith , this cup the new testament in my blood is : now christs covenant , will , as t unchangeable are as the day and night , impossible once to be cancel'd , and stand fast for ever ; therefore none can the cups seale from them sover , containing christs blood of the covenant ; which will be voyd , if it this great seale want . when christ gave his apostles their charter and grand commission , he expresly there thus bounds their power , saying v goe ye and preach the gospell to all nations , and them teach all things for to observe whatsoever i have you commanded : adding , and loe , i am with you alwayes unto the worlds end . sith christ then did his owne apostles send forth , but to teach all men to observe whatever he commanded , and not swerve from it unto the left hand or the right : how romes popes , church have now more power , might , right than peter , the apostles had to change , repeal christs will , acts , edicts , seemes most strange to me , and she must shew me some expresse commission from christ , which doth theirs suppresse , and give popes power to rob the laity quite of christs chalice , given formerly unto them by his will , and that popes be exempt from christs injunctions now , though he be alwayes present in his church as king and supreame lord , directing every thing ; or else i must deny that popes justly may take christs cup thus from the laity . when paul th' abuses in the sacrament at corinth would reforme , he that church sent x vnto christs owne prime institution , blaming them first for its transgression , and then informes them very punctually ; i have receiv'd of the lord that which i also delivered unto you ; that the lord jesus in the selfe-same night that he was betray'd tooke bread ; and so forth : after supper he tooke the cup in like manner adding this clause to both ; as oft as ye doe this , doe it in memory of me . for as oft as ye eate this bread ; and this cup drinke , ye shew the lords death untill his comming againe : by which words it is plaine , all must drinke christs cup till he come againe . since paul then doth them checke for varying from christs first institution , injoyning all to conforme thereto ; i hence clearely conclude romes church hath no authority or right at all from christs first forme to stray ; much lesse his cup , blood , thus to take away from laickes , who must it drinke and retaine by this texts warrant , till christ come againe . the scripture calls the blessed sacrament the lords y supper and table ; with intent to signifie , that as all constantly doe z drinke as well as eate when called by men to sup with them at their tables : so christ would have all the guests invited to his sacred table supper , as well drinke his wine , as eate his bread , else they might thinke his feast defective , and himselfe to be a niggard , not a bountifull , good , free house-keeper . this was it which makes him cry ▪ a come drinke o friends , yea drinke abundantly o my beloved : b drinke ye all of this and drinke it freely . c christ hath prepar'd his d wine as well as bread , meate for his feast , as scripture oft recites , that so no guests might depart thirsty . this his bounteousnesse rome now controules , and deemes it an excesse , and therefore sends all from his supper dry except masse-priests , who drinke the wine onely ; to christs dishonour , his guests discontents , who neither love dry feasts , nor sacraments . when lords e allow wine for all guests to drinke , all will those lewde , presumptuous servants think who dare eclipse their liberality , and send their guests away from supper dry . thus rome deales with her lord christs guests : i feare she will one day for this affront pay deare . if any urge , that f moses anciently in cases of divorce did really dispence with gods owne law ; therefore popes may the sacred cup from lay-men take away . i rejoyne ; moses did not this thing by his owne meere power and authority , but by expresse g command from god , which we in sundry texts upon record yet see . but popes have no command from christ to take away the cup : see then their grosse mistake and absur'd argument : moses , say they , by gods command , did let men put away their wives in certaine cases , contrary to the first law of marriage ; formerly enacted : therefore popes without command from christ , by their owne might may countermand christs institutions ; and quite take away his cup from people who are meerely lay. a grosse inconsequent . but if that i grant , moses by his owne ( authority did this , which is not true ; yet popes must next prove their power as great as his from some text , and that this cause of divorce , arbitrary at mens free choyce , and practised onely by few , ) is just the same , with popes taking the cup by force from all lay-men : which thing sith they can no wayes prove , they must confesse their wicked error , theft , and it redresse . but romes popes here object , this precept was given to priests alone , who in the masse still drinke the cup ; not unto lay-men . i to this evasion shall first thus reply : that if , drinke ye all of it , were spoke to th' apostles onely as priests , not lay ; so likewise must , take , eate , this is my body ; be spoken to , and meant of priests onely , since both were spoke to the same men , at the same time , and this word , all , we clearely see omitted in the breads delivery , and exprest in this of the cup onely , will this enforce ; which if true , then you may as well the bread as cup now take away from all lay-men ; and so deprive them quite of the lords supper , bread , wine , priests sole right . lay-men have right to both kinds , else to nether ; rome must then keepe back or give both together . but was it spoke to priests onely ? why then doth rome deny , ( as well as to lay-men ) the cup to h priests who doe not consecrate , and by trents acts , leave them in lay-mens state ? christ onely hallow'd by consent of all , the bread and wine at first ; and did not call any of his disciples to assist him in the consecration : yet then christ sayd to them ; i drinke ye all of this ; and they k all dranke thereof , as in marke read you may . it s then against christs precept , practise , to deny the cup to such priests , as you doe ; or unto any who communicate , since christ words to all such alike relate . but how knowes rome , that at this sacrament when first ordain'd , none but priests were present ? the twelve were present ; but than they onely were there , no text doth prove infallibly . but grant it true ; they did not receive then as priests , apostles , but as christian men and members of christs body , church , which they there represented ; else no priests nor lay men any ground had to receive the bread or wine at all , ●●th christs words related onely to the apostles then present , to whom he spake and gave the sacrament . since therefore they first received bread and wine in this sense onely , as all grant , define : then all lay men have as good title right unto the cup , as any jesuite , pope , priest , or prelate . nor can rome , say they , receive them as they were priests , but as lay. for rome resolved hath in l trents councill that the apostles were not made priests till after the consecration , and the bread no sacred cup to them delivered ; and that by vertue of these words ; doe this in remembrance of me ; which they say is , the ground , and forme of her new sacrament of orders , priesthood . then by romes assent not being priests till these words uttered , they were laymen whom they first receiv'd . the bread , wine ; since paul addes , christ sayd , m this doe in my remembrance , after the cup too . which clause if it makes masse-priests all shall be created such priests , who receive ; which she cannot gaine say , since all men equally must take the bread and wine in memory of christ , and doe this , in as ample wise as any masse-priests : whence this will arise , that all receivers are n priests ; and therefore none must be kept from the cup any more . adde , paul c●rists words applyeth equally to all receivers , priests or laity ; and makes the cup as common unto all as is the bread . hence he is generall of the faithfull jewes writes o that they did eate all ( as we doe ) the same spirituall meate , and did all drinke , the same spirituall drink ; for they dranke of the rocke christ : if you think this proofe not full enough , he writes to all the k church of corinth , saints in generall , l ye cannot drinke the cup of the lord , and the cup of divils , which can never stand together ) ye cannot partakers be of the lords table , and partake of the table of devils : in which notable text the cup is twice m plac'd before the table and sacred bread ; and eke appropriated to all the faithfull , as well as the bread . he addes , n for as oft as ye this bread eate and drinke this cup , ye the lords death repeate and shew forth till be come : wherefore ( o thinke of this ) who ere shall eate this bread and drinke this cvp of the lord but unworthily shall be guilty of the blood and body of christ . but let a man well examine himselfe , and so eate of that bread divine and drinke of that cup : for he that eateth and drinkes unworthily , eates , and drinketh da●●ation to himselfe . christ by s. paul declares the cup as common unto all as is the bread . that laymen must it drinke as well as priests , whence he the bread doth linke five times together with the cup. cup , bread eate , drinke are still conjoyn'd not severed : all must them both receive , or both forbeare , what o christ conjoynes , none must asunder teare . all lay men must eate , drinke , as well as priests , else they prove rebles and meere antichrists ; yea , barre themselves both from the life of grace and glory too ; witnesse that noted place in john. p except ye eate the flesh , and drinke the blood of the sonne of man , ( which priests thinke meant onely of the sacrament , though then not instituted , nor made knowne to men : ) you have no life in you . whoso eateth my flesh , and my blood ( by true faith ) drinketh , hath life eternall , and at the last day i will raise him up : for my flesh ( i say ) is * meate indeede , and my blood drinke indeed ; ( which crosse conversion stands rome in no steed but damnes that transubstantiation which she endeavours to erect hereon : ) he that eateth my flesh , and drinketh my blood , dwels in me , and i in him , ( onely spiritually , not corporally . ) here christs flesh and blood ; eating , drinking , appeare foure severall times combined : and drinking christs blood is thrice made a most needfull thing to gaine eternall life : nor can rome cry , that this was spoken unto priests onely ; for 't was spoke to the people , as is cleare by expresse words , and christs whole discourse here . besides , it differs q eating from drinking oft times , as a distinct and diverse thing ; and make both equally needfull . therefore rome to lay-men the cup must now restore ; else she will rob them of life eternall , of christs blood , and to hell fire damne them all . to shunne this rocke , rome saith , r that lay-men drinke christs blood in eating the dry host : i thinke none but meere sots devoyd of reason , sense , will be deluded with this grosse non-sense . is any man so simple once to thinke that he wine , cyder , beere , doth truely drinke in eating dry grapes , apples , barly , meate ; or that he drinkes swines blood when he doth eate blacke puddings ; and so needes not for drinke call because he drinkes wine , cyder , beere in all reasons , bread , apples , meates he eates ? truely i ne're yet heard , nor read in history of any so besotted as to thinke , that in bare eating , he did truely drinke wine , beare , included in dry bread onely , and eate , drink , both in one , for company . should priests tell children , fooles , ( than how much more wisemen ) when they eate bread , dry meates good store and then call for wine , beare , that they neede none because they truely drinke wine , beere alone , in eating bread or dry meates ; they would cry forthwith , they did but them mocke , cheat , belye , and give no credit to their words at all but them meere lyers and impostors call . should priests in this sort onely drinke at table they would this shift damne as a senselesse fable ; why are lay papists then such blockes to thinke their priests speake truth , in saying that they drinke christs cup , blood truely , in eating dry bread ? no doubt their wits are lost ; their senses fled . should they tell priests , or priests tell them when as they feast at home in private , not at masse , that they drinke wine in eating of their bread , neither by either would be credited : how then can they beleeve they drinke truely christs cup , blood , when they eate the bread onely ? all know that eating is not drinking ; they in s scripture , authors , speech , use are alway distinct things , and still put as opposite , one to another . how then dares rome write or pope decree such nonsense , that eating is drinking , drinking eating , both , one thing ? when each man , child , foole knows the contrary , and may here justly say they erre and lye . are they the same ? why then did christ say , t eate and drinke ? yea , both of them so oft repeate , as different things ? why doe priests both eate , drinke and as to them eating no drinking thinke ? if lay-men drinke in eating , not priests , then they can doe more than popes , priests , clergie-men : if priests in eating drinke as well as they , the cup must then from priests be tooke away , lest they drinke twice for once ; nay eate twice too in drinking ; wherein v rome holds her priests doe eate christs body , conjoyn'd unseprably vnto his blood ; and by concomitancy is eate in drinking . but if neither drinke in truth in eating bread , why doth rome thinke she doth it , against scripture , reason , sense , christs expresse verdict , and experience ? men alwayes chew the things they eate ; and they hard , solid , dense ( not liquid ) things alway , ( the objects of eating ) are sayd to eate ; they swallow when they drinke ; not chew ; not meate , bread , solid things , but liquors , drinkes onely , the objects which men still drinke properly . men take what they eate with hand , knife , spone : sup , quaffe what they drinke out of some , pot , glasse , cup. it is a contradiction then to thinke , say , he that eates the bread , doth truely drinke the cup thereby . o papists now espie , renounce romes monstrous nonsense , foolery . christ bids all eate and drinke still distinctly , not both in one ; and that successively : x first eate the bread , next drinke the cup , that he at first ordained , and them gave , thus the apostles still tooke them successively in former times ; but those who drinke onely in eating of the bread , doe both together in one act , moment , and doe not them sever . christ bids men y drinke ; not eate his blood ; but they who take it in the host , it eate alway , not drinke at all ; as men doe onely eate blood in blacke puddings , fowles , or strangled meate , wherein blood is contain'd : nay he bids all here not drinke of his blood in generall , z but specially to drinke it in the cup and wine . now those who onely drinke it up within the bread ; and neither cup , wine take , transgresse christs precept , and his forme forsake ; the bread is not the cup , wine : christs body is not his blood ; these differ really one from another ; then those who onely the body , bread eate , cannot possibly be sayd to drinke the cup , wine , blood thereby . this to evade , romes a doctors will reply , that christs body under the forme of bread containes his blood , and is accompaned still with it ; therefore those who eate the one doe drinke the other in it , not alone . but christ himselfe thought not so , when he the lords supper first ordained , sith that he commanded all to b eate his body in the bread alone , his blood to drinke within the cup and wine onely , not in the bread , which he from cup and wine distinguished . those then who eate the body , bread onely , can not the cup , wine , blood thus drink therby as christ enjoynes them : nay , the sacrament ordain'd by christ to this end and intent his c blood-shedding and death to signifie , is quite subverted by this novelty : for blood within christs body and the bread , unshed , cannot christs passion and blood-shed in any lively manner represent ; and so cannot be a true sacrament of christs death , bloodshed : who saith expresly d this cup is the new testament in my blood which is shed for many , for pardon of sinnes ; of which there 's e no remission without the shedding of christs blood ; f wherein , whereby we are washt , cleansed from all sinne . you must then in the sacrament , drinke up christs blood not in his body , veines , but cup , as shed and sever'd from his body on the crosse ; else you his bloods effusion , and sinnes remission cannot represent , by an unbloody host or sacrament : which can no comfort to mens soules convey since it christs blood-shed , death doth not display . adde , that christs body in the sacred bread is eaten , not as living , but as g dead , nail'd , broken on the crosse ; quite voyd of blood , all shed out of his body for our good ; as three evangelists , saint paul , and he expressely witnesse . his blood can't then be drinke , taken in his body , which is dead , and out of which his blood is wholly shed ? besides , admit his blood inclos'd to lye ▪ within the host , and veines of his body ; yet since none drinke , but eate the host alway , and eating is not drinking ; none can say that those who onely eate the host , body , doe drinke the blood in truth , or properly . more ; rome takes that for granted which she can not prove ; nor all the learning , wit of man make good ; that christs true body , blood combinde are in each host received in their kinde , and proper substance : a grosse forgery : for grant christs blood be there substantially , ( which i deny ) it is still there as shed within the cup , wine onely , not the bread. this christ himselfe resolves . it s then most cleare that those who eate the bread onely don't there in christs blood eate , or drinke in any kinde ; but grant they doe it : did christ himselfe minde , know , understand this crochet when as he ordain'd the sacrament , or not ? if ye say no : then how come you now to know more , and understand that christ knew not before ? and that in point of his presence , being in the sacraments of bread , wine ; the thing which he himselfe ordain'd , and so should know far better then ; than rome , you can doe now ; unlesse you make christ ignorant , and so no god at all . but if he knew it tho , that those who eate the bread doe really therein his blood drinke , and receive ; than why did he ordaine the cup , and command r all to drinke of it , in such a speciall strict manner ? which had beene superfluous , had all within the bread his blood drunke thus . sith then christ did ordaine the sacrament in both kindes , and gave expresse commandment that all should drinke his sacred blood , as shed , within the cup , wine onely , not the bread , i may conclude , ( sith christ did nought in vaine ) that the dry host doth not christs blood containe ; and that those who the body , bread onely eate , cannot therein drinke christs blood truely . rome then christs cup to lay-men must restore , and with these non-sense lyes , them cheate no more . to say , the scripture speakes of s breaking bread onely , in some texts , the cup not named ; therefore they did receive the bread onely without the cup : is an absurdity , since eating , breaking bread doth there imply a full repast , with meate , drinke , wine , not dry bread onely without drinke : hence when we pray t give us this day our dayly bread ; all say , professe we therein pray for wine , drinke , and all things of which our bodies in neede stand . but say these texts be meant of bread onely , and of the sacrament , ( which i deny : ) without the cup or wine , yet they imply not as rome dreames , that eating properly is drinking , and that those who eate the bread doe therewith drinke christs blood in veines , or shed ; the thing in question ; or that priests onely must drinke the cup ; but proves the contrary ; that both priests , people , must the cup forbeare , because in these texts no cup , wine , appeare at all : and that priests may well consecrate bread without wine , sith these texts nominate no cup nor wine them used ; rome must take the cup away quite , or these texts forsake . the ( v ) inconveniences she doth pretend to justifie her theft , are to no end . since christ , no doubt , did them foresee , as well as rome , yet none did from the cup repell ; rome then must be more carefull , wise , than he , or else disclaime these shifts , which idle be . the danger , lest some drops of it should shed ; is common to the crums of sacred bread , as well as to the cup ; which priests shed may as soone as laicks , and as ( x ) casuists say , in drunken sits may chance to vomit up christs blood they dranke out of the sacred cup. whence rome hath made decrees for to redresse this mischiefe , in the case of priests excesse ; so that rome must both of the cup deprive , or it alike to priests and people give . the next pretext , of the wines waxing soure , is vaine , since no wine in one day or houre will putrifie , much lesse christs blood : and bread as well as wine will mould , be corrupted : yet you reserve it in a pix , not wine , till it grow stale : you must this shift decline . the danger of its sticking on the beard of those that drinke , was never thought of , heard in former times by any ; and you may with better colour shave mens beards away ( as you doe y priests for this cause ) then deny the cup to them , l●st their beards it come nigh . however , since youths , women , beardlesse men have no beards to steale christs blood ; you must then to all these give the cup and yet deny to none but men with beards ; on which truely since crummes of bread may chance to sticke , as well as drops of wine : rome now must them repell alike from both : that some want wine , therefore rome may the cup take from those who have store ; is most absur'd : and she may likewise say the bread must be from all sorts tooke away that have bread ; because some countries have , eate no bread at all , but live on rootes , fish , meate . but where no wine is , there priests , laity , are both alike ; none drinke , both are still dry . that some loath and can taste no wine , therefore those who can drinke it , must not drinke it more , is most ridiculous : some love not bread , must none then with the sacred bread be fed ? if so , then neither priests nor laity must henceforth to christs supper once draw nigh . the danger of infection some pretend , romes transubstantiation doth quite end , for if the bread and wine be really christs body , blood , they cannot certainely receive , nor yet convey infection to any ; nor reade i that any one tooke any sicknesse ( poxe , plague , leprosie ) by drinking christs cup in sincerity as he commandeth : nay , christ who cures all kindes of diseases , will not let them fall on such who thus obey his sacred will , but will preserve them from contagion still . adde , that the bread may be infectious through priests , clarkes , bakers , hands , nay poysonous as well as the cup , wine , blood , for z henry the seventh ( emperour ) was poysoned by bernard , and victor the third in the bread , as a henry of yorke , king b john were poysoned with the cup , by monkes and clergie men : neither of both are christs body , blood then , but bread and wine for substance : and if you this inconvenience further will persue , you must the bread as well as wine remove , since both ( through priests meanes ) may infectious prove . paul saith , he c that eates , drinkes unworthily eates , drinkes , damnation to himselfe thereby ; if then this greater danger must not drive men from christs supper ; nor good men deprive thereof , though certaine : this lesse danger you pretend , but casuall , not like to ensue , must not debarre the people from drinking the cup : much lesse the plea of differing the clergie from the publike laity : for since christ for d both equally did dye and shed his blood ; yea , the e cup to both give a●ike ; none must them of this right deprive . t is more than devillish pride for to deny laickes the cup , to rayse priests dignity , and to subvert christs very sacrament , ( which bread alone cannot well represent ) yea hurt mens soules , to mount masse-priests on high and them advance above the laity . to close up all : romes f pope gelasius in his unerring chaire determin'd thus ; in this same case , long since , ( when some onely would take the sacred bread , and then deny the sacred cup to drinke , because they were perswaded wine was ill , and did forbeare it onely from this superstition : ) that priests such people with great caution , should cause to take both elements intire , or drive them from both : if you now desire his reason , marke it well : because that one and the same very sacrament alone can no way possibly divided be without great sacriledge . in which decree , rome these particulars , well worthy note , may see defin'd against her g constans vote . first , that lay people in the eucharist must drinke the cup still , as well as the priest . next , that the manichees did first invent the halfe communion , and halfe sacrament . because they thought wine in it selfe to be unlawfull . thirdly , that by this decree mens false perswasion in their conscience that wine is simply ill , must not dispence with , nor exempt them from the sacred cup but they must drinke it here , or else not sup with christ at all , nor taste his bread and body : whence i against romes church shall pleade strongly ; that if those who thought wine in conscience unlawfull , must yet drinke it in plaine sense within the cup , not bread , at sacrament , or else be from the bread , and church out-pent , and quite secluded : then much more must they who deeme wine lawfull , not be kept away from the lords cup ; but drinke it punctually ; nay be for'st to receive it constantly if they refuse it : and by this decree eating to be no drinking , all may see . next that popes , prelates , masse-priests , must compell all to drinke of christs cup , or else repell , them from the sacred bread . but romes clergie , popes , prelates , priests d●e now quite contrary : compelling laymen to eate bread alone , vsually suffring not so much as one of them to drinke the sacred cup : nay the councells of h constans , and trent , thus decree : that if any priest shall exhort laymen to take the sacrament in both kinds , then for this offence , or if he admit any thus to receive , he shall be presently excommunicated ; and if that he perssist herein , he shall condemned be and censur'd as an hereticke : yea i lay men , who shall be so bold as once to say as this pope doth , that it is sacriledge , vnlawfull , or erronious to abridge them of the cup , shall for this cause onely be persecuted , punisht grievously as heretickes . o strange , prodigious decrees ; quite crosse to pope gelasius ! fiftly , that those who eate the host onely drinke not christs blood inclos'd in his body ; nor take they the whole sacrament , but it divide in halfe , and into peeces split : which k constans & l trent councels both deny , belike they love truth , popes to contrary . sixthly , that not one element alone , but both together taken by each one , christs bloody death compleately represent ; and make up one intire sweete sacrament . in fine , that none can sever or divide the bread and wine , or put the cup aside taking the bread alone , or give it to lay men without the cup , ( as priests now doe ) without great sacriledge : and if that they who thinke wine ill in point of conscience , may nor here the sacred wine refuse to drink without great sacriledge ; then all must thinke those sacrilegious in the top degree who deeme wine lawfull , and will drinke it free in tavernes , and all places else , but here in christs owne supper it forbid , forbeare . these seven conclusions , pope gelasius hath in his chaire decreed of old for us , in his decrees , which rome cannot gainesay , since part of her owne l canon law this day . now tell me rome , did this pope erre ? if so ; then popes may erre in chaire like him . if no ; then thou and thy late popes , masse-priests , councill of constans , trent err'd grosly , and erre still ; yea they commit great sacriledge each day in taking , keeping , christs cup , blood away from laymen , contrary to christs command and this decree , which they doe much withstand . o rome , now see thy great impiety , grand sacriledge , theft , grosse iniquity in robbing laickes of christ cup , wine , blood , which be bequeath'd them for their endlesse good . and making them thinke m this is my body , pronounced by the priest , doth really the bread into christs body ; change when they recited in the masse but to display what christ once did and sayd of old , when he ordain'd the sacrament , at most can be but a n recitall of an history , and of no more force to make christs body when uttered in the masse , than when they read in the gospels themselves , since t is granted by , and knowne unto all that the reading of any story doth change , make nothing anew at all . the reading the story of the creation , christs nativity , death , resurrection , miracles , effects no new creation of the world ; reflects the old , not makes a new nativity , death , resurrection of christ really : therefore this is my body spoken by the priest , not christ himselfe , rehearsively can worke no reall change of bread into christs body . and if bread be chang'd 't is to the priests owne body , who saith , this is my body , not christs ; who being christ onely in represent when he doth consecrate and use these words , which now to him relate the bread can be christs body onely as the priest is christ himselfe , when he saith masse , and that is not in truth but represent , rome cannot from this cleare truth dis-assent . on , and against , popish and superstitious bowing to altars , and rayling in the lord tables altarwise . no patriarches , prophets , saints for ought we finde in sacred writ , once bowed or inclin'd to , or before their altars : though a built by command from god , and did christ typifie . altars of old , and sacrifices too did b represent christ , as bread , lords boords doe : yea , they on altars c ate the selfe-same meate [ christ ] in their sacrifice , as we now eate . yet none did then to , towards altars bow , why then must we bow , congie to them now , or tables , or the sacred element , which christ , no more , than theirs did , represent ? they had the self-same ground , to bow as you , yet did it not , nor ever thought it due , as you doe now : either you erre , or they : judge whether is more like to goe astray . why doe ye then , since d altars overthrow by christs death , to , before them cringe or bow ? are they now growne more sacred then before , by mens erections , that you them adore ? if they had no such honor done them when set up by god , why now , when made by men ? if not against , at least besides gods word : perchance because mens owne , they are ador'd . if you say you bow to them as a table , not altar ; sure i thinke it is a fable ; your language doth betray you , you it call e an altar ; altarwise against a wall you fix and ●aile it in , and still you say , you to the altar how ; before it pray . but be it so , where doe you read that now men to lords tables ought to stoope , or bow ? did christ , or his apostles doe it ? no , much lesse command it ; why must we doe so ? we read , when christ ordain'd this sacrament they all f sate round , not to the table bent . had they so done , or wil'd us so to doe the text had sayd they sat , yet bowed too . what are ye now more holy , or more wise than christ or his apostles , to devise an inclination , which not one of them did ever use , command , or of it dreame ? belike they were meere rustickes , never knew fit table congies , they must learne from you . all worship , honour , bowing , are g gods fee , right , due alone , and must not given be to any creature but by his expresse command or license ; you then much transgresse in yeelding honour , worship , reverence to altars , tables , without gods license and warrant ; which you never can produce out of his word : for shame leave this abuse . but you have reasons for 't : did they them know ? if you say yea , why did they not then bow ? belike they were too weake to bend them : why are they so strong than you to bow awry ? if no , they were then ignorants to you , and must learne from you now , what they ne're knew . christ , his apostles must be put to schoole to learne of you to cringe , bow , play the foole . but may we know your pond'rous reasons why you bow , stoope , ducke thus ? you shall instantly . first , h gods house is a place of reverence ; therefore when we goe in , ( i ) or out from thence , we must to , and before the altar ●end : i doe deny the consequence , good friend , till you can prove this holy reverence , an altar-cringe , going in , or out from thence , and that good iacob did bow and adore to , and before the altar heretofore . well , that is done ; k moses and aaron fell vpon their face at doore of tabernacle . true , but what then ? they fell flat on their face , not bow'd , like you , to supplicate for grace , not cringe and so away , as you adore ; not at , to altars : if you say no more , all that your wits can rack from thence will be , you must at , to the church doore , bow your knee , fall prostrate on your face ; but once , not still , not to an altar , if you will fulfill this text : nay at the church-doore make a stay , fall downe , rise up , not enter , then away , like them : and since it saith not , they did fall to , before th' altar [ not nam'd there ] twill mall your cause to peeces : they then did not bow to , before altars , you than must not now . the altar of burnt offering l stood before , and quite without the tabernacle doore ; the laver standing twixt the doore and it by gods expresse command . see then how sit this text is for your purpose : moses fell on his face at the doore o th' tabernacle with his backe to , face from the altar [ then behinde him unsaluted , ] therefore men must towards , to , before the altar bow ; and turne their face , not backes still to it now . a strange non-sequell , men must doe quite crosse to moses , and this text , as you it glosse . he fell downe once , no more , and that behind the altar , not before it : if you minde his steps to trace , you must fall once no more , and that behinde your altars , not before . which now you may not , cannot doe at all , unlesse you quite remove them from the wall , into the middle of the church or quire , their place of old , where men yet still desire lords tables should now placed be . this text you see makes nothing for you : what 's the next ? but , m hezekiah when the offering ended , with all the people bowed , worshipped . true , but not towards , to , before the altar like you , this text then is become your halter . we reade of many who n bow'd downe the head towards the earth , and god so worshipped , in places where no altars were , therefore they did not towards them , but earth adore . we finde not in gods text , one nam'd who to or towards altars did his worship doe . which had they done , and it were exemplary it had not beene omitted in the story : which saying stil ; they o bow'd to , towards the ground or earth , your altar worship doth confound : had they bow'd to the altar , then you had urg'd something ; now your case proves very bad . they did not then unto the altar bow ; therefore you must and ought to doe it now ; is but meere non-sense , and a running crosse to them : your cause , and you are at a losse ; this king and people joyntly bow'd their head together ; and god joyntly worshipped ; you , one by one : they when they sacrificed vpon the altar , and new hallowed the temple ; you when as no sacrifice is offered , or upon your altar lyes : they bow'd once , when the sacrifice was ended ; you oft , ere it begins ; o well defended ! but yet , the p psalmist and the liturgie bids us , come worship , fall downe , bow the knee before the lord our maker : very true ; therefore this bowing's to the altar due : a learned sequell : men must kneele , adore , and bow before their maker , lord ; therefore to , and before the altar : i thinke then not god , but altars made you priests , or men . if altars be your makers , you wood , stone , it 's fit you should bow , kneele , to them alone : but if god onely , you must then bow , fall , kneele before him alone , and on him call , by this texts precept , which whiles you apply to altar worship , you confesse thereby , you bow to god and altars both alike , take heed his q venging hand doe not you stricke . if that you say , you bow to god thereby ; t is false , it is to christs humanity and r body at the most , which you say there is present on it : grant this , yet you erre from this your text , since christs humanity is not your maker , but the deitie : and to adore christs body and no more without his divine nature , heretofore was alwaies judged grosse idolatrie , since but a creature , and no deitie . this text then doth your practise quite confound , yea casts your cause and it downe to the ground . as for the liturgie , it saith no more but what the text , it helpes you not therefore ; nay it strikes dead , & quite confounds your cause , because it ever reades this psalme and clause , not when you downe before the altar bend at the communion , entrance , service end , or second service ; but ſ before the psalmes at morning prayer only , which thing quite calmes your new devotions : for by this you must kneele , fall , bow downe , before the altar just when this psalm's read ; all joyntly , not before , after , or single , as you now adore : but sith you bow not to the altar when this psalme is read , nor kneele , fall downe , but then doe alwayes stand , or sit , by this you shew both text and church-booke your cause overthrow , and either you against them both offend in not adoring when they bid you bend , or else you make both church-booke and this text no warrant of your cause , but a pretext . yet we , t when we thus bow and fall before the altar , god , not it doe still adore . first , shew where god commands you thus to bow to him before the altar ; this i know you cannot doe : in all the texts you name , there is no scripture warrant for the same . it is u will-worship then at best , not true ; nought but commanded worship is gods due . x who hath required these things at your hand ? should make you and this worship at a stand . we must not to our parents , kings , men , bow but that god doth y command , and us allow to doe it ; much lesse may we bow before an altar , table , or them once adore ; which are more base and vile by much than we , and z therefore by us must not worshipt be with cap or knee , sith god forbids us to a bow downe to them , or to them worship doe . but you bow unto god alone , not so , you say you doe it b to the altar to ; there is an holy reverence due to it ; which you unto it give , as just and fit , both joyntly , in one bowing and prostration to god and it : the selfe-same adoration you give then unto both ; is god's divine ? then altars too , you cannot it decline . both have the same for time , act , motion , place , therefore the selfe-same worship , honour , grace ; and so you act most grosse idolatry in joyning altars thus with god most high . if that you give to both like reverence , not worship ; god no doubt will take offence that you give like and equall veneration to him and altars ; it 's no christian fashion ; nor courtly neither , for if any one should equall worship give to king and throne , and both at once in selfe-same sort adore he would be trust up , or thrust out of doore . you should doe well then to distinguish that worship , you say , you give to god , from what you yeeld the altar , in time , gesture , shew , that they , you , others might their difference know but doe you give to both like honour ? i presume the altar hath precedencie . were not the altar there , you would not bend ; from it your bowings spring , to it they tend . if altars then this worship cause , and share therein with god , they most adored are ; god for the altars sake , first : they for his : the altar hath more share than god in this ; he is beholding onely to the altar for this his worship , which else would quite falter ; remove but it , gods worship 's at an end ; it doth then from , to it , not god move , tend : you then commit the same idolatry as pagans , papists , in their imag'rie : image and altar worship are the same in substance , differ but in object , name ; they say c they doe god worship and adore when as they bow , kneele , fall downe , to , before their idols ; not the stockes or images themselves : if then their worship god displease , your altar worship cannot but doe so ; they are the same , you cannot say me no. your reasons , grounds , excuses both agree , they are but one in substance then we see . you say d you bow not to the altar , table , but god alone . no doubt it is a fable , your words betray you , and in termes you doe confesse you bow to god and altars too ; e deo & altari , you in print confesse , to both conjoyntly ; see your guiltinesse , you all acknowledge that you bow before the altar [ which you eye ] to god ; therefore you worship it , before it , and thereby make it an idoll , act idolatry . to worship god , and before god , are f one in scripture phrase , and due to god alone . the g psalme you urge , with other texts , therefore injoynes all to fall , worship , kneele before their lord and maker onely ; how then dare you swerve from it , and openly declare , that you before the altar bow , adore , as well as before god , if not farre more ? are you then guiltlesse of idolatry ? not so in scriptures judgement , for thereby bowing h before an idoll , is the same with bowing to it , and hath equall blame ; both are alike idolatrous : this you may from the devill learne to be most true , who tempted christ , to fall downe and adore i before him onely , not desiring more : christ this refused ; marke his reason why , it s written , thou shalt worship god onely ; if then to worship , bow downe , kneele before an idoll , devill , be them to adore as scripture , christ , resolve , and we must all before god onely worship , bow , and fall religiously ; your worshipping before the altar , is it , not god to adore ; and to give that to altars which onely is due to god ; which is idolatry . see then you vaine distinctions , whose conclusion will be nought else but your shame and k confusion , but yet we reade , the l iewes did heretofore towards gods mercy-seate , looke , pray , adore , and lift their hands ; m good reason then that we should to the altar looke , pray , bow the knee , it being now gods onely mercy-seate , yea the most holy place , where we christ eate . well argu'd gentle sir , you here descry your learned logicke , and divinitie ; the jewes did never towards their altars bow , pray looke of old , therefore you must do 't now : they looked , prayed towards the mercy-seate , not altar ; this your cause doth cleane defeate . but when , and why look'd they sometimes that way ? ( in speciall cases onely , not alway : ) because n from thence god promised to grant an answere to them , when they should it want , and there to meete them , to declare his will and commune with them , which he did fulfill : this made them looke that way , because from thence god did his answeres unto them dispence as men stil turn their face towards those to whom they speake , to places , courts whence answers come . but god no answers from their altars gave ; hence they lookt , prai'd not so towards them ; you have no reason , ground , then hence to worship , bow or pray towards altars , or lords tables now , since they did not : and god doth not from thence his sacred will o , word now to men dispence , but from the pulpit , and the reading pue , your bowing then to them [ if ought ] is due . these , not your altars , are gods mercy-seat , if ought now , p whence he doth his will repeate , reveale afresh , by those who r represent his person , and from him to us are sent : but that your altars merci-seates should be more than the jewes of old , is ſ senselesse ; ye have neither scripture , reason , ground at all to warrant it , and so your cause must fall : the t mercy-seate was made of purest gold with cherubs at each end , and stood of old above gods arke , on high , like pulpits u whence god did his will and answers still dispence . on it no shew bread , incense , sacrifice , stood , or were offred ; therefore in no wise can you make altars , tables now to be gods mercy-seate : hence then your dotage see . and , if you will bow , cringe to mercy-seates , you must hence-forth to pulpits doe these feates , as x once the jewes did bow downe and adore before the pulpit [ if ought ] heretofore . but you say y our altars and tables are sanctum sanct●rums : here you more declare your brain-sicke non-sence , dotage ▪ then before . there was z but one most holy place , no more , in former times , there must be millions now if you speake truth , towards which to worship , bow . we must have now a new high-priest to goe into these holyest places , yet no moe than a once each yeare , and none but he must come within your chancels or your altar-roome : no priest , nor laicke must once enter , see your chancells , altars : what becomes of yee , and this your worship then ? you can no more before your altars bow , kneele or adore ; nor yet approach them there to celebrate , reade second service , offer , early , late , to light your tapers : all your altar-play , and court-ship now must vanish cleane away . fooles , then recant , and see how god confounds and overthrowes you quite with your owne grounds ; learne now at last , that this most holy place , where to each yeare with blood the high-priests grace once entred , and no more , did b typifie our high-priest christs ascension , once onely , into the highest heav'ns ; with his owne blood , there to redeeme us , for our endlesse good . thus saith the text : then all sanctorums gone and vanisht are , none left but heaven alone : towards it , nought else , you must still look , turne ▪ pray and worship ; c where christ sits and reignes alway . see then the badnesse of your cause , when all your proofes on it , and you so heavie fall , what have you more to say ? the d iewes when they of old did worship god , or to him pray , turned their faces to the temple-ward . what then ? this puts you to it very hard ; if they thus towards the temple pray'd ; e then we must towards the altar pray , bow , bend the knee . had you said towards the church , it had bin better no altar is once nam'd within the letter ; they looked towards the temple , not the altar when as they pray'd : in this you erre and faltar , that you not towards the church , but altar bow pray , looke , herein you crosse the text , i trow . but when did they thus pray ? in f times of war , of exile , or when as removed farre both from the temple , and its view ; but ye in times of peace , not warre , when you are free , not exiles , nor when out of churches view , but in the church alone , will have it due : none can looke towards the church , place where they be , you turne the text to non-sence , falsitie , unlesse without the church you pray , as they ; for in it , toward it , you can never pray . see then how you pervert the text , and make it senselesse , vaine , and false by your mistake . they in g their private prayers thus turn'd their face towards the temple , when they sought for grace ; you not in private , but in publicke bend towards the altar , yea , when as you send no prayers up ●nto god : you bow , and so passe in , out of the church , or by it goe . see now your learned arguments , from hence , yea contradiction , follie , and non-sense . the jewes of old h when remote from , and out of the temples bounds , sight , did turne about their face , not bow towards it when as they pray'd , [ not towards the altar ; or ought on it layd ; ] therefore must ye , if you their steps will trace , not in the church , but in each private place you pray , now turne your face towards some church [ to what church i wot not ] which you never doe , not towards the table , altar , nor when ye within the churches precincts praying be : and onely turne your face that way , not bow towards your altars , as you practise now . this is the onely sum and consequence that you for altar-worship can draw hence . which quite confounds it ; as shall yet more cleare by that which followes , unto all appeare . the jewes did towards the temple look and pray because god i promis'd there to fix alway his speciall presence ; and there to reside more than in any place on earth beside , filling the temple with his glory , and his presence so , that the priests could not stand nor stay therein to doe their ministry : but god by promise never yet did tye his speciall presence in such sort to any church , altar , table [ much lesse unto many ] now extant ; nor from them immediately with his owne mouth , give answeres to their cry . we have no reason than to turne our face to any altar , table , church or place on earth , when as we pray ; but still to move and lift our hearts , hands , eyes , to heaven above , where god and christ k reside most , and whence they heare , answere , grant us all for which we pray . hence l christ and godly men most usually did m still lift up their hearts , hands , eyes on high towards heaven alone , when as they prayd , as all or most doe now , who on god truely call . besides , they had n a promise in gods booke ; that if they should but towards the temple looke and pray , in warres , or their captivity , ( when they to god in it could not draw nigh ) that he would heare their prayers ; and hence did they in times of warre and o exile oft thus pray . this promise was made to the p temple , not the altar , arke , or q manna , as some dote : but you have no such promise in gods booke , that if you towards the altar pray , bow , looke , that he will heare you : therefore you must stay till god shall warrant you thus to bow , pray . this promise was made to the jewes , and ye can scarce apply it , till you jewes shall be : it was made onely to their temple , ( not their synagogues : ) which ruin'd and forgot long since , this promise is quite gone with it : you cannot it unto your altars fit , nor to our churches , which succeed unto their r synagogues , not temple : all that you can then extract from hence will be , that all must towards this ruin'd temple , pray , bow , fall , not towards the altar ; strange divinity at this day , though by jewes us'd anciently . adde , that this promise runnes promiscuously , if they should towards their owne ſ land , and city [ first nam'd ] as well as towards the temple pray , that god would heare . hence daniel thrice each day , towards t jerusalem [ not temple ] pray'd in babylon , whilst he there exil'd , staid ; which city , temple , being there out of view and kenning , gives at least a checke to you who bow not towards the altar but in sight thereof , and out of its view stand upright ; whereas the jewes did towards these * three adore , though out of sight , and kenning , heretofore . gods promise then , not their view , did excite them thus to pray ; nought makes you bow but sight since then the text names praying towards al three alike , and that where men could not them see ; you may more fitly thence in ferre that all when they in publike , private , on god call , ought towards their countries , cities turne their face or towards jury , or the ruin'd place , where then gods temple stood , than that they now must towards the altar , church , or temple bow . this towards runnes conjunctively to u land , city and house , as they in order stand ; not to the altar : whence conclude i may , that they did never towards the altar pray , bow , looke : for then no doubt the text had knit the altar to these three , not past by it . which not once naming , and prescribing how they should towards these three only pray ; all now may see that bowing towards the altar then was not once thought on , nor in use with men . nay more , this x chapter notes it to my hand . that solomon did not bow to , but stand before the altar , on a scaffold ; where his ●ands he spread forth towards heaven , and there kneeled downe upon his knees , before all the * congregation present ; whence i shall inferre ; that had he bow'd towards , or unto the altar , doubtlesse the text had said so ; but since it onely saith , he stood before the altar ; not , that he did bow , adore towards it , it is most cleare from hence that he to , towards it did not bow , nor bend the knee . nor did they then towards altars turn their eyes , but when on them they offered sacrifice , or tooke some solemne oath before them ; ( yet they then to bow to them did quite forget ; y standing before their altars , or close by them , but not bowing , nere us'd anciently : ) if you thus towards the table looke when yee thereat receive , the elements , to see whilst they are consecrating , i consent thereto , but not when there 's no sacrament . in fine , we read , z when solomon had ended his prayer , and the fire which from god descended consum'd the sacrifice , and gods glory , quite fill'd the house ; that all who then stood by and saw this fight , bow'd themselves with their face vnto the ground , ( not altar ) in that place ; and worshipt , and prais'd god , saying , for he is good , for his mercies e're-lasting be . had they towards temple , altar , worshipped , or bow'd themselves , we shold no doubt have read it in the text ; whose silence in this kind proves , that they to , towards neither thus inclin'd , but simply bow'd to , before god alone : by this text then , your cause is lost and gone . a put off thy shooes from off thy feet ; for why , the ground whereon thou standest is holy , spoken to moses , joshua of old ; urg'd b next for altar-bowing , will not hold ; no altar , bowing , is here nam'd : if you these speciall texts meane strictly to pursue , you must your shooes put off ; and barefoot goe into the church , church-yard ; no shooes weare , so as c some fond persons did of old , led by these very texts ; which you more misapply and wrest then they ; who got the brand ●nd name of heretiques , for practising the same , in going barefoot : if you these texts straine to prove your altar-worship , sure your braine is farre more crazy , and your practise more crosse to these texts , than their was heretofore . for what sense , reason , can in this be found ? tw● , their shooes * once put off in holy ground , by gods expresse command ; therefore all men must bow downe towards , or to th' altar when they it approach ; and when they come or goe into or from the church , though they have no command or patterne so to doe ? surely this is pure nonsence , if not heresy . your altars , tables , are stone , wood , not ground : no worship then of these , can here be found , but of the church-yard , churches soyle , which you stile d holy ground ; if worship hence be due to ought , it is to the church-ground onely , not table , altar ; see now your folly , in quoting texts to prove , which overthrow your cause , and your nonsence to all men show . adde , that the shooes are here injoyn'd to be put off the feet , the lowest part ; not the hat ●●lled off , head bowed downe ; no art can from the lowest to the highest part , conclude ought that is solid : here your feet and heads without sense , reason , strangely meet : you may doe well then these texts to put off , which will expose you and your cause to scoffe . that other text some urge ; e keepe thy foote when thou go'st unto the house of god ; is clean● besides the purpose : to presse bowing thence to altars , tables , is to speake nonsense ; when men goe to gods house , they must their feet keepe with all care ; therefore they must there greet and bow downe to the altar , is a bad , a senselesse sequell ; fit for none but mad or crazy pates : no altar , bowing are nam'd in this text ; whose scope is to declare , that men when they approach gods house to pray , must watch their feet ( affections ) and that they must shun vaine thoughts , rash , fond loquacity . their senses then are lost , who now apply this text , their altar-worship to maintaine , from whence they can nought to this purpose straine . the cause is bad which such extravagant and far-fetcht proofes , it to defend doth want . which none but those who are past grace or shame or voyd of wit , would for this purpose name . but yet we read , the f elders fell before him who sate on the throne , and did adore , casting their crownes before the throne ; thus we before the altar must fall , bow the knee . well argued learned sir , have you a crowne ? are you an elder ? then you may fall downe , if not , forbeare ; since there you read of none that prostrate fell , but twenty foure alone , elders by office ; when as thousands g stood round by them , yet fell not ; your proofe's not good . but yet not here on earth , but heaven they fell ; this then concernes not those who on earth dwel . but did they bow like you ? no , their prostration was farre unlike your new-found adoration , they when they fell downe , h sang a song of praise vnto the lambe ; you ne'r then sing such layes : they when they fell had i harpes , viols , made of gold , all full of odours : you bowing , none such hold ; they prostrate fell , not going in , or out of any church , or passing to , about . or from the altar , as you now ; their fact is then no warrant for what you now act . they fell k before him who sate on the throne , within their view . doe you so ? no not one ; you see not christ , nor to him bow and fall , but to the altar , not christs throne at all ; there is no altar , table in the text. you may goe whistle then : what say you next ? though scripture faile , yet we have reasons left : i feare you 'l be at last of both bereft ; he who l wants scripture hardly will find reason for sacred things , as you shall see in season . altars , and tables are christs royall m throne whereon he sits within the church : each one must therefore bow before , and to them . i your ground and sequell both at once deny . christs n throne is in heav'n , not on earth : t is plaine by creed and scripture : o there he doth remaine . sitting at gods right hand ; his thrones i feare on earth are now cast downe . but yet to cleare this further , if they be christs throne , it s either of his divine or humane nature ; neither of these they be . of his humanity say you : its false ; that onely is on high . christs humane body is in heaven p alone , fixt in one place , cannot be but in one . but if each altar , table be his chaire , wherein he sits , it must be every where upon these thrones , and he must have as many bodies as thrones : he is not then in any of all your thrones ; he ne'r yet once sat there , they are not his , but your thrones then , i feare . but yet christ's present in the sacrament . by grace ; in person i cannot assent : so is he q present in each ordinance ; this will not then your cause one haire advance ; but he 's r most present in these elements , more then in other rites : some mens consents you have in this , not mine ; untill you say and prove it too , i shall it still gain-say : that is soone done , ſ this is my body , is a proofe which cannot be gainsaid in this ; more grace is present with , more reverence due vnto christs body then word : what say you ? a learned proofe . what body of christ i pray , is sacred bread ? t this will the truth display . if naturall , that 's in heaven , bread's not it , it s but christs body figurative , or it doth rather onely shew and typifie the breaking of christs body to the eye . true : what then makes bread christs body ? i say , the u words of consecration : marke i pray . if then christs word doth make the bread his body , agreed by all , confirm'd by sacred story , then it s more worthy than the bread or wine ; you must to it then , not to them incline . that which gives being , honour to another ; is greater , nobler [ if ought ] than the tother . the x word gives being to the sacrament , it s greater , nobler , then ; can you dissent ? but bread is cal'd christs body : so y each saint and church is stil'd : your reason then is faint , and quite casheer'd : each saint is better then christs breaden-body , made by , and z for men and for their service ; therefore they are better : for this , ther 's text store , for you not one letter . besides , a christs humane nature is the same with ours ; bread is his body but in name , not truth . b christ lives and dwels continually within his saints by grace , and spiritually . he dwels not so within the bread ; if then you bow to ought , it must be godly men ; these c are christs body , members , temples , bone , flesh , and with christ himselfe by grace made one . if he have any throne on earth , it s they , [ not altars ] where he d dwels , lives , reignes alway . if then you will bow to , before christs throne , it must be to , before his saints alone : but to the word againe , christs deity is cal'd the e word , and is exprest thereby ; the bread , is but his f body tearm'd ; that 's best of both , whereby his god-head is exprest . besides , the word g begets , the sacrament doth but confirme faith , grace ; now all consent , that what gives life , excels what serves onely but to confirme ; ( one 's h simply necessary to save , convert ; the other 's but supply . our grace to strengthen , seale , and ratify , men may be i saved by the word alone , without christs breaden body ; but not one by it , without the word ; which k makes it be a sacrament ; as you before may see . now what is able to save men alone , excels that which alone serves to save none . yet more , gods word is christians l daily food in publicke , private : tother 's not so good , because more rare , lesse common , not for all ; the m common'st good the best , men alwayes call . the word then is , of both , most excellent in these respects ; you cannot dis-assent . but christ's n more present in the sacred bread than in the word , by which on soules are fed . some hold so i confesse , in this sense true , it o more presents christs passion to our view , than the meere word without it : but to say his grace and presence are more there , i may deny with safety ; they co-operate as much in all ( nay more in most mens state , with his blest word , than with the eucharist , sith it requires a greater power from christ , a greater presence of him , and farre more strength to raise up dead men and them restore from death to life , then to corroborate a living christian in a gracious state . now 't is the p word alone , not sacrament which quickens dead men , as divines consent . whence it is stil'd q the word of life , faith , grace , salvation , r bread , milke , food , in every place of sacred writ . christ promiseth to be still ſ present with it to the end ; nay he his spirit joynes therewith , makes it the maine , chiefe businesse of himselfe , apostles , traine , to preach the word , this is their speciall charge most pressed , acted ; as we read at large in scripture , where we finde but thin and rare speech of christs supper ; whose most speciall care was for the t frequent prea●hing , day and night of his sweet word , oft term'd , his power , and might vnto salvation : all which will declare that christs grace , spirit , presence alwayes are as much concurring with his word , yea more than with his supper . have you ought in store yet ? yea , christ's more present i' th sacrament under the bread , wine , outward element then in the word : it 's held so without ground , but if discust , will prove an empty sound : marke what i say , christs body , spirit , grace , have no inherent reall presence , place within the bread , or wine themselves : for then both wicked , faithlesse , good , and faithfull men should them receive alike inclusively within the sacred signes : which u we deny . but is not christ within them ? yes , in signe and sacramentall wise , not grace divine . it s x not the signes , nor ministers that give the true bread christ to men , whereby they live . but christ doth give himselfe there , unto all worthy receivers , in a spirituall , yet reall manner ; not by descending from heaven above , but by the secret sending downe of his spirit , which doth comprehend them , and their faith ; hearts , soules , cause to ascend to heaven to him , and there on him to feed by faith , as their mouthes feed here on the bread . it is mens y faith then , not the element that makes christ present in the sacrament : as that is greater , lesse , so they more feed or lesse on christ in heaven , not in the bread , which ill men take ; but not christ , or his grace therein , for want of faith , this quels your case . for if christs presence , spirit , grace , be not included in the signes , as now you wot , and he be present onely in the heart , not mouth , of each beleever ; then no part of his grace , body , presence , placed are upon your altars , tables , as their chaire , or throne ; where if he were , it s not in state , as lord and king , but onely as our z meat : not in a state of glory , but as bread , [ in basest state ] wherewith our ●●iles are fed . how can lords-tables the●● be stil'd his throne ; when as he sits , not , but 〈◊〉 , stands thereon , as food alone ? who 〈◊〉 , yet heard , or read of thrones , or cha●●s prepar'd for meate , drinke , bread ? it is meere nonsence thus to call lords-tables , or altars christs thrones , here your words prove fables ; the faith , arke , table , are but his a footstooles ; to all these christs thrones , is to play the fooles . therefore the reasons why you thus adore ; and bow to altars , are quite out of doore . christ sits not on your altars , tables ; he is b risen , gone hence up to heaven , there ye must c looke to , for him , d not on earth below : you must to heaven then onely looke , and bow . hence doth the church-booke , at the sacrament exhort all , to e lift up their hearts whole bent vnto the lord on high , without one word of looking , bowing , to the altar , board : christs is not there , he sits in f heaven above there must your eyes , thoughts , hearts be , there your love . if you presume he sits upon the table , you make the scripture , church-book but a fable besides , you doe not take the sacrament , from off lords-tables , whence men now are pent and bard with railes , for feare they should draw neere unto them , there to eate christs sacred cheare : what they receive , is from the priests hands , at the railes ; why should they then bow , cringe to that , from whence they nought receive ? they must adore the priests hands , railes , not tables , altars more : from them , not these they take the elements , they then doe best deserve these complements . but grant you what you would , that christs body [ as papists hold ] doth on your altars lie , and that this is the cause , why you adore to , towards altars : i desire no more but this your plaine confession , to descry your folly , falsehood , and idolatry . you say you bow to god alone , but lye ; this reason proves , it is to christs body there present [ as you hold , ] which is not god , but man ; your reason is become your rod : for to adore christs body , or the bread , which shews his manhood onely , not god-head ; or to adore god , or christs deity , meerely because of his humanity , as you doe here at best , is g certainely will-worship , error , and idolatry ; since christs body a creature is ; and none ought to be h worshipped but god alone , and that still for himselfe ; where you adore god for christs manhood , or it , and no more . this all i condemne as grosse idolatry in papists , who adore christs bread-body , as god almighty , and bow downe before their altars , onely it for to adore ( not them ) there present in the pix alway ; you are their apes , say , doe the same as they ; nay worse , in that you to the altar bend k when christ is not there : this for shame amend . if christ his presence be the cause wherefore you to , before the altar thus adore , you ought to doe it onely when , and where he present is thereon ; not when not there . but you to your altars bow commonly , when as no sacred elements there lye , and christ's not on them , so that you adore the altars , tables onely , and no more . yea ; but though christ be not there present then , yet he 's sometimes there ; therefore as * most men at court , doe use to bow to chaires of state , because that kings in them sometimes have sate , though absent when they bow ; so we likewise bow when there are no signes before our eyes . well said , i now see whence your conges came ; it was from court , from whence you learnt the same , but not from gods court , but the kings ; so then it is a worship not from god , but men ; yea , it s no more but a court complement : to court , not serve god then , is your intent . i doubt you meane to turne meere courtiers now , and therefore practise , thus to congie , bow unto the altar , table , that thereby you may be perfect in court ceremony , against you resort thither , for to finde or seeke preferment : now i know your minde : those who would rise high , must first stoope , and bow ; i feele your pulses , and your tempers know : but pray you shew me , where god ever sent men to the court , to learne to complement with him in his owne temple ? or that he with courtly complements will served be , which all deeme fained , grosse hypocrisie ; take heed you prove not hypocrites thereby ; but say that some to chaires of state thus bow , when kings are absent ; wisemen doubtlesse know that this is nothing but court adulation ; such then must be your courtly adoration . it is a custome ; true , yet voyd of reason ; which a some omit , and yet commit no treason . should men adore each place where kings have set , they must their senses , or themselves forget ; yea , thus to congie when the kings are gone , is but to mocke the kings , and grace their throne . it is meere folly , frenzie too , i feare , to now to chaires , because kings once sate there . but be this as it may , no chaire of state is bow'd to , but that wherein kings once sate in person , not in picture onely ; true , hence see your sottish folly ; then must you bow to no altars , tables henceforth ; why ? because christ nere sate on them really in person , but in figure , picture ; ye by this your instance quite confounded be : it s just with god mens reason to confound , when they make reason , not his word , their ground . but grant you further , that christ's present in the sacred bread and wine ; yet still you spin a greater thread of solly , and insnare your selves more fast , as i shall next declare . for first , no tables , altars touch , containe , immediately , the sacred bread and wine ; but onely hold the vessels , paten , cup , ( as tables doe our dishes when we sup ) which the bread , wine , containe in them alone ; they therefore ( if ought ) are christs chaire , and throne , wherein he sits ; altars but their * footestooles , or christs at least : why play you then the fooles to bow to altars , tables , as christs throne , not cup , or paten , where he sits alone ? all altars , tables , are but stone , or wood ; these vessels silver , gold , not neere so good as these for matter , substance ; and in end , they , tables , altars , in worth farre transcend , made purposely these vessels to sustaine , which the blest bread and wine in them containe ; therefore more worthy congies and respect . why bow you then to those , yet these neglect ? if there be any reason to encline to ought , it s to these vessels ; the bread , wine : yet see more folly , you bow to the table , when these are in your hands , count these a fable , and christ within them [ as you hold . ] and here you are most grosse idolaters , i feare ; for when you hold these & christ in your hand , you bow to altars , whereon neither stand : did you thus bow to christ , as you pretend , you would not to your naked altars bend , when he is in your hands , contained in these vessels : here you faulter , erre , and sin ; as you doe likewise , when you bow , adore towards the altar , tables , just before you goe to consecrate the sacrament , ere christ's there present in the element : you should ( me thinkes ) not bow , but stay till he by consecration should there present be . yet one bout more ; the bread and wine you say , are , or containe christs body , blood ; and they are better , greater than gods sacred word : why doe you then bow to the altar , board , not to the bread , wine , christ , nay them neglect , when in your hands , to turne , bow with respect unto meere naked tables , altars ? sure your wits are lost , and christ will not endure to see a stone , or planke ador'd , whilst he , then in your hands , must not thus worshipt be . by this all know it is a truth , no fable , that you adore not christ thus , but the table , or altar , else you would not to them bow , whilst you hold christ within your hands . then now at last discerne your folly , and pretend no more , you worship christ ; you him offend : and since nought in the sacrament presents christ to us , but the sacred elements , you must your altar-worship quite give o're , and nought but them ( if ought ) henceforth adore . and yet the signes , are not so venerable , as is each saints heart , wherein b christ doth dwell in farre more lively , reall manner , then in bread , wine , altars , made for holy men . christs reall presence is in these alone , c they are his members , body , flesh , bone , one in , and with him , call'd d christ ; if you adore christ where he dwels most , you must bow before , to , towards these his e living temples , where he still resides ; this you 'le not doe , i feare , but rather bow to senselesse altars , stones then to the dearest of christs holy ones , the common objects of your disrespect ; take heed you be not one day for it checkt . if this displease , to give you some content , me thinkes your priests , by office reverent , who hallow , hold , take , give the sacred bread and wine to all , should be more worshipped then your bare altars , sith they f represent christs person , who blest , gave this sacrament at first : are altars ( senselesse wood or stone ) more sacred , worthy then priests ? who alone neglected are , not bow'd to then by you ; doubtlesse , if bowing be to either due , it is to priests [ your name ] or if you will , to g ministers ; who there act and fulfill christs office , who more present then resides in their hands , persons , then in ought besides , more than in paten , chalice , altar : yet these worthy persons , now too oft forget their honour , office , christ , whom they present , and whilst they paten , cup , blest element , hold in their hands , like h senselesse stocks , or stones they unto altars turne , and bow their bones , whereas , if altars , tables , had but sence , life , they would bow and doe them reverence . for shame then be not stocks , or fooles henceforth but know your selves , your office , place , state , worth and no more cracke your braines to justifie gestures , that strip you of your dignity , and senses both at once , as you must see , and now confesse , unlesse you senselesse be : where christ's more truely present on the altar then in the priests ; the priests deserve an halter ; and i shall deeme that man a stocke or stone , who bowes to altars , le ts the priests alone . o priests consider well of what i say , and then in this you will not say me nay : but if you doe , and altars still adore , i le not spend breath to plead a priests cause more . but ere we part , once more to church wee 'l tend ; why doe you not to font , pue , pulpit bend , as well as altars , tables ? since in these christ is more present in his ordinances , then on these , in most churches , places where baptisme , lords supper , sermons frequent are : in these each weeke , day , christ is constantly present ; on altars , tables , quarterly , or monethly at the most ; he then resides more in the pulpit , font , than ought besides . you hold , that i baptisme , yea , and gods word too , are simply needfull men to save ; but so is not the eucharist , as all agree ; they then more usefull , worthy , needs must be . these two save men alone , but t'other not , the greatest reverence then you should allot to pulpits , fonts , whence these dispensed are , than to the altars , where christ is more rare . but let these passe ; you cannot this deny , that bibles farre surpasse in dignity , fonts , altars , tables , churches , pulpits , all ; which without gods word , to the ground wil fal ; this is their k sole foundation , if it fade , all else without it , is nought but meere shade ; both table , pulpit , church , font , sacrament : of all these then gods word 's most excellent ; in it gods spirit , christ , grace , more reside then in all places of the church beside ; if then you will adore , bow , cringe at all , you must unto , before church-bibles fall : your altar-bowings , while you these neglect , with god and good men will finde no respect . in fine , christ's promise is , where two or three in his name meete together , he will be l in midst of them : yea , scripture saith alway , that god amidst his church , house , folke doth stay : as he dwels , lives , most in mens middle part and center ; m not head , foot , but in their n heart , whence altars in the midst of church did stand as hearts in midst of men doe , writes o durand . to say then that christ sits upon the table as you now place it , is no doubt a fable : for it stands not in midst of church , quire , but against the chancels east-wall , there up shut close prisoner , with a new raile , remote from the congregation , which now must not come nor have seats neare it : it 's a * place too high and sacred for lay people to come nigh . if then god , christ , midst church and people be , as by forequoted scriptures you may see , your tables , altars , which now stand alone far from the churches midst , are not their throne : if you will have them grac'd with their presence you must remove them to the midst from thence , where they are present ; else they will still set , besides these thrones , whose due place you forget . but ancient christians pray'd , lookt towards the east , because the altar was so plac'd , at least , in most old churches ; this is p heylins fable , to justifie the placing of the table against the east end of the chancell wall , though he no altars , tables , findes in all antiquity so seated ; when as they in midst of church , or quire were plac'd alway ; hence quires were so stil'd , because men did stand about the altar round , like a crowne ; and did there sing praises ; as writes q isidore , r rabanus maurus , ſ others heretofore , though some fond novellists the contrary averre , against truth , and antiquity . hence in old times , the people round about the priest and table stood [ not thence bar'd out with rayles as now ] when as the sacrament was celebrated , as is evident , by t chrysostomes words , in the margin , and by the priests prayer at u masse , for all that stand there * round about him , and by old x saxon canons at home , forbidding priests alone to celebrate masse . [ marke the reason why ] because there ought some people to stand by there round about him , whom he may salute , and who may answer him , and in pursuite hereof , he must remember christs words , where two or three in my name together are met , there am i in midst of them ; hence we in the y musarabicke office find the priest kneeling at the altar , praying thus ; be present , be present , o good jesus in midst of us , an high priest , as thou wast in midst of thy disciples in times past ; and sanctifie this our oblation : hence z bernard sweetly descanting upon that of the psalmist , he shall not dwell in the midst of my house who workes pride and sin ; saith , jesus in the midst of the church is not in a corner ; which he proves by this his speech , where two or three are met together in my name , i in midst of them am ever . and by some other texts . hence a isiodor with others write , that deacons heretofore stood round about the altar , as if they its pillars were , it to support and stay . yea , hence in ancient b massebooke , writers , i finde priests still singing , thus i will wash my hands in innocency , and so i will compasse thine altar round ; and bishops still when they did hallow altars anciently , did c cense and circuit them round frequently , which they could not doe , unlesse they stood so that they might round about them freely goe . yea , in the ancient * roman order , i this passage finde , that bishops anciently did round about the altar goe , when they did consecrate ; that sub-deacons alway behind the altar went , and stood upright after the offerture , with their eye-sight fixt on the pope , which could not be at all , if altars stood not distant from the wall . besides , 't is cleare out of d eusebius , e chrysostome , f austin , g dionysius , h nazianzen , i socrates scholasticus , k nicephorus , l bede , m walafrid strabus , n durand , that altars , tables , anciently stood in the midst of churches , quires , not by the eastwall , altarwise , as now they place them in our churches , with a brazen face . affirming that they so stood of old , when o hospinian p mourney , q marnix , r moulin , men of note ] with f rivet , and some more learned men , in reformed forraine churches bred , with t bucer , u tyndall , x ridley , y babington , old z ferrer , a jewell , b fulke , c cartwright d morton , e willet , with others prove , that anciently altars stood not against the wall , close by the east end of the quire , as in these dayes , but in the midst , that people might alwayes goe or stand round about them ; thus stood the altar of old in the f catacombe at rome , and in saint peters church lately , [ romes prime cathedrall ; ] and in history i read , that h witikindonce saw the face of charles the great , deckt with a chearefull grace , after his approach to the lords table in the midst of the church : and i am able by i sundry instances to manifest that altars stood not anciently at th' east end of the quire , against the wall , but i will onely name two more for brevity : and those at home . in k austins church , built by austin , first arch-bishop of canterbury : in that great church , in bedes time , the altar stood almost in the midst of the church , farre from the east-wall , in the north-isle : [ if i g conceive him right . ] and the l monkes of bury abbey in suffolke in king edwards dayes , [ the first of that name ] whiles they went to raise them a new chappell , as they digged , found the wals of an old church , that was built round , so as the altar stood , as it were nigh or in the midst ; and we thinke verily , [ writes everden a monke of that place , yea and cambden out of him ] that this was the first church there built unto saint edmonds name and service : in these two churches of fame , of speciall note , and great antiquity , the altar stood in , neere the midst onely : and in the church where m saint furse was inshrinde , above the altars east end ; as i find , saint n hugh of lincolne , and john elmer were interr'd above the altar , even here at home : therefore it stood not anciently against the east wall of the quire. lastly , o hervetus , p genebrard , and q others write , that in greeke churches , the high altars site , or place , is in the midst of the quire , where r josephus vicecomes proves most cleare , that altars seated were of old , both by eusebius , and martyrs tombes , anciently the ſ onely altars , which stood east and west , not north and south . we must then needs detest their shamelesse impudence , and forgery who contradict so cleare a verity , and dare affirme , that altars heretofore were plac'd against the east wall evermore , and there rayl'd in ; and that men did receive the sacrament kneeling , as most beleeve , when as its cleare , they did receive onely standing or * sitting round the table , nigh them : and where heylin writes , that men did pray eastward , because their altars stood that way . there is no ancient writer , councell , booke , attests , that christians to the east did looke , because their altars were so plac'd : bely not thus for shame [ then ] grave * antiquity , to bolster out your errors , novelties ; that cause is naught which needs the helpe of lies . they t eastward lookt , pray'd , because paradise stood there of old , and there the sun did rise ; poore reasons if well scan'd ; yet not the truth , they learnt u it from the pagans in their youth as might be prov'd by grave authority , and fathers verdicts , which i here passe by . there is small reason then to symbolize with them in this their heathenish rite and guise . yet christians bow'd to altars anciently . it is a falshood , one passage onely there is to prove it , 't is x tertullians , and that corrupted by some evill hands , * aris dei adgeniculari , whereas t is charis in the true copy , as notes y pamelius , though a papist , and some z others , which to cite i will not stand . the best and oldest manuscripts so read that place ; yea , sense , and reason for it plead : for he speakes there , of none but * penitents , excluded both from church and sacraments . for some great crimes ; which since they might not come within the church , much lesse the altar roome , as a all confesse , they could not bow the knee unto the altar , which they might not see , but to gods deare saints , out of church , whom they kneeld downe to , at their houses , both to pray them to forgive them , and to supplicate god for them , whilst thus excommunicate : this is the onely sense , scope of that place : this aris then for charis , doth disgrace , not helpe your cause . besides this , there 's not any cleare proofe or passage in antiquity , for altar-bowing , till b john damascen , to prove that images of holy men and christ might be ador'd , writ , men may bow to images , and altars , ( as rome now and some it seemes did then : ) if you relye on him , you must commit idolatry , and * how to altars , images alike , as well as towards them , which you mislike , in words at least , and say , c you bow not to but towards them ; these authours both say , to : this last , seven hundred twenty yeares and more from christ liv'd ; till then none did thus adore altars , nor since , till transubstantiation brought in the breads , then altars adoration . the christians for eight hundred yeares , or more after christ , did not bow , kneele , or adore in prayer on the lords dayes , nor yet betweene easter and pentecost , as may be seene in d councels , e fathers , but stood ; whence we know that they to tables , altars , did not bow ; nor to the sacred elements , since they these alwayes standing tooke on the lords day , wherein their knees to pray they ne're once bent , much lesse to altars , or the sacrament . whence grave f tertullian writes , that they stood by [ not bow'd , kneel'd to ] the altar anciently , in all their stations when they celebrated christs supper ; altars then were not rail'd , grated about as now , to * keepe the laity from comming neere them , since they them stood by , as doe the * aethiopians at this day , who stand upright when they receive alway . but g knights o' th garter bow'd to , and before the altar , and both god and it adore . what then ? i hope this new found argument , proves it no worship , but a complement ; us'd by those knights alone , [ not other men ] not commonly in each place , but where , when they offer in their grand solemnity ; their practice then , to others is no tye ; nor doe they deeme these congies then , divine , but meerely civill , since they then incline , as much , or more to the kings person , throne , as to the altar , or ought plac'd thereon : nor did these knights , h thus bow at first , as ye in him who this objects , may read ; where he [ admit the i blacke bookes legend true , though not once nam'd in english annals , but forgot ] confesseth , that king henry of that name the fifth , by charter first ordain'd the same , when as these knights first bow'd to him alone , and to his seat ; but of them all not one to god , or to the altar ; whereat he offended , thereupon made this decree , that they thenceforth in their solemnity should not to him , and his seat bow onely , but k unto god , and to his altar too , as priests and monkes then used for to doe : the king and lords , who made this act , were all blind papists , and the times quite blind withall ; the patterne which they then took , was unsound , blind priests and monkes : what shadow then or ground can thence be rais'd , true christians to induce unto this courtly , or meere popish use ? which since it orders them , alike to bow to god and altars in one act , i know not how they can escape idolatry ; this then 's no rule to follow , but to fly . and though these knights , these congies stil retain as civill , they this act and them disdaine , as popish , as an apish imitation , of priests and monkes grosse altar-adoration . who in their masses , used for to bow to ( before ) altars , as our priests doe now : witnesse their ancient l offices and the m small missall , made for priests that travelling be in england ( lately printed , ) which enjoyne their priests at masse to bow downe and incline vnto their altars , and due reverence to make to them : which n raymond used , whence he prescribes o priests beginning masse to bow vnto the altar , as our priests doe now . should i to this kings act , annex the story of card'nall poole , popes legate to queene mary , whose p visitons in cambridge , did enjoyne schollers [ in her dayes ] to bow , and incline to , and before the altar , [ the onely injunction of this kind , our church story affords for altar-worship ] all would cry forthwith , it is a brat of popery ; begot at first by transubstantiation , the * ground and cause of altars veneration : but sith my muse may not expatiate , i leave this point for others to dilate ; and how q some pagans did bow and adore before their idoll-altars heretofore . but will you not have men for to adore god with their bodyes ? yes , fall , kneele before him with all humble reverence , when you pray : this is a worship , which none will gainesay : it is r commanded in gods word ; adore god thus devoutly , he expects no more worship but this , and will be pleas'd with it , though all these altar-bowings should omit ; as you by this one text may understand ; s who hath required these things at your hand ? i have now * answer'd every text , proofe , ground , whereon you this new altar-worship found ; and made you see , how they all severally confute , confound it by gods destiny ; your scriptures , reasons now are all quite spent ; had god , or christ , wil'd that you should have bent , or bow'd thus , they no doubt would have exprest it in the scripture , where is not the least touch , shew , or colour of it : and if these texts , grounds and reasons which some men now please , to urge , had beene sufficient to inclin'd men thus to bow , those holy men we find in sacred writ , would doubtlesse constantly have practis'd it ; be not more wise then they . you have no more , i know , left to produce ; consider all here said , and make good use . on , and against popish bowing to altars , and adoration of the host . ribadeniera a , a late jesuite , of romes saint raimond of rochfort , doth write , that in the nights he us'd it discipline himselfe , after the mattins , and compline , he all the altars in the church , duly would visit , and unto them severally prostrate himselfe , and make low reverence . belike our priests and prelates learnt from hence to bow to their new altars ; since i find this saint the b first , who altars in this kind adored ; yet not constantly , but when he whipt himselfe ; in nights , not dayes . if then our novellers will imitate him , they must whip themselves , ere they bow ; and in day time quite forbeare this complement ; and use it but at night : both these they will refuse . i read , saint c francis the fryer , exhorted a cade-lambe ( for he to beasts , birds , preached oft-times ; ) to be attentive to gods praise ; and hereupon , this holy lambe alwayes after , the church frequented every day , and without any tutor ( as they say ) kneeled before the altar of our lady , at the hosts elevation ; ( marke you why ) in honour of her maker ; d surius who doth relate this history to us , writes ; o let heretiques learne to adore the blessed sacrament , and bow before it , by this lambes example : happily our altar worshippers were lesson'd by this silly lambes example , to kneele , bow , adore before their altars , tables now ; and worship them , and christ , who sitteth on them ( as * they write ) as in his chaire or throne : but then they should , like this lambe , kneele only , and bow thus , when they lift the host on high ; and that not to the altar , but the host : should they this doe yet , their designe were lost , wherefore , i doubt , these wolves in * sheepes-clothing , have rather from two asses learn't this thing , famous in popish legends , who before the host , and altar kneeled , to adore them. the first was , the e asse of bouivil , kept three dayes fasting , who of her free-will forsooke her provender for to adore the host her maker , brought and held before her by saint anthony ; which miracle f already toucht more largely ) wrought so well , that it her owne did convert , nay , more , teach catholickes the host for to adore . i wonder why the * asse which christ rode on into jerusalem , fell not upon her knees , her makers person to adore , when as this asse fell on her knees before this host , which did but onely represent his body . sure some leud fryer did invent this legend ; or this asse was tutored like bankes his horse , to kneele thus to the bread , to cheate the vulgar , and make them adore the host , like this asse , for their creator ; else that asse whereon christ rode , would as well as this , have to him on her knees downe fell . in memory whereof saint anthony holding the host , and this asse kneeling by thereto , are graven on the high altar at padua , where this hap'ned , or not far from thence . but this devout asse did adore the host , not altar ; but once , and no more . those then who bow to altars frequently , transcend this asse in devout foolery ; and the next asse , or mule ; which , as i read , from g andelousa in spaine carryed the reliques of saint bernard , accurse , and three martyrs more , slaine by the cruell hand of pagan moore in morrocco , unto ( if you beleeve the legend which writes so ) conimbri , by gods conduct directly ; and went to the gate of the monast'ry of saint crosse , where the canons regular of saint austin reside ; and staying there vntill ' the gates were opened to her , she went in first , king alphonsus , ●is queene , the whole court , and multitudes then following her in great procession , to the high altar ; before which she kneel'd downe , and would not stirre thence , untill they had quite discharged her of these saints reliques she thus carryed ; which , for a miracle is registred . this devout asse , who kneeled thus before this altar , taught our asse-priests to adore and bow before their altars constantly : yet the but once , and that prodigiously thus kneeled ; they , in this her farre transcend , in that they to their altars daily bend , without a miracle , and them adore ; whereas she did , not kneele to , but before the altar ; not in to rev'rence , or pray to god ; but there her burden downe to lay . those then who bow to altars , farre surpasse saint francis lambe , bonivils , and this asse in fond devotion ; beasts , sheepe , asses , mules acts , in gods worship , must not be mens rules ; as rome now makes them , but h gods word only , which altar-worship doth not justify ; nor yet the adoration of the host , which is not god , but sacred i bread at most . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e * the lord ewer lord morley . sir maurice drummond , with others , in the tower of london and elsewhere . * ave maryes bedes , crucifixes , bowing to altars , &c. notes for div a -e a luk. . . b fleurs des vies des sts. a paris . part . . p. . to . c luke . . d fleurs , des vies des sts p. . to . la feste del assumption nostre dame * see burtons melancholy p. . to . e luc. . . and the angel came in unto her and sayd , haile . &c. f luc. . . . . fox . p. . g luc. . . . fox . h flewrs des sts part. . p. . . officium b. mariae . parisiis . i luk. . . * ribadeniera fleurs , des vies des sts p. . k rosarium b. mariae . sir edwin sandys relation , p. . george dowly , briefe instruction : edit . . p. . . officinm b. mariae f. . joan. crispin l'estat , de leglise p. . . fox tho. beacons reliques of rome . vol. , f. ● . l rosarium b. mariae george dowley priest , his brief instruction p. . . . m officium . b. mariae nuper reformatum pii ●● pontificis iussu a paris . f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and p . . . . . . . . . . . fox p. . . . n luk. . . o sir edwin sandys his relation p. . to . rosarium . b. mariae . p luk. . . q luk. . . . . . . . r luk. . . blessed art thou among women . s ribadineira les fleurs des vies des sts part . . p. . to ●afeste del assumption . t luk . . see fox p. . . * all the prelates & co●vocation of england and king henry the . in their necessary doctrine and erudition ; write ; that although the salutation be not a prayer of petition , supplication or request or suite ; yet neverthelesse the church hath used to adjoyne it to the end of the paret noster , as a hymme , of praise , partly of our lord & saviour & partly of the blessed virgin , &c. v luk ▪ . . ▪ x ps . . . ps . . . hob. , y luk. . . . . ● ▪ z luk. . . . a luk. . . b all offices and romish catechismes terme it , the angels or angelicall salutation . c luk. . . . so he sayd to zacharie , v. . fea●e not &c. yet none say thus to the virgin or him though the angell did it : why then say they ave and not this to ? d luk. . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , signifies properly gaude , or rejoyce . e officium b. mariae & missale romanum passim . f fleurs des vies des s●s part . . pag. . to . bernardinus de bustilis mariale , pars. . serm. . excellent . . . pars. . ser. . pars . ser. . pars . serm. . see bishop vshers answer to the jesuites challenge p. . to g officium b. mariae fol. . . . . . . . h sam. . . sam. . . king. . . king. . . chro. . . i luk . . k fleurs des vies des sts part . . p. . to . l sir ●dwin sandyes his relation ; p. . m tractar , de interdictis par . . nu . . philip de marnix talbeau des differens part . . c. ● . f. . a. n albericus de rosatis in dictionar , verbum campanella ; tablean des differens : . part . c. . f. . a. o alanus de rupe miroure des rosaries sir edwin sandy relation p. . p sir edwin sandys relation , p. . q see bellar-mine de imaginibus , libi li●wade provinc . constit . li. . de haeret. c. nullus . bishop vshers answer to jesuites challenge . p. . r luk. . . s petr. de cabreram . part thoma qu. . artic . . disp . . num . . . t king. . . v officium : b. mariae p. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . * fox : acts and monuments , p. ● ● . x luk. . . . . . c. . y luk. . . officium b. mariae f. . . . &c. z luk. . . . a officium b. mariae p. . . . * neither in the ancientest masse-books , witnesse officium . b. mariae secundum usum sarum parisiis . . where this clause is not found . b all popish houres , missals , catechismes and writers so terme it c officium : b. mariae nup. reformatum pii . jussu . parisiis . p. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . sir edwin sandys rela . p. . e rosarium b. mariae officium : b. mariae pii . jussu reformatum . ave maria. is . times repeated and at large , & above an . times more in fractions . the pater nost . but . times . g george doul●y his briefe instruction edit . . p. . chachismus tridentinus c. de oratione fon p. . . h pontificale romanum . i see g. before . k pontificale romanum cap de bendictione none crucis . fox p. . a. l pontificale romanum . m aquinas . part . q. . art . & . cajetanus ibid. bonaventure marcellus , almain , carthusian capicolus , n. . sint distinct . . jacobus naclantus in rom . alensis . part . . qu. . n ceremoniale . romanum . o officium b. mariae , f. . . p officium . b. mariae , f. . p officium : b. mariae , f. q iohn crespin l●estat de l●glise : f. . stella and others in vita calixti . r alanus de rupe mirrour des rosaires officium : b. mariae . f. . . . . . . s ion crespin . f. . t ab ira tua libera eos domine ; a fiamma ignis libera eos domine : a potestate diaboli libera eos domine : ute paenis inferni ●ripere digneris : & omnes fideles ab ae●erna damnatione liberare digneris : officium b. mariae . v luk. . . . x luk. . . . . . to . y mat. . . . . z see rosari um & officium beatae mariae . a mat. . . b heb. . . rev. . . c alanus de rupe in his mirror of rosaries table and es differens p. . p. . t. becons reliques of rome , vol. . f. . d rosarium b. mariae tableau des differens , f. . e tableau des differens . part. c. . f. . sir edwin sandys relation . p. . . f sir edwin sandys relation p. . g judg. . . c. . . . . h luk. . . to . c. . . . . . . . . i quod reprobi & praesciti per devotionem rosarii vitam aeternam assequantur . in his mirrour of rosaries , which passage is expunged in the review of his rosarie set forth by copinger , printed at mentz . . k sigeberti chron. anno. . petrus dammian : in vita odilonis . tom. . surii jan. . p. : . . in the first editions . l see officium & rosarium b. mariae , missale romanum . the erudition of a christian man● by king henry the . & the convocation : chap. . of the angelicall salutation . m see , bernardinus de busti his mariale : and the authors quoted by bishop vsher in his answere to the jesuites challenge , p. . to . b sir edwin sandyes relation . p. . to fleurs des vies des s. part . . pag. . . . part . . p. . . * these beads must be solemnely hallowed ere they must be used to say our ladies psalter on : the forme of which consecration you may reade in tho. beacons . vol. f. . . . . * peter the hermite was the first that invented beades and chappelets about the yeare . . iohn crespin : le●st . de l'eglis . p. . others make them of later date . p mat. . . . . . eccles . . . q exod. . . matth. . . . . r cap. de oratione . s fox acts and monuments p. . . in the old edition . t a briefe instruction , &c. by george douley priest : edit . . . permissu superiorum . p. . v mat. . . to . x cor. . . . . gal. . . y gen. . . . c. . . c. . . cor. . . eph . . col. . . z phil. . . . heb. . . . . . c. . john . . . cor. . . . cor. . . a isay . . hab. . . jer. . . b joh. . . . c deut. . . . . . . cor. . . d hab. c. . isay . . ezech. . . rom. . . c mat. . ma● . . . luk. . . . joh. . . . f joh. . . phi. . & mar . . h●b . . . . . . c ▪ . : * yet the papists say , salve fancta facies nostri redemptoris . salve vultus domini imago beata &c. officium . b. mariae . secundum usum sarum . p. . g phil. . . cor. . . cor. . . eph. . . mat. . . h exod. . . . levit. . deur . . . to . c. . . . i exod. . . . . . . . k heb. . . c. . c. . . . cor. . . c. . . rev. . . . l luk. . . mar. . . act. . . c. . . c. . . joh. . . dan. . . * cor. . . . . . gal. . . m psal . . . . . rom. . . . cor. . . rev. . . n mar. . . joh. . . acts . . rom. . . tit. . . o isa . . act. . . rom. . . . . tim. . p cor. . . to . rom. . . c. . . c. . . q mar. . . . . joh. r luk. . act. . . to . c. . . c. . . s rom. . . . . . rev. . . n isa . c. . . c. . . hosea . . o isa . . . rom. . . p see molanus . historiae de imaginibus , & lentulus his forged description & picture of him , commonly printed and sold here of late yeares . q isa . . . c. ● . c. . phil. . . ps . . . . r mat. . . c. . . mar. . . c. . . joh. . . . . luk. ● . . s mat. . . . mar. . . . . . t num. . . to . am. ● . v heb. . . ● pet. . . see ( l ) before joh. , . x num. . . . . y heb. . . . . z nu. . a mat. . . as our last translation truely renders it : whence christians were called nazarens act. . . b mat. . . luc. . . . c. . . joh. . . . c cor. . . . . d psa . . . . . . applied to christ . matth. . . luk. . . . e exod. . . . rom. . . to . psa . . . . . f exod. . . . . deut. . . to . lev. . . g index librorum prohib . reg . . the rhemists preface to the new testament . h molanu historia de imaginibus & picturis tho. waldensis . tom. . tit. . c. . p. . &c. i cor. . . to . . rom . . . c. . . i mat. . . . mar. . . . luc. . . . joh. . . . to . k mat. . . . . to . l mark. . . . . m mat. . . to the end . joh. . . to the end . n act. . . c. . . gal. . . pet , . . o see bellarmine de sacrificio missae , and others . p corpus christi posse in sacramento sensualiter frangi , & fidelium dentibus atteri , gratian : decret : pars . de consecratione ; dest . . cap. ego berengarius . q bellarmine , and others de sacrificio missae : tho. beacons reliques of rome . ● ol . f. . . r aquinas summae : pars . . qu. . art. . azorius instit . moralium . tom. . l. . c. . thomas waldensis . tom. . tit. . c. . s luk. . . t see tho. beacons reliques of rome , vol. . fol. . b. . a. . a . a. declaration du pere basil . p. . there is a chapple named s. laict in reimes where the ladies milke is kept . * if the consecrated bread and wine , which rome holds , to be the very glorified body and blood of christ , will putrifie , mould and corrupt if over-long reserved , as experience witnesseth , and all romish d●● grant : then much more the virgins milke : unlesse they make it better than christs very body and blood . v impera filio tuo monstra te esse matrem . yet remaining in all their houres of our lady and masse-bookes and sundry manuals of their devotion , intimating christ now in state of glory to be still under his mothers cōmand . see b. vsh . ans . to the iesuits chal. p. . to . x mat. ● . . . . * thus is she pictured not onely among papist ; abroad , but at home to , and such a statue of her hath beene lately set up over the porch of s. maries church in oxford to the great scandall of protestants , and obduration of papists . y nicolaus de clemangis , de corrupto ecclesiae statu c. . . agrippa de. va. scie●t . c. . z agrip. de vanitat . scien . c. . espenceus de continentia l. . c. . a sum. part . . tit . . c. . f. . . b luk. . . c see tho beacons reliques of rome . hospinian de origine templorum : cap. reliquiis . * see cassandri consultatio , cap. de veneratiene reliquiarum , p. . . where he freely confeseth , that most of the reliques papists now shew , are great and detestable impostures , & therefore wisheth that all shewing of reliques should be utterly abolished . d see tho beacons reliques of rome . * see tho. waldensis , tom . tit. . c. . . & tit. . c. . e eratque hoc tantae capacitatis & immensitatis vestimen●um , quod totam caelestem patriam amplexando dulciter continebat . antoninus : hist . pars . . tit. . c. . f. . b. * see tho. becons . reliques of rome . vol. . ●ol . . b. f cor. . . . g exod. . . c. . . h mat. . mar. . . luc. . . . cor. . . i exod. . . k concil . coloniense sub adolpho . an. . c. . . surius tom. . concil . p. . . l mat. . . to . mar. . . . . luk. . . . . m qua : ( k ) before . n see missale romanum : & the cannon of the masse acts and monuments . in the old edition : p. . to . tho. beacons reliques of rome . p. . a. o george douley priest , his briefe instruction . p. . p exod. . . . . q exod. . . r mat. . . s exod. . . . . t summa angelica : eucharistia . . sect. . . . v exod. . . . . x cor. . . . y exod. . . . z joh. . . to . a exod. . c. . . . . num. . . . . . . . . . . b chron. . . psal . . . . sam. . . . . . sam. . . c num. . . to . d fox acts and monuments . p. . in the old edition , tho. waldensis . tom. . tit. . c. . e gen. . . psal . . . . psal . . . . f num igitur mentis suae compos putandus est , qui auctori & datori luminis can delatum aut cerarum lumen offer● pro munere ? de vero cultu . l. . c. . g tho. beacons reliques of rome : vol. . f. . a. declation du pere basil . a s●dan . . p. . h rev. . . to . i psal . . . heb. . . k see platina , balaeus , benno cardinalis , crespin and others in the life of pope hildebrand , and other his successors . l mat. . . eph. . . to . . pet. . . . jam. . . m declaration du pere basil . p. . n at genes : see tho. beacons reliques of rome . vol. . f. a. o eccles . . . p heb. . . . . . . c. . . . . . . . . q see beller . de sacrificio missae . declaration du . pere basil c. . tho. beacons reliques of rome , vol. . f. . . r see bella● . de sacramentis : contr. . de numera sacramentorum . and amesii . bellarminus eu●ruatus . tom. . c. . f. . . s officium beatae mariae : ledesma . c. . canisius . sum . doct. christianae p. . . t see missale romanum , officium b. mariae . fox acts and monuments . p. . to . in the old edition . v tho. waldensis de sacramentalibus . tom. . tit. . c. . . p. . to . x mar. . . heb. . . joh. . . y see surius , ribadeneira ; antoninus and others in the lives of the saints : maffaeus his history of india , & the jesuites letters thereto annexed from thence . z surius concil . tom. . p. . summa angelica tit. jejunium . a see summa angelica tit. jejunium . ambrose se elia & jejunio . b concilium senonense an. . decreta fidei . c. . . surius tom. . concil . p. . . c agrippa de vanitate scient . c. . espenca us de continentia . l. c. . grauamina geimaniae . d surius . concil . tom. . p. . fox acts and monuments p. . iohn bales acts of english votaries . gratian. diss . , to . e mark. . . jam. . f concilium senonc●se an. ● . c. surius tom. . p. 〈◊〉 ● . summa 〈◊〉 . tit. 〈…〉 . * rhemists annot . in lu. . . g as all true faith is in the person beleeving . pet. . . tim. . . h see d. rainolds theses ; and m. burtons bable no bethel . i cor. . . c . . * see tho. waldensis tom. . tit. . c. . and tit. . c. . k heb. . . cor. . . l tollet . de instruct . sacerdotis . l. . c. . cusanus . exist . l : . & . see sir humfry lynde his by-way-sect . . m act. . . n thes . . . joh. . joh. . . cor. . . * see tho. waldensis : tom. . tit. . c. . to . o mat. . . . p mat. . . q tho. waldensis . tom . tit. . c. . . . . r see tho. beacon . vol. . f. . . and tho. waldensis . tom. . tit. . c. . . . . . to . petr. de cabrera , in . part . thom. quest . . art. . disp . . num . . . lyndewood constit : prouinc . lib. . de haeret. cap. nullus . s tho. waldensis qua . . catechismus . rom. part . . c. . sect. . t exod. . . . den. . . to . c. . . . c. . . levit. . psal . . . exod . . josh . . . judg. . . . . . king. . . king. . . . . c. . . chr. . . isa . . . . . c. . . c. . . c. . . . . . v mat. . . c. . . c. . . . mar. . . c. . . . luk. . . c. . . joh. . . mat. . . c. . . * who went in person to visite her cosen elizabeth , lu. . . to . not elizabeth to visit her . x tho. waldensis tom. . tit. . c. . . f. . * whom they stile s. longinus the souldier that pierced christs side and s. eloi , which was but the nayles . see surius and ribadeneira in their lives of the saints . y mat. . . . mar. . . . . luk . . . z mat. . . c. . . to . joh. . . . a mat. . . to . joh. . . . b mat. . . mar. . . c mat. . . . c. . . c. . . d mar. . . e mar. . . to . luk. . to . f rev. . . f psal . . . g peter lombard sentent . l. . art . . see scotus and others on that place : and gabr. biel. in can. missae c. . h biel ibidem scotus . in . sent. dist . . qu. . i see eccles . . . . joh. . . . isa . . . c. . . . c. . . heb. . . . . k see ( x ) before . see t. beacons reliques of rome . l see scotus , durandus , and others schoolmen in . . sent. dist . . m king. . . . . . . . psal . . . . psa . . . ps . . . . . dan . . . n psal . . . psal . . . joh. . . o see cor. . * joh. . . . joh. . . to . luk. . to . c. . . cor. . . to . p summa angelica . tit. eucharistia . . q joh. . . . . to . c. . . . . . . c. . . luc. . . . . to . act. . . . . . c. . . . cor. . . to . pet. . . . . joh. . . . r mat. . . s so the papists generally now hold . t isa . . . deut. . . heb. . . mal. . . . kings . . c. . . . v see summa angelica . tit. eucharistia . and bellarmin de eucharistia . * see pontificale & ceremoniale romanum : & tho. beacons vol. . f. . to . y gratian de consecrat . dist . summa angelica tit. eucharistia . z see bellarmin de romano pontifice ; and all others , who make this the sole reason and ground of the papacy , & yet confesse a reall and corporal presence of christ in the sacrament . z see sir humfry lyndes , by-way . sect. . . . * mat. . . a see d. featlies grand sacriledge of the church of rome . b bellarmin , vasquez , gretser , and others . consil . constant . sess . . surin● tom. . p. . c bellarmin , cotton , douly , and others . * firmissime credendum est , & nullatesand nus du bitandum , integrum christi corpus & sanguinem , tam sub specie panis , quam sub specie vini , veraciter contineri . concil . constant sess . . 〈◊〉 . tom. . p. . d jer. . . isa . . . hab . . zec. . . * concil . trident . sess . . surius . tom. . p. . e psal . . . to . psal . . . to . f joh. . . psal . . . pro. . . g mich. . . . psal . . . . act. . . ps . . . to h luc. . . . jer. . . . ezech. . . . numb . . . . . i concil . trident . sess . . decretum de purgatorio : conc. tom. . p. . . & bellarmin de purgatorio . * see bellarmin de indulgentiis summa angelica , tit. indulgent●a . k see bellarmin . de indulgentiis . l see , officium b. mariae the severall collects therein for saints dayes , and bellarmin de cultu sanctorum . * tu per thoma sanguinem quem pro te impendit , fac nos christe scandere quo thomas ascendit . in officio heata mariae secundum vsum sarum . used anciently in most churches as their common masse booke . n see antiquitates ecclesiae brit. and godiwin in his life . o see bellarmin : deliber . arbitrio . p see iohn valerian de sacerdotum barbis . polydor. virgil. de invenr . rerum , l. . c. . gratian. distinct . . q durandus , rationale divinorum . l. . c. . r baruch . . forbidden to gods priests lev. . : and . . ezek. . . s baronius & spondanus an . sect. . paulus windeck , de theolog . juriscons . locus . . p. . . . summa angelica . tit. faemina . t cor. . . . . . isa . . . cor. . . . ezech. . . rev. . . luc. . . . v concil . gangrens . can. . . surius . tom. . p. . sosemeni hist . l. . c. . nicetas . thesaur : orthodox . l. . c. . bib. pa● . tom. . par● . p. . b. summa angelica & resela . tit. faemina . * tacitus de motibus germanorum . c. . justinian god. l. . tit. . le● . . ambros . ad vitginem lapsam . c. . zonaras annal. tom. . f. . . . niceph . eccl. hist . l. . c. . surius . concil . tom. . p. . * see cornelius a lapide in cor. , v. . . y see onus ecclesiae , c. . sect. . nicholaus de clemangis de corrupto eccl. statu . c. . agrippa de vanitate scient . c. . z see officium b. mariae secundum usum sarum . tho. beacon . vol . f. . . a concil . trident : sess . . c. . . . . . surius . tom. . p. . . . b see summa angelica ; tit. simonia . c s. george for england , s. denis for france , s. patricke for ireland . s andrew for scotland , s. iago for spaine , s. gregory for students , s. luke for painters , cosmus and damian for philosophers , s. katherine for spinners , s. crispin for shoomakers , s. sebastian for the plague , s. valentine for the falling sicknesse , pe tronella for agues , s. apollonia for the rooth-ach , s. anthony for pigges , saint gallowes for geese , s. wencelaus for sheep , s. pelagius for oxen , &c. see surius r●badeneira and others in the lives of the saints . d officium bearae mariae with other houres and manuals and m●●alls . e see tho. beacons relique● of rom. f king . . ● . king ● . . . ● c. . . . . g see ornerod his pagano-papismus : and francis de croy his threefold conformity . h summa angelica tit. indulgentia sect. . i see bellarmin de justificatione ; and concil . trident . sess . c. de justificatione . k psal . . . neh. . . tim. . . . tit. . . jude . rom. . . . psal . . . rev. . . l cor. . . m neh. . . exod. . . c. . . chron . . ps . . . ps . . . ps . . . ps . . . . ps . . . . ps . . . ps . . ● . ps . . . ps . . . psal . . . . ps . . psa . . . psal . . . psal . . . . . psa . . . . psal . . . isa . . . . . lam. . . . . dan. . . rom . . . . c. . . . . luc. . . . . . ga. . n see jam. . . o see officium b. mariae , and the popish letanies of the saints . * witnesse the prayers and masses of priests and monkes to free soules out of purgatory , which are dayly bought and sold . p joh. . . act. . . ps . . . tim. . . . . col. . . pet. . . deut. . . . . . . c. . . . . c. . . . k see index librorum prohibitorum and the rhemists on cor . q see al their m●●all● ▪ catechismes , hours and manuals wherein it is omitted & concil . constant . s●●s . . surius tom. . p. ● . r see bellarmin de sacrificio missae . ● yea s. maclou a popish same raised a beast from death whom the servant of a covetous master had slaine , at the servants request . ribadeneira , fleurs des vies des saincts part p . s pier de moulin bouclier de foy , a geneve . p. . t see abbas vspergensis p. . . . and platina & balaeus in boniface the . his life . v see bellarmin de romano pontifice . x jean crespin , l'estat de ●eglise , p. . y psa . . . rom . ● . z see platina & onuphrius de vitis pontificum : & bellarmin de romano pontifice . a mat. . . . to . b see o●u● ecclesiae & nich. de clemangis , de corrupto ecclstatu . c see bellarmin de pontifi . romano . d rom. . e see morney his mystery of iniquity . p. . . f bellarmin de pontif. romano . g concil . trident. sess . ● . can . . . h see ta●a camera . i rom. . . c. . . mich. . . k joh. . . l mat. . . act. . . m bellarmin , de rom. pontifice . n ephes . . . c. . . c. . . col. . . c. . . . pet. . . cor. . . o concil . constantiense . sess . . surius tom. . p. . cardinales sicut nomine , ita re ipsa cardines sunt , super quos ostia , universal●● versentur & sustententur ecclesiae . p mat. . . c. . . mar. . . . . c. . . luk. . . c. . . . joh. . . luc. . . q summa angelica . vicarius sect. . r platina de vitis pontif. in joan , . see cooke his pope ioane , and morney his mystery of iniquitie . p. . . . s balaeus and others in vita sixti , . morney his mystery of iniqu . p. . to . . t mat. . . joh. . . . v mat. . . to . joh. . . . . x see caere moniale & pontificale romanum . y act. . : mat. . . z bernard . de consid . ad eugenium , & ad gulielmum abbatem apologia . a see bellarmin de romano pontif & d. crakanthorp , of the popes temporall monarchy . c. & . b platina in the life of paul the . writes that in a village not far from rome divers men and women were apprehended & condemned for heretiques by this pope , for holding , that of all those who succeeded s. peter none was any true vicar of christ but those who imitated his poverty . c see platina onuphrius , bale , & crespin , in vitis pontificium . d gen. . . c. . . c. . . e see d. halls honour of the married clergie : iohn bales acts of english votaries . f gratian. distinct . summa angelica matrimonium , sect . g levit . . . . ezra . . to . h heb. . . i gratian. distinct to . . k mat . . mar. . . . cor . . phi. . . act. . . . l see bishop halls honour of the married clergie , and m. fox acts and monuments vol. p. . & . &c. edit ult. gratian. distinct . . . . . . m tim . . . . . . tit. . n gratian distinct . . o tim. . tit. . . p a bishop must be blamelesse , the husband of one wife , vigilant , sober , of good behaviour ; and tim. . . . . tit. . . . . . all in the present , nor preter perfect tense or future . p a bishop must be blamelesse , the husband of one wife , vigilant , sober , of good behaviour ; and tim. . . . . tit. . . . . . all in the present , nor preter perfect tense or future . q tim. . . . . r gratian. distinct . . s gratian. dist . . to . t see cassandri consultatio . artic. . p. . &c. v mat. westminster , mat. paris , holinshed , speed , and others in the life of h. the . an. . henry huntingdon , l. . p. . hovenden . annal. pars . p. . grafton , p. . polychron . l. . c. . x agrippa de vanitate scient . c. . wesselus , tract de indulgentis papalibus gravanina germaniae . y nic. de clemangis de corrupto ecclesiaestatu espencaeus de continentia & in titum . c. . . alvares pela gius de planctu ecclesiae , onus ecclesiae . bernardi concio in concilio rhemensi . cassand● consultatio . artic. ● p. . &c. z see the booke called charity mistaken . a mat. . . c. . . c. . . luc. . . . b see bellarin , de ecclesia : and charity mistaken . c see sir humfrey lyndes by-way , sect. . . & jean mestrezat traicte de 〈◊〉 escriture sancte , a geneve , . d ●indanus l . strom c. . bellarmin de verbo dei. l. . c. . . costeri enchir. c. . salmeron prolegom . . stapleton l. . de author . s. scrip. vasquez tom. . part . . disp●● . . andrad●●s defens . conc. l. tridon . l. . declaration du per● basil . p. . . . p●gghius hierar . l. c. . e eph. . . . mat. . f joh. . . rom. . . rev. . . . g bartholmeus de pisa conformitatum lib. approved at assise by a generall chapter of the franciscans , aug. . . as containing nothing in it worthy correction , and approved by three popes fol. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . antonini chron. tit. . c. . . vincentius beluacensis speculum historiae l . c. . ribadencira fleurs des vies des saints part . . p &c see philip mornay his mystery of iniquity london pag ● h psal . . . heb . . . i isa . . . c. . . luc. . . act. . . k joh. . . l joh. . . mat. . . m heb. . . n mat. . . . . c. . . o ribadeniera fleurs des vies des saints part . . p. . bonaventure in his chronicle . p rosatium be●nardi antonini chron. tit . c. . sect . peter moulin accroisement des eaux de siloe &c. p. . . * note here the policie and avarice of popes . q antouini chron. tit. . c. . . . see morney his mystery of iniquitie . p. . . . ribadeniera fleurs des vies des saints par . . p. . r joh. . s mat. . . t joh. . . v zech. . . x luk. . . y mat. . . to . z mat. . . a revel . . . b joh. . . c rom. . . joh. . . d see surius & ribadeniera in the lives of s. francis , dominicke and antonine . e see bellarmine , de ecclesia , & romano pontif. f act. . . to . c. . . c. . . g ribadeniera fleurs des vies des saints part . p. . b ribadeniera ibid. pag. . i ribadeneira ibid. k antonini chron. pars . lugdun . . tit. . c. . sect. . to . f. . to . ribadeniera fleurs des vies des saints part . . p. . to ● . l nous &c. we under signing doctors in the faculty of theologie at paris certifie , that we have diligently read this book , &c. in which we have found nothing but what is conformable to the faith of the catholicke apostolike and roman church , and therefore we judge it very usefull and necessary to be published . novemb ult gesselni , blazi . m tho. walsingham ypodigma neustriae , anno. . p. . n mat. . . o pere bosile , his declaration c. . p. . . p see officium s. crucis bren. roman . sab. in heb. . q officium b. mariae secundum usum sarum , & iohn bridges of the princes supremacy p. . to . r ribadeneira fleues des vies des saints part . . p. . . . s ibid. part . pag. . &c. t heures de nostre dame a l'usage de romera rov . and heures nostre dame secundum usum roven . in the letanie of the saints , sancta fides , ora pro nobis , sancta spes , ora , sancta charitas ora , &c. not found in the ancient offices secundum usum sarum . v cor. . . z mat. . . lu. . . y isa . . . c. . . jer. . . ● . z si rusticus circa articulos credit suo episcopo proponenti aliquod dogma hae●eticum , meretur incredendo , licet sit error , quia tenetur credere donec ei constet esse contra ecclesiam . tollet . de instruct . sacerd l. . c. . a quam firma est aedificatio ecclesiae , quia nemo decipi potest per malum praesidentem . si dixerit domine obedi ut tibi in praeposito hoc tibi sufficiet ad salutem tu enim per obedientiam quam facis praeposito quem eeclesia tolerat dicipi nequis , etiamsi praeceperit alia quam debuit● praesumit enim ecclesia de illa sententia , cui si tu obedieris magna erit merces tua ; obedientia igitur irrationalis , e● consummata obedientia & perfectissima , scil . quando obeditur sine inquisitione rationis , sicut jumentum obedit domino suo . cusanu● exist . c. . l. . b contrary to joh. . . . joh. . . rev. . . thes . . . . joh. . . act. . . col. . . . . phil . c see bellarmin de ecclesia contr. . d bellarmin , de concil . author . l. c. . . gretzer , def . c. . l. , de verbo . dei see sir humfrey lynde his by-way . sect. . e see platina on●phrius , luitprandius , stella , & balaeus de vitis pontificum , francis mariu● , & zabarella , de schismate , theodoricus a niem de schism . &c. f panegirolla , with others . g mat. . . luc. . . . h luc. . . i bellarmin , sanders , and others de ecclesia . k isa . . . . . act. . . to . c. . . c. . . to . c. . . to . c. . . to . c. . . l act. . . c. . . c. . . . cor. . . c. . . c. . . . cor. . . . . . c. . gal. . . thes . . . rev. . . . c. . . * unlesse it be the church that was in priscilla and aquila's house . rom. . . which diminutive church is far from catholicke and universall . n pet. . . applied by bellarmin himself to rome . o cor. . . cor. . . c. . . gal. . . thes . . . thes . . . rev. . . . c. . & . p rev. . . c. . . c. . . c. . . . m diaboli inventum esse ut populus biblia legere permitteretur de tract . part. . assent . . q bellar. de verbo dei. l. . c. . gretzer . de● . c. . l. . de verbo dei. p. . r joh . . . t luc. v mat. . . x luk. . . pope boniface interpreted it . de major . & obedientia . unam sanctam , &c. y mat. . . applied to pope leo the . in the councell of lataran by stephen arch-bishop of patracla . z see officium b. mariae secundum usum sarum the rubrickes ; there pere basile his declaration . c. . p. . &c. b act. . . . . b mat. . . . . ma● . . . . . c joh. . . d ce● . . . e gen. . . f d●cretalium l. . de majoritate & obedientia tit. . c. solitae . g glossa ibidem . h matthew westm . an. . p. . jean c●●spin lesta● , d● l●●glise . p. ●● . . platina , balaeus , and others in the life of boniface the . i john . . k sermo in fest greg. papae , & senno . ● . in festo s. petri. l ephes . . . . c. . . . . . m mat. . . n de major . & obed. unam sanctam , &c. o jer. . . p serm. in festo greg. papae . extran . de ma●oritate & obedientia . ● . unam sanctam . q de consid . ad eugenium . l. . c. . rusticani magis sudoris schemate quodam labor spiritualis , expressus est , &c. r psal . . s jean ▪ crespin , l'estat . de l'esglis . p. balaeus & platina in alexandro . . grimstons imperiall history . in fred. . t rev. . . to the end . . pet. . . v cor. . . x extran . de major & obedientia . in concil . lateran . sub . l●o. . p. . anton . sum. parte . tit. . c. . pope innocentius the . his workes . in popes epistles in aventine . & in papists who defend the popes supremacy . y see platina , crespin . balaeus & volateran de vitis pontificum romanorum eutorpius : grimstons imperiall history , morney his mystery of iniquity , abbas uspergensis volateranus , the century writers , carolus , moluiaeus , with others . z see aventic . annal. boyorum . a mat. . b mat. . c rom. . . to . d pet. . . . . e see balaeus & benno in vita greg. . with abbas uspergensis , & grimston in the life of fredericke barberossa and henry the third . * king. . . . f mat. . & . g act. c. . & . & . & . tim. . . . h see doctor crakenthorpe of the popes temporall monarchie . h see doctor crakenthorpe of the popes temporall monarchie . i mat. . . . luk. . . k prov. . . psal . . . dan . . c. . . c. . . . job . . . to . chron. ● . . . c. , . tim. . . rev. . c. . . l joh. . . m declaration du pere basil . p. . n cassandri consul●atio . artic. . hieron . lamas sum. pars. . . adeo gens affecta est truncis corrosis & deformibus imaginibus , ut me teste , quoties episcopi decentiores po●ere jubent , veteres suas p●tant plorantes , &c. o see mos●● of equivocation . p 〈…〉 . q marial . part ▪ serm. . excellent . gabriel biel in cen. missae . lect. . joan. gerson . tract . . super magnificat . r fons misericordiae , mater misericordiae , &c. so is mary stiled in most offices , primers , houres and popish masse-bookes : as if all gods mercy were derived from her . s de excellentia . b. virginis . t eia ●rgo advocata nostra . officium . b. mariae secundum usum sarum ; & in all other offices ancient and moderne . v see bishop vshers answere to the jesuites challenge , p. . . x psa . . y psal . . . . . y psal . . . . . z see wicklisse . dialog . l. . c. . . . to . a see bellarmin de ecclesia l. . c. . marsilius patav. defens . pacis . part . . c. . b ephes . . . mat. . . pet. . . . . c jure matris impera tuo delectis●imo filio domino nostro jesu christo . corona b. mariae virginis , bonavent . opera . tom. . romae . . inclina vultum dei & filii rui super nos : coge peccatoribus misereri . ibidem ; monstra ●e esse matrem ; jurematris impera : offic. b. mariae . d see tho. beacons reliques of rome . e see tho. beacon of exorcismes and conjurations . vol. . f. . to . f mat. . . g quia in nonnullis partibus mundi perversus mos pullulate incipit , ut sacerdotes laicos sub utraque specie , panis viz. & vini , commanicare non cessont , contra romanae & universalis ecclesiae consuetudinem approba●am , unde scandala & haereses verisimiliter oriti saspicantur petimus ; nos , &c. per vestras re verendissimas paternitates provideri salubriter ecclesiae dei. &c. hinc est quod praesens concilium sacum generale ●onstantiense , in spiritu sancto legitime congregatum , adversus hunc errorem provideri satagens , matura plurium doctorum tam divini , quam humani juris deliberatione praehabita , declarat , decernit & diffinit : quod licet christus post c●●nam instituerit , & suis discipulis administraverit , sub utraque specie panis & vini hoc venerabile sacramentum : tamen hoc non obstante : &c. sessio . . surius . tom . p. . . h p●rtinaciter asserentes oppositum praemissorum , tanquam haeretici arcendi , per dioce sanos locorum , aut inquisitores haereticae pravitaris concil . constant . ibid. object . . i eph. . . . . col. . . tim. . . . ● pe● . . . answ . . k ephes . . . . . c. . . . col . . to . tim. . . . rom . . to . pet. . . c. . tit. . . l deut. . . josh . . . pro. . . rev. . . . m cor. ● . . . luc. . . n exod ▪ . . mat. . . rom. . . c. . . ephes . . . o mat. . cor. . . . . p cor . . joh. . . c. . . rev. . . c. . . act. . . rom. . . ephes . . . c. . . heb. . . . c. . . to . pet. . . . q joh. . . . . . r act . . c. . . s mat. . mat. . . luk. . . cor. . . heb. . . c. ● . . c. . . exod. . . zech. . . rom. . . t jer. . . c. . . . . isa . . . . psal . . . . . v mat. . . . x cor. . . to . y cor. . . c. . . z gen. . . c. . . c. . . c. . . exod. . . c. . . judg. . . . . sam. . . king. . . c. . . c. . . chron. . . est . . . . job . . isa . . . mat. . . luk. . . a cant. . : b rev. . . c mat. . . d prov. . . . gen. . . e esth . . . . dan. . . . reply . f mat. . . . rejoynder . g deut. . . . . . c. . . c. . . mar. . . . c. . to . compared together . object . . answer . . h concil . trident , sessio . . c. . . suriu● . tom. . p. . i mat. . . k mar. . l sessio . . can. . de sacrificio missae surius . tom. . p. . m cor. . . n rev. . . pet. . . o cor. . . . . k cor. . . . l cor. . . m cor. . . . n cor. . . . . . o mat. . p joh. . . . . . * christ saith not here ; the bread is my flesh indeed , as popelings dreame , but quite contrary : my flesh is meate ( to wit bread ) indeed . and my blood is drinke ( to wit wine ) indeede : therefore if there be any transubstantiation here implyed , it must be of christs body and blood into bread and wine indeed : not of bread and wine into christs body and blood . q . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ● . ● . object . . r concil . constantiense . sessio . . surius . tom. . p. . concil . trident. sessio . . cap. . answ . s see ( z ) before . job . . mat . . . luk. . . t mat. . . . joh. . . to . cor. . . to ● . v see ( ● ) before . x mat. . . . cor. . . . &c. y matth. . . z mat. . . . cor. . . . c. . to . object . . a see ( r ) before . answ . . b mat. . . . cor. . . to . c cor. . . . mat. . . . d mat. . . . mat. . . luk. . . cor. . . . e heb. . . f rev. . . heb. . . john . . g luk. . . . cor. . . . . mat. . . mat. . . r mat. . . . object . . s luk. . act. . . c. . . see doctor featly his grand sacriledge , c. . p. . answ . t mat. . . object . . ( f ) see joan. gerson , defensio de creti concil . constant . answ . incon. . ( c ) gratian de consecr . distinct . c. si quis per libr. sunima angelica eucharistia . . sect. . inconv . . inconv . . y see cyprian valerian de sacerdotum ba●bis . incom . . incom . . incom . . z jean . crespin & grimston , in henry the . platina & bal●us in victor . . a mat. paris , an. . p. ● . b see speedes history . p. . incom . . c cor. . . . d rev. . . joh. . . . mat. . . . e cor. . . . c. . f comperimus autem quod quidam sumpta tantummodo corporis sacri portione , a calice sacrati cruoris abstineant , qui proculdubio● quoniam nescio qua superstitione docentur astringi ) aut integra sacramenta percipiant , aut ab integris arceantur ; quia divisio unius ejusdemque mysterit sine grandi sacrilegio esse non potest . apud gratianum . de consecrat ▪ dist . . g sessio . surius . tom. . p. . . h ipsa sancta synodus decernit patriarchis , primatibus , archiepiscopis , episcopis , &c. processus esse . dirigendos ut effectualiter puniant eos . qui communicando populum sub utraque specie panis & vini exhortati fuerint , & sic faciendum esse docuerint , & si ad paenitentiam redierint , ad gremium ecclesiae suscipiantur , injuncta eis pro modo culpae poenitentia salutari . qui vero ex illis ad poenitentiam redire non curaverint animo indurato , per censuras ecclesiasticas per eos ut haeretici sunt coercendi , invocato etiam ad hoc ( si opus fuerit ) auxilio br●chii secularis . concil . constantiense , sessio . surius . tom. . p. . i qua propter dicere quod hanc consuetudinem aut legem observare , sit sacrilegivm , aut illicitum , censeri debe● erroneum ; & per tinaciter asserentes oppositum praemissorum , tanquam haeretici , arcendi sunt & graviter puntendi , &c. ibidem . k sessio . . suri●s tom. . p. . . l sessio . . de eucharisticae sacr. can. . surius . tom . . . l g●atian de ●ons . dist●nct . . 〈…〉 . decret pa●s . . see geor●● ca●s●ander , consulta●●● de sacra commu . sul u● raque sperisi ●perum , p. . &c. m matth. . . n the words in the canon of the masse run thus : who in the same night he was betrayed tooke bread into his holy and venerable hand , & lifting up his eyes to heaven to thee o god his almighty father ▪ he blessed , brake , and gave it to his disciples , saying , take and eate ye all of this , for this is my body . in like manner after supper taking also the cup into his sacred hands , giving also thankes to thee , he blessed and gave to his disciples , saying , drink ye all of this , &c. all which words are meerly narratively & historically recited , relating onely what christ spake . a gen. . . . . exod. . . . . c. . c. . . . b heb. . . to . c. . . to . c. . . to c. . . to . c. . . . c cor. . . . . . heb. . . . . d heb. . . . . . . . c. . . . . c. , , . , , , c. , , to c. to . col. . . to . cor. . . . c. . . to . c. . . to . e see the coale from the altar ▪ doctor ●ocklingtons sunday no sabbath , & altare christianum . d. heylins antido●●● l●n●olniense . m. meede , of altars , and edmond re●ve , exposition of the catechisme in the common prayer booke . f mat. ● . . . mar. . . . . luc. . . . iohn . . . . . compared with sam. . . psal . cant. . ioh. ▪ . king. . . mat. . . c. , . lu. . . . c. . mark. . . g rev. . ● . . . c. . c. . , . c. c. . , . chron. . . to . heb. . . c. . . pet. . . object . . h archbishop lauds speech in starchamber , june . . p. . gen. . . &c answ . object . . k num. . arch-bp . lauds speech in star-chamber , june . . p. . . translated and reprinted in french and dutch , and so well approved at rome , that it is there translated and printed in latine . l exod . . . . . object . . m chron. . . . arch-bp lauds speech ibid. p. . n gen. . . . . . . exod . . c. . . c. . . chron . . neh. . . . answ . o gen. . exod. . . j●sh . . c. . . n●h . . . esa . . . chron. . . this they did to testifie both their reverence , humility , and that they were but vile dust and ashes , gen. ● . . job . . c. . . josh . . psal . . lam. . . isay . . object . . p psal . , archbishop 〈◊〉 p . q chron. to , . r archbishops speech , p. ſ this psalme and text is read , not at the beginning of prayers , but after the confession , absolution , & lords prayer just before the psalmes are read , and that onely at morning prayer , not evening ▪ besides , this clause is not in the beginning , but in the midst of this psalme , so that if you bow by vertue of it , it must not be at your entring in , or going out of the church , or at your approaches to , or ●ecesses from , or your passings by the altar , nor yet at evening prayer , but just when this clause is read object . . answ . t ibid. archbishop . p. . u col. . . chron. . . c. . . . . x isai . . . y gen. . c. . . . exod. . . ephes . . . sam. . . sam. . . . see edmund gurney his vindication of the commandement z isai . to . a exod. ● levit. . . num. . deut. . . iosh . . . iudg. . . . . kings . . . king ; . . b archbishop speech . p. d●o et altari . &c. c see gregory de valentia apologia de idololatria , & vasquez , l. . de adoratione . d archbishops speech . p. . e archbishop ibid. p. . f psal . . . . . . . deut. . . isay . . . mich. . . rev . c. . . sam. . . c. . chron. . . chron. . . c. . . g psal . . h chron. . . ezek. . . c . . rev. . . . isay . . . . edit . iunij . i luk . , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; adoraveris coramme , as the vulgar latine , and others render it k chron. . . object . . l psal . . . exod. . . num. . . psal . . . iosh . . . m reeve . p. . shelfords answer . sermon of gods house . cole from the altar . p. . archbishops speech . p. . . n exod. . . to . num . . iosh . . to . psal . . . . . psal . . psal . . . . exod . . chron. . . . levit. . . sam. . . . . chron. . . o see a quench coale p. . to . p neh. . . to . luke . . . . . . acts . . . r cor . . cor. . . matth. . . ● gal. . . ſ see a quench coale p. . to . t exod. . to levit . . . . num. . . u exod. . . to num . . heb. . levit. . . x neh. . . . . object . . y heylin antid . lincolniense sect. . c. . p. . and others . z exod. . . levit. . . &c. answ . a levit. . . exod. . . heb. . . b heb . . to . object . . c acts. . c . . heb. rom. . . d kings . . . . . . . . chron . . . . . psal . . psal . . . e see this object on fully answered in the quench coale . p. . to . answ . f kings . . . . . . ● . . chro. . . . . . . . daniel . . . g dan. . . chron. . . . h chron. . . . . . . . . dan. . . i deut. . kings . . . . . chron. . . . c. . . . . . c. . . . . . k psal . . . psal . . . ezra . . ●am . . . ma●th . l iohn . . c. ● . . m ●am . . . psal . 〈…〉 psal . . . ● . psal . . . isai . . kings ● . n kings . . . . . . chron . . . c. . . to . o dan . . p chron. . . . . . q the pot of manna was not in the arke , when it was brought into the temple , but onely the two tables of the law , chron. . . king . therefore it s a fable which some say , that they prayed & looked toward the temple , because the ark stood there , & to the ark , because the manna was in it , which typified christ , and the sacramentall bread . joh. . , . r psal . . . ma● . . . mark. . . . luk. . , . iohn . . act. . c. . . ſ king. . . . chro. . . . t dan. . . * land , city , temple , but not altar . u kings . . chron . x and he stood before the altar of the lord &c. kings . . . chron . . . so the priest . stood [ not bowed ] at the east end of the altar . chron . . * before the congregation [ not the altar ] saith the text. y gen . . c. . . chron. . . . c. see num. . . . . . . . rev. . . kings . . chron . kings . . z chron . . . . object . a exod. . iosh . . . isai . . . acts. . b dr. laurence his sermon on this text and others . answ . c see burtons melancholy . p. . augustinus de haeresibus gratian. causa . qu. . isiodor . hispal . orig . l. . c. . * we read they were but once commanded to doe it , not alwayes , & they only & no other . d bishop lauds and w●ers ●●tation articles . object . . e eccles . . . mr. yates and others . object . f rev. . . . c. . . . c. . mr. yates . answ . g rev. . compared with c. . . . . h rev. . . . . c . . . i rev. . . k rev. . . c. . . . c. . . l isai . . . cor. . . m archbishops speech , p , . shelford reeve , widdows heylin , dr. laurence , & others . object . . answ . n psal . . . psal . . . acts . . esay . . mat. . . o act. c. . ● . luk. . . act . . rom. . he. . c. . . c. . . c. . , . c. . . rev. . . p acts . . mat. . . joh. . c. . lu. . . he. . . reply answ . q mat. . . c . cor. , . r the altar is the greatest place of gods residence upon earth : i say , the greatest , yea , greater then the pulpit . for there t is , hoc est corpus meum , this is my body : but in the pulpit it is at most , but hoc est verbum meum , this is my word . and a greater reverence ( no doubt ) is due to the body , than to the word of our lord. and so in relation , answerably to the throne , where his body is usually present , then to the seat where his word useth to be proclaimed , &c. archbishops speech in star-chamber , p. . a rotten absurd passage , of false romish divinity . reply . answ . reply . ſ matth. . . archbishops speech . p. . answ . t cor. . . gal. . . u matth. . . cor. . . . reply . answ . x cor. . . . . tim. . . y cor. . . . ephes . . . . z cor. . . . prov. . . rev. . . a phil. ▪ . . heb. . . . b gal. . . cor. . . ephes . . . iohn . . cor. . . iohn . . iohn . . cor. . c cor. . . . ephes . . col. . cor. . . ephes . . . . per. . . iohn . 〈◊〉 to d ephes . gal. . . rom . . cor . e iohn . . . . iohn . . f matth. . . . cor. . . g iohn . . pet. . . cor. . . h iohn . . . pet. . . rom. . . . i iam. . . . mark. . . . rom. . . cor. . . ephes . . tim. . . k accedat ve 〈◊〉 ad elementum ut fiat sacramentum augustin . l pet. . . . deut . . . . m b●●um quo communius eo melius aristotle n archbishops speech . p. . o cor. . . reply . answ . p joh. . . ephe. . , . . rom. . . ephe. , . cor. . . acts . , . heb. . . q act. . . c. . . c. . . phil. . . acts . . r matth . hebr. . , , . pet. . , . tim. . . ſ mat. . . act. . , . c . , . rom , . joh . . act. . . . cor . . . gal. . ephes . . . thes . heb. . . . rev . t isaih . . mat. . . mat . . . , . c. . . luk. . . ioh. , . act. . . rom . . cor. . . tim. . . reply answ . reply u cor. . , , . answ . x see the practise of piety , in the preparative to the sacrament ▪ where all this is at large deba●ed and proved , with mr. philpots examin . fox act. & mon. vol. . y iohn . . . . . . ephes . . . gal. . . z iohn . . . to . cor. . . to . c. . . . . a chron. . psal . . . psal . . . isay . . matth. . . b matth. . . acts . . luk. . . c heb. . . . thes . . . d matth. . . mar. . luk. . . e heb. . . . ●am . . . f pet. . . eph. . . lam. . . g see bishop mortons institution of the sacrament . b. . p. . to . where this is largely manifested . h luke . . . rev. . c. . i bishop mortons institution of the sacrament . b. . throughout : for what other thing doe they ( popish priests when they are bowing and bleating before their images , burning incense and fall downe flat before their altars , but that which in times past the prophets of baal did when as they transported the worship of god unto an idol● sir iohn borthwicke martyr : answer to this . article . fox acts & mon. edit . ult . vol. . p. . a. k bishop mortons institution of the sacrament . edit . ult . p . reply * widdows , shelford , and others make this objection , use this similitude . see my quench-coale , p. , , . . to . . to answ . a i●gens autem est vesania eorum qui talia dicunt . nam rex purpuram indutus , ab omnibus adoratur ; nunquid ergo purpura adoratur , aut rex ? manifestum est quod rex : vbi vero rex hanc exu●t , & in locum reposuit , non amplius vestis purpura adoratur . sedet etiam in templo sape rex in proprio thron● , & adoran●es adorant regem in templo ac throno proprio ; vbi vero surrexit rex , nemo neque templum neq , thronum adorat . nemo autem adeo insanus est , ut adorare volens regem in throno , dicerad regem , surgeex throno ut te adorem ; sed adorat regem cum throno . epiphanius , lib. anchoratus , col. . . * see chron. . psal . . psal . . ● . ●am . . where the arke and temple , are stiled gods footstoole , not his throne or chaire of state . b ephes . . cor. . . psal . . . cor. . . c cor. . . cor. . . eph. . . col. . . d cor. . ephes . . . e cor. . . . pet. . cor. . . cor. . . eph. . . f cor. . . cor. . gal. . . g col. . . . thes . . . tim . . cor. . . cor . . heb. . . ephes . . . tim. . . tim. . rom. . . h isay . . . to . psal . . . baruch . i matth. . . . iohn . . rom. . . . k ephes . . , . l mat. . luk. . . re. joh. . . . c . . m numb . . psa . . . ps . ier. . . hos . . . ioe . . zeph. . . . zech. . . , . cap. . . rev. . . c. . . c. . heb. . chro. . . exod. . . ezech. . . . n ephe. . gal. . cor. . . o per altare c●r nostrum intelligitur , quod est in medio corporis , sicut altare in medio ecclesiae , rat. divin . lib. . * laici juxta altare non sedeant , nec inter clericos sta●e vel sedere praesumant , sed pars illa quae cancellis ab altari dividitur , tantum psallentibus p●teat cle●icis . iuo ca●notensis , decret . pars . . c. . sed & hoc secundum auth●ri atem canonum modis emnibus prohibendum , ut nulla foemina ad altare p●aesi●●at accedere , aut infra cancellos stare aut sedere . conc. nan. apud sur. tom . . p. . object . p antid . lincoln . sect. . c. . pag. . answ . q ideo dictus chorus , quia in sacris collectis in modum coronae circa aras starent , & ita psallerent . isiod . hisp . orig. l. . c. . r de vniverso . l. . c. . ſ durandus rat. divinorum l. . c. . nu . durantus de ritibus ecclesiae , l . c. . n. . barthol . gavanus ; commen . in rubt . miss . pars . tit. . sect . . cassan . litur . c. . t o miraculum quicum patre seorsum sed●t , in illo ipso temporis articulo omnium manibus pertractatur , &c. fit autem id nullis praestigiis , sed apertis & circumspicientibus circumsistent ium omnium oculis . de sacerdotio . l. . edit . fronto-ducaei . tom. . p. . see l. . p. . multitudinem conspexisse altare ipsum circumdantium . u pro omnibus hic circumstantibus . canon missa : and , omnium circumstantium qui tibi hoc sacrificium laudis offerunt . ib. honorius in genima l. . c. . durandus rationale diu . l. . c. . fox act. & monum . edit . ult . vol. . p. . . cassandri liturg. p. . . , , , . . . neque canon debet nimium tacite legi , sed expressa voce , ut a circumstantium , posset a●diri & percipi , cum circumstantes debeant ad orationes singulas respondere , amen . gerardus . lerithicus de missa puel . prorogand . * altare domini multorum multi●udine circund●tum . athanasius in vita antonii , in bishop mortors institution of the sacrament , l. . c. . p. . circunstant autem eum soli eum sacerdotibus ministri selecti . dionysius areop . eccles . hierarch . c. . x sacerdos solus missam nequaquam celebret , &c. esse enim debent qui ei circunstent , quos ille salutet , a quibus ●i respondeatur , & ad memoriam illi reducendus est ille dominicus sermo . vbicunque fuerint duo vel tres in nomine meo congregat● , ibi sum & ego in medio eo●●m : spelmanni concilia . p. . cassand●i liturgica , c. . p. . which was taken out of gregory , lib. capitulari . c. . regino de eccles . officiis , c. . y bibl. patrum . tom. . p. . c. ● . z ser●o ad clerum in concil . rhem. col. . jesus autem in medio est , non in angulo : unde ipse in 〈◊〉 angelio , vbi duo , inquit , vel tres congregati fuerint in nomine meo , in medio eoru● sum . et iterum , jesus autem transiens per medium illorum ibat . et in libro sapientiae , in medio , inquit , ecclesiae aperuios meum . et rursus in evangelio dicitur , stetit jesus in medio discipulorum subrum . vae mihi domine jesu , si tecum ero in domo tuae , & non in medio domus tuae . at isti non sic , sunt quidem cum jesu , sed non in medio domus ejus , &c. a de ecclesiasticis officiis , l. . c. concil . aquisoran : sub ludov : surius tom . . p. . circa aram christi , quasi columnae altaris sisterent . b liturgia sancti petri bib . patrum tom . . p. . & liturgia sancti iacobi , ib. p. , . missa aethiopica , et missa mozarab . & muzarab : ibid tom . . p . . . c. . missa christianorum apud indos , ibid. p. . a. . a. & liturgia basilii , & chrysostomi . c rational . div . l. . cap. de consecrat . altaris , & l. . c. de thurificatione pontif. roman . p. , , &c. * tunc acolyti vadunt dextralaevaque post episcopos circa altare . subdiaconi finito offertorio , vadunt retro altare , aspicientes pontificem , stantes erecti . ordo romanus de officio missae , apud georg. cassandri opera , p. , . . . , . d eccles . hist . l. . c. . e hom. . in isai , c. . vidi dom. de sacerdotio , l. . & . and in his liturgie . f de verbis domini , serm. . g eccles . hierar . l. . h oratio . . i eccles . hist . l . c. . k eccles . hist . l. . c. . l eccles . hist . l. . c . m de rebus eccles . l. . c. . n rationale divinorum , l. . c. . n. . c. . n. . c. . n. . see cassandri liturgica , c. ● . p. . and my quench-coale . p. . to . . to . , &c. o de origine altarium c. . p. . p de missa l. . c. . p. . q tablean , des differens , part . . c. . p. . r nouvaute du papisme contr. . c. , . p. . f cathol . orthodox . tom . . qu. p. . t scripta anglicana p. . u in his workes p. , . x fox acts & monuments , p. , . y notes on exod. c. . & . p. z fox acts & monuments , p . a answer to hardings preface . reply to harding , artic. . divis . . arti. . divis . . p. . b answer of a true christian to a counterfeit catholique , artic . . p. , confuta . of the rhemish testament notes , on cor. . . sect . . . hebr. . sect . . defence against gregory martin c. . sect . . c answer to the rhemish testament notes on cor. . sect . . d institution of the sacrament , l. . c. . p. . e synopsis papismi contr . . qu. . error . . f roma sater , l. . c. . l. . c. . p. . h crantzius me trop . l. . c. . hospinian de orig. alt. c. . histor . sam. l. . c. . p. . i see my quench . coale p. , to . . to & . , . . beda , eccl. hist . l. . c. . . . . k beda eccl . hist . l. . c. . antiq eccle . brit. p. . habet hoc in medio pene sui altare , &c. g chemnitius examen concil . trident. pars . platina in nich. . anastasius de vitis pontif. p. , . thomas becons workes , vol. . p. , . hospiman de orig. altar . p. . l caenbdens brit. p . m beda eccl . hist . l. . c. . sed p●st annos quatuor . constructa domuncula cultio●i recep●ui corporis ejusdem , ad orientem altaris adhuc sine macula corruptionis invention , &c. n godwins catalogue of bishops , p . . . o epist . lectori , p. . before his translation of the greeke liturgy . p de graeco●●n ritibus , bibl. patrum , tom . . p. . 〈◊〉 . q claudius saintes in his edition of the greek liturgy : parisiis . . r de antiquis missae ritibus l. . c. . ſ beda eccles . hist . l. . c. . fecit inter alia papa gregorius , ut in ecclesiis petri et pauli , super corpora eorum missae celebrarentur . * hence the waldenses saith was , that the sacrament ought to be received at the table , according to the anci●nt use of the primitive church , where they used to communicate sitting . fox acts & monuments , old edition , p. . a. & edit ult , vol. . p. a. and mr. fox himselfe , edition old . p . 〈◊〉 . christordained his supper a table matter ; wee turne it to an altar matter be for a memory , we for a sacrifice . he sa●e , our men stand , and make it a matter of kneeling . see my quench-coale , p. , to . . * antidotum lincolniense , c. p , . t gen . . basil de spirim sancto , c . tertullian apolog. c. . u ezek . vitruvius de architectura . l. . c. hospin●an de origine altarium , philip de marnix , tableau des differens , part . f . see my quench coale , p . to . dr. reinolds de idolo . rom. eccl. p. . x de poenitentia . vid. notae ibidem . * written antiently haris , and so this mistake and corruption might easily happen , by omitting cor ●h which added to haris , or aris , makes charis . y lacerda , & junus , ibid. z albaspinaeus . observ . l. . obs . . heraldus observat . l. . obs . . mornay , li. . de missa , c. . salmacius ad aram dosiadi . * rhenanus , & la cerda thidem tripartita hist . l . c. . a see pamelius ibid. and my quench-coale , p. . to . b oratio de imaginibus , & . p. . b. vt laici secus altare quo sancta mysteria celebrantur , inter clericos tam advigilias , quam ad missam , stare● vel sedere penitus non praesumant ; sed pars illa quae cancellis , ab altari dividitur● , tantum psallentibus pateat clericis . ad adorandum vero & communicandum laicis & foeminis ; sicut ●os est pareant sancta sanctorum : juo carna●ensis decretalium pars , . c. . ex concilio moguntino , c. . see concil . nannetense , cap. . apud surium , tom. . p. . a accordingly . * which is idolatry , exod. . iudg. . . . numb . . . kings . iosh . . isa . . . . c archbishops speech in star-chamber , p. . . d concil . constant . . e tertullian de co●ona millitis . basil . de spiritu sancto . c. . f nonne solennior erit statio tua si ad aram dei stetteris ? de orat. c. . so did pagans and others anciently in scripture stand , not kneel at altars . num. . . . . . . . chron . . c. . . . rev. . . chrysostom . de sacerdotio . l. . & the prayers at the masse forecited . * dum datur communio aut aliud quippiam officij fit , omnes stant erecti . georgij cassandri liturgica . c. . p. see p . . . . . . * dum datur communio aut aliud quippian officij fit , omnes stant erecti . georgij cassandri liturgica . c. . p. see p . . . . . . g archbishops speech in starchamber . p . to . h archbishops speech . p. . . i libro nigro windorien . p. k domino d●o & altari ejus in modum viroruus ecclesiasticorum , ib. l pontifex inclinans se paulu lum a d altare : altari inclinans : adorato altare : pertransit pontifex in caput scholae & in gradu superiore inclinato capite ad altare . et salutar altare , sacerdos quando dicit supplices te ro gamus ; humiliato capite inclinat se ante altare , sub●llaconi ad al●are progredientes simul se inclinant coram ●o : ordo romanus de offic. missae a pud greg. cassandri opera , p. . to . m missale parvum pro sacerdotibus in anglia itinerantibus . printed anno ordo missae p. . sacerdos paratus cum ingreditur ad altare , facta illi debita reverentia , p. . profunde inclinatus ante altare . n ribadeniera fleurs des vies des saintes part . p. after compline and mattins he visited all the altar ; o● the church , making a prostration and reverence to every of them . o tunc te curv●bis ad a●am , 〈◊〉 est , in●linabis alta●● su●●ula ray●undi fo . . p fox acts & monuments edit . : p. . * see fox acts & monuments old edition . p. a. . b. . . ● . and my quenchcoale p. . . . to . q kings . chron. . ier. . . acts . r psal . . . psal . . . dan. . . acts. . ephes . . . psal . . . . object . answ . s isay . . col. . . . . * see my quenchcoale where this is more fully debated . a fleures des vies des saincts part . p. . b he dyed anno . c surius tom. . vita francisci ex bonaventura . c. . et duralt iesuit flores exemp c. . tit . . d o discant haeretici vel a pecude venerari matrem christi , et eucharistiam adorare . ibidem . * shelfold , widdowes , heylin , archbishop laud ; and dr. pocklington , in their places forcited . * matth . . e rihadeniera fleures des v●es des saints . p. . pag. . f p. . * matth. . . to . mar. . . to . g ribadeniera fleures , &c. part . p. . h psal . . iohn . . gal. . . isay . . . c. . . luk . . pet . matth. . to . col. . . . to . i cor. . . . c. . . . . luk. . acts . c. . iohn . . . . . . . . . compared together . more fooles yet. written by r.s. sharpe, roger. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) more fooles yet. written by r.s. sharpe, roger. [ ] p. printed [by t. purfoot] for thomas castleton, and are to be sold at his shop without cripple-gate, at london : an. . r.s. = roger sharpe. printer's name from stc. in verse. signatures: a-e⁴ (a , e blank). reproduction of the original in the folger shakespeare library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams, english -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion more fooles yet . written by r. s. at london , printed for thomas castleton , and are to be sold at his shop without cripple-gate . an. . to the reader . times ministers haue often drawne the features , of many vild , obsceane , illitterate creatures ; euen till the pensils they portraid withall , had spent all colours , now they write with gall . ( seeing those fairer shapes were not respected ) thereby to make vice lothed and reiected : yet notwithstanding marke mans impudence , see yonder villaine , who for his offence did merrit death ; yet pardon'd swiftly flyes , to act more damd and horrid villanies . note that adulterer which seemes sorry now , and with afained sanctimonious vow abiures his sinne , yet more his soule to blame , with 's neighbours wife next day commits the same . the vsurer by scripture reprehended , weepes and is sorry that he hath offended : yet as the diucll will haue it he is drawne , immediatly from 's booke to take a pawne . behold that impious theefe that lately swore , to make his godlesse stocke but twenty more ; and then to leaue his rude and ruthlesse dealing , but hee le behang'd before hee le leaue his stealing . and multitudes of such like impious slaues , which labour for to purchase their soules graues : are oft determind to for sake their sinne , and when the diuell please , they will beginne . but not till then , let iustice doe her worst , such is the will of villaines ( most accurst : ) therefore since milde per swasion cannot mooue them ; ( nor reprehension , whosoere reprooue them , nor lawes seuerity , nor iustice sword ) i will not ( to reclaime them ) wast a word . nor will i taxe their vice , because i see they will persist in spight of you or mee : and so i leaue them to their damned rules , i will not deale with villaines , but with fooles . roger sharpe . more fooles yet . loues metamorphosis . ohcryes kind dolus if shee hate my feature , sweet cupid turne mee to some other creature . make me a bull like ioue , if that may passe ; or let me be an horse as neptune was : or like to mercurie a goat i le be , if such a shape will please so faire as shee . loue was attentiue to his imprecation , and quicklie thought vpon some transformation . and in a moment rysing from his stoole , transformd him to a creature cal'd a foole. a thriftie gallant . fogh cryes spruce curio what a smell is here , as if some house of office troubled were ? is there some foysting spaniell in the roome , or is it pesterd by some stable groome . there 's some thing putrified , search round about . o tarrie , tarrie , i haue smelt it out : it is my sute , the sattin is impure , or else my taylors hands were nastie sure . i must expell this sent with some perfume , counsell me sirs , your iudgements may presume : why then sayes one , i thinke a siuit best , no saies another 't will atract the pest : why then that pouder which your sempsters sells , come you are fooles i will haue something else . there is a kind of sweet your brokers vse , t is that alone i le take , the rest refuse : for that effectuall is , and of such power , t will purge a stincking garment in an howre . moreouer t is a scent of honest thrift , and many gallants vse it for a shift : therefore to frugall be and winne repute , to lauender he doth commit his sute . a confident cuckold . you wrong zelopio to repute him so , tell me that he is iealous , faith sir no : he will permit his wise to see a play , and let her drinke with captaines by the way . will giue her leaue to walke to westminster , to see the tombes and monuments are there : will suffer her to drinke and stay out late , to be led home by each associate . this prooues him confident , and which is more , when his wife knocks , himselfe will looke to the doore : but wot you why zelopio seems content , she keepes the house , keepes him , & paies the rent . a variable humorist . the humor of muander is most strange . hee 's still extreame , and nothing makes him change : to day he is accoutred like your knight , to morrow like a stalking broome-man right . he weares a sute to day that 's cut and slasht , to morrow one slit on a shirt nere washt . now hee 's extreamely merrie , and anon he prooues a tymon , all his mirth is gone : will you of his extreames the reason know , his loue , as well as fortune , is his foe . a wondrous trauailer . wonders most admirable you shall heare , if you with patience will permit your eare : that trauailer ( beleeue him if you please ) sweares he hath been beyond th' antipodes . and that he trauaild hath the orbs throughout , and with his hand hath turn'd the moone about : and to approoue his courage could not faile , he tooke the horride dragon by the taile . and which is more , he sweares by all the gods , he challengd mars to fight , and giue him ods . all this he hath perform'd he verifies it , and he will kill the pezant that denies it . moreouer now he meanes with expedition , to trauaile down into the lower region . doe sir i pray you , and to pluto tell these nouelties , and bring vs newes from hell . a familiar tobacconist . signior snuffe that rare tobacconist , who many a whiffe hath to the ayre dismist , doth oft frequent apoticaries shoppes , to minister tobacco to his sloppes . and to the smoake-monger this speach he bends , sir giues the best , as farre as this extends . shewing a groat which he on 's gloues did borrow , with damme him if he paid it not to morrow . tush i le haue none of your lowe vallued trash , reserue it for your gulls , or those want cash . giue me of your rich leafe , or by this light you shall expulse me and my custome quite : so you respect me now , a pipe i pray , i le none of that , reach one of snells i say . y' are payd , farewell . adue penurious asse , that doth thy substance into vapour passe : such is thy fate , if could thou 't pawne thy cloake , to warme thee by tobaccoes fire and smoke . anger soone appeased . when iohn cornutus doth his wife reprooue , for being false and faithles in her loue : his wise to smooth those wrinckles on his brow , doth stop his mouth , with iohn come kisse me now . a woman hater . mi soginos that lately lou'd a wench , wisheth them now the torture of the french : let me not liue ( sayth he ) men are befoolde , in being by such creatures ouer-rulde . what can a man discerne in such a creature , a little paultry beautie , forme , and feature : which is but trash of no preheminence , then why is 't powerfull to distract your sence ? tell me what women are , that you adore them , surely naught , being so you should abhorre them : what vertues haue they which do merrit praise , as many as this weeke hath christmas dayes . what qualities , inconstancy , and pride , still in lasciuious actions occupied . o peace misoginos , why do'st thou wrong them ? thou wilt cōmend them whē thou att among thē but will you know how this his hate was bred , a wench in turnbull-street did breake his head . in criticum . now criticus doth summon all his wit , and with the title says there 's more fooles yet : ( quoth he ) these asses are not left alone , the author makes the number more by one . thus criticus will censure and correct , calumniate , detract without respect : affoord the foole to all , o that may be , for none can shew a foole so well as he . a bare conceit● . svch ill successe last night had ned at play , that no man can discouer him to day : no maruaile sir he keepes him from the light , he was discouerd to the skin last night . an arrogant foole . grosse and il-tutor'd fellow , why wert thou elected here ? each rascall now will with a gentleman familiar be : forgetting difference twixt each degree . i le pay you sirha , what 's vpon my score ? i will abiure this house for euermore . good master insolence , sir hold your tongue , the slaue doth practise still to do me wrong . master ; you ill-taught rascall doe me right , know that this moneth & more i haue bin knight : yet you as ignorant of what i am , entitle me like each mechanicke flam . in troth sir , my rude ignorance doth greiue me , i tooke you for a gentleman beleiue me : pardon my error , may i so implore , i le take you for a gentleman no more . a kind young man. young iasper once led an impure life , but now he is conuerted by a wife : an antique of some threescore yeares & ten , hath iasper snatcht from many richer men : not that he loues her , but he deemes her trash , onely he marryes her to gaine her cash . which cash of hers ( being possest with store ) shall keepe his wench , which wench kept him before . captaine nynnie . braue magnaninny swayes in turnbull-street , commands the whores be prostrate at his feet : fetch me some wine you baud & shut the dore , come hither varlot , wheer's the other hore ? shee 's gone to the tauerne , is she , fetch her home , tell her from me , i le bast her and her groome : here 's a damd crew indeed , sbloud who am i , i must be faine to thrash you by and by . thus magnaninny brauely dominiers , breaks looking-glasses , and rabatoes teares , slits couerlets and curtaines , burnes their haire : for which the punckes conspire to shaue him bare : and in a moment so to quit this cullian , they fire him from the confines of turnbullian . in libidinosum . a penitent venerist . last night libidinosus rashly went vnto a wench lose , and incontinent : to whom he did participate that euill , which did possesse him like an eager diuell . but now libidinosus is contrite , and sorry for his rashnes ouer night : and doth protest ( will god remit his crime , ) hee le deeme a whore as men do drosse & slime . you may beleeue him , he determins so , for drosse is good enough for swine you know . a quarrell well answered . pray you diswade me not , you do me wrong thus to detaine me from reuenge so long : throwe water in my shooes and runne away , grosse iniurie , firrha come forth i say . wilt thou come forth , doe and here i sweare , for this abuse i le giue thee a box a the eare : thanks quoth the fellow , but be it knowen to you , i le not come forth if you would giue me two . a rare man in action . bvt why doth friuolus that actiue squire , ( hauing abiur'd the tenniscourt ) retyre againe vnto that sport , is 't for his pleasure , or to recouer there some spending treasure or is it that his humor verifies it is a gentleman-like exercise : or may it be as some perhaps may brute , there to discouer his new sattin sute . no sir you misconiecture his intent , for none of these , the sport he doth frequent : but if you le know the truth , sir vnderstand he comes to shew the wonders of his hand . how that by force of arme and tennis-ball , to admiration he vntopt the wall : he is no vulgar fellow in his tricks , where others bandie balls , he bandies bricks . and he is thither drawne by one thing more , for to augment his credit on the score . a great obseruer . will you of vinolentus gladly know why he is drunck , this reason he will shew : because those fashions hee le obserue and see , in his associates as druncke as he . will you like wise inquire ( when he is druncke ) why he doth range the purleys for a puncke : he will resolue you thus , for to descrie a whore in fashion and in qualitie . but vinolentus tell the truth for shame , and do not more pollute thy hatefull name : thou art not druncke each humor to behold , but thou art druncke to make thy vice more bold . thou doest not visite whores to note their fashions , but to be deepely knowne in their transgressions : well , drinck , be drunck , proceed & catch the fox , hunt all the purleyes ouer for the p. an accomplisht gallant . poore tom goes barely , his best sute is prest to be forth comming in a brokers chest : and aske you thomas why he goes so bare , he answeres you , for pride he doth not care : moreouer sattin sutes he doth compare , vnto the seruice of a barbors chayre : as fit for euery lacke and iourneyman , as for a knight , or worthy gentleman . and therefore sweares poore tom , i scorne it i , to imitate such vulgar rascaldry : but by and by when fortune gins to fawne , the gentleman redeems his sute from pawne . and now abiures those raggs for euermore , which but as yesterday his worship wore : and aske him now the reason of this change , and why he is transformed thus so strange : he answers you'tis base , and much reiected , to be a gentleman and not respected . rich habits cause each vassall be esteemd , when raggs make gentlemen be vassals deemd : now sir because hee 's generous , therefore he scornes to be attyred like a bore . thus tom penurious doth excuse his raggs , and if reform'd , scornes beggery with braggs . a prouident whooremaster . lvpurioso to compasse his desire , makes his wench druncke , if you the cause inquire , he hath a filthy face , his nose is shruncke , and 's wench would lothe him if shee were not druncke . a conuertite . strangely addicted now is brut us found , he doth suppose the world is at an end : he will not drincke not ramble foote of ground , nor take a pipe neither with foe nor friend . hee me ditates on heauen , no'tis not so , another place he thinkes on which is lowe : o'tis his purse which nere doth measure keepe , he cannot reach a penny 't is so deepe . in rusticum . a charitable glowne . rvsticus an honest country swayne , whose education simple was , and plaine : hauing surveyd the citie round about , emptyed his purse , and so went trudging out . but by the way he saw , and much respected , a doore belonging to a house infected : whereon was plac't ( as ' t is the custome still ) lord haue mercie vpon vs , this sad bill the sot perusde , and hauing read , he swore all london was vngodly , but that doore . here dwells some vertue , yet sayes he , for this a most deuout religious saying is : and thus he wisht ( with putting off his hatte ) that euery doore had such a bill as that . a well affected louer . my rose sayth amorosus , is the flower of all her sex , her beautie hath the power : to stirre affection in a dying creature , no female europe yeelds equals her feature . true amorosus shee 's a flower indeed , but scents more rancke than doth the stinckingst weed , shee growes i' the garden allyes all the yeare , but differs frō most flowers that appeare : for in the spring when many flowers florish , she hides her head , the spring her pride doth perish . an absolute gallant . if you will see true vallour here displayd , heare poliphemus , and be not affraid : d ee see me wrong'd & will you thus restraine me , sir let me go , or by these hilts i le braine yee . shall a base patch with such apparance wrong me ? i le kill the villaine , pray do not prolong me : call my tobacco putryfied stuffe , tell me it stincks , say it is drosse , i snuffe . sirrha , what are you ? why sir what would you , i am a prentice , and will knocke you to : o are you so , i cry you mercy then , i am to fight with none but gentlemen . mounsier the englishman . note the industry of our gallant here , which imitates all fashions that appeare : th'italian , spanish , dutch , ô but the french especially , he followes to an inch . his garters , roses , all befrindg'd with gould , were made in france , & by a frenchman sold : his sute ( so quaintly wrought ) is truely sayd , to be by 'th frenchman at the fryars made . his ruffe is likewise french , and 's beuer too , sir , all is french he weares , be it known to you : yet notwithstanding this our gallant sweares , the world 's deceiud , there 's nothing french hee weares . yet it appeares most plainely to his face , his note is frenchified , a small disgrace : but how ridiculous is he and vaine , to be so proud and haue aface so plaine . selfe doe , selfe haue . credus affirmes , his wife and he are one , they are both form'd of equall flesh & bone : and being one , their natures cannot varry , credo is circumspect , his wife as warie . but he cornuted is , pray who did that , if 's wife , then credo did consent that 's flat . a penitent drunckard . when will is druncke , he is obsequiously deuoted to his prayers , doth weepe & cry : sighes and is sorry for his acted sinne , and will a new and vertuous life beginne . but when religious will hath left the pot , his zeale growes cold , his prayers are quite forgot : then why is drunkennesse entitled sinne , when will doth alwayes pray when he is in . a fellow all wit , or wit all . i pray you giue attention and be mute , here comes old spunge the barbor with his lute : giue him his lap , and let him ( gratis ) feed , and hee 's your fidler till his fingers bleed . but harke you sir , he hath a wife i thinke , true sir shee takes tobacco , and will drincke carowses with a dutchman while hee le stand , will sweare with any ruffian in the land . will giue the lye to any captaine too , then shee le be stab'd , sir what is that to you : yet she is vertuous spundge , her husband sweares , and liues as chast as dyan for her eares . for should shee ( as hee le tell you ) tread awry , hee 'd slit her nose for her impuritie : but 's tongue goes false , as any tongue may trip . thrice in afternoone he knew her slippe . ¶ fortune fauours fooles . a skippe-iacke . here comes a fellow of a light vocation , ( perhaps an vsher of a dauncing schoole : ) who was maintained by some of occupation , doth now maintaine a lackie , and a foole . fortune affects his art , and loues him too , for what i pray ? that which a horse can doe . a fidler . another there in forme as light as he , who liu'd by aires ( though not camelion like : ) doth now contemne his primitiue degree , and scornes his finger should a vyoll strike . fortune be thanked ( and his chaunting tongue ) that gaue him liuing onely for a song . in flaccium . a tryed friend . flaccus is dry , and doth request his friend to satisfie his thirsty appetite : his friend hath now great businesse to attend , and sweares he cannot tarry by that light . flaccus is druncke , and meets his friend againe , and now forsooth his friend bestowes the wine : flaccus receaues it and his sences bane , shewes apish trickes , then imitates the swine : o you forget your selfe , true sir i doe , i knew my self vntill disguisde by you : i lou'd you once , here after i le despise ye , because you le glut me , rather than suffice me . better late then neuer . briscus will turne good husband , marry fye , what wench is 't tush loose bodied margerie : good husband now , that nere was good in 's life , the better husband sir , the worser wife . in spumosum . a fine tongued suter . spumosus courts his wench , & thus doth prate , adorned , pollisht , and immaculate : repugne me not , but let thy lenity , extend to me as to propinquity . sweet , be propitious , not inexorable , thy amorosus is inviolable : and will perseuer with iucunditie , till i descend my hopes profunditie . sir , quoth his wench , beleeue me if you can , i le marry none except an englishman : if you are , as you seeme not by your speaches , reserue your fustian for to patch your breeches . tom tell troth . my loue sayth tristram is as constant sure , as is the moone , diana , chast and pure : credit his words , assured true they be , the moone doth change each month , and so doth shee . in fatuum . a foole for companie . fatuus will drincke with no such asse , that lets his iests ( vnapprehended ) passe : or if he iest with such of shallow braine , he laughs himselfe to make his iest more plaine . thus fatuus doth iest and play the sany to laugh at 's selfe , hee s foole if there be any . doleus shewes his purse and tells you this , it is more horride than a pest-house is : for in a pest-house many mortalls enter , but in his purse an angell dares not venter . so to declare th' infection for his sin , a crosse is set without , there 's none within . in fabulosum . my word ( sweares fabulus ) can now be tane for all the sutes that are in birchin lane● yet notwithstanding he doth scorne to weare , the quaintest sute of sattin that is there . lilkewise he can without or bond or bill , take vp of any scriuener what he will : yet doth he scorne to be oblig'd to such , whose imperfections any penne can tutch . as for his dyet , vintners doe request he would vouchsafe to be their dayly guest : and swears he may cōmand more wine a' the score , then will make drunke thousand men & more . yet doth he scorne now by faire phebus shine , to be indebted for a cuppe of wine : but fabulus you lye , else why goest bare , why pennilesse , why do'st thou hardly fare if such would trust thee ? trust thee , no not these , for clout , for crosse , for pennyworth of cheese . in furiosum . pray you giue place to furiosus there , whose irefull looks presage that he will sweare , what 's he that dares deny to pledge his health , or he that will not lend him halfe his wealth : let him but see that man will say his spright shall equall his , hee le kill him by that light : but where are these huge words & blowes so darted ? faith in a tauerne where he may be parted . a second diogenes . because diogenes on rootes did feed , philosophaster turnes diogenes : obserues his dyet , and doth still proceed to imitate that cynicks bitternes . cals each man knaue he meets , but be it knowne , that title he doth giue them , is his owne . why doth he feed on rootes continually ? faith will you know , it is the cheapest dyet : why doth he taxe mans vice so bitterly ? because the world should iudge he doth defye it . well this philosopher deserues reward , let him be iudg'd by iohn in paules churchyard . a warme argument . loue is a fire , so some poets rumor , and women are the chimneys where it flameth : if so it be , i care not for loues humor , nor will i harbor there where venus gameth . and women ( meaning none but you so hot ) your chimney corners shall be quight forgot . in credulum . i le not belieue that fellow that will sweare he led an eager lyon by the eare . nor he that will affirme and rashly prate , he bodly pist at pontius pylates gate : but him i credit that will iustly say , he did ( at midnight ) by the sunshine play . in virosum . how falstafe like , doth sweld virosus looke , as though his paunch did foster euery sinne : and sweares he is iniured by this booke , his worth is taxt he hath abused byn : swell still virosus , burst with emulation , i neither taxe thy vice nor reputation . the conclusion . packe hence ye idle zanies of this age , illitterate fooles , fit subiects for each stage : and do not murmur though your coats are course , they are too good for fooles if they were worse . finis . a banquet of essayes, fetcht out of famous owens confectionary, disht out, and served up at the table of mecoenas by henry harflete ... epigrammata horace. english. selections. harflete, henry, fl. . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing h ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing h estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a banquet of essayes, fetcht out of famous owens confectionary, disht out, and served up at the table of mecoenas by henry harflete ... epigrammata horace. english. selections. harflete, henry, fl. . owen, john, ?- . horace. [ ], p. printed by t.r. & e.m. : and are to be sold by joseph barker ..., london : . reproduction of original in huntington library. "consists of seven essays on one of owen's epigrams, in which occur frequent translations in verse from horace, owen, &c." dict. nat. biog. eng english essays -- early works to . epigrams, english. a r (wing h ). civilwar no a banquet of essayes, fetcht out of famous owens confectionary, disht out, and serv'd up at the table of mecoenas. by henry harflete, someti harflete, henry f the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the f category of texts with or more defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - melanie sanders sampled and proofread - melanie sanders text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a banquet of essayes , fetcht out of famous owens confectionary , disht out , and serv'd up at the table of mecoenas . by henry harflete , sometime of grayes-inne , gent. london , printed by t. r. & e. m. and are to be sold by joseph barber , at the signe of the lambe in the new-buildings in pauls church-yard . . to the right worshipful , and my much honoured friend & kinsman , sir , christopher harflete , knight . sir , your former favours oblige me to a votal , if not total requital , at least to an acknowledgement , though 't be but in this slight commemoration , and so near alliance may command this dedication . i might have elected some titular protector to cherish this weak infant of my braine ; but i content my self with an inferiour choise , desiring your self my tutelar patron . accept of these my poor labours , which were the selected object of my meditations , on purpose to keep me from idlenesse , the mother of all mischief . that excellent saying of st hierome egg'd me on to these meditations : a liquid operis facito , ut te diabolus inveniat occupatum ; non enim facilè capitur à diabolo , qui bonovacat exercitio : be alwayes doing something , that so the devil may finde thee imployed ; for he is not easily caught in the devils snare , who is well busied . sir , were there not lectores who be lictores , or could all my readers be free from the aspersion of critically censorious , i could well afford to imitate my author ; commend my book to the reader , and my self to you : however let it be so , i'l● expose my selfe to charitable judgements , and venture it . inveniat noster patronum ut ubique libellus , librum lectori dedico , mèque tibi . your worships affectionate friend and kinsman to commend , henry harflete . a banquet of essayes : upon these verses . ex. lib. . ep. . qui legis ista , tuam reprchendo ; si mea laudas . omnia , stultitiam : sic nihil , invidiam . essay . i. of reading , understanding and practising . [ qui legis . ] the world is now so laden and larded with learning , as that it s not only fatigated with the burden of it ; but also its fascinated ( shall i say fatuated ) with such a supposed felicity , as that it loathes the life of it too ▪ that 's action . reading is like the body , understanding like the apparel , and practising like the soule . the body of reading being mortal , cannot but quickly meet with a dissolution , did not the soule of practice animate it , the apparel of the understanding keeping it from the frigid , and defending it from the torrid aire ; that from obscuration , this from oblatration . for writings might quickly espy a momus , did not the backbiter eye an understanding mecoenas , ready to defend the authors quarrel , forcing him to praise , if not practise what he reads , though he never read to praise or practise , but to traduce . [ qui legis . ] well may the world be reported spherical , in that it 's vertical , even so cloyed with a number of giddy-headed readers , as that it surfets with their issue , doctrine ; so that they loath that which they should love , preaching . ever since our bacchanalian tospots have scorned our ecclesiastical despots , obliging their devotion to the temple of baccus , the pulpit with them hath been counted a reproach : and no marvel ; for they have turned the current of their devotion another way making their belly their god ; the drawer or tapster , their priest ; the barre , his pulpit ; the taverne or ale-house , their temple ; their wine or ale , their spirit ; their stomack , their altar ; their several sorts of drinks , their graces ; their belchings or spewings ; their prophecies or knowledge ; and the best book they delight to lay open before them to read in , is their hostesse or her fine daughter . [ qui legis . ] time was , when the church had many practisers , but few readers ; time is , that a contradictory position being laid in the balance of the sanctuary makes up this proposition , that this now church hath many readers , few practisers . the primitive catec●umenists heard , and practised ; but our moderne mythologists hear and read , but practise not ▪ the church in her infant-cradle might glory in the number of her rockers ( if i may so terme them , ) but in this her maturity she may well condole the plenty of her lazy rackers ▪ and who be they ? but her learned readers the world now doth boast in knowledge , and scornes to take the paines to make a double journey to the temple on the sabbath , unlesse it be either for customes sake , or as the women came to the theater , according to the poet , spectatum veniunt , veniunt spectentur ut ipsae . so these come to be seers , not to hear their seer , or perchance to be seen , rather then to be taught ; and why ? either . self-conceit perswades them , that they know already as much as the preacher can tell them ; or . else blinde devotion strikes in them this opinion , that they have done god good service to visite his temple once a day ; or . their learned ignorance would conceive that for an undeniable orthodox , which graver judgements have censured for a palpable paradox , even that reading is better then preaching . what though st. augustine was converted by reading some part of the thirteenth chapter of st. paul to the romanes ? wilt thou therefore conclude that the word read doth out-poise the word preached in the balance of profit ? thou readest the proverb , and believest it , that una hirundo non facit ver : one swallow makes not summer : in all this conceive me aright , though i commend preaching , yet i condemne not reading ; for both be excellent . it is a rule in rhetorick given from that great oratour cicero concerning comparisons , that necesse non est in rebus comparandis , ut alteram vituperes si alteram laudes . the law of reason cannot impose this necessity upon comparisons , that the praising of one part should derogate any thing from the worth of the other . n●y let me ground this position upon the rock of truth fetcht out of the quarry of great st. chrysostome , negligentia legendo eget diligentià praedicando ; because the reader is negligent he wants the preachers diligence . i cannot but admire at the foolishnesse of some in the managing of their states , who neglect preaching , and buy damnation with reading : for what is it available for a man to be accounted learned and judicious , and then after death go to hell for want of practice ? he that reads and understands not , is like the parrot , who may utter a perfect orthology , yet is ignorant of the true a●tiology , or true meaning of the words spoken ; and surely no wiser is that man , qui legit & non intelligit , who reads and understands not : would you spell a reason for it , then put them two together , and you have it , legere & non intelligere est negligere : to read but not with the intellec● , is to neglect : but he that understands and practiseth not , is like that proud silke-worme , who enrobes himself in gorgeous array , rather to attract personall reverence , and worldy esteem , then to protect his naked corps from the fury of the frigid element , hic seipsum vestit , ut sciatur : ille legit , ut tantum sciat & sciatur . the one is gorgiously invested , that he may be known ; the other reads only to know , and that 's curiosity , and that for knowing he may be known , and that 's vanity ; his aime is to informe his minde , not to reforme his manners . science is a labour , to the accomplishment of which both the theorick and practick must ( like hippocrates's twins ) both hand and heart , both head and bed together : this theoretical labour may be thus bi-membred , in laborem ' disciplinae & exercitii . . disciplinae , ut quae nescit , discat . . exercitii , ut quae didicit , a ● usum ducat : there is the labour of , . discipline ; and . exercise . . of discipline , that he may learne what he knowes not ; and of , . exercise , that he may practise what he hath learned . this world is a sea , upon which the theoretical reader floates in the pinnace of self-opinionated pride , driven with the winde of vaine-glory ; in which the practical understander is surely drowned : for he never returned home , since he hoisted saile for new-england : mistake me not ! i know there be many true and zealous professours in england . who have not in these corrupted times bowed the knee to baal ; but i speak this as bewailing the losse and misle of those pastors and zealous professours , who ( i know whilest they lived amongst us ) were both luces and duces , pure lights , and sure guides ; lights for discipline , guides for practice , essay . ii. of bookes . qui legis ista . ] good bookes should be the object of every good mans eye : idle and lascivious pamphlets are correspondent to the life of idle christians : for those books which handle a subject , whose doctrine is far remote from the use and practice of a christian life , are a true token of an idle author , and the readers of them are like to common ●idlers , who undertake the use of an instrument , onley to keep them from a trade more laborious and profitable ; laborious in the work , profitable to the workers . [ ista . ] the printers presse is like unto the world , where are bad men as well as good ? and invenies paucot hîc , ut in orbe , bonos . where i finde some good books , many bad ; what do i then ? i do ( like good men in chusing their companions ) elect the good , reject the bad : i use that , refuse this . good consorts are worth my acquaintance , and good books my perusall ; my paines may countervaile my profit , if i read them , through-read them , re-read them . doth a man delight in reading vicious and lascivious authors ? i wrong him not if i stile him an astronomer , who chiefly sixeth the eye of his meditation upon the wandring venerean planet ; but now adayes a man may easily finde out the greatest students in this science . young men and maides are growne studious scholars in loves schoole : amorous pamphlets make up their library , who having their love-songs ad unguem , long to be graduates in the university of ven●● ; they account themselves already masters in this art in actu designato , and think long till they be so in actu exercito ; nothing now in their judgements is wanting to compleat their degree , but a pone manum in manum maritae . the reading of such authors is the true embleam of their vicious mindes . it is a received opinion , that vultus est index animi : the countenance is the discoverer of the minde ; and it is as true , that the reading of books may anatomize the heart ; lascivious books may call their readers lascivious without the least aspersion of a wrong . doth a man fixe the heart of his delight upon good and godly bookes , and make them the delight of his heart , it is an invincible argument of a vertuous minde . an humble and a lowly heart loves books which teach the lesson of humility ; and by augustines leave a man may , ( nay if he do not first ) profit legendo , by reading , he can scarce gaine any thing cogitando , by meditating ; and though there be profit to be sucked out of both , yet i must confesse , that the greater fruit is gathered from the tree of contemplation , though not alwayes the fairer . rachel was more faire then leah , but yet ( to make some amends , ) leah was more fertil then rachel . contemplation hath a two-fold accesse : unus in intellectu , alter in affectu : unus in lumine , alter in favore : unus in acquisitione , alter in devotione : the one in the intellect , the other in the affect . the order of nature●●lls up the intellect in the first place : for a man can never love that which he know●s not , and how comes he by the knowledge of it ? but by one of these three meanes , either by . hearing , . seeing , or . reading . shall i go yet further , and perswade you that reading is a kinde of meditation ? if not i , then hugo , who saith that there be three kindes of meditations , viz. in . creaturis . . scripturis . . moribus . primum surgit ex admiratione . secundum lectione . ●ertium circum spectione . admiratio generat quaestionem , quaestio in●estigationem , investigatio inventi●nem . lectio ad cognoseendam verit atemmateriam ministrat , meditatio coap●at , oratio sublevat , operatio componit , & contemplatio in ista exuliat . thus hugo . a meditation in the creatures . scriptures . manners . shall i call these three , three severall books , in which a man may read heaven ? the first ariseth from admiration , whose posterity proclaimes her fruitful ; for admiration begets a question ; and asking , seeking ; and seeking a finding . the second ariseth from reading , and that 's not steril too : for it is a trusty guide to bring us to the knowledge of the truth . the third ariseth from circumspection , and that 's fruitlesse neither : for it plaies two wayes in and out ; discurrit intùs & foràs intùs ad conscientiam , foràs ad famam ; that is , in upon the conscience , out upon the good name of a man . of all companions books be the secretest , there a man may solace himselfe , and yet heares nothing but the echo of his own words . of all glasses books be the best ; for they being inspective , are both . prospective , . reflective , & . illuminative . three chief uses for glasses . first prospective , making things afarre off , seem near at hand ; and therefore we say , that a learned man sees farther then an ignorant ; sees farther , though not oculo {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , though not with the eye of his body , yet with the eye of his minde : so he sees farther , because he knowes more . secondly , reflective ; were not the reader blear-ey'd he might quickly espy the lineament of his own soul in these glasses by reflection ; let him be but intentive in reading , and he may quickly collect the disposition of his own soule , and the disease being once known puts the patient in hope of a cure . in these glasses the proud dame may see her painted face , and supersficialized soule ; her envious eye , and contumelious tongue ; her impudent fore-head , and immodest countenance . in these glasses the altar-priest enrobed in his vestry vestments may see is own picture , kings . there he may see the worshippers of baal attired in baals vestments , and at last their idolatrous vestments ( by the command of jehu ) hewn off their shoulders with the edge of the sword . in these glasses the persecutor may see the whore of babylon surfeited with the blood of the saints , rev. . . and at length the righteous god avenging the blood of his servants at her hand , rev. . . in a word , in these glasses every sinful man may see the anatomy of his own sinful soul , and gods definitive judgement for the same without timely repentance , rev. . . thirdly , illuminative . good books ( like glasses ) do . enlighten the house of the heart , and keep out the . dust of pride and hypocrise ▪ . winde of vain-glory . qui legis ista . ] the printers presse is like unto a garden , where are stinking weeds , as well as sweet-smelling flowers ; what do i then ? i do ( like fine-handed dames ) pick up the flowers , kick at the weeds . i grace my hand with the one ; but i can scarce afford , that my eye or foot should grace the other ; mine eye by a a speculation , or my foot by an inculcation . essay . iii. of application . qui legis ista , tuam . ] application is the life of doctrine : it is a strong perswasion to conversion . it was a symbole of aurelius numerianus , esto quod audis , be what you hear . to which i may adde , esto quod legis ; be what thou readest : or lead thy life according to that rule given in thy book-doctrine , and thou wilt ( shall i say work a miracle ? ) put a living soul into a dead body , revive the dead letter by the spirit of application . in vain is reprehension without application ; how fitly have the greeks fitted it , calling it {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} from {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} apto , to fit ; for harmony is a sweet and pleasant musick , consisting of many notes , yet none discord , but sweetly close together . if the reader or hearer apply not that which is read or heard by a religious life and conversation , there is a jarre or discord between the confuter and confuted , who denies the truth of the doctrine in his irreligious practice ; how sweetly then do the writer and reader , preacher and hearer accord , when the work of the one attends the word or pen of the other , when obedience makes the epilogue to the writers catalogue , when the one gives a practical amen to the others theoreticall doctrine ? [ tuam . ] application is a kinde of adaptation , and the doctrine must be fitted for application , as taylors fit apparel for the body , neither too wide nor too strait ; if it be too wide , it may draw the reader or hearer to a presumption or obduration ; if it be too strait , it may perswade him to desparation . [ tuam . ] men write , because men are vicious , and vicious men should read to mend , that 's the end of writing and reading too ; but we do like taylors , we are mending all the week , all the yeare , yea all our lives long , and yet not mended . we sit mending upon the sh●p-board of this world , and forget that hell is so near us , as under the board ; every time we commit a sinne , we throw a shred to hell . our good actions are forgotten , assoon as gotten . the worldling makes a journey to church every sabbath day , and sometimes heares the word with the ●ares of attention , but could never ●inde the heart of retention ; the preacher may reply , but he never intends to apply : and sometimes gods house may be a continent for his body , but his counting-house shall be a repository for his minde ; and so leaves his religion where he found it ; so that he ties religion altogether to time and place , nay to his holy-day-apparel too ; he s●r●ps himself of his holy-day-cloathes , and 〈◊〉 his soul of devotion altogether . thus runs he posting to his native rest , forgets the word , and takes it for a jest ▪ essay . v. of reprehension . qui legis ista , tuam reprehendo . ] etymologies may sometimes instruct , and without offence of me essayed to initiate an essay of reprehension . the latines call it reprehensio , from re and prehensio , a taking or pulcking back . experience daily objects to our sight the untoward carriage of the home-bred or countrey-horse ; who being altogether in the extreames , is either too dull and slow , or too quick and hasty ; either too forward , or too backward ; wherefore his rider provides him both calcar and fraenum , a spurre and a bridle ; a spurre to prick him forward , when he is too backward ; and a bridle to keep him back , when he is too forward ▪ me thinks the refractory will of man is like this untoward horse , who wants the spurre of exhortation to prick him forward to the performance of good , when he is dull and defective , and the bridle of dehortation or reprehension to refraine his forwardnesse , when he runnes head-long into exorbitant courses . [ — reprehendo . — ] the greeks likewise challenge an instruction by an etymon in their verbal significations . reprehension by them is expressed by three significant words . viz. . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , ] or else {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , which word signifies , plaga , ictus , or vul●●is , a wound or stroke . 't is true in●eed , that the words of the reproover must be cutting to make them curing : {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} is derived from {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} super , and {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} percussio , a wounding or striking upon the conscience . the powerful words of some ministers have stricken such strange effects into the consciences of some weak christians , as that they have been no small provocation to despaire ; and desperation must have some pleasing object , though it work to the confusion of the weak subject , unlesse the power of gods hand in his majesty prevent the intended mischief of satans head in his malice . . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , ] which word signifies querimonia , expostulatio , or accusatio , a complaint , expostulation , or accusation , uttered in some querimonious dialect . the latine may enable the word to beare the burden of this sense ; expressing it to be the same with accusare , and incusare making some difference in respect of the personall object of reprehension ( onely ) according to the old verses of that ancient grammarian , johannes 〈◊〉 garlandia . dicitur accusans aequales at que minore● dicitur incusans majores & meliores . the commentary expounds it thus , accusare est culpare , incusare est reprehendere ; we accuse , and thereby blame our equals and inferiours ; we incuse , and thereby reprehend the crimes and faules of our superiours , and those who are of a greater estate and higher degree : so that the commenter himself would acknowledge some difference between the two words , à parte praepositionis , which is pars secundaria , but none at all à parte verbi , which is pars principalis ; they be the very words of the commenter . the reall object then of a reprehensory complaint or accusation , is crimen , a fault or offence , and the personal object is reus , or the party offending , who is the party transgressing , or the party accused , to whom must be added a third person , and that 's the person offended . now the offence or sin being committed against god , the reprover by his reproof doth tacitely complain of the reprehended to god , the reproved therefore without amendment , is inexcusable . in the reprehensions of some vices , some have been facetious , where they might have been more querulous , bewailing the unhappy estate of those , who have been so corrupted , that they need correption ; but indeed such is the ridiculous nature of sin , as that derision best fits the seat of conviction . the devil sports withhat which man acts with pleasure ; for when man sins , the devil sings . . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , ] from {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , which signifies to dispraise , blame , or reproach , as well as to reprehend . 〈◊〉 you will say , s re roof a re●roach ? i answer , it is so effective , non entitativè : eff●ctively , because it reproves sin , whose effect is reproach ; not entitat vely in it self ; for it reproaches not the reproved , but labours to abrogate the reproveds reproach . thu for the etymology : the tropology must follow , shewing the true nature of this psogology . — reprehendo . — the meanest apprehension can never be expert in the right learning of reprehension . humane discretion blushes not to acknowledge it a great difficulty , to know how to reprehend aright . ignorance may be a proud controuler , but never a good counsellour ; yet reproof is opus citiùs notum quàm factum , a work sooner known then done : so defective is the nature of man in this duty , if known . reprehension therefore must have a . guide , and . companion . . a guide , that 's discretion . . a companion , that 's meeknesse of spirit . first , it must have a guide , lest it run into errour ; discre●ion must moderate reprehension : and it so orders it , that it be uttered in amor , not rancor , in love , not in malice . malitious enmity must not reveale that which christian amity obligeth to conceale . malice was ever a good informer , but ever a bad reformer . love is a great mover , she commonly speaks and speeds to effect . love must rub up the conscience of the delinquent , touch it to the quick ; it may be quickened by being twitted ; but care must be had , lest haste makes waste ; lest the reprover puts unguem in ulcere , ( in plautus his phrase ) his singer into the sore , which he doth when he makes a matter worse , which is bad enough already ; which he doth either by a long and circumstantiall recapitulation of that which should be silenced , which is against the law of charity , or else by an addition of some new matter , which is against the rule of verity , which commands a man to speak nothing but the truth . discretion likewise brings the reprover to a fit time and place , when and where conveniently to reprove the offender ; it must be no street-check , nor a high-way-broile . rash in discretion should not call a whole heap of neighbours to be eare-witnesses to that which should be private . a temperate and timely ●aciturnity is equivalent to an oration , which tacitely implies , that unseasonable silence is consonant to ( if not wore then ) a mute , and sometimes connivency may match with religious policy ; but if this connivence become habituall ▪ it is as bad as indulgence , worse then caecity . not to reprove , is to approve , ( yea to partake ) of the others enormity ; permittere malum , est admittere , a continual permitting of sin is no better then a consenting to it . discretion likewise brings reproof to be acquainted with a brevity . a short speech commends the action , prolix and impertinent is the livery of a babler . when philip of macedon wrote to them of lyconia , that if he entred their countrey , he would utterly overthrow them ; he had a short answer returned to him in this one word , if ; briefly reproving his bold supposition of victory depending upon the incertainty of his entry . secondly , reprehension must have a companion , and that 's meeknesse of spirit . it must be mitis , non aspera , affable ▪ not satyrical . envy and fury must not transport the reprover beyond the bounds of discretion , lest he turne mel amoris into fel amaroris , the honey of love into the gall of bitternesse ; his words may be sharpe , yet pleasant . discretion must be involved in a tartnes , lest he become corrosor rather then corrector , a batterer not betterer by his words ; he must not be like herodotus , who never spake well to any nor of any ; he must beno clamorous stentor , reproving with such eager sierceness and impetuous violence , as that there is omnis correptio , nulla consolatio ; omnis clamor , nullus amor : all correction , no consolation ; all speech , but no love in it , whose behaviour bewrayes the want of charity , having zeale without knowledge , or knowledge without discretion . reviling and railing must not be mistook for refuting . sharp rebukes must be ushered by discretion . entreaties , ( which in their own nature amount to milde checks , ) suite best to inferiority : that must be their subject , whose object must challenge authority . my close shall be by application to the married . gentle entreaties must be the wives best oratory instead of sharp rebukes , sweetly closing them to a delinquent husbands heart , with so wise an application , as that no glozing flattery may seem to be inveloped in a kinde supplication . an exhortative invasion may compell an errours evasion , then she may gaine the praise , and he the profit : but if sometimes the heat of passion usher an invective , let an instructive be its attendant , that may somewhat allay the heat , though not altogether abolish the hate . the reprover must not movere , when monere , not move to displeasure , when monish to profit , therefore to prevent this danger , some sweet instruction should tread upon the heeles of a sharp reprehension . in a word , let every thing be done decently and in order , saith paul . now a chr●stian is said to do a thing decently and in order , when he doth a christian work in such sort as becomes a christian , and after such a mnaner as rightly corresponds to such a christian act or duty ; so reproof is done decently , when done . discree●ly . . meekly . and in order , when it is done according to our saviours order and direction for brotherly correction ; so that it must have a guide to usher it , and a companion to uphold it , lest it turne into furious malice , or into invious folly . whatsoever a man doth , being guided by discretion , he doth it not rashly , but with mature deliberation and serious preconsideration . reprehension then must have a discreet guide , lest it run into folly ; and a meek companion , lest it gad to fury . essay . v. of writers and their works . qui legis ista , tuam reprehendo , sin mea . — the industrious writer is like the bee , who gets sua , but not sibi . sic vos nonvobis mellificatis apes . so bees do work , but for themselves work not . both work for others benefit , and many times both are rewarded with cruelty for their paines ; the one per manús violentiam , the other per linguae virulentiam ; the one suffers by the violence of the hand , the other by the virulence of the tongue . the object upon which their cruelty works , is the life , corporal of the one , civil of the other : for the one loseth formam , even life it self , which is forma corporis , called anima , the soul , quae dat esse corpori , which gives being to the body , say philosophers ; the other loseth famam , his good name , being most despitefully traduced by the tongue of the criticall detractour . lastly , the mediate instrument by which they exercise their cruelty , is by fire upon both , physical or naturall upon one , meraphorical upon the other ; for st. james calls the tongue a fire . — si mea . — the censorious reader is so prejudicate in his opinion , as that being sick of the splene , envy shall teach him to call that aelienum , which the industrious author may justly in his conscience christen meum . i should think my time very ill spent to step over my threshold to desire such envious criticks to god-father any childe of mine own brinae . — si mea . — i cannot but brand that envious censurer with the name of an ignominious detractor , who refuseth the work , because he knowes the authour a man in the world no way famous , and therefore presently spits forth that verse of virgil , hos ego versiculos feci , tulit alter honores . another took the pains , and this man assumes to himself but onely the name of the work . such a one will protect , 't is alienum , of another mans writing ; and why ? but because he doth not think 't is suum , part of his own meditations ; but let such a one remember his grammar instance , insipientis est dicere , non putâram : it is the part of a foole to say , i had not thought ; and thus sometimes his paines and industry is neglected with a scornfull tush : and why ? but because the world doth not so much honour the man , as to whirle him about in the chariot of fame . the world frownes upon the man , and the readers● ( the true borne children of the world ) do so upon his matter , his works too ; the father 's rejected , small hopes then that his childe should have any better welcome . — si mea . — me thinks the same word [ mea ] doth enforce into my meditations ( as it were ) an immortality inveloped in a mortality . for [ mea ] the issue of my braine may be a visible , audible , when as [ meum ] my corps ( being curtain'd by the earth , ) may ( untill the general resurrection ) be bedded in dust and ashes ; littera scripta manet , the braines issue may survive the father , yea after he be converted into nihilum , into his materia prima , in the philosophers terme , even into that in which job repented , into dust and ashes : and this comes somewhat near to the politicks , who say , that a man is ( as it were ) eterniz'd in that golden line of life , the line of his posterity . — si mea . — mea , not aliena . it shames that an industrious student should behave himself so ill in his premeditated exercises , as that a former writer should have just occasion to sue him ( as it were ) in a trover and conversion , as the lawyers speak . it is a token of great paines and industry in writers to make those things [ sua ] their own , wich they write . that writer who steales here a piece out of one book , and there a piece out of another , is like unto a botching taylor , who to patch up his broken clothes , opens his hell , ( a place well known to unconscionable taylors ) and there he findes this piece which he stole from such a customer , and that piece from another , with which parings he makes his torne suite serviceable ; but yet herein they differ , the one takes new shreds to mend an old garment , the other collects old meditations to patch up his new . — si mea . — omnia . — if [ mea ] be not [ omnia mea , ] discretion wills me to margent my authours , that so the judgement of the reader may distinguish mea from omnia mea , and i hope that may free me from the censure of thievery , and may almost perswade my self , that i shall not be arreigned at the barre of rash judgement before judge zoilous and momus his brother-assistant , if i chance to borrow an antick authour , either to confirme my assertion , or to conferre some grace upon my conclusion , and promise to pay him again with an acknowledgement , though it be in a landskip , even as farre off as the margent-room will reach . essay . vi . of praise . qui legis ista , tuam reprehendo , si mea laudas . praise not fitted to a right object , is like that winde which deceitfull butchers use to blow into their leane , ill-favoured meat , it may puffe up , and make it shew fairer to the eye , but it cannot better the taste . praise my work or labour thou may'st ; it may prove my humility , but it shall not pride my humanity . — si mea laudas . mea , not me . praise not my person . personal proportion cannot be the true object of praise : a small fall may soon dash that . the world could never yet promise an enjoyment by a perpetuity ; a new devise in law unknown , and therefore unpractised by the old world , because impossible to be obtained : for a broken leg , a broken arme , or a broken back may disjoynt thy praise , and then thou mayest be compelled to pause at that which before thou didst praise ; now thou may'st have just occasion to condole that which before thou didst applaud . — si mea laudas . mea , not quae mei . naturall endowments should neither be the objects of praise . 't is for the fond over to praise such things in his be●oved . forma bonum fragile est . — such endowments are given of god , ●ut only to grace the temple of the holy ghost , and may be but of a small conti●iance ; or else the conceit of men may ●iffer in the judgement of an external ●ilchritude ; quot homines , tot sententiae ; as many men , so many mindes , faith our english proverbe ; for she may be faire in oculo placili , who is not so in oculo populi ; the lover can praise his mistresses beauty , when perhaps his friend knowes she 's black , yet notwithstanding may be comely . amorous poets mistake themselves , who in some curious elegies and sonnets praise their mistresses beauty and perfections , on purpose to pride their natures , to prove their manners , and to procure their loves . this is to wooe venus with cupids quiver , carrying the fanne of praise before their mistresses , to keep the sun of humility from their painted faces . — si mea laudas . mea , not quae mihi . riches do not make a man praise-worthy ; they be dona dei data , not homin●innata ; they be quae mihi , not mea propria ; things given to me , not properly mine own : man indeed enjoyes them but ad volunt atem domini . god is hi● land-lord , and man his tenant ( but ) a will . an opifical repute is correspondent to ta●ite , but yet worldly applause ; and i wonder much , why fine clothes and a full purse ( which perhaps may be a shrowd to vice ) should be more honoured then vertue , grace and learning covered under a ragged vestment . 't is folly to praise in homine aliena , and even mad folly to elevate a man upon the pinacle of admiration , quia dives est , because he is rich . riches are but mans servants , yet no covenant , no statute-servants : man is not sure of them a year , no , nor a day ; he cannot indent with them for a certain diary enjoyment ; for they ( like the indian bird ) have wings to ●lie away , no feet to stand still . i cannot here but commemorate that worthy saying of an ancie●t father to this purpose in hand : quid est quod dicis , ego dives , ille pauper ? sarcinam tuam commemoras , pondus tuum laudas ; taceas laudestuas , qui miserationes tuas n●n consideras : what 's thou sayest , i am rich , he is poor ? thou do'st but commemorate thy heavy charge , and commend thy weighty burden . if thou didst but consider , that thou ( though moneyed ) deservest rather to be pitied then praised , thou would'st be silent in thine arrogant praises . — mea laudas . not mea laudo . a man must not praise his own work , that 's self-praise in an arrogant opinion of his own worth ; how boldly then doth self-conceit shrowd in the frontispice of his own work an implicite commendation in a commend me , or amend me ? — si mea laudas . mea , yet not mea mala . my evil actions are not praise-worthy . my evil acts must not be prais'd abroad , for they ( like smoke ) do stop the breath of laud . so saith the greek sententionist . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . if the actions of man may be compared to fire , surely the evil in ( or the deformity of ) his actions may be the smoak which stops the mouth , or furres up the throat of charity , so as it cannot , ( nay it may not ) chant the praises of a friend or neighbour , because by vicious acts degenerate , and ill-deserving . — si mea laudas . mea , yet not mea amatoria . praise not my amatorious and wanton pamphlets ; these indeed may gaine a little popular applause , and windy praises amongst satans lecherous posterity , because pleasing to their carnal desires ; nay with some ( it seem ) the fish is already caught , one would think then 't is time to hang aside the nets ; 't is confest in plaine termes , in the very frontispice of some lascivious stage-pamplets , vaunting that 't was acted with much applause . these bastard-meditations are begotten between mars and venus ; when fancy hath helped venus to deliver them , then doth the printer wrap them up in their swadling-clouts , and then are they to some great lord or lady to god-fa — honour them ( i mean ) with an acceptance ; i , ( and that which the author implicitely prayes for in his epistle dedicatory is ) to owner them so as to make them their adopted children ; for ( no doubt ) they strive what they can to make them their honourable patro●s pictures , and therefore may suite best with my lord or ladies fancy ; for simile similiga●det , like joyes in like ; and therefore they will not loath them , but love them , highly extoll and praise them , and their authors industry and ingenuity for them ; whereas books of great power to imprint either the theological or moral vertues in the soule , being in like manner presented to some honourable view , may for the titles sake , especially for the subject matter , be both unregarded , and unrewarded . and what 's the reason of this ? surely it may quickly be apprehended , the author forgot his patrons humour , and in it he 's afraid he shall not finde his own picture , if he should vouchsafe to give it a perusal , no marvel then if it be rejected : for omne simile nutrit sibi simile , like loves to nourish its like . theologicall and moral discourses then should be presented to patrons of more setled and diviner spirits , lest the author should cast pearles before swine . but such discourses which do ( as it were ) dissect or anatomize the body of faire venus , and her blinde sonne cupid , are of right to be patronized by amorous and lustful gallants : but i am afraid , that such discourses may be ominous to the writers , if not the readers , being begot when mars and ven●s were in a conjunction . did they not prove an ominous tempest to ovid , when for them his punishment was no lesse then banishment ? the astronomers say too , that this conjunction of mars and venus enforceth raine and tempest ; and i am sure that these lascivious pamphlets and idle ballads cannot aff●rd either to the writer or reader any true comfort ; carnal pleasure for the present they may , but at the last they cause ( as it were ) a tempest in the conscience , and work in the minde , trouble , vexation and grief , and that in two respects . in respect of the . time . . matter . . in respect of the time , because 't was lost in penning or perusing such libidinous toyes , for which time an account shall one day be given at the tribunal of heaven , though it was not spent nihil agend● , yet 't was male agendo ; not idlely , yet evilly . object . yet you commonly say that these meditations ( though on cupids proportion ) keep me from many worse exercises . answ. by your own confession they are bad in gradu positivo , so that your own mouth doth excuse you ● tanto , but not à toto . i have read it written in the discommendation of that great polititian vives , that he did spend his whole life , part in scanning , whether he should pronounce vergilius or virgilius , carthaginenses or carthaginienses , primus or preimus , and despising all worthy sciences and orderly course of government or ru●●iments ; he spent the rest of his time in making filthy and lascivious epigrams . it would be more commendable and praise-worthy both in the sight of god and man , to spend thy time upon some more serious exercises , which may tend to gods glory , the good of thy countrey , and the benefit of thy neighbours , and all this may end with comfort to thine own soul . non nobis sol●m nati sumus , saith the oratour . . in respect of the matter , these lascivious pamphlets and wanton ballads may become a grief and trouble to the soul ; for such works in the subject matter are but folly : and would it not grieve and trouble a wise man , especially upon his death-bed , that he hath spent his precious time upon folly ? such amorous meditations are satans snares , in which he catches the fleshly dotterels ; they be that grand impostors waters which quench the fire of zeale , which perhaps was scarce discernable before . that great writer of lascivious folly , stiles his own meditations no better ; and therefore writing his last work , ( as he then intended ) wherewith he resolved to solace the mindes of young men and maids , calls it greens farewell to folly ; sure then unworthy of praise , because folly : so he termes it , and so i leave it . — si mea laudas . mea , yet not mea meritoria . praise not thy works m●ritorious . merit , and my sinnes are ( as it were ) contradictories . did i merit per opus operatum , i must then have wages for my work , and i never read in the scripture of any wages allowed in spiritual duties for the work done , but death : the wages of sin is death . could i be sinlesse , i could merit ; had not my saviour been so , he could never have merited * ex merito condigni , in which my faith doth challenge an interest per viam applicationis only , no way per viam proprietatis ; those merits are not mine owne , but my saviours by faith applied to my sin-sick soul . my faith must labour and be fruitful , and my * reward shall be heaven , yet my small endeavours cannot counterpoise that great reward ; for what * proportion is there betwixt a thing finite and infinite ? so farre would the one outpoise the other in the scales of justice , as that there would be betwixt them an unutterable disquiperation . man hath heaven ex * dono , non ex perquisito , as the lawyers speak , by gift , not by purchase ; he hath it at the end of his labours {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} * {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , not {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , as a voluntary gift to reward his temporal labours , not as wages which then should be due to him from god his master , having deserved it for the works which he hath done for his benefit in his service . with what face then can i pride my self up in a self-conceit of merit ? i must confesse that all my merit is gods mercy , and so i cannot be poor in merit , as long as god is rich in mercy ; for which i must have a tongue of praise , whose object must be god ; but i desire not the praise of mans ●ongue , because i have done ●onum , a good work ; yet i may have praise of god , if i have done bonum bene , that good work well . it is gods work , not mine ; i know no reason why mine own good works should puffe me up , having perhaps no other ground to perswade my self that they be so , but the praise of men , ( when as sordet in distinctione judicis , quod fulget in opinione operantis , ) when as those good works may be fordid in the sentence of him who should be the rewarder , which are splendant in the sight of the worker . — si mea laudas . mea , yet not mea moralia . my morall actions or vertues in some sort , ought not to be the object of praise and commendations . object . but ere i proceed , me thinks i hear the plain or right moralist intercepting me in my meditations with his contradictory cavil , objecting authority to refel my position , syllogizing thus : that which makes a man blessed , is worthy of praise ; but vertue makes a man blessed ; therefore vertue is worthy of praise . the proposition or major cicero proves for him . quicquid est laudabile ( saith he ) idem & beatum videri debet : whatsoever is laudable , the same ought to seem blessed ; and that which is blessed entitativè , may be so effective ; that which is blessed , ( no doubt ) may make blessed , which is apparant in the summum bonum . the assumption or minor hath a theoreme of a moderne philosophical methodist to back it ( as it were ) with armour of proof , who thus writes : it is no absurdity to say or hold , that the habit of vertue ( which cannot be hindered in the act ) makes a man politically blessed , and concludes , that in it consists the chiefest good , the summum bonum . to which i answer ; first , that this position or theoreme is not absolute , but conditional , which condition stands upon two feet , à nisi and an it ● ; the first respects the thing , the second the person ; there 's an obstante in the first , and a secundùm quid in the second . the first condition is , that the habit of vertue doth not make a man politically blessed , unless it be such an habit , as that there be no obstacle , which may hinder the reduction of the habit into the act , whereby the habit is exercised ; now how doth vice stand like a lion in the way to hinder the actual operation of the habit of vertue ? whence it happens that many times the habit of vertue lies like glowing coales rak't up in embers . the second condition is , that though the habit of vertue be no way hindred in the act , yet it makes a man blessed ; but politicè tantùm , politically only , and that political perfection of felicity the philosophers bound onely upon this life , and specificè upon the civil life only ; which felicity is so placed in contemplatione primi boni , in the contemplation of the first good , as that the externe good things of the world , which may fitly adde to the complement of a civil life , must not be severed from felicity ; because mans nature is not ( {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} ) sufficient to contemplat without an enjoyment of the outward worldly good things ; so that a man may be happy , and yet unhappy ; a seeming felicity may be an ●nmate in the house of his soul with a being misery , which may not be publick and apparant , till rifler death makes an ent●y . just-meale-mouth'd absalom , and wife-politick achitophel were applauded , praised , beloved , and respected for their morals , and in the vulgar judgement were deemed happy and blessed , because the intended justice of the one , and the pretended policies of the other were devoted to the service and good of the weale-publick ; but really to demonstrate a seeming blessednesse , the haire of the head made one miserable , and a rope the other unhappy . or , secondly , i answer , that i deny not ●ut that true vertue , secundum essentiam , is praise-worthy ; which being en●o●ed in morality only , was the object of praises amongst the ancient heathen . see how horace commends the just and constant man : iustum & tenacem propositi virum , non civium ardor prava●ubentuam , non vultus instantis tyranni mente quatit solidà : ●equ● aust●r . dux inquieti turbidus adriae , nec fulminantis magna iovis manus , si fractus illabatur orbis , impavidum ferient ruinae . nor citizens zeale commanding wicked things , nor threatning brow of wrathfull tyrant-kings . nor the south-winde , the chief disquieter , of th' adriatick waves , nor jupiter , whose potent hand moves thunder from above , the just resolv'd , and constant man can move . though the worlds fabrick heaven quite demolish , it s fearful fall would not his heart astonish . thus this best of lyrick poets doth almost unbreath himself with the praises of pollux , hercules , bacchus and romulus , who were of mortals made even immortall by two vertues especially , constancy and justice ; such for their morall vertues , were by heathen writers praised and raised up ad astra , but we who are christian readers know what they were . and see what an excellent commendation this same poet gives vertue but a little before in his second ode . vi●tus repulsae nescia sordidae , int' aminatis ful get honoribus , nec sumit aut ponit secures arbitrio popularis aurae : virtus recludens immeritis mori coelum , negatâ tentat iter viâ : coet úsque vulgares , & udam spernit humum fugiente pennâ . vertue , who ne'ere did base repulses know , doth shine , beset with taintlesse honours show , she publick honours doth nor take , nor will , to get applause , or please the vulgar will : she op'ning heaven to men , who endlesse dayes deserve , seekes passage through obsessed wayes : she , scorning things which taste of earthly leaven ▪ doth swiftly reare her slight from earth to heaven . i deny not ( i say ) but that vertue in it self is praise-worthy , but many times the object of praise is blotted , being placed in a most vicious subject , who for one or two vertues may be noted , but with twenty vices may be tainted ; so that the viciousnesse of the person or subject may obscure the lustre of his vertues , and so ( though not cut off , y●t ) may curtaile ( if i may so speak ) that praise which of right is due to them , and to him for them . and it is now become a grosse errour in earthly men , to make him a paterne of imitation in all things , who deserves to be followed but in one ; he being the subject of one or a few particular vertues shall be made by the mop●ey'd ignorant the object of a general encomium . absalom was affable , but yet a ●latterer , a traitour , a disobedient wretch , a rebellious caitiffe , he was indeed ( as aechines and polycrates reporced of king philip of macedon ) facundus & formosus , fairetongu'd , and fair-fac'd ; was he therefore worthy to lead the people by the eyes , as hercules did by the eares ? but to draw nearer to my former assertion ; neither the moral , nor the intellectual vertues can make a man the true object of praise absolutely , and in all respects , and that for these foure reasons . first , because the enjoyment of them alone without the theological vertues , cannot assure a man of future eternal felicity . though they be hominis * bona , and dei dona , mans goods and gods gifts , yet they do not bring a man to the crown of glory ; their possessors and open professours may be , yet notwithstanding but natural men , who are enthralled , and do homage to these three tyrants , the . world , . flesh , & . devil . to whom they are no better then bond-slaves as long as they live in the state of nature . the best of the heathen , yea and the best of the jewes are no better how glorious soever they be ; amongst the heathen aeneas was counted the most pious , plato the most divine , aristides the most just , aristotle the most learned , socrates the most vertuous , lucretia the most chaste ; and amongst the jewes the essees and the pharisees were most devout ; and amongst these , paul was reputed the most servent in zeal , unblameable , the patern of perfection , as erroneously he judged of himself before his conversion , being blinded by the god of this world . but afterwards he saw that his fervency was but fury . all these men were admired for their vertues ; but being without christ , they were the children of wrath , eph. . . the civil and moral worldling will praise some for their good husbandry , some for their good hospitality , some for their temperance , and the like , and for these , honour them for perfect christians ; these only in the sight of the bleare-ey'd civilian are vertues sufficient to hurry a man about the world in the chariot of praise . paul summes up a catalogue of many worthies in an explicite commendation of their worth , yet not for any of their moral vertues , but for one of their theological , nominated , their faith . the second reason is ; because man may be an aretist , and yet an atheist ; he may enjoy these vertues , and yet live without god , and therefore but dead , ( ut corpus sine anima , sic anima sine deo ) his body is but the sepulchre of a dead soul . if the body of man be the temple of the holy ghost , his heart must be the sanctum sanctorum . industry and action may adorne the temple with the morall and intellectual vertues ; but if divine grace doth not prepare the sanctum sanctorum , it will never be fit to entertaine the king of kings . a man may be in outward judgement compleatly vertuous , and yet he may walk but in the night of ignorance , ( as it were ) by the starre-light of the morall , and moon-light of the intellectual vertues , untill the sunne of righteousnesse appear upon the horizon of his heart , and then he will perswade himself , that all his before he was but pur-blinde , and do we honour the sight of a pur-blinde man with an absolute and perfect praise ? the third reason , because these vertues alone may puffe up the enjoyer , and make him proud and vain-glorious . morall vertues cannot be exercised without the intellectual , because they are blinde without these ; and it is not now to be noted for some new thing , that these make some arrogant , though not all . holy writ doth enforme us that knowledge puffeth up ; and indeed this iron age hath so wrought with a lofty generation , as that the learneder are not commonly the lowlier ; nay is not the proverb verified by the learned sophist , which is , the poorer the prouder ? let him who was once ( as it were ) a carter become a scholar ; mark how stately hee ' l carry his body , like a swollen turky-cock ruffling through a yard , and see how haughtily he will shore up his eye-lids , gogling upon his ancient poor acquaintance , as though they never knew his father ; glorying so much in his breeding , as that he hath quite forgot his beginning . such a one is like to paulus samosetanus , who went through the market-places , streets and high-wayes , vaunting publickly of his learning ; or like unto rhemnius palemon the grammarian or pedant , who was wont to glory , that learning was borne , and came into the world with him ; and also , that with him it was like to perish . fourthly , because the vertues of the praised may deceave the judgement of the praiser ; for superficial vertues onely may be the objects of reall praises : vice sometimes becomes vertues coate , and 't is not discernable in the action , untill justice doth disrobe him . hypocrisie is a cunning craft●master , he can make vizards for the vices to personate the vertues without a sudden discovery . hypocrisie can easily fit a man with a linsey-woolsey garment ; intus linum subtilitatis , extra lanam simplicitatis demonstrat ; whose subtile threed of deceit is within side , but the plaine web of simplicity without side ; thus a man may be ovis visu , but vulpes actu ; his outside may be of lambes-woole , when as his inside may be lined with foxefurre . — si mea laudas . mea , yet not mea titularia . a man is not the more praise-worthy for his greatnesse and high titles , for good and great are not voces convertibiles , and commonly the higher the haughtier . exeat aula , qui volet esse pius , virtus & summa potestas , non coeunt ; — saith the poet : indeed the favourable aspect of a king may wring out of the inferiour an unwonted respect , though the promoted deserves this honour ; just as haman merited his promotion , whose pride strangled desert , before ever justice advanced him to the rope . desert of praise doth not alwayes waite upon promotion . — si mea laudas . the philosophers reckon praise amongst the goods of fortune , whose object must be either man or mans , either me or mea conditionally that it may vindicate the title of good . the love of praise is malum , an evil , a vice ; but the object of praise must be bonum , a good , a vertue . evil men and their wicked works demerit the evil of disgrace , they can never be so much beholding to humane repute , or godly esteem , as to grace them with good words . the apostle directs a man how to attaine true praise ; do that which is good , and thou shalt have praise of the same ; 't is not the knowing , but the doing of good which reapes the benefit of praise . those goods which are necessary to true felicity , should be the true object of praises . there is a twofold good : bonum . naturale . . spirituale . natural and spiritual ; the first is gotten by mans industrious endeavours , the second cannot be obtained but by the help of divine grace . the first the philosophers divide into the goods of . the minde . . the body . . fortune . . the goods of the minde are vertue and its actions . . the goods of the body are health , strength , beauty , the integrity of the external and internal senses , and such like endowments which do concurte to the ●ucrasy or good temperature of the body . . the goods of fortune , are nobility , honour , glory , a good name , the fruitfulnesse of the wombe , friends , liberty and riches , &c. these goods ( they say ) are necessary to the enjoyment of felicity in this life , the goods of the minde {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , as essentials to happinesse ; the goods of the body and of fortune do secundarily only pertain to felicity , non ad foelicitatis essentiam , sed integritatem , the one be its instruments , the other its ornaments . but the spiritual and theological goods of a man are those three divine sisters , viz. . faith , . hope , & . charity . these three work a man into the true and eternal happinesse . the natural goods may and ought to be praised in a man , but ony {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , as we commend him who doth bonum , a good thing , in respect of him who doth an action indifferent , we approve of it with a so , so : but the supernatural good things may and ought to be commended {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , because the agent hath done bonum bene , a good thing well . the essence of felicity doth consist in the habit of vertue {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , but in the operation of it {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , saith aristotle ; and this is as true of the theological , as of the moral vertues ; for it is not the having , but the doing which crownes ; not he that can , but he that doth run , obtaineth the prize and praise too , if he be faithful unto the death , hold out to the end of the race . these divine vertues make a man like * noah , to be just and perfect ; and like * job , to be perfect and upright ; and like * zacharias and elizabeth , to be righteous before god , walking in all the commandments of the lord , blamelesse ; blamelesse sine querela , non sine culpa ; without cruption , not without corruption ; blamelesse before men , yet not sinlesse before god . the saints perfections are not so full , but they may fall ; as long as dust and ashes are cloth'd with mortality , they may be mundi , yet are still mundandi ; clean , yet to be cleansed . the saints are in this world partially , but not gradually perfect ; perfect secundùm inventionem , non secundùm perventionem ; in regard of intention , contention , or endeavours ; but not in regard of pervention , or performance ; and therefore the foot of it doth rest upon earth , but the height of it is reserved for heaven . this is but one degree of their encomium , that they were just and perfect ; the very height of it was , that they were so in their generation : noah was a just man in his generation ; not a just man as just men went in those dayes , ( that were a poor praise for so worthy a patriarch , but he was a just man in that generation , wherein the world was over-growne with wickednesse , so he was just , non juxta consummatam justitiam , sed juxta justitiam generationis suae , saith st. hierome : hesiod describes five sorts of ages , and that which is the last and worst , is that we now live in , the iron age . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} iron indeed corsidering the people who live in this age , a wicked , perverse , and crooked generation ; and for a man to shine as a light in thd midst of this naughty and perverse nation , is worthy of praise indeed . esse malum inter bonos culmen pravitatis , esse bonum inter malos culmen pietatis ; as to be dissolute amongst the good , is the height of pravity ; so to be good and upright amongst the wicked , is the height of piety : so that i may say with seneca that in this age magna pietas est nihil impie facere : it is great piety to refrain from impiety . martial highly commends nerva , that he could ( nay that he dared to ) be godly and good in a wicked court : nunc licet & fas est , sed tu sub principe duro , temporibúsque malis ausus es esse bonus . thus you see what vertues ought to be the absolute objects of humane praises ; but before i leave the object , i 'le give the foundation upon which praises are to be built , and that is justice , according to cicero's testimony : fundamentum perpetuae commendationis & fame est justitia , fine qua nihil esse potest laudabile : the foundation of perpetuall commendation and fame is justice , without which nothing can be laudable . the object must be that good which is worth commendations , . whether it be in . amicis . aut . inimicis . in friend or foe , the end is to give to god , his glory . man , his due . — si mea laudas . omnia . — men must be so praised , as that their vices be not approved ; so was * asa , * amazia , and * jotham commended . to praise mea is charity ; but to praise mea omnia , may be flattery , and that may puffe up , & a puffing up precedes a plucking down . herods eloquent oration forced that , euphemy or faustam acclamationem from the people with a vox dei non hominis , the voice of god , and not of man , which swelled him with pride , giving not the glory to god by punishing those sycophants , of whose vanity he complained , when he was even ready to yield up his body to dust and ashes , ( as josephus reports ; ) but the wormes took possession of his body , before time came , that sins atturney , death did deliver it to them in the grave . ignatius took care , lest he should be taken with flattering praises , lest they should inflare , puffe him up , and that was but flagellare , to wound him . — laudas . laudas tu , but qualis tu ? no great matter , for quis tu ? the quality of the praiser is more to be regarded then the person ; for good men will praise good men , and bad men will praise bad men , and therefore antisthenes the athenian being told that he was praised of certaine wicked men , said , vereor , ne quid imprudens fecerim mali i fear , lest that i have unwittingly done some evil ; thinking that none are praised of evil men , but for evil actions . — laudas . but quomodo ? euripides saith , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , vertue shines in good men when they be dead ; and therefore pescennius niger being called from the army to the empire , said to one who wrote a panegyrick in his praises for his worthy acts , write the praises of marius , and of hannibal , and of some other worthy deceased captains , whom we imitate ; and as for my self , placere vivus , mortuus etiam laudari voso ; i will ( whil'st i live ) please ; when i am dead be praised , and good reason too : for , pascitur in vivis livor , post sata quiescit : tune suus ex merito quemque tuetur honos . saith ovid . wicked sure is that man , who sticks not ( yet the worlds custome 't is , though wicked , ) to praise his neighbour being dead , whom he sought to spoile being living ; so prone to mischievous dissimulation is mans minde , as that he who is now ( in humo ) shrined in dust , shall be the object of praise ; who when he was ( homo ) cloth'd with mortality , was the object of malice . it is the complaint of a moderne poet : ledimus insontes vivos , laudamus eosdem defunctos : o mors candidal vita nigra ! we praise them dead , whom without cause in breath we hurt ; thou 'rt black , o life ! thou 'rt white , o death ! thus death makes him precious in our tongues , whom life esteemed percicious in our thoughts . — laudas . but cui ? to whom dost thou praise a neighbour ? if to his enemy , he 'le hate him the more ; if to his friend , perhaps self-conceit may make him so jealous of his own reputation , as that he thinks , that doth derogate from his own worth , which is attributed to the worth or merit of his friend . indeed envy now adayes is the greatest , and frequenrest enemie to worth's preferme●t : it is deafe to all praises , but now to its own ; if praise do not flatter it , it will please it self with self-praises : malice , especially chaired in honour hath no eares to hear the praises of an inferiour , nor yet charity to excuse the unadvised errours of the ( otherwise ) well-deserving ; nor yet patience to bear with the weaknesse of inferiour worthies . an instance in this we have in the romane tribunes ; for when caeso the son of l. quintius , surnamed concinnatus , had incurred the hatred and displeasures of the tribunes , by carrying himself as a professed enemy to popular proceedings , and thereby had endangered his life ; they would not hear of his worthinesse and knowing deservings , the alledging of which incensed them the more , whereby they became the more cruel , like a beare robbed of her whelps ; they hunted the more eagerly after his blood , which his father perceiving , and being directed by a better discerning wisdome , ( as it were ) then the rest of his advocates , he chuseth out a path ( for his sonnes safety ) contrary to that which they had trod , omits the recital of his merits , as things not fitting to be seen of a distempered sight , and indeed not to be endured of envy ; acknowledgeth a fault , and in that regard with great instancy desires the people ( in humble and submissive termes ) to bear with the weaknesse of his yeares , and not to urge the forfeiture of his unadvised errour . thus better it was to confesse an errour , then to alledge merit . a man therefore ought to beware and consider to whom he praiseth a neighbour . quid de quoque viro , & cui , dicas , saepè caveto : is a remembrance to a praiser , as well as to a detractour . observe what man thy hearer is , and see , the nature of thy praises what they be . — laudas . we must honour our neighbours by the apostles injunction , and that ore , by our mouth ; and so by praising their real worth we honour our deserving neighbours by our lips : praise is honour , qui oratione fit , or according to aristotie , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , a speech shewing the greatness of vertue , or an honour which is given to a man of worth by words panegyrical , or encomiastick speeches ; and we must honour them too by defending their reputation against the malevolous aspersions of the venemous tongues of detractours , who endeavour to derogate somewhat from their worth by calumny . satan who is called {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , an accuser or slanderer , is an expert seeds-man , he takes great pleasure in sowing the seed of envy in mans heart , which beares the black-rotten fruit of detraction . if the fire of passion do but once smother under the wet straw of malice , time will stay but the drying ; occasion shall fire it , opportunity shall finde a tongue to vent it , a calumnious aspersion shall be a requital of a received affront , or ( but ) conceived displeasure ; so proclive to revenge is the minde of man , and sometimes so insatiable , as that it cannot quench its thirst , no not though it be drunk with blood ; a man then who can truly vindicate the title of a friend , will vindicate the cause of his wronged absent friend , by a defence of his reputation against the malicious and viperous brood of back-biters . — laudas . nay we must be praisers , or we shall be detractours ; if we maliciously conceale the good which is in our neighbour , we do detract from his fame and worth * indirectly , though not directly , according to aquina . — laudas . the greek word for praise may afford us a point of learning , which may not be baulked or overpassed without notice ; {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} they derive from {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , suscipio , to undertake . indeed praise doth undertake two things very happily , and a third by the by , viz. . animare . . honorare . . onerare . . animare . ] to hearten and encourage the praised , or the auditor to an imitation of the praiseds vertues , or to a chearful progression in that good which is so commendable ; laudare est acerrimus stimulus movendi , saith pliny . praise is a sharp goad , which rouseth up the dull spirit to an agility in action : so the poet , — immensum gloria calcar habet . glory ( which is consentiens laus bonorum de excellente virtute bene judicantium , as cicero saith ; or frequens de aliquo fama cum laude , ( as another hath it , ) which is alwayes joyned with praise , is like a spur which stirreth up the spirits to operation , when they begin to be defective in the exercises of good . . honorare . ] praise doth honour the well-doer ; and honour is pramium virtutis , a reward of vertue , which is given to a good man , that others by his example may be stirred up to the practice of vertuous duties . . onerare . ] to burden a man with pride and vain-glory , and that is the worst office that praise can do . it was part of ignatius his studies to finde out a meanes how to beware and eschew his praises , ( ne temerè inflarent , ) lest they rashly swell him with the tympany of pride . — laudas . what profit is it for a man to be bandied up and down in the tennis-court of this world with the racket of praise ? sure none to the praised ; all the the benefit lights upon the praiser . praise like a stone thrown against a wall rebounds upon the head of the caster ; bonum laudare non tam laudato , quam laudantibus prodest ; the good of praise profits the praiser more then the praised . as praise and worldly applause should not transport a man out of himself by accesse of joy , and excesse of self-conceit ; so neither should dispraise and mundane disgrace deject him so much as cause him either to torment his minde with restlesse fancies , or carelesse choler , or melancholy passions , or to period his resolves by desperation ; for anothers dispraise cannot annihilate the object , neither can praise coronize the praised . praise followes vertue , but as the shadow doth the body . contemnit laudem virtus , licèt usque sequatur gloria virtutem , corpus ut umbra suum . est etenim virtus aliquid , nil gloria , sicut est aliquid corpus , corporis umbra nihii . vertue doth praise contemne , though 't doth embrace . its steps , as shadow doth the body trace . like as mans body , so substance vertue 's deem'd ; but like the shadow , praise is naught esteem'd . the consideration of this may move a man to recollect his saddest thoughts and troubled spirits , even in the midst of melancholy dumps , and worldly troubles , and so meditate on the worlds inconstancy . to conclude then : i have little sought to winde my self into the worlds favour , since i have experienced its ficklenesse ; they onely who are its white-boyes , temporizers now adayes are the most deeply imprinted in its books , and are in the most esteem and repute with worldly men . let the world frowne upon a man , and it shall be a sure attractive for flatterers and praisers ; but let it once frown , and that is as sure an instructive for detractours ; then away haste friends , whose place is soon possessed with fiends , tormentours , gibers , flowters . experience taught ovid the brittlenesse of a friends love , which directed his muse to warmble out this disciplinary distich : donec eris foelix , multos numerabis amicos , nullus ad amissas ibit amicus opes . friends are not scarce , as long as riches hold : when wealth is ●led , no friends can then be told . to the very same purpose too writes a poet of our dayes . owen . te bona dum splendet ●ortuna , sequuntur amici , vt te , dum lucet sol , solet umbra sequi : quàm p●tmùm liquidus nebul is offunditur a●r , ecce repentè tuum deserit umbra latus . whil'st fortunes sun doth shine , thou'st friends good store , when sun is set , thy shadow 's seen no more ; when as dark clouds from sight obscure the sun , behold , how soon thy shadowe 's fled and gone . essay . vii . of errours in readers . and therein somewhat of flattery , envy , or , detraction . qui legis ista , tuam reprehendo , si mea laudas omnia , stultitiam , si nihil , invidiam . i am now fallen upon the tongue . nobile lingua bonum , mobile lingua malum . it was both the best and worst dish , which aesop could present to his master ; it is my fortune now to present you with one bad enough , an unfit dish to intrude it self into a banquet ; i must dresse , yet am no curious cook ; but 't is my comfort , many a palate-pleasing dish hath been cook't by a sloven . — si mea laudas omnia , stultitiam , si nihil , invidiam . to praise omnia ex paucis , that 's folly , and that folly is flattery ; but to praise nihil ex omnibus , that 's envy . to free the reader then from the suspition both of flattery and envy , he may praise a few of all , not all of a few ; for what man can be so exquisite in his meditations , as that every word should ( like the least filings of gold , ) have its weight . — si mea laudas . omnia . — i may liken our flattering readers to our flattering church-wardens , for as these put in their bills , so they in their censures thrust in an omnia bene . there is an herbe called lingua pagana , horse-tongue , or double-tongue ; the devil that crafty gardiner hath got a slip of it , and hath set it in the heart of the gna●honical reader ; the effects of it are dangerous , for the juyce of it being drunk by the honest reader , may be as hurtful to him , as hemlock is to the chicken . bilinguis was none of gods making , it waa the devils marring , he loves to make that double which god made single . the readers cloven tongue hath a great relation to hi● polt-footed judgement , and that makes him so unsetled in his opinion , as that he will disallow of that in the writers absence , which before he did approve of , and commend in his presence ; such an one is worse then a zoilus or a momus ; for like a cowardly curre , he will fawn in a mans face , but bite him by the shins , when his turn'd back hath given the farewell . he is like the swan ; for his words , like her feathers , are as white as the glorious lilly ; but his heart , like her flesh , is blacker then quenched coales . if for this cause the children of israel were forbidden to feed on the swan , shall i be so greedy of praise as to choke my self with the tickling , glorious words of her embleam . — si nihil , invidiam . envy is mother to detraction ; no marvell then if the daughter be entertained , where the mother hath her welcome , the envious reader is now become the writers rider , he rides like death upon a pale horse , called envy , who knowes no other pace then a false gallop . envy comes to the reader ( like a lover ) with a present in her hand , to wooe him to a censure ; detraction is her present , and malice stirres up the hand to receive it . she doth metamorphose the reader from lector to lictor , a beast which gesner never heard of ; who like the butchers dog , so long ●narles at the writers credit , as that at length he bites off his good name ; like the peloponnesian physician at rome , he may be called lanius vulnerarius , a killing butcher , so near is {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} to {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , in sound , envy to murther , as that they would equivocate without a schematical epenth●sis . the detractour is borne ( as one said of dionysius ) to pride and cruelty ; pride makes him to insult over the writers labours , and to condemne them to the fire ; and cruelty makes him commend his judgement , and cast them into the ●lames . 't is a quaint conceit of one , yet true : that the word detractio begins with a d , and ends with o ; it begins with the devil , for he is the first mover or instigatour to detraction ; but it ends with o , orcus , hell is his end . when jezebel took away her neighbour naboths vineyard , little did she think that her blood should be the price of it , and that her body should ere long give the dogs a break-fast ; and when a man doth take away a neighbours good name by vilifying his person , or the labour of the person with ignominious words ; he little thinks ( it seemes ) that without repentance and restitution , eternall ●lames in hell shall one day banquet both with his body and soule . now as augustus caesar spake of galba's crooked back , so say i to my envious censorious reader : ego monere te possum , corrigere non possum ; admonition , not correction belongs to me , but if he amends not , the lord will plague him , because he hath not {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , good will towards his neighbour : for the lord ( like that romane emperour ) odit pallidos & macilentos , he abhorres such as are lean with envy , and pale with malicious wickednesse . the lord keep me from such malicious and uncharitable readers ; wherefore i pray with our church : from hatred , malice , and all unchartablenesse , good lord deliver me . — si nihil invidiam . can a man be {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} yet {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , can he be mouthlesse , and yet an uncharitable detractour ? indeed he is not reproved so much , because he doth nihil dic●re , but because he doth nihil laudare . it is not the silent reader , but the silent praiser who is the subject of envy , and thesefore the worthy object of reprehension ; 't is true that the silent reader , if lie harbour envy in his bosome , though ●e utter it not ▪ is a politick though tacite , and yet secret detractour ; gravis est rapacitas , cum veram alterius gloriam , & si me dacio non corrumpis , silentio tamen prae●eris . he is an envious thief who passeth by the true worth of another in silence , as well as he who falsly corrups it with lies , and therefore this silenth detractor doth peccare in dei . bonitatem . . gloriam . sin against gods . goodnesse . ▪ glory . . against the goodnesse of god ; quia omnia hominis bonasunt dei dona ; because all the graces , good things and vertues which are in a man , are gods gifts , and sparkes of the infinite treasure of his bottomlesse bounty ; now to seek by our silence to suppresse the same , what is it else but to offer injury to god , and to rase out his goodnesse , and so much as is possible to obscure his godhead , who is altogether and nothing but goodnesse ? . against gods glory ; quia opera bona hominis sunt pars dei gloriae ; because the good works of man are part of gods glory , matth. . . let your light so shine before men , that they seeing your good works may glorifie your father which is in heaven . therefore to seek by silence to obscure the vertues of any , what is it else but to labour to put out the light which god would have to shine unto the world , and so to shew our selves enemies to gods glory ? — si nihil , invidiam . i may very well reckon the turbulent schismatick amongst these si nihils , secro● detractours ; who do ecclesiae famam detrahere , give the church an ill report ; they hold fanum to be profanum , because in it assemble n●fandi , as well as fandi , a particoloured congregation like josephs coat , and therefore they serve it as josephs brethren did his garment , ●ent it asunder by foule-mouth'd detraction ; for this purpose serves their private conventicles , they love aedem better then aedes , a chamber better then a church ; and therefore a private conventicle more then a publick convocation . finde a parish in england free from these detractours , and it may well be chronicled . — si nihil , invidiam . i may very well commemorate an epilogue written some few yeares since by an ancient divine , to such scholars amongst us , who by their places in our church , ( and in respect of the treasure they receive out of her dowry ) ought to defend our writings against schismes and heresies , and not underhand , and in corners to suggest evil against us , for strengthening the hands of the factious , their private favourites . in seignior ambo . sir ambo takes a pension of his mother , but fees the fugitive that calls her whore , to us one hand , to him he gives the other a proditor behinde , a friend before . but mark whil'st he thus doth himselfe delight . both sides do damne him for an hypocrite . in seignior dry-pate . sir dry-pate reads and carps , and hems and spits , no marvel though he have purg'd out his wits ; for little 't was when will was at the full , and yet 't is true , he hath no little skull . in quendam fig-fag . see , see how fig-fag stirres , and moves and strouts , hearke , hearke the silly syre how trim ●e flouts ; boyes , girles and fooles applaude him for some body ▪ but yet his carps do prove him but a noddy . in homunculum snuffe . sniffe-snuffe must judge , not knowing what it meant , for barley broth is snuffs chief element ; put him besides the cushion of his cup , and all his liquid sense is dried up . but lance no further busie-bodies tumour , for every foole must needs be in his humour . — reprehendo , si mea laudas omnia , stultitiam , si nihil , invidiam . to conclude , i may not unfitly compare my readers braine to a sea , in which the little pinnace of his judgement will be floating ; but he hath two dangerous rocks like sylla and charybdis to passe through , between which the passage is but narrow , and against which he may easily suffer shipwrack , if discretion do not guide him to entertaine a sober and steddy pilot ; on his right hand is descried the rock of flattery , on his left hand the rock of envy ; if he keep the channel of charity , he shall be possessed of the mean , which may challenge a golden epithete . kinde reader , keep a mean in thy censures , and i blame thee not ; if otherwise , if thou beest either envious or adulatorious , i must check , though 't be by the leave of this my poet , applying his own words to thy curious critical judgement . qui legis ista , tuam , reprehendo , si mea laudas omnia , stultitiam , si nihil , invidiam . reader , if thou do'st praise what e're i 'ave writ , i must ( perforce ) rebuke thy flattering wit ; if thou approv'st of nought in all my book , i must reprove thy heart , 't is envies crooke . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- . qui legis ▪ worldly men account learning a b●●den . the late booke to tolerate playes and pastimes upon the lords day liked them well . tull. lib. ● ad he●on . chrysost. hom. . in . thessal . rev. . . ● . ista . august ep. ad paulinum ; he saith there , homines plus proficiunt cogitando , quàm legendo . bernard in cant. serm. . hugo in medit. suit . meditatio in . creaturis . . scripturis . books ( like glasses ) are , . . prospect . . reflect . . illuminative . . tuam . . reprehendo . . the ●atines . . the greeks . . observ● . observ. johanues de garlandia . in l. de synonim . galfrid : comment. in lib. synon . johan . de ga●landia . object . answ. . a guide . . companion . g● . . . tim. . . good counsell for the wife . tim. . . . si mea . in vita virgil●i . . laudas . eccles. . turpitu●o & s●●●us laude●● sussocat . object . answ. rob. green suff●it ad 〈◊〉 scire , qu●d non sufficia●t 〈◊〉 ita . bern. s●per ca●t . ser. * alstedius distinct . c. . d. . * quum bo●●●o ; ●ra nostra remunerat deus , no● merita nostra , sed dona sua coronat . august . quisquis tibi enumerat merita sua , quid tibi enumerat nisi munera tua ? august . lib. confess . * datua , sed quae non debes , proportio & adsit . non aliter meritum dixeris esse tuum . * merita habere cures , habita data noveris . pe●n super cant. * {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} signifies both munus and pramium , and not barely munus , but munus honorarium . nec tu elegis●i me , sed ●go elegi te , nec ut te ●liger●m tua merita inveni , sed praeveni : hoc est autem judicium inter me & te , ut tua merita non extollas , non praeferas opera legis . bern. ser. . super cant. non bona tam pensat quàm bene facta deus . deus autor est meriti , qui & voluntatem applicat operi , & opus applicat voluntati . aug. c●cero , in parad●x . scheib●er . philos. compend. . l. . c. . non absurdè dici● ur , virtutis habitum , ( sitamen talis fit , ut non adsit impedimentum , prohibens actum ) reddere hominem politicè beat●●m , adeóque in co summum bonum consistere ▪ arisl . . . eth. c. . resp. 〈◊〉 carm. l. , ode . . carm. l. . ode . . repulses or affronts● an instance in absalom , who was praised for his affability . reas. ● . * 〈…〉 . phil. . heb. . reas. . ut anima est vita corporis , sic deus est vita animae . reas. . ● cor. . . reas. . rom. . . arist. l. . rhet. c. . arist. l. . eth. c. . loco supradicto . * gen. . * job . * luke . quaest , in gen. hesiod . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . . john . . phil. . . mart. . . epig. . * chron. . . * chron. . . * chron. . . flagellantes enim me flagellant . ign. in ep. laus in ore proprio sordescit . pet. . rhet. lib. c. . * f●na hominis diminuitur vel . directè . . indirectè . . directè , vel per impositionem falsi . . aggravationem peccati . . revelatio . occulti . . relationem boni , vel veri malâ intentione . . indirectè , vel . bonum alterius negamdo . . malitiosè bonum reticendo , vel minuendo . aquinas . cicer. tusc : qu. lib. . aug. owen . epig. lib. . epig. . . omnia stultitiam , si nihil , invidiam . jev. . bon●●●●ture calls the detractor , ●ariosus canis , the butchers dog . detractio est de●igratio alienae famae per occulta verba . aquinas . rubbe, and a great cast epigrams. by thomas freeman, gent. freeman, thomas, b. or . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) rubbe, and a great cast epigrams. by thomas freeman, gent. freeman, thomas, b. or . [ ] p. [by nicholas okes], and are to bee sold [by l. lisle] at the tigers head, imprinted at london : . in verse. printer's and bookseller's names from stc. signatures: a-k⁴. "runne, and a great cast" has separate divisional title page; register is continuous. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams, english. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - olivia bottum sampled and proofread - aptara rekeyed and resubmitted - john latta sampled and proofread - john latta text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion rvbbe , and a great cast. epigrams . by thomas freeman , gent. horace , lectorem delectando pariterque monendo . imprinted at london , and are to bee sold at the tigers head. . to the thrice honovrable , right noble , and trvely vertuous , his ( euer to be obserued ) singular good lord : thomas lord windsore . right honovrable . it was much against my minde , to entitle your worthy lordship to these worthlesse toyes , or make such a slight and artlesse fabricke carry so faire and glorious a frontispice , as your honorable name prefixed ; yet finding it ( as it is ) in these daies a matter so frequent with the worst poets ( as they haue most need ) to seeke out the best patrons : collecting from their presumption a fearefull boldnesse i haue out of a reuerent zeale , and obseruance , presented to your honour these my poore and naked labours : poore , as being vnpolisht , and naked as they came from their mother truth : yet for that , ( and onely but for that ) beseeming a better writer . vouchsafe them i beseech you , your honours wonted benigne and gracious aspect , and reade them with your accustomed candor ; but for your deepe-searching iudgement , pardon me my lord , i disclaime from that , and appeale to your partiall , and more pleasing fauour . the most part of them haue already past your lordships priuate liking : they all tointly craue your publick protection . it is no diminution to honour , nor disparagement to greatnesse , to countenance the meanest well-meaning authour : you haue it , cum tantis commune viris ; scipio gracing rude ennius , and the mightiest of earths monarks , vnskilfull chaerilus . nor is it derogatory to iudgement , to accept an oblation of poems of slight subiect ; as augustus of virgils gnatt : nor of bad composure ; as that of the fore-named chaerilus to alexander : and i shall surely beare a part of reproofe , in this ages generall apostacy to poesy , the rather for trading ( as the world interprets it ) in the coursest and commonest of it . so hardly heares the epigram from all , the very name sticks to him like an inustum stigma . but how the comonest ? in it selfe ; why , there , being good ( as it is no lesse ) it shold be melius quo communius . is it in the professor ? yea there is the misery , it is gone , ab equis ad asinos , notum lippis & tonsoribus , & plaid the pithagorean pittifully , induring most brutish transmigration , and traueld in as durty wits as the way between hogsdon and hounsditch , turpe & miserabile : yet that this shold impeach the ingenuous is meere iniustice . but indeed the true cause for which the epigram suffers , is his liberty and sincere honesty in the search and vnmasking vice , hence comes it men marke him with fenum in cornu , and fire off ; or take the wind of him , as of one infected , hence the world feares and consequently hates it : i could go on in iust indignation , but time is precious with your lordship , and this is an epistle , and not a treatise . i therefore returne to your houour ; crauing , once more , acceptance and protection , to these ( howsoeuer they sound , for so being ) course-spun epigrams . howsoeuer my pen faile , my prayers shall not , but euer solicite the calestiall tri-vnity , to blesse your honour , and send you heere all , and the compleatst ioyes on earth , fore-runners of your future true happinesse in heauen . your honours most obsequiously deuoted seruant . thomas freeman . regalia vota , precesque ad regem iacobum . not like your player , who prophanes his lips with scurrile ieasts of some lewd ribald play ; and after all , vpon the scaffold skips , and for his sou'raigne then begins to pray : more manerly , whilst pure , this pen of mine presents hir prai'rs ( great king ) for thee & thine ▪ proreligiosiss . ●ruditiss . augustiss . rege . what should i wish to that my sou'raigne hath but long continuance , both of him , and it ? long to liue the defender of true faith , our iosva long o're israel to sit , long t' entertaine the saints of god like lot ; to be our david long , our solomon ; still keeping without blemish , without blot : the fathers zeale , the wisedome of the sonne . to these ( o god ) what should we pray thee giue ? but ( as i said ) continuance and long date , to liue the dayes methvsala did liue , and after , when he falls'ith hand of fate : o yet vouchsafe in mercy some delayes , to adde to our good ezechias dayes ! maneant ●afata nepote● . pro illustrissima & serenissima regina . evrops glory , englands greatest good , o! maist thou flourish like the fruitfull vine , and make great brittaine rich in royall blood ; the life of all our hopes liues in thy line : liue euer blessed , and be more a mother , and from thee may that of-spring issue forth , that may secure their kingdomes , conquer other , make all the world to wonder at their worth : nay , win it all , and part it too ( heau'ns smile ) as brutus sonnes did once diuide this ile . maneant ●afata nepotes . pro carolo maximae , magnae britannuiae , spei , principe . ovr second , late ; now first-best , future hope , whose , in remainder , we ; and thou art , ours ; what should we wish thee , but that heau'n wide ope ? raine downe her blessings in aboundant showres , to make thy parents happy ; thy selfe blessed , and we , in them , and through them , t' haue in thee the greatest good that euer men possessed : which with the goodnesse may as lasting bee . long stand our atlas ; and when he shall fall , be thou our hercules , hold vp our heau'n , our happinesse , i meane , and help vs all : sit at the helme , and keepe our ship vp eu'n ; then take , and long , o long keepe at the stearne ! meane time now grow in goodnesse , greatnesse , state , all which thou needst not trauell farre to learne , nor needest but thine owne to imitate : thy wise and zealous sire , thy vertuous mother , and , o that great hart ! now heau'n crownd thy brother . maneant ●afata nepotes . pro fulgentisima elizabetha . greater thy selfe , by greatest princes sought , on whom best starres haue smilde their influence , where heau'n a map of miracles hath wrought , our glory , natures pride , earths excellence : in whom alone the graces liue refinde , where chastitie with more then cyprian-feature , and beautie with all vertue liues conioyn'd : o goddesse sure ! or some celestiall creature ! in whose whose faire face so equally doe runne the purest lillie-white , the orientst red , like vialactea , and the rising sunne . happy that prince shall the faire princesse wed , which holy hymen shall no snoner finish , but we shall pray . that thou the blessedst bride mai'st with such blessed ones the world replenish , that may hereafter help the world to guide . and that our royall blood more deepe root take , as they from thee , so may from them spring other : may thy great father , great grand-father wake , and reckon their descent from thy blest mother : and englands king , and queene , may liue to see , their childrens children , kings and queenes to bee . maneant ●afata nepotes . ad excellentissimum principem palatinum : illius in lectissimae elizabethae ( iam sibi coni●gatae ) electione , iudicium , approbat , admiratur . if as in this thrice royall fredaricke , thy iudgement in electing still be like ; what neede the other six or stand on seuen ? why not the whole to whom the chiefe is giuen ? indeed , what needed any other voice ? the world might put his life vpon thy choyce . pro nobilitate britannica . gr●ue , for your councel , great , for place and blood , o you arch-columnes of our common-wealth ! you truely wise , religious , noble , good . who doth not wish all happinesse , all health , with nestors yeares , your honours to attend , is not the kings , is not his countries friend . pro domino suo honoratissimo domino windesor . and now , more properly to pay his vowes , he comes to you ( his noble lord & master ; ) whose life , for you , is but a debt he owes , whose prayers , could they keepe off all disaster , and make you blest ; there should breathe in our state , no lord more happy , lesse infortunate . liber ad lectorem de authorosuo . exeo : sed quidsi , quamvis liber exeoparvus , parvus in hac magna plurimus vrbe ferar . paule , meum titulum tua ianua quaque tenebit , haerebit multis pagina prima locis . lector & exurgens leget , atque inquiret eund● e●quis habet talem ribliopola librum : inventique petens pretium , persolvit , abitque , et modo mercato : perlegit vsque iocos . quisquis , & o quisquis , ●●pidissimus ( inquit ) et autor post mult●s multis anteferende venis : laudibus ad coelum vehimur , dominusque , liberque , sedulus hunc laudae , me sine fine legit . ne cu● fit mirum ? cui nonplacuere lepores ? rarus amat lector seria , quisque iocos . quare rub & run ; sphaera mihi ; calamus , mundi sunt crimina , nodi , ipse sed est mundus , sphaeromachia mihi . siue manere iubes , ●ector , seu currere sphaera●t . lusori pariter , curre●●●eque ●●●eque placent . rub and a great cast. epigram i. lectori quomodo legat . reader remember that i doe fore-warne thee , pry not into the secrets of my pen. see not ; if thou seest ought , that seemes to harme thee , wrong not thy selfe ; if i doe , blame me then : looke on , laugh on , and if i touch thy griefe , or tell the fault wherein thou hast beene filthy , let not thy knowledge cause thy mis-beliefe , i name thee not , what need'st thou then cry guilty ? the cholericke descry their owne offence , when like a gald-backt iade scarce touch't they wince . epigram . . me quoque vatem . vvhy am i not an epigrammatist ? i write in couert , and conceale their names , whose liues i burden with some bitter iest , themselues i cloake , and yet vn-clowd their shames . againe , me thinkes i am not shallow sprighted , nor seemes my wit so insufficient ( although not like to others deepe-conceited ) it can indite , although not excellent . the reader laughes , this reason he rehearses , the ape likes her owne whelpes , and i my verses . epigram . . i● , rich●rdum primum , regem . gr●●ter then great alcides thee did grace , the lyons heart , and not the lyons case . richard●s corde , hercules exuvijs leonis gestiens . epigram . . o tempora ! o mores ! had i an hundred mouthes , as many tongues , an iron voyce ; then should this iron age be mou'd , or i would thunder out their wrongs . and breath out boysterous accents full of rage . i would inueigh against fowle vsurers , as those that liue by causing others wants ; i would defie the filthy flatterers , that shew themselues dissembling sycophants . the lawyer too my lauish tongue should lash , and auarice should not auoid the scourge , and with the courtier would i haue a crash : and most of all the atheist would i vrge . yea euery one ( as euery one is faulty ) should bide the brunt of my all-biting tongue , it should be no excuse t'alledge their frailty , suffiz'd , they s●i'd , and i must tell the wrong . yet wel i wot , when words had done their worst lewd men ( like foxes ) fare best when th' are curst . epigram . . in bacchum . of all the old gods bacchus is the best , and hath more fellowship then all the rest : they haue their habitations on hye , he loues not foaring so ambitiously ; for lofty dwelling he cares not a louse , he likes the lowest part in all the house ; each cellar is his amphitheater , and is content to be compound with water , and liues as earst diogenes hath done , th' one in a tubbe , the other in a tunne . epigram . . in superbum . svperbus sold a gallant mannor place , himselfe with a new-fashion'd sute to grace . meant he himselfe an elephant to make , in carrying such a castle on his backe . epigram . . in castorem . castor complaines hee 's mightily mis-vsed , that he a man , should beast-like be cornuted : content thee castor , thou art not abused , eu'n ioue himselfe was such a one reputed . he horn'd , the better to beguile his loue ; thou horn'd , the more thy loue be guileth thee : europa's carriage caused hornes in ioue , and thy wiues carriage causeth thine to be ; onely in this thou hast him ouer-gone , in that thy wife bare many , he but one . epigram . in mustapham . mvstapha still amongst his company sweares wounds and bloud how he will be reuenged on such a one for his late villany , whom then , but for intreaty , he had swinged . i heard him once tell such a tale as this , whereas by chance the party came in place ; loe , whom he vowd to kill , he bowd to kisse , him with much curt'sie crouching to embrace ▪ happy the man that had so milde a foe , who absent , kil'd him ; present , kist him so . epigram . . nec retinent patulae , &c. in garruhtatem . nay , to keepe counsell , this our age excels , to lagus one a thing in secret told , this to his friend in secret lagus tels , the which his friend to tell , his friend is bold , in secret too ; that friend vnto another , who makes a mid-wife of the next he meetes to tell his secret to ; each makes a brother lightly on whomsoeuer next he hits . thus all abroad this secresie is blowne , and yet in secret told to euery one . epigram . in fimum . fimus is coach'd , and for his further grace doth aske his friends how he becomes the place . troth i should tell him the poore coach hath wrong , and that a cart would serue to carry dong . epigram . . in goslingum puritanum praedicatorem . gosling the puritan held so excellent , ner'e quoteth father , ner'e speakes latine sentence , indeed the scriptur's all-sufficient , as he being aske told one of his acquaintance , but wee who know him , know the cause was rather he ner'e learn'd latine , neuer read a father . epigram . . in photinum . i met photinus at the chancelors court , cited ( as he said ) by a knaue relator : i askt him wherefore , he in laughing sort , told me it was but for a childish matter , how er'e he laught it out , he lyed not , indeed 't was childish , for the childe he got . epigram . . quo ruis ah demens ? londons progresse . why how now babel , whither wilt thou build ? i see old holborne , charing-crosse , the sirand , are going to st. giles his in the field ; saint katernes she shakes wapping by the hand : and hoggosdon will to hy-gate ere 't be long . london is got a great way from the streame , i thinke she meanes to goe to islington , to eate a messe of straw-berries and creame . the citty 's sure in progresse i surmise , or going to reuell it in some disorder without the walles , without the liberties , where she need feare nor mayor nor recorder . well , say she do ; 't were pretty , but 't were pitty a middlesex bayliffe should arrest the citty . epigram . . in rufum . priscus to rufus for some filthy vsage did send a challenge by a peeuish boy , the boy he beat that brought so bold a message but no point field would rufus par mafoy : so haue i seene a dog oft bite the stone , and not the man , by whom he sees it throwne epigram . . in crantorem . crantor the citizen long in dispaire , for twenty yeares his barren wife teem'd not , and now that shee hath brought him forth an heire , he 's frollicke and a ioyfull man god wot . alas poore foole how vainely he reioyces 't is none of his if 't go by most of voyces . epigram . . in poetastrum & amicam suam putricem . my little litteratus hath a squall , a limned one , whom he doth mistresse cal : they eat , drink , talk , and laugh , and lye together , and lawfull 't is , and 't is allow'd to either . the reason is ( who so desires to know it ) his mistresse is a painter , hee a poet. pictoribus atque poetis quidlibet , &c. epigram . . in hersilium . hersilius the barber-surgeon hates lucy cause shee barbeth many one and them so artificially doth trimme that they need neuermore be shau'd by him : this is the cause hersilius doth hate her but would the foolish man well weigh the matter how t is his profite that shee plaies the barber his heart gainst her would no such hatred harbor : what though she makes him loose a lowsy science , shee fits his surgery with fatter clients . epigram . . of tobacco ashes . tobacco for a phoenix will doth prize such vertues from the ashes of it rise : his instance ; hee his whore and horse doth make it scour'd her teeth , it skind his skabby backe . epigram . in leonatum . the filthiest , the fowlst-deformed lasse that is , will bee , i thinke or euer was leonatus loues , wherewith should shee him draw , except as she 's like iet , he be like straw . epigram . . in cosmum . aske cosmus why he is a gentleman , hee tels what seruices his sire hath seene , as when victorious henry bolleine wanne , and when king phillip tooke s. quintius in : his vnkle was at th'rising in the north , and did at tilbery good reckoning cary ; aske of himselfe he can bring nothing forth , but thinkes their deeds , are his , heredita●y ? and say he be a gentleman therefore because he beares their image and their name hee is but like the asse that isis bore ; they honour got hee vnder-goes their fame , and bearing thus what others brought to passe , hee 's but his fathers and his vnkles asse . epigram . . sic transit gloria . pride , and the court ; you make vs too vnthrifty ; buy coach and horse : but what 's the end of all , what cost an hundred , sell againe for fifty , and then my gallants from their chariots fall : fore-times but fabled of one phaeton you make ours testify of many one . epigram . . in hylam puerum immaturè mortum . hylas a child , and dead , how should it come ? surely his threed of life was but a thrum . epigram . . in castriotem . see , see , what loue is now betwixt each fist ; since castriotes had a skabby wrist , how kindly they lye clawing one another as if the left hand were the right hands brother . epigram . . in marthum . how oft haue i heard martha make her boast how she her husband vsde before she had him , how palpably his patience she crost , in plainer termes too what a calfe she made him , what since i heare not , but 't is shrewdly ghest the calfe is since become a horned beast . epigram . . in selinum . they say selinus writes exceeding well , till he of bacchus grape too deepely tast , for then is his minerua quite displast , how contrary to that which poets tell , of ioues strange breeding , stranger nursing vaine , selinus wit is breecht when wine's in 's braine . epigram . . in duos ebrios . faber and frankus i you both commend , for both you will be drunken with a friend : 't was theseus and perithous amity , so went they both to hell for company . epigram . . ad quosdam florentes quondam , iam miseros & conquerentes commilitones suos . vvhy shew you mee , my ( whilome happy ) mates the ouergrowne infirmities that grieue you , wo's mee to see your so-much altred states : i can lament , but i can not relieue you . think'st thou wat i can cure the curelesse goute ? can iames scyatticke hips hope helpe of mee ? dicks dropsy-ale-puft flesh stands swelling out , i can recouer none of all you three : and rafe , the pox may eate into thy bones , and thou remaine remedilesse for mee : nor leprous lacke be freed from scabs : at once i can helpe none of you in no degree : for first i 'me no physition at all , and poore , i cannot build an hospitall . epigram . . videntur & non sunt . some men go braue and some againe go bare when neither of them seeme the men they are , i know rich lads go patcht in leather pelts , and hood their heads vnder some greasy felts : againe i know some silke lads , coinelesse euer , beare high their heads in some fresh colour'd beuer , and siluer-shooe-strings ore their toes do weare such shooe-strings as a man may safely sweare are better then their purse-strings , ten to one , for they can show some siluer , these can none . epigram . . velle paupertatis suae . t is strange , now i am poore what i would do , what hospitals what almse-houses vpreare ; build vpton-bridge in worc'ster-shire anew ; giue toplesse paules one more sky-threatning spire ; bring thames to oxford , wye into north-wales , trent to northampton , seauern into trent , auon to seauern ; all to carry sailes quite from the sea into the continent : helpe widdowes , orphanes , maymed , and the poore , with wadam build a colledge for the godly ; erect ( so farre surpassing all before ) a library with all praise-worthy bodly : make a huge chaine from douer reach to callis for to secure all passengers for france , free bond-slaues , ransom captiues from the gallies , all honest sea-wrackt marchants re-aduance . nay more , what learned bacon left vndone , engirt great brittaine with a brazen wall : on thousand good deeds now my mind doth run now i can nothing , now i would do all i can so little and would do so much , sure i am too well giuen , to grow rich . epigram . . arcades amb● . i ack and dick both with one woman dealt , so long till she the paines of women felt : now dick , he thinkes to put a tricke on iack , and iack againe to hang it on dicks backe : which got the childe , it makes't a doubtfull case , it hath so like ( they say ) iacks nose , dicks face : but by both marks , my iudgment should be quick et vitula tu dignus , iack & h●e . epigram . . in richardum . at three go downes dick doffs me off a pot , the english gutter's latin for his throate . epigram . . in marcellum . marcellus if you marke how he doth go is nothing else but imitation , by his apparell you can hardly know what countriman he is , or of what nation , for note you him ; he weares a spanish felt , a french-craw'd doublet , and a dutch deep slop : a turky blade , a crosse-bar'd irish hilt , hangers guilt-wrought with indian pearle a top , and girdle too , wherein ( ware the stabbado ) his poyniard in a swaggering skarfe is got : his stocking silke of naples or granado , his garter tyed with a switzers knot , beside a long french locke , a sarazens head , a big gades beard , a grim swartruttres looke : by these what countriman , who can aread ? nay of what country may hee not bee tooke ? sure if a man a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bee , marc●llus seemes that little world to mee . epigram . . in a●mam . nan trades , yet will she not bee called whore , nor pet nor puncke , but call her curtezan : shee takes it kindly and conceiues no more , but 't is as much to say as courteous anne . a thing in these our daies to wonder at , a catholicke not know t'quiuocat . epigram . . quot bipedes aurum . vvhat ordinary gallant now but goes on spani●● leather haltred with a rose , circling with gold , or siluer-spangled lace : 't is strange how times haue altered the case . lesse cost , then 's now bestow'd on either foote , did buy k. william bufus a whole sute . epigram . . in christophorum . kits conscience shal ne're bring him introuble 't is like an os●er any way 't will double : and for the oath , no touching of him there , you shall haue him , what you wil haue him , swear● nor for religion ; for to tell you true , hee 's neither of the old nor of the new. epigram . . in luscum morionem . lvscus , that minotaure thy monstrous wit , lies in that lowsy laborinth thy head , so close as no art can discouer it , now whilst th' art liuing , nor when thou art dead . a longer threed then ariadnes twine , shall ner'e finde wit in that same pate of thine . epigram . . in metellum . metellus vowd a voyage into france , to learne the language , and be frenchifide , but he found out a neerer way by chance : for in a vauting house as he did ride , of his pretence in part he was possest . for there his genius did so well apply him , that she with whom his conf'rence did consist . eu'n as she spet , her breath did franchifie , him . surely i can but wonder how the wench , that neuer knew to speak , should spet out french. epigram . . in stilponem . coward stilpo , often dar'd to fight , still puts it off with pretty odde excuses , he feares not any liuing by this light , but he shewes reason wherefore he refuses : the little man too much his vndermatch , t' imbrue his sword , his bloud is too too base . the eagle scornes the silly flie to catch : the mouses death's the elephants disgrace : one like himselfe of equall strength and making , o 't were a prey fit for his lyons paw , but should he kill him , he were in wise taking , he feares not him ; marry he feares the law : nor will he answere euery idle iacke . stilpo is rich , and he hath much to lose , th' other perhaps in penury and lacke , growes desperate , and cares not how it goes . thus law or fortune , or too niggard nature , begets excuses for his cowardize . the strong , the poore , the man of little stature , he dares with all , daring with none ( more wise . ) surely by this i see , and seeke no furder , stilpo keepes one commandement , do●● 〈…〉 epigram . . in demetrium . starke drunke , demetrius word is : hee 'l stand too● , when he hath neither vse of hand nor foot , but iostles this , and shoulders vp that wall , and stands to nothing , yet hee 'l stand to all . epigram . in swadde . swadde's in commission , yet but beares the name , for all the roast is ruled by his dame , sh'examines , bailes , bindes ouer , and releases , remits and mittimusseth whom she pleases , to all that come to him for wrongs redresse , his wife 's the iustice , he but of the peace . epigram . . in spurium . i wonder on 't , apelles when he painted the rare perfections of the gr●cian dame , himselfe with sight of many faire acquainted , aud stole some grace from euery one that came . and spurius , is it possible thy mother , helpt with the workwanship of many one , who had , besides the sight of sundry other , should bring forth thee such an ill-shaped sonne ? but her confusion did as much portend , 't would proue some lumpish chaos in the end . epigram . in e●ndem . that thou art monstrous most of any other , the reason to proceed here hence i gather , that hauing such a strumpet to thy mother , the monster multitude became thy father . epigram . . to all good subiects . you rich , your royall , loyall hearts reueale , not grudging when your gratio●s soueraigne sends , nor at a non-plus for a friuy seale , but when your prince ( like cyrus ) tries his friends , make you your prince , with cyrus to approue , a kings exchequer is his subiects loue . epigram . . in caspiam . caspia the decrepit old rich croot , whose face ( th'antiquity of time bewraying ) is riueld like a ruffled summer boot ; shee that 's in all things , but in wealth , decaying : caspia , that same fowle deformed fubs , who neuer needs feare coughing out her teeth , ( for she hath none , but a few holly-stubs ) she that should think of nothing now but death ; maugre th'imperfections of her age , she will with tubrio the yong gallant wed , and linke herselfe to him in marriage . what shall we say next day when she is dead ? that this old foole did that yong fellow take , him not her husband , but her heire to make . epigram . bis duo notani quae non possunt reuocari , virginitas , tempus , verbum dictumque , voluptas . scaurus his life voluptuously hath led ; ruffinus tongue hath walk't immodestly ; lusilla she hath lost her maiden , head ; and thuscus spent his time in vanity : but now the blacke oxe treadeth on their feet , they find their faults , and 'gin to feare their fate , and like the troians they haue after-wit , and would be wise when now it is too late : for who can call back words already spoken , lost time , past pleasure , virgin-bands once broken ? epigram . . in dol pregnantem . dol learning propriaquae maribas without-booke , like nomen crescentis genetiuo doth looke . epigram . . in oxoniam . iile terrarum mihi preter omnes angulus ridet . horat. od. englands faire athens , youths thrise happy nurse , natures resiner , learnings consistory , refuge whereto the muses haue recourse , and where to be the graces chiefly glory : pardon thy pupils high-presuming pen , that dares thy praise ambitiously aduenter , " each little streame repaies the ocean his borrowed waues , and doth the seare-enter : my selfe with like gratuity incenst , returne to thee ( from whom it first sprang forth ) that little wit , that heretofore thou lentst , to legend out thy true deserued worth . but out alas , what rellish hath my riming , it can but be a blemish to the breeder , and i shall be controuled for high climing , me thinkes i heare already from the reader ; who telles me , in my talking thus so boldly , " better be silent , then commend so coldly . epigram adeandem . desiderium in discessu . at natale solum placet omnibus : optat vlysses , fumantes ithacae posse videre domos : cuique , placet natale solum ; mihi di'plicet 〈◊〉 ; horreoque , in patria solus ego esse mea ; ipsamque inuitus repeto : sic perfidus olim dicitur ad patrios , hannibal isse lares . cur fugimus patriam , si causam quaritis ; ●d●m ; illum amor italiae , me tenot oxoniae . anglice . each man his country loues : vlysses wish was to see ithacks smoke ( smoke little worth ) each cares for countrey ; i care not a rush , i loath to liue where i was first brought forth . now goe i home , as hannibal once went , to natiue affrick , sad and discontent . we hate our countries : would you neds know why ? my loue is oxford ; his , was italy . epigram . in salium . when salius takes the pen in hand , he bragges ; hee 'l rowze his wit to raise the p●ise of rags ; and writes such verses as stand men in steead , for priny bisnesse rather then to read . now pray you when the paper lies besh — how are ragges raised by his rowzing wit ? epigram . . in flauium . when flauius once would needs praise tin , his braine could bring no reasons in , but what his belly did bethinke , platters for meate , and pots for drinke . epigram . . in virtutem . vertue we praise , but practise not her good , ( athenian-like ) we act not what we know ; so many men do talke of robin hood , who neuer yet shot arrow in his bow . epigram . . in ebrios . why drunkards should be so improuident , and yet so often drinke a deity : to proue the cause i know no argument , but that they surfet in satiety . hony , how holesome , and how full of pleasure , and yet how hurtfull taken out of measure ! epigram . in crispinus . crispinus giues , where gifts he lookes for greater , this kindnesse shewes him but a kinde of cheater . epigram . . in patum . paetus dying , cozend atropos , she should not cut his vitall threed in two , his shorditch saint a fairer fate bestowes , she did as much as destiny could doe ; yet not by cutting ( for she vs'd no knife ) but by the burning of the threed of life . epigram . . in duos letigiosos . ficus hath three-farthings-worth of wrong done to him by his neighbour clunnico , for which he vowes to be reueng'd ere long ; that to make good , to law he meanes to goe : and clunnico , as stubborne , will not shrinke what ere it cost : by this the lawyer 's feed , who nimbly purses their dis-powched chinke , and hearts them both , that they be not agreed : they ( like two dogges ) lye fighting for the bone , the which a third , the lawyer , feeds vpon . epigram . . in embrionem . trow yee who lately to the warres is gone ? the neither wise nor warlike embrion : there if perhaps he happily atcheeue what we haue now no reason to beleeue ; and that his valors vnexpected proofe , be to his countries and his owne behoofe . thus in my times his name i will inroll , loe here the goose that sau'd the capitoll . epigram . london is like to haue no more strong beere , all long of my lord mayor as we heare : his brother rather may the cause be thought , that so much water to the towne hath brought . epigram . proh dolor . the prouinces are all at peace : alas good souldiers , it boots not now , the military science to professe , you must come home , and liue the lord knowes how : like to haue small reliefe , but too much law , and hang'd , if but for taking of a straw . epigram . . in mathonem . though great mens houses make it knowne , how buckes-hornes stand the hall in steed , to hang vp hats and caps vpon ; yet euery where there 's no such need : for what needs it in mathos hall ? his head , his hornes , may serue for all . epigram . . dum spiritus hos regit artus . of all the letters in the cris-crosse row , i loue the w. why ? if you 'l know ; it doth begin two names , i would be loth for too much boot change either of them both : the first i serue , loue , honour , and attend , the other is my kinsman , and my frend. epigram . . in clit●m . that clitus is become so melancholly , nor losse of goods , nor death of frends doth cause it , but his pr●●pus , fired by his folly , he is in feare he shall be fore'd to loose it : he heard such newes from the physitian , it must be sau'd by circumcision . epigram . consanguinio suo febricitanti . two contraries ( philosophy sayes ) neuer , at one time can in one selfe-subiect be , yet note but the condition of the feuer , and 't is a false position we see ; which strangely doth conioyn mere opposites , and extreame cold t'exce●s●ue heate vnites . which ( like two st●uggling twinnes within one wombe ) by striuing , so our vitall powers distort , as both our strength and senses quite benumme , distaste our pallats , make vs all a● mort , our bodies of all faculties displace , and makes our braines to run the wilde-goose chace . cozen , to you these lines i need not write , who haue the practike , mine 's but speculation , i do but tell ; you , feele the agues might would you were lesse acquainted with her fashion . yet to your comfort , i haue heard it euer , " no physicke for the body to the feuer : which though it bring it to some little weaknes , it purgeth choller , swageth swelling tumours , cuts off the causes of ensuing sickenes , rarefies fleame , and for all ill-bred humours , phleb●tomy , nor purging , no● the bath , haue halfe the healthfull power th'ague hath : besides that it the shomacke doth restore , reformes digestion , concockts crudities , repaires the faculties impair'd before ; yet for all these , and more good properties , i thinke you could bee well contented yet , and i could rather wish you rid of it . epigram . . viae tibi . eidem . looke to thy selfe , and learne to liue at home , haue fellowship henceforth with few or none , see , see , to what a passe the world is come , friendship abides not , bee thy fortunes gone , be thou like winter that like sommer wast , the swallowes flie that flockt before so fast : friends swim , like fishes , as the streame doth run , and like slye serpe●ts lurke in fairest greene , they onely reuerence the rising sunne , scarse looking to'ards him , when he doth decline ; 't is wealth preserues good will , that from thee taken , thou that wast followed shalt be soone forsaken : nay marke eu'n now ; the very bird of loue , betakes her selfe vnto the fairest building ; and her owne home abandoneth the done , if once she sees it ruinous and yeelding , no maruell then , though faith faile in the triall , when loues true turtle is turn'd thus disloyall . this vile hart-gnawing vultur-age then flye , feed not the hounds whose teeth may after teare thee , let not the serpent in thy bosome lye , lest stinging , thou repent he lay so neere thee : be thine owne neighbour ; and be this thy doome , to looke vnto thy selfe , to liue at home . epigram . . in iactabundum gentis suae● tell me no more what trophies were erected , by those , from whom thy gentry tooke deriuing , show me their vertues that made them respected , if they , as yet , bee in their sonne suruiuing : 't is not enough , ' tinherit any man , to reckon from coruinus thy descent , from nasica , or nobler affrican , if vertue bee not in th'here ditament ; or say ; 't is credit to bee come of them ; 't is more dishonour when thou shalt digresse , and proue a bad stalke of so braue a stemme , disabling thy birth in thine vnworthinesse : i would thersites had begot thee rather , and thou proue like patroclus worthy friend , then that achilles should haue beene thy father , and thou to proue thirsites in the end : " no fathers deeds can dignify the sonne , nor can we call that ours , we haue not done . quae non fecimus ipsi vixea nostravoco . epigram . . in richardum . dick will to wiuing , and a whore will wed , ware hornes ; a wager , whether will haue more a tanners backe-side ( richard ) or your head , or scot of fleet-streete , though he haue such store : dick were your hornos as visible as they , i hold my life it were an euen lay. epigram . . in pestem , oxonium a duobus gallis allatum anno . . oxford's infected , and the french-men brought it , the pox to bring the plague , who wold haue thought it , i should haue said , nay more , i should haue swore it , the pox had beene a supersedeas for it . good towne ; for thee ( for thee i euer loued ) i wish the prouerb had not beene disproued . epigram . . epitaph . foeneratoris . vvith vsury and common harmes , here he lies that purchast armes ; earth presse softly , wormes forbeare , 't is a gentleman lies heere , hee and all that so heape good , needs they must be men of bloud . epigram . . in liuorem . enuy did aske mee for her epigram , i flatly answered she should haue none : but if that for her epitaph shee came i would haue willingly bestowed one : think'st thou i le dye ( qd . she ) i must furuiue , so long as any shall bee left aliue : pascitur in vinis . epigram . . candida simplicitas . a poore man at the tauerne was in place , where his atturney told his clients case vnto another ; lawier-like the while , naming but ioha a noxe , and iohn a st●e , and , quoth th'atturney , you must vnderstand , this iohn a noxe is owner of the land : the poore man present , could not but reply , not iohn a noxe , and 't please you sir , 't is i. epigram . . a free-man . a kings-b●nch fits not such as i and lud your gate is built too hy , and yet my credite shall not fleet 't is better then two counters yet : epigram . . adorans substantiam et orans imaginem . i loue my soueragine as good subiects should , i 'de haue my soueraigne as rich subiects would ▪ himselfe ; why no : but by a second course i would his picture alwaies in my purse . epigram . . dij votis aspirate meis . all prayers for iacobus are , but mine 's , both for iacobus and for iacobines . epigram . . in cinnam . so long as cinna holds his peace , he 's tooke , to bee a wiseman , onely for his looke , but he no sooner speakes , but men discry him , and find his countenance did ●oule belye him : were cinna dumbe , he had a hapy turne , or if to hold his peace he could but learne ; " silence in most showes wit , in fooles alone it makes men think th'haue some when they haue none . epigram . . in critonem vociferante● good-man ( quoth a ) knowing who i am , my wealth might teach thee vse another name : good-man , hart ; i can hardly forbeare thee , sweete maister crito pardon ; now i heare thee , why this at first had pleas'd mee ; well 't is past , remember next your words be better plac't . such is the strange condition of men a rich-man once , no more a good-man then . epigram . . honores mutant mores . vvhen i and some of my com-rades were poore , o lord how wee lou'd one another then , wee lou'd as , i thought , no men could loue more ; but , since the most of them are growne rich men , and i sticke fast still to my pouerty , they flye from mee and or i am skarse knowne , or quite forgotten , what an asse am i , the case is partly mine , but more their owne : and their offence may well forgiuen bee , that haue forgot themselues as well as me . epigram . . in colaxem . since colax came from the low-country wars , each tauerne and red-lettice knowes his skars his skores too ; well knowne to them all , skarrs on his skin , his skores vpon their wall . epigram . . in fungum . faint-harred fungus that dare fight with none , when he is drunke will fight with any one ; is 't he , thinke you ? no , bacchus for his sake the shape of him doth surely vndertake ; nor is it strange , for in troy-wars we read , so for their fauourites the old gods did : with drunken fungus ware you fight not than , for trust me 't is god bacchus , not the man. epigram . . in luscum● quod quisque suae fortunae faber . lvs●● , the worst demeanur'd man aliue , wonders , of all he onely cannot thriue , but ' t is his luck , sayes he , when by his fauour , t is not his luck , it is his lewd behauiour : " our selues our fortunes frame ( how ere he giue it ) " and none is hurt but by himselfe , beleeue it . nemo laeditur nisi à seipso . epigram . . alea , vina , venus . foure things in drinking breed our discontent , our wealth , our wit , our strength , our time mispent , three of the foure ( which makes vs more agast ) wealth , strength and time by women are defac'd . and two of three ( take onely strengh away ) our wealth and time the dye brings to decay . therefore , that wealth , wit , strength , time be not lost . fly dice , flye women , but flye drinking most . epigram . aliud de eisdem . the earth three furies hath , which ouer-match the hellish● a●● ; yea , or all the fiends three headed hecate did euer hatch , yet holds the earth these furies for her friends : and suckes the sweet that sowrely doth digest , and first the die she vseth for disport , and holds the grape-god greatly in request , yet brings this this double pleasure , treble hurt . the third to these , i was about to name , lusilla bob'd me , and bade , peace for shame . epigram . in cosmum . when cosmus will auerre a thing for truth , he sweares , as he 's a gentleman forsooth . well , say he tell the most notorious lye , yet as he sweares , 't is true , and that sweare i : for wot you whence the gentleman did come , his father miller had a golden thum . epigram . . de epigrammatis suis. my epigrams , among my learned friends , are onely praised for their pretty ends , they ioyne with me but onely in the close , gainst all the rest they haue too ranke a nose ; liu●d he ( who stoale from greece her eloquence ) tully should be his owne and my defence , gainst those that my beginnings discommend , gainst those that note his sentences nice end , gainst all such selfe-conceited seeming-wise , me and himselfe well would he patronize : me , for my idle entring to the matter , himselfe , for 's esse posse vid●atur . epigram . . omni homo mendax . pooets and painters , once it was your part , and none but you were priuiledg'd to lye ; now all the world authorizing your art , chalenge a charter of like liberty : philosophy affirmes , a wise man may sometimes dissemble with safe conscience : and your ciuilian will not sticke to say , that the officious lie is no offence : our pure diuines that make so to abhorre it , false a●anias trade haue not forgot . and for your lawyer fee him roundly for it , hee 'l lie you faster then a horse can trotte : seeke to phisicians , health they will assure thee ; and if thou haue a skabbe or vlcer grieue thee , what say the surgeons ? questionles the●'l cure thee , when both i' th end in worser case do leaue thee● how falsly sweare your sellers to the buyers ; nay , almost , who will not abiure the truth ? yet being askt , who will they say are liers ? poets and painters , and none else forsooth : who tells me so , tell me too ( if he can ) who 's not a poet , or a painter than ? epigram . . fortius est quise &c. ad labeonem . beleeue me labeo , this were fortitude , ouer thy selfe to get a victory ; to see thy foule affections subdude , this were a triumph worthy memory ; though some will hold , true valour doth con●st in resolution and an actiue bodle , of iniuries not suffering the least , but who so thinkes , i thinke him but a noddie . achilles was commended , wot you why ? not for the valiant deeds he did performe ; but then he shewd his magnanimity , when gainst great agame●non he did storme : others perhaps with hasty insurrections would take reuenge of an iniurious offer , well could he temper our affections , and ( what the valiant seldome can ) could suffer true valour , labeo , if i reade aright , must not be onely actiue to attempt : for why the lyon and the bull can fight and shew great mindes too , and much hardiment ; but the irrationall can onely grieue : ours must not be so beast-like furious , but readier sometime , wrong to take then giue , else manhood might prooue too iniurious , where it must be considerate and carefull , betwixt extreames to keepe the merry meane , not to be rashly bold , nor basly fearefull , not too too milde , nor too too full of spleane , who thought one world too little to subdue , found 't was too much t' orecome a furious minde ▪ then , as at first , so here conclude we now : labeo , this were true fortitude i finde , this were a triumph worthy memory , ouer thy selfe to get a victory . epigram in truncum . swaggring truncus sweares in eu'ry towne , he is for any for a broken crowne , and fight , else damne him , hee 'l with any one , marry with cudgels , edge-tooles , hee 'le vse none , i like the woodden-hearted slaue that wanting mettle he will be sure his weapon haue as little . epigram . . in gualterum . my schoole-fellow , and my old friend gualter , could read the abc , primer , and the psalter none more distinctly , none could reade it better , and now i heare he doth scarce know a letter ; his marriage , and his wanton wise men gesse , haue wrought in him this strange forgetfulnesse : if that be all , doubtlesse he will recouer , if so be she will do but her endeuour : and as shee hurt him shee can help him too , or make him learne his horne-booke o're anew . epigram . . vitia virtutis speciem induunt . vice thought it once her onely grace , t'imm aske her selfe with vertues face , now shee abhorres those idle shifts , and stands vpon her owne good gifts : knowing the worlds opinion hath made her the worlds minion . when pride is counted decency , and wrath reputed valiancy ; enu●'s held for emulation , sloth a life in con●emplation ; when all commend the gluttony of aegypts queene and antony ; and to be drunken once a weeke , 't is a gentleman-like tricke , besides the wholesomenesse they vrge o t' is physicke , 't will the body purge ; and letch●ry ; ô god forbid , there should bee sinne in such a deed , why it breeds loue , begets delight , besides the world is peopled by 't . dissembling and hypocr●y , showes wisedome , and showes policy ; the world it selfe's turn'd macheuill in practising and praysing ill . my selfe too , that can well become a romane when i am at rome , and otherwise when otherwhere english , scotch , irish , whatsoe're ; am willing sometime to traduce to wanton sense my merry muse , holding it foolish modesty idely still to talke of honesty ; and say i do write ribaldrous , it is a vice held vertuous . epigram . . in palladium . palladius when all the world doth iudge thy wife so faire , thy seruant such a drudge , i wonder what 's the reason of thy wrongs to giue the fowle what to the faire belongs . or is 't , because affections oft blindnesse doth vndeseruedly dispose her kindnesse ? or is 't , because it is our natures course , to see the better , yet to seeke the worse ? or this , or that , or what i know not else : onely i heere men say the maid she swels , which makes mee gather by the history , farther meaning of a future mistery , and that palladius did it , but to know by change of pasture how a calfe might grow . epigram . . in caluum . caluus sweares a compleate gentleman must haue the pox , or else hee can bee none , i see then i can not bee what hee can for i 'le bee sworne hee is a pocky one . epigram . . of moll cut-purse disguised going . they say mol's honest , and it may bee so , but yet it is a shrewd presumption , no : to touch but pitch , 't is knowne it will defile , moll weares the breech , what may she be the while ; sure shee that doth the shadow so much grace , what will shee when the substance comes in place ? epigram . . in hylam . hylas the puritan is of beleefe , that he by no meanes can a cuckold bee ▪ if whilst hee sleepe another slip t' his wife , for in my sleepe i am as dead quoth hee , and who can do a dead-man iniury : here-hence his wife so wanton waxen is , that should hee sleep ' tauoid all infamy , and dye as often as shee doth amisse , how many times a day , had hylas need to drinke of lethe , or eate poppy seed ? epigram . . in dorotheam . doll , accused for a common trull , sayes , she is for her country borne , sweete sinne as sweetely salu'd ( sweete doll ) thou speak'st but reason i le be sworne , borne for thy countrey , 't is most true ; nay thou hast borne thy country too . epigram . . in castorem . castor , were it charectred in thy brow , eu'ry offence thy lustfull wise doth do ; them needeth not , that see thy knotty front so much wish : now a horne-plague vpon 's : rather they might with admiration go learne the art of numeration nor could they number , but they might aime faire by likely-hood ; a horne for eu'ry haire . epigram . in ●undem . castor , thy horned brow can be no shame , that very place predominates the ramme , besides th'in visible grace ; thou foole , what fear'st . none see the hornes that many know thou wear'st . epigram . . in momum quendam . though gainst my rimes thou art out-ragious , think'st thou i care for thy fantasticke fits ? thou say'st my sence is as my selfe , contagious , 't is venemous , 't will poyson yonger wits . although i know the world holds mee excused , and that my pen needs no apology : i meane not for the method therein vsed , or that it sauours ought of poetry , but for i doe so libr'ally disclose , and touch the vicers of this vice-growne age , and them to laughtes and to shame expose , as if i seem'd possest with holy rage : no , no , but let the spartane speake for me , whose vie i gladly imitate herein , hee lets his sonne his drunken seruant see , that by the sight hee may avoid the sinne , like v●e , may men make of my epigrammes , that when they see decipher'd here by me , other mens sinnes together with their shames , by seeing others , may their owne foresee . but o my ribald tearmes : no momus , no , hereby my muse seemes more commodious : is 't shame to say ? how much more then to do , what by but naming seemes so odious ? thus momus , whilst thou labourst to peruert what i haue labourd to a good intent well maist thou show the malice of thy heart , but neuer make me the more male content , rather thou mak'st me proud to censure thus , " enuy is onely 'gainst the vertuous . epigram . . in fuscam . i pre thee fusca , wouldst thou haue a coach to poast the streets , so like a paragon , that all that to thy concaue carre approach , may cry madona to a curtezan , and simpringly salute a sluttish sweet , and as it were make curtsie to a crab ▪ thy hopes are high , and yet perhaps may hi● , and destiny may dignifie a drab ; or brid●wels duty may ( to thy desart ) if not a coach , yet helpe thee to a cart . epigram . . in fortunam . fortune , be stormy as thou hast beene still , dis-gorge thy good vpon some witlesse gu●s , still credit me in crossing me with ill : what sayes the prouerbe , fortune fauours fooles . folly thy fauours , wisedome hath thy frownes : hence i suspect my selfe a poore wise man , yet wish to be thy foole , and full of crownes : sweet fortunes al●umize me if you can ; let me be midas , and be this my fate . to bee a foole , and to be fortunate . epigram . . innersio argumenti . foole that i am to wish my selfe a foole , as if that fortune would be follies friend , each boy , but grounded from the grammar-schoole , will finde my fault , and wherein i offend ; some paradox , from tully will he fetch , or from the stoicks straine an argument , to proue , the onely wise are onely rich , and none are poore but the improuident . is 't true indeed ? how came it then to passe , that apulcius prou'd a golden asse ? epigram . . in frankum . frankus indeed house-keeping 's commendable , but harke you : you must fashion your course ; begin as to hold on you may be able , and rather still grow better then grow worse . who keepes within his compasse , at his pleasure may giue his liberality more scope , when he that spends beyond his means & measure of being better banisheth all hope . beside , there 's none almost but will mis-doubt , seeing such hare-brain'd hospitality , how such a one is able to hold out , all through his lauish prodigality ▪ frankus take heed , and feare this fowle disaster , the house may surfet and spu● out his maister . epigram . . ad familiarem suum , quomodo in musam malè meritam animaduertat . may be my muse , like that same foolish reed ▪ that all abrode his masters shame descry'd will doe by me , as he by midas did , and for a foole will make me notified . which , gentle friend , if so it shall fall out , m●ssacre thou this my vnthankfull muse , let not thy spirit be made a ( — ) clou● , all these my epigrams are thine to vse ▪ which though they 'l do thy study little grace , they 'l do thee pleasure in some pr●uy place . martial . lib . . cui legisse satis non est epigrammata centum , nil satis est illi , ceciliane , mali . explicit rub and a great cast. sequitur run and a great cast. brutigina tollant equites , pediteque , cachinnum : per me equidem lic●at . * rvnne , and a great cast. the second bowle . to the right honourable his singular good lord and maister , thomas lord winàsore : his run , and a great cast. yet more ( thrice worthy lord ) more of that vaine , my idler times and youthfulnesse affected ; agarb which 'mongst the gracefu'st wits doth raigne , whereto the choicest spirits are addicted : not that i place my wit amongst the pregnant , and yet your lordship , when that you haue seene them , shall see my starres haue not beene so malignant , but my conceits do carry salt within them : though not like some , in such aboundant measure , i may bee named , though they bee more noted , to whom the muses haue vnlockt their treasure ; ennius ( as artlesse as hee is ) is quoted , but hence vaine-boasting , i le bee no suffenus ; onely your lordships liking , and delight , and pardon when there 's any thing obscenous , i hope , and craue ; and where all goes not right , your honour rather pitty then reproue , since duty showes her ignorance for loue. virtus vera nobilitas , symbolum domini , scripto a se nominl , vsitatissime subscriptum . that vertue is the true nobility i see subcrib'd oft to your written name , but who your vertuous actions shall eie , and how your heart habituates the same : hee must confesse it a farre greater point , hee sees it there but written , here in print . your honours euer the same deuoted . t. f. runne and a great cast. lectori . epigram . . vvhilst ( pedler-like ) i heere vnpacke my pen , and lay you forth the fairest of my wit , still more and more conceits come flocking in , and in my braines do hurly-burly it . to grace them all , i would ingrosse them all ; but when i would this indigested heape reduce ( more seemely ) into seuerall ; in steed of one ; in , all together step . that when i would tell sylla's tyranny , or nero's cruelty , and casars stabbing , straight interrupts mee druso's letchery , lucullus drudging , or lucilla's drabbing . yet being willing ( though not being able ) i broach my best inuention to dispose them ; but proues my worke still like the tower of babell , and thus confusedly i leaue , and loose them ; then english hodge-podge ; irish-boniclabor , go on , go on , my gally-maufree labour . epigram . . ad merionem , curpassim poetae . why shouldst thou maruell so meriones , whence our so many chattering poets rise ? hast thou not heard , how the piorides were metamorphosed to tatling pies ? those pies our poets caught , this one got i , which heere thou seest i do againe let fly . epigram . . of leathe false accuser : lea some three yeares since , the false accuser , of his two eares , for that fault , was a looser : and yet they say , hee swaggers , stamps , & swears ; pray you why not ? who can haue him by th' eares . epigram . . in miluum . miluus , that art deformed in thy face , in eu'ry part ill-fashioned by nature , beware i wish thee , gaze not in thy glasse , looke to thy selfe , but looke not , in the water : lest looking in thy glasse , thou ' euacuate from forth thy filthy corps , thy fairer soule , or in the water shouldst grow desperate , and drowne the oblect of thy selfe so fowle : how farre vnlike to faire narcissus fate ; he , for selfe-loue , thou , drowning for selfe-hate epigram . . hincille lachrime . alas the while , poore kitchin boyes may curse that whirling lacks , and dogs in wheeles turne broaches and seruingmen , poore soules , haue fat'de the worse , since great men got the tricke to ride in coaches , these first of these for food may now go statue , nor needs th' attendance of a seruing-man , a horse-pac't footman , and a coach will serue , for certainely since first the world began , and great men , with the world , to run on wheeles : they haue but few or no men at their heeles . epigram . . in mopsam . mopsa had not , i heard her when shee swore , the tooth-ach not these twenty yeares and more , and well may mopsa sweare , and sweare but truth , 't is aboue twenty since shee had a tooth . epigram . . in cletum . vvhat 's cletus better for his benefice , i see not how hee can fit much the warmer , hee ownes the sheepe , another sheares the fleece , hee 's parson , but his patron is his farmer ; 't is worth at least hundred by the yeare , cletus is glad he can get barely twenty , nay and his patron thinkes hee paies too deere , liuings grow scarse , and ministers grow plenty . fiue for a reader , ten pounds for a vicar , is faire preferment , twenty marks a preacher , with monthly sermons , if hee come off quicker , why there 's his praise , to be a painefull teacher . but cletus takes too much aboue the market , what twenty pound ? well may his patron grutch : hee could haue had as learn'd as cletus clarke it , for lesse a great deale , nay for halfe as much ; and sweares his predecessour parson tooke , but bare fiue markes , besides his easter-booke . epigram . . in epitaphium pingui minerua composituur . when crassus died , his friends , to grace his hearse , requested one to make his funerall verse , of whom they did procure it in the end , a ruthfull one , and pittifully pen'd : that sure the man who made it , made great moane his epitaph was such a sorry one . epigram . . aliud . this epitaph deserues , this on this stone , to lye as low , as he it lies vpon . epigram . . aliud . i must needs say , were thou mine owne brother , this epitaph of thine deserueth another : such sorrow would make the learned to laugh to read : heere lies a dead epitaph . epigram . . strut to size and sessions brings a man to talke with him when he with none else can : besides , to show hee is of some command to talke to one , that stands with hat in hand . epigram . . de pompeio & filijs , ex martiall . lib. . pompei genitos asia , atg eur●pa , sedipsum terratenet libies , si tamenvlla tenot : quid mirum , toto si spargitur orbe ? jacere vno non poterat tanta ruina loco . translatum . asia and europe , pompeis sonnes , interre ; himselfe in affrick lies , if any where what wonder , through all parts o' th world he 's , thrown so great a ruin could not lye in one . epigram . . honaratis : domino suo t. d. w. in minoribato sua , dicat . some in their loues , some other in their feares , do wish my lord , your daies at least indure , to the full tearme of one and twenty yeares , the latter , but to make their states more sure ; and those , are they , whose wils once being got their wishes end , their prayers are expirde , then liue or die ; al 's one ; they weigh it not : but they who in their loues your life desirde , will still the fates importunately trouble your one and twenty , twenty times to double , epigram . . — mediocribus esse poetis non homines , non dij , non concessere columne . horat. arte piety ô pitty , death had power ouer chaucer , lidgate , gower : they that equal'd all the sages of these , their owne , of former ages , and did their learned lights aduance in times of darkest ignorance , when palpable impurity kept knowledge in obscurity , and all went hood-winkt in this i le , they could see and shine the while : nor greece nor rome could reckon ' vs , as then , among the barbarous : since these three knew to turne perdy the scru-pin of phylosophy as well as they ; and left behind as rich memorials of the mind : by which they liue , though they are dead , as all may see that will but read ; and on good workes will spend good howres , in chaucers , lidgates , and in gowers . epigram . . to the worthy , his friend , maister fovlx knottesford . who knowes thee right hee will thee rightly prize aboue the generall of gentlemen , not sullen-sad , nor selfe-conceited-wife , yet knowing how to speak , and where and when , and how to liue , and how to loue thy friends : and say ( as man ) thou hast inherent sinne , thy rare and many vertues make amends : and do but hold the way that thou art in : the president begunne , as well but end it , many may follow , but there 's none can mend it . epigram . . in rodulp . rafe is growne poore , and now the wood cocke grudges , that his inferiours rise and are growne rich , hee sweares he hates them , cals them dunghill drudges , and he hath spent , they 'l neuer spend so much : indeed hee hath spent all , and i know none , i , able to spend more then rafe hath done . epigram . . vilior alga . so fares the world ; we loue our friends , if rich ; i● not , then not : so wary wise wee grow , wee question not the manner , but how much words a man is worth : we aske no other how : yet friendships prais'd , and vertue gets good ' that 's all the goodnesse this vile age affoords . epigram . . in peg. peg would play false but that she stands in feare 't will proue within three quarters of a yeare : she fancies , though she followes not the game , 't is not for feare of sinne , but feare of shame . epigram . . in lusillam . lvsilla , though her beauty be out-wore , yet hath an image of her fairest hew , as when she was but sixteene , and no more , that in her chamber hangs to open view ; to all that come , that portrature she showes , and sighs she is not what she was whilere , this surrow'd face so full of cris. crosse rowes , was once ( quoth she ) such as you see it there : with that she leaues him gazing on hir picture , and makes to goe , she knowes not whereabout ; but what 's her meaning i cannot coniecture , except she would her picture prostitute : and that it be more like her , and be lewd , while she absents hir selfe so like a bawd . epigram . . to the stationer . i tell thee stationer , why neuer feare , they 'l fell yfaith , and 't be but for their title , thou canst not lose , nay , i dare warrant cleare , they 'l get thee twenty nobles , not so little : why reade this epigram , or that , or any , do they not make thee itch , & moue thy bloud ; of all thou hast had ( and thou hast had many ) hast e're read better nay , hast read so good ? dost laugh ? they 'l make the rigidst callo doe it ; besides smooth verse , quaint phrase , come , what wilt giue ? no more but so : ah! what shall i say to it ? i pitty poetrie , but curse the time , when none will bid vs reason for our rime . epigram . . patruo suo colendist . rich. freem 〈◊〉 these , and himselfe that sends you these , are yours , from whō he yeelds he had his chiefe proceeding , to whom he owes his best bestowed houres , and ( better then mans birth ) ingenuous breeding ; though much against your mind he hath imployd that pretious iewell time , to his great losse : yet all you haue bestow'd is not destroy'd : there 's some gold o●e in this huge heape of drosse : so much , and such as 't is , accept , and saue it , if it were more , and better , you should haue it . epigram . . eidem . to whom may i these times more truely send , then vnto you , where they were bred & born , should all forsake them , you , must be their friend , if good , your praise , if bad ( t' escape from scorne ) to buckelers-bery ; or tobacco-takers , or flax-wiues vent them , or neere home you may , to tewkesbery amongst the mustard-makers , or fire them , or send them quite away : your only sweet course for virginia ship them , for by the statute you are bound to keep them . epigram . consanguina● suo chariss . generosiss . w. warmstry . vvho would you not in all abundant measure , the triple good of body , mind and fortune ; eu'n those to whom you neuer yet did pleasure , how much more , i may such a wish importune : who in good troth if but the troth were known ▪ in wishing your health , do but wish mine owne . epigram . . in swaggerum . swagger , the onely strike-fire of our time , whose sword the steele , whose fury is the flint , well would this caualier become my rime , but , o impatience i sbloud put him not in 't : for if i doe , be sure hee 'l be my bane , not herc'les vsde the three-chopt hel-hound so , as i shall be , if in his clutches ta'ne , hee 'l teach the curre for barking any moe . yet good sir swagger , if i pen thy praise , record thy valour , registring in it how many thou hast killed in thy dayes : all which i dare be sworne are liuing yet . if i shall say how thou becomst a terrour , a bugge-beare to those babie-hearted slaues , that know not how they grosely liue in errour , to thinke thee valiant only for thy braues . if i shall terme thee the innes onely hackester , the tauerns tyrant , like some cutting dicke , to call the oastler rogue , beknaue the tapster , with , fill 's another quarte , come villaine quicke . if i shall tell how thou mad'st pickt-hatch smoke , and how without smoke thou wast fired there : if i shall tell how , when thy head was broke , thou wouldst haue bin reuenged , but for feare . thus if i praise-thee , say , shall i not please thee , well , doe , or doe not , thus resolu'd i am , swagger , thy words , thy oths shal not release thee , be thou the subiect of this epigram : swagger thou maist , and sweare as thouart wont , thou wilt not fight , i am assured on 't . epigram . . in quintium . is 't not a wonder , quintius should so dread , to see a hare runne crossing in his way , the sale fall t'wards him , or his nose to bleed , beginne a iourney vpon disemores day ; yet feares not things more ominous then these , but dares to drinke with him that hath the pox , and ligge with her that hath the like disease ; but what cares quintius , so he ply the box ? so long to swill with him , to play with her , till he be sure of the venereall murre . epigram . in malchaonem . iealous malchaeon thinkes his wife will doe it , and she , poore soule , to saue his soule , falls to it : would eu'ry iealous man had such a wife , he should be sure , be sau'd by his beliefe . epigram . . in duas meretricos litigantes . francke and kate wage law , wherefore ! because that francis calld kate whore ; yet kate is knowne , and francis too , wenches that will not sticke to doe : faith kate , let fall thy action law prooues it no detraction : i , him that weaues , a weauer call , no vantage to be got at all : and how can francke bee found too blame , that to thy trade so fits thy name . epigram . in salonum . of● in the night salonus is inclinde , to rise and pisse , and doth as oft break winde ; if 's vrinall be glasse ▪ as 't is no doubt , i wonder it so many crackes holdes out . epigram . . in caium : dantur opes nulla nunc nisi diuitibus . when caius needed no mans amitie , he might haue beene beholding vnto many : but when he sought in his calamitie , he could not be beholding vnto any . then eu'ry man his kindnesse gon recall , his friends forgat they euer knew the man , his kinsfolkes were to him no kin at all ; all scorn'd their quondam kind companion . a common case , and true it is we see , with seeming friends , how we shal be attended , the whilst our state stands happy , who but wee ? o how the fortunate shal be be friended ! but when soule fortune throws vs to the ground , lo then they seeke occasion to be gone : to beate that dog a staffe is quickely found , hang him ( say they ) we n'er knew such a one . riches are onely giuen to the rich , and he that 's downe , shal still lie in the ditch . epigram . . in rusticum generosum . why hath our age such new-found gentles made , to giue the master to the farmers sonne , and bid , good morrow goodman to his dad , whence hath his brat those brauer titles wonne ? he that saw nothing but the seething pot , that n'er went further then chimney corner , his father sonne ( so like him eu'ry iot , ) why is he better then the elder farmer ? except , as said king philip long agone ( seeing his subiects honour alexander ) men giue more reuerence to the rising sunne , then vnto that which to the west doth wander : so did the ●ace 〈◊〉 adore for philips manhood , alexanders●odhead ●odhead ; so may we set this sonne , his site before , and call the father , clowne , the son a gods-head . epigram . . shroueteusd●y . you belly-gods , behold your bacchanals , the calends of the epicures are come , bombast your guts vntill you breake your galls , fat you with flesh ; to morrow't goes from home : now lard your lips , and glut your greasie logs , you hinxy-hinds , you bul-biefe-bacon-hogs . epigram . in rufum legentem pracedens epigr. rvfiu was reading the fore-going time , early one morne when he was fresh & fasting ; o lord , said he , for that thrice happy time ! or that shroueteusday might be euerlasting ! i lookt , and laught , and saw a wondrous matter , eu'n as he wisht his mouth began to water . epigram . . in apparitores . cite-sinne the sumner is a sharking lad , he seemes to friend offenders by forbearance , onely a tricke to trie what may be had ; if nothing , ware their doomes-day of appearance ; they must come in , the court commaunds it so , and pulls his processe from his frighting powch , shews to their names the terrible exco : this crowing cocke makes country lions crowch , with 's coramnomine keeping greater sway , then a court-blew-coat on saint georges day . epigram . . lectori . it will be thought to many , that i am , for some inuectiue vaines that i doe vse , rather a sa●yre then an epigram , but who so thinkes mistakes my merry muse : who thogh she smite at first in th' end doth smile , and laugh at that she so dislikt erewhile . epigram epitaphium meretricis . graues are gone on commonly we see , 't is no offence to them that buried be : why then this graue is for the common tread , and so was she too that therein lies dead . epigram . . quis cladem . more did not dulake , nor godfry of bullen , beuis of hampton , nor guy erle of warwicke , the knight of the sun , the three kings of cullen , nor all the world twixt douer and barwicke , nor any man , if his cap made of woollen , at land , at sea , without castle or carricke : feeders on mans flesh , bloud-suckers braue lacke hath thum'd many thousands , and kil'd with a knacke . epigram . . lectori . whoop , whoop , me thinkes i heare my reader cry , here is rime doggrell : i confesse it i ; nor to a certaine pace tie i my muse ; i giue the reines , anon the curbe i vse ; and for the foote accordingly i fit her , to diuerse matter vsing diuerse meeter , her lines , they are as long as i allot her , as why not , vessels be as please the potter , nor care i for a censors ciuill hood , i please my selfe , at home my musicke 's good . epigram . . men are growne monsters now at last , by their apparells alteration : their knees are bigger then their waste , else how came in the cloake-bagge fashion ? epigram . . in heredipetam . aged leontus ha●h much land and wealth . and but one son , & that ●●me one so● sickly , sickely to see his father in such health , my proper squier looks the church-books weekly ▪ compares his fathers with his grandsires yeares , and how long all that lignage wont to liue , and yet his father ; o● and then he sweares to haue him winded , what would he not giue ? fie on this sinne of sonnes , for not this one , but many thousands wish their fathers gone . epigram . . ad risum . laughter to thee that art mirths eldst-begot , my sportiue idlenesse i dedica●e ; good shew thy tee●h , or if thou hast them not , let 's ●●e bare gums , the 〈…〉 bare smiles i hate , to see ones lippes drawne in a direct line , yawne me , and laugh , vntill thou fall to coughing , and on thy hip-bone lay that hand of thine , and sweare thy hart is almost broke with laughing , your pu●itanicke laugh i doe detest , and heare them say ; 't is pretty ▪ hang your pretties ▪ laugh till thou haue the hickocke in thy chest , else get , and sit , and laugh amongst the petties : shall i speake plaine ? i do not care a●f . for ha ha hes that come not from the hart . epigram . . asinus ad liram . in merriment , i once vpon a time , did make a clowne acquainted with my rime : and gaue him leaue to turne a m●rry leafe , although i knew , i sung to one was deafe : yet how he , with blind eies , and iudgement blinder could look and like ( for then asoole none kinder ) and laugh and draw his lips aside and smile , at that he vnderstood not all the while : nay i dare sweare for ●ight conceiuing mee , his fathers horse had as much wit as hee . epigram . . in elizabetham . besse doth act●onize her husbands crowne , and trimming his head proues she trimmes her owne , and yet her head is still attir'd but badly , besse , once , quoth i , i would the reason gladly , mine owne ( quoth she ) do you not that descry , my husbands mine , and that same head trimme i. epigram . . in fungum . fvngus the vsurers dead , and no will made , whose are his goods ? they say no heire he had , sure i should thinke ( and so hath law assign'd ) they are the deuils , for he 's next of kind . epigram . . in gulielm●m . vvill would haue officers reforme well one fault , and punish seuerely transporting of mault : peace will , there 's none can remedy the matter , it hath gone , and will go away , still by water . epigram . . in rollonem . rollo hath made away a faire estate , well seated lord-ships , goodly mannor places , and now they say he walkes a simple mate : hee is no ianus , hath not many faces , and yet he hopes and harpes vpon a string , and here 's his comfort : friends he hath in court , by them hee 'l get some forfeits of the king ; some statute-breach , no matter whom it hurt , or get some office , or perchance procure a corporation for some petty trade , himselfe free on 't too , may he not ? yes sure if beggars may a company bee made , or fooles , or mad-men , some rich charter get , there is some hope of rollo's rising yet . epigram . . in sextinum . a pretty blocke sextinus names his hat , so much the fitter , for his head , by that . epigram . . encomion cornubiea . i loue thee cornwall , and will euer , and hope to see thee once agen , for why thine equall knew i neuer , for honest minds and actiue men : where true religion better thriues : and god is worshipt with more zeale ; where men will sooner spend their liues , to good their king , and common-weale ; where vertue is of most esteeme , and not for feare , but loue , embrac't : where each mans conscience doth seeme to be a law , and bind as fast : where none doth more respect his purse , then by his credite he doth set : where words and bonds haue equall force , and promise is as good as debt . where none enuies anothers state , where men speake truth without an oath : and what is to be wondred at , where men are rich , and honest both . where 's strickt obseruance of the lawes , and if there chance some little wrong , good neighbours heare and end the cause , not trust it toa lawyers tongue . where , as it seemes , by both consents , the sea and land such * plenty brings , that land-lords need not rack their rents , and tenants liue like petty kings . where goodnesse soly is regarded , and vice and vicious men abhor'd : where worth in meanest is rewarded : and to speake briefely in a word : i thinke not all the world againe , so neere resembles of saturnes raigne . epigram . . in laudem pensanciae . what euer markaiew pretends vpon some musty old record , for noblest hearts and truest-friends , pensance shall euer haue my word : no little towne of like account , on this side , nor beyond the mount. epigram . . in hieracem . hierax now a hermite may become he dwels alone , and not a neighbor by him , indeed there stood : but hee , for elbow roome , demolisht quite the village that stood by him . pox on his coine , that scuruy white and yellow , haue made him * bailife acham , without fellow . epigram . . in caconum . caconus thinkes his dad doth do him wrong , to liue and keepe a way the land so long : why , he hath liu'd these . yeares and odde , and yet he is not going towards god ; hee 's neuer sicke , nor e're will bee , hee thinkes , with such an appetite hee eates and drinks : sleepes soundly , walkes , and talkes with such a courage ▪ and sops his dish himselfe , and sups his porridge ; and lookes so buxsome , bonny , and so blithe , not dreaming once of death , or times sharpe sithe . his father ; why hee 'le be , ( hee 'l hold a testor ) some nine-liu'd cat , at least , some three-liu'd nestor . his soule , she needs no transmigration dout , shee hath a body will so long hold out . an heire : why if the sates thus still deferre it , impossible to liue for to inherite . i thinke in very troth ( if troth were knowne ) hee would his fathers death , and feares his owne . a habite now a daies in sonne● soone gotten , scarce ●ipe they wish their parent : dead and rottē . epigram . . in brusorem . brusor , is growne to be a man of wealth onely by knauery , cozenage , and steal●h . as all men know , yet none dare say so much , for now he 's honest , why ; because he 's rich ? epigram . . his d●fiance to fortune . hence cares , i will none of your wrinkled surrowes , before my time , to make mee to looke old ; i le not submit my yonger yeares to sorrowes , no sullen-sadnesse shall of mee take hold : and though the ragged hand of fortune shake mee , as that my neerest kindred will not know mee , and all my old acquaintance quite forsake mee , and whilome friends no friendship now will show mee , though cruell chance doth rack me with that rigour , would make almost the stoutest fall to stouping , yet shall my heart retaine her wonted vigour , and this my muse shall keepe my minde from drouping : perhaps i 'le triumph too , and make lowd boast , how fooles haue fortune , and braue men are ●rost . epigram . . in medicastrum . once , and but once , in my most grieuous sickenesse , i sought by physicke to support my weakeness●● and got mee vnto no great learned man , no galeuist not paraculsian : one that had read an english booke or two , yet what durst hee not vndertake to do ? hee tooke in hand , the vrinall i brought him , and told me what some almanacke had taught him , surueid my water , gaue mee such an answere ▪ as well i wot show'd but a simple censure : in fine ; i found in him no other matter , but i to cast my money , hee my water ; and i returned poorer in my purse , but sicke in body , as before , or worse . epigram . . in iohannem . iacks once curl'd scalpe , is now but skin and bone , there 's not a haire awry for there is none : and call it by what name you list to vse , or scalde or balde , there 's not a haire to chuse . epigram . . et dare ●utoricaleous ista potest . o let me laugh before i tell you how , old miso's sonne is growne a caualier , become a flat recusant to the plow : hang 't , he a drudge , and bee his fathers heire , nay , such a one's leifetenant of the shire , and 't shall go hard but he will weare his cloth : or he 'le serue him that shal be shriefe next yeare , not for the world will he liue as he doth , he ' le shake of that same home-made russet su●e , and booke his father but hee will haue better , whose name hee knowes sufficient to do 't : the mercers glad too of so good a detter . loe in a blew-coate , or a liuery cloake , who swaggers it , but good sir clunian ; his hands behind him , or in either poke hee 's eu'ry gentlemans companion : when by his leaue , in good time bee it said , and ape 's an ape , how trimme so ere aray'd . epigram . . in grobenduck . animum gerit is muliebrem . sir grobenduck i' th house is better skil'd , then with his seruants working in the field ; hee markes the maids , and what they haue to do , to wash in sope , to bucke , to bake , to brew , m●lke , and make cheese , churn● butter , spin , and card : to call the pigs and poultry i● the yard , grope hens and ducks : ●'th house what longs vnto it o● he see 's done , or he himselfe doth do it , and but for wearing long-coates , like in all to the assirian sardan ●pall : this woman-man , this house-hermophrod●te , doth liue nor like a lady , nor a knight . epigram . . in prodigum . poore prodigus brags wheresoere he comes how much hee hath consumed in his daies : how many hundred pounds , no lesser summes : think'st prodigus this can be for thy praise , thou , whose decline can neuer be redeemed of friends , of fortunes , eu'ry way defac'st , an irus now , though crassus late esteem'd : think'st thou the world takes notice what thou wast ! no , no , thou shalt be ballanc'st as thou art , mens minds are metamorphoz'd with thy meanes , and want can alienate the truest heart , and : loe , ( saith some one ) how on vs hee leaues , perh p●●hee thinks that wee will beare him out : hee sayes it too , perchance , that cost thee much : the whilst thou bragst thou hast not spar'd to do 't , for him ere now , and twenty other such : when none but fooles would boast the bankrout ioy of once wee flourisht ; wee haue beene of troy. epigram . . sine sanguine & sudore . rafe challeng'd robin , time and place appointed , their parents hard on 't , lord how they lamented , but , god be thankt , they were soone free'd of feare , the one ne're meant , the other came not there . epigram . . in l●●●●ettam . lauretta is laid o're , how i le not say , and yet i thinke two manner of waies i may , doubly laid or'e , videlicet , her face laid or'e with colours , and her coate with lace . epigram . . cur vulcanus non planeta . why is not vulcan , many times i wonder , amongst the seuen celestiall planets one : he that made loue the gyant-quelling thunder , when he kept shop within the torrid * zone ? why not as well as mars the god of strife ? or saturne he that lookes so dull and dunne ? why not as mercury that cunning theefe , or that prospectiue-glasse-ei'd god the sunne ? i wonder why not rather then his wife ? or changing moone ( and one as ho●n'd as hee ? ) i cannot find the reason for my life , except ( and that may chance some reason bee ) because a fellow of no influence : bad in coniunction , worser in aspect , and therefore mars got the preheminence , for he suppli'd , where vulcan made defect : besides his polt-foot ; all these might fore-token hee should no planet be , but planet-stroken ▪ epigram . . in vopiscum . a changling , no ; vopiscus scornes to doo 't nor bee a shifter , still he 's in one sute : yet ●or his constancy , let none deride him , for by his cloathes he seemeth semper idem : perchance religious , and i should aread , some capuchin by wearing still one weed . epigram . . in puritanum . vvho's that incountred vs but euen now , with such a leuell and religious a looke ? so graue and supercilious a brow with such spruce gate , as if he went by 'th booke , his cloake ( not swaggring ) handsomly , he wore his head and beard short cut his little tuffe , his double● fit ●or's belly , and no more , with seemely hose made of the selfe-same stuffe ; in all , how nea●ly , and not nicely trimme : nay , and ( me though● ) his words as well he plac'd , saluting vs when we saluted him , as e're i heard , i pre thee say , who wa st ? know you no● him sir ? 't is a puritan , trust me , i tooke him for an honest man. epigram . . morum amorum , amicorum candidissimo cordatissimo , suo , magistro iohanni smith oxon. what shall i say ? but what i must say still , let any cymcke with a light goe seeke , at night , at noone-day , at what time he will , he may looke long , and misse to finde thy like : for a free spirit that breathes more sincerely , in harmelesse sport , and mirth with innocence , that loues his friend more truly , more entirely , speakes honest english without complements : the womb that bare thee , bare thee not a brother , for ● such sons could not come from one mother . epigram . of spencers faiery queene . virgil from homer , th' i●alian from him , spenser from all , and all of these i weene , were borne when helicon was full to th'brim , witnes their works , witnes our faiery queene : that lasting monument of sp●nsers wit , was n'er come neare to , much lesse equal'd yet . epigram . . in phaedram . now by her troth she hath bin , phadra sayes , at a play farre better edified , then at a sermon euer in her dayes ; phaedra ▪ 't is true , it cannot be denied : for stage-plays thou hast giuen eare to many , but sermons phaedra neuer heardst thou any . epigram . . in caeliam . no , hang me calia , if i 'l be thy guest , we scarce begin to eate , but thou to chide ; this goose is raw , that capon is ill drest , and blamst the cooke , and throwest the meate aside : when we sit iudging , that would rather eate , no fault o' th cooks , 't is thou wouldst saue thy meate . epigram . . typographo . printer , that art the midwife to my muse , to bring to light what is vnworthy light , let me intreate thee leaue thy wonted vse , print not at all , or print my booke aright : trouble not thou the reader to goe see faults escap'd in the impression , too much already is transgrest by me , augment it not in thy profession ; but where thou seest my imperfections wants , the sense scarse seeming intelligible , giue me the fairest characters thou canst , it is thy grace it goe foorth legible : they that peruse , wil praise it for the print , if for no other goodnesse they see in 't . epigram . in lucam . lvke sayes , let gallants gallant howsoe're , they are but like the moone , and he the sun ; for eu'ry month a new sute they doe weare , when a whole twelue month he is still in one : t' would make you laugh , if you the reason knew , he hath nor meanes , nor mony , to buy new . epigram . . ad sam. danielem , vt ciuile bellum perficiat . i see not ( daniel ) why thou should'st disdaine , if i vouchsafe thy name amongst my mirth ; thy aetas prima was a merry vaine , though later muse tumultuous in her birth : know , here i praise thee as thou wast in youth ; venereous , not mutinous as now ; thy infancie i loue , admire thy growth , and wonder to what excellence 't will grow : when thou shalt end the broils thou hast begun , which none shall do , if thou shalt leaue vndone . epigram . . in aemiliam . aemilia tooke her husband in a trippe , aduenturing his ware in a strange shippe ; poore soule , she could no lesse , she chaft , and child him ; but for she did no more , there she vndid him : for now hee 's sawcie , and there 's little oddes , betwixt him and that pagan-king of gods : and cares no more then ioue when iuno spide him , for now he knowes the worst , she will but chide him . epigram . . in moscam . while mosca's teeth in eu'n ranks faire stood , her nose could neuer giue her chin the meeting , where now regarding not how neare in blood , th' are seene with shame , incestuously greeting : or it may be her chin's like a salt pit , and pigeon-like her nose lies pecking it . epigram . . in sotonem . soto , a country iustice , at each session speakes more then all the bench , doth neuer cease , 't is contrary to his profession , or if a iustice , surely none o' th peace . epigram . . in cleon. ti● one of cloes qualities , that euer when she sweares , she lies : dost loue me cloe ? sweare not so , for when thou swear'st , thou liest i know ▪ dost hate me cloe ? pre thee sweare , for then i know thou lou'st me deare . epigram . . in owenni epigrammata . owen , not to vse flattery ( as they that ●une mens praises in too high a kay ) thus far , in troth , i thinke i may commend thee , the latines al ( saue one ) must come behind thee , adde yet one little , but a louely fault , thou hast : too little gall , but full of salt . epigram . in thuscum . thuscus doth vaunt be hath an ouid● vaine , that for my eu'ry one verse hee 'l make twain ; licke he like * virgil too , i doe not doubt , for lacke of liking , hee 'l licke all his out . epigram . . in eundem . thuscus writes faire , without blurre or blot , the rascall'st rimes , were euer read , god wot ; no maruell : many with a swans quill write , that can but with a gooses wit endite . epigram . . quid non ebrietas ? ape-drunkards they are merry , lion-drunkards mad , fox-drunkards cheat , swine-drunkards lie and spew ▪ goat-drunkards lust , and these , and more as bad , beasts attributes to men by drinking grew : yea this same sin when it dis●igures least , deformes a man , and makes him but a beast . epigram . . in carentium . carentius might haue wedded where he wood , but he was poore , his meanes were nothing good ▪ 't was but for lacke of liuing that he lost her , for why , no penny now , no pater noster . epigram . . in leucam . leucas doth think 't would countenāce 〈◊〉 to dedicate it to a puritan , with some more solemne title set to it , a●d a faire preface to that holy man. tu●● leucas , so my booke , by such a 〈◊〉 might be accounted a dissemble● too ▪ a 〈…〉 with an outward ●ecke ; why that is all the puritan can doe ; nay , let him with a penny-father f●c● o're-vaile his shame , and vizardize his sinne , when none performeth fruits of lesser grace : my times , such as they are , shall such be seene ; their very title shall instruct men rather , grapes vpon ther●s how hopelesse 't is to gather . epigram . . i haue some kinsfolke rich , but passing prowd , i haue some friends , but poore and passing willing , the first would gladly see me in my shrowd , which in the last would cause the tears distilling : now which of these loue i ? so god me mend , not a rich kinseman , but a willing friend . epigram . . crispus could helpe me if he would , charus would helpe me if he could ; would crispus charus mind did beare , or charus but as wealthy were . epigram . . in tiburn . tiburne is a wrastler , yet can nor leg , nor trip , but play at collars , and 't is ods she throws you with a slip . epigram . . in lactantem poetastrum . one told me once of verses that he made riding to london on a trotting iade ; i should haue knowne , had he conceal'd the case eu'n by his verses , of his horses pase . epigram . . to iohn dunne . the storme describ'd , hath set thy name a floate , thy calme , a gale of famous winde hath got : thy satyres short , too soone we them o'relooke , i pre thee persiu● write a bigger booke . epigram . . in gallam & gelliam . if galla frowne , is gellia disdainefull ? sure like the tradesmen of som towne they are , who for to make their merchādise more gainfull , do pitch a common price on all their ware : and why not galla and her fellow iade , vse common tricks too in their cōmon trade . epigram . . in thuscum . thuscu● , print not thy epigrams , for men wil see th' hast suckt , nor with the spider , nor the bee ; hony , nor poison : not a droppe of a gall , there 's not a corne of salt among them all , thy wit hath beene an honest innocent , a naturall , a iohn-indifferent : nay more , ( to speake comparatiuely sportfull ) a iohn in porrige , neither good , nor hurtfull . epigram . . to george chapman . george , it is thy genius innated , thou pick'st not flowers from anothers field , stolne similies or sentences translated , nor seekest , but what thine owne soile doth yield : let barren wits go borrow what to write , 't is bred and borne with thee what thou inditest , and our comedians thou out-strippest quite , and all the hearers more then all delightest , wi●h v●●ffected stile and sweetest straine , thy in-ambitious pen keeps on her pace , and commeth near'st the ancient commicke vaine , thou hast beguilde vs all of that sweet grace : and were thalia to be sold and bought , no chapman but thy selfe were to be sought . epigram . . in milonem . here 's milo to be seene with a strange goose , not such as in the stubble's wont to lagge , nor such as tailers in their trade doe vse , his is more costly , well may milo bragge : besides , it came from winchester : o rare ! far got , deare bought , but no good lady ware . epigram . . in hodge . hodge sees men shun him , & doth wonder why , they know ( qd●he ) my breath wil not infect them ▪ i neuer had the pox , nor plague yet , i ; these who so haue , men worthily reiect them : hodge , thou hast pouerty , a worse disease , then pox , or plague , or twenty worse then these . epigram . . in lucam . as harts their horns , as serpents cast their skins , luke leaues his old faults , and a fresh begins . epigram . . in elizabetham . vve say th' ibertans belgia do oppresse , but 't is the french , if we be iudg'd by besse : who knowes , where i' th low-countries ( would she blab ) they made hot wars , and bred , and left a scab . epigram . . to master w : shakespeare . shakespeare , that nimble mercury thy braine , lulls many hundred argus-eyes asleepe , so fit , for all thou fashionest thy vaine , at th' horse-foote fountaine thou hast drunk full deepe , vertues or vices theame to thee all one is : who loues chaste life , there 's lucrece for a teacher : who list read lust there 's venus and adon●s , true modell of a most lasciuious leatcher . besides in plaies thy wit windes like meander : when needy new-composers borrow more thence terence doth from plautus or menander . but to praise thee aright i want thy store : then let thine owne works thine owne worth vpraise , and help t' adorne thee with deserued baies . epigram . . to his worthy friend maister heywood , of his gold and siluer age. so wrote the ancient poets heeretofore , so hast thou liuely furnished the stage , both with the golden , and the siluer age , yet thou , as they , dost but discourse of store , siluer and gold is common to you● poet , to haue it , no ; enough for him to know it . epigram . . two gallants in a ba●dy house once fought who first should be possessour of the prey , the stronger man by force won what he sought , yet got he not the glory of the day : for sure in my opinion i held , the man that lost was he that wonne the field . epigram . . in aegyptum suspensum . charles th' aegyptian , who by iugling could , make fast or loose , or whatso'ere he would , surely it seem'd hee was not his crafts-maister striuing to loose , what struggling he made faster , the hangman was more cunning of the twaine , who knit , what he could not vnknit againe . you country-men aegyptians make such sots , seeming to loose indissoluble knots ; had you beene there , and but to see the cast , you should haue won had you but laid : 't is fast . epigram . . of tho. nash. nash had lycambes on earth liuing beene the time thou wast , his death had bin al one , had he but mou'd thy tartest muse to spleene , vnto the forke he had as surely gone : for why there liued not that man i thinke , v●●e better , or more bitter g●ll in inke . ore lycambi●ae● rabioso occiderit ambas archilochus . quia patr●m & filiam furce . auson : carminibus adegit . epigram . . cencri thomae b●ugh , qui dum ambit & amittit rectoriam , s. sepulchr , moriens , ibi sepulchrum inuenit . stellified baugh , st. pulchers much mistooke that tooke thee not , as worthy as another , and knew'st as well 〈◊〉 the seuen-seal'd booke , and bring them sweet milk from the church their mother , but they reiected thee as berea paul. for which thy blessed soule shook● off her dust , and let her fraile corruption mongest them fall , and now shee sings and saints it with the iust : now heauen her to a happier place prefer'th , then to be saint sepulchred here in earth . epigram . . aliud . to loose by fortune , and to win by fate , such was the case of learned baugh of late ; he sought s. pulchers ; where ( though not his lot to haue s. pulchers ) yet a graue he got . epigram . . fata epigrammat●r i wish not with ambitious desires these lines eternity , no i do not , nor yet to liue the nine liues of a cat : for few and none but those blest heau'n inspires , are like to liue vnto another age ; our former writers , wee count barbarous , succeeding times may do as much for vs ; and then shal we be throwen off the stage , yea eu'n the best ; much lesse these idle toyes may they hope life ; but like th' abortiue birth no sooner borne but dead , so this my mirth : or at the most some tearme , or two , inioyes . epigram's like the stuffs your gallants weare , hardly hold fashion aboue halfe a yeare . epigram . . conclusio . heywood wrote epigrams , so did dauis , reader thou doubst , vtram horum mauis , but vnto mine whose vaine is no better thou wilt not subscribe , relegetur , ametur : yet be it knowe though thou do not heed vs , i am , mihi domi placens citharaedus , although in thy good will i should rather glory , to haue thy good word suffragari labori . thus carefull of loue , carelesse if thou hate vs , i rest i protest , in vtramque paratus . th. fr. martial . terceatena quidem po●eras epigrammmata firre sed quis te ●erret perlegere●ve , liber . finis notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e autor v●vebat ista ante auspicatiss ▪ nuptias . quia principalis elector . notes for div a -e mihisi ●●●guae c●ntum , o●aque c●ntum , ferrca vox esset . virg. hic vsurpatur pro dick , inquibusdam paatibus angliae . microcos●●● . voluptas . verbum . virginitas . tempus . quia ex lacer pannu sit pap●… ● . bacchum . ●tiam mel fi ninium ingra●ū . aquae duclu● per magistru● middletonun omnium , ( qui vnquam fuerunt ) ciuitati vtilissimus . fugi●nt ad can dida tecta columb●e . trans●tum ex luuenal : notes for div a -e * horat : iocum tentauit , éo quod illecebris erat , & grata nouitate morandus lector . notes for div a -e pierides i● puas . sloebat graci , & rom : omnes alias gentes barbas asnuncupari . * ex piscatione , & stanni fodi●is . * country prouerb . * allem , quam aetn● ▪ cunque fabul●r poetae . aetas prima canat veneres postrema tumultus : master daniels mot● prefixed to most of his workes . amant loca salsa colum●ae . semper excipio 〈◊〉 . * vide virgilij vitam . ●he egyptians ●rase . the mous-trap parrot, henry. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the mous-trap parrot, henry. [ ] p. [by w. jaggard] for f. b[urton] dwelling at the flower de luce and crowne in pauls-churchyard, printed at london : . dedication signed: h.p., i.e. henry parrot. epigrams; in verse. printer's and publisher's names from stc. signatures: a-f⁴ (-a ,f ). with a title-page woodcut. running title reads: epigrams. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams, english -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the movs-trap . mordentem mordeo ▪ vni si possim , posse placere sat est . printed at london for f. b. dwelling at the flower de luce and crowne in pauls-churchyard . . to his no little respected friend little iohn bvck , i dedicate this my little booke . sirrha iacke , it fareth with me , as with a fearefull and faint-hearted souldior , that being danted at the brunt of wars , would faine betake himselfe vnto his heeles ; or as some humorous or fantastick painter , who falling in dislike with his owne workmanshippe , dasheth out that in a moment , which he framed not in a month . i once was willing to publish these ydle rimes , which then i reckoned without mine hoast ( as thinking on the suruayors , but not controulers heereof ) for to their doome and indignation i either must submit my selfe , or yeeld to be beatē with mine owne incke-horne . alasse you see t is but the silly mouse , i onely aime at , for any greater or more venomous vermine , i leaue them altogether to the cunning rat-catcher , ( my little trap being much too weake and vnable to hold them . ) thy counsell gentle iohn ) comes now to late in this extremity or rather ambiguity of difference , that should haue held my peace ( thou wile say ) till mine accusers had brought their actions ; wherunto i might better haue pleaded , non est factum , then rashly thus in publicum proripere : but seeing that which is done , cannot be now vndone , i must aduenture the worst that may come , semel insaniuimus omnes , and there 's my rest . farewell . thine in the prodigallity of his loues sincerity . h p to the plaine-dealing reader . honest friend , and good fellow , ( for so durst i cal a very good mans sonne ) howsoeuer others may take exceptions ; if any such ther be , t is ten to one i know them not , or at lest desire not to be knowne of them , for to none such offer i these abortiue lines , that either are of curious apprehension , famous profession , or austere disposition . but then may they come vpon me with that olde saying of quam quisque norit artem , with nec sutor vltra crepidā : t is true , i le not deny but that euery fool may make a rime , though for my owne part , i no more professe the one , then willingly would assume the other . i could haue said right courteous , woorthy , and respected reader , but that you knowe were to insinuate ; which in a preface of so plaine consequence i hold most friuolous and vnnecessary : howbeit with some it is as vsual as salt and spoons before meat . but you may see i meddle not with you , or any so iudicious audience . to thee my therefore kind familiar , and olde acquaintance , i trust i shall not neede vse many complementes ( a worde more stale thē mackarel in iuly ) which if it but relish in thy mouth neare so little ( i meane if it but iumpe with thy worste conceits ) i care not : at least do but suspend what thou immaginest , and it shall suffice . farewell . the mouse-trap . ad curiosum . and why the mouse-trap , quoth my caualyer ? and looking further ( saies ) what haue we heere ▪ faith neither phisicke , nor philosophy , affected proze , or learned poesie , the home-spun russet , suteth some that weare it , and many braue it out , that ill may beare it : i neither treat of stout themistocles , nor vse i choise or quaint hiperboles , onely vnfold by way of borrowed rime , some few fantasticke humors of our time : wherein ( if ought that 's pleasing ) may content thee take it : if not , suppose no harme was meant thee , and good inough . faults escaped in printing . epigram . . for their , read his . ep . . for lights , alights , ep . . for as , are . ep . for he , she . ep . for , but ( prouiso , ) but ( with prouiso ) ep . . for daily , duly . ep . , leaue out for . ep . . leaue out good . ibid , for hast , hadst . the mouse-trap . epigram . . lvseus that once lay with his mistresse maide , and ( fearing much to haue the matter knowen ) went to his fellow , whom he friendly praide , to counsell him , as were the case his owne : he that more cunning knew what should be done , tooke this aduantage for their better speed . to finish that which th' other had begun ; but then alas , she proou'd with child indeed : and made the woodcock ( who did first bewray it ) stand to the reckning , that could better pay it . . nisa , who from her window glaunst her eyes , saw mopsus come , as fast as foote could trot : for ioy whereof , vpon her bed she lyes , ( as who should thinke , she slept and saw him not . ) 't was very strange , vnlesse she meant herein , her eyes should not be open vnto sinne . . when caeus was accused of a rape , for stealing secretly to his maids bed : he hardly could the doome of lawe cape , ( had he not thus the matter coloured . ) that tooke his oath ( nor did he sweare amisse , ) he went not to his maids bed , for 't was his . . aske fiens how his luck at dicing goes , like to the tide ( saith he ) it ebbes & flowes : then i suppose his chance cannot be good , for all men knowes , 't is longer ebbe then flood . . young codrus land-lord to his fathers rents , which happy time ( long lookt for ) doth expire , addresseth him with these abilliments , as least beseemes the sonne of such a sire . and thus he gallants it some yeare and more , vntill his tenants thrust him out of doore . . a scoffing mate , passing along cheap-side , incontinent a gallant lasse e●pied : whose tempting brests ( as to the sale laid out , ) incites this youngster thus to gin to flour . lady ( quoth he ) is this flesh to be sold ? no lord ( quoth she ) for siluer nor for gold , but wherefore a●ke you ? ( and there made a stop ) to buy ( quoth he ) if not ? shut vp your shop . . brisco that gallant yongster keepes his bed , as faining to be sick , but ( wot you why ? ) not of an ague , or an aking head , no burning feauer , or french maladie . tush , none of these can halfe so much molest him , as yonder flat-cap soole , that would arrest him . . iesu how strange you make it mistresse iane , will you not know your quondam tried friends ? remember since you lodg'd in pudding lane ; shall former kindnesse merit no amends ? i say no more : well may you change your name , but once a whore , you should be still the same . . mounsier flemingo , fraught with angels store , would see faire london , neuer seene before : where ( lodging with his mistresse but one night , ) had ( ere he parted ) put them all to flight . . fine mistresse delia defies the man , that proffers lesse to her then golden fees : what , thinke you her some common curtizan , that will her credit or her custome leese ? in faith sir no : but ere you shall go hence , she will for once , accept of eighteene pence . . brutus , that braue and compleat caualier , who thus of late in fleet-street flourished ▪ thought then no pleasure or expence too deare , but see how soone the case is altered . as that constrained to diuide the streete , he now betakes himselfe vnto the fleete . . madam rugosa knowes not where to finde , one chamber-maid of ten , that likes her minds but still my lord ( on proofe of comely charge ) prefers them to his seruing-men in mariage . . the times are waxen dead with dalila , who ( since the terme ) hath had but little sturring , then was he sought-to more then helena , and gallants gallopt then in coaches hurring . but now she speakes with all that please to call , loe thus her trade doth termely rise and fall . . faunus for feates of fencing beares the bell. for skill in musick on each instrument : for dancing , caruing , and discoursing well , with other sundry gifts more excellent . but striuing still to make his credit stronger , the taylor will not trust him any longer . . lawrence hath lou'd his mistris full seauen yeare , ( seru'd her i should say ) yet nere durst come neere so much as kisse her gloue , or tye her shooe , thinke you your m●stris ( lawrence ) should you woe ? . i pray sir , did you note on sunday last , how richly rubin was apparrelled ? well may he be compared to a blast , or lik'd to one that 's metamorphised . for on next morning ( ere the day did dawne , ) all that he wore , and more , was laid to pawne . . what meaneth rosamond to walke so late , when no man can d●cerne her face or feature : ( but by her habit may preiudicate , ) she is some faire , or rather famous creature . oh good sir , vnderstand that in the darke , one man of twenty may mistake the marke . . i asked brusus , why he takes that paines , to trot in terme time for so little gaines : his answer was , that such as stand on wooings , must howsoeuer , seeme to haue some dooings . . lorellos wife is lately brought a bed , ( as luck would haue it ) of a goodly boy : the hopefull issue of her maiden-head , and onely lewell of the fathers ioy . well ( god forgiue them that may thinke amisse , ) but sure as death , the child is none of his . . tvsh hang it : haue at all ( sayes curio , ) comes not deuce ace , assoone as six & three ? who would not rather , halfe his lands forgo , then be out dar'd , by such a one as he . but thus he speakes ( his father scant yet cold , ) and neuer meanes to liue , till he be old . . soto is lately gone to sturbridge faire , whose little takings , makes the gull dispaire : 't were good some friend of his , would tel the mome his wife hath had takings inough at home . . how comes it , druso liues vnmaried , that whilome was a sutor to so many ; alack , his loue hath still miscarried , and he ( misled ) was neuer lou'd of any . i doubt the griefe of such remembrance past , will cause the cockscombe hang himselfe at last . . how like you little dol in her deepe ruffe , seemes she not now as proper as the best ? you thinke you may command her : marry muffe ? she scornes the motion : fough that were a iest . because she sold her wares so cheape of late : must they be alwayes prised at that rate ? . this makes menalcas muse aboue the rest , to see how quaint my lady is a drest : for from the girdle vpwards ( durst he sweare , ) she doth the shape of very man appeare . . gallus that greatest roost-cock in the rout , swelleth as big as bacchus did with wine : like to a hulke , he beares himselfe about , and bristels as a boare , or porpentine . 't is not his locks that makes him looke so big , for all men knowes he weares a periwig . . now fie vpon thee coward nemius , that oft hast puld thy ladies stockings on : yet still wert bashfull , not so venturous , as scarce so much , her legge to looke vpon . who comes so neare faire game , and lets it passe , ( at least vnproou'd ) approues himselfe an asse . . young lady flora , when she first did wed , was then but carelesse of her husbands bed : which want of yeares made her esteeme as light , yet with her seruing-man would daunce all night . . t is strange to see , how pure , precise , and neat , rufinus walketh in his ruffe-set band : who will ( forsooth ) no flesh on fridayes eate , but still on nice and curious points doth stand . aske him wherefore , he giues you ghostly reason , but then his whore comes neuer out of season . . gvydo hath goodly lodgings that he lets , to gentlewomen of the better sort : nor careth he how little gaine he gets , so they approued be of good report . but still he lights vpon some lawlesse trull , that by her sleights guydo is made a gull . . would any deeme dacus were now the man , who was not worth of late a wooden can ? doubtlesse his skill in something doth surpasse , but his red nose is still the same it was . . i wonder when our poets will forbeare , to write gainst citizens their honest wiues : who ( though vnknowne to me ) yet durst i sweare , they neuer wronged man in all their liues . put case their husbands pocket ( you know what ) must they on stages needs be pointed at ? . perswade not romulus to take a wife , who is to wedlock sworne an enemie : and euer vowes to lead a single life , which he accoumpts most honest purity . besides a thousand reasons that constraines him , amongst the rest a marchants wife maintaines him . . damon his dick hath not these three yeares seene , nor knoweth where he hath concealed beene : was it not strange , that they so iumpe should meet , both at a bawdy house in turnebull-street ? . i cry you mercy sir , i knew you not , thus courtly metamorphised of late : the country questionlesse hath you forgot , you braue it out with that ma●estick state . as ( but i now recall whose sonne you were ) you might haue passed for some nobles heyre . . pontus is posting hetherwards apace , to dine with diuers that in fleetstreet meetes him , but see the lucklesse chance of such a case , assoone as he alights , the sergeant greets him , so that the burthen he should haue defraid , was wholy now , vpon mine hostesse laid . . rvfus is wondrous rich , but what of that ? he liues obscurely like a water rat : and his apparell , which he seldome buies , are such as houns-dich and long-lane supplies . . mistresse finetta , for her ready witte , is much admired , and belou'd of many , b●t this one fault of hers confoundeth it , she will devide , and iesting scoffe at any . which by an ill accustom'd vse comes on her , and yet ther 's one that playes as much vpon her . . mounsier montanus is no little man , of vnaprooued valour to his foe : perswade , or wooe him , with what words you can , hee le be reuenged , all the world must know . but when he found one with his wife in bed , for feare , or shame , he durst not shew his head . . celso but newly wedded , doth repent , and meanes to be diuorst incontinent : alas ( poore celso ) knewst thou not before , she euer was , and will be still a ( — ) . a knot of knaues are early met together , consulting where to breake their fast that day : each well prepared , said no matter whether , for none amongst them had wherewith to pay . at length an honest gull , that knew them not , came in by chance , and needs would pay the shot . . cvtbert our cobler can no more forheare , to take tobacco , then to liue vnknowne : he drinkes all whiffes at least , and learnes to sweare , by heauens : his othes and humors are his owne . but adding herevnto a pot or more , he stands to nothing which he spake before , . clitus with clients is well customed , that hath the lawes but little studied : no matter clitus ( so they bring thee fees ) how ill the case , and thy aduise agrees . . fie , would you offer wynifrid that wrong , as to attempt her virgin chastitie ? well wotteth she , you cannot loue her long , and ( which is worse ) the world may it espie . which ( once reuealed ) she wete quite vndone , and yet at length chaste wynifride was wone . . philo is wondrous iealous of his wife , and vrgeth termes of shrewd suspition : but knowes not him the causer of his strife , yet will he yeeld to no condition . for more he vexed is that knowes it not , then if you horne him to his face god wot . . sisley and kate are gone to frollick it , late in the euening with their tom and kit , what luck had they to buy their sport so deere , that in the morning must haue whipping cheere . . svch were those epigrams of elder times , done by that rare and matchlesse martiall : as what 's now written , are but idle rimes , ( compar'd to him ) that did surpasse them all . not virgil , homer , horace , iuuenal , nor all the rest were like to martial . . mistrisse morinda is more coy then wise , but faire she is , and that most richly faire : her husband beares it out ( let that suffice ) and all defects is able to repaire . but yet i wonder they should so excell , that haue been banckrout , all the world can tell . . nilus that niggard , spendeth much in wast , true : for he keeps a drab , yet seemes she chast : who ( least a wife from lymbo should enlarge him , ) at all times serues his turne , but more doth charge him . . why should hipolito be mal-content , with that which pleaseth fortune to alot : he thinkes it not perhaps indifferent , that some take ease , whiles other toyle and trot . besides , will any man of patience , be cal'd a cuckold in his owne defence ? . what tell you me of such a pesant groome , that scrapeth vp together so much thrift : which he obscures within some desart roome , and basely liues vnknowne by any shift . his lookes as characters of his discent , sprung from the loynes of some mechanick syte : that neuer knew what ciuill vsage ment , but to be only rich doth still aspire : spurre such a one in ought but in his trade , and you shall soone perceiue he le proue a lade . . peter hath lost his purse , but will conceale it , least he that stole it , to his shame reueale it . . lieutenant lentulus liues discontent , and much repineth at the want of warres ▪ for when his credit , coine , and all is spent , what should he do , but idly curse the starres . content thee lentulus with thine estate , that wert not idle when thou ●●●als● the plate . . marcellus museth how to spend that day , wherein it likes him not to see a play : but then he falls in some worse place i doubt , and stayes so long till he be fired out . . priscilla proues most dainty of a kisse , when she intreated , woo'd , and courted is : lord how she simpring sits , and minceth it , in very deed sir , shee le not eate a bit . as full of manners as of modestie , true ▪ if her vertue be hypocrisie . . old doting claudus doth in hast desire , with beautious young penelope to wed : whose frozen appetite is set on fire , vntill the match be throughly finished . indeed as good dispatch , as make delay , that must be horned on his wedding day . . signior fantasmus nere such pleasure found , in any thing , as in a deep mouth'd hound : small was that pleasure , when vpon one day , he lost his hayre , and hunted all away . . haue you not heard of mounseir maximus , that liues by lending without interest : yes , yes : but ( prouiso tels you thus ) you must assure your lands , for such request . which done , you le finde that inconuenience , as better 't were the deuill had fetcht him hence . . when cacus had beene wedded now three daies , and all his neighbors bad god giue him ioy : this strange conclusion with his wife assayes , why till her marage day she prou'd so coy . ( quoth he ) we man and wife in manner were , a month before , then could we haue repented ? alas ( quoth she ) had i not cause to feare , how you might conster it ( had i consented . ) fore god ( quoth he ) 't was well thou didst not yeeld , for doubtlesse then my purpose was to leaue thee ▪ oh sir ( quoth she ) i once was so beguild , & thought the next man should not so deceiue me . now out alas ( quoth he ) thou breedst my woe : why man ( quoth she ) i speake but quid pro quo . . tassus hath learning , but no ready wit , for drinke and dotage dayly drowneth it . . where hath sir iohn so long beene resident , leauing his pensiue lady all amort : who will not say ( woe worth such time mispent ) ( for griefe whereof she hath no list to sport . but leaue her not againe in such a plight , least ( out of minde ) she proue more out of sight . . sam swore an oth , that those late lotteries , were meere deceits , and idle mockeries : for of a hundred , if he two did pluck , the slanders by would say , 't was cuckolds luck . . siluanus boasteth of those debts he owes , as who should thinke , his credit then was such : but all his substance , valued now ( god knowes ) amounts not to the twentith part so much . tush , that 's no debt which ( due ) thou still delayest , but what with honest care thou daily payest . . heard yee not yet of captaine ferdinand ? that was so wont to swagger and earowse : he lodgeth now no longer in the strand , but is remoued thence to such a house : where all his best acquaintance that he knowes , will not redeeme th' one halfe of what he owes . . castus ( of all sinnes ) makes most conscience , that men should thus with chastity dispence : she that weds him , must haue his maiden-head ▪ at least may chance to bring a foole to bed . . nay see if momus yet can ceasse to flout , how should he choose , his meere conceits are such ? 't is good sir : i le not say you are a lout , ( but may not one presume to thinke as much ? ) i doubt , when we haue both done what we can , the best will scarce proue good gramatian . . shall simon suckegge , simple simkins sonne , be matcht with beauty for his little pelfe ? much better were the lobcock lost then wonne , vnlesse he knew how to behaue himselfe . but this hath euer beene the plague of it : that such are lou'd more for their wealth then wit. . festus that feasted long on delicates , now such fantastick fulsome dyet hates : is it not reason he should spare at last , that hath consumed more then all in wast ? . braue minded medon can no more endure , to liue in england , then to brooke the lye ▪ tush , your temptations cannot him allure , he scornes them as an idle mockene . vrge him no more , i tell you 't will but grieue him : for here his meanes no longer may releeue him . . nay good sir , giue vs leaue at least to know you , was not your father once a man of trade ? you now are riche : i know who may beshrow you , that for your sake , were younger brothers made . ( hearke in your eare : 't is not the wealth you haue , can shield you from the scandall of a knaue . . piso hath stolne a siluer boul in iest , for which ( suspected onely , ) not confest : rather then piso will restore the boull , boldly aduentureth for to damne his soule . . bvt may they swell with enuie till they burst , ( so thou be rich , ) let others fret then fill : the fox much better fareth being curst , and those that threaten , haue least power to kill . it cannot be thy trade should euer fall , that hast already got the diuell and all . . marcus that had a faire ( but wanton ) wife , by whom , all hope of issue was in vaine : thought it a hellish and vngodly life , to reape no fruit , but labour still for paine . at length expecting ( what he found by chance ) and wisely seeing ( what he would not see . ) steps him aside with smiling countenance , as if his luck were such as it should be . was it not wit ( thinke you ? ) well go thy wayes , thou more deseruest then a martyrs praise . . crasus of all things loueth not to buy , so many bookes of such diuersitie : your almanack ( sayes he ) yeelds all the sence , of times best profit and experience . . paulus a pamphlet doth in proze present , vnto his lord ( the fruites of idle time : ) who farre more carelesse , then therewith content . wished he would conuert it into rime . which done ( & brought him at an other season , ) said , now 't is rime , before nor time nor reason . . tib tooke an oath , that tomisin was no maid , who angry bad beare record what she said , as good haue publisht it with trumpets blowne , as call for witnesse in a case so knowne . . when milo meanes to spare , then spends he most let him but come where sport or gaming is , his humor cannot hold till all be lost , and neuer thinketh he hath done amisse . for thus resolued , milo cares not whether , he pay th' one halfe or lye for all together . . sir , can you tell where my young maister liues , that was surnamed here the prodigall , he that so much for his silke stockings giues , till nought is left him to buy bootes withall . oh blame him not to make what show he can , how should he else be thought a gentleman . . philippus flouteth at such ragged rimes , that much distasting , taxe not these his times : indeed i iudge him much more better seene , in other trades that he hath trained beene . . young mistresse ioyce her husband doth solicit , to hire a garden-house neere to the fields : which with her gossip she might weekely visit , ( for some thing must she haue that comfort yeelds ) i feare this bower of weekely recreation , will proue a place of dayly occupation . . bindo hath lost his wife he knowes not where , and frantick seekes her all the street throughout : take courage ( bindo ) and be of good cheere , to morrow shalt thou finde her , ther 's no doubt . to morrow came , deseru'd she to be shent , that brought him home inough to pay his rent ? . silus hath sold his crimsen satten sute , and needs would learne to play vpon the lute 't is well done ( silus ) for such sutes soone wast , whereas thy skill in lutes will euer last : . when rose had reckned her full time at large , she then bethinketh whom to nominate : that might partake with her insuing charge , at length with wisdom more considerate . she gesseth none ( mongst all the rest ) so fit , as is the parish priest to father it . . t is knowne how well i liue sayes romeo , and whom i list i le loue or will dispise : indeed it 's reason good it should be so , for they that wealthy are , must needs be wise . but then 't is knowne you make most vse of that , which better minds contemne , and spurne thereat . . mecus is now become a frugall syre , that spends no more then nature doth require : and yet his wife will proue a traueller , although but once a yeare he lye with her . . the humour of tobacoo ( and the rest , ) wherein our gallants tooke their chiefe delight : is dayly had ( me thinkes ) in lesse request , and will ( i feare ) in time be worne out quite . for now ech pesant puffes it through his nose : as well as he that 's clad in veluet hose . . the wicked reape what other men do sowe , but cuckolds are excepted ( that you know . ) . the world is well amended with sir hugh , since from the time he was a shepherd swaine , and little dreamed then ( i may tell you ) he should be made one of the knightly traine . but ( for his substance answers not his will , ) as good haue dreamt or beene a shepheard still . . mvsco , that alwayes kept with pollicy , what he had scraped since his infancie : scarce one yere wedded ( for he needs would marry ) hath taken ludgate for his sanctuarie . . zanthus that wise and cunning sophister , lyes now in lymbo for a small offence : who when he came before the officer , had not one word of wit to free him thence , why thus it fares , when he should best dispute , the deuill or some ill plannet strikes him mute . . who brutes it mistresse parnell is no maide ▪ and will not answer such discourtesie ? she scornes the very worst that can be sayd , and stands so much on her v●rginitie . as flatly to their teeth she doth retort it , presuming none so vile that will report it . . dick swash ( or swaggring dick ) through fleetstreet with sis & bettrice waiting at his heeles ( reeles ) to one that would haue tane the wall , he swore , doost thou not see my punck and paramoure ? . dacus hath damn'd himselfe on due regard , from tauernes , plaies , tobacco , & from wine , swearing he le liue like iohn of paules churchyard , at least wil somtimes with good duke humfry dine . t were well done ( dacus ) hast thou power to do it . but dice and drabs ( i feare ) will hold thee to it . . vrbanus that committed an offence , with a young country lasse ( poore silly foole ) to salue his credit soone conueyes her hence , vnto a garden-house , or vaulting-schoole . where now ( vnloaden of that lucklesse ill , ) and all dispatched ( saue the houshold charge : ) the goodman-bawd , or pander , ( which you will ) brings him no ticket , but a bill at large . item , for pipkins , pap , and other things , amounting all to twenty markes or more ▪ and this alowd into his eares he rings , pay sir ( quoth he ) for shame discharge your score . vrbanus loth to be proclaim'd a gull , was willing to compound in any wise : but yet not tending his demaund at full , said , he had seene the lyons once or twise . the lyons answers he , that may be true , but thinke you thence to merit any praise : each rustick may the lyons dayly view , haue you not seene the dragons in your dayes ? no ( quoth vrbanus ) that i must confesse , then sayd the pandar , you must pay no lesse . . magus would needs forsooth this other day , vpon an idle humor see a play : when asking him at dore , that held the box , what might you call the play ? ( quoth he ) the fox . in goes my gen-man ( who could iudge of wit ) and being asked how he liked it : said all was ill , both fox and him that playd it , but was not he thinke you a goose that said it ? . naso is hurt , but how none can suppose , least being drunke , so fell and broke his nose . . call danus knaue , he straightwayes drawes his sword & makes you proue as much , or eate your word ▪ but if you call him honest rogue or iew , he hugges you then , for giuing him his due . . hand off sir sauce-box , shee 's no meate for groomes , or common wights of base born parentage : alas your leane expence fits ale-house roomes , that with maid-malkin holdeth equipage . because sir tristram late intreated me , you would ( forsooth ) be thought as good as he . . qvintus hath layd a wager of a crowne , hee le make a rime with any man in towne : for none ( thinkes he ) may quintus skill surmount , who can both write and read , and cast account . . a health ( saith lucas ) to his loues bright eye , which not to pledge , were much indignity : you cannot do him greater courtesie . then to be drunke and damn'd for company . . we make our epigrams , as men taste cheese , which hath his rellish in the last farewell : like as the purest liquor hath his leeze , so may you harshly end the tale you tell . the tayle ( of all things ) some men ayme at most , those that had rather fast , may kisse the post and ther 's an end . epilogvs . thus haue i waded through a worthlesse taske , whereto ( i trust ) ther 's no exceptions tane : for ( meant to none ) i answer such as aske , 't is like apparell made in birchin lane . if any please to sute themselue● and weare it , the blame's not mine , but theirs that needs will beare it . innocui sales. a collection of new epigrams vol. i. with a præfatory essay on epigrammatic poetry. killigrew, henry, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing k b estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) innocui sales. a collection of new epigrams vol. i. with a præfatory essay on epigrammatic poetry. killigrew, henry, - . [ ], , [ ] p. printed by t. hodgkin; and are to be sold by matth. gillyflower, in westminster-hall, london : . by henry killigrew.--wing (cd-rom edition). signatures: a-h. reproduction of original in the folger shakespeare library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - robyn anspach sampled and proofread - robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion innocui sales . a collection of new epigrams . vol. i. with a praefatory essay on epigrammatic poetry . epigrammatarius omnium scenarum homo . london , printed by t. hodgkin ; and are to be sold by matth. gillyflower , in westminster-hall , . a prefatory essay on epigrammatic poetry . 't is strange that in such an improving age as ours , when wit and learning run so high , that among all the parts of polite literature , and so many successful attempts in pleasing and instructive poetry , so few english men , tho' invited thereto by the example of that great master in poetry ben. johnson , have since his time addicted themselves to write epigrams . and the more strange ( if that be true which the great verulam in his advancement of learning asserts , that poetry was ever thought to have some participation of divinity ) since in this age those of the best parts are very impatient of hearing long sermons , even now that pulpit-oratory is at the noblest height it ever was since the apostle's time ; and yet they endure not only to write , but to read long poems , as if poetry were not as expressive as oratory , and a great deal might not be said in a few lines of verse as well as prose . the most ancient philosophy was wrote in hieroglyphicks cut or graven upon statues , columns , obelisks , and the like ; afterwards when the interpretative tradition of those hieroglyphicks was lost or varied , they wrote or engraved short sentences in words at length , which were call'd epigrams or inscriptions , and these in prose or verse as it happened . but poetry and philosophy being contemporaries , the best inscriptions or epigrams were for the most part in verse . the first sort of these were indeed plain , simple , and natural , without any affectation of either wit or humour , such as that of pausanias in thucydides . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . pausanias chiefs of greeks , the medians routed , this monument to phoebus he devoted . this was as easie and unstudied as we can imagine ; but they were not long contented with this plainness . that of aristotle upon his friend and master plato aims at something higher . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . this stone to plato aristotle raised to him , who must not be , by bad men , prais'd . but very low and humble if we consider the great genius of the author , and the dignity of the subject ; yet the conciseness and the vivacity of this epigram is much more admirable than any of those three which naevius , plautus , and pacuvius made for their own monuments ; the best of the three in the judgment of a. gellius is that of the last ; which that great critick doth not stick to call epigramma verecundissimum & purissimum dignumque ejus elegantissima gravitate , and this it is : adolescens , tame●si properas , hoc te saxum rogat ut ad se adspicias , deinde quod scriptum est legas : hic sunt po●tae pacuvii marci sita ossa , hoc volebam nescius ne esses , vale. youth , tho' thou art in haste , yet this stone prays , t'wards it thou d'st look , and then read what it says ; pacuvius the poets bones here lye , this i was willing thou shou'dst know ; god b'ye . i don't know whether i have translated it with that elegant gravity , but i have kept to the sence , and cannot but wonder that so noble a critick as a. gellius should bestow such epithites upon a piece that deserves not the reading ( as the first word indeed intimates ) of any but boys ; for hic sunt poetae pacuvii marci ossa , was as much as any man would desire to know ; but that was a melancholly subject for a man to write his own epitaph , and so let it pass . nor must we from hence conclude how little wit was necessary to an epigram among the ancients , nor on the other side dare i affirm with some modern criticks , that the reason why so few lay out their talent in this vein , is , that it is an exceeding difficult undertaking to make a good epigram . and if either of these two different propositions be true , viz. that a little wit will serve , or , that 't is hard to write a good epigram , the bookseller will meet with very few assistants , i doubt , to this well-designed undertaking : for first , if that will do which every body is master of , the more refined understandings will not engage themselves in concert with the vulgar , they 'll look upon it as a lessening of themselves , to go in among the crowd of pretenders . but this proposition is false ; for a little wit will not serve in proportion to the bigness of the poem ; there is much more wit required in an epigram , than in any other poem proportionably to the number of lines ; for tho' simple epigrams , whose chief ordonnance or design is narration , do not require much wit ; yet of the five sorts of epigrams into which j. caes . scaliger divides this kind of poetry , viz. mel , fel , acetum , sal , & species mixta , i. e. sweet , bitter , sharp , salt , and the mix'd sort ; not any of the four first can consist without wit , or that which is instead of it , and sometimes preferable to it , humour ; but the fifth , viz. the composite or mix'd sort , even of those contemporary with the forementioned greek ones , are not only formed with the truest judgment , and dress'd up in the richest and finest language , but animated likewise with all the warmths of strong and lively invention : and as i know no reason why the collector or compiler of the greek anthology should be successful above all that ever selected choice epigrams , and who have had the fortune to leave out as good as some they put in ; so we should have been more beholding to him , if his will or abilities had furnished us with double the number out of those admirable greek epigrammatists . palladas , theaetetus the poet , straton , theodorus , lucillius tarraeus , athenaeus the poet , democritus the poet , archytas the poet , dorias , dorus , erycius , and many others ; beside archimelus , who had bushels of wheat sent him by hiero for one epigram upon a new built ship. the latins took to this kind of poetry in imitation of the greeks , and well received it was at rome ; scarce any of the great wits but show'd their abilities by venturing somewhat this way . val. aedituus , porcius licinius , q. catulus , q. hortensius the orator , m. brutus , metellus , m. octacilius , c. val. catullus , c. licinius , m. t. cicero , laurea tullius , virgil , seneca the philosopher , martial , claudian , ausonius , &c. tho' very little of all they wrote in that kind , hath come to our hands , unless it be of catullus , martial , and ausonius ; concerning the last of which three , i say heartily with jul. caesar . scaliger utinam epigrammata ne scripsisset : yet by what remains of any of the rest , we can take as just a measure of the authors , tanquam ex pede hercules , as if they had left us no other of their works ; for as virgil was the best of poets , so that one epigram which introduced him into the favour of the roman court , may challenge priority to any that was ever made , nocte pluit tota redeunt spectacula mane , divisum imperium cum jove caesar habet . all night it rains , the sights return next day ; thus jove and caesar bear an equal sway . as neat , as true , and as lofty a piece of wit as ever came upon the worlds stage . cicero's talent lay much in exaggeration , and so that piece of an epigram , ( for i can't think that tetrastick was all in fundum varronis ) shows , and withall that he would never have made a good poet ; tho' we have some better verses of his making , still extant , than o fortunatim natam , which nevertheless might be industriously made trivial , that the cantatores cyclici might sing it to the boys and girls in the street , such like artifices of popularity having ever been in use . seneca in those epigrams we have of his , speaks as strongly the philosopher as in any of his writings , — vive tibi , nam moriere tibi . live to your own good , as you mean to dye . comprehends a great part of his de vita beata : so — lex est non poena perire ; to die's the law , and not the punishment ; is as high a consolation as an heathen could arrive to . to be brief , an epigram gives as strong and ample a proof of any man's abilities in poetry , as the longest and most elaborate piece can do . a man's wit , judgment , and literature , may be seen plainly in a few lines ( protògenis knew apelles's hand as well by drawing one line , as if he had painted a whole figure ) and that he writes no more , must be imputed to his want of leisure , industry or ambition . as to the other proposition , that 't is hard to write a good epigram , 't is true ; but then they who write many , may find excuse ; he who writes some good , may afford to publish some indifferent : if monsieur rapin's judgment may pass , who saith 't is sufficient to have made one admirable epigram in a mans life . and martial , who wrote the most good one's , hath wrote likewise the most of an other character of any in the world ; i don't mean only the lascivious ones , wherein he hath betray'd his want of judgment ; for to write wantonly is as great an incontinency of the mind , as to act it is of the body ; but in many of his other epigrams , among his xenia or apophoreta especially , i can't for my part taste one grain of salt , or any thing that will pass in this age for wit : many of his epigrams are guilty likewise of scurrility , which is mean always , and degenerous ; — non est jocus esse malignum . sen. in epigr. but for the many good ones he hath wrote , he hath nevertheless obtain'd the reputation of having form'd proper designs , carried 'em on clearly , and fully , in numerous and well-chose words ; concluding for the most part with something pointed , which the vulgar take to be the best part of an epigram , and in which the form of it chiefly consists : but if that were true , catullus can scarce come into the number of epigrammatists , tho' the learned place him first , who is not only very unequal to himself , as being now sweet , then harsh ; now forced , by and by flowing ; sometimes brisk , and otherwhiles flat ; but he very often wants that poinancy in the latter end , and rather shines throughout the whole epigram than in the close . his broad obscenity sometimes passes among the injudicious for wit ; a fault of youth which he lived not long enough to correct , dying at the age of thirty : but his latin is delicate and pure , beyond all contradiction , otherwise i doubt not but andreas naugerius , who , as paulus jovius tells us , every year on a certain day dedicated to the muses , burnt all the volumes of martial he could get ; would have bestowed some cost likewise on catullus , instead of pretending the ceremony done to his manes ; who comes as short of martial's wit and fancy , as martial doth of his turn and expressions . but an apothegm , a par●nomasia , a pun , a quibble , and indeed any manner of point , is the least part of an epigram ; and they who will always esteem it so , may escape their fate , who had rather many times lose their jest than their friend . and were a short and witty poem as full a definition of an epigram , as it is a common one , 't would be easier to write epigrams than any other poetry : but that definition is imperfect , there being few excellencies of epic , and not many of drammatick poetry but are here required ; here ought to be a regular design , a clear and plain narration , choice epithites , proper figures , smart expressions , a happy turn , and an entertaining conceit : 't is a poem that cannot be enlarged nor contracted ; every thing must be exact and perfect , because the reader will be more than ordinarily sharp and critical , he can take the whole to judge of at once , and is not so tired by the length , as to let pass faults for his own ease ; and if an epigram hath but one word amiss , 't is as much taken notice of , and the whole as much rejected , as if half a page were faulty in a long poem ; this being in proportion to the whole , as that . so that it is not the easiest thing to write well in this sort of poetry , in which so few have excell'd , and of which we have scarce any exact pattern and example . there are indeed in martial , patterns as inimitable as the odes of horace ; but there is in every one of his books , so much trumpery mix'd , that every reader must be a proper judge of excellency , to know which to account the standard , and which the allay . the westminster and the ingolstad excerptions take in too many , the eton too few ; and tho' the late translator of martial hath gone a middle way , yet unless we knew who he is , his authority cannot give any rules ; however , he hath render'd the author's sence in english more commendably than he himself did in latin , occasioning such criticks as jo. pontanus , and ra. volaterrane to carp as much at his style , as ant. muret and lil. gyraldus did at his wit and manners . but , after all , the difficulty of excelling hath not discouraged the learned part of mankind in all ages from attempting to write epigrams . we have not only the example of heathens , but of christians too of great fame ; boethius , that noble and pious philosopher , pope damasus who adorned the altars of st. peter and st. paul , and the sepulchres of the martyrs with epigrams . pope sixtus iii. paulinus , ennodius , pope urban viii . and most of the noblest restorers of learning in these last centuries , have given their performances in this kind an equality to the choicest of their studies . boissard , buchanan , grotius , gruter , heinsius , petavius , petrarch , politian , the scaligers , and turnebus , are but a few of those i mean. i must needs say that every nation in this only particular hath out-done england . the empire boasts of bersman , chytraeus , lau●●●bach , sabin , and i don't know how many more . france , of bellais , beza , mercer , muret , passeratius , rapin , sammathan , &c. italy , of alciate , amalthaeus , colosius , gauricus , musconius , naugerius , porcatius , sannazarius , strozza , tebaldeus , vitalis , &c. the netherlands , of barlaeus , bauhusius , benedictus , douza , grudius , lernutius , meursius , secundus , suertius , zevecotius , &c. and we , beside ben. johnson , more , and owen , have very few that deserve the name of epigrammatists ; if the aboundance , and the sprightliness of owen's wit may , notwithstanding his false quantities and indifferent latin , sustain that character . not that we want a genius to poetry in general , or that masculine acuteness in particular which an epigram requires ; nor are we wanting at all i believe in this kind of poetry : but a modesty peculiar to this nation , restrains always the most excellent of our wits , from publisting any thing less than an intire work , without some charitable motive , or importunate request ; on which account some of our ablest writers having not enow epigrams of their own to make a volume , have neglected the publishing those those they have . and this might be a reason why so few epigrams of the ancients ( of their modestest writers especially ) have come to our hands : i hope the opportunity hereby given , will not only encourage many to communicate the performances they have already by 'em in this kind , but put 'em likewise upon writing more , since no age hath ever afforded better subjects than this , and no people are better able to write what they please than the english . this vndertaker therefore doth earnestly invite , and for the sake of publick benefit doth entreat all those of either sex , who have any performances of this sort in their hands , that they will be pleased to communicate 'em in writing with liberty of printing 'em , either in their own , or assumed name . the noble probus hath begun his large contribution , for which the letter'd world will doubtless thank him ; i wish indeed his numbers had been more easie , and flowing ; but he seems to be above that consideration , and not to regard that softness or delicacy of verse , so that his sense be proper and his expressions strong ; his designs are natural and pleasing , his wit solid and vniversal , his words full and elegant ; many have an easier turn of verse , but the elevation of his thoughts , and the manliness of his style , his continued vivacity of humour all along , and his frequency of points in the close , show us that he hath neither copied at catullus or martial , but successfully enough aim'd at a proper character of his own ; if a just idea , a temperament of fancy , an universality of literature , and proportion of parts are elsewhere ( altogether ) rarely , if at all found . advertisement . those that are pleas'd to communicate any thing of this kind to be printed in easter-term , are desired to send it by the latter end of march , to matth. gillyflower bookseller , at the black spread-eagle in westminster-hall ; or , to thomas hodgkin printer , at his house in the new-buildings , near christ's hospital , london . those who are bountiful in their contributions shall have one of this , and one of every succeeding volumes presented to 'em gratis , if they please to leave word withall how they may be sent . epigrams . . epigram . to a friend that ask'd me , why translating so many epigrams , i made none . among th' inspired quire i never sung , metre , the love of martial , from me wrung ; and imitation has so cramp'd my strain , to seek t' infranchiz't now , were labour vain . i may complain , but cannot mend my state , when i wou'd write , i find i still translate . harsh is my style , rough verse i only know , nought that is num'rous from my pen will flow , which these succeeding epigrams will show . . epigram . to the same . well , what i write , to print i may be slack , were i so vain to think , i nought did lack to make a poet , this wou'd me restrain , a work and author new ne'r praise did gain : he must be one , long to the town that 's known , and much in vogue , before his wit they 'll own . candor and judgment high in them excel , who , of a novel piece dare say , t is well . . epigram . to all english men. the pious jews in times of war did fast , even when no foe did lay their country waste ; if , as they spoke , the sword of peaee past by their coast , their neighbours were at enmity ; on such account great sorrow they express'd , and not endanger'd , held themselves distress'd . what are the duties then , this land commands from us ? what self-affliction from our hands ? which turk and treason , hell and france withstands . . epigram . — his disciples came by night , and stole him away , while we slept . orancorous and unbelieving jew ! whose deprav'd heart what words have pow'r to shew ? faithless ; yet more false , more perverse , than blind ; blaspheming boldest , when truth brightest shin'd ; who miracles forbore not to traduce , to treat heavens highest favours with abuse ; who god 's own law , to disannul , essay'd , and holy truths only more wicked made ; whose fathers did their impious hands embrew i' th' prophets blood , you prince messiah slew ; convinc'd , his resurrection durst deny , and bribe the soldiers to abet the lye. the drowsie guard did not your trust betray , but while your selves in sinful slumber lay , the faithful gentiles stole your christ away . . epigram . on king william . while thine own sword , brave prince , maintains thy right , lewis does only by his captains fight ; he all his conquests unto them does owe , himself ne'er saw the face of any foe . what 's needful for the field , 's thy royal care , plain are thy garments , plainer yet thy fare . lewis , with all the luxury of his court , marches not forth to fight , but for desport ; with strumpets takes his post , from danger far , the gen'ral ? no : the baggage of the war. . epigram . on king william . had lewis heart with valour been endu'd , his forces might have many lands subdu'd : but god , who wisely all things does accord , put in his hand a whip , in thine a sword. by bribes , assassins , he does act his part , by impious leagues and such-like treach'rous art , scourges the world ; makes millions to deplore . but thou seem'st born , th' nations to restore . . epigram . the virgin martyr'd . the holy virgin 'fore the judgment stood , bright in her beauty , brighter in her blood. when scourg'd and rack'd , branded and scorch'd with fire , with pincers torn , & ready to expire , her heav'nly graces all did yet admire . cruel , she said , as born of rock and stone , such pains can you inflict , resenting none ? think you , because faith does our courage steel , our flesh , like iron too , does nothing feel ? you urge our tortures to that high degree , your executioners even suff'rers be . but w' are christians ! ah , knew you what you say ! it would your rage , tho' greater , yet allay . christians are those , do the true god adore , mercy for them , that shew them none , implore ; love all that 's good , hatred they do not know ; friends to mankind , to vice alone are foe ; caesar they worship not , but for him pray , obey him even , when death is in their way . those who do think , incense is also due , the fab'lous giants war ' gainst heaven make true . her strength here fail'd . angels , says she , do call , to joyn them gladly here on earth i fall . a gen'ral groan thro' all the court did sound , and converts 'mong the faithless throng were found , many with hands stretch't out , aloud did cry i am a christian too , and i , and i. . epigram . on jesuits . o jesuits ! subtil i' th' arts and schools , knaves in the world , and in religion fools ; christ's profest servants , and the slaves of popes , but both defie , when they oppose your hopes ; missioners y' are to the earths utmost ends , feign'd lovers of the faith , riches true friends ; who more preferr a pow'r in courts to hold , than even in heaven to have your names enrol'd ; who further have prevail'd , truth to expel the church of god , than even the gates of hell. . epigram . on julius . when men to honour rais'd , i oft did hear , ( as then first being ) they created were , it sounded strange : but since i julius knew ingenious , innocent , obliging , true , and saw that honour render'd him uncivil , vicious , false , proud , all that is counted evil , the man 's new made , i cry'd , he 's now a devil . . epigram . on procula , old and amorous . foul winter cease to think thy age a spring , which nought but cold and dirt does with it bring : if it be possible thou canst any please , the same may also dote on a disease . thou saist , th' ast charms ; so witches have theirs too , but such as toads and devils only woo . . epigram . on cotta . business th' ast none at court , nor place dost hold , yet none there 's seen so busie & so bold ; at entertainments of the king and queen , where all forbidden are , thou yet art seen ; others hold speech with one , at most with two , but with th' intire assembly thou h'st to do ; swiftly thou mak'st thy way thro all the press , like some important new-arriv'd express , and whisper'st one , another dost embrace , kisses't a third , all in a moment's space . secrets of all cabals thou canst relate , as if thou wert o' th' cabinet of state ; the king does favour thee , the great ones call thee intimate and friend : but that 's not all , such places shall be thine , when first they fall . after full thirty years thus spent , and more , we see thee still impertinent and poor , single-sol'd cotta , as thou wert before . . epigram . on naevia . naevia ill-bred , ill-fashon'd , and ill-fac'd , not more by plutus , than by venus grac'd . her mother not more wise , than she was fair , having a friend in court , wou'd place her there ; and thus be-spoke him . 't has been often seen , great fortunes they have reach'd , that serve the queen . naevia , suppose , were maid of honour made ? the courtier , but no flatt'rer , to her said , yes ; if 't wou'd do her business , to make sport , for the deform'd and poor are jests at court. . epigram . on demetrius . demetrius fam'd for ev'ry martial feat , and in the wars of venus no less great , engag'd in am'rous conflicts sev'ral days , the mirtle wreath to win , as well as bays , the stratagem of sickness did devise , his absence from his father to disguise ; who when to see him came upon the place , phryne shot forth with more than star-like grace . how is 't demetrius ? said his father then , your health's , i hope , return'd to you again . dem. ] the fever 's gone , held me some time before . the king reply'd , i met it at the door . . epigram . on phryne , accus'd before the athenian senate . none hated phryne , phryne ever saw , however wrong'd , endanger'd her by law ; strangers they were , such crimes of hers did urge , no pow'r of rhet'ric cou'd the guilty purge . her non-plust patron yet had this reserve , when 's art did fail , his client to preserve . tropes he renounc'd , and arguments did wave , and made the fair one her fair self to save . my lords , he cry'd , 't is fit that you shou'd know whom you condemn , e'er you to judgment go . and from her charming face the veil then drew ▪ from whence such flashing beams of beauty flew , such fulgor , sweetness , from her radiant eyes , as all with love and wonder did surprise ! the charge she scatter'd , like a metling cloud , that vainly seeks the mid-day's sun to shroud . judges and plaintiffs unto her did bow , her plea admit , and innocence allow . in words they did not , but in heart decree , a crime , in such perfection , cou'd not be . that she escap'd , or was absolv'd , to say wou'd wrong her fame , ador'd she went away . . epigram . to plancus . thou often plancus proudly dost complain , while thou the company wou'dst entertain with something of delight , or else of weight , some piece of learning , wit , or point of state , demas turns all discourse to what he wears , or eats , how with the stone and gout he fares , his issue runs , to stool how oft he goes . what wou'dst thou have ? he speaks of all he knows . . epigram . on lesbia . because fair cloris exc'llent verses writ , and 'bove her beauty fam'd was for her wit ; as if to make a poet nought did need , but to resolve to be one , and to speed , thou tookst a pen , and setst thy self to write ; that is , unspotted paper didst besh — for to express thy sensless sottish stuff , nought can be said , that 's barbarous enough . wer 't thou bewitch'd ? i sought , thou saist , for fame . and of the greatest fool th' ast got the name . . epigram . on milton and marvel . milton and marvel joyn'd , ' gainst [ p. ] did thunder but poor jack marvel was alone no wonder . . epigram . on maevius . refined language , and in mode's thy pride , that all thy verse in flowing numbers glide , thy wit abounds : but then thou dost not see , that these ought all subservient to be , t' improve and grace a well-conceiv'd design , t was this that made the ancients works divine . wit , for it self , these sages did deride , reason they made their pole-star , & their guide ; what nought promoted , idle was , or vain , what nature did distort , or over-strain , they held the issue of a doting brain . ' gainst laws of prudence they did ne'r rebel , to make their fancies , by such means , excel . their heroes still were men , however brave ; perform'd great things , and yet they did not rave a huffing phantom , strain'd to th' highest note sensless and ranting , nought but mouth & throa● thou fondly fram'st , who does a while amaze , but boys do laugh at , while they on him gaze . in shakespear read the reason mixt with rage , when brutus with fierce cassius does engage in loud expostulations in the tent , the heights of passion , turns , and the descent observe , and what th' art likely to despise , is that in which th' excellence chiefly lies . th' ancients , when a beauty they 'd express , the graces summon'd the fair-piece to dress . a figure , indian-like , thou dost expose , with jewels dangling at her lips and nose , her cheeks bor'd-thro ' for pearl & rings of gold , spoiling what nature did divine unfold . but if she gorg'ous be , with riches flaunt , no comeliness in her , thou think'st does want . all wit misplac'd , the subject does disgrace , like gold that 's carv'd into a lovely face . the poets art , not all that read , discry it like a soul couch'd in each limb does lie , seen by its pow'r , not subject to the eye . a cry'd-up wit unto old hobbs did say , virgil nor homer did deserve the bay , and gave this reason . ' cause he could not meet one epigram , in turning twenty sheet . before you judge , said he , go , sot , to school , turn them all oe'r , not once they 'll play the fool. think'st thou such droll their matchless works wou'd crown , which joyns in one the heroe and the clown ? . epigram . on the rich and covetous . o wretch ! whose wealth o'er-flows , and yet is scant ; who , all thou hast not , & thou hast dost want ; whose thirst of gold no mines of gold can swage , the more it gets , the more it still does rage . would'st thou be rich ? content , than wealth , is more ; not who has little , but who wants , is poor ; the cynic nothing had , nor ought did need ; yet him in riches he did far exceed , who unto endless conquests did aspire , and having one , more worlds did yet desire . . epigram . on the habitually vicious . where vice is lov'd , & in time nature made , to tax it , seems even nature to upbraid , and not the man : whom if you guilty show , he thinks you do not find , but make him so ; malice , not truth , against him does conspire , that innocent he is , the charge a lyer . did martial then a thousand years ago , bely thy follies , and thy person know ? yet he with spleen this day against thee writ , perhaps not half so home thy follies hit . but a strong fort more easie 't is to storm , than vice , that 's deeply rooted to reform . . epigram . on sin and sorrow . sin first the world with sorrow did annoy , but bred a child , the parent does destroy . . epigram . to a friend , to whom he sent the foregoing epigrams for a new-year's-gift . i have no turky from the coop to send , nor fatling of the flock , my dearest friend ; nor heap of coin expect , when i do say , i for a present here before you lay , all that this christmas i have got by play. . epigram . on paula . paula , when ever she sits down to eat , a fav'rite lap-dog on each hand does seat ; the children are at greater distance plac'd , and than the brutes , in all respect , less grac'd , which with choice bits she faileth not to treat , while th' others have the coursest of the meat . children so hopeful , charming , and so fair , no wealth , no jewels , can with such compare ! but these as burdens she beholds and clogs . were these her issue , or the little dogs ? . epigram . on lelia . if wrinckles , rotten teeth , and purchast hair , if paint and patches make a woman fair , i know not one with lelia may compare . if youth it speaks , where folly does abound , in all the world not one's more youthful found . . epigram . on the gay ladies of the time. when this fair crew had canvast ev'ry dress , what most becoming was , & what was less : the next discourse was , who did most excel in brav'ry , 'mong the gallants bear the bell. one said , my young lord d's from travel come , in him you may all grace and vertue summ ! it was repli'd , i pitty thy dim sight . what 's he to hart or moon ? the rest said , right . . epigram . to my book . vvou'dst skill , what th' ast good or bad ? t' j. d. go . all men judge : but he , how to judge , does know . . epigram . on our philosophical atheists . great lords of sense , who can no way digest , what in the sacred volume is exprest , that an eternal god the world did frame ; from divine pow'r and wisdom all things came ; to you 't is clearer , all from matter rose , the dregs o' th' world did the whole world compose , plants , angels , animals , sun , moon , & stars , nay , what we god do call , to th' knocks and jars of atoms , and their blund'ring motions owe their forms and beings , these did all bestow . th' accurate system of the heaven and earth . howe're stupendious , from hence took its birth , opificer had here no hand , but chance , all was produc'd by a blind rambling dance . ( o blessed trinity ! when such things i hear , how easie does thy mystery appear ? ) but all wise men creation do disclaim , for out of nothing , nothing ever came . be 't so ; as far as nature's pow'r does reach . tho' this ore-throws , what they before did teach : for life , from what it self was dead , they bring ; make wise-contrivance , from no thought to spring . but nothing , as absur'd , these men decry , but what abets and proves a deity . omniscience , as nonsense , they despise , omnipotent pow'r , infinitely wise , prescience , gen'ral providence o'er all , flatt'ries of god , by brainless heads , they call . such attributes no mortal can conceive , but were invented idiots to deceive . o wond'rous reasoning ! o convincing plea ! a narrow bucket can't contain the sea : therefore there 's none . brutes may as well deny , what does transcend their dull capacity . retire into your selves , go there to school , at home you 'll find , and not abroad the fool : that either singularity and pride makes you , what others do revere , deride : or else the reason is , no god you own , your impious lives require there shou'd be none . . epigram . on a weak poet. that many give thy verse a high applause , thy treats , and not their ex'lence , is the cause those who eat freely at thy sumptuous board , the praise thou lik'st , not what is due , afford . this known , thou say'st , the matter to amend , th' are good for thee , no great things does pretend . but who , to publish ought , takes up his pen , must that produce , that 's good to other men. . epigram . on quintus . when thou luxuriously dost drink and eat , and know'st the gout thou swallow'st with thy meat , yet in thy pains thou never dost express any dislike to thy belov'd excess : but lest thou sacred gluttony should'st wrong , blam'st a cold night , or say'st , i stood too long . ▪ epigram . on the same . thou termest hunger , the most sharp disease , did not its remedy as highly please : hungry , thou say'st , provide me what is good , search me the air , the forest , and the flood . this flux and surfeits often does procure , thou fear'st them not , thou ha'st for them a cure ' thy rosa-solis , if but for these , were lost , gelly , and all the closet's precious cost ; many good-things distempers bring in play . thus eating breeds , and drives thy griefs away . that fasting's good , 't were treason here to say . . epigram . to sylvius . that i for hawking do so little care , for hnnting of the fox , the stag , or hare , thou wondr'st . but to speak the truth to thee , hunting , a mad man's journey , seems to me . . epigram . on cloe. th' art mean in feature , always rich in clothes , which do not mend , but thy defects expose , thou say'st , when th' art most brave , i laugh or scoul , a jest , or ominous , all men count an owl . . epigram . on posthumus . i early waited , and some suters more , the op'ning first of the king's chamber-dore , from whence came forth a goodly sir to see , bulky , and seeming of no low degree . he turn'd him round , as he a survey took , but rather seem'd to over-look , than look . him to inform me , i did humbly pray , if such a lord in the king's chamber lay . he gloted on me , but made no reply , and of a cam'rade ask'd , wh othere stood by , shall we to breakfast have the thing you know ? and strait into the chamber back did go . i blam'd my self , that i the rule had broke of distance , to so great a personage spoke . when , to my wonder , he return'd again , took up a broom , without the least disdain , dog's turds and bones into a shovel swep't , but still his former state and grandure kept . . epigram . galla wears rich clothes , bears her self with pride , strange arts ! yet us'd , great poverty to hide . but while she wou'd a lover thus betray , with too much cost and noise her lime-twigs lay , she does not catch , but frights away the prey . . epigram . on balbus . balbus , who boldly in his life had taught , the soul no real substance was , nor ought but the result of matter organiz'd , dissolv'd with it ; their theorem despis'd , ( as nonsense in more specious terms disguis'd ) who it a being did immortal make , found after death , too late , his sad mistake ; when real fiends his living soul did hale to hell , and all his sophistry did fail ; when he beheld the ghost without the glass , he first confess'd , h 'ad reason'd like an ass . surly yet still , and froward 'mong the dead , to 's once deny'd tormentors thus he say'd . forbare accursed and ungrateful crew , who , like to me , both of your prince and you has so deserv'd ? who e'er did so refel what men believ'd of god , of heaven , and hell ? and while i ridicul'd a sinners fate , i vastly have enlarg'd th' infernal state. 't is true , some ancients did before me write , but weakly 't was , and in an age of night , not when truth triumph'd in meridian height . the fiends did here with feign'd obeysance bow , and all he spoke with rev'rent meen allow , told him , to their dread lord's emperial throne their orders were to bring him ; where alone grandees o' th' realm allowed were the grace , to share his honours , and to see his face ; and doubted not , their king to him would doom a crown of flames , even 'bove some popes of rome . . epigram . — crepereius pollio , qui triplicem usuram praestare paratus circuit , & fatuos non invenit — two hundr'd pound i to a shop-man owe , paying of one , the other he 'll forgoe , lay down the summ , and you the gain shall have , my present ease is all that i do crave . thus pollio said . to him i did reply , i never had for gold a greedy eye . to merchants go , who for advantage thirst , i hate to trade , and equally to trust . . epigram . on sextus . thou sayst , thou hast of vice the deepest sense , but this a blind is only , and pretence ; thou ' dst have it thought , when partridge thou dost eat , thou purchas 't them as cheap as common meat ; when thou art drunk , what of the case to think thou dost not know , thou didst but so much drink . thus vice thou hat'st , but with it dost dispence , and thy whole life's apology , and offence . knaves sell false wares , mountebanks use deceit , but none like thee , himself did ever cheat . . epigram . on a decay'd beau. decrepid i am grown , and more my purse , i seek not now a mistress , but a nurse . sollicitous i was rare stuffs to choose , and richest points , i 'm now to mend my shoes . . epigram . to festus . to thee an epigram a satyr seems , that is , an allow'd libel thou it deems , follies , thou sayst , they ever set in view , which in particular persons are found true . he that shall feign a vice was never known , indeed , by doing so , will injure none ; but then this error he does not descry , as he no libel writes , he writes a lye. that which in nature never yet appears , and merits to be crown'd with asses ears . he sees not too , while his ore-cautious mind is none to gall , he slanders all mankind . while he who in true colours does expose vice , but to contempt no man's name disclose , ( in that all vice in many does agree ) tho' some are stung , all from disgrace are free . the crime , 't is true , is set in broadest light , but still the man 's unknown , and out of sight . and who shall say , such verses him express ? while no way , charg'd , he does his guilt confess . . epigram . to the same ▪ i not deny an epigram to be a satyr ; but a satyr unto thee and libel are the same ; to tax a crime , and vertue to defame in lewdest rime all one ; a vice to scourge and to disgrace , and honours noblest monuments to deface , as satyr vice exposes unto scorn , so it no less all vertue does adorn : and as best ages libellers defame , among their priests their satyrists they name . . epigram . to sextus . to eat what 's wholsom is my chiefest care , what pleases most the pallate , is thy fare . alas , i beg thy pardon for my treat , which did thy self , thy gout , and stone defeat . . epigram . to rufus . t' excuse thy silence , thou do'st oft delight . tho' nought to say . the fault were then to write . epigram . on miss nell . pretty miss nell , her mother being dead , her father brought to london to be bred . a friend , 'mong other sights , shew'd her the park , where she beheld each choice and ruffling spark of either sex , and gilded coaches full , of fops , and beaus , and many a gold-lac'd trull . the gaudy pageantry she did much admire , and their loose courtship set her heart on fire to bear a part , tho' hopeless her desire . returning home , her state she 'gan compare with what sh 'ad seen , and ready to despair , an unknown hand relief to her did bring . ' i saw you , sweet , say'd one , in hide-park-ring , ' in a vile hackny , with a bag of hay , ' and figures at its tale : if me y' obey , ' there 's not a gaz'd-at piece in all the town , ' shall equal you in glory and renown . she had no strength ' gainst such a powerful spell , but closed streight , and bid no one farewell . er'e many days did pass , the country girl was richly coach't , set by a bare-head earl. her flaunting gallantry you might see a-far , whore now her self , a wonder , and a star. . epigram . on amarillis . loose amarillis , conscious of her vice , brands all her sex , even the most chaste & nice . if you say , fulvia bears a modest brow , no modesty in her she will allow ; that marcellina's of unblemish'd fame , she knows with whom she lost her vertuous name ; that dian's self , than silvia's not more pure , we err , she says , then most , when most secure ; if you shou'd reckon-up a hundr'd more , 'twixt woman she no diff'rence makes , and whore. in vertue ' cause with none she 's equal found , with guilt all womens honour she 'd confound , to make them stand with her on level ground , . epigram . on miss nell . how is 't , miss nelly ? you seem wond'rous sad . the wonder is , say'd she , i am not mad . i am undone , and by a paultry jade , my lord has cast me off , and ta'ne my maid . think not your case o're-strange , your shoulders shrug , beauty enjoy'd , is after but a drug . . epigram . miss nell reveng'd . miss nell , altho' forlorn and discontent , home to return , her heart would not consent : but after some debate , and inward strife , what course to take , 'fore all an actors life most took . in her gay days some plays sh 'ad seen , and the thought pleas'd , but even to act a queen . her youth was fresh , her fault did not impare her beauty , lovely she was still and fair ; nor readier this way she her self t' engage , than they concern'd t' admit her on the stage . where while she stood a mute , boldness to acquire , th' aud'ence , 'bove all that spoke , did her admire . and when set-off w' th' magick of a part , all eyes she daz'll'd , ravish'd every heart . the house , new plays and scenes , sometime might spare . 't was call enough , if nell appear'd there : nor fear'd she now again to b' out of date , her a new creature each day did create , a nymph , a goddess , heroine , or queen , all which she suited with a charming mein . and none was found this idol to adore , like her false lord , that slighted her before . he woos , he offers land , for love now dies , and her turn 't was , th' inconstant to despise . . epigram . on zoilus . when thou nor wealth , nor beauty can'st pretend , thy self by birth or bravery commend , which are the things take with the fairer sex , them , with thy hourly courtship , why do'st vex ? the young and old thy very sight detest , thy rivals thee affront , and make their jest . a lover's high ambition's to be priz'd ; is thine alone to be of all despis'd ? . epigram . on bassus . who the philosopher does so much affect , comport so truly with in words and sage aspect , as bassus does ? so sharply who declames ' gainst vice , the trifling'st over-sights so blames ? and then the frailer sex are most his care , in vertues paths to guide the young and fair. these he instructs , chides , of 't in fervent zeal upon their necks a spiritual kiss will seal . but this is far from any wanton feat , but done in transport of a holy heat , when his reproofs and counsels are most warm , and far surmount the pow'r of beauties charm. if any start , or a dislike do show , what he has done , he least himself does know , amaz'dly ask's , with an astonish'd mein , not discompos'd , while they to blush are seen . then what he seems , nor should i judge him other , as nell he kiss'd , if he had kist her mother . . epigram . on rodia . if ought to rodia you do give in charge , and leave the thing to her to do at large , no thought about it she at all will take : but act like one , that is but half awake . knowing of this , if you to her shall say , i 'd have it done precisely such a way : then she begins to think , each stone to turn , an other way to do 't , and yours to shun . if this displeases , she her case bewails , thinks you to blame , and that she never fails . there 's no so awkward and vexatious tool , as an unthinking or a thinking fool. . epigram . the grove . rack'd with sharp pains , and quite cast-down with grief , into a grove i walk'd , to seek relief . in a close shade a wanton couple lay , i fled the sight , as they did fly the day , and turn'd my steps into a pleasant glade , where the fresh spring in gorg'ous robes arrai'd , the air , the flow'rs , and charming sylvan choir , to make a paradise did all conspire . among the bows a wond'rous bird did sing , brief joys eternity of woe do bring ; which answer'd was by one of the like kind , suff'rings , tho' short , eternal bliss do find . e're my distracted thoughts collect i cou'd , a third voice said , proceeding from the wood , both songs are true , if rightful understood . musing on what these voices did relate , i found they humane joys and griefs did state , declar'd their present lot , and future fate . and tho' my pains still urg'd me as before , home i return'd , and them more eas'ly bore , and than the wantons bliss esteem'd them more . . epigram . to the vertuous ▪ 't is said of caesar , that he set at nought , the most heroick actions he had wrought , and still at greater aim'd , at the same rate men others do , himself did emulate . in vertues race the like ambition shew , think nothing's done , while more thou ha'st to do . those that stand still , this detriment have found , they ever lose , when they advance no ground , caesar ne'r stop'd , till he attain'd a crown , and thou , on this side heaven , wilt sit inglorius down . . epigram . on c. o. being very ingenious , and dying young . under this leaf of marble i do lie , early i liv'd , as early i did die ; as soon as i cou'd read , i sought to know , not childish tales , but how the world did go ; how with the king the houses did comply , what interest france unto the port did tie , the school was my delight , the dread of boys , but sickness twice did snatch me from those joys , my spirit broke , and kep't me ever low , where i shou'd soar , 't was well if i cou'd go . a pow'rful preacher i did more admire , in gifts , as place , than 's hearers mounted higher than all the stages gauds , and glitt'ring attire . in my ninth year i felt the flame of love , all what that passion had divine , did prove ; in an abyss of beauty i was lost , a brighter form or soul none e're did boast , and none cou'd say , which spoke the angel most . much i experienc'd in my life 's short span , some threescore years show not so much of man , my days were few , yet i out-liv'd my date , great care and love did so contest with fate . . epigram . on mrs. s. h. who amber chafes , does nought but odor find , because the mass is all of one rich kind : so who bright ( h. ) shall prove , will nought but grace and vertue find , what suits a cherubs face . and as the angels , when on message sent , did heaven bear with them , wheresoe'er they went : so such an air of ex'llence she does show , a court seems with her , nay a heaven to go . and when her beauties neer her any draw , whom they attract , they also keep in awe ; and all they act or speak is mix't with fear wrapt , e'er aware , in so divine a sphere . . epigram . great lights o' th' church , glory o' th' latter age , who popish falshood , and schismatick rage , so strongly stemm , hooker , hammond , vsher , morton , andrews , chillingworth , and taylor , jackson , patrick , stillingfleet , cudworth , more . you few i name out of the mighty store , not aiming a just cat'logue to recite , but a short curtail epigram to write : and that your names in rythm i not reherse , too grave they are to gingle in a verse . nor hope i vainly here t' argument your fame , but raise mine own , while you i barely name . . epigram . to the muses . not unto you , nor yet unto my brain , i owe these shreds of verse , but unto pain : nor have i cause to grieve , if none they please , since laudanum and rythm of 't gave me ease . . epigram . to admiral killigrew . the standard bear aloft , and boldly show , th' ocean's glory , terror of the foe ; with outward pride and dread to all appear , and where thou ought'st , be a true cause of fear , but kind and civil unto all draw-near . firmly thy just authority maintain , but insolent command as much disdain . when thou assault'st , let th' adversary find , storm , thunder , lightning , in thy ship combin'd . should an unequal force chance to distress , there let thy courage rise , but not grow less ; buoy-up what 's weak , bravely make good the spot , valour has often turn'd in fight the lot. thy god's , thy king 's , thy country's interest bear in mind , with them let thine own honour share , and what with these can poise , or yet compare ? alone then fear , when not , wou'd rashness show , when danger 's high , th' advantage mean & low . malice and envy with scorn only treat , like little billows ' gainst thy ship that beat . shall i now say , i 'ave taught thee here thy part ? no : i have spoke , but what in truth thou art . . epigram . to the poets of the time. no age 'fore this so many poets bred , nor wit was known to have so large a spred ; time's past't , who writ , rarely did miss of fame , good verse now 's read , & not th' author's name ; what works were then admir'd , & brightly shon , are now new writ , eclips't , and far out-done ; the classics we not only english't see , but whom themselves virgil's and ovid's be ; nor pindar's , nor lucilius's are scant , plautus and sophocles yet less we want , the stage was never in so high a flaunt . but what 's defective , and with-all more strange , in this so large and bold poetick range , not one attempts the epigrammic strain , has try'd his force in martials sprightly vein . malice nor slander dares this thing avow , none do his wit conceive , or it allow . how comes it then , that he neglected stands , or what 's all one , left to unskilful hands ? is 't johnson does in epigram excel ? be it so : yet where he has writ as well , with good success some bravely have essay'd , and noble voyages have also made . it satyr were , if i the cause shou'd say , 't is not in mode , france has not led the way . let france teach fops to dance , & girls to dress , preside ore shoe-tyes , not controul our press . . epigram . to the same . i here invite , if that won't do , i dare , the keenest wits with martial to compare . if with my self , you do suspect , i mean , i 'll bear-up like aspasia in the scene , however weak , provoke , affront , defie , m' aim being not to fight , but nobly die ; write therefore , nay abuse , i have my end , whose pen wounds deepest is my dearest friend . . epigram . to linus . why ragest thou , when counsell'd for thy good ? have i traduc'd thee , or mis-understood ? expos'd to shame , or what 's more hardly bore ▪ not sought thy cure , but thee insulted ore ? if none of these , why without care of right , do'st thou recriminate , to show thy spight ? make me in thine , and yet worse follies share ? triumph when done , as all with thee were fair ? can'st thou believe , thy spleen did'st justly vent , an other's guilt can make thee innocent ? . epigram . to the same . confute and error in an honest mind , honour and love you in return will find . but where truth 's hated , error rooted-in , they hate those bring a light upon their sin. . epigram . on goodness . goodness o' th' good does work , rarely on the evil , an angel first in heaven became a devil . . epigram . the general lover . i all do love are excellent and fair , my mistresses , not knowing it , such are ; the witty , shapely , gallant , brown and bright , their various graces variously delight ; when they are best set-forth for publick view , and most ambitiously their glories shew , 't is me they court , tho' nought they less design , nor use i any means to make them mine . if any scorn , and to shew pride affect , i pay them , unconcern'd , the same respect . where beauty reigns , i there no fault do find , th' are all alike to me kind or unkind . but thou who unto one thy heart do'st tie , even those excel , disgust thy partial eye ; and if this one be moody or disdain , thy peace is lost , and wretched thou art slain . but then thou say'st , while all i thus approve , not one does me reciprocally love , which thou esteem'st the quintessence of joy , but i a fond and despicable toy . beauty , at distance , divine rays does shed , but none e'er met a goddess in his bed ; tho' eyes , we stars do call , when they are bright , a vulgar error 't is , they shine by night . . epigram . on sextus . what ever sea or land do rare afford , in season's serv'd at thy volupt'ous board ; thy cook with no less art does these prepare , and for thy self is all this costly fare : yet thou a glutton's name in ill-part tak'st , and tell'st what sober meals thou often mak'st . were 't thou not sick ? or else dislik't thy meat ? and think'st th' art temperate , when thou can'st not eat . . epigram . to sillius . sillius , of late , it was my chance to meet , who with surprizing kindness did me greet , he hugg'd me , kiss't me , even for joy did weep . my best of friends , say'd he , you 'll also steep your eyes in tears , when i shall let you know , what i in persia late did undergo . oh , the vast deserts ! oh , the dang'rous sand ! the hardships i sustain'd by sea and land ! — in short , his carr'age had such tender charms , as forc'd me sympathize in all his harms . but when within my mind i did revolve our kind encounter , it pos'd me to resolve , when our huge amity at first began , all i cou'd say , was , i had seen the man ; and wonder'd much at such his magick pow'r , cou'd perfect friendship less than in an hour . while thus the novelty did me confound , he did the mystery himself expound . thou needs , says he , must lend me twenty-pound . . epigram . on zoilus . zoilus , how do you ? i did only say . my lust , he answer'd , does not yet decay , vastly i eat ; and , laughing , did disclose , after a feast , what late befel his hose — hold , i then cry'd , i see your hand is inn — plain truth , i ne'r before , did think a sin. . epigram . on bibulus . bibulus , mean of birth , but high in place , scarce to the nobl'st will vouchsafe the grace to re-salute , or answer , when they speak , but from their court regardlesly does break : while with caresses some make humble suit , all complement , but unto all he 's mute . uneasie shews , even at a kind address , as courtecy it self did him oppress . as i did muse , who was the happy he , cou'd to 's fastidious humour grateful be , into the room there came an uncouth wight , known by instinct , i think , e'er come in sight : for bibulus , e'er you cou'd say , what 's this ? found him , embrac'd him , met him with a kiss ; hands they did shake , and for a pretty space , one's rube nose joyn'd t'other's purple face . they smil'd , that cou'd the myst'ry unfold . the man , it seems , drunk stiff , and good wine sold . lovers and courtiers rivals do not brook , but drunkards kindly on their rivals look . . epigram . to the generous . the jew all interest was forbid to take , advantage , from his brothers want , to make . their wise men , from this law , did thus decree , thy brother jew shall not obsequious be , for any loan pay servile usury , crouch , or demean himself more abject low , pay a respect , before he did not owe. . epigram . on a lady's musick-book richly bound . whoever takes me in his hand , these things i give him in command . that he not , idly , let me fall , nor hold me yet for good and all ; that he defile me with no smutch , my gilding was not lay'd for such ; that he transcrib's , by stealth , no air , my leaves , for any uses , tear ; that he fills not my void-spaces ▪ with the draughts of filthy faces ; no , nor insert his mistress name , or yet his own . go seek thee fame on greenwich leads , or top of pauls , where such-like worthies make their scroles , there leaving carv'd their names and feet , monuments for their glories meet . art and cost made me thus fair , to treasure , like my self , things rare ; to serve a mistress of great name , of so divine a voice and frame , that neither can the ears or eyes say in which most the angel lies . if then what 's artless , vile , or rude , a brutish hand shall here obtrude , know , where excellence high appears , there hideous show the asses ears . . epigram . on rufus . thou often boast'st , how free thou art from blame , if none do praise thee , none can also shame . boast thy good luck , that th' art not understood , there must be evil , where is found no good. . epigram . on the same . no drunkard , nor adulterer thou art , with cheat ▪ or robber ever act'st a part . the riddle 's dark , in truth , i can't deny : faith , now expound , where-in thy vices lie . . epigram . on frances . frances advanc'd to chamber-maids degree , vouchsaf'd sometimes her country friends to see : and more to shew her courtly air and art , as she wore silks , she acted too the part of a fine lady . on a sultry day , as soon as come , her neck she did display , much better hid , gave one her scarf to hold , her fan and gloves to those that were so bold ( which all were not ) to touch such precious things . she stript-up high her arms , brandish't her rings , toss't her locks , flounc't t' express a gallant mein , tho' to say truth , not over-sweet nor clean . talk't loud and fulsom , wry'd her mouth & face , what ere she thought wou'd add the greater grace . to taste of their course fare , they her did pray . which squemishly , good breeding to betray , she did accept : but like a wolf did eat , ( lac'd shoes at home abounded more than meat . ) when she was gone , and all began t' admire her stately way , genteelness , and attire , a girl there said , mother , what e'er you think , i , for my part , smelt mistress frances stink . . epigram . on scipio africanus . antiochus chose rather to defie the roman pow'r , than with it to comply : his forces broke , and utterly defeat , in this submissive manner he did treat . not what before the war you did demand , we yield , but all you shall beside command . the noble scipio thus did answer make , rome no advantage does from fortune take , as she does scorn to stoop to adverse fate , by prosp'rous she is never more elate . our actions justice , not success , does guide , we ask the same , which you before deny'd . . epigram . on claudia . fair claudia wants no sweet and pow'rful charms , her eyes wound deep , and cure the pleasing harms ; none can her graces with such truth impart , as i that feell them in my captiv'd heart . yet when divine emilia does appear , claudia , so many aws , her self does fear ; sighs and sheds tears to see her empire wain , a greater ex'lence o'er her lesser reign . while thus i spoke , the smart and angry twang of cupid's bow-string i' the air loudly rang . traitor , said he , and can'st thou then approve , an others grace 'bove hers that thou dost love ? . epigram . on a feign'd friend . when ought thou need'st , thou do'st it so demand , not as one sues , but one that does command in friendship 's name . thou say'st , a friend is known , when in distresses he his friend will own . this is a truth , which all will thee allow : but then at other times , i know not how , so strange thou art , thou scarce do'st know my face , or with a bare good-morrow wilt me grace ; ore-see'st me oft , industriously do'st shun , is 't friendship only then , to serve thy turn ? . epigram . on dionysius . dionysius , ambitious was to be , tyrant no less o'er wit , than sicily : as he his countries laws had broke before , the muses he as barb'rously ore-bore . a poem to phyloxenes did show , commanding there-upon his thoughts to know , who true to 's judgment , to his safety rash , defac'd the whole performance with one dash . for which the tyrant did in rage confine his judge to dig in fetters in the mine . but disciplin'd , did him again restore , and shew'd him other verses , as before , reading them now , the better to display , wherein their grace and elegancy lay . phyloxenes , e'er half the book was done , on 's own accord , beckon'd the guards to come , and back convey him to the mine again , to dig , than hear , holding it lesser pain . . epigram . on dr. rugely , robb'd and wounded . great nat'ralist , good christian , and divine , tho' rarely seen , in thee they all combine . so knowing , yet so tender in thy art , that patient and physician both thou art ; and tho' oracular th' advices are , yet for the sick thou of 't vouchsaf'st to fear . as robb'd and wounded , had'st thou too been slain , how many hundreds had receiv'd their bain ? thy goodness weigh'd , and good that thou do'st do , death had been sacriledge and murder too . fit veng'ance for this crime no tongue can tell , as it was hatch'd , it must be purg'd in hell. . epigram . on the young man in the gospel . the rich young man , who in the gospel thought no terms were hard , which unto heaven men brought , when our lord say'd , if thou wilt perfect be , sell all thou ha'st , and come and follow me . he thought even heaven cou'd not his loss repay : and tho' he briskly came , dejected went away . . epigram . on dionysius . phyloxenes no cruelties cou'd tame , or scorn the tyrant dionysius shame : but verses on him he wou'd still obtrude , how'ere before his censure had been rude . the tyrant oft , reciting , drop'd a tear , phyloxenes , affected to appear , said , me too , what you read , it pity'd much to hear . . epigram . on madam pen. why , madam pen , in such a fume and pet ? th' affront , said she , wou'd make even patience fret . 't is bad enough to call one trapes and jade , insufferable , old and ancient maid . . epigram . on rome . we grudge not rome thy secular renown , usurped primacy , or triple-crown ; right of communion we do only claim , while with the ancient church our faith 's the same , while her three creeds and councils we embrace , in all things strictly do her foot-steps trace ; the scripture canon , which thou call'd'st thine own four hundred years , is that we also own , enrag'd , thou say'st , what is all this to thee ? where is thy claim'd infallibility , thy purgatory , power to dispence , with whatsoe'er the scripture makes offence ? thy image-worship , worship of the cross , of saints and angels , be it with the loss of a commandment ? let tramontans rebel , thy pow'r does yet extend to heaven and hell. think we , ' cause christians , to avoid the doom of hereticks , while enemies to rome ? thy artifices we have all disclos'd , thy cheats and novelties to ' th' world expos'd , open'd all nations eyes , and made them see , how weakly thy pretences founded be . but what 's our gain ? b' th' pains we have employ'd , w' have that confirm'd , we hop'd to have destroi'd . what by a criple-faith thou had'st before , thou hold'st by int'rest now , a nobler score : all kings and states are at this day thy friends , not as , times past , deceiv'd , but for their ends. peter , his keys , consigned in a mist , and lost they h'd been , and perhaps never miss't , had'st thou not found & seiz'd them : for a while , an ignorant world these served to beguile : but now thou do'st not on such shifts rely , no pow'r's so great , thou dare'st not to defie . w' are sawcy therefore thus to claim communion , to hold with thee a parity and union . do we for pardon sue , and for protecttion ? what we communion call , shou'd be subjection . . epigram . to lelia . thou wou'dst my love i shou'd to thee engage , because we both do suit so well in age : but my own wrinkles me offend and fright , expect'st thou then i shou'd in thine delight ? the motive us'd , ought rather us to sever , or else to bed us in a grave together . . epigram . to my new lord — because thou saw'st i pay'd thee a respect , thou therefore did'st return me thy neglect : as if thy honour were not thee allow'd , unless to those thou meet'st , thou might'st be proud. civil to be , i ever held my part , not that i valu'd thee , or what thou art . when next i meet thee , i 'll no cap afford . sensless a ' squire ; but down-right brute , a lord. . epigram . on a lyer . when 't is a lye , thou tell'st it with that art , thou winn'st belief from ev'ry ear & heart : but truth so lamely always do'st report , because it needs no wit for its support , that none receive the things that they do hear , but with a wrong and a mistaken cheer . held in the dark by that which thou do'st tell rejoyce in evil , mourn when all is well , thou bane of converse , and thou greatest curse , who stiflest good , and of 't mak'st evils worse . . epigram . by way of dialogue between the author and his friend . fr. ] what makes thee , probus , in thy latter days , as youthful still , covet a wreath of bays ? prob. ] some hours , in serious reading , i can spend , but long my faculties i cannot bend , as in times past : tir'd , i refreshment find , in the amusements of a roving mind . all pleasures of the world from me are fled , and ( i rejoyce ) some years before me dead . friends say they come respect and love to pay , but glad they are , when they can get away : and 't were a shame , at this my age to show , content to any , but my self , i owe. epigrams afford a great variety , and ne'er are tir'd , or tiring company : the wise , the foolish , jocular , and sad , the noble , serious , i see here , and mad. and like a farce , if some appear but mean , others display again a glorious scene . my life i not with thine , but theirs , compare , who droop their days out in a sleeping ▪ chair . . epigram . on demas . art thou so mope't , past fourscore years , to wed ? a woman to betray ( as may be said ) unto a grave , not to a nuptial-bed ? thou call'st thy walking skelliton , a life ; and avow'd baud'ry , by the name of wife . . epigram . on laura . most lovely maid ! of so divine a frame , we see in thee , all we can ex'llent name ; the sweetness of a spring thy youth does summ , and promis'd blessings of the year to come . yet thou wert slighted lately on the score , a bunch-back brought upon 't two thousand more . with whom thy cautious gallant did engage : but shortly after , purchas 't from the stage a prostitute , set all , for her , at nought , and thought his rotten-ware was cheaply bought . thus , when to seek a wife , such muck-worms go , you 'd swear they went to market , not to woo ; they do so huckster , bargain , and demur , vertue and beauty are not any spur , to make their earthy sordid minds lay-hold on that , which gain'd , wou'd all they have turn gold. . epigram . on theonina . in censure spiteful , defamation bold , young but in years , and yet in mischief old ; lyes are thy pastime , slander is thy food , to hatch some evil thou do'st always brood ; thou fear'st no sin , where thou do'st fear no law , punishment may , but conscience ne'er did awe . since in what 's bad thou glory'st to excel , there is a king : be thou the queen of hell. . epigram . to decius . when thy rash tongue ' gainst vertue does transgress , thus thou do'st speak , to make thy folly less . i never am strait-lac'd , probus , 'fore thee , no pedant , noble , one of our degree . what e'er thou mak'st me to thy self-appear , noble i am , when vertue i revere . . epigram . on a debauch'd wit. 't h'ast read some poets , that the grape adore , idolize wit , loose life , a rampant who — despise all vertue , as below their care , and high , on these accounts , their heads they bear . these thou admir'st ; their lessons do'st transcribe , and glori'st to be listed of their tribe . drink'st , rant'st , blasphem'st , & often do'st complain when thou do'st want thy vices to maintain , none do true worth regard : and full of wine , think'st thou art great in parts , something divine . had'st thou thy due , thou shou'd be rank'd with swine , . epigram . on an old dotard . i 'm fourscore years & more : yet i wou'd wed , tho' past the duties of the marr'age-bed . and sham'st thou not , such thoughts to entertain , which thy religion , honour , age , do stain ? ha'st thou no moral strength , if not divine , that thus below a man thou do'st decline ? let no false principle thy heart abuse , marr'age it self will not thy lust excuse . it was ordain'd this raging sin to tame , not to foment and keep alive its flame . . epigram . on a drunken quack . bvtler , great butler , thou do'st often say , i make my rule , his method , and his way ! he , a good-fellow was , and lov'd good wine , nor to morosness will i e'er incline . thus idle-hours , that is , thy life , thou spend'st , the day in drink begin'st , and in drink end'st . soak'st it like butler , not like him do'st read , a bottle mak'st all books to supersede . a great drunkard thou may'st arrive to be , but a great doctor we shall never see . . epigram . the invitation of a friend . come dine with me to day , and you 'll revive , those drooping spirits , are but just alive . all sweet and pure you ev'ry where shall find , the senses pleas'd , do recreate the mind ; your sight and smell luxuriously i 'll treat , e'er i do set before you ought to eat . nor shall your welcome yet be wholly airy , as if i feasted not a man , but fairy . ven'son i have , young partidges , and hare , some home-provisions , that may prove as rare ; wine from the soil immediately that 's brought of various kinds , all presents , and not bought . choice fruits and herbs i not vouchsafe to name , aiming to day to reach lucullus fame . we 'll eat alone , unless a third appear , that will not check our mirth , but mend our chear : prudence in whom does so out-vie what 's fair , you 'll think all vertue present , when she 's there . she 'll not importune with her speech or stay , tho' all be ex'llent that you hear her say , and sad you 'll be , when she does go away . the board remov'd , the sober fumes of wine our thoughts shall wing to something that 's divine , we 'll that discourse , which vertue may improve , even at our years , our knowledge , & our love ; confer what eithers muse ▪ did late inspire , thou mine shalt judge , while i do thine admire . . epigram . to the jealous reader . ev'ry new epigram that thou dost see , without all cause thou fear'st decyphers thee . but the satyrick-mirror shews the case , or vice , never reflects mens outward face . . epigram . on criticus . marius , thou say'st , in knowledge not abounds , his books are few , and weak in arts his grounds ; thou , in all learning and all tongues , art skill'd , thy shelves with num'rous & best authors fill'd . yet whatsoe'er marius does undertake , the most judicious high account of 't make , and thy profound pretending works despise , as dulness clothed in a learn'd disguise . i thus in other trades have seen such fools , who bunglers are , yet proud of ex'llent tools . . epigram . on the wicked in the highest degree . vicious , conceited , insolent , and proud , void of all worth , yet positive and loud ; ill master , father , husband , neighbour , friend , whom sense of right or wrong cou'd never bend ; who god unseen not only do'st despise , but fatten'st i' th' oppressed's tears and cries ; and smiling ask'st , what 's , after all , the evil ? none : ' cause 't is hop'd , thou 't fright from earth the devil . . epigram . on the like . poor in thy youth , sharking , and profligate , unjust & proud , when rais'd to high estate ; which thou conceiv'st thy parts did bring thee to , but want of wit did plainly thee undo . and when thou lay'st under the sadest cross , the vice of all three fortunes did'st engross . . epigram . on a lady painter . with excellent mast'ry thou draw'st the face ▪ each feature do'st express , and nat'ral grace . were th' inward-man as well by me design'd ▪ i shou'd be stil'd , the titian of the mind . . epigram . on the enamour'd of a false beauty . a well-bred virgin , vert'ous , noble , wise , most beautiful withall , thou dost despise . but players , dancers , singers do'st admire , these thou confessest , set thy heart on fire . did'st never hear , how by a magick-spell , dead-bodies have been rais'd , and made to tell some things above themselves , and then have sunk again into a gastly loathsom trunk ? such , if thy blindness wou'd allow thee prove , thou 'dst find th' admired object of thy love ; the persons self , strip't of adult'rous art , scarce wou'd make good the carcass of her part ; with-draw the poets words , the stage attire , and thou wilt loath , what thou do'st now admire . she , like the scenes , appears a glorious sky , a sun , what not ? false lights deceive thine eye , both , paint and trash , are found , examin'd nigh . . epigram . on a coward . like thee , in safety , none 's so fierce and bold , danger approaching , none so faint and cold ; the brave , in perril , do consult which way they may orecome ; thou , which to run-away ; they only ask , what is their duty here ; thou , what 's suggested by thy treach'rous fear ; they face to face confront a daring foe , thy malice , hid and sculking , thou do'st show ; when they subdue , their anger they asswage , but here thy fury first begins to rage , the rancour fear did in thy heart suppress , without all mercy now thou do'st express . in private converse th' art to all a slave , and certainly , in publick trust , a knave . . epigram . what is sweetest . vvhat is so sweet , nought with it can compare ? by love perfum'd , a vertuous maid and fair . . epigram . on a conceited person . persuaded of thy worth , thou long'st to see , what some do sear , an epigram on thee . but little bad or good of thee i know , and none delighted are with what 's so so . this vulgar proverb by thy self discuss , souce a sows ear , 't will ne'ér make velvet purse . those subjects i pass-by , have no eselat , in vice and vertue common are and flat . . epigram . on my censorious reader . thou saist , i 'm full of malice and of spight , ill-nature's seen , in all that i do write : thy censure does not wound , but me delight . ' gainst vice i have , ' gainst men i never wrote , nor will for any wrong or price be brought , be thou good-natur'd then , to what is naught . . epigram . on the same . more close and home thou yet do'st me accuse , say'st , in an epigram , thy words i use ; nay , a known vice of thine display . be 't so , must i remember unto whom i owe all i have heard or seen ? or must men know a person by a speech or act ? 't is true , by 'th lions claw , a skilful artist knew his bulk : but who shall only draw thy toe , thy manners or thy face will never show . . epigram . on the same . displeased at the freedom of my pen , which thou conceiv'st defects so many men , thou ask'st , if i my self from vice am free ? i wish i were : but what is this to thee ? why , thou woud'st have me my own follies show . alas , who is so happy them to know ? but while thou think'st my self i do conceal , all that i write , my secret thoughts reveal ; what i do love , despise , admire , or hate , when least designing , i do truly state . one epigram may on some one reflect , but they all joyn my nature to detect . . epigram . on a mistaken epigrammatist . thou stil'st , what 's nothing like , an epigram , and may'st as well , a chicken term a ram ; or draw an ape , and then upon 't endorse , the animal you see , i call a horse . on this , thou do'st retort to me in spite , my verse are harsh : nor do i sonnets write . my bark oft buffets with a rugged stream , and i must suit my stile unto my theam . painters , with flowing oil , their figures draw . but carvers use the chisel and the saw. . epigram . on an ungrateful visitant . i 'm often troubl'd when i see thee here , too soon or late thou always do'st appear : but the myst'ry of this , in brief to summ , thou can'st not possibly in season come . . epigram . on the same . many excuses thou do'st often frame , for thy slack visits , & thy self do'st blame , you 'd mend all faults , if that you never came . . epigram . more cupid 's than one are blind . th' imposing gang of those the world counts wise , only to venus son allow no eyes , while each their cupid has , that 's more a child , and far more dark and witless may be stil'd : the envious , covetous , and ambitious , gluttonous , and who other ways are vicious . for shall we say , who beauty loves is blind ? who dotes on sin , has a discerning mind ? . epigram . on sempronia . thy tender years had a strong bent to go an evil way , e'er thou didst evil know . th' examples ever pleas'd thee of the worst , what noble virgins trembl'd at , thou durst . thy beauty thou didst early understand , and gav'st the reigns , to that thou shoud'st command . thy clothes excessive were , loose thy address , all a close wanton mind might loud express . thus thy first days in luxury were spent . in amorous stealths all of thy age out-went . thy flow'r of youth and beauty when decay'd , with these all sense of shame did also fade , and leud affections thee did only sway , the laws of lust bare-fac'dly to obey , thy house thou mad'st a profest school of vice , the rendezvous of riot , whoredom dice . which those of either sex that did not shun , were in their vertue , fame , and state undone . arm'd cat'line made the roman hearts to quake , but thy debauch did rome's foundations shake . . epigram . on an old amorous cockscomb . th'st thrown-away thy night-cap , bought a wig , thy stumbling gate converted to a gig ; ty'd a broad flaunting ribond in thy hat , one , that out-stares thy self , at thy cravat . and now do'st hope , that the most searching eyes , cannot discern thy age thro' this disguise ; but joyn'd with wealth , thou 'lt make a pow'rful court unto the fair. thou 'lt make at least good sport . . epigram . on the same . i heard thy rhume defeated thy disguise , and that a lady so did thee despise , she said , old sir , blow both your nose , & eyes . . epigram . the young and old schismatick . jun. ] i have been lately , where my ears did glow , to hear the praise of one that was our foe . sen. ] our foe ? some child of hell , be sure , a dog , a reprobate , in scripture stile , a frog of the deep pit , a jacobite , and traitor . he must be these , profess'dly if our hater , one that will set his country at a price . jun. ] i do not find he 's charg'd with any vice. sen. ] but you shall find . i 'll black him with all evil , if he be ours , he 's god's foe , and a devil . . epigram . the reflection . as from the shoar i safely did behold , ( my own days spent ) how mortal men were roll'd , with the worlds billows , some for riches moil'd , others for honour , with more hazard , toil'd , while they their lusts and vanity to please , oft lost the life , they sought to spend in ease . i say'd , were i again my race to run , what troubles and what dangers cou'd i shun ? first , i wou'd weigh the shortness of my days , yet , well employ'd , the pow'r they had to raise their length 'bove what arithmetick can count . yet ne'er their glory and their bliss surmount . by this i 'd steer my course , here fix my eye , renounce what with this truth did not comply ; no avaritious or ambitious itch shou'd my stay'd mind with their false charms bewitch . next in what state providence me had place't , i wou'd regard , and with what parts had grace 't ; these i 'd improve , aiming at no employ , admit none offer'd with least sense of joy. yet on my charge i 'd ever be intent ; duty secure , what e'er were the event . so that what e'er misfortune hap't to be , men shou'd reproach the chance , not censure me . . epigram . on lewis xiv . the life , the soul , upholder of the port , whose arms the crescent ' gainst the cross support ; want of true greatness , and the thirst of sway all that is sacred makes thee to betray , faction and treason to foment and nurse in ev'ry land , europe's , even france's , curse ; for thou no less thy agents do'st employ , thy subjects , than thy neighbours , to destroy ; myriads of harmless souls thou hast undone , with loss of justice their land from them won ; and while they mourn , thy pleasure thou dost take , upon a couch war with the world do'st make ; sloathful thy self , by others gets renown , thou winn'st a game at cards , while they a town . empire alone is that with thee does weigh , which , so thou get'st , it matters not which way , no scruple mak'st , so that thou hast success , whether 't is heaven or hell thy forces bless . lucifer to justifie , thy actions tend , 't is hop'd , thou see'st thy fall , and mak'st a friend . . epigram . on lamia . deform'd th' art seen to be in ev'ry part , beyond the remedy of wit and art ; cease then to jet , and tweer , and make a-do , ugly thou can'st not be , and pretty too . . epigram . on the same . old crooked claudia has a sober grace , and honour'd is , where e'er she comes in place ; what she was made , she is content to be , and none do want of beauty in her see ; prudence and goodness all defects supply , even pleasing make her to a curious eye . but thou , tho' most deform'd , do'st not despair , agreeable to be , tho' nothing fair , by acting what thou see'st the fair to do , as if the same , the same were , done by two : but fall'st so short of that which thou do'st hope , thou plai'st jack-pudding on the lower rope ; and what w'ad admire in clora , when we see , our stomach turns , when we behold in thee . the charms , th' affects , the sweetness , & the grace , essential are unto a lovely face ; which when thou ape'st , and vilely do'st repeat , 't is much that thou escap'st from being beat . . epigram . on the same . of thine own self thou such conceit do'st hold , that buckram on thy back seems cloth-of-gold ; whereas o' th' contrary , it is enough , tissue to make the vilest of all stuff if worn by thee : but garbe , and thy grimmace for beauty , thou believ'st , with all do pass : tho' these all loath , destest , and ev'ry tongue swears , as th' art ugly , thou wert never young . . epigram . on nanus . nanus , tho' little , yet is fierce and bold , scorns by the proudest he to be control'd , and braves all men , while such a foe they shun , by whom disgrace may be , no honour won . . epigram . on a young she-libertine . lib. ] who did this law impose upon our sex , our peace , our lives eternally to vex , that maids , forsooth , must die in deep despair , rather than love , to those they love , declare ? friend . ] nature her self . lib. ] nature i never saw , nor will i be a slave unto her law ; by looks , address , i will my mind impart , these failing , speak in plainest words my heart . shall princes noble be , and states-men wise , tho' they miscarry in an enterprize , and i alone , deterr'd by the event , desist , cause new , to make a brave attempt ? . epigram . on a high-kept miss . costly in clothes , and haughty in thy mein , thou woud'st be thought to be a petty queen ; contemn'st thy betters , boast'st of what 's thy shame , as if by birth thy greatness to thee came : when all that know thee , this truth also know , thy glory unto baseness thou do'st owe ; and that thy sin 's the same , with that o' th' poor , tho' madam thou art stil'd , & they term'd whore. tho' coach and palace varnish ore thy blot , the stocks and bride-well are those wretches lot. thou liv'st by lust , while they but make a slip , and more deserv'st the cart-tail , and the whip . . epigram . on my epigrams . i only vice at random do rehearse , 't is guilt that makes a libel of my verse ; the good and sound , with what they read , are pleas'd , the grieved are the vicious & diseas'd , . epigram . on the unworthily fortunate . while that a prosperous & fore-right gale , fills the expanded bosom of thy sail , thou happy seem'st , and all to thee do bow , all , but thy self , thy glories do allow : but while they stoop , applaud , and matter find t' extol , thou sadly want'st it in thy mind . . epigram . on paris . forbear to boast thy infamous success , that thou the great achilles did'st suppress , when hid , and trembling thou did'st only act , and 't was , in truth , a goddess did the fact , guided thy poyson'd arrow to his heel , while the brave heroe to the gods did kneel . . epigram . on sir irus . a noble lady at her gen'rous board access to half-starv'd irus did afford , as old as poor , to these , as little wise , her goodness did not yet the wretch despise ▪ a knight he was , but not of antick fame , who giants split , and monsters us'd to tame . but his adventures now he first began , and much like him , who at the wind-mill ran . heartn'd and warm , by being daily fed , the snake aspir'd unto the ladies bed. ' twou'd honour him to say , he was defeat , and lost his aim . no : but he lost his meat . tho' dotage be high rank'd in cupid's school , he thence expels an aged , needy , fool. . epigram . on the shepherds , luke . while on soft plumes the rich did sleep , or riot them did waking keep , consuming in debauch the night , acting black sins in chambers bright : we poor and hardy shepherd swains , freed at no season from our pains , under the shelter of a rock , in winter nights did guard our flock ; when , lo , a bright and glorious ray , the sun out-shining at mid-day , surrounded us with great dismay . a choir of angels thus did sing , good tidings to the earth we bring , a saviour to the world is born , there never rose so bless'd a morn ! peace unto earth , good will to men. glory , i' th' highest be to heaven ! the child to know , we give this sign , a manger holds the babe divine ! we found that true the angels said , and our account fill'd all with dread . the vision thus when we had spread , ador'd , and offer'd up a lamb , back to our folds with joy we came , our honest labour eas'ly bore , finding heavens shepherd self was poor . . epigram . on the wise men , matth. . the eastern sages came from far , led by devotion and a star , and heavens king did homage pay , when poor he in a stable lay ! to gentiles god did thus reveal , what from proud jews he did conceal : but these embroil'd in factious wars , in cov'tous and ambitious jars , wise to the earth , were blind to stars . . epigram . on spurius . much thou do'st glory in thy father's name , ore-seeing of thine own , & mothers shame : the sway of lust lodg'd in thy spurious blood , to vice ore-bears thee , like a potent flood : nor known's the crime th' art not engulfed in , a grandee seen , and prince in ev'ry sin. would'st thou be truly great ? vertue embrace , rescind the curse intail'd on bastard-race . . epigram . the prisoner . the court was up , and i had ta'ne a stand , ( being a stranger ) to behold neer hand the prisoner , and besought my friend to show by some remark , how i the man might know . that 's he , he said , which you see march alone , whom many bow to , tho' they fear to own . what , he that bears such brightness in his face , such high assurance , and serene a grace ? that 's sure the judge , his guard , that armed throng . it is the prisoner that they lead along . o blessed land ! i cry'd , if such i see be criminals , thy just must wonders be ! i hardly spoke , when i was bid to view a sneaking , abject , and down-looking crew , whose malice the brave prisoner had run-down , having no other crime , but his renown . let mean men vice avoid , the gen'rous fame , there 's nought more dang'rous , than a noble name . . epigram . to silius . thou d'st have a hundred pound by way of loan , in greatest need i this way trouble none , and to deny such suits , shame not to own . ten pound thou say'st i lent thee . to a friend what i can loose , i am content to lend . . epigram . on the like . a noble lord five hundr'd pounds did lend , out of meer greatness , to a slipp'ry friend , who , beyond hope , the money did repay ; but , in few days , a larger summ did pray , which was deny'd , and that upon the score , he had so much deceiv'd the time before . which when the wond'ring borrower did deny ! my lord faceciously did thus reply . the money lent , i never hop'd to see , but twice deceiv'd i 'll ne'er consent to be . . epigram . on pompillius . pompillius has attain'd , at last , his post , as he complain'd , as much he now does boast ; a charge he has at court , no common grace , and his success is pourtrai'd in his face ; ore-looks not only such as you , and me , but his great-self does also over-see ; usurps the parts he has not , and the pow'r , fancies he 's wise , and potent in an hour , when sawcy , witty ; courtly , when most rude ; obliging , where his folly does obtrude . some smile , some jest : all , he believes , admire , and ne'er will see , till he 's again i' th' mire . . epigram . on fungus . a truant youth , and loyt'rer in the arts , trifling that time , shou'd have improv'd thy parts , th'uncultivated mind now nothing breeds , but the most vicious , rank , and poysonous weeds ; and idleness , which thee times past did please , is now a burdensom and sore disease . labour does not the ploughman so annoy , as rest does thee , and want of all employ . in drink , or worse debauch , thou spend'st the day , the next thou plai'st at dice , or see'st a play ; the third , and fourth , and fifth being at a loss , thou scarce , without a halter , bear'st the cross . physicians , in this malady , abjure , seek not the wells , but galleys , for thy cure. finis . a court of judicature in imitation of libanius. with new epigrams. by the hand that translated martial. killigrew, henry, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing k a estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a court of judicature in imitation of libanius. with new epigrams. by the hand that translated martial. killigrew, henry, - . [ ], , [ ] p. printed for henry bonwicke at the red lion in st. paul's church-yard, london : . hand that translated martial = henry killigrew. advertisement: [ ] p. at end. reproduction of the original in the harvard university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams, english -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a court of judicature , in imitation of libanius . with new epigrams . by the hand that translated martial . — servetur ad imum qualis ab incepto processerit & sibi constet . hor. de art. poet. london : printed for henry bonwicke at the red lion in st. paul's church-yard , . a court of judicature , in imitation of libanius . to desertus . vvhen to disertus , muse , i bid thee go , why do'st so tim'rous and so backward show ? say , he be reading , let not that affright , nay more press on him tho thou see'st him write . if thou attend'st to find his idle hour , a time to go , will ne'er be in thy pow'r . thou say'st , when thou conceived'st well before of any work , thou think'st it mean and poor approaching him . be 't so , thou do'st not err , yet let conceited ign'rance more deterr , than piercing judgment and a gen'rous mind , which will be sure , what thou ha'st good to find , altho' thy modest self , art to it blind , 't is true , disertus does himself revere in what he judges : but how'er severe , candor and knowledge do his censures steer , he is not like the vain pretending crew , who criticize on what they never knew , the poets , painters , statuaries skill , make all take laws from their bold tongue and quill , tasso , bernino , raph'el , praise and blame , pronounee what 's in them good , and what is lame . he scorns to act these vertuosos part , himself 's an artist , as he judges art , wou'd i , my muse , upon the world impose , no way , like this address , i cou'd have chose , what 's to disertus sent , when men behold , altho' but brass , they will presume 't is gold , the argument . the people in a certain state , being much addicted to make themselves away , young and old of both sexes , a law was made , thar whosoever lay under any affliction , should make their case known to judges appointed to heat them : who , if they cou'd not prevail to remove their troubles , shou'd allow them to take what course they pleas'd : but if any , without making application to these judges , laid violent hands on themselves , their bodies shou'd be expos'd publickly naked , and cast out without burial . upon which many made their discontents known . the first address . a discontented poet. an ancient bard did thus his case declare . my lords , since first i drew a learned air , my self i to the muses did devote , esteem'd a poet of no vulgar note ; my numbers ravish'd all that did them hear , and more the soul affected , than the ear ; i know not how ! the world of late is chang'd , and from parnassus ev'ry heart 's estrang'd ; who my corrivals were , take to a trade , verse , once their glory , now their scorn is made . to read a poem i did late attempt , but from a friend i met with this contempt , " thy toys at present , prethee fool , forbear , " i 'm serious , as thou see'st , and cannot hear ; a hog he was to sell , a rick of hay , and things divine to these he made give way . my labours all are lost , my glory 's fled , high time it is , my lords , that i were dead . one from the bench reply'd , why don't you learn from you wise friends , silver and gold to earn ? gain has its sweeness , money has a chime , which will not yield unto the softest rhime . to this advice the discontented se'd , i with ambrosia ever have been fed , and gen'rous thoughts my heart do still inspire , husks i can't eat , nor wallow in the mire . when from this earth my soul shall take her wing , apollo i shall hear , and muses sing . iudg. ] the worthy up to death with grief we give , thy nobler part we wish may ever live . the second address . an envious person . a meager wretch , rolling his blood-shot eyes , what grip't his heart unfolded in this wise . when i the courses of the world do weigh , not gods , but tyrants , seem th' events to sway ; who all things act according to their lust , not by the measures of what 's right and just : some are advanc'd , thro favour , 'bove the rest , while others , more deserving , are suppre'st ; the very bruts seem more to be heav'ns care , better than men , in all respects , to fare ; a wolf none richer , than a wolf , does see , a lion , 'bove a lion , in degree ; in woods and fields they equal station keep , drink the same springs , and on the same ground sleep : but the supports of life tho all men need , some there are starve , while others do exceed , my house unto my neighbour's house is joyn'd , my dore 's as wide , why shou'd not riches find , an ent'rance there , if fortune were as kind ? but while his wealth all bounds does overflow , i , extream penury , do only know . cremes and i were seen for many years , in ev'ry circumstance , to be compeers ; one bath serv'd both , and the same common meat , we , uninvited , with each other eat ; my purse his wants , and his did mine supply , 't was rare to find such great equality ; the gods have rais'd him to a high estate , ( my blood thrills in me , while i this relate ) upon a sudden , and to me unknown , plebeian cremes , a patrician's grown ; who creeping went , and with his head bow'd low , erect , and like a hero , now does go ; me he despises , and no less does hate , than the condition he was in of late ; not as a friend , but vassal , does invite , simo , says he , come sup with me to night . my gall o'erflow'd : yet i resolv'd to go , his greatness not to stoop to , but to know . good gods ! what splendor did my eyes behold ! tablc and beds in or o'er-laid with gold ; chargers and goblets all of antick plate , massy , and which became a princes state ; whate'er was rare , was set on 's lordly board , all that the sea and land do choice afford . the mirth swell'd high , the cups went often round , while wine the rest , with sorrow i was drown'd ; i saw a feast , but did it not enjoy , what others did delight , did me annoy ; cremes ne'er mark't , i might or fast , or eat , i was his guest , but me he did not treat . in the debauch and tumults of the meal , i , unobserv'd , unto my home did steal : nothing was splendid there , but sordid poor , i cast my self , for anguish , on the floor ; the things i 'd seen , my heart did so molest , they were , like furies , in my tortur'd brest . cremes and 's guests i curst , wishing the room , by fire or earthquake , might be made their tomb. nought , my dispairing , raving throws , cou'd cheer , but th' approach of morn , and in this court to appear . many do under heavy pressures lye , but find it easier far to bear , than dye : altho the fortunate i come behind , i want not yet a great and gen'rous mind . my lords , i 'm poor , yet sue for no relief , but death , the cheapest remedy of grief . the hemlock draught to me you will not grudge , which you to homicides and traitors judge . the senate ask't , has cremes ought detain'd of yours ? grown rich from loss by you sustain'd ? not in the least , i freely do declare , rather demand , what prince made him his heir ? at what is 't then , your wild complaints do aim ? for spight and spleen hope you to purchase fame ? to have your malice , your misfortune deem'd ? envy , the hateful'st vice , vertue esteem'd ? what others hide , as their reproach and shame , your self you value on , in court proclame . to bedlam go , and tell your goodly tale , th' account on which you 'd dye , may there prevail ' be look't on as a great and glorious deed : hemlock you ask , but hellebore you need . the snake curl'd-up , shrouding his hated head , excluded from the living , and the dead . the third address , a decay'd beauny . i here deserted and forlorn do stand , who , as a princess , lately did command , o'er hundreds held a proud despotic sway , the rich and noble both did me obey , to crowned heads not humbler homage pay . nor did demains , or high descent bestow this pow'r , i to my beauty it did ow ; hence wealth flow'd to me , tho no arts i us'd , much easy'r got , than 't was to be refus'd . men thought themselves enrich't , by what they sent ; not in their stock , but that they did present . i was the admired star in the parade , none , like to me , so bright a figure made : th' ambition of all treats , the joy and crown , my presence , 'bove the cost , gave them renown ; guests , the delights o' th' pallat did despise , while they , on me , had leave to feast their eyes . these glories all , by sickness , are deface't , my paradise , by 'ts tyranny , lay'd waste : lovers fly from me , want does me oppress , the court i had , is now a wilderness ; i saw my face , as by my glass i pass't . and started at my self , as one agast . your piety , my lords , will eas'ly doom , unto a wretched wand'ring ghost a tomb. my case y 'ave heard , and little needs be se'd , to give her leave to dye , 's already dead . the sense o' th' court a judge did thus declare . aurelia's noble , rich , belov'd , and fair , yet she , a high delight , in work does take , no musick thinks like that , her loom does make ' your life in vice begun , in vertue end , project not to destroy it , but to mend . we will a pension , with a loom and wool , to you allow — with indignation full , she se'd , to remedy the state i 'm in , i dare to dye , and therefore scorn to spin . they told her then , they left her to despair , no drugs they knew , lost beauty to repair . the fourth address . a parasite . next one appear'd before the judges sight , with doleful looks , and in a rueful plight , and se'd , a case , like mine , so full of woe , so tragical , my lords , you ne'er did know . i 've liv'd a life in pleasure and in ease , shun'd labour , business , all that might displease , to bathe , to keep my body in good plight , to feast , with roses crown'd , is my delight , in compotations , mirth , and musick share , at others charge , deliciously to fare . a parasite i am , need say no more , rich in enjoyments , in revenue poor . at ten stones distance from this noble town , a farm my patron has of much renown : where , two days since , he made a sumptuous feast , i , tho no prime , a necessary guest , with six choice harlots , were t' adorn the treat , 'bove in-lay'd tables , pictures , plate , and meat . to give attendance with more pomp and grace , i hir'd a horse was trained up to the race , trap't richly , and my self in best array , goodly to see it was , and hard to say , whether the beast , or rider , were more gay . the hamlets , as i pass't , took me for more , than what i was , so fair a port i bore , and little less they did , than me adore . come to the farm , an altar there is seen , which stands upon an open spacious green , the horse , this weening to have been the race , of 's own accord , began to mend his pace ; the altar , with the meta , did confound , which circling , like a furious whirlwind , round , back to the city me , perforce , he bore , not stopping till he reach't the stable door . i drop't my cloak and bonnet by the way , nor to recover them had pow'r to stay ; for fear let also go the bridle rein , to hold the pommel and the horses mane. hurry'd thus back , in such unseemly wise , those honour'd me before , did now despise ; loud laughter rais'd , and all at once 'gan hoot . some furlongs pass't , i heard the rustick shout . thus hatter'd , baffl'd to my home i came , reflected on my danger , damage , shame , all dismal seem'd , darkness did me surround . my thoughts did nought but various deaths propound . but 'mong these evils , this 'bove all the rest like to a viper , stung and gnaw'd my breast , and which , even naming , makes me tears to shed . i lost a treat , and hungry went to bed . my self i did condemn , coming so near , as i the kitchin smelt , the cooks did hear , their choppings and their ravings strok my ear that to my int'rest i did prove so slack , as not to cast me from the horses back . if so a shoulder i had broke , or arm , alas , good cheer wou'd have redress't the harm nor evil did i ever know so great , but cure , or comfort , i receiv'd by meat . desp'rat's my state , i can no longer speak , i find the pow'rs of nature in me weak . nor to dispatch me needs there cord or sword , all instruments of death my griefs afford ; without regard to laws , of life bereave , make haste , my lords , or they 'll not stay your leave the harangue done , 't was with no little pain , the court from open laughter did refrain : but siting there to save , not to despise , their sense , with gracious smiles , they did disguise one to th' afflicted se'd , 't is my birth-day , rejoyce with me , all sadness cast away . another , i shall hold an annual feast to morrow , come and be my chearful guest . a third , my daughter , three days hence , is wed , place , i 'll reserve you , on the second bed. ah! gentle lords , the wretch did then reply , when gods bid live , 't were sacrilege to dye . astrea deigns again to dwell on earth , justice and mercy from your words take birth . shou'd iove invite me to his board and cup , i wou'd refuse , and with your honours sup . upon these words , the judges strait arose , th' adventure did them all to mirth dispose : the eating varlet brought to live again , wagging his tayl , follow'd their lordships train . the fifth address . a noble virgin. a person of a charming grace and mien , tho veil'd , before the judgment seat was seen , the cloud , a matron from her face with-drew , and , to th' admiring court , a heaven did shew . her name and vertue were to many known , which caus'd thro all the ranks a gen'ral groan . my lords , she said , in sad perplexing care my days i 'ave spent , and often in despair ; dangers amaze me , persecutions , fears , numberless evils , tho but few my years . the guardians of my tender age did say , apamia , if our precepts you obey , in safety they 'll preserve your orphan state : but tho obey'd , such has not been my fate . in a retired life's my greatest joy , a book 's my pastime , work is my employ : theaters , triumphs , places of parade i ever shunn'd , and none can me upbraid , that in them once i e'er appearance made . at solemn times to th' temple i do go , to pay the duty to the gods i owe : but while i there before their altars pray'd , two noble youths to ruine i betray'd . as i am charg'd : beauty , my constant scorn , is made my crime , a crime was with me born , if one , and which i never did adorn . th' addresses of all lovers i oppose , but what shou'd make , alarms my soft repose . my strictness rude insults , does often cause , to the affront of vertue and of laws . early this morning i was thus advis'd , stand on your guard , or you will be surpriz'd , our neighbour tyrant vows he 'll you obtain by stratagem , or war , your person gain . no refuge i , a helpless virgin , have , but in the sanctuary of a timely grave . a judge , i' th' name o' th' rest , did thus declare , exc'lent apamia , sink not in despair , your honour , as our own , we do respect , and as our gods and temples will protect : all here will bleed , who on this bench do sit , before the wrong , you apprehend , permit . is there , said she , that witchcraft in my face , as to confound the wisdom of this place ? who , to be author of a war , am i ? and that the state shou'd be my guaranté ? my life , no way , can make my country blest , and i 'll not be her helen and her pest. regard , to this tribunal , i have paid , address , according to the edict , made , to ease the perturbations that i feel , there is no way , but by this friendly steel . while yet she spoke , she gave the fatal wound , the glory of the age fell with her to the ground . the sixth address . a philosopher . since reason first awaken'd in my soul , lusts to subdue , and passions to controul have been my strife ; on vertue wholly bent , the lectures of the wise i did frequent ; the fam'd for science , and good conduct , heard , my masters chose by learning , not by beard ; like others of my age , i did not rome , the schools when shut , but ply'd good books at home and when i more confirm'd in strength did grow , the duty all men to their country owe , arm'd i 'mong her martial squadrons show . nor in the camp was i of mean renown , the civil thrice i wore , and twice the mural crown . my years of warfare thus in honour spent , to th' intermitted schools again i went. lectures of use , not ostentation , read , to peace and war our younger nobles bred . my strength is spent , age has my vigour broke , a doted trunk i 'm now , was once an oak . like to a servant , past his work , i sue for manumission , as his right and due . worthy eubulus , 't was to him reply'd , thy vertuous acts can be by none deny'd . and 't is the senat 's great reproach and brand , that 'fore this sad tribunal thou dost stand ; after a life so good , deserts so high , that thou no boon shou'd'st ask , but leave to dye . does grief afflict thee , or does want oppress ? thine will be held , the commonwealths distress . eu. my gracious lords , 't wou'd my pretences shame , on such accounts , if for support i came . my ways were ever just , my mind is sound , no guilt i know , with little , i abound . goodness it self cannot my wants relieve , i 'm broke by time , and youth you cannot give ; useless i 'm grown , this thought does me oppress , to see my age , than my first years , do less . a service for me could you yet descry , i 'd it dispatch , and after that i 'd dye . but if 'gainst nature i must only fight , age , aches , and diseases put to flight , against such foes 't is folly to contend , and leave i beg , to make a wise man's end. if so resolv'd ; the senate does decree , a statue , to preserve thy memory , and to thy own sage counsel leaves thee free . the seventh address . a desperate lover . strait , to th' amazed bench , perk't up in view , one with a garland hanging all askew , his loose attire suiting his reeling crown , th' officious guard address'd to pluck him down . but to the lords , for audience , he did cry , and said , i 'm one of those come here to dye . the courts regard i claim , and to be heard , no less than the last speaker , grave sir beard . my words despise not , 'cause i come thus dress'd , haste urg'd me to unload my burden'd breast . i from a banquet leapt — my lords of late t' an hebrew philosoph i did relate the cause why here you sit , in short , to try to make men live , or give them leave to dye . says he , this hearing , " make you then no odds " between your senate , and a bench of gods ? " to punish criminals with death , i know " the magistrates have pow'r , but can they show " commission too , th' afflicted to give leave " themselves of life , at pleasure , to bereave ? " this high prerogative is heav'n's alone , " nor , without sacriledge , any can it own . " the meanest soldier , that his post forsakes " without dismission , his deaths process makes : " and , shall not those , who undismiss'd , do leave " this life , as great a penalty receive ? a dotard pleads , age , useless , him has made . by sickness , madam's beauty is decay'd . a gormand , losing his wild boar and pie , the earth hangs round with sables , and the skie . but the black guilt which presses you 'bove all , divine apamia , in this court did fall . this makes me face you thus without all dread ; to scorn your fasces , now the virgin 's dead . if these were causes , murder to avow , why do you not all crimes beside allow ? make theft and incest to your verdict bow ? self-murder's murder , what laws e'er you coyn , and while the sin you licence , in 't you joyn . but a barbarian does this doctrine preach , is truth not truth , unless a greek it teach ? pythagoras and plato were more wise , these learn'd barbarians they did not despise . what in their writings so divine does show , tho not confess'd , they unto these do owe. hearing to gain , i said , i came to die , and my contempt declares , i did not lie . the court , eubulus , all , did on him gape , but to his speech no answer they cou'd shape : only , to save their honour , did declare , so high an insolence they ought not bear . but th' effronté altho they did commit , on like account they never more did sit . epigram . to candidus . thou art impetuous , i shou'd still write more , tho thrice , in print , i 've promis'd to give o'er . ( and ) promise a fourth time , so it will produce , an epigram that 's good , there will need no excuse . altho thy words do sound thus mad and wild . they flatter so , i am by them beguil'd . into the deep again my bark i lanch , where if it founder , prove not tight and stanch , in my defence , thou art oblig'd to say , i , the old fool , did to the floods betray . epigram . on the right reverend dr. e. stillingfleet , lord bishop of worcester . when thou this venerable name do'st hear , wholly confounded , muse , thou do'st appear , from severe studys , say'st , he 's never free : nor to impede them , fond one , send i thee . thou add'st , tho none in antick dust does rake like him , for truth such deep researches make , a florid muse , thro' all his writings flows , and what 's profound , as beauteous also shows ; him to salute , 's more than to win a prize ! forbear t' aspire , th' art here to sacrifice ; on th' altar of his worth a grain to lay , a debt all ages , like to this , will pay . conform unto my will , thy self apply without reluctance , on his board to ly , among the barking pamplets that attend , till tir'd , he from his study does descend . he 'll thee distinguish , from black-mouth'd t. gs. i. os , the vnitarians , and r. bs. skill'd in all ways , ancients and moderns write , master of one , the rest he does not slight . he knows , the most that epigrams pretend , is to relax the mind , and not to bend . epigram . on lewis the great . many beside have born this glorious name , but , like to thee , none with so just a claim . pompey was stil'd , for early conquests , great , henry the fourth , whose prowess did defeat the league of france , combin'd with rome and spain , to this high title likewise did attain . but what did these , to that which thou hast done ? supported asia , ruin'd christendom ; all lorrain , flanders , germany do show , the devastations they to thee do owe : thy treach'rous plots have made all nations quake even the foundations of thine own to shake : nor against men do'st only shew thy might , but thy bold hand dares 'gainst religion fight ; the faithful in thy kingdom undergo , such pursecutions heathens ne'er did show . to the great turk true brother and allie , thou do'st both pope and protestant defy , witness thy pillar , rais'd in rome , of infamy . and to maintain thy name of great thro' all , great thy disgraces are , and great thy fall. all by surprize , or brib'ry thou hast won , harra'st by fire by sword , and over-run , the injur'd princes , with united pow'r , have forc'd thee vomit , as thou did'st devour ; thy forts have storm'd , thy forces put to rout , strip't thee unto the state thou first set'st out ; nought but the guilt and horror do remain of millions thou hast begger'd , starv'd , and slain . orange despis'd wrought chiefly thy defeat , lewis [ in querpo ] write , no more [ the great . ] epigram . on a scurrilous detractor . thou say'st 'gainst lewis sharply i inveigh , but of king iames i nothing ill do say . — and may my tongue , and vitals also rot , when i attempt his sacred name to blot . in his disast'rous state , god's hand , i see with deeper sense , tho from thy malice free ; the blessings from this revolution flow , the obligations all king william owe , to wit , the kingdoms safety , and advance , that slaves we are not made to rome and france : nor do i doubt , he justly fills the throne , by pleas , as strong as birth , claims it his own . but what of this ? that which i ought revere , reflect upon with a religious fear , shall i with insolent and barb'rous pride , tread under foot , and brutishly deride ? the royal head , a crown did late adorn , dress up a trophy with contempt and scorn ? may davids curses fall on them delight , to persecute , whom god does wound and smite . this prodigy our eyes of late have seen , " the sacrosanct blasphem'd ; pug , made denote , a queen ; " vermin , our prelats ; those o' th' scarlet robes , " judges and lords , stil'd scoundrels , dunghil rogues ; " church rites prophan'd , so little said to avail , " as not of worth to wipe a porter's tail ; " the coronets of barons , dukes , and earls , " embellish't all with the like gems and pearls . archbishop land , whose life , whose death , whose pen , enrols him justly 'mong the greatest men , and cosins , who so many years made good our churches cause , the rage of priests withstood i' th' lo●ver walls , with hazzard of his blood ; with other worthys vilely are defam'd , while wicked iones is , as a patriarch , nam'd . whose praise , with those the worthless wretch did know , makes all that 's writ beside , for nothing go . did not the sordid stile , the thought gain-say , some great one wou'd be said another day , things of so high a nature to display . the num'rous facts the buffoon dares relate , no one cou'd know , tho minister of state. what 's true , what 's false , what 's hearsay , and surmise , what few dare think , his scurrilous leaves comprize . what can such matchless impudence repay ? all his own dirt , heap'd on him should we lay , as the case stands , it were to do him grace , among the greatest and the noblest place . no pow'r of words can , what he is , express , satyr wou'd fail , invectives be found less ; his prototype no age before e'er saw , his loathed self must his loath'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 draw . epigram . on criticks . suns wrapt in mists , stars in a cloudy night , who darkness cast , where you do promise light ; when readers you have rack'd , and authors vext , your gloss is oft' obscurer , than the text ; light , to some ins'lent phrase , when any seek , th' uncouth latine , you explain by greek ; and when one word wou'd the hard knot undo , affect , your reading , not the sense to shew ; you ref'rences , with heaps of figures , make , which rarely recompence the pains men take ; and always do presume , that books are by , to clear a trifle , ask a lib'rary . to boast your selves to your own tribe , you pride , to vie with criticks , not the novice guide . epigram . on one that had a stinking mouth . thou oft complain'st , thy meat does thee no good , nor is it possible , it ever shou'd , passing thy mouth , thou art with poison fed , the wonder only is , thou art not dead . epigram . on coscus . coscus , whose worth lyes all in his estate , his love to a fair maid did thus relate . your beauty does so captivate my heart , your chains i cannot break by any art ; i have discours'd what folly it will be , to yoke my riches with your poverty , with reasons like : but all i found in vain , and nothing cou'd remove my senseless pain , or put a period to this vexing strife , till i resolv'd to take you for my wife . the gen'rous maid , hearing the brutal woe , whether to frown or laugh , she did not know . but said , who was it , precious sir , that told , i 'd be your wife ? was 't your prophetick gold ? or your oracular land ? they both did lye , these , cattel may , but me they ne'er shall buy . epigram . on one that had a stinking breath . thy poisonous breath not able , when to bear , i turn'd my face , but lent thee still my ear ; but thou impatient to be understood , turn'd as i turn'd , and right before me stood , which forc't me thus my suff'ring to disclose , men with their ears do hear , not with their nose . epigram . on a stupid rustick sinner . when against sin , in gen'ral , thou dost'st hear the heavy'st threats , the sound does strike thy ear , but very little does affect thy heart , because , thou say'st , thou shalt but hear thy part , and there 's a world , that must divide the smart . when knaves , thou hear'st , do only purchase hell ▪ thou say'st , my gains are sweet , i cannot tell . that drunkards unto heaven shall never come . body of me , say'st thou , a heavy doom . no fault thou do'st amend , no truth deny , but in a drowry way do'st live and dye ; and when thou com'st into eternal woe , alas ! thou say'st , and is it so and so , these things , for talk with me , did ever go . epigram . on aurelia . siting by fair aurelia , as she dress'd , seriousness , mixt with sharpness , she express'd . while , a straws-bredth , she strove her maid to show ▪ this she had pinn'd too high , and that too low . i gave o'er talk , and gaping did attend , how , and which way the nice contest wou'd end . which she observing , ask't me , what i thought ? said i , aurelia , i am this day taught , when i some slight and trivial thing report , no more , as a pin-matter , to denote , for a pin-matter , 's matter of import ! epigram . to the muses . ye sacred sisters say upon what score , your sons , however noble , still are poor . muse. ] we are nine virgins , and immortal pow'rs , the sons , are all adopted , we eall ours , of soul and body fram'd , of humane race , these half ally'd to us we highly grace , richly endow'd with gifts that are divine , which so their mortal nature do refine , the world , unto the world , they do resign . born up and soaring with inspired wings , disdain to stoop their thoughts to earthly things ; and while their fancy 'mong the stars does dwell , o'er-see their poor estate , and homely cell ; and cou'd their dazling raptures always hold , hunger they 'd never feel , nor want , nor cold. if so it chance , they to demains are born , to nought they bring them by neglect and scorn . poets , by gen'rous patrons , rich may be , but ne'er by land , and drudging industry . epigram . on the unworthily advanced , and unworthily depressed . a dwarf 's a dwarf , tho set upon a hill. a giant in a pit , 's a giant still . epigram . on bassa . a word , a look strait , bassa , thee alarms , and , soldier-like , thou stand'st unto thy arms , assum'st the weapons forg'd before thy glass , thy killing smiles , quaint leer , and sweet grimace ▪ tortur'st thy features , to extract more grace , mak'st twenty visors of one sorry face . keep thy own looks , and still persist to frown , cupid's at paphos , at least out of town to thee : forget that thou art fair . i 'd know , what holland , to six pair of socks , does go . epigram . on the same . thy humour being known , the other day a drol , this knavish prank , with thee did play . bassa , says he , a gallant does desire to speak with you , at this , thou strait took'st fire , and in a moment chang'd thy dress and cloths , thy self in the best order did'st compose , thus fit to entertain some am'rous news the cobler brought thee home thy mended shoes . epigram . on a romantick damzel . mod'rately handsome , and but meanly rich , as if endow'd even to the highest pitch , thou , to thy suitors ' do'st thy self demean , like some fantastick , fair , romantick queen ; by ways heroick only wilt be won . some , thou injoyn'st , against the turk to fight , others thy glorys ( which none know ) to write . all do receive with smiles , what thou do'st say , but , better offer'd , wed themselves next day , leaving to fools , thy humour to obey . the pens thou hop'd'st should raise thee 'bove the moon , for an encomium , send thee a lampoon . epigram . on hatred . where valour stops , hatred goes on , and dares , for reason , nor for danger , ought forbeares . the valiant , their designs , first wisely lay , thro' opposition then they out their way . but desp'rate hate unequal force withstands , and shews its teeth , even when it has no hands . nothing dismays it , forward to engage , o'er-pow'r'd and worsted , ceases not to rage . evils can't tame , or make it to go less , it will its foe , or else its self , oppress . when it can't hurt , the heart is ever rack't , a habit 't is , that always is in act. as love does raise men 'bove their nat'ral state , no way inferiour are the pow'rs of hate . epigram . to my muse. droop not , my muse , 'cause thou find'st little praise , 't is not their worth , that books do's always raise . as foulest crimes , such as the hurdle claim , sooner arrive to honour and to fame , than vertues do : so writings that abound with scurrilous trash , that boldly dare confound all that is good and great , have strange acceptance found . oft' oats's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall impressions know , while some rare work does for waste paper go . epigram . on a good man. he 's a good man , and in the first degree , who slights the name of goodness , good to be . epigram . on the honour of women . the honour 's great , women may justly claim , as their due right , and not in courtships name . when angels hourly did to man address , and his great lord deign'd with him to converse ; when all in sea and land obey'd man's throne , till eve was giv'n , god said , he was alone . epigram . on an epicure . when god has given the sea , the land , the air , to load thy table with delicious fare , this one restraint , thou say'st , does spoil the feast . rejoyce thy heart , but play not yet the beast . at his own bounty , think'st , he does repine , 'cause to his earthly gifts , he adds divine . thy brutish sense cannot this truth descry , god is most lib'ral , when he does deny ; when he from man appeareth ought to take , it is a hundred fold return to make ; he took a single rib from adam's side , form'd eve therewith , his bright and daz'ling bride . epigram . king agesilaus answer , being offer'd presents from the king of persia. i , from an enemy , all gifts abhor , what from a foe i take , i take in war. epigram . the like answer from a roman . your greatness 't is , vast heaps of gold to give , and mine is this , i without gold can live . epigram . on separatists . their proofs in vain th'episcoparians bring , from the faiths early'st dawning and its spring ▪ for what they teach and do ; in vain oppose our discipline , and raving ways expose : hope to affright us with the fatal change of all to pop'ry , while we from them range ; in vain our gather'd churches seek to storm , shewing the monst'rous sects which from then swarm ▪ in vain triumph , th 'ave forc't us to deny they papists are ▪ we still can them decry as jacobites , such slanders have at hand , no innocence , whatever , can withstand . think they our scull's so thick , our wit 's so gross , we 'll suffer truth take place , that 's to our loss ? the means they hold , establish'd are by law , we ours , from arbitrary purses , draw : and shou'd we yield to that , which they require , our flocks wou'd wain , and leave us in the mire ; ●chism's our charter , rejecting their communion , our tenure , reputation , and our union . the only way to win us , they forbear , which were to say , we quit to you , not share , our dignities . this wou'd end all dispute : no truth , but int'rest , sep ' ratists confute . these gain'd , we 'd ope ' our congregations eyes , to honour that , we teach them to despise . we dread no king opposing , while we can , thro' all his pomp , discern he 's but a man. we know dominion founded is in grace , the scepter 's due unto our godly race . nought can be nobler , than our aim and scope to make each whig a king , each whig a pope . epigram . on decoctus . to put a gloss upon thy needy state , of philosophick meals thou oft' do's prate , how noble 't is , on undress'd food to fare , all common luxurys , men use , to spare , even a spread table dayly to forbear . 't is bravely done , thus to hold up thy head , to feast on glory , in the want of bread : for all thou say'st , tends to another end , far from the cynic way thou dost pretend . while thou discoursest thus of various meat , thou 'd'st only have it thought , that thou do'st eat . epigram . to caius . oft' between those is found the greatest strife , caius , ought most agree , that 's man and wife . this rule observe , always what 's just to choose , but so , as thine own justice not to lose ; some are so furious others to reclaim , themselves they render more , than them , to blame . try , in next place , th' effect of giving way , a sweet compliance oft' has won the day . the roman mob to mutine wou'd not cease , on any terms make with the senate peace , till a plebeian consul they obtain'd , and then , in threescore years , not one they nam'd . epigram . on the stoicks . t' exalt your sect , beyond the common ken of humane eyes , above the race of men ; dangers , profess , to slight , wrongs to digest , no outward torments spoil your inward feast . 't is true , great things , you speak , and give the odds , to your wise men , 'bove those you count your gods ; who are , by nature , happy and divine , but they , by vertue equal with them shine . in contemplation souls high flights do make nought's so sublime , they dare not undertake . the mischief is , the soul then acts alone , big of its self , the flesh disdains to own : but when the flesh does sharp afflictions bear , and calls upon its partner soul to share , then first the soul its impotency sees , that sophistry's too weak to cope with miseries . a christian martyr may the flame despise , no less when felt , than absent from his eyes ; in death find nothing terrible or strange , 'cause earth , he knows , for heav'n he does exchang● ▪ but those , who found their courage on discourse , when evils press , do sink beneath their force : the stoick , who no absent danger fear'd , nigh ; a dismay shews broader , than his beard . epigram . on a modern parasite . having nor wit , nor worth thee to commend , vertue of any kind of stand thy friend , th' ast taken up a way , which makes thee pass ; which , is by calling great men fool and ass , giving the lye , protesting they are scabs , terming the ladies baggages and drabs . this is thy talent : which does strangely take , room for thee , at the noblest tables , make , tho dull , as saucy ; brainless , as 't is rude ; course ribaldry , with impudence imbu'd . how comes such slanders unoffensive thought , which mortal feuds , and blood shed oft have wrought ? least thou grow'st proud , the myst'ry i will show , thy baseness makes thy words for nothing go . epigram . to justus . who , justus , will the obstinate confute , with fists , and not with reasons , must dispute . epigram . on precisians . austere , not righteous ; rig'rous , and not good ▪ furious for truth , a sign , not understood : your fiery temper little does accord , with the meek gospel of our gracious lord : who mercy shew'd , and mercy always taught , your looks , as well as heart , with rage are fraught the world you seek , with joy , to reprobate , and then conclnde , you justly them may hate . let men be strictly pious in their ways , their actions such , deserve the highest praise , chaste , charitable , peaceful , sober , true ; these avail nought , if they are none of you . and reason good , you say : you are th' elect , in such alone , all vertues have effect . malignant tribe ! as god design'd the jews , ( when them he did , from all the nations , chuse ) his priests and prophets to the world to make , that all his saving knowledge might partake , they grudg'd the bounty , their pride cou'd not bear , the heathen shou'd , their priviledges share . so you wou'd heav'n restrain ( had you your will ) your gang alone shou'd all its mansions fill ; to gen'ral love you brook not any place , grace must be partial , or it is not grace . 't is hard to say , which are christ's greater foes , those that pervert the faith , or those oppose ; jews , who blaspheme , and wholly him reject , or those confine him to their canker'd sect. epigram . to drusilla . for portion being of no small renown , thou lay'st sometime , incognito , in town , an equipage most charming to compleat , like forreign ministers , before they treat , thy dowry told , and seen in thy parade , the party , in cast cloths , espous'd thy maid . epigram . on a censurer . epigrams nothing new , thou say'st , do show , to actions past , or reading , all they owe. who in this age o' th' world will write all new , shall neither write what 's natural , nor true ; but while his thoughts , by patterns , scorns to shape , he 'll act the ass , while he avoids the ape . epigram . on prayer .. great are th' effects of a true faithful pray'r , the idle's framed of , it ends in air. the plowman prays , but here he does not stop , labour he joyns , and gets a fruitful crop. plutarch , a heathen , this point rightly states , in paulus and king perseus various fates : paulus the gods , with his drawn sword , did pray , perseus pray'd too , but then he run away . epigram . the reparty of a spartan to an athenian . when an athenian proudly thus did boast . from smooth cephissus banks , and neighbouring coasts . our troops have oft you spartans put to flight , mauger your vaunted discipline and might . to which the spartan , smiling , did reply , th' athenians , from * eurotas , ne'er did fly , sparta , they never durst approach so nigh . epigram . on a huge fat host. thy oyly pate , with sweat , does always flow , thy hair , like flakes of o'er-boyl'd beef , does show ; thy blown-up cheeks , like aeolus's , swell , and all the winds seem , in thy womb , to dwell . well , 'gainst thy paunch , thy limbs may mutiny , who belly art , from chin unto the knee . thou do'st not walk , but like a boul , do'st roll , a lump unorganiz'd , without a soul. how do'st thou live ? for sure thou can'st not , eat , thou hast no place to stow or drink or meat . how do'st thou sleep ? if thou along shou'd'st lie , choak'd with thy guts , and strangl'd , thou wou'd'st die , thou laugh'st at this ; and say'st , in hopes of gain , thou can'st bestir thy moles without pain ? the lean , not nimbler are , to play the knave , and count'st them fools , much flesh , do count a grave . epigram . on aristides . when aristides , nam'd deserv'dly just , being never known , to warp , in any trust ; causes , in judgment , as he sate to hear , two litigants , before him , did appear ; favour to gain , one , t'other , did accuse , that aristides he did oft abuse . if you he wrong'd , says he , in ought declare , his wrongs to me , whate'er they are , forbear ; i sit not here , right to my self to do , but justice , unto other men , to shew . epigram . on a very lean person . like to camelions , do'st thou feed on air ? so lank thou art , so rarefy'd , and spare ; so faint withal , so feeble , and so wan , that thou but seem'st the shadow of a man. thy body 's not a body all decree , only a fleeting vehicle to be . go forth , thou durst not , on a windy day , least thro' thee 't blow , or blow thee quite away . a surgeon vow'd , he did in thee descry , more than he learn'd from an anatomy ; another meeting thee , did on thee stare as on a skeleton , and madly sware , he wou'd go home , and see if's own were there . did not thy clothes , more than thy flesh detect the truth , all for a ghost , wou'd thee suspect . when love thou mad'st , the maid did swoon for fear , and , sighing , said , i thought not death so near . epigram . on the grecian and roman superstition . as the great theban gen'ral led his bands , a profess't augur thus , his march , withstands . your progress , captain , i advise , forbear , bad omens i discern , are worth your care. says he , what omens does your knowledge see , outweigh the soldiers great alacrity ? the states defence , and justice of her cause ? the gods i dread , revere their sacred laws , but not a screeching raven , or an owl , a bolting hare , or when a wolf does howl . this said , on 's expedition he did go , and conquer'd superstition , and the foe . the roman piety , on th' other side , renounc'd a victory , if the gods deny'd ; respect chose rather to their rites to show , than even an enemy to overthrow . when , with bad omen , they two consuls chose , home they recall'd them , and did both depose . forbid them ought , i' th' publick name , t' attempt , least they it impious made by their contempt ; and when flaminius had , in fight , success , a high unfeign'd displeasure did express . declar'd it was more eligible far , to gain the temples , than prevail in war ; tho thousands of the gauls did find their graves , to have the gods their friends , than gauls their slaves . epigram . to honorius . when faction reigns , and envy does prevail , as in a storm , discreetly strike your sail : who in a safe and fearless posture lies , tho' toss'd , the raging billows , may despise . give way , ly by : do nothing rash , or poor , having commanded , sue at no man's door ; this noble way , strive malice to defeat , to be made angry , shew you are too great . marius , i' th' camp , both foes and friends did fear , but , like a rusty harness , did appear useless in peace . and pompey who did shine so bright in arms , his lustre did decline i' th' senate , held not there that high renown , but crassus greater seem'd i' th' civil gown . this the wise theban saw , who rais'd the fame of his boeotians , 'bove the spartans name , when he th' arcadian citys did refuse , and in the fields t' incamp , did rather chuse , telling his soldiers , while they arms did bear , and their bold presence , their brave acts declare , their neighbours , to their friendship , wou'd aspire , but if they saw them , slothful , at the fire , parching of beans , they 'd scorn , and not admire . erect your huts , and let them still behold , as stout 'gainst foes , y' are hardy against cold. caution and conduct , with war , do not cease , but useful vertues are in times of peace ; when valiant acts , there is no place , to shew , those great appear , who nothing meanly do . epigram . on bassa . like to the stone all metals turns to gold , thou deem'st 't is love , if any thee behold . by others made a jest , i spake thee fair , thou strait conclud'st me caught within thy snare , and being old , for fear i shou'd presume , worse looks than yet thy own thou did'st assume . love to obtain , may well deserve thy care , but to prevent , all arts , as needless , spare . th' art safer far , than danae in the tow'r , thy beautys need not fear a golden shower . epigram . on the same . thou hast an art , that can at distance hold thou say'st , a lover , be he ne'er so bold . this art thou boast'st , i can no way conceive , a face , if thou had'st said , i shou'd believe . epigram . on a champion of the seminary , w. s. thy wrangling sophistry did make some noise in doway , 'mong the novices and boys ; puff't up with this , vast thoughts thou did'st conceive and brains and college both behind thee leave , and to the field of honour sally'd'st forth , hero in fancy , pigmy in thy worth. what spoils from rome reformed churches bore , resolving , by thy prowess , to restore . a patcht , ill-suited armor thou putt'st on , resembling that of the manchean don ; thy lance was demonstration , and thy shield tradition , temper'd to no force to yield , but paper found , and bulrush in the field . sheep , giants , windmills , were to thee alike , thou against all did'st couch thy daring pike . the mischief only was , thou did'st not find , the christian giants of the pagan kind : who , of their limbs , knights errant did bereave , and with one blow , in halves their bodys cleave . hammond and bramhall , all thou did'st attack , baffl'd , unhors'd , and laid thee on thy back , if to assault a fort thou did'st aspire , like a fascin wert cast i'th'ditch and mire : but after bastinado'd , and defeat , invincible remain'd , in thy conceit . none , like to thee , so well deserv'd the fame , of quixot of the schools , to bear the name . epigram . on a champion of the conventicle , r. b. this champion strip't , dares multitudes defy , on a steel'd heart , not armour , does rely ; inspir'd with error , and enflam'd with zeal , no foe 's so strong , with whom he doubts to deal ; gainst sword and spear he enter will the lists , encounter canon with his naked fists . that is , no depth of science does him daunt , who has his lights , can no assistance want ; small learning , and much tongue , speak greater grac● than greek and hebrew , 'mong the canting race . he , spider-like , intangl'd gnats and flies , and thinks , his nets , and eagle cou'd surprize . 'gainst stilling fleet his force he dares oppose , who when the sacred truth he does disclose , it seems but sham , if more than what he knows . his pearls of knowledge , saving and divine , into the dirt are trampl'd by this swine ; and folly he returns him , scorn and spite , venom , or cobweb , summs what he does write . epigram . on the leviathan . i once did wonder , that no pious hand , in a just work , this cursed piece did brand : since i perceive , the task they did not shun , but 't is a work , that is not to be done . from off the earth , if footing cou'd be found , an artist said , he 'd turn the globe of 't round . no footing's here , for any to dispute , no maxim , medium , whereby to confute . all reasoning aristotle does decide , and , in his dixit , litigants abide . the sacred writ all controversies end , which on religious theories depend : but the leviathan no rule does own , a law and rule unto it self alone . the monster , in the seas , as soon will brook , to be controuled by a line and hook. the author scripture quotes , but 't is to show , with their own weapons he can overthrow fools , and believers : and if's proofs seem weak , he 'd have it thought , the truth he durst not speak . the whole oeconomy of faith 's a scheme to him , no better than an idle dream . his atheistic ramble who'll declare , and answer ; unto him we may compare , one who in christmas pastimes does behold , the dance of trenchmore led thro' snow and cold , thro thick and thin , o'er tables and o'er chairs , down to the cellar , up the garret stairs , and at th'extravance does gravely say , thro' the mid-room there lay a fairer way , when the design , a gambol , was to play : that zeal for truth is foolish , does aspire to answer blasphemy with ought , but fire . epigram . on mean poetry . of a mean artist , in a useful trade , horace observ'd , some use might yet be made . a lawyer might , his clients cause defend , who , unto tully's fame , did not pretend : but poets and musitians , who produce what meerly tends to pleasure , not to use , if mean and common , the judicious slight , and fools alone , a vulgar strain , delight . of a bad poet martial smartly said , he does not write , who is by no man read . as done , that ought not stand upon the list , which , the whole purpose of its doing , mist. epigram . to my precisian censurer . what thee concerns , thou say'st , thou do'st despise , all that i write's hyperboles and lyes : strict mathematick truth thou do'st require , as all who , to an honest name , aspire : what thou exacts , thy phrensy does not see , tho' highest caution us'd , yet cannot be ; figures , thou think'st , in verse are only found , in common speech and converse they abound , without them men in no affairs cou'd deal , what they approve , or disapprove , reveal ; they give to things of moment the due weight , vertue and vice decypher to the height ; myst'rys ineflable , by them , are shown , god's glory , mercys , and his judgments known ; thou 'd'st see , were not a mist before they eyes , truths self wou'd suffer , were 't not for these lyes . evils wou'd reign , which by these spells are crost , pow'rful instruction and reproof be lost . when ely thus reprov'd in simple sort , his impious sons , “ nay , but no good report “ i hear — in figure had he shew'd them hell , how in its confines , their bold crimes , did dwell , the ark had not been ta'n , nor they in battel fell . epigram . on popular men. i master of my cattel seem to be , said the old herdsman in the tragedy : but my attendance on them , makes me know , i servant am , who follow , where they go . so demagogs a shadow , entertain of sovereign pow'r , but ware the vulgar's chain ; conceive they bear o'er all a mighty sway , while the mob rules , and meanly they obey . epigram . on old leda . what do'st thou tell me of ten thousand pound ? for any price will men be hang'd , or drown'd ? gold has its charms , but beauty has far more ; were thy wealth trebl'd , thou wou'd'st still be poor . know that fair flavia does my heart surprize , who brings the indies in her charming eyes ; who her beholds , disdains the thoughts of pelf , inestimable , as peerless , in her self . thy earth , thou hop'st , can yet eclipse this sun , wert wise , thou from her splendid beams wou'd'st run , and not expose thy self in so great light , devils brook only to be seen by night . epigram . to honorius . when the philistins drew , in michmash , near , saul , guilty of impatience and of fear , distrusting god , and dreading of their host , usurp'd the priesthood , and his kingdom lost . more nobly far himself pausanias bore , altho a heathen , when he stood before the altar , what the gods decreed to know , and scouts , th' approach o' th' enemy , did show : let none , says he , their coming on affright , but firmly stand , undaunted , in their sight ; at 's feet , let ev'ry man , cast down his shield , until the gods their answer to us yield . which known , and good : they rais'd a chearful shout , and the opposing foe did with great slaughter rout . like as a stubborn rock unmov'd does stand , 〈◊〉 shocks both from the sea and land. 〈◊〉 mount'nous billows of the raging main , winds , thunder , lightning , hurricans , sustain , and when the sky's again serene and clear , just as before , unalter'd does appear . so constancy , honorius , does despise tho storms from malice which combin'd , arise . things safe and common , common men can do , what 's hard and dangerous , the brave alone force thro . with steel in war , in peace with vertue , arm , tempests bring greater noise with them , than harm . epigram . on our common atheists . tho 't is but to an impious name y' aspire , you are below the name , that you admire . to be an atheist , knowledge asks and skill , 't is not the brat of ignorance and will. those who , of old , were branded with this name , came not behind the learned'st in their fame ; nor vicious were they , error they did teach , because the truth was 'bove their humane reach . have you , like them , the scheme of heaven and earth . consider'd , and well weigh'd their rise and birth ? objections in this case , can you revolve ? all the phoenomena , in nature , solve ? alas , your strength is only to blaspheme , what checks your vice , to make a drolling theme . a brothel was your school , excess of wine turn'd you philosophers , in plain terms , swine . your predecessors did , at most , but doubt , the being of a god , but you without all proof or search , boldly dare one deny , with impudence as great , as your impiety ; by learning , nor civility , confin'd , saucily affront the sense of all mankind ; the fond credulity of faith deride , blind to discern , 't is only on your side ; who do believe , while you a god disown , him , 't is sufficient also , to unthrown . thus , when 't was said , the roman host drew near , tigranes , to declare he nought did fear . the scout beheaded , as a noble deed , and in debauch and riot did proceed , ambitious , by a sottish scorn , to teach , danger despis'd , his safety cou'd not reach . but few hours after , he as basely fled , casting the royal band from off his head. epigram . to marcellus . take here th' advice , thou say'st , was thy intent t' ave ask'd , before thou unto flanders went. no nations martial fame let thee dismay , this deference to thy native country , pay . 't is not the danube , rhine , the south , the north , from their mere climate , valiant men send forth . but education works this high effect , which teaches men their honour to respect 'bove life ; in a just cause to choose to die , rather than live , at ease , with infamy . orders receiv'd : dispute not , but obey ; let not thy tongue , what 's thy swords duty , pay : if , with unequal force , thou art o'erlaid , i am a soldier say , danger 's my trade . but private quarrels , and vain-glorious strife avoid ; hazards not worthy of thy life . not only fighting does applause deserve , but a man's self , in safety , to preserve . more favourable , th' ancient greeks , were far , to him that lost his sword , than shield in war ; professing , when within their pow'r it lay , a citizen to save , or foe to slay , the last they wou'd permit to scape away . let none debauch , and lead thee into vice , listed a soldier , still to sin , be nice . iphicrates , the athenian , chose to fill his troops with those , were most addict to ill . saying , that such , were greedy'st of the prey , their lusts to feed , all dangers wou'd assay : but tho such villains valiant may be found to storm a temple , they in fight give ground . 't is innocence alone , that knows no fear , the spirit , when all 's desp'rate , up will bear ; when thirst of fame , dominion , riches , fail , will all supply , and will alone prevail . epigram . on a young soldier . when victors are allow'd , trophies to raise , thou askest , why thy self thou may'st not praise ? praise made thee valour , in great dangers , show , and does engage thee greater things to do ; honour i' th' field , thou did'st , b' example , teach , and now , by glorying , honour thou do'st preach . be 't so : yet nobler's he , no acts does tell , but ' counts all duty , when he does excel . to god alone just glory does belong , because his glorying can no others wrong ; competitor with him , none 's found to be satan's a rebel , but slave-enemy : again , when god , his mightniess , does show , 't is infinitely , to what he is , below ; and did he not , in part , himself reveal , immensness wou'd the deity conceal . unless thy deeds are such , none can declare , if thou art wise , to trumpet them , forbear . epigram . to sextus . i send thee here , all i have publick made , except one piece , which with my will , is straid , twenty two sermons , in one volume bound , what i have done in verse , in two are found . thou hum'st , and say'st , my present thee does grace , but wou'd i 'd sent a capon in its place . epigram . on bastwick oats . the name i give , because your nature shapes , for , tho less witty , thou art bastwick's ape ; as scandalous and scurrilous in thy phrase , both holding impudence , the highest praise ; that mountebank's mere zany and his fool , preserver of his excrements , his close-stool . worse utter'd , from good manners wou'd not stray , unto foul language give too free a way ; speaking of oats , none in this point can fail , so base , to call him by his name , 's to rail . epigram . on an independant . when charles the first , i saint and martyr nam'd , affirm'd none higher , in the diptics , fam'd ; firm in religion , in all vertues strong , none love deserving more , or suff'ring wrong ; in scorn thou said'st , canst thou the world acquaint . with any wonders for this martyr saint , to testifie his faith , heaven ever wrought ? yes : on three realms his blood destruction brought , with-held before , oppression , tyranny , prophaneness , sacriledge , and anarchy , the cov'nant , cromwell , blasphemy , and thee . epigram . on the covenant . this monster , scotland brooded , at the first , revolting england foster'd up and nurst ; the rebel offspring of a rebel race , in which the parents features you may trace ; contempt of pow'rs , the height of tyranny , mocking of god , profound hypocrisie . christ's natures both have been , by some , deny'd , one , as too much ; t'other , too mean , decry'd ; his actions and himself allegoriz'd . but he who shall the covenant dissect , will yet much greater blasphemys detect . this does not errors and mistakes disclose , but , wittingly , enormous sins impose . christ's kingdom and a king , in words , it owns ▪ and , by rebellious actions , both dethrones ; calls heaven to witness , it true duty pays , when it , most impudently , disobeys ; episcopacy , antichristian , stiles , and regicide , to th' gospel , reconciles . engins have made whole fleets and armys quake , but this is one , the christian world , to shake . whose furious operation knew no bound , till its wild ravage , and destructive round , the authors , with two nations , did confound . like to the seven times heated furnace slew , those , who into its flames , the faithful threw . epigram . on rushworth's collections . was 't not enough , that faction did run down a righteous king , seize both his life and crown ? by diabolick acts and arts translate into confusion , the best model'd state ? a church of pure and apostolick frame , babylon , whore , and antichristian name , her learned teachers slaughter and defame , unless thou rear'd'st , false rushworth , to the skies , th' impious actors of these tragedys ? zeal and ambition , set on fire by hell , like furies , drove two nations to rebel . but what mov'd thee , in calm and sober mood , the truth to stifle , and a lie to brood ? th' innocent party , guilty to declare , th' execrable set off upright and fair ? however foul a sin is in the act , his is yet fouler , justifies the fact. had not a faithful and industrious hand , by records shew'd , how falsly thou did'st brand that suff'ring age , posterity , the right had never known , bewilder'd in thy night . i can't expose thy treach'ry to the height , of lay upon it the deserved weight : but treach'ry is vile , however great , and stocks , not death , ' awarded to a cheat ; invectives , like a nobler doom , wou'd grace what 's disingenuous , and in nature base . for an eternal record of thy shame , the p●n shall stand , that 's woven in thy name . epigram . on moil the grasier . for sheep , for hogs , a wife , moils way of trade ▪ was much alike , and the respect he paid . into a house he stept , where he was told , out of great choice a wife he might behold . ●our comely maids their father made appear , all sightly in their persons , and their gear . round them he walk'd , and after shook his head , mutt'ring , i find , i shall not here be sped . their father ask'd , if he could shew him more ? as if , like sheep , he daughters had by th' score . the good-man said , the eldest kept his house , ●rew'd , bak'd , made butter , cheese ; in winter , souce . but he 'd not deal , she look'd so poor and lank , a wife he chose , like bullocks , by the flank . and to the door , like a true churl , he drew , father nor daughters bidding once adieu . i' th' corner of a close , as he did pass , pitching of dung , there was a sturdy lass , her sleeves tuck'd up , her coat not much below her knees , whose legs did , like two mill-posts show : her arms , like those of oak ; her skin , like bark , as rough and chop'd , as scurfy and as dark ; aloud she baul'd , hodge , let not out the cow — and like to one , seem'd not to speak , but low . this precious piece was , in his eye , a pearl , long known , and fancy'd by him , from a girl . how do'st thou meg ? says he . — thanks , master m●● come , go with me , and leave off here to toil . what to do master ? if thou do'st agree , forthwith i purpose , meg , to marry thee . in earnest , say you ? even with all my heart , there shall not any stop be on my part , ' parrel i 'll only fetch . there is no need , 't will raise but talk , and trash our purpos'd speed ▪ the courtship ended , they both jogg'd along , he with his padlestaff , she with her prong : at 's farm , with nappy ale , he did her treat , kept by his private key , and pouder'd meat . their bellys full , they hasted both to bed , and some weeks after , were , at leisure , wed . epigram . on fabella . where-e'er thou com'st , thy face assumes a jeer , as if that something did absurd appear , which others does invite , the cause to see , but looking round , the jest they find in thee . epigram . on priscus . that the satyrick mirror i do place before my books , them out of hopes to grace , whether more pride or folly i do show , both are so eminent , thou do'st not know : for tho the fancy well with martial suits , my epigrams , the meaning in 't , confutes . counsel i 'll here return thee , for thy scorn . thy self with fair and borrow'd plumes adorn , if they 'll engage thee , 'bove thy self , to live , such pride and folly , all will thee forgive . epigram . on mercia . three snotty girls , and two can wipe their nose , th' art mother of , and do'st thy self suppose a kind of niobe ; ambitious art , that these thy beauteous offspring bear a part among the deitys , that rule this town , thinking , a country life , of no renown . if this conceit does from thy self arise , whate'er thou dream'st , thou art not over wise . if from thy children ; to comply , were cruel : to please the younger , in their watergruel , allow more plums and sugar ; a lace more or fringe , unto the elder , on this score . a london goddess , is a bully's whore. epigram . to justus . where my best pow'rs , thou say'st , shou'd all combine , t' extol the great , my verse does most decline . my care 's not less , but such above it shine . epigram . on the present parliament . the factious members , the year fourty , met , the ship o' th' state , when tight and stanch , o'erset : but when , by storms , ready to bulge or strand , you , like good pilots , brought her safe to land ; when shelves and rocks did her destruction doom , worse than the ocean knows , those in the see of rome . the dangers of the main she easier bore , than the fierce hurricanes she met on shore . but no black clouds , your counsels , overcast , sent forth no ▪ ruffling , no seditious blast ; feign'd jealousies , in you , no place cou'd find , ambition , or base int'rest , taint your mind ; but as the king , his person , did expose , your aids , brought double terror on our foes ; the wants in which our fleet or army , stood , next loyal session , constantly , made good ; even mines , you feem'd to spring , of richest oar , in this our isle , were never known before ; the kingdoms strength we , to your wisdoms , owe , which , till you taught , our selves we did not know ; th' insuperable burdens we did fear , easy and practicable , made appear which acts have purchas'd you this rare renown , the darling of the people , and the crown . epigram . on a wittall . vast in estate , in heart and stature small , a wife was given thee proud , majestick , tall ; who , o'er thee , eas'ly did the empire gain , her presence aw'd thee , to resign the rein. me , thy comrade , thou brought'st with thee to dine , but did'st in this , i found , transgress thy line : for when thy haughty wife approach'd the board , led by two gallants , she did not afford a look to thee or me , her bullys did caress , and all thy servants did to them address ; they rul'd , commanded , revell'd in thy cheer , thou did'st the guest , and they the lords appear ▪ both shameful and deplorable's thy case , they seem'd to cuckold thee before thy face ; and tho they planted on thy brow the horn , to flatter and collogue with thee did scorn . aesop's old fable's moral'd in thy house , the marriage of the lioness and mouse . epigram . on a coward . thy brawny limbs , thee to bear arms , betray'd , a soldier first , and then a captain , made ; upon the court of guard , not any he dares more profess , or durst do less , than thee ; foe thou ne'er saw'st , but in a fortress lay , for if thou had'st , thou wou'dst have run away ; too good a christian art , to fight a duel , but where thou might'st with safety , to be cruel thou think'st it brave , also to rant and swear , if these are crimes , know'st not what vertues are . drunk , on a time , thou rudely did'st assay , the vintner's wife , but sorely for 't did'st pay ; her husband wou'd not pass it for a slip , but his blew apron drub'd thy captainship ; nor offer'd'st thou to draw , when he did rout thee , thy wits tho' lost , the fears thou had'st about thee . epigram . on three little boys . coming from church upon a holy-day , their father ask'd , what did the vicar say ? what have you brought o' th' sermon ? one did tell the text , chapter and verse , and that was well , apologiz'd , by silence , for the rest : the mother hugg'd the younger in her breast , and ask'd , what have you brought my joys and loves ? he meekly said , my handkercher and gloves . epigram . to lupus . thou call'st my verses nought , and so much more , because they come from fourscore years and four . name 'em not verse , but anguish and disease , and then , perhaps , they will the better please ; for tho but mean vile epigrams they prove , groanings and coughings th' are a strain above . epigram . on a conceited poet. conceit , like thee , did never man deceive , of modesty and judgment so bereave . thou do'st avow , with pride so over-grown , mens works thou read'st , but only lov'st thine own . think'st that apollo cannot reach thy strain , shou'd he attempt , he wou'd attempt in vain . reciting ought , thou strangely do'st rejoyce , and shew'st it in thy gestures , looks , and voice , at ev'ry verse , behold'st the hearers face , how he approves th' inimitable grace ; thy betters , brother poets , deign'st to call , thinking the honour , thou confer'st , not small ; demand'st , if any equal thee in wit ? when all 's cacata charta thou hast writ . this lesson to thy self for cure reherse , a fool in morals , is an ass in verse . epigram . on thyrsis . sitting with thyrsis by a purling brook , in 's well tun'd verses , i great pleasure took . so soft , so gentle , so harmonious sweet , they mov'd like down , which has the air for feet . he sung the wonders in amintas face , her charming speech , and captivating crace ; shew'd her a miracle awake , a-sleep , a seeming goddess , when she drove her sheep ; from gems , from flow'rs , from stars their beauty drew , which brighter in her form , than in themselves did shew . astonish'd and transported with his song , thyrsis , said i even raving , how i long to learn thy skill — he bid me take for theme , th' adjoyning grove , and gently flowing stream . my boist'rous verse , of leaves , bereav'd the wood , and swell'd the gliding waters to a flood . my friend , said he , your metre wou'd not fail , to raise a tempest in a milk-maid's pail ; to love , i soft and melting numbers , owe , they not from reading , but from passion flow ; your head is h●ary — yet again i 'll try — but doting thus , within a covert nigh , both cupid and my muse i did espy , her angry sense , with frowns , she did deliver , he laugh'd , and shook the shafts from out his quiver . epigram . on a decay'd beauty . pouder'd and patch'd , thick laid with white and red , one of those dames , feign beauty , when 't is fled , besought me with a quaint , well-bred address , her little cur to celebrate in verse ; hoping , at least , i 'd make her hold the dog. embarras'd worse , than sunk into a bog , said i , no mastiff , madam , have you , nor a hog ? epigram . on the same . without resentment , tho thou did'st depart , my answer vext thee to the very heart . what ? say'st thou , rather praise a filthy hog , or mastiff , than my self , and genté dog ? he shews , beside , a person meanly bred , that talks , at such a rate , of white and red : smutty were more agreeable discourse , than language so uncourtly and so course . epigram . on a bumkin . there came , upon a law suit , to the town , one , master , call'd for 's wealth , by birth a clown ; he ask'd a friend , where he might daily eat ? who answer'd , ord'naries , at all rates , treat . but there , i hear , they swagger and they fight , and i , in broken pates , take no delight . be not then positive , no man gainsay , take care , a fair respect to all you pay . 'gainst quarrels this he found a good defence , only his stomach gave my host offence , who often wish'd him , and his twelve pence thence . and once , sharp set on beef , to none a foe , one coming in , gave him aswinging blow , but strait profess'd , it was upon mistake , nor know i , i protest , what of 't to make , said he ; fed on , and the king's peace ue'er brake . epigram . on lewis the th . while thou art safe , thy soldiers , on thy score , by thousands fall on heaps all europe o'er ; th' assassins undergo just princes rage , 't is pitty , thou thy self dost ne'er engage . epigram . censorinus . thou say'st , on trivial subjects i do write , things , of too mean a nature , bring to light . what wou'dst thou have ? i shew the ways of me● and must , what 's wise , only take up my pen ? th' are epigrams , to say no more , i frame , and titles , of all sorts , answer their name . nor martial , more than nugae , his did call : tho' things of bulk vail oft' , to what are small . a spark of di'mant set in gold by art , excells a freestone , that will load a cart ; a piece by browar , but of one foot square in worth , with vast designs , of rubens may compare if storms , feign'd wars , as great things , thee delight virgil consult ; but martial , why do'st slight ? follys are trifling , nothing is more true , but trifling 't is not , them aright to shew , all vice is mean , degen'rate , low , and base , yet noble it may be , vice to uncase . i rake in mire , but not immer'st am seen , dunghills i turn , but keep my self still clean , favour no crimes , nor am i found obscene . that epigrammatist , he might appear , soure beza , to write baudry , did not fear . epigram . to priscus . thus [ to one david ] did a person say , " renowned david ! famous to this day ! " son of goliah , who did sampson slay . epigram . on planca . thou laugh'dst aloud , to see addresses paid to a fair widdow , and thou by a maid : but tho thou feign'dst to scorn , thy heart is wrung , youth was thought old , and beauty ever young . epigram . on the poems on the affairs of state. my sense , calenus , freely to relate o' th' poems [ stil'd ] on the affairs of state , lampoons and libels they , to me , do seem , the church , the king , the monarchy , their theme ▪ but as they these , themselves they also brand , malice and lewdness going hand in hand . i thought at first , they were a mere contest , whether smooth verse , or rough and strong were best , denham's and dryden's , waller's names were glad to see , but reading , this conceit i had , dryden writ young , denham when he was mad . from muse's laws , the waller ne'er did range , he , a wrong cause to varnish , made not strange . rochester , 'mong the best , i wou'd reherse , were he as great in vertue , as in verse ; and noblest wits wou'd sweat to reach his praise , no head , than his , deserving more the bayes . in marvels vein , i fancy'd that i saw , the chains in bedlam , ravings , and the straw , as dark and mystical , as fierce and wood , there ever best , where he 's least understood . milton is also mention'd in the list , and present , but involv'd as in a mist , and you may sep'rate water mix'd with wine , sooner than 's pen , from that before , disjoyn , tho far unlike , as sense , and empty prate , milton the venom adding and the weight : like heat and cold they , joyn'd together , thunder , but marvel single , ne'er appear'd a wonder . i doubt not but these pieces were compos'd for sev'ral ends , tho now , for one expos'd ; and mastery in verse is least design'd , treason 's the business , poetry's the blind : for not to name , what 's scurrilously writ o' th' church [ late ages common place of wit. ] w' are told , if just and great things we affect , the state of monarchy we must reject such blessings from a commonwealth expect . that noble monk play'd but the perjur'd knave , when rebels he deceiv'd , and did his country save . portentous times ! that can produce thing thing , friends joyn'd with foes , to abrogate a king. even those the king , heaven's highest blessing , own , with france and rome , plot to subvert his throne ; the hellish fogs of forty one , arise , threatning , a second time , t' o'erspread our skys . no place is here , the satyrist to play , forbear my muse , tehse days call more to pray . epigram . on baccha . i know no tyranny that can compare , with kindness from a woman that 's not fair . probus , says bacchae , tho you will not dine , sit by me yet , and take a glass of wine . vastly she eat , and did as largely drink , broke wind for ease , and scrupl'd not to st — k. all she cought up , or from her brain did flow , she swallow'd , which for second course did go . of green-fin'd oysters sh 'ad a double bed , one is her stomach , t'other in her head. feeling a qualm , abruptly i with-drew , else , as i saw her eat , she'ad seen me sp . — epigram . on the priest's girdle . the glorious god that did the world create , that those at 's altar serv'd , might suit his state , himself prescrib'd the garments , they should wear , nor were the robes of kings so gorgeous fair . the smallest piece , the girdle , did unfold scarlet and purple , interwove with gold : habits , not only made to take the sight , but rev'rence to conveigh with the delight . this age , whatever's holy dares defame , a surcingle , the sacerdotal girdle , name ; and for a myst'ry , the reproach , must pass , it girds a priest , that is , a blockish ass. when gentiles did the deity display , like to a man , or ox that eateth hay , well may his servants the disgrace digest , that atheists martial them among the beast . epigram . to eudora and silvia . prob. ] most justly ( excellent and matchless pair ) on your fair arms you each a garland wear ! eudo. ] without consulting , by our genius led , we both conspir'd , with them to crown thy head. prob. ] no , glorious nimphs ! whos 's he , that dires deface such divine trophies , to assume their grace ? those , who your vertues know , and beautys see , these laurels to your merit will decree , silv. ] ambitiously we honour came to pay , but more adorn'd our selves we go away . epigram . on damon and phillis . phillis , as proud in youth , as she was fair , fond damon brought , well nigh , unto despair ; time did his peace restore , her grace decay , the maid remain'd , when beauty fled away : disdaining now , he turn'd aside his eye , and said , times past how great a fool was i ? epigram . on thyrsis and alinda . alinda , constant thyrsis , did adore , and the bright maid from all pretenders bore . grown grey himself , and she 'mong matrons nam'd , he ne'er forgot , times past , how she was fam'd ; but said , when all the nymphs he did behold , none my alinda equals , tho she 's old . epigram . on bardus . the noblest marts of books in all the town thou haunt'st , among the learn'd to get renown , spend'st many hours , in turning o'er and o'er both greek and latine authors a vast store ; feigning to read , but dost ( in truth ) but pore . understand'st none , writ'st in a book contains just such a treasure as thy worthless brains : exhaust'st thy spirits , altho hail and strong , a dog ' twoul'd tire , that did not sleep so long . the pains thou tak'st thy ign'rance to disguise , if well employ'd , wou'd make thee learn'd and wise . epigram . a farewel to poetry . i yield at length : reason and age conspire , to quench the flame of my poetick fire . — these words , my muse , scarce utter'd , yet did hear , and charm'd up , like a spirit , did appear : roses and laurel were her heads attire , her pearl-trimm'd harp was strung with golden wyer . the myst'ry in her garments none cou'd spell such wond'rous fancy did in them excel . thus in her glory she her self array'd , more powerfully my fleeting to upbraid . ingrate , she said , what is it you propose ? with what support will next your dotage close ? who shall your pains divert ? droopings revive ? men will say , there you sit , but not alive . — this , and much more , enraged and high-flown , she fiercely spoke , supposing me alone : but when she paus'd , surpriz'd , she did behold a rev'rend dame , of heav'nly form , the old ; her hand a book , her mantle stars adorn'd , her visuage , moses like , was ray'd and horn'd , with god , as he , she nearly did converse , and of his glory bore a bright impress , devotion was her name . the muse abash'd , her figure , 'fore she spoke , her boldness dash'd , the freedom she had shew'd , she blushing , blam'd , even of her youth and beauty seem'd asham'd . within your bounds , the matron said , contain , divine effects ascribe not to what 's vain ; your art cou'd pains divert , but cou'd not cure , a flash of life infuse , not make t' endure ; the ill-at-ease joy'd of 't to take the air , in your rough , jolting , epigrammic chair which vary'd griefs , but did not them impair . on downy wings i 'll bear him far above all that is mundane , pain , ambition , love ; where all delights ; and nothing does annoy , sorrows are drown'd in extasies of joy. these words had force , the muse her self t' inspire ; who to a higher key strait wound her lyre , and proselyted on the earth cast down , low at devotions feet , her laurel crown , resolv'd hereafter ne'er to wear the bayes , but on account of singing heavenly layes . errata . page . line . read bear , p. . l. . r. tables , p. . l. . r. beauty , p. . l. . r. y' exalt , p. . l. . f. it r. and , p. . l. . r. dar'st , p. . l. . r. natures shape , p. . l. . f he r. one , p. . l . r. theie days . finis . books printed for henry bonwicke , at the red lion in st. paul's church-yard . epigrams of martial englished , with some other pieces ancient and modern . o. pia desideria , or divine addresses ; in . books . . sighs of the penitent soul. . desires of the religious soul. . exstacies of the enamoured soul. illustrated with . copper plates . written in latin : englished by edm. arwaker . m. a. in o. a new description of paris , containing a particular account of all the churches , palaces , monasteries , colleges , hospitals , libraries , cabinets of rareties , academies of the virtuosi , paintings , medals , statutes , and other sculptures , monuments , and publick inscriptions , with all other remarkable matters in that great and famous city . translated out of french. to which is added a map of paris . o. country conversations , being an account of some discourses that happened in a visit to the country last summer , on divers subjects , chiefly of the modern comedies , of drinking , of translated verse , of painting , and painters , of poets and poetry . o. letters of religion and vertue to several gentlemen and ladies to excite piety and devotion , with some short reflections on divers subject in o. finis . the kings-bench cabal , a song . to the tune , hark , hark , i hear the cannons rore i. eternal whig that still depends on old sham-plots & perjured ends , toth ' kings-bench amongst your friends repair to make new orders : make haste , contrive some better way , or by the gods you 'll loose the day , great york is now above half way , to revenge all rape and murthers . ii. we 're the best house of commons now , that once have made three kingdoms bow put in , spew out , as you know how , fear popery the old notion : let 's purge the house of all that 's good , that have our cause so long withstood , and dares not thirst for guiltless blood , e'r york's upon the ocean . iii. great hamden , rouse , thy wonted strain , bring trenchard into play again ; vote down the guards and ev'ry swain , that dares oppose our pleasure : for to submit they would be loath , thy father and thy grand-sire both , to have ones hands ty'd up by oath , that may be loose at leisure . iv. let 's vote the duke out of the town , the king out of both life and crown ▪ vote death to all that keeps us down , to leave the cause a bleeding , shall we lie here ty'd up like dogs , only croaking our minds like frogs , while here the doctor swears and flogs ▪ and leaves off all proceeding . v. come speak and bradon , arnold too , colt , and caldron what shall 's do , shall 's lie like oysters here in stew ? and ne'r look out for help for 't ; let 's send for oxford parliament , with all their guards for murther bent , come let 's attempt e'r coin be spont , tho' each one damn himself for 't . vi. shall we who were so great before , have neither power to plot nor whore , come let 's resolve , break down the dore , and joyn the kent-street rable . then wapping and the rump will rise , the tower and westminster surprise , while charles and york at windsor lies , we 'll make this town like babel . london printed for j. dean , bookseller in cranborn-street near newport house in leicester fields , . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e * cephissus was the river of athens , eurotas of sparta . ben: ionson's execration against vulcan· vvith divers epigrams by the same author to severall noble personages in this kingdome. never published before. execration against vulcan jonson, ben, ?- . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text s in the english short title catalog (stc ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) ben: ionson's execration against vulcan· vvith divers epigrams by the same author to severall noble personages in this kingdome. never published before. execration against vulcan jonson, ben, ?- . vaughan, robert, engraver. [ ] p., plate : port. printed by j. o[kes] for iohn benson [and a. crooke], and are to be sold at his shop at st. dunstans church-yard in fleet-streete, london : . in verse. okes' and crooke's names from stc. signatures: a-g⁴ (-a ). the plate is signed: ro: vaughan fecit. with a final errata leaf. imprimatur, a v, dated . variant: imprimatur dated . reproduction of the original in the british library. eng epigrams, english. a s (stc ). civilwar no ben: ionson's execration against vulcan· vvith divers epigrams by the same author to severall noble personages in this kingdome. never publi jonson, ben b the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the b category of texts with fewer than defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion ben : ionson's execration against vvlcan . vvith divers epigrams by the same author to severall noble personages in this kingdome . never published before . london : printed by i. o. for iohn benson , and are to be sold at his shop at st. dunstans church-yard in fleet-streete . . to the right honourable thomas lord windsor , &c. my lord : the assurance the author of these poems received of his worth from your honour , in his life time , was not rather a marke of his desert , than a perfect demonstration of your noble love to him : which consideration , has rais'd my bold desire to assume presumption , to present these to your honour , in the person of one deceased ; the forme whereof somewhat disperst , yet carry with them the prerogative of truth to be mr. ben : ionsons ; and will so appeare to all , whose eyes , and spirits are rightly plac'd . you are ( my lord ) a person who is able to give value and true esteeme to things of themselves no lesse deserving : such were his , strong , and as farre transcendent ordinary imagination , as they are conformable to the sence of such who are of sound judgement : his strenuous lines , and sinewey labours have rais'd such piramydes to his lasting name , as shall out-last time . and that these may , without any diminution to the glory of his greater workes , enjoy the possession of publicke favour , ( by your honours permission ) i shall be glad by this small testimony account it a fit opportunity to assure your honour , my lord , that i am your most humble and affectionate servant , john benson . imprimatur matth. clay . decemb. . . ben : ionson's execration against vulcan . and why to me this ; ( thou lame god of fire ) what have i done that mght cal on thine ire ? or urge thy greedy flames , thus to devoure so many my yeares labours in one houre ! i ne're attempted ought against thy life , nor made lesse line of love to thy loose wife : or in remembrance of thy affront and scorne , with clowns & tradesmen kept thee close in horn : 't was iupiter that hurld thee head-long downe , and mars that gave thee a lanthorne for a crowne . was it because thou wert of old deny'd , by iove , to have minerva for thy bride . that since thou tak'st all envious care and paine , to ruine every issue of her braine ? had i wrot treason there , or heresie , impostures , witchcraft , charmes , or blasphemy , i had deserv'd then thy consuming lookes , perhaps to have beene burned with my books : but on thy malice tell mee , didst thou spye any least loose , or scurrill paper lye conceal'd , or kept there ; that was fit to be , by thy owne vote , a sacrifice to thee ? did i there wound the honour of the crowne ? or taxe the glory of the church , or gowne ? itch to defame the state , or brand the times , and my selfe most in leaud selfe-boasting rimes ? if none of these , why then this fire ? or find a cause before , or leave me one behind . had i compil'd from amadis de gaule th'esplandians , arthurs , palmerins , and all the learned library of don quixot , and so some goodlier monster had begot : or spunne out riddles , or weav'd fifty tomes of logogriphes , or curious pallindromes ; or pump'd for those hard trifles , anagrams , or ecrosticks , or your finer flames of egges , and halberds , cradles and a herse , a paire of sizers and a combe in verse acrosticks , and tellesticks , or iumpe names , thou then hadst had some colour for thy flames , on such my serious follies : but thou'lt say , there were some pieces of as base a lay , and as false stampe there : parcells of a play fitter to see the fire-light , than the day : adulterate monyes , such as would not goe , thou shouldst have staid , till publick fame said so . she is the iudge , thou executioner : or if thou needs will trench upon her power , thou mightst have yet enioy'd thy cruelty , with some more thirst and more variety ! thou mightst have had me perish piece by piece , to light tobacco , or save roasted geese , singe capon , or crispe pigge , dropping their eyes ▪ condemn'd them to the ovens with the pies ; and so have kept me dying a whole age , not ravish'd all hence in a minuits rage : but that 's the mark whereof thy right doth boast , to sow consumption every where thou go'st . had i fore-knowne of this thy least desire , t' have held a triumph , or a feast of fire ; especially in paper , that that steame had tickled thy large nostrills , many a reame , to redeeme mine i had sent in ; enough thou shouldst have cried , & all bin proper stuffe . the talmond and the alcaron had come with pieces of the legend : the whole summe of errant knight-hood , with their dames & dwarffs , the charmed boats , and their inchanted wharfes : the tristeams , lancelots , turpins , and the peeres , all the mad rowlands , and sweet olivers , vvith merlins marvailes , and his caballs losse , vvith the chimera of the rosie crosse , their charmes , their characters , hermetticke rings , their iems of riches , and bright stone that brings invisibility , and strength , and tongues , the art of kindling the true cole by lungs . vvith nicholas pasquills , meddle with your match , and the strong lines that doe the times so catch : on captaine pamphlets horse and foot that salley , vpon the exchange still out of popes head alley , the weekly currants , with pauls seale , and all the admir'd discourses of the prophet baal , these ( hadst thou pleas'd either to dine or sup ) had made a meate for vulcan to lick up . but in my deske , what was there to excite so ravenous and vast an appetite ? i dare not say a body , but some parts there were of search and mistery in the arts : and the old venusine in poetry , and lighted by the staggerite could spy , was there made english , with a grammer too , to teach some that , their nurses could not doe ; the purity of language ; and ( among the rest ) my iourney into scotland sung , with all the adventures : three books not afraid to speake the fate of the sycilian maid for our owne ladies : and in story there of our fift henry , eight of his nine yeare . in which was oyle , besides the succours spent , which noble cotton , carew , selden sent . and twice twelve years stor'd-up-humanity , and humble gleanings in divinity , after the fathers ; and those wiser guides , whom faction had not drawne to study sides . how in these ruines vulcan dost thou lurke : all soot and embers , odious , as thy worke ? i now beginne to doubt , if ever grace , or goddesse could be patient at thy face . thou woe minerva , or to wit aspire , 'cause thou canst halt with us in art and fire . sonne of the winde ; for so thy mother gone with lust conceiv'd thee , father thou hadst none : when thou wert born , & that thou lookst at best : she durst not kisse , but flung thee from her breast . and so did iove , when neare meant thee his cup : no mar'le the clowns of lemnos took thee up . for none but smiths would have made thee a god , some alchimist there may be yet , or odde : squire of the squibs against the pageant day , may to thy name a vulcanale say , and for it lose his eyes by gun-powder , as the other may his braines by quick-silver : well fare the wise men yet on the banks-side , ( our friends the vvatermen ) they could provide against thy fury , when to serve their needs , they made a vulcan on a sheafe of reeds . vvhom they durst handle in their holy day coats , and safely trust to dresse , not burn their boats : but oh these reeds , thy meere disdaine of them , made thee beget that cruell stratagem : ( which some are pleas'd to stile but thy mad prank ) against the globe , the glory of the banke , vvhich though it were the fort of the whol parish , fenc'd with a ditch and forkt out of a marish : i saw with two poore chambers taken in , and rais'd ere thought could urge : this might have bin . see the worlds ruines , nothing but the piles . left , and wit since to covet it with tiles the brethren they straight nois'd it out for newes , 't was verily some relique of the stewes : and this a sparkle of that fire let loose , that was rak'd up : the winchestrian goose bred on the banke in time of popery , when venus there maintain'd the mistery : but others fell with that conceite by th' eares , t was verily a threatning to the beares ; and that accursed ground , the paris garden : nay , ( sigh'd a sister ) 't was the nun kate arden kindled the fire : but then did one returne ; no foole would his owne harvest spoile , or burn ; if that were so , thou rather wouldst advance the place that was thy wives inheritance . o no , cryed all , fortune for being a whore , scapt not his iustice any iot the more . he burnt that idoll of the revells too : nay let whit●-hall with revells have to doe , though but in dances ) it shall know thy power , there was a iudgement too shew'd in an houre ; he was right vulcan still , hee did not spare troy , though it were so much thy venus care : foole wilt thou let that in example come ? did she not save from thence to build a rome ? and what hast thou done in these petty spights , more then advanc'd the horses and their rites , i will not argue thee from them of guilt , for they were burnt but to be better built : 't is true , that in thy wish they were destroy'd , vvhich thou hast onely vented , not enioy'd . so wouldst th' have run upon the roles by stealth , and didst invade part of the common-wealth : in those records ( which were our chroniclers gone ) vvould be remembred by sixe clerkes to one . but say all sixe good men , what answer yee , lies there no writ out of the chancerie against this vulcan ? no iniunction ? no orders ? no decree ? though we be gone at common law , me thinkes in his dispight , a court of equity should doe us right . but to confine him to the brew-houses , the glasse-house , die-fates , and their furnaces : to live in sea-coale , and goe out in smoake , or least that vapour might the city choake , confine him to some brickhills , or some hill - foote out in sussex to an iron-mill : or in small faggots have him blaze about , vile tavernes , and the drunkards pisse him out : or in the bell-mans lanthorne , like a spye , waste to a snuffe , and then stinke out and dye . i could invent a sentence yet more worse , but i 'le conclude all in a civill curse : poxe on your flame-ship ( vulcan ) if it be to all as fatall as t'hath beene to me ; and to pauls steeple , which had beene to us 'bove all your fire-workes : had not ephesus , or alexandria , which though a divine losse yet remaines as unrepaird as mine : would you had kept your forge at aetna still , and there made swords , bills , glaves , & arms your fill ; maintain'd a trade at bilbo , or elsewhere , struck in at millane with the cutler 's there : or stai'd where the fryer and you first met , that from the devills ars did gunnes beget : or fixt in the low countries , where you might on both sides doe your mischiefs with delight : blow up and ruine , mine , and counter-mine , vse your petarres , and granats , all your fine engines of murther , and inioy the praise of massacring man-kind so many wayes : we aske your absence here , we all love peace , and pray the fruits thereof and the increase , so doth the king , and most of the kings men , that have good places : therefore once agen poxe on thee vulcan ; thy pandora's pox , and all the ills that flew out of her box light on thee : or if those plagues will not doe , thy wives pox take thee , and bess braughtons too . ben : ionson . upon king charles his birth-day . this is king charles his birth day , speak it the tower vnto the ships , and they from tire to tire , discharging 'bout the iland in an houre , as loud as thunder , and as swift as fire . let ireland meet it out at sea halfe way , repeating all great brittaines ioy and more , adding her owne glad accents to this day , like eccho playing from another shore . what drums , or trumpets , or great ordnance can , the poetry of steeples with the bells . three kingdomes mirth in light and ayery man , made loftier by the windes all noyses els . at bone-fires , squibs , and mirth , with all their shouts , that cry the gladnesse which their hearts would pray if they had leasure , at these lawfull routs , the often comming of this holy day : and then noyse forth the burthen of their song . still to have such a charles , but this charles long . b. jonson . to the queene on her birth-day . vp publicke ioy , remember the sixeteenth of november some brave uncommmon way . and though the parish steeple be silent to the people , ring thou it holy day . what though the thirsty towre , and guns there spare to powre their noyses out in thunder : as fearefull to awake the city , as to shake their guarded gates asunder . yet let the trumpets sound , and shake both aire and ground with beating of their drums : let every lire be strung , harpe , lute , theorbo sprung with touch of learned thumbs , that when the quire is full , the harmony may pull the angels from their spheares : and each intelligence , may wish it selfe a sence , whilst it the ditty heares . behold the royall mary , the daughter of great harry , and sister to iust lewis , comes in the pompe and glory of all her fathers story , and of her brothers prowis . she shewes so farre above the feigned queen of love ; this sea-girt ground upon , as here no venus were but that she reigning here , had put the ceston on . see , see our active king , hath taken twice the ring vpon the poynted lance , vvhilst all the ravish't rout doe mingle in a shout , hey for the flower of france . this day the court doth measure her ioy in state and pleasure : and with a reverend feare , the revells and the play make up this crowned day her one and twenty yeare . b. ionson . on the princes birth-day . an epigram . and art thou borne , brave babe , blest be thy birth , that so hath crown'd our hopes , our spring on earth ; the bed of the chaste lilly and the rose , what month than may was fitter to disclose this prince of flowers ? soone shoot thou up , and grow the same that thou art promis'd ; but be slow , and long in changing : let our nephews see thee quickly come , the gardens eye to be , and still to stand so : haste now envious moone , and interpose thy selfe , care not how soone , and threat the great eclips two houres but runne , sol will reshine , if not , charles hath a sonne . non displicuisse meretur festinat caesar , qui placuisse tibi . b. ionson . another on the birth of the prince . another phoenix , though the first is dead , a second 's flowne from his immortall bed , to make this our arabia to be the nest of an eternall progeny . choise nature fram'd the former but to finde what error might be mended in man-kinde : like some industrious workman , which affect their first endeavours onely to correct : so this the building , that the modell was , the type of all that now is come to passe : that but the shadow , this the substance is , all that was but the prophesie of this : and when it did this after birth fore-runne , 't was but the morning starre unto this sunne ; the dawning of this day , when sol did think we having such a light , that he might wink , and we ne're misse his lustre : nay so soone as charles was borne , he and the pale-fac'd moon with envy then did copulate , to try if such a birth might be produc'd i' th sky . what heavenly favour made a starre appeare , to bid wise kings to doe their homage here , and prove him truely christian ? long remain on earth , sweet prince , that when great charles shal reign in heaven above , our little charles may be as great on earth , because as good as he . b. ionson . a paralell of the prince to the king . so peleus when he faire thetis got , as thou thy sea-queene ; so to him she brought a blessed babe , as thine hath done to thee : his worthiest prov'd of those times , ours may be of these ; his had a pallas for his guide , thy wisedome will as well for ours provide : his conquered countries , cities , castles , towers , a worthy foe ; hereafter so may ours . his all his time , but once patroclus findes , but this of ours a world of faithfull friends : he 's vulnerable in no place but one , and this of ours ( we hope ) be hurt of none . his had his phoenix , ours no teacher needs , but the example of thy life and deeds . his nestor knew , in armes his fellow was , but not in yeares , ( too soone runne out his glasse ) ours , though not nestor knew , we trust , shall bee as wise in armes , as old in yeares as hee . his after death had homer his reviver : and ours may better merit to live ever , by deeds farre-passing : but ( oh sad dispaire ) no hope of homer , his wit left no heire . b. jonson . an elegy on the lady jane paulet , marchionesse of winchester . vvhat goodly ghost besprint with aprill dew , halls me so solemnly to yonder yeugh ? and beckoning wooes me from the fatall tree , to plucke a garland for her selfe , or me . i doe obey you beauty ; for in death you seeme a faire one ; o that i had breath to give your shade a name ! stay ! stay ! i feele a horror in me , all my blood is steele stiffe stark ; my ioynts 'gainst one another knock : whose daughter ? ha ? great savage of the rock ! he 's good , as great ! i am almost a stone , and ere i can aske more of her she 's gone ! alas i am all marble : write the rest , thou wouldst have written fame upon my breast , it is a large faire table , and a true , and the disposure will be somewhat new : when i who would her poet have become , at least may beare th'inscription to her tombe : she was the lady iane , and marchionesse of winchester , the heralds can tell this : earle rivers grand-child , serve not titles , fame sound thou her vertues , give her soule a name . had i a thousand mouths , as many tongues , and voyce to raise them from my brasen lungs , i durst not aime at , the dotes thereof were such , no nation can expresse how much their charact was : i or my trump must breake , but rather i , should i of that part speake , it is too neare of kin to god the soule to be describ'd , fames fingers are too foule to touch those misteries ; we may admire the heate and splendor , but not handle fire : what she did by great example well , t' inlive posterity , her fame may tell ; and calling truth to witnesse , make it good from the inherint graces in her blood . else who doth prayle a person by a new , but a feign'd way doth spoyle it of the true : her sweetnesse , softnesse , her faire courtesie , her wary guards , her wise simplicity , were like a ring of vertues 'bout her set , and piety the center where all met : a reverend state she had , an awfull eye , a darling , yet inviting maiesty ; vvhat nature , fortune , institution , fact , could heape to a perfection , was her act : how did she leave the world , with what contempt ? iust as she in it liv'd , and so exempt from all affection : when they urg'd the cure of her disease , how did her soule assure her sufferings , as the body had bin away : and to the torturers her doctors say , sticke on your cupping-glasses , feare not , put your hottest causticks to burne , lance , or cut : t is but a body which you can torment , and i into the world , with my soule was sent . then comforted her lord , and blest her sonne , chear'd her faire sisters in her race to runne . vvhich gladnesse temper'd her sad parents teares , made her friends ioyes to get above their feares . and in her last act taught the standers by , with admiration and applause to dye : let angels sing her glories , who did call her spirit home to her originall , that saw the way was made it , and were sent to carry and conduct the complement 'twixt death and life : where her mortality became her birth-day to eternity ! and now through circumfused lights she lookes on natures secrets there as her owne bookes ; speakes heavens language , and discourses free to every order , every hierarchy . beholds her maker , and in him doth see vvhat the beginning of all beauties be , and all beatitudes that thence doth flow , vvhich the elect of god are sure to know . goe now her happy parents and be sad , if yee not understand what child you had ; if you dare quarrell heaven , and repent to have paid againe a blessing was but lent , and trusted so as it deposited lay at pleasure to be cald for every day . if you can envy your owne daughters blisse ; and wish her state lesse happy than it is ; if you can cast about your either eye , and see all dead here , or about to dye . the stars that are the iewells of the night , the day deceasing with the prince of light the sun . great kings & mightiest kingdoms fal , vvhole nations ; nay , man-kind , the world , & all that ever had beginning to have end ; vvith what iniustice can one soule pretend t' escape this common knowne necessity , vvhen we were all borne we beganne to dye : and but for that brave contention and strife , the christian hath t' enioy a future life ; he were the wretched'st of the race of men , but as he soares at that , he bruiseth then the serpents head ; gets above death and sinne ▪ and sure of heaven rides triumphing in . b. jonson . ode pindarick on the the death of sir hen. morison . brave infant of saguntum cleare , thy comming forth in that great yeare , when the prodigious hanibal did crowne his rage , with razing your immortall town . thou looking then about , ere thou wert halfe got out : wise child didst hastily returne , and madst thy mothers wombe thine vrne , how sum'd a circle didst thou leave mankind , of deepest lore could wee the center find . the counter-turne . did wiser nature draw thee backe , from out the horrour of that sack ? where shame , faith , honour , and regard of right lay trampled on the deeds of death and night . vrg'd , hurried forth , and hurld vpon th' affrighted world : sword , fire , famine , with full fury met , and all on utmost ruine set : as could they but lives miseries fore-see , no doubt all infants would returne like thee . the stand . for what is life , if measur'd by the space , not by the act ? or masked man , if valued by his face , above his fact ? here 's one out-liv'd his peeres , and told forth fourescore yeeres , he vexed time , and busied the whole state , troubled both foes and friends , but ever to no ends : what did this stirrer but dye late ? how well at twenty had he falne or stood , for three of his fourescore he did no good . the turne . he entred well by vertuous parts , got up and thriv'd with honest arts , he purchas'd friends , and fame , and honors then , and had his noble name advanc'd with men . but weary of that flight , he stoop'd in all mens sight to sordid flatteries , acts of strife , and sunke in that dead sea of life too deepe : as he did then deaths waters sup , but that the corke of title boy'd him up . the counter-turne . alas but morison fell young ; he never fell , thou tripst my tongue : he stood a souldier to the last night end , a perfect patriot , and a noble friend . but most a vertuous sonne , all offices were done by him so ample , full , and round , in weight , and measure , number sound , as though his age imperfect might appeare , his life was of humanity the spheare . the stand . goe now and tell out dayes , sum'd up with fears , and make them yeares : produce thy masse of miseries on the stage , to swell thine age , repeate of things a throng , to shew thou hast beene long , not liv'd : for life doth her great actions spell , by what was done , and wrought in season , and so brought to light : her measures are how well : each sillib ' answer'd , and was form'd how faire ; these make the lines of life , and that 's her aire . the turne . it is not growing , like a tree , in bulke , doth make man better be , or standing long an oake , three hundued yeare , to fall a log at last , dry , bald , and seare : a lilly of a day , is fairer farre in may , although it fall and dye at night , it was the plant and flower of light ; in small proportions we iust beauty see , and in short measures life may perfect be . the counter-turne . call noble lucius then for wine , and let thy looks with gladnesse shine , accept this garland , plant it on thy head , and thinke , nay know thy morison's not dead . he leap'd the present age , possest with holy rage , to see the bright eternall day , of which we priests and poets say such truths as wee expect for happy men , and there he lives with memory : and ben the stand . ionson ! who sung this of him e're he went himselfe to rest , or taste a part of that full ioy he meant to have exprest , in this bright asterisme , where it was friendships schisme , were not his lucius long with us to tarry , to separate these twi - lights , the dioscuri , and keepe the one halfe from his harry ; but fate doth so alternate the designe , vvhilst that in heaven , this light on earth must shine . the turne . and shine as you exalted are , two names of friendship , but one starre of hearts the union : and those not by chance , made or indentur'd , or leas'd out to advance the profits for a time , no pleasures vaine did chime of rimes , or ryots at your feasts , argues of drinke , or feign'd protests , but simple love , of greatnesse and of good , that knits brave minds , and manners more than blood . the counter-turne . this made you first to know the why you lik'd : then after to apply that likening ; and approach so one to th'other , till either grew a portion of the other , each stiled by his end , the coppy of his friend ; you liv'd to be the great sirnames , and titles by which all made claimes vnto the vertue : nothing perfect done , but as a cary or a morison . the stand . and such a force the faire example had , as they that saw the good , and durst not practise it , were glad that such a law was left yet to man-kind , where they might read , and find friendship indeed was written not in words : and with the heart , not pen , of two so earely men , vvhose lines her rowles were , and records vvho e're the first downe ; bloomed on the chin , had sowed these fruits , and got the harvest in . b. jonson . to hierome lord weston vpon his returne from his embassy . svch pleasures as the teeming earth doth take in easie natures birth , when she puts forth the life of every thing , and in a dew of sweetest raine , she lyes deliver'd without paine , of the prime beauty of the yeare and spring . that rivers in their shores doe runne , the clouds racke cleare before the sunne , the rudest winds obey the calmest aire ; rare plants from every banke doe rise , and every plant the sence surprise , because the order of the whole is faire . the very verdure of her nest , vvherein she sits so richly drest , as all the wealth of season there were spread , have shew'd the graces and the houres , have multiply'd their arts and powers , in making soft her stromaticke bed . such ioyes , such sweets doth your returne , bring all your friends , faire lord , that burne with ioy to heare your modesty relate the businesse of your blooming wit , with all the fruits that follow it , both to the honour of the king and state . o how will the court be pleas'd , to see great charles of travell eas'd , when he beholds a graft of his owne hand , spring up an olive , fruitfull , faire , to be a shadow of the aire ; and both a strength and beauty to the land . b. i. to the right honourable the l. treasurer . an epigram . if to my mind , great lord , i had a state , i would present you with some curious plate of norimberg , or turkie hang your rooms , not from the arras , but the persian looms . i would ( if price or prayer ) could them get send in what or romano , tintaret , titian , or raphaell , michaell angelo , have left in fame to equall , or out-goe the old greeke hands , in picture , or in stone , this would i doe , could i thinke vveston one catch'd with these arts , wherein the iudge is wife , as farre as sence , and onely by his eyes . but you i know , my lord , and know you can discerne betweene a statue , and a man : can doe the things that statue doe deserve , and act the businesse which these paint or carve . what you have studied are the arts of life , to compose men and manners , stint the strife of froward citizens ; make nations know , what world of blessings to good kings they owe ; and mightiest monarchs feele what large increase of fame and honour you possesse by peace . these i looke up at with a measuring eye , and strike religion in the standers by . which , though i cannot , like as an architect , in glorious piles and pyramides erect vnto your honour ; i can voyce in song aloud ; and ( haply ) it may last as long . b. ionson . to mr. ionson upon these verses . your verses were commended , as 't is true , that they were very good , i meane to you : for they return'd you ben i have beene told , the seld seene summe of forty pound in gold . these verses then , being rightly understood , his lordship , not ben : ionson , made them good . i. e. to my detractor . my verses were commended , thou didst say , and they were very good ; yet thou thinkst nay . for thou obiectest , as thou hast beene told , th'envy'd returne of forty pound in gold . foole do not rate my rimes , i have found thy vice is to make cheap the lord , the lines the price : but bark thou on ; i pitty thee poore cur , that thou shouldst lose thy noise , thy foame , thy stur , to be knowne what thou art , thou blatent beast ; but writing against me , thou thinkst at least i now would write on thee : no wretch , thy name cannot worke out unto it such a fame : no man will tarry by thee as he goes to aske thy name , if he have halfe a nose ; but flye thee like the pest. walke not the streete out in the dog-dayes , least the killer meet thy noddle with his club ; and dashing forth thy dirty brains , men see thy want of worth . b. ionson . to william earle of new-castle on the backing of his horse . vvhen first , my lord , i saw you backe your horse , provoke his mettle , and command his force to all the uses of the field and race , me thought i read the ancient art of thrace , and saw a centaure past those tales of greece ; so seem'd your horse and you , both of a peece : you shew'd like perseus upon pegasus , or castor mounted on his cillarus : or what we heare our home-borne legend tell , of bold sir bevis , and his arundell , and so your seate his beauties did endorse , as i began to wish my selfe a horse . and surely had i but your stable seene before , i thinke my wish absolv'd had beene : for never saw i yet the muses dwell , nor any of their houshold halfe so well . so well ! as when i saw the floore and roome , i look'd for hercules to be the groome . and cry'd away with the caesarian bread , at these immortall mangers virgil fed . b. jonson . to william earle of new-castle . an epigram on his fencing . they talke of fencing , and the use of armes , the art of urging , and avoyding harmes ; the noble science , and the mastring skill , of making iust approaches , how to kill , to hit in angles , and to clash with time , as all defence , or offence , were a chime . i hate this measur'd : give me metled fire , that trembls i'th'blaze , but then mounts higher , a swift and darling motion , when a paire of men doe meete like rarified aire : their weapons darted with that flame and force , as they out-did the lightning in the course : this were a spectacle , a sight to draw wonder to valour : no , it is a law of daring , not to doe a wrong : t is true , next to dispise it being done to you : to know all heads of danger ; where 't is fit to bend , to breake , provoke , or suffer it : and this my lord is valour : this is yours , and was your fathers , and your ancestors ; who durst live great , when death appear'd , or bands , and valiant were with , or without , their hands . b. jonson . to sir kenelme digby . an epigram . though happy muse thou know my digby wel , yet take him in these lines : he doth excell in honours , courtesie , and all the parts court can call hers , or man would call his arts : he 's prudent , valiant , iust , and temperate , in him all action is beheld in state . and he is built , like some imperiall roome , for those to dwell in , and be still at home . his breast is a brave pallace , a broad street , where all heroicke ample thoughts doe meet ; where nature such a large surveigh hath tane , as others soules , to his , dwell in a lane : witnesse his birth-day , the eleventh of iune , and his grat action done at scanderoone . that day ; which i predestin'd am to sing , for brittains honour , and to charles , my king : goe muse in , and salute him , say he be busie , or frowne at first , when he sees thee , he wil chear up his fore-head , think thou bring'st good fortune to him in the note thou sing'st : for he doth love my verses , and will looke vpon them , next to spencers noble booke ; and praise them too : o what a fame 't will bee ? what reputation to my lines and me , when he doth read them at the treasurers board , the knowing weston , and that learned lord allowes them ? then what coppies will be had ? what transcripts made ? how cri'd up , & how glad vvilt thou be muse , when this shal then befall , being sent to one , they will be read of all . b. ionson . his mistresse drawne . sitting , and ready to be drawne , what make these velvets , silks , and lawne ? imbroderies , feathers , fringe , and lace , when every limbe takes like a face ? send these suspected helps to aide , some forme defective , and decai'd : this beauty without falsehood faire , needs nought to cloath it but the aire : yet something to the painters view , were fitly interposed , so new he shall ( if he can understand ) worke by my fancy with his hand . draw first a cloud , all save her necke , and out of that make day to breake : till like her face it doe appeare , and men may thinke all light rose there . then let the beames of that disperse the cloud , and shew the vniverse : but at such distance , as the eye may rather it adore than spye : the heavens design'd , draw next a spring , with all that youth , or it may bring : foure rivers , branching forth like seas , and paradise confin'd in these . last draw the circle of this globe , and let there be a starry robe of constillations 'bout her hurl'd , and thou hast painted beauties world . but painter see you doe not sell a coppy of this piece , nor tell vvhose 't is : but if it favour finde , next sitting wee will draw her minde . b. jonson . her minde . paynter y' are come , but may be gone , now i have better thought thereon , this worke i can performe alone , and give you reasons more than one , not that your art i doe refuse , but here i may no colours use ; besides your hand will never hit to draw the thing that cannot sit . you could make shift to paint an eye , an eagle towring in the skye , a sun , a sea , a sandlesse pit , and these are like a minde , not it . no , to expresse this mind to sence , would aske a heavens intelligence , since that nothing can report that flame , but what 's of kinne to whence it came : sweet mind , then speak your self , and say as you goe on , by what brave way , our sence you doe with knowledge fill , and yet remaine our wonder still . i call you muse , now make it true , hence forth may every line be you , that all may say that see the frame , this is no picture , but the same : a mind so pure , so perfect fine , as 't is not radiant , but divine , and so disdaining any tire , 't is got where it can trye the fire . there ( high exalted in the spheare , as it another nature were ) it moveth all , and makes a flight , as circular as infinite , whose notions when it would expresse in speech , it is with that excesse , of grace and musick to the eare , as what it spake it planted there . the voyce so sweet , the words so faire , as some soft chime had strok'd the ayre , and though the sound were parted thence , still left an eccho in the sence , but that a minde so rapt so high , so swift , so pure should yet apply it selfe to us , and come so nigh earths grossenesse , there 's the how , and why ? is it because it sees us dull and stuck in clay here , it would pull vs forth by some coelestiall slight , vp to her owne sublimed height ? or hath shee here upon the ground , some paradise or pallace found in all the bounds of beauty fit for her t' inhabite ? there is it . thrice happy house that hast receite , for this so softly forme , so straite , so polish'd , perfect , and so even , as it slid moulded out of heaven . not swelling like the ocean proud , but stooping gently as a cloud , as smooth as oyle powr'd forth , and calme as showres , and sweet as drops of balme , smooth , soft , and sweet , and all a flood , where it may runne to any good , and where it stayes it there becomes , a nest of odours , spice , and gummes . in action winged as the wind ▪ in rest like spirits left behind , vpon a banke or field of flowres , begotten by the wind and showers , in the faire mansion let it rest , yet know with what thou art possest , thou entertaining in thy breast , but such a minde mak'st god a guest . b. ionson . sir william bvrlase the painter , to the poet . to paint thy worth , if rightly i did know it , and were but painter , halfe like thee a poet , ben : i would shew it . but in this art , my unskilfull pen will tire ; thou , and thy worth , will still be found farre higher , and i a lyer . then what a painter's here ? and what an eater of great attempts ? whereas his skill 's no greater , and he a cheater . then what a poet 's here , whom by confession of all with me , to paint without digression , there 's no expression . an epigram to the queens health . hayle mary , full of grace , it once was said , and by an angel , to the blessed maid , the mother of our lord : why may not i , vvithout prophannesse , as a poet , crie haile marry full of honours , to my queene , the mother of our prince ? when was there seene ( except the ioy that the first mary brought , vvhereby the safety of the world was wrought ) so generall a gladnesse to an isle , to make the hearts of a whole nation smile , as in this prince ? let it be lawfull so to compare small with great , as still we owe our thankes to god : then haile to mary , spring of so much health , both to our land and king . ben. ionson . ode to himselfe . i. come leave the loathed stage , and the more loathsome age , where pride and impudence in faction knit , vsurpe the chaire of wit : inditing and arraigning every day , something they call a play . let their fastidious vaine commission of the braine , runne on , and rage , sweat , censure , and condemn , they were not made for thee , lesse thou for them . ii. say that pour'st 'hem wheat , and they would akornes eat : t were simple fury , still thy selfe to wast on such as have no taste : to offer them a surfeit of pure bread , vvhose appetites are dead : no give them graines their fill , huskes , draffe to drinke , and swill : if they love lees , and leave the lusty vvine , envy them not , their pallat's with the swine , iii. no doubt a mouldy tale , like pericles , and stale as the shrives crusts , and nasty as his fish , scraps out of every dish , throwne forth and rak'd into the common tub , may keep up the play club . broomes sweepings doe as well there , as his masters meale : for who the relish of these guests will fit , needs set them but the almes-basket of wit . iv. and much good do 't yee then , brave plush and velvet men can feed on orts ; and safe in your scoene cloaths , dare quit upon your oathes the stagers , and the stage-writes too ; your peers , of stuffing your large eares vvith rage of commicke socks , vvrought upon twenty blocks ; vvhich if they 're torne , and foule , and patch'd enough , the gamsters share your gilt , and you their stuffe . v. leave things so prostitute , and take th' alcaike lute ; or thine owne horace , or anacreons lyre ; vvarme thee by pindars fire : and though thy nerves be shrunke , and blood be cold , ere yeares have made thee old , strike that disdainfull heat throughout , to their defeat : as curious fooles , and envious of thy straine , may blushing sweare , no palsi 's in thy braine . vi . but when they heare thee sing the glories of thy king ; his zeale to god , and his iust awe of men , they may be blood-shaken , then feele such a flesh-quake to possesse their powers , that no tun'd harpe like ours , in sound of peace or vvarres , shall truely hit the starres : vvhen they shall read the acts of charles his reigne , and see his chariot triumph 'bove his vvaine . b j. ben : jonson the poet , to the painter . vvhy though i seem of a prodigious waste , i am not so voluminous and vast , but there are lines wherewith i might b'embrast . t is true ; as my womb swells , so my back stoops , and the whole part grows round , deform'd & droops , but yet the tun at heidleberg had hoops . you were not ty'd by any painters law , to square my circle , ( i confesse ) but draw my superficies , that was all you saw . which if in compasse of no art it came , to be discrib'd by a monogram , with one great blot y'had form'd me as i am . but since you curious were to have it bee an archetipe for all the world to see , you made it a brave piece , but not like me . o had i now your manner , maiesty , might , your power of handling , shadow , aire , & sprite , how i could draw , and take hold , and delight ! but you are he can paint , i can but write , a poet hath no more than blacke and white , ne knowes he flattering colours , or false light . but when of friendship i would draw the face , a letter'd minde , and a large heart would place , to all posterity , i would write burlase . b. ionson . upon my picture left in scotland . i now thinke love is rather deafe than blind , for else it could not bee that shee vvhom i adore so much , should so slight me , and cast my suit behind . i 'me sure my language to her was as sweet , and every close did meet , in sentence of as subtle feet , as hath the wisest he , that sits in shadow of apollo's tree . o but my conscious feares , that flie my thoughts between , tells me that she hath seene my hundreds of gray haires , told sixe and forty yeares , read so much wast , as she could not imbrace my mountaine belly , and my rocky face . and all these through her eyes have stopt her eares . b. jonson . on a gentlewoman , working by an houre-glasse . doe but consider this small dust , here running in the glasse , by atomes mov'd : vvould you beleeve that it the body was of one that lov'd ? and in his mistris flames , playing like a flye , vvas turned into cynders by her eye ? yes ; as in life , so in their deaths unblest : a lovers ashes never can find rest . b. i. to the ladies of the court . an ode . come noble nymphes , and doe not hide the ioyes for which you so provide ; if not , to mingle with us men vvhat doe you here ? goe home agen : your dressings doe confesse , by what we see , so curious arts , of pallas , and arachnes arts , that you could meane no lesse . vvhy doe you weare the silke-wormes toyles ? or glory in the shell-fish spoyles ? or strive to shew the graines of ore , that you have gathered long before , vvhereof to make a stocke , to graft the greene emrald on , or any better water'd stone , or ruby of the rocke ? why doe you smell of ambergreece ? whereof was formed neptunes neece , the queen of love , unlesse you can , like sea-borne venus , love a man ? try , put your selves unto 't : your lookes , your smiles , and thoughts that meet : ambrosian hands , and silver feet , doe promise you will do 't . b. j. a sonnet . though i am young , and cannot tell either what death , or love is well , yet i have heard they both beare darts , and both doe aime at humane hearts . and then againe i have beene told , love wounds with heat , and death with cold , so that i feare they doe but bring extreams , to touch and meane one thing . as in a ruine we it call , one thing to be blowne up and fall , or to our end like way may have by a flash of lightning , or a wave : so loves inflamed shaft , or band , will kill as soone as deaths cold hand : except loves fires the vertue have to mr. ionson . ben : the world is much in debt , & though it may some petty reck'nings to small poets pay : pardon if at thy glories summe they stick , being too large for their arithmaticke . if they could prize the genius of a scene , the learned sweat that makes a language cleane , or understand the faith of ancient skill , drawn from the tragicke , comoecke , lyricke , quill : the greek and roman denison'd by thee , and both made richer in thy poetrie . this they may know , & knowing this stil grudge that yet they are not fit of thee to iudge . i prophesie more strength to after time , whose ioy shall call this isle the poets clime , because 't was thine , and unto thee return the borrowed flames , with which thy muse shall burn . then when the stocke of others fame is spent , thy poetry shall keepe its owne old rent . zouch tounley . finis . courteous reader , some litterall faults are escaped , by oversight of the correcter to the presse , which i entreat thee to mend with thy pen as thou espyest them , which are these . page : read might for mght , & least for lesse . p. . r. tristrams for tristeams . p. . r. who for when . p. . r. houses for horses . p. . r. hales for hals . p. . l. ult. r. aromaticke for stromaticke . pocula castalia· the authors motto. fortunes tennis-ball. eliza. poems. epigrams, &c. by r.b. gen. baron, robert, b. . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing b thomason e _ estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; :e [ ]) pocula castalia· the authors motto. fortunes tennis-ball. eliza. poems. epigrams, &c. by r.b. gen. baron, robert, b. . marshall, william, fl. - , engraver. [ ], , [ ] p., plate : port. printed by w.h. for thomas dring, and are to be sold at his shop at the signe of the george, near cliffords-inne in fleet-street, london : . r.b. = robert baron. in verse. the words "the authors motto. .. epigrams, &c." are bracketed together on title page. the portrait is signed: w. marshall sculpsit. "fortunes tennis-ball", "eliza", "poems", and "epigrams, &c." each have separate dated title page; pagination and register are continuous. a is cancelled. annotation on thomason copy: "june ", " ". reproduction of the original in the british library. the authors motto -- fortunes tennis-ball -- eliza -- poems -- epigrams, &c. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams, english -- th century. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - robyn anspach sampled and proofread - robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion pocula castalia· the authors motto . fortunes tennis-ball . eliza . poems . epigrams , &c. by r. b. gen. ovid. vilia miretur vulgus , mibi flavus apollo , pocula castalia plena ministret aqua . london , printed by w. h. for thomas dring , and are to be sold at his shop at the signe of the george , near cliffords-inne in fleet-street . . aetat : suae portrait of robert baron ●u●tus apollinea ●ictu● barone 〈◊〉 est 〈◊〉 apollinea ●●●●itur arte liber . w. mars 〈…〉 john hebart gent : to the rare , and most hopefull gentleman m r. robert baron , upon his pocula castalia . may great apollo with his holy quire of charming girles my brain no more inspire , may i ne'r fetch more naps on phocis mount , or drink one drop of aganippes fount if these castalian cups were not to me as nectar , as pure nectar from the bee. your pregnant muse beares ripe fruit in her spring . her green is yellow ; if she thus take wing to reach the lawrell , and so fast improve the stock of poets by such heats of love , you may in time , where now old phaebus sits , be lord chief - baron of the court of wits . jam : howell ▪ to the growing branch of virtue mr. r. b. upon his castalian cups . those who have tipled on nep●nthe cups may taste on these , and see how far they are surpast . each drop so full of wit , apollo sweares the gods a better nectar broached here . then he that cup-bearer to thee will prove must be a ganymede fetcht from above ; or if he 'l pledg thee here , he surely must speak like a poet with a curious gust ; or else displume some apollinean wing , and a new mercury below must bring . th' imperiall baies which minor poets wore , was never twisted with such threeds before . their greennesse from thy youth may painted be , their permanence from thy maturity . the muses when they fill'd these cups , each one disgusts their old and makes these helicon : and to enhance thy worth , they keep in thee their own and th' cyprian queens academy : there they did all commence , and though they strive thou mad'st each one's degree superlative ; this in thy morn of youth did soar so high as th' early larke of well-fledg'd poetry : and if thy rising sun did blaze so soon how will thy splendor dazle us at noon ? sure those meridian raies will make each man adore thy shadow and turne persian . each beam of thine hath such conspicuous light , t will puzzle mathmaticks to take thy ●eight , to take a prospect to thy heavenly sphere not iacobs staffe but ladder must be there ; if pens to praise ( imp't by thy wings ) aspire , from thee , prometheus like , they must steale fire . what optick glasse can take thy altitude . i' th' first or second or third magnitude ? three of thy glorious stars allready sent , to disinvelop nights dark firmament ; which could we disinsphere , each single one hath light to make a constellation : each volume's but an index of thy mind and shewes a better yet is left behind . how prepnant doe's thy teeming brain appeare , that thus conceives and brings forth every yeer ! the first a miracle of youth may well be stil'd , where virgin yeers brought so than aged child . the cyprian queen first woo'd thee , then her son made an apologie and thus begun : and thy hymnean rites to solemnize these cups are broach'd , thus thus to tanta'ize . married how can'st thou be to any dame when every muse thy parts and arts do claime ? to one and yet to all th' art wed : for there the graces all concenter in thy dear : they claim thy head , and she thy heart by vow , though they plead contract , she pleads contact now : thus may each poet prophet be and priest , and shew the muses choice polygamist . tho. moore , of the inner temple , de lauro effigiem nobissilimi amici rob. bar. circumvallante . en , tua , surgentes allato vertice laurus vt cingant ramis tempora docta suis . ecquid bonos major dixit , mea laurus , apollo ? ( dixit & aonii turba novenna chori ) ecquid honos major ? quam summo principe vatum ornari , quemfas , castus & ardet amor. bacche pater , tua rura colet decorataracemis bassasidum effuso nectare tincta cohors ; frons mea , ( caesarea veluti dominator arend ) gandeat , ex domini laude superba sui , sitque triumphatrix , qualis vulcania conjux , quam rotut i dalii cand : da big a dei. saepe ego mirabar quid talia verba volebant , exposuit gryphos delius ipse suos ; laurus v●rgine● dat solus apollo poetae : sola dat impuro myrtea serta venus . raptim , c. b. art baccha . the authors motto . quâ obtineam est tentanda via indelebile nomen , quod nec fata queant , nec edax abolere vetustas . i le blow the mount to atomes , but i 'l climbe its steep fork'd top , and triumph over time. how shal i pluck from 's iron teeth my name , that bards unborne yet , may embalme't with fame to last for aye ? this phoebus meant should be a chiefe effect of my nativity . ne'r did japetus son to wonder frame his manly statue , and inspire't with flame filch'd from iove's harth , meaning he should ascend the stage , there scrape a leg , and so descend . for if a man should be brought forth , and cry , and score a score of lusters up , then die , and steale into his grave with no more noise than a blacke ribband makes , or branch of bayes , and there lie mouldring under a silent stone that courts no eyes to read th' inscription ; he were like glow-wormes that creep out i' th' dark at th' bottom of the hedge , whilst no eyes mark , if any difference 'twixt them there be the wormes skin shines more than his memory . since t is decreed then , by impartiall fate wee all must be reduced soone , or late to our first principle , dust , it s my intent to reare my selfe a death-lesse monument : not that i doe desire to shrowd my bones the labour of an age in piled stones , or that my worthlesse ashes should be hid under a skie-invading pyramid . for we of delphos may secure our fames by inscribing in times brazen leaves our names . it is enough that wee in each mouth raise a speaking statue to our long-liv'd praise . rouze then invention , and call judgement in , i know my taske , teach me how to begin and perfect this great work . but first of all of what perennious materiall shall i erect my monument , to last strong as the poles ? sweet as the fragrant east ? cleer and perspicuous as noones bright eye whilest he shall hold forth light to see it by ? shall i court curst bellona with intent to carve out with my sword my monument ? no : th' pen out lasts the pike , and in mine eare minerva's pipe sounds than her trump more cl●er . i le wear no spungie buffe , nor fortifie my selfe ( my little citty ) martially with walls and countermures of steel ; when i court ajax shield , and the art of engenry it s chiefly to oppose and keep the stout and haughty foes of virtue , passions , out . mars shall not see me lockt in brasse , or wield , a speare againe , i th blood-bedabled field ; unlesse my prince , honor , and virtues cause call to assert their rights , and equall laws . but should i ( as young lyons new taught to prey invade the herds ) flow like a violent sea on hostile troops , or arm'd with wroth and heate plough up whole armies and wall'd townes subvert ; or enter breaches like a winter floud till the resisting cities swam in blood ; the fame o' th' deed with th' next gazzet would burne and with the rac'd forts ashes find its urne . actions , though ne'r so arduous and high have no more life than one mans memory , unlesse some hallowed pen in castaly's sweet nectar dipt give them eternity . romes glory ( for whom fame flew greater then for other men ) his acts had sullied been with dust of time , had not his wiser skill againe done o'r , and brusht them with his quill . halfe's tenure in his booke , not all in 's sword lay , ex utroque cesar was the word . letters boast longer life than porphyry or marble , onely these can never die . the chapell sacred to great maro's name may sinke under times weight , but not his fame , that shall new burgeon in his high-rear'd straine , and in his verse his bay shall sprout againe . though others wither , onely this chast tree from stormes , from blasting , and from bolts is free . not naso's face ingraven in rings of gold and worne by princes , made his fame so old , but his sweet mvse that soar'd so even , yet high , this , this 't was tooke from him the power to die . trophies and crownes i' th field are but halfe given i' th study halfe . deeds glorious as heaven till poesie send them 'bout the world to run on even measur'd feet , are but halfe done , they are not fledg'd till imp'd with th' poets quil ( the chiefest feather in fames wing ) his skill reads men and deeds their doomes , his breath , like fate can what he please make or annihihalate . he gilds o'r princes crownes , his numbers can make ease tast bitter , sweet affliction . was not neat ovid , a poore exil'd thing , more honour'd than assyria's wanton king melting to lust at home ? — conquer'd troys son , and conquering latium's sire , lost not so much blisse by the midwifes ire , as by that golden trumpet of his deeds virgil , hee gain'd ; 't was he rais'd up his head to heaven with statues : though the hot youths flame wasted the towne 't was he preserv'd the name . thou not immortall art great thetis son , for being dipt in stix but helicon , by the blind bard : he left not out thy heele , deaths dart thou , nor thy name , no more shalt feele . great he ( the muses high priest ) travelling to lift unto the starres the ithacan king , a monument eternall hath brought forth which shall from eating age preserve them both . of princes this , of poets that the glory , homer by ulysses live , he by his story . pallas strong arm ( there ) heaves them both so high that kings for such a tombe would wish to die , these tombes shall live , and will admirers have , although mavsolus his prove its own grave , and needs a muse that memory to afford t'its selfe , that it should doe unto his lord. since their names longest last whom their owne terse , or others pens embalme with sacred verse , by this i le strive to be no sluggard knowne , and to make every age to come mine owne . i le court the sister quire with praises meet , to teach my words to run on measur'd feet . at phoebvs shrine my vowes i 'l make and pay , and on his altar sacrifices lay and pil'd-up hecatombes : his harths i 'l feast with odors fragrant as the phaenix neast . sweet gummes shall smoak in curles , and in his fire spice crackling yeeld sounds pleasant as his lyre , in his wise eare : thither my sweet-breath'd prayer shall up in clouds of incense climbe ; the aire my hymnes shall lull ; heap'd perfumes pious light with flames full cleer , and as his own raies bright shall gild his fane , till he unsealed hath the holy eount ; there will i drench and bath my braines , till they from earth and thicknesse are refin'd , and pure as are those streames ; i 'l there with crown'd bowles swell me , till my fancy flies neer heaven , entranc'd and fill'd with extasies , then sing notes worthy his owne harpe , and prove the acts o' th' theban and evrydice's love no truthlesse tales , for duller things my layes shall nimblier move , and stranger structures raise . i 'l scrue the spheres up higher , and lend agen the harmony of their round race to men . i le fix th' almighty poets pen upon the zodiacke a constellation . if momvs snarles , in drumming tunes my wrath shall rime the dog , like irish rats , to death . in keen iambick's i le untrusse the elve till he runs mad , or wisely hangs himselfe lycambes like . i le squirt his eyes with inke shall ●ot the wretch , his libels leth ' shall drinke . or plac'd above his reach , his rage i le scorne , and laugh to see his shafts on 's owne pate turne . i le make each friend a star , and fill the skies unfurnish'd roomes with them , and give more eyes to heaven to see those hero's i will seat borne up by statues , on a pyramede of glory in my poems ; i shall be eterniz'd thus by them , and they by me . then if no issue of my loynes convay my spirit downe unto posterity , that of my braine will : my lov'd poetry , my son my history and tombe shall be . r. b. martial . carminibus nec fata nocent , ac saecula prosunt , solaque non n●runt hac monumenta mori . fortvnes tennis-ball . a moral fable . the author r. b. gent. juven . si fortvna volet fies de rhetore consul . london , printed by w. h. for tho : dring . . to the choicest of my noble friends , john wroth esquire . i 'm big with love . how shall i ( gentle wroth ) set it , and th' cause of it , thy merit , forth ? i 'm no rare herald to fetch far thy name , or patch together coates to cloath thy fame , yet i doe more than that when call thee good ; for vertue 's higher noblenesse than blood . i 'm no grave antiquary , to present old medals , or some dusty monument of some great ancestor , by reliques foes envy and time , rob'd of an eare or nose . for worth i will not rake their sleeping vrnes , that which but glow'd in them , in thee bright burnes . thee , who had old rome in her glory seen , thou ' mongst her hundred statues plac'd had'st been : but safe in them thy name could not have stood , from times sharp teeth , even them he makes his food . the memphian wonders that so long did boast their neighbourhood and kin to heaven , are forc't to bow their proud tops , and begin a new acquaintance with low earth , where first they grew . rhodes haughty colosse that bestrid the floud , is now but aier wherein once it stood , and needs the evcrlasting muse to tell the world it once had such a miracle . the muse 't was furnish'd heaven with deities ; fames roll with hero's , and with stars the skies . her workes will last , 't was she that power did give to some men longer than those pyles to live . and if that i finde grace with her to grow in favour , shee shall doe much more for you . yours , more than mine own . robert baron . tvchesphaira : or , fortunes tennis ball . . great cesar's barne , romes life , and granary , that so august , so great , so fertile isle , where th' kicking monster on his back doth lie , spitting forth flames through the aetnean pile , whose smothering smoke , & sparkles at random driven do seem to lend new clouds and starres to heaven . . therevtvs rul'd ; a far worse man than king , a zealous vot'ry of diana's borne , his shrill voice made each quire of eccho's ring , his onely musicke was the hunting horne , and game to see his flapmouth'd kennell follow the chase , and yelping keep time with his hollow . , neere to palermo was a flowrie valley , levell'd and trim'd by sweating mowers hand , some rivolets slide swift , some slowly dally with the even bosome of the sluced land. there nature wanton was , and the high way did seeme inclosed , though it open lay . . pastures in flora's tapst'rie clad were gay , with golden eares to pay the ploughmans fees each field shon bright , the scaly nations play in flowing cristall , fring'd with wavering trees . as if industry joynd with art so nice to represent or excell paradise . . but to what end if man was banish'd thence , was this elizian palace of delight ? what though the west hath gems , th' east frankincense , if this feasts not our smell , nor those our sight ? what ere is faire or good was made for use , and the not use of things is things abuse . . no wight durst tread that in-vaine pleasant soyle , for the adjoyning thicket and curl'd grove shelter'd a boar amyntas hopes did spoile , like him that toar from love-sick love her love. this fate ( woods mutter ) he deserv'd , hunting there , when venvs would be 's parke , if he her deere . . his jawes with double sword , his back was arm'd with a set battaile of pikes sharpe and brisly , his crooked tushes slew , not lightly harm'd what ere he kist with 's urchin snout so grisly . his foam besnow'd the trampled corn , the fair meads he plough'd up , his fume inflam'd the aire . . the rosie-finger'd morn did there disclose her beauty ruddy as a blushing bride , gilding the marygold , painting the rose , with indian chrysolites her cheekes were dy'd : but when this monster rouz'd him in the vale , feare chas'd her blush , and frighted day look't pale ▪ . the sun durst not see him devoure his prey , but peeping through the leaves of poplars green , they shak'd ; and trembling streames did run away groaning , and crowding strove to passe unseen . birds , beasts , yea buzzing flies petition'd nature to stop his breath , or change his ugly feature . . this prodigy of nature and the wood , the fields mower , the mowers terror , water'd parch'd droughty pastures with a crimson floud , then made them white with bones of bodies slaughter'd . hardie therevtvs long'd to see this beast , ( fierce as himselfe ) come smoaking to a feast . . his hounds by fast made eager of the prey , his javelin whetted sharpe as crocea mors , clad all in green , as he were son of may , he mounts his well-breath'd wind-out-running horse . now like the god that beares the silver bow , encountring with huge python , did he show . . ere village cocks ( the labourers shrill alarms ) had thrice done salutation to the morne , he rouzed eccho from narcissus armes , instead of chaunticleer his earely horn call'd phosphorvs into the milkie way , and nights faint shades flew fore his conquering ray. . aurora blushed to be found in bed. the greenes with roseall dew did wash their face ' gainst sol's uprise ; the howers opened heavens folding gates , through which with awfull pace bright titan issued , cloath'd in tissue gay , attended by his spangled page , the day . . the aire 's all noise , the hot-sent-snuffing hounds awak'd the terrour with their challenging knell . in swelling rage the innocent earth he wounds , and like three-headed porter ( swisse ) of hell , rush'd forth resolv'd to breake his fast on them that durst presume so neer his den to come . . as fell medusa covetous of slaughter did drive the waves before his mighty breast , shaking his eares above the troubled water , disgorging new seas from his monstrous chest , extending yawning jawes : so shew'd this swine fiend-like as he , fierce as the angry brine . . as cowards vaunt ere wreath'd brasse bids the base , bragging they 'l shoostrings make of guts of foes , but when mars seizeth for deaths use the place , and all whom courage rescues not , and blowes , then palsie feare supprize their joynts , which fright doth knock together , and make another fight . . so th' mungrill currs , erst bold as to defie the unseen monster , ( so rash is rage ) now stand afraid to view him with halfe open eye , gazing like armies in the netherland . finding their balefull foe so grim and curst , they all strain court ' sie which should cope him first . . when trumpets loud tantarra to the fight , blowes make bruiz'd armours eccho to the noise : so th' horne into these dogges infus'd new sp'rit , their mouthes they spend , and are become all voyce . the airy queen ( sounds child ) each yell replies , as if another chase were in the skies ▪ . the merry horne fill'd with couragious breath , proclamed parley to the woods grim wonder . he stoutly scorn'd the summons of his death , and mockt their challenges with his mouthes thunder . the busie flies he snarl'd at , and did chase ▪ his owne foule shadow on earths wrinkled face . . the boare his tuske in many a dog did sheath , their goar , his foam , like blood with milke bespread ( whilst them he toss'd now over now beneath , his fangs and head ) bepainted all with red his frothy mouth . the hounds are at a bay , the eager cry still ' i th' same place doth stay . . howling with anguish here 's a brace of hounds , there lay two other dew-bedabbled wretches kennel'd in brakes , licking their venom'd wounds , shaking their eares , tatter'd and torne with scratches , their stiffe tailes ' gainst the grasse they clap and beat , and lard the thirsty ground with blood and sweat . . when th' huntsmans voice spoke terror to the boar , terror the parasite eccho said , like him . when th' churlish swine death to the dogs did roare death said the flatterer , like the beast so grim . as apes do postures she mock'd every cry , thus newters doe with either side comply . . the blunt boar scorning to be kept in mew , to ly besieg'd by snarling curs too proud , like the lernean snake he rouzing shew , and rush'd through the-in-vaine opposing croud . swift as a roe up to the hills he flew , the hot-spur'd hunters , with full cry pursue . . by this the fountaine of light low did run , inchanting philomel chanted her vesper , the silver erst , now golden ( setting ) sun trebled each shade ; the owle peep'd out with hesper . green tethys from her sweaty bed thrust night , expecting there her far more fair delight . . all on a sudden darkeness doubled was , flashes and noise the moving skie distracted , boreas sung terrour in a blustry base , both night and winter in a storm contracted . thunder-bolts split the cedars that aspir'd , their blasted tops the nimble lightning fir'd . . the dabled south , ruffe-footed aquilo , came rushing like two rams whose steeled horns dart fiery sparks and stars ; the clouds crush'd so breath flames : the air distill'd in rain and storms , which suffered no two together stay , each , as in ship wrack shift their severall way . . no friendly star or moon-like pylots kind ( oh fate of darknesse ! ) guide them on their way , the formost curse them that did lag behind , and they the formost ; all ride on and stray . their voices all are spent , and they that follow can track the first no longer by their hollow . . they wander and take bridges to be stiles , when king therevtvs ( from his train aloofe ) in spight of night and error , spies the whiles , a small light glimmering in a smoak dri'd roof . thither he makes , such straglers as these are , a candle weak admire more than a star. . his highnesse meant not to discover here , his true estate , and greatnesse of his name , ' cause he would not affright the cottager , but learn what of himself said common fame . so through his camp disguis'd went philips son , to hear how opinions tide on him did run . . in this low thatch'd patch'd graung dwelt adelin●… a swaine whose quiet life honesty compleated , of him the wandring unattended king a homely lodging for that night entreated , the poor wight ( rich in love and gentle words ) proffers the best his humble shed affords . . then set he fore his guest ( whom he not knew ) sweet growte , and whig , and flap-jacks of fine meal , a sheeve of household bread of nut-brown hue , cheese white as milke , nor lack'd there bonney ale , nor wildings and ripe fruits , which to the eye gave pleasing tast ere they the mouth came nigh . . the king with unexcited appetite , appeas'd his craving maw with these plain cates ; then did he halfe envy the secure wight , with whom of shepherds easefull lives he chats , praising a cottage 'bove a slippery court , to which the hind replied in such sort . . " a prince that in the cedars top doth build , " and scornes the sun , and dallies with the wind , " only a title hath his care to gild , " his gay robe's lined with a restlesse mind . " they that stand high have many blasts to shake them , " and falling from on high , the more they break them . . " the more we graspe the waves the lesse we hold : " so who seekes ease in greatnesse , ease him flies . " just as the persians did by slaves of old , " fate doth by kings , crown them for sacrifice . " glories , like glow-wormes , a far off shine bright , " but look'd to neer have neither heat nor light . . " the court is fortunes cheating lottery , " where places are like to the beds that fill " an hospitall , where this mans head doth lie " at that mans feet , so lower and lower still . " when a star glides ( we say ) a child is born , " so this lard mounts when that slips into scorne . . " souldiers , whose prize is praise , and trophies skars , " when they through new red seas for many a year " have swam to glory , become astronomers , " and almanacks in their dry bones they bear ; " or they turn geometricians , and so " practice their art on crutches as they go . . " tough pale-fac'd study bookish men doth pine , " this is that vulture which promethevs tore ; " merchants that dwell with fish in the blew brine , " oft lose their lives seeking t' increase their store ; " the toyling craftsman drinketh his own sweat , " and out hard iron hammereth his meat . . " content the shepherds cottage onely fills , " with th' earely sun he doth his flock unfold , " and all day long on easie climbing hills " or flowrie plaines he merry chat can hold , " or indite sonnets in an amorous vein , " and with the setting sun he folds again . . " then jogging home he turnes a crab , or else " he tunes a round , or sings some chearly rime , " or on the tongs he counterfeits the bells , " nor lacks he gleefull tales to cheat slow time . " there sits he , and whilst round the bowle doth trot , " sings care away , till he to bed hath got . . " there sleepes he sound , forgetting morrowes cares , " ne stormes , ne frayes , ne crack of credit lost , " ne blasts he feares , nor uttering of his wares , " nor franklier spends than 's flock defrayes the cost . " swains sleep and make more quiet nights and daies " than their great care-bit lords , whose herds they graze . " low set and richly warme , our proverb wot , " dangers o'r fly us , mifchiefes hit the high , " content's the crown , this is the shepherds lot ; " a king is but a man , and so am i. " not to compare , i would not change my place , " with great therevtvs , heaven shield his grace . . now leaden sleep 'gan weigh their eye-lids down , the lamp with darknesse strove , being almost spent . when th' weary king ( half out of love with 's crown ) unto a cleanly , though scarce soft , bed went , sleep is not tied to softnesse , more soundly hinds rest than they that in downe smother'd lie . . when slumber had shut in , and morphevs bar'd the windowes of his soule , and lock'd out care , i' th silent time of night a voice he heard as from above , calling to him fear , fear . lost in amazement did he then uprise frighted , as soldiers taken in supprize . . as did dametas when pamela fled , he struts about the room with hair upright : and cries , who calleth , but is answered only by eccho , and the bird of night . then takes he 's bed again , and this fright numbers amongst the mockries of unquiet slumbers . . the next voice touch'd his organ was yeeld , yeeld . then wak'd in 's mind a thought of trechery . amidst these sweaty doubtings he beheld the genius of the graunge before his eye , crown'd with such chaplets as adorne a wake : bowing his cornu-copiae , thus he spake . mighty souveraigne , i am come " from the blest lalarium , " the seat of the household gods , " where th' lares have their quiet abodes , " to tell thee 't is the thunderers will , " thou call'st to mind his oracle , " which when thou asked'st who should be " thy successor , thus answerd thee . the oracle . " when a lamp shall be thy star , " and thou both king and cottager , " and when thou to bed shalt go " twice in one night , then shalt thou know . the resolution . " this is the time , the lamp whose light " brought thee hither , thy star i hight . " whilst here thou dwel'st with adeling , " th' art cottager as well as king. " you left , and took again , this night " your bed , being seiz'd and rid of fright . " know then , great , and as good , king , " aplote daughter of adeling " this night has borne a smiling boy , " the gransires hope , the mothers joy , " the heire by his nativity " to natures wealth , fates poverty . " but fortune meanes in him to show " how great she can from meannesse grow . " architects low foundations lie , " when they intend the building high . " see! how the spangles of the night " doe sparkle with unusuall light , " heaven puts his cloudy tresses by , " and smiles on him with open skie , " whilst all the planets seem to throw " their golden radience at his brow , " which by reflection divine " shall thence upon his subjects shine . " th' imperiall thunderer , with her " that crownes ad placitum confer , " have sworn by the salt stygian floods , " that glide through the darke midnight woods , " that hee , and his redoubted race , " ( whose acts shall break fames wind to blaze ) " shall wear ( thee dead ) thy diadem , " and adde more lustre to the jem . " seek not to cross fate , lest ( wave like ) " you break upon the rock you strike . " strive not against the stream . alas ! " who spits at heaven , spits in 's own face . . the genius vanished , thereutus laid , in a mixt passion betwixt feare and hate . no sleep he saw with 's prickling eyes , which straid on objects of his fall , his heiers state . soft sleep requires of thoughts a vacancy , shee dwels in tityrvs's not tiberivs eye . . by this the quiristers o' th' wood did shake their wings , and sing to the bright suns uprise , whose new embroaderie did gild and make rich houses tops , and leaves of whistlings trees . modest morn blush'd ' cause sol saw'r rise from bed , as lieer had her cheekes with claret spred . . the king descending said . " come envie , come , " here will be subject for thy pin'd snakes ; hurle " about this brats neck evry loving worm " in clinging foulds , till i bid them uncurle " and break their kn●ts , and shoot at length , and hide " their keen trifork't stings in his malic'd side . . then with a smoothed front he bad good day , and happy omens to old adeling , asking , " what noise was that chas'd sleep away , " sounding like cries of women travelling ? quoth th' hind , " i hope in good time my desire " this night has crown'd and made me a grandsire . . may thy joyes grow with 's yeares , said the great guest , and ask'd the swain on 's hopes young pledge to look , in swadling bands the babe he brought forth drest , whom in his royall armes the monarch took , so flattering juno hugg'd poor semele i' th' likenesse of her nurse old beroe . . whilst here ( with sinon-like imbrace ) he hold the tender child , the cottage black cat ran betwixt his legs , and mew'd , whereat ( hee fil'd with deep sense of ●●e prodigie ) waxt wan , knowing such was an omen of the fall of great seianus fortvnes tennis-ball . . but thinking his state 'bove chance , as his sp'rit he call'd home man , and did himself regain , " and ask'd his host if he knew who that night " had been his guest ? a friend , i hope , ( quoth th' swain ) " whom i desire what use you here do find , " to measure not by 'ts own worth , but my mind . . " how much are we a captive to thy love ? " ( the prince repli'd , ) which we with wealth and style " will guerdon . know who did thy kindnesse prove " is the imperiall monarch of this isle , " therevtvs , who thy humble shed will raise to greatnes crown'd with wreaths of oak and bayes . . " nay use thy legs , ( the wight die kneel and shake , ) " since we thy guest were when this bird broke forth " the shell ( his first cage ) t is our will to take " him to our court ( the forge of states and worth ) " there ( if vice checks not ) will we him advance " bove envies sting , or griping reach of chance . . " baptize him tvchesphaira , but this make " thy province , with maternall love and fear " to foster him , our selfe will send and take " him to the tutele of our royall care , " ere twice times measurer , the nimble sun , " hath made the toure of heaven , and his race run . . lest fairies should put him among their rapes , he mark'd him with his signet on the front , so pliable's the virgin wax of babes to take what figure you please stamp upon 't . here 's a poor sheep for th' shambles mark'd , and hate ; thus doth man purpose , but dispose doth fate . . a troop of courtiers shining bright and gay , broad-●y'd in quest of the last-night-lost king ( by diligent scrutiny being led this way ) here found him , mingling breath with abeling . he mounted ( guarded so ) with jove-like port , his course for to direct to his longing court. . but making to an elme of cleanly growth , whereon he ( lest thereby betraid should be to his hosts knowledge his great state and worth ) had hung his crown , s●ifted from the chast tree ; which ( like a charm ) ' gainst thunder fenc'd his hoad , he found one half of 't withered and dead . . a prodigie able to have seiz'd the sense , and routed all powers of a mortall breast . but he ( of passions , well as men , a prince ) soon gather'd up himself , and them supprest . and since game 's heleborum , he once more , to chase sad thoughts away , would chase the boar. . the jolly horn did chafe the blunt beasts ears , and with loud accents lent the woods a voice . he , whose tough brawny sides were proofe ' gainst spears , eccho'd the jangling pack with as great noise . the game is rouz'd , the ●iend from 's cabin springs . pursuit like lightning puts on eagles wings . . the swine unto a bay was soon brought , since the last daies labour being stiffe and soar , the hounds beleager'd him , and the brave prince with 's javelins point his churlish breast did gore . he , wounded , howles , the huntsmen fill the skies with 's many holla's , as the brute with cries . . even as a ravenous red-bearded pack of serjants , hale ( with taunts ) a poor bankrouter , some drawing on , some thrusting at his back , to one ' o th' city pounds , the killing compter : the dogs seiz'd so , behind some , some before , wounded and drag'd along the gasping boar. . see of a tyrans death an emblem fair ! the grim swines head ( even dreadfull although kil'd ) fixt on a pole was carried in the air . thousands whos 's smiling mouths glad peans fil'd , to meet the conquerer , came out the citty , his paths with boughs they fil'd , his eares with ditty ▪ song . . clubfisted hero , no more thine owne trump be , to tell how you tamed th' arcadian boar : her terrible pawes so rudely did thump thee as even yet thy broad back and bones are full sore . therevtvs doth claim all our praise as his due ▪ alas ! we have none at all left us for you . . archer of heaven , sure-handed apollo , vaunt you no more of the huge pythons slaughter , but whistle to cut , and still thy cart follow , founder not thy team to tickle us with laughter . therevtvs doth claime all our praise as his due ▪ alas ! we have none neither left us for you . . bright youth that wert got in a showre of gold by heavens cuckold-maker , never more warble thy victory over medusa of old that turn'd all that look'd upon her to marble . therevtvs of all our praise hath bereft us , for any other we have no more left us . . now muse to reach the forest put on wing , there taste the rose , and suck in subtlier air , and visit tvchesphaira , who ( fond thing ) thou shalt please better with a plumb or pear than lists of 's honours upon honours pyl'd , i' th morn a poet 's aptest , not a child . . much of mans sand through times wide glasse does run , many of his freshest yeers do periods know . a long part of his lives short web is spun e'r he considers what he 's borne to doe . 'fore he begins his task , or knows what't was , much time he had to do it in , doth passe . . when phoebvs race-nags almost twice had run through the round zodiac their full careere , his toung-strings 'gan to loose , and he begun to lispe argologies . in a whole year though reason rears her tribunall up in man , he cannot shew 't so much as parets can . . now , now began he to be like himselfe , with purile vigour mars , with forinitie venvs , combin'd t' adorn th' dapper elve , doubtlesse two starres which glided from the skie have lighted in his beamy eyes , and there set fixt as in their high olympick sphere . . fair cloris pluck't her lillies , and bespred their silver wealth upon his brow so sleek , his skin with violets she enamelled , and planted a fresh rose on either cheek , where nature painted them with fairer blush than ere they knew upon their thorny bush . . corn crowned ceres with a golden crop uberiously his flourishing head hath grac'd , whereof each sprig is ripe and bows the top . courteous pomona on his plump lips plac'd too early blushing cherries , where they be far more inviting than upon the tree . . did you not hear his lallation , nor see him trip about like mab , you 'd think he were ( as abantiades did andromede ) marmoreum opus , or some statue rare carv'd out of virgin wax , or ivory pure , which had it wings would seem an angel sure . . now did he find his feet and gin to move upon a wheele of danger , were it not restraind , each thing an atropos would prove his web to clip ere scarce to th' rock it got , or fatall axe this new sprung spray to fell , or sextons hand to toule his passing bell. . but from the court his good and evill sprung , there th' king chose out two lords whom he much lov'd men of sound ●ame cicilians among , whose truths oft true as truth its self had prov'd . to these he trusted all the former story , adding thereto this cruell mandatory . . " hast to the grange , there with perfumed words " demand the infant in our royall name , " then dig his side with your remorcelesse swords , " and bear to us the entrailes of the same . " we would not slay if we could safely save , " yet than a throne t is cheaper ' give a grave . . " but seale your lips up , and be sons of night " and silence , if you have ( which i not fear ) " a chinck in you , through which this peeps to light , " our reputation deeply wounded were , " you die like snuffe and stink , our selfly under " the lash of censure , and tongues brutish thunder . . the lords repli'd , " fate love us as we lock " this secret deep from day and peering foes , " firm shall our faiths stand as the pirean rock . " be it your care to see what you impose , " our duty 's to obey . bright cicil's sun " you are a god , and your high will be done . . just as the king decreed the babe to slay , the sea burst forth , and bellowing rag'd along , and half the city thindaris bore away . " so just is heavent ' avenge the guiltlesse wrong . the brine too in the haven turn'd fresh and sweet , as once before , when denis lost his seat . . the nobles hasted to the swaine , so free from the loud tumult and the roar of state , of him the infant they demanded ; hee ( making each slowing eye wet griefes floudgate ) deliverd him fraught with a thousand blisses , seal'd with as many ceremonious kisses . . home wards they took their way , and by and by their bounding steeds they checked , having reacht a bushie grove , pricking the lookers eye , as if the thornes them teares and pitty teacht , and shak't their armes , as if they 'd let them know they meant to scratch them if they gave the blow . . the lords to execute the kings command emptied the sheath of the sharp threatning skive , for which the silly babe reacht forth his hand , thrice touch'd and rac'd his tender skin the knife , and thrice his smiles drew forth their teares ; once more they did begin and ended as before . . " betide us life or death , live still ( at least " for us ) they said , and so threw down the blade . " herein shall we obey our soveraigne best " that he by our hand is not guilty made . " who serves his prince in what is judg'd unjust " by his own law , serves not his power , but lust . . but ' cause the monarch charged them to bring his entrailes , they a young pig slew with hast , resolv'd to bear his inwards to the king , since every man within is like this beast . and some without , whom malice and strong wine make churlish as a hog , drunk as a swine . . since by a wolfe romes founders suckled were , great cyrvs by a bitch rob'd of her young , troy's fire-brand , hot paris , by a beare , jove by a goat the swelling hills among , for this poor innocent were there hopes as good ifleft to the wild nurses of the wood. . in an old hollow oke , whose top a swarme of bees ( the muses birds ) had made their hive they left the child , with gold , and 'bout his arm bracelets of jems whose shine with 's eyes did strive . these their loves gave , that who so him should find might be , if not for loves , for wealths sake kind . . the lords then to the king did spur on hast ( whose every thought 'bout their succes did wake , ) shaking with scorn the entrailes of the beast , entring the presence , thus they silence brake . " live great therevtvs , behold here all that " the wild beasts teeth , have left of yonder brat . . the king with jvy armes his lords embrac't , ( who had made purchase of his love for ever ) with looks for scorn fit , into fire he cast the pigs ( he thought the infants ) heart and liver , saying , " now dreames are lies , the delphic rood " a trunk of fables , at best common wood . . in the wild desart tvchesphaira laid whom the bees fed with their ambrosiall sweat , whilst with them , as with birds , he ( fearelesse ) plaid , th' insected animalls their stings forgat . the woods plum'd quiristers forsook their neasts to charme him with the wonder of their breasts . . a full dug'd hind came , and her milkie teat gave to the lips of this poor out-cast creature , as 't were his mothers breast he suck'd thereat . reader , think not this story crosseth nature , but read on , and you 'l say , in this the hind was to her selfe , as well as to him , kind . . the fruit o' th' hind ( thus nature wills ) swels so in her straight womb she ne'r could bring it forth , if jove did not his queens task undergo , and ( playing th' midwife ) helpe it to the birth . he tears the skies with thunder , which doth fright her into travell , and her young to light . . the fawne ( well grown allready ) soon forsakes th' pleasure o' th' teat for that of liberty . the dam pain'd with much milk , which bulks and akes in her stiffe dugs , oft succles willingly creatures of different species to ease her , why might not he , as well as beasts , then please her ? . evstachvs , one o' th kings grave counsellours , ( a person both of blood and honour stockt in a long race of vertuous ancestours ) his mind , with deep idea's tir'd , unlockt , and with delight to sweeten his state care , o' th' woods side gat on foot the purblind hare . . the dogs were at a fault , and flockt about snuffing and fawning on the infants tree , which made the patriot ( thinking they smelt out some willy fox there earth'd ) , ride up to see , where , on his back , the smiling boy he found sucking the hind , and stroaking of a hound . . ' cause with rich jems and gold so bright ●e shon the lord of parentage right noble deem'd him , and bore him thence ; lacking himself a son , he fostered , and as his own esteem'd him . who prov'd ( as he of time had got the start ) the early miracle of armes and art. . but here the reader is to be advis'd , that when this youth found in the forest was , evstachvs ( ignorant he was baptiz'd before he found him ) nam'd him ulorvs , the which name he must bear , till my muse can i' th' songs close , call him tvchesphair agen . . therevtvs when bald time upon his wing had stoln his fiftieth yeer for a jub'le revoked exiles from pale wandering , pardon'd state cankers and set captives free , and sham'd darivs in a solemne feast , to which each man of name was call'd a guest . . tilting the day , masquing the night chac't thence , perfumes did raise sweet mists in every room to keep the air in awe of the nice sense , attalick garments cloath'd each swaggering groom , rich tyrian arras evry wall , hung round with meddalls in old gaule or carthage found . . scorning ( there ord'nary ) corinthian plate men quaft in stone at dearer prices sold , at jvory tables , or wood of higher rate they eat , on quilted beds of silk and gold. their wanton tasts had onely in request newest and rarest things , though not the best . . the feather'd river phasis could not yeeld them fowle enow , nor oysters lucrine lake , they spring each thicket , fowle each bush and field , all seas they draw , all ponds in nets they take , circes too ( natures larder ) do they seek to please the witty gluttony of a week . . lachrymae christi flow'd down , and the blood of tuscan grapes swel'd high each joviall mind . had nature lost her species , air her brood , water her spawn , here might they seek , and find . apitivs a carthusian was to these , and aesope's platter a poor scholars messe . . the pallace crackt with weight of thronging guests as theaters when som fine sock is on , evstachvs there was seen among the rest , and with him vlorvs , his reputed son. who now wrot man , and full of hopes most high , assum'd the vesture of virility . . in comvs's heat and pride the glorious king viewing the young man with a setled eye , through his loose hair the print of his seal ring spi'd on his front ; this dash't his jollity . this marke , a mole , his phisnomy assur'd him 't was he ' gainst whom he thought death had secur'd him . . his mirths spred wings were clipt , the pale desire of revenge seiz'd him , with hot fury stockt , but that which swell'd his floud of passion higher , was , that the lords by whom he was so mockt , full of grand honours , wounds , and daies , were dead , and with wet elegies their hearses spread . . rufling his brow , biting his lip he sat waking all forces of his phantasie to guide his wrath : being observ'd , this fit he call'd a spice of an old lethargie . then rallying his wiser thoughts , he spake thus unto the good ( that 's more than great ) evstachvs ; . " how happy are you in a son ( my lord ) " so rich in natures store and arts best things ; " only you ought not so great wealth to hoard , " jems shine not in the quarry , but in rings . " leave him with us at court , so shall he seem " engloried by the place , the place by him . . evstachvs ; covetous of so good hap gave to the king his vlorvs much lov'd : who , as if he upon some courtly lap had alwaies slept a formall courtling prov'd . his mouth the mint of complement , and he the very tyrant in bare courtesie . . his phrase , and gests were followed and allow'd , so full of man his evry act was showne . and ( which was chiefe ) not borrowed it shew'd , but all he did became him as his own , and seem'd as proper , and as naturall as breath with life , or light with radient sol. . which is the soul of courtship , he became the marigold of every ladies shine , teaching each beauty t'give and take a flame , approaching it in its own height and line . all ladies with one luer caught are not , no more than all birds are with one bait got . . the proud he tickeled with praise of theirs , dispraise of others beauties , modes , and dresses . the witty with romants he pleas'd and verse , th' amourous with love legends mixt with kisses . and flourishing still in the spring o' th' fashion , he got a credit beyond admiration . . but now , heaven moved by the late excesse , or by therevtvs tyrannous intent , hot painted feavours clad in spotted dresse ( plagues harbingers ) 'mong the sicilians sent , and ( no auspicious omen ) in each field sholes of hoars ravens unwonted musters held . . then envious stars shot poyson from their sphere , or earth from the dark dungeon belch't it forth , or angry winds did puffe it through the aire . that th' isle one pesthouse made , one grave the earth . o dismall argument ! black subject ! where all comma's sighs should be ! each point a tear ! . the sweeping plague's begun ; some fall , all fear , as when i' th' night fires are discovered . fates ( as if vext they meant to blunt their sheares ) warps by whole hanfulls cut , not threed by threed . mortall abaddon with keen sickle hovers , flesh like grasse mowing , making few passeovers . . think but how fast at evry puffe of wind from trees the mellow leaves in autume glide , i' th' steps of cattell some interment find some on the wings of wanton briefes ride : so in this busie terme of death folk dy'd faster than those alive could graves provide . . no songs , but dirges , fill'd the infected air , no musick but the bells sad knells is heard . pebles which erst much peoples feet did wear and pollish , now , with grasle oregrown , churchyard rather than street seem ; along which there wave black beers , that strive wch first should reach the grave . . churchyards so delv'd and harrow'd are , none now as type of resurrection grasse affords this death ( a schismatick ) will not allow of ceremony , men on slings and boards uncovered are posted to the grave , which , although free land , none may single have . . that best of nature , neighberhood , was gon , with hateles treason , friends by friends breath dy'd . they 're safest who like salvage live alone , and although debtlesse , from this serjant hide . no help is left but all helpe to forgo , to joyn their forces were t' augment their foe . . for deaths use seized are all naked streets , which who so dares adventure to passe by , a presse of thronged funeralls he meets , and people that their lofty mansions fly . daring to dying sheds their lives commit , which each blast shakes into a palsie fit . . each carkase of a grange hath guests , some hide in vacant windmills , some in tented boat on watry floores , rock'd by the tumbling tide with their sick houshould at dead anchor flote . yea who no tilt could hope but open skies dare home forsake , so sicil sicil flies . . palermo differ'd from palermo so as doth a tree which erst did blow and bear , but naked in december stands , like to a skelleton , ratling its bones all bare . such solitude as this i' th' waxen town appeares when th' winged hony host is flown . . as prudent mice from salling roofes make hast , and thence to sounder walls for shelter flee : so from sick sicilie her brood flock't fast to neighbouring isles , as caene and strongile , now with like luck as when two suns appeare ' tk'clouded skie , two sicilies there were . . therevtvs selfe from 's royall place retir'd to 's tusculanium in the countrey , not built to envious show but health desir'd , and to th' adjacent islles aeoliae , ( where aeolus his throne of old was seen ) he sent his onely daughter and great queen . . the queen hymetta , whose each part a story of beauty was , ' oove wonder far renown'd , of her fair fex she the faire crown and glory , who yet all these stiaines in her vertues drown'd . but her chiefe elogie ( to veile all other ) is this , she was th●●are rosella's mother . . sosella , without whom the court was dark , fresh morn her handmaid was , and roses strew about loves hemisphere ; each heavenly spark wheg she arose , ecclipz'd , and sad withdrew for shame to be out-shin'd by her bright eyes , who , more than they the earth , did gild the skies . . old jvno , seeing a new let her plumes fall , the graces wondred at themselves to see they'd fram'd a grace that far surpast them all , and had exhausted quite their treasury to shame themselves by one , on whose each part fame might spend all her voice , verse all her art. . she was of goddesses a rapsodie , boasting avrora's rosie fingers small , satvrnia's stately front , pallas grey eye , venvs her dimpled chin , and beauties all. of ceres daughter the life-wasting wast , and gorgons curled hair , before it hist . . she was the onely loadstone of all eyes , she was the onely touchstone of all hearts , the whetstone of all braines and phantasies , making each freshman master in loves arts. she chew'd with studs of pearle , with rubies kist , she look'd with diamonds rescuing day from mist . . this saint and angell both did harbour give to as much winning beauty as could die , and to more heavenly vertues than doe live , which in her blest urne i 'l let quiet lie , lest all to whom such miracles are told , or turne idolaters , or think her old . . a venvs and diana mixt in one she was , whose wit was even in greenest yeers flowing as nectar , ripe as autumn showne , and crown'd with graces envy'd by white haires : which who can tell ? and yet who cannot tell ? well may i praise her , but not praise her well . . to do it meanely were no lesse disgrace , than a course garment to a princely dame , or homely painting to a lovely face , or a brasse setting to a precious gemme . think not weak muse by thy low song to raise her t is praise enough that none enough can praise her . . here of this wonder of nice natures sweat taking my leave , i am for sicilie imbark'd , from whence phoebvs withdrew his heat and fled , as he too fear'd the malady . winter the isle shut up in icie bars as close as sicknesse did the islanders . . with the years heat ( plagues nurse ) the plague outwore , the mortall angell sheath'd his sword , the street put off its mossie mantle , and once more began a new acquaintance with mens feet . still piles are built and blaze , still bells loud call , but for devotion more than buriall . . all aske what frends heavens besom swept away , and who is left . all gape for fresher air , and like stags snuffing 'bout the fields they stray ; so fishes stifled with long ice repair unto the hole , when as the leatherine hine with axes break the frost to water kine . . now men with health ( as swallowes with the spring ) again to their dear mothers bosome run , once more palermo the desired king blest with his presence , shewing like the sun scattering th' egyptians long loath'd night away , or out black chaos striking christall day . . he seeing admired vlorvs become the tenth sphere of the court , drawing all after him , and daily triumphing ore the hearts of some : griev'd that the fatall angell spar'd to slaughter him , he sate in councell with his thoughts , at strife how to remove his fear , the youngmans life . . his busie braine was like an howerglasse , wherein imaginations like sands ran filling up hasty time , but then ( alas ! ) were turn'd and turn'd and ended as began , so that he knew not what to stay upon , and lesse to crown with execution . . to thrust him out of life sans processe , were to blot himselfe out of the rolls of fame , to send him to the wars , in hope that there quick death might find him , were t' augment his fame , a hero lockt in brasse will force all breath to chant his trophees brave , or braver death . . taking the wisest counsell of his brain , at last invention prompted a course to him for which he hug'd his wit and cruel veine , and this was mask'd in friendship to undo him . malice in love disguiz'd was in all time most safe and common held , yet is 't a crime . . so poysonous snakes in roses ly in wait , and lurke in honny-dropping grasse to sting . so the hyenna murders by deceit . so from the rocks th' alluring syrens sing , and call down the high notes of the sweet spherse before they prey , to fill the wretches eares . . the senat of his thoughts decreed to send the young man to the queen t' aeoliae with secret letters ; feigning as a friend the honouring of him with the embassie , which was , that as soon as he should await her she privily execute him for a traytor . . to paper he this mandate did commit , and with his seal enjoyn'd it secrecy . then charg'd his favorit ulorvs with it unto his queen on hasts spred wings to flie . from david so , to joab once before uriah his one fatall sentence bore . . the favourite ( proud of the employment ) rode attended with no long yet trusty train to the next port , his vent'rous foot there trod upon the rude throat of the scalding main . favonivs and thetis mixt in one to blesse him with kind transfretation . . about the noon of night he reach't the shore , and took up's quarters in a common inne , where ( partly , ' cause for manners sake , before the sun had , he would not salute the queen . partly to compose his sea shuffled head ) he made his cloaths poor to make rich his bed. . one of his traine ( having athenian ears itching for news ) much longing to descry his lords quick message , when the band of cares soft sleep had seiz'd him and his company , he crept into his chamber in the dark , and stole his packet thence , whilst none did mark . . being no novice in that knavish trick of ripping seales , and closing them again , ( a burglary baser than locks to pick ; for that robs but our coffers , this our braine , ) not dar'd by 's kings dumb face , he opened nicely his royall packet , and thus read . t. r. ad h. r. therevtvs to his queen hymetta dear sends the same health which he enjoyeth here . rebecca's twins , love , hatred , this scroule beares , the first is thine , the last this messengers , whom we have thus employ'd , that we migh have by this unsmelt means , safety , he a grave . this ulorvs is th' ague of our reigne , he shakes it , as windes stoll'n into earths veine doe our dull staggering mother . he 's the ill conscience o' th' state , that ne'r lets it be still . 't was in our thoughts by just help of our lawes that this effect might cease , to seize the cause . but being such a minion of the rude beast with so many heads , the multitude ; we judg'd him not here , in their sights , to die , lest they mistake justice for tyranny in us , and in themselves rebellion for pitty ; lest our bark of state split on these rocks , we 've sent him to your court , that there his death may be close as his treasons here . if of his fate you can all eyes prevent wee 'l father it upon some accident . how e'r do 't ; if you can't stop fames wild breath wee 'l draw up's posthume processe after 's death . grieve not to nip this young weed in the bloom , a young wolfes death to soon can never come . yet were it cruell , t is fate is harsh not wee , selfe preservation warrants crueltie . sicilie ▪ t. rex . . " alas ! ( quoth th' servant ) whilst my lord aimes at " the honour of being but a royall post , " his selfe is lost . so patient chymists get " but smoke , dust , hope , for all their reall cost . " so th' dog that on the waters face did catch " at th' shaddow of his morsell , lost the flesh . . " poor mercvry , whose being so 's thy death ! " losing true treasure for an empty name , " thy selfe for honour , yet but breath for breath , " the breath of life for the fond breath of fame ! " ah! how much more than pitty t is to fell " a blooming spray that sprouts so straight and well ! . " brood with me hermes , help this plot to hatch , " that this anti-ixion whose strift is " to grasp but a cloud , airy fame , may catch " a reall jvno , or a fairier piece , " what though he nor rewards nor knows my pain ? " in vertuous acts the very doing's gain . . " or t is a crime or none t' have op'd this letter . " if none , i 've pleas'd my selfe , not wrong'd the king. " if t is a sin , to purge it no way 's better " than good out of intended evill to bring . this said , he took a blank , and altering the mind of the monarchs letter thus wrot he . the kings letter changed . therevtvs to his queen hymetta dear , sends the same health which he enjoyeth here . this paper barke a freight of love doth bear ▪ to be shar'd 'twixt thee and this messenger , whom we have made so , that he may inherit ( to all our joyes ) the meed of his high merit . this ulorvs , so high fam'd , and so allow'd ( of whom our court , and natures selfe is proud ; to whom both pallas arts alike are shear'd , a sage philosopher without a beard . who , if his mind as his green yeers increase , his age will alwaies than himself be lesse . ) we 've sent t' attend you , that you may behold the truth that unbeliev'd report hath told though too too nigardly of his great worth . to honour vertue is to set it forth . we will you treat him then with every rare device that love and honour can prepare . since our people , gilding each act of his with liking , make it better than it is , since they 've given up themselves unto him , so as they 've a law within themselves to doe his mandats binding , and that law is love which princes as their strongest fort approve . since fate denies us a male birth to be the atlas of our realme and family , ( but had we aegiptvs's number , none could be worthier such honour than this mercvrie ) therefore i' th' carnavall ( midst mirth and laughter ) we will you marry him to our only daughter . muse not we speak of consummation , ere thet's due approaches made ; for young and fair have made acquaintances in nature , so when their eyes meet they have the lesse to do . sicilie . t. rex . . now wrapt he up this scroule so counterfaite in the same fashion as the king had his , then ript ( with curious heed ) the seale from that , and with a wafer fixt it ( whole ) to this . next to the chamber ( on fears socks ) he crept , and left it there , whilst still his master slept . . soon as the early lark even tir'd with rest , from his moist cabinet sprung up on high , waking the morning , from whose dewy breast heavens wandring knight rose to his errantry , th' embassadour don'd rich embroideries pride , and to the court his paces did divide . . whilst there he waited in a gallery . hung round with titians and rare hylliards hands , the queen stept in , clad in such majesty as the great goddesse that ties nuptiall bands used , when she did contend on ida's plain , from beauties queen beauties bright prize to gaine . . low on his knee he kist her royall hand , then fil'd it with the packet , ( by happy blisse for him ( without him ) from its first self chang'd ) which read , she gave once more her hand to kisse . and putting on her best looks to delight him , she to a royall banquet did invite him . . now they descended to the pallace hall , where hundred objects claim'd his doubtful eye , which though the least alone had fil'd it all , was famished amidst variety . now this he tasts , then that he glances on , diversity confounds election . . but gather up thy sense and fortifie , weaknesse in fractures , strength in union lies . now youth the valour of thine opticks try , here , here an object comes that's worth all eyes . but ( as who stares as sol finds night at noon ) she having such bright ones make all else have none . . rosella the rare princesse ( in quaint dressing of sea green tabie , whose wat'ring seem'd apace like waves to move with her , the lace expressing silver rocks ) enter'd , with such winning grace as cypria wore , when of troys royall swain she ( worthily ) did beauties prize obtain . . her hair , alas ! too cold a word ! her beames o'r-shaddowing her robe with loose command out-shin'd his rayes that gild the tottering streames . her bared breasts appear'd loves scylla and charibdis , betwixt whom no eye might steer but must ( perforce ) becom a prey to her . . her stomacher was cloath of gold vail'd ore with subtle tiffana , to shew the land , strew'd with such margarites as inrich the shore , and spangles , crookt , like shells that paint the sand . the gum'd silk's whistling must be understood , vvltvrnvs milder breath curling the floud . . the youth made haste his trembling knee to bend ( as dazled pilgrims 'fore some glorious shrine ) with devout feare he kist her melting hand ( as they doe reliques , or some rag divine ) now rights he out his knee , but still doth look like to an aguish asp that 's planet strook . . she also felt a civill war in her distracted thoughts , all forts wild passion seiz'd . love generall , quarter'd in her eyes while ere ( making her browes bowes to shoot all that gaz'd ) from those frontiers , unto her heart retir'd , where finding reason possest , the fort he fir'd . . reason his blinde foe with cowardize then taunteth saying noblest conquerers do wreeks avoid . he answers , if a heart rosella wanteth , i 'l give her ulorvs his to be enjoy'd , yet that must flame first , for like gold we prove hearts must be fin'd and melted ere they love . . if their hearts , gentle tyrant ( reason reply'd ) smell sweetest in the flames , like cassia , if they ( like martyrs , though their sect divide ) will accord best in their sweet misery , let us love too , and blow the coal together , good reason , they , young and fair , should love each other . both did desire , both were desir'd , though neither knew eithers wish ; yet saw they whence their griefe sprung , even from whence they must expect their cure , yet fear'd , who would kill would denie reliefe . love mixt so with them by his mistick arts as he soon had for trophies both their hearts . . the heart-rob'd youth resolved , by his tongue his hearts atturny , his sute to commence , but was a drawing up the charge so long new wounds came thick , and th'formers griefe chac'd thence . yet when to make the motion he 'd assay his words were crusht to sighs , and all was ah! . she eccho'd him , thinking each sigh did bring loves summons , she , by hers ▪ her yeelding sent ▪ whereat the feather'd wag did io sing and in her fresh cheeks pitcht his crimson tent , displaying his blush-colour'd ensigns there , shewing his almighty self as conquerer . . the tables furnisht were as they 'd invite a bedrid stomach that surcharged lies with potions to a freshmans appetite . but ulorvs best dish was rosella's eyes ▪ as lovers use when their mawes call to eat , he cut his fingers in the stead of mear . . and with much gazing on ( heavens map ) her face he hungry rose , ( in this too like a lover . ) his words he left halfe spoke , or did misplace , or ( lover like still ) he spake them twice over . questions were put , but when he would reply his answers ( lover like ) were quite awry . . the joyous queen with smiling cheer did see the wounding friends shoot their hearts each at other through their eyes , hoping every look would be a new dart , to continue them together ; she strait commands a masque , then doth invite them to grace the short bravery of the night . . the nimble masquers danc't as movingly as joves nine twins on the pierian lawnes , or thebes stones a amphion's melody , or brisk pan and his herd of light heel'd fawnes . but how could their feets freedom please this pair whose hearts lay tangled in each others hair ? . such melody courted their ears to hark as th'orbes harmonious journey make , which they no more regarded than the child doth marke his lesson , when he hath got leave to play : for how could orphevs raptures take those eare● whose notes were onely sighs , their closes teares . . now the ones eyes laid themselves open wide to receive all the darts the other threw , then were they close with admiration tied to keep the wealth they had already drew , or cast their lids as curtaines ore the rare image of beauty each look painted there . . affection encreas'd their looking , and their looks augmented their affections , their eyes ( like children 'fore whom sweet-meats stand ) eager , but fearfull of their guardians . when one did sigh , as if that sigh were to be waited on , the other sigh'd also . . the scene is clos'd up , the soule mingling-pair ( whose fancies travell'd undelivered with throes of feare desier and despaire ) more overcast with thought than sleep , were led to severall lodgings , there they vent their breasts with sighs and wishes , the rest retir'd to rest . . when sol the captain of the planets bright came arm'd in burnisht tinsell to heavens guard , to relieve the winking centinels of night , and give them leave to rest whilst he would ward ; the princesse , seeing sleep was banisht fro her weary bed , she left it empty too . . so day broke out of chaos hurling night unto the center . so the skie-wanderer unfetters from the armes of amphitrite . so roses break forth and perfume the air . only the first , the second , the last , be not halfe so cleer , so bright , so sweet , as she . . now stood shee like the beautious aphrodite new risen from her frothy mothers bed , her purer smock lookt much like that pure white foam that the goddesse limbs yet all bespred . her bed ( like bodies when their soules are flown ) turn'd pale and cold for griefe that she was gon . . a mantle of green velvet ( wrought to wonder ) her maidens o'r her curious limbes did cast , it over her left shoulder went , and under her right arm ; on her breast it was made fast with claspes of radient diamons , now as a dazie shew'd she , in a field of grasse . . now th' queen her mother came , and did impart to her the message from the king was brought . this somewhat lightened her heavy heart , to think what she so wisht her father sought . but then her joyes did flag again , through fear lest he she so lov'd , took no thought for her . . by this the climbing sun with warmth doth thaw and tender make the of-late crusty earth , each naked twig blood from the root doth draw to swell the branch , and give a lively birth to the dead leaves , now fill'd again within with plump juice , and without painted with green . . the pretty firstlings of the infant year now make their mother smile ▪ and their gay heads ( which late in icy graves did dead appear ) advance afresh above their easie beds , like types o' th' resurrection , and shew like weeping virgins all bepearl'd with dew . . the groves shrill quiristers whose frozen throats late wanted motion and male heat to strain their little organs , now have found their notes . now philomela's tongue is grown again , she scrues her sprightly seraphins voyce up high , to teach men art from natures melody . . now all things else smile with the forward spring , no vine so young now feares the blasting stormes that foul-mouth'd auster carries on his wing , or the south-west wind hurries in his armes . no rugged boreas blows , but zephyr's calm sweep flowry gardens , and the air embalme . . so smil'd the daies from chaos first when sprung , as now , then did the loughing oxe repair not to warm stalls , but open fields ; among the woods herds dwelt , and chattering birds the air fill'd with their song ▪ then natures frame t' uphold heaven temper'd this sweet mean , nor hot , nor cold . . this serene season seemed to beseech the sweet rosella ( earths and heavens pride ) net only one poor chamber to enrich and so impoverish ev'ry place beside , but to walk forth and with her smiles to bring an early summer on the forward spring . . the grasse did court her soft tread , and then wept for griefe that she so soon off it was gon , and perfum'd teares upon her small foot left . the flowers that did require no other sun as she approacht did start from their soft beds , and for a sight of her , steal out their heads . . here in an odorous bower rich in shade she took a seat , whereon a primrose grew . " flora's first daughter ! ah! ( she sighing , said ) " how like me in my loving state art thou ! " blubber'd with dew thou standst , and in mine eares " to whisper seem'st , loves sweets are washt with teares . . " how yellow green and sick thy leaves appear ! " like ripening girles that junket on loam walls , " or feast on chalk and coals ; to earth how neer " thy weak stalk bends , yet neither breaks nor falls . " these to the nimble fancy do discover " the doubts and fear-shaken hopes are in a lover . . whilst here she sate one the embroidered ground musing on her new love , her busie head with thoughts was crowded . now reason would have found no cause to love , because no hope to speed , then love crost that ; when from a grot hard by her shady couch , she heard this melody . song . . of all dread monarchs falls , i wonder lest at thine cyrvs of persia . the son may fall , and 's plumes adorn thy crest , but thou must be the mothers prey . with men to fight that sex hath ods that triumphs both o'r men and gods. . in peace , their arrowes s●ay , yet draw no blood , in war , they win when lose the day . though captives , on their conqu'rers necks they tread , and the fierce victor make their prey . strong sex ! who from your chaine is free , that though he foyles ye , bound must be ? . the eccho of the grot much added to the voyce and words , but for this cause it was sweet musick in rosella's eare , she knew by th' tone it came from her dear ulorvs , whom thus ( known though unseen ) in his own strain she answered , and he repli'd again . rosella . . no , no , the yoak must ever gall our neeks our harsh fates made us to obey . in childhood we observe our parents becks , then men doe steale our hearts away . wretched as weak our sex is grown whose wills and hearts are ne'r our own , vlorus . . how wretched 's he whose fortune lower lies than his love will bow unto 't ? joves royall bird preys not on silly flies , shrubs wither at the cedars root . fond icarvs , rather then die tame with secret griefe than open shame . rosella . . how fond is he his sword away will throw ere victory to his foe flies ! the highest sun doth daign to shine below , palmes supprest doth higher rise . then live , or let thy fall b fair by brave attempts , not base despaire . . when her sweet grace this word of comfort gave to her sad servant , now so nigh despair , she , modest , blusht , he smil'd , and seem'd to have new sp'rit infus'd to him by her kind air . resolv'd at last his doubtfull prize to try , and by her favour live , or frowning die . . she his approaches met as the ccole stream doth bathing virgins , when they first uncase and come nigh , the coy nymph to stop them seem , but enter'd , she their limbs kisse and embrace . now nothings wanting but the churches rites to fill with joy their daies , with sport their nights . . th' youth to the foresaid bower would oft resort to kisse the leaves his mistris sate among . there one day musing of his future sport he in an extasie this rapture sung . think not this humors madnesse , wise men say all great wits have of madnesse some allay . a rapture . . come ( fairest ) through the fleeting skie le ts cut a way with nimble pace , on cvpids pointed wings le ts flie to paradise , which is my place where i may banquet on thy face . . hark! the springs quiristers conspire with aires might make an hermit dote t' invite us to their leavy quire , and philomela's well-strung throat is tun'd with an alluring note . . the flowrie floore's embelished with cloris's painted tapsterie , by nymphs at loves command here spred , who meant that these should be for thee a downy bed , and thou for me . . no spies shall lurk here to reveale to eares that itch with jealousie the houres of pleasure we two steale : great jove knew no such liberty when he imbrac'd bright danae . . being set , le ts sport a while ( my deare ) ) i will look babies in thine eye , which shall i' th' shade make sun-shine cleer , and love knots in thy locks i 'l tie wherein my heart doth fetter'd lie . . i 'l turne loves bee , and feast a while on either rose which kindly do unite in thy fair cheek , whose smile might make a cynick love thee too , and tempt him from his tub to woo . . i will bedew with fervent kisses the fresh adonis on thy lip that balmy theater of blisses , chorus of kisses there shall skip and in unnumbred galliards trip . . the violets of thy veines i 'l tast that in blew archt meanders lay ▪ thence to the vale of lillies hast in whose smooth allyes i will stray , and 'mong their mazes lose my way . . next downwards i 'l my way devoure , to loves sweet-bramble bush i 'l fly , and cull from evry spicy flower fresh bag 's of hony , till that i have swell'd therwith my laden thigh . . then to thy hive my load of balme i 'l bring , where ( as in thought before ) halfe smothered in a sweaty qualme , i will unlade my plenteous store , and roam about thy fields for more . . now 'gan their hymeneal's to approach , the time 's set . titan , oft the youth did say oftner the maid , lash on thy lazy coach : how thick thy cri'd , kind phosphorvs bring the day . it came at last ( though their desires thought late , ) then these doves coupled , in this masque-like state. . bright juga jvno's orgies are begun , above her altar in a saphire cloud her airy majesty displaid her throne , supported by two peacocks gay and proud . the charming spirits of the air did beat their sacred concords 'bout her starry seat , . with a white diadem her brow was crown'd from whence a swelling veile descended , flying , whose upper end a silken fascia boun'd of severall hues , the many dies implying the various mutations of the skie , of causing these she having th' faculty . . the wealthiest gems in neptvnes cabinet shon on her fascia , in the top high with roses blooming as her cheek , and set with pestan lillies , which her milk did die that from her brest dropt , when jove thence did pluck her privignus , laid there by stealth to suck . . a royall scepter in her right hand shon , her left a timbrell held ; her golden feet a lyons shaggie hide trampled upon . thus in her argive temple did she set , as ' t' were insulting o'r her lords two scapes , the monster-master , and the god of grapes . . the region of fier in an even circle was ever whirling 'bove her seen : jove standing in the top , ( figuring the heaven ) brandishing flaming bolts as if he 'd been to charge the gyant host . iris below her saphrie throne , bent her enammel'd bow. . eight ladies 'bout her altar measur'd paces , enstil'd her powers or her faculties , veil'd , lest all mortals with their dazling graces should ( as th' armed boy did ) lose their eyes . all these some surname bore given properly to jvno , for some nuptiall mystery . . the first was cvris , nam'd from th' sabine sphere that hasta coelibaris , that had stuck in the slain gladiator : the brides hair with this she did divide , and keem and deck , to tell her , as in him that fast did ' bide , so close must she unto her male be ty'd . . or it portended valiant men to come out of her loynes , or else this badg of sway denoted her subjection to her groom : or rather it might be in memory of their first marriages , by force contracted with them that came but to see psaies , yet acted . . next unxia with her wollen fillets stood the posts and columnes of th' houset ' adorn , and to annoint with hollow'd oyles approv'd and fat of wolves and beares mixt in a horn e'r the bride enters : to expell thereby all frights and evills from the family . . the third was jvga ( that soul-mingling grace ) in silken yoak the loving pair that bind ready to vnion to sacrifice two hearts melted and mixt into one mind . thus as two maids of different sex made one and to that state restor'd that first was known . . the fourth takes care that they remaine so still , gamelia , that behind the altar throws the gall : no strife is left , no stubborn will , but peace and love and faith betwixt them growes . such was the golden chain let down from heaven of linkes consisting thus well joyn'd and even . . the fift and sixt were iterdvca , and her sister domidvca , these are they that were the brides fair footsteps to attend when to her spouses house she took her way . the seventh was cinxia , that defends the maid quit of her zone , whilst in that state she staid . . the last was telia , she that crowneth all , that brings the gratefull hower , and excites lovers to reap the fruit of their long thrall , embracements , kisses , and those short delights and melting toyes chast love allowes ; the same that gives perfection , and a womans name . . the altar drest , first to it did approach the quinque corei attir'd in white . these were five pages , bearing each a torch of virgin wax ; their number , in the rites imply'd perfection , seeing five is the number whence sweet union claimes her blisse . . the bridgroome , behind these , with myrtle crown'd walk'd ( like loves champion ready for the lists ) with longing looks . his hair was short and bound with party-colour'd ribbands and gold twists . her garments hues the whitest lillies stain'd , and ruddy'st roses that e'r xevxis feign'd . . in saffron-colour'd robes next hymen came , his under vestures white , his socks were gold , his head with roses crown'd and marjoram : a torch of pine tree his right hand did hold , his left a blushing veile , to signifie the bedded virgins bashfull modesty , . then came camillus , a young youth in white , bearing a torch of white and blooming thorn , to fright all malice with the ominous light , in sign too of increase this tead was born . next came a rock and spindle , nothing good these shew , gives check unto the highest bloud ▪ . 'twixt them the lovely bride was led ; her head a ros●e crown had like a turret made , her loosly flowing hair with grey was shed to shew she enter'd to a matrons state . wherfore a weathers snowie fleece was worn at her back , that she might not labour scorn . . her robe so white , was nothing else durst vie with it , but her pure skin . bout her small wast in many many folds and contrary circles her virgin zone of wool was cast , yet met in one herculean , that binds , to intimate , so should all married minds . . with fire and water th' auspices came next , to shew , that as each birth is helpt to life by female moisture with male heat well mixt : so for their likenesse sake joyn man and wife . last , the musicians came , with rosebuds crown'd , strayning their organs high , this air to sound . song . virgins imprison your liberall flowing hair in ribbands white : bright vnions altar , and her rites prepare , her cl●er pines light and io sing , then dew your eyes ' cause you are not the sacrifice . . now leave yee jvno's orgies to begin the gods whose nights outshines his daies so far . th' idalian star that so long wisht hath been now gives alarum to the peacefull war. and chides you for dalaying rites behind that have , though lesse of state , yet more of kind . . see! mirtles trim your way . see ▪ roses there flow in whole showers , and violets seem to grow i' th' chamber , as if venvs mead it were , where you shall revell in loves sphere , and know nor fear , nor change ; exalted far above even hope , and th' wheel that spins the fates of love. . the zones strong knots the gallant has unti'd , and 's ready other pretty difficulties t' encounter . matrons sage have plac'd his bride , whilst he then out his cloathes like lightning flies and shoots himself into her bosome , notes wee 'l borrow of the spheres to tune these votes . epithalamium . to bed , yee two in one united , go , passe doves in billing : mix ye , and struggle till your marrow flow , embrace more willing than th' loving palmes ( great vnions wonder ) that ne'r bore any fruit asunder . be young to either , when winter and grey haires your heads shall climbe , may your affections like the merry spheres still move in time ; and may ( with many a good presage ) your marriage prove your merry age. . next day , when the fair bride might boast a name more noble , and ' rose perfect as her mother , all sorts joyn'd hands to celebrate her fame , and grace the pomp with some device or other . songs lull'd the aier , and the battering feet of tilting steeds dull earth to motion beat . . the honest swaines , whose rustick paines and love , the noblest princes are too high to scorne , joyn'd in a pastorall , both their mirth to move and shew what dutious minds by them were born . to name no more , there willie to his mate . the last daies pomp thus bluntly did relate . a ballade vpon the wedding . . i tell thee jack as i sought out a stragling lambe which straid about the hony-suckled plaine , mine eyes met such brave things i' th' way , as i ne'r saw before that day nor never shall againe . . from yon gay house there came a band of simpring courtiers hand in hand , drest wondrous brave and fine . but o their leader was a lad in such a gaudy habit clad , as he did all out-shine . . our lord o' th' town bears not such port when he sits talking law i' th' court , with 's tenants round about . should he be on the green at night , ( jack ) thee and i each lasse would slight , and crowd to take him out . . but wot you why he went so gay , it seems it was his wedding day , and now to church he go . me thought he lookt oft at the sun , as if he wisht his race were run , so did the bride also . . the bride ! the bravest in the row our town and all our hundred too can 't shew the like i 'l swear . i ne'r saw lady at a may or shrovetide , or on whitsonday that with her might compare . . of a pair of indies i 've been told , where men find precious stones and gold , i wot not where they are . nor doe i wind to go to see , but doubtlesse if such things there be i think they 'r both in her . . the east , the tramells of her hair gilt by phaebus beames appear like to a golden fleece , more rich and fair than that which was stollen by the colchan witch and the bold youth of greece . . her sparkling eyes are jems so fair , their lustre dims the twinckling star which bids us shepherds fold . her lips be corrall of great price , her breath is violet buds , and spice whose worth cannot be told . . the other indies men call west , these she hath too , and he is blest that sought their secret treasure ; but did he dig in those mines though , so oft as some in thought did do , he 'd labour'd out of measure . . her milkie skin and front did show like meadowes clad in winters snow or cotshall wool new drest ; or like the girdle of the skie , or a smooth mount of ivory , or like to curds new prest . . her cheeks ( wherein both roses joyne ) seem'd milk commixt with claret wine , such as we drank last may day . no tulip e'r such colour wore , they look'd like strawberries sugar'd o'r , such as we eat last play day . . when to the new swept church they came , the lightning which this princely dame shot from her eyes so bright struck blind the parson , so that he poor beauty-blasted man , could see scarcely to read aright . . for all his coat or gravity , i think he wisht as ill as i or any that stood by her . though all did look as who should say their very soules did melt away , and drop before the fire . . the rites done ( which like long grace do but keep them off that would fall to ) the two , now one , went home , and call'd the waiters ( sans delay ) to serve the dinner up , though they had their feast yet to come . . the cooks to give the guests content had plundred every element , and rifled sea and shore . beshrew my heart i ne'r did see boards deckt with such variety , and laden with such store . . now were our heads with rosebuds crown'd and flowing cups ran swiftly round , wee all did drink like fishes ; that joy and pleasure may betide the bridegroome , ' specially the bride , each lusty gallant wishes . . the womens eyes dwelt on the maid , some lik't this lace , some that , and said 't was a la mode du france . and drew the picture of the peak : but then the youth did silence break , and call'd them forth to dance . . no dapper elves or light-heel'd fawnes could nimblier trip it o'r the lawnes , or faries o'r the green . though by the bride all were as far outstript as frisking faries are by mistris mab the queen . . no jack a lent danc'd such a way , no sun upon an easter day is such a bonny sight . yet in her eyes i read that she meant to outstip her selfe , and be much nimbler far at night . . now supper came and healths went round , in full fill'd crowned bowles we drown'd the slow and tedious day . in singing , kissing oft , and dancing , in sighing , wishing well , and glancing , we drave the time away . . till th' nightingale did chant her vesper and our curl'd dogs were warn'd by hesper to congregate our sheep . till the gay planet of the east took leave of iris , and did hast to 's sea-green couch to sleep . . now ( jack ) th' unwilling willing bride , with th'busie virgin crew , aside was stoll'n to undresse . the youth whose active blood began to strike up loves tantarra , cam within an hower and lesse . . in came he , where she blushing lay , like to a musk-rose into a lap full of lillies cast . what pitty t is we still should stay , and make them riper joyes delay , only a kisss to tast ! . but still as 't were to crosse their blisse , the bridemaids banquet enter'd is , the youth devour'd it halfe , to end it , not his tast to please . for minding those sweats comming , these were dull , as whey and chaffe . . at last , the lights and wee , went out . now what remain'd to do , they do 't . some say they danc'd a jig . if so ( jack ) 't was but such as that that thou and i i' th' bower had with betty and with peg. . but ah ! how short's the tenure of mans blisse on this side immortality ! alas ! the gaudiest fate with black lines dapled is . what mortall e'r so bright a day did passe , but viewing o'r the howers at night , has seen some he had wish'd had not so gloomy been ? . yee happy hermits ! secur'd by kind fate , from the gilt curse of fortunes flattery ! your blisse alone enjoyes a fixed seat , ours ebb and flow ; you only wealthy be in voluntary poverty , and still pleas'd what e'r comes , since what 's heavens is your will. . whilst we are the blind idoll fortune's sport , we are her balls ( stufft ( ah ) how beggerly ) the world so hazzardfull's her tennis-court , contents the cord , her bandying rackets be hope and despair , with these , she ( wanting eyne ) tosse us , ofter below than 'bove the line . . soon to therevtvs this crosse newes made wing that ulorvs ( who now he thought had made the wormes a feast ) on beauty banqueting in his fair daughters armes entwined laid . so stead of being into his first dust thrown , of his own flesh was a chief member grown . . no bear rob'd of her cubs , no hunted boar melted to foam , chaft with so buncht a brow . as dread tarpean jove when 's thunder tore the welkin , and his forkt bolts laid full low th' ambitious piles the hundred hands had rear'd ; with wrath so arm'd the furious king appear'd . . how can an infant muse reach at such woe ? which only he can tell that father is to but one girle ( whom cypria did indew with her choice gifts , and delius with his ) when he sees him clasp'd in her dear armesly whom he thinks his , and her worst enemy ? . what earthquakes in a land th' kings anger makes ! as th' forest trembles when the lions roar , as schoole-boyes when his rod their master shakes : such palsie seiz'd the court , and horror more than curiosity made all long to know since the dread arm was up , whose should be th'blow . . but these are safe in their best sute of male their innocence , the queen and hers are meant . so meannesse oft times is the low shrubs baile , when cyclops sweat the lofty cedars rent . now overhasty prince , who would not be rather a groom than wife or childe to thee ? . the king no sooner thought it than he sent to th'ile a confident , a man whose will he knew was melted into his , and bent to feast all 's humors were they good or ill . he in commission strong and 's trusty band soon left his own , and gain'd th' aeolian strand . . what time the pale moon peeping through a cloud , the secrets of the sullen night behold , he and his train through the queens guard did croud with the black rod in 's hand , which , her , he told the king had sent , in token she must go with him , the cause and end she soon should know . . the patient queen with humble grace repli'd , " and wills the king i soon my end should know ? " i thank his grace , by making me his bride : " he heav'd me to the high'st ●eat earth can show , " and still he 's good ( since then this earth hath none " more rich ) in giving me a heavenly throne . . to th' princesse lodgings next this messenger of death made way , where he did vertue see with valour sporting ; she with her brave dear , she the sweet burthen of the gallants knee . so turtles bill , so kids upon the plaine , their snowie limbes doe wantonly enchain . . one of her hands ( that compact of firm snow and softer ivory ) he glew'd to 's lip , her other play'd with 's jetty locks . doves so from twig to twig as her quick fingers trip from curl to curl , do hasten ; but as they are th' fowlers : so must these be fortunes prey . . now blasts their ears the cruel message sent from th' angry king ; now they ( o harshest death ! ) from eithers sweet embracements must be rent . this melts the princesse's eyes , th' affright her breath stopt , and she fainting catcht fast at her dear , as drowning men at any bough that 's near . . upon his arm she her declining head did rest , whilst death in gliding sleeps disguize crept softly o'r her silence ; fear bespred her silver lids as curtaines 'fore her eyes ( wherein the sun was set ) that her losse might not give her fresh wounds by the bitter sight . . those corrall twins her lips which late i guest bloud hardned into blushing stone , turn'd clay . her breath retired to perfume her breast ; her roses and her lillies droopinglay ; her late swift pulses slept , and did constraine their wanton dances in her saphire veine . . th' uncivill pursivant arm'd with the wreath of his dread master , falleth foule upon the noble youth ; nought threats he lesse than death , than which the vigorous law more harsh had none . so falstaffe triumph'd o'r hotspur's stiffe clay ; but , what cannot resist is asses prey . . the gallant youth who in just ragee'r while would such unmannerly soules kick from their slime , now seems no sense of injury to feel because the mans high trust secur'd his crime from privat chastisement ; words poiz'd should be not by their own weight but the tongues degree . . the ladies that their due attendance paid to the sweet princesse in the fright all shear . distracted thus , few to their mistris laid their helping hands , which they employ to tear their hair now skar'd on end : all their tongues thus secure thy selfe by flight lord ulorvs . . as the last trump shall at that great assiise ( that day of raising bones , and quickning clay ) rallie our scatter'd attomes , and we'rise from out the mouldie beds wherein we lay : so at that loved name rosella broke the bars of drowzie death , and gently woke . finis . eliza the author r. b. gent. ovid. — huic labrr est placidam exorare puellam . london , printed by w. h. for tho : dringo . . vpon the first sight of eliza , masked . when her saint metaphore , heavens radiant eye puts his black velvet mask of darknesse by and freely shines , those statues of live jet i' th' eastern shores half pickled up in sweat adore his lustre ; but they never bow whilst clouds case up and night-cap his fair brow : so when mine eyes first reacht her , she ( alas ! ) was mask'd , and ignorant i by did passe without adoring , when such shrines as hers may make saints croud to be idolaters . when lady-like loadstones in boxes cas'd i 've sometimes seen neer iron wedges plac't the am'rous metall wav'd , and still crept neer , as if it knew its love were shrined there . i felt this sympathy , and in my breast ( like a stray bird now fluttering near his neast , or like the needle ) my warm'd heart did hover , as who would say , the north i do discover , the center , cease then ' mongst the rocks to steer thy course , but fix with presporous omens here . now with devouter eyes i lookt agen , but her black veil not drawn , thus ( thought i then ) thus angels pictures in the sacred quire are veild to raise our adoration higher . still ( fair one ) for the common good thus shroud your beames in waving curl , or silken cloud , or you 'l scorch more than phaeton with one ray , whose shine might send the cime'rans a day . each heart an aetna , evry man must turn a salamander , and even living burn . blind as wag cupid your refulgency ( as it did his ) will strike each daring eye . myriads on each side as you walk must fall as spurious eaglets 'fore your emblem sol. thus you 'd with looks philosophy controul and fate , and leave the world without a soul , or prove ( which i confesse , since i was hit ) this all hath but one soul , and you are it . on elizavnmasked . vvhen her bright eyes ( those ruling starres which now must guide my fortune , and mine actions too boasting a power 'bove fate ) pleas'd to dispell those silken mists and clouds which trembling fell fore them , as bowing to those rayes divine , and whilst they did ecclipse , adore their shrine . now darted she her beames through beauties skies and kindled willing me her sacrifice . so heaven its holy fier once did fling on its elijab's piled offering , like it , in pure and turtle flames i burne ne'r to be quencht till th' pyle shall ashes turne , then , like a coal in dust of juniper mine heart shall glow a martyr still to her . since then i 'm turn'd all heat , had she not best consult with coldnesse , so to slake my breast ? no , fondling no , then ( as the deeper well makes fuell of the ice ) my flame will swell . thou then , the twang of whose bow all commands , turn thy plum'd shafts to sacred fierbrands , and make her breast the vestall harth , that she may sweetly burn in equall flames with me , so ( love's 'bove nature ) this fire that sh'ant smother but both vie ardour , and maintaine each other . sonnet . to eliza upon may day morning . . . see! ( fairest ) virgins gather dew ; wing'd heralds blaze on every bough may's come ; if you say so , t is true . for thus your power 's 'bove his that seasons sway , he brings the moneth , but you must make it may. arise , arise bright eyes , and silver over beauties skies : you set , noon's night , you up , each day turns jolly may. . now venus hatches her young doves , this fruitfull moneth's proper for loves , though aprill sayes like her it moves full of sad change ; but you may chase away all showres with smiles , and make all our days may. arise , arise , &c. . all , but you , love , ( though all love you . ) the birds their song each morn renew , even earth has dond her gaudy hue . since all things else are blith , let your kind ray do more than sol's , and make in me too may. arise , arise ; &c. . may this moneth last , when bald time shall climb your fair hill of youth , may all his steps be slip'rie , and he back fall to beauties spring , that your cheek may alway that lustre weare that now adorneth may. arise , arise bright eyes , and silver over beauties skies , &c. song . a dialogue 'twixt passion and reason . p. vvhy doth her smiling eye shoot rayes ( able to gild a captives dayes , ) which kindle in my soul desire ? r. ' cause love that dwels there is a fire . p. but why is tender pitty bar'd out of her heart that 's frozen hard , and cold as ycie scythia ? r. ' cause love 's a nymph born o' the sea. and like her wavering dame to be is faithlesse , as the moon or shee . chorus . love is cold , and yet a fire , t is a hot cold fiction , a pleasant affliction , a fond desire , that puzzles reason with a meer contradiction . to eliza , with my cyprian academy . lady , now hath the youthfull spring unbound the icie fetters of the ground . and ransom'd flora from beneath the frosty prison of the earth . fresh cloaths of state she spreads upon the downes , in hope you 'd walke thereon , and many fair flowers she doth create your fair cheeks to imitate , then borrowes perfumes for her birth from the spicery of your breath . shall i more barren than the thick element be ? no , i 'm more quick , when she but leaves , see ! fruits i bring , though scarce ( i fear ) well rellishing . their only excuse is , they be early , in the yeers infancy . even tender weeds 'mong sallads passe , and young things claime to prettinesse . these clusters , if yet sowre of tast , as being somewhat too soon prest , ●nd nipt with many an envious blast ) ●hus still may hope maturity , ●rom the kind sunshine of your eye . ●aign but to gild them with one ray , and evry sprig shall turn a bay green as that coy one . and i 'l dare ●o swear they 're good when yours they are ; ●n you and shrines divinity dwells that hallowes all your utensills . so i may hope too your sweet power might make even me good were i your r. b. vpon a black patch on eliza's cheek , cut in the form of an heart . vvhat 's this , that holds that happy place her cheek ? and to requite such grace ●erves for a foyle unto her face ? ●uch mole , the queen hot hearts obay , ●uch spots she beares that makes night day , ●uch thone of love wore helena . at distance , like a cloud it showes i' th' skie when morn doth first disclose , or like a fly upon a rose . near , t is an heart , which being so nigh the torrid zone of her bright eye , is scorch'd into the negro's die . i guest it some poor heart , which late died th' martyr of her love and hate , now mourner turn'd for its sad fate . and for reward of loyalty made by some pittying destinie a mourning star in beauties skie . strait on my breast my hand was thrown , from whence i found my heart was flown , and thought to claime this for mine own . but mine flames bright like juniper , a turtle sacrifice to her , not turn'd a coal by black despair . yet lively this doth typifie my state me thought , if january should keep her heart as iune her eye . but since my heart will be her guest , may it not be shut out , but rest for ay i' th' paradise of her breast . song . the rose . . ffrom eliza's breast ( that sweet nest where my heart and cupid rest ) i took a rose-bud , which flew thither for shelter from the droughty weather . . whilst a place it held in that field of lillies with violet mazes rill'd , it gathered all its sweetnesse there , and smells not of it selfe , but her. . i thought to kisse the stalk , but see it ( angry ) raiz'd it's fangs at me , and prickt my lips in poor revenge for making it its sweet bed change , . whilst it therein laid in its shade thousand cupids frisk'd and plai'd with fairy graces thither come to prove her breast elizium . . whence had it this die ? did the skie lend it her ruby livery ? no , no , it only blusht to see her cheeks excell its gallantry . . see! so to be sham'd and be tane from her bosom , the poor wan languishing floure its leaves hath spred for griefe , and lies ( griefes martyr ) dead . . in it yet doth lie fragrancy ; thus must choycest beauties die , but as this after death shall be still od'rous in their memory . the temper . . cease me with ardour to infest fierce leo , and heavens burning stone , th' idalian fire hath made my breast loves africk , cupids torrid zone , or aetna , which doth feed such great flames , as i need no other heat . . invested in thine icye tire come hoary hyems to my reliefe . but yet i fear before my fire thou l't drop away ; or else for griefe dissolve to briny tears to see my feaver , and drown thy selfe and me . . if poison poison can allay , sol fires extinguish with his beams , come titan , with thy scalding ray look out my flame . if by th' extremes i chance to get a calenture , that 's cool to what i now endure . . cease winter crown'd with cristall ice to frigidate my eliza. her heart 's the court of dian nice , who makes it greenland , scythia or caucasus , the frozen station of cold which needs no augmention . . she 's white enough , and well may spare thine ashie fleece , a foyle to her , which when it sees it self so far excell'd , dissolves into a tear , for spight it s not so fair as she , it turnes durt foule as others be . . come phaebus arm'd with scorching beams , besiege her with iunes heat . but i fear e'r shee 'l thaw to amorous streames thy selfe wilt freeze , or from her eye ( the cittadell o' th' god of love ) thou it be shot and my rivall prove . . if snow can keep the saplings warm , if wells be hottest in december , winter thy selfe with ice go arme , and come beleager evry member , till she yeelds dian shall be sent into perpetuall banishment . . when thou hast chas'd her from her hold , and art possest thy selfe of it , if by thy over-chilly cold she chance an ague for to get , she shall extract from me such cyprian heat as'l cast us both into a panting sweat . the lovers sun. . let age-dry'd aeson sacrifice to sol , and he whose weather-wise autumnine joynts at evry blast of bore as keener breath are cast into a palsie , and do find as much adoe to stand i' th' wind and frost , as the thatcht shud , which he erected in 's minority . and let amyntas , and the swaine whose soule is corn , and hope the gain that the kindly-ripning springs and golden-headed harvest brings , evry yeer an altar rear to the gay planet of the east , and with a fatted horse him feast . . think not ( loves tell-tale foe ) to see these superstitious rites from me , for i acknowledge unto you no orgies or allegiance due . t is not thy atom-thronged beam creates the day in my esteem , but bright eliza's eyes which are than thee more radiant by far . compar'd with them , thou seem'st to me like bristow stones compar'd with thee . nor is 't thy abscence ( flaming stone ) that makes my christall day-light gone , but when dear she frownes upon me , and shuts her eyes , oh , then am i involv'd in tenebrosity . . i owe not to thy sparkling ray the benefit of night or day , did she ever smile , thy light would be just as uselesse unto me as is thy bicorn'd sister moon , when sometimes she peeps out at noon . when my saint shuts those heavenly lids whose wink each daring thought forbids i hate to see thy glaring light and love my melancholy night . i wish thy race were shorter yet ; for when my souls fair sun be set my heape of clay needeth no day . besides , thou want'st enough of light to make it day when she makes night . so smiles or frownes she me upon i either slight , or wish thee gon . . nor owe i unto thee , but her all the foure seasons of the yeer . when hyems hath benum'd the world and such a cold about it hurld as thou thy selfe hadst need to shine wrapt in an irish gausopine , if i obtaine a glance of her or if her name but strikes mine eare , i am with a strange heat possest , a lightning's darted through my breast , and in my glowing soul desire hath kindled such a vestall fire as trent and thames with all their streames shall ne'r quench ; but for aye shall burne , and warm mine ashes in mine urne . . when thy fierce heat ( olympick coal ) hath crack'd and thaw'd the icye pole , and thou hast wrought thy toylsom track up to the losty lyons back . and thereon rid'st environed with beames ejected from thine head , that rive the ground , and singe the grasse and tan the jolly shepherd esse . the oxe now grazes not , but lies tormented by the stinging flies , or runs to find a cooler bower , i 'l slight thy tyrannizing power , i 'l not in ( vain ) wish frost againe , but shroud me from that flame of thine in her sweet grove of eglantine . . neither canst thou ( for all thy heat ) two seasons at one time create , but all succeed by turns . in her all fower at one time appeare . the spring perfum'd with fragrancy i' th' violets of her veines i spie ; to evidence t is summer time her lips bear cherries in their prime ; wish i autum ? lo , all the year on her cheek hangs a katherine pear ; and apples on her breast be set by nature fairer far than that which tempted eve t' eat without leave . if i desire a winters day warm snow upon her hands doth lay . but ah! ( which most i grieve to tell ) he also in her heart doth dwell . vpon a black patch on eliza's breast cut in the form of a dart. sure cupid thou hast lost thine art ? see how neer , yet in vain thy dart flew to my dearest dearest's heart ? what triumphs can such archery claim ? reason would have thought in half this time you might have taken surer aime . but pardon , i blaspheme in jest , yet dread not thy revenge i' th' least , thou canst not wound me more than th' hast . but ' cause i 'de have thee not refuse againe at her thy bow to use , i 'l cog , and frame thee this excuse . you gaz'd so long her eyes upon ( far brighter than thy psyche's own , or heavens illustrating stone ) as dazled with the wondrous flame , alas ! you lost your levell'd aime , and with halfe strength thine arrow came ; which , losing th' point did side-waies fall , and on her breast hung like a small anchor upon a free-stone wall . to eliza with my apology for paris . see ! ( sweet ) the trojan prince is come to you t' attend his finall doome , his judgement oft hath judged been , and controverted pro and con , but if you please t' allow it just he 'l henceforth scorne each criticks gust . and from your mouth our oracle wee 'l him loves minos ever call . if my soft muse you think ran low in blazing cypria , and i show but a pale shadow of her worth , alas ! t is ' cause i drew it forth before your eye beames did inspire my fancy with idalian fire . if this i said for th' queen of love what had i said if you had strove ? in your behalfe ? but ( fairest ) then no argument had needed been , the least glance of your conquering eyes had made the youth lay beauties prize and 's heart too , at your feet , without which to prefer the smallest doubt ; and then he had not needed mee to coyne him this apologie . such choice even cato had approv'd , and caesar for it had him lov'd . for this i 'l prove , with smal expence of wit , venvs gat beauties prize , you merit it . to eliza , with a tulip fashion'd watch. lady , this measure of time accept with serene eye from him , whose love to you shall time out-vie . see! what disguise this spie of day doth wear , a tulip ! as the forge its garden were . indeed heat procreates even flowers , but this a peece of an egyptian mysterie is . time , by a flower denotes how suddenly , earths frailer crops bloom , flourish , fade , and die , in speciall beauty ( that sweet tulip ) hasts to waite on time , then use it whilst it lasts . when these small clicking orbs you busie hear , panting in their round journey , like the spheres , think so my constant heart doth palpitate towards you , and th' pulse of my affections beat , ne'r to stand , till shee that each happy thing envies ( the peevish sister ) cuts the string . song . the maiden blash . vvhere hast thou been aurora bright ? with bacchus revelling last night ? and now the clarret thou drank'st there , i' th' tincture of thy cheeks appear . or thou art turned gallant gay ? and wilt perhaps to court to day ? and for thy more admired grace hast painted thy enchanting face ? but eliza has not revell'ing been nor meanes to be i' th' presence seen , and yet the same vermilion her rosie-tincted cheek is on . or morn doth blush to see , so far her selfe excell'd in hue by her , else sure carnation heaven doth die her cheeks , or they bepaint the skie . doubts & feares● rouze erra pater , and erect a scheme , tell , tell me , may i hope one cheering beame from my loves eye ? say , shall my joyes become perfect on this side of elizium ? cast , cast a figure , shall i find that place on earth in a sweet heaven of her embrace . why should hope flatter me ? since her fair hands i find so loath to tie those life-long bands ? but why should she shun juno's fane ? or be so adverse to the genial deitie ? truth on mens tongues ( she saies ) doth seldom sit but what they rashly swear they soon forget . shee saies they write in sand when they take oathes and keep their vowes just as they weare their cloaths , whilst only they be new and fresh i' th' fashion but once grown old ( like words they speak in passion ) they lay them by forgot , and their loves leave with watry eyes to waile the faith they gave to their more watry vowes ; and then in pride in scornes triumphall chariot will they ride over their spoyles , and tirannously glory how many female trophees deck their story . so quick-eele theseus of two conquests vapour , poor ariadne and the minetaure , and leaves fame in the labyrinth to tell of that , or himselfe which was beast most fell . so did false jason by his vow-breach prove 't was gaine he sought for , not medea's love. thus slippery streames the yielding banks do court , then gliding thence , say they but lov'd in sport . thus winds wooe flowers , but having of their smells rob'd them , sly thence perfum'd to other cells . rouse ye infernall hags , yee direfull three from the foule lakes of nights darke empery . give me a bunch of scorpions to lash lady-deceivers , and to teare their flesh with stings , more than they did the gentle hearts of maids they cheated with their crocodile arts. hells curse on the inconstant crew that tooke loves sacred name their fraud or lust to cloak . vipers to your own kind , its long on you ladies scarce credit us that would be true . rest thee ixion , these deserve to feel the weary service of thy constant wheel . may the inconstant stone disturb your rests , and ravenous vultures banquet on your breasts . and ' cause your flame of love went out , fry there in flames eternall as your shame is here . there ( though not here ) be constant in your tones , but let them be caligula's musick , groanes . may heaven invent new plagues , and poets adde more curses for you to the store we had . and may your ribs in hell a grydiron be whereon your soules may broile eternally . but ah ! i faint ! i fear my fate is near , i feel that colder poyson sad despair invade my veines , shaking my cot of clay , warning my soul out ; thus warn'd none can stay . yet may i ere on earth i quit my room bespeak a better in elizium . sweet svckling then , the glory of the bower wherein i 've wanton'd many a geniall hower , fair plant ! whom i have seen minerva wear an ornament to her well-plaited hair on highest daies , remove a little from thy excellent carevv , and thou dearest tom , loves oracle , lay thee a little off thy flourishing svckling , that between you both i may find room : then , strike when will my fate , i 'l proudly hast to such a princely seat . but you have crownes , our gods chast darling tree adorn your brows with her fresh gallantry . stay , i 'l go get a wreath too , the saint i so long ador'd a willow can't deny , i 'l claim it , and of that as proud be seen ( cause t is her favour , and in her hand hath been ) as you of lawrell ; t is as fresh , as green . sonnet . the protestation . . first stones shall races upward run , scots forget craft , and avarice jewes ; the needle its dear north shall shun , and impudence the publique stewes ; first supple flattery nero's court shall flee , e're i cease thee to love , and only thee . . if any object to mine eye seems fair , but what in thee is found ; if my dull ear hears melody besides thy voice in any sound ; if my abused taste its art should misse , and relish ought besides thy balmy kisse ; . if my false touch should think it hath felt any thing smooth or soft , but thee ; or if my smell , besides thy breath counts ought perfume , or nard to be ; may titians kites feast on me , whilst i see my rivall joy in and enjoying thee . finis . poems . the author r. b. gent. london , printed by w. h. for tho : dring . . vpon birth and infancy . . birth is a kind of resurrection ; for man is buried ere he be brought forth . th' membrane that veiles the tender embrion is first its winding sheet , then swadling cloath . death ushers in mans life , so that the wombe is both his genethliack inne and tombe . . birth is a kind of goal delivery . a prisoner ere he knowes what 's to be free man is . thrice three moneths doth he cloystered lie in a maturnall dungeon , after , he lives halfe in nights ; whom lucine forth dothlet leaves not his darknesse , but exchanges it . . gods commissary nature doth bestow the inborn principalls and physicall dictates of reason on him , this yee don't know . and thus alone he proves he 's rationall , he wailes with cries which no salt teares do want the ignorance of which he 's ignorant . . his lives twilight , or dawning of the day in this same wheel or circular is spent , he sucks , sleeps , cries , tria sunt omnia . as if he deem'd death gain , life punishment . he 's quiet but sleeping when in jeast he dies , but when he wakes , and finds he lives , he cries . . he is beholding to ( though he 's by birth the monarch of the whole creation ) brute animalls and hospitable earth both for his vestments and nutrition . being cloath'd he 's lull'd asleep by his own cry , so , ere he 'gins to live , he learns to die . in principem arma petentem . — erit ille mihi semper deus . and weares his highnesse buffe ? stir , vulcan , stir the coales , and forge bolts for heavens thunderer . to naile his foes to earth with . now assume celestiall archer thy sure bow , new plume the shaft that pierc'd the python ; neptune bear thy fork aloft and many maid thy spear . sern mars girt on thy sword and shake the lance , thy knotty club , great hercules , advance . arm gods , and hero's arm , keep watch and ward about his person and be his life guard. may evry sun present him with fresh bay , may he ne'r know what t is to misse o' th' day . may's name ( like zisca's drum ) his foes affright , may their hearts drop into their heeles at 's sight ; and may our arms pave all the way he treads with peacefull olives , or bold rebells heads . kind jove give fortune eyes , for could she see whom she attends upon , it could not be that ( to what place so e're he would betake him ) she should so hate her selfe , as to forsake him . to that darling of virtue his dear friend john vvroth , esq ; i love thee highly , but for what ? is 't for thy blood or births sake ? no i 'm not so fond to dote on that which ballanced no weight doth know , nor object to the eye doth bear , but only fills the vulgar ear . nor for thy fortunes , since we know they ( sometimes ) like the faithlesse sea ebb from the good , to th'impious flow , and them with flattery betray : stealing , like to the theevish sands , when most they grasp them through their hands . from dead mens urnes and dust doth come gentilitie , but wealth doth take its rise yet lower , that 's but scum of the sulphury boyling lake . these i respect , but what i love in thee , is something from above . vertue it is , which as a star in thy ennobled soule doth shine fixed , as in its proper sphear , and making thee ( like it ) divine . for th' rest i honour thine ancestours ; greatnesse we borrow , vertu 's ours . to that emulated piece of perfection the lady diana willoby . with sir. tho : overbury's wife . lady , here comes a wife to kisse your hand by whom both death and life her parent got . yet she 's not the worse to be entertain'd since th' first was her ill fate , the last her plot. her chief fault ( whereof all have some ) that i find , is that hitherto she'th mist your eye . your eye ! ah ! too too dark a word ! our sun to which all poets their braines-births should bring there to be tri'd ( as eagles oft have done their young ones to the planets glorious king ; ) and banish those , as spurious from their nest that could no : ' bide your most judicious test . view her then ( madam ) or rather your self view ; for she 's your shaddow , you her substance are . what he lord wish't in her , yours find in you , as you th' originall , she the coppy were . use her thereafter , if she welcom misse you are harsh even to your selfe , for you she is . and i your &c. to my honour'd friend benjamin garfield esq ; vpon his excellent tragi-comedy entitled the vnfortunate fortunate . and is thy sock on friend ? ascend the stage and tell the antimaskers of our age thalia's harth shall smoke yet ; what though that pig-wiggin satyrist makes the poor presse sweat with dull invectives ' gainst her comick train ? pox , t is ' cause he wants ears to hear her straine . we find ( such surfet th' iron age hath tane ) more moralls at a theater than some fane , our brittish turks exhort us there with heat with poleaxes into mens heads to beat their new capricio's , this enigma there , to obey kings by opposing , is call'd cleer . these are the truest playes , those we stile so teach us in jeast in earnest what to do . they 're sermons in disguise , a good play is a lecture of humanity . so is this. thy muse , the goodliest of the iove-born quire , ( from whose syrenious voyce and mellow lyre orpheus might learn to tune the chiming sphears ) unto a musick banquet calls ours ears , where ( cause best melody in discords dwell ) countrey and court our hearing organs fill . first balaam's asses bray , beasts set on end , soules drown'd in lumps of flesh that downwards tend . yet 'mong these walking clods thine effre showes like one of venus team trooping with crowes . she thus disguiz'd is no more blemished than a rich diamon'd that 's set in lead . of their rusticitie she partaked lesse than th' scaly tribe do o' th' seas brackishnesse . so danube scornes with sava's muddy tyde to mix though both through the same channel glide . thus the coy river arethusa ran piercing the bowells of the ocean some hundred leagues , and then forth issued free from salt tincture as at her springs head . thou tell'st us how one dart struck two together , plum'd with a turtles , not a sparrows feather . but oh the frownes of chance that lovers meet ! " lesse 't had sowre sawce love were too sweet a meat . now a foule dungeons eccho must reply their itterated vowes of constancy . yet nor this storm of fate , nor cage them moves , but here like nightingales they chant their loves . " a great mind , maugre usurpt power , or thrall , " is free in carisbrook as in whitehall . at length their innocence breakes forth like day and chase black nights suspicious clouds away . fortune's like proteus the changling kern , " but kick and she 'l to her true shape return . thy lovers fortitude in hard assays got them the nuptiall garland , thee the bayes , in which ere verdant wreath no branch of vine i spie , it s dew'd with helicon , not wine . with strenuous sinewie words that cat'line swells i reckon 't not among th' men-miracles . how could that poem heat and vigour lack when each line oft cost ben a glasse of sack ? " when brisk canary flowes with castaly , " wits torrent swells , and the proud ●loud boiles high . if you mixt ought with th' aganippe floud , 't was but an heritiques , not god bacchus's bloud , the hop 's the heritique , yet thou art he bring'st truth of poesie out of heresie . if such things flow from th' fat , a brewers horse i 'l yoak with medusean pegasus . the grape and hop in the same scale i 'l put . now , now , the hoghead's equall with the butt . go , forth , and live , great master of thy pen , and share the lawrell with thy namesake ben , whose genius thou hast as well as name , and as your wits are equall , may your fame . it rests , but that i wish the actors may as well as thou hast written , make the play. " playes written are not finished , made they are " i' th' study first , next on the theater . erynis , or , discords speech in a private presentment . hoop , hoop me , or i burst ! to what a fear'd stupendious height i have my trophies rear'd ? though yet my power and wishes be not even my head at each step tilts ' gainst stars in heaven , in heaven , where onely jove me rule denies , but as he hath me from above the skies i 've banish'd him beneath ; so of the tripple world he but one part holds , but i a couple . far , as the messe of jarring brothers i do puffe my severing breath , if they swell high and stiffely plead their claimes to th' airy throne in thunder that hoarse stentors base doth drowne , these my officious wormes as loud have hist , and prest from haemus top mars to assist their rage , with artificiall claps that mock joves idle terrors , and his region shake . if they disigning to invade the skie throw christal mounts on mounts to scale thereby ; and from their potgun throats belch gusts that teare ( granado like ) the houses of the air , in this my knotty bunch ▪ worse stormes each snake can raise , which down at last in red showres break . thanks dutious son , more sage than machiavel ( though the joke saies he scarce is match'd in hell ) thanks for abusing the aspiring traine their easie faith with , but divide and raigne . to their hopes scene now longing court they me where i make them toyle for their tragedie . thus gull'd , they find no raign , but that of blood , and plagues high swelling as ducalions floud . whilst i and spoyle , like mercenary bands quell them that call us in , and share their lands . thus slaves crowd in , whilst i with smiling chear but clap my hands and cry fight dog fight beare . successe thus makes th' oraculous sentence good , divide and discord raign , shee 's understood ▪ an anniverse on the fifth of november . you that derive your far-fetch'd pedigree from mighty brute , from th' son of saturne he , sing io , io , and fill the sportfull skies with songs , for joy you tore them not with cries . this is the day ( meant for your day of doom ) in which to babell , rather than to rome your commons , peers , your prince , your queen , and king were all intended a burnt-offering . the pyle was built , the sulphurous train was laid which had but one squib of a nation made ; had the least spark but lent it breath 't had driven in bright elijahs chariot to heaven princes and prophets ; tattred limbs had fill'd the air , where bloud had in red showers distill'd . quick death had given no time to fear his spight , the active flame had seiz'd ere had the fright . the coward dame had cut threads unprepar'd , and wounded men ere they could wake to ward . who ere were those unfortunate male contents that of this dire treason were instruments , the author was that subterranean fiend the common enemy of man , his end a scandall and an odium to bring upon those people whom their peacefull king so strongly guards from all his other harms . and to cast dirt he meant by traytrous charmes on their religion , that she might here as foule as she doth fair in heaven appear . the powder plot , a mouster hell did hatch , was such , for which no story has a match . finis . epigrams , &c. first booke . the author r. b. gent. martial . — queritur laesus carmine nemo meo . london , printed by w. h. for tho : dring . . i. to my lady e. r. commending his muse . madam , if weight or light in my weak lines you spie , weight from your mouth they take , light from your eye . ii. to the same , on war. vvar , that black word , compos'd of thousand ills , ladies ne'r speak nor think , but ' gainst their wils ; the lute sounds pleasant , harshly stern alarm's , they love not armed men , but men in arms. iii. on the picture of lovys the fourteenth king of france . this , this is hee that turn'd the storme to calme , and fenc'd his lillies with triumphant palme , and by his actions , so far greater then his age , proves kings are never childeren . iv. antithesis , to the conclusion of sannazarius his epigram on the city of venice , which when he has compared to rome , he saies illam homines , dices , hanc posuisse deos. those men you 'l say , these stones the gods did lay . in silence be the worlds seven wonders lost , thy stately hills proud rome , no longer boast . see here ! men dwell with fish ! a city stands i' th' water ! and the god thereof commands ! neptunes great realm's invaded thus , and tam'd ! not men ( you say ) but gods , this wonder fram'd , that makes the wonder lesse ; t is venice's praise that mortall men , not gods such piles could raise . v. to a cadet . vvhat though thy creditors call pay ? ne'r fret , a pound of care can't pay an ounce of debt . vi. an epitaph , vpon henry the eighth king of england , translated out of spanish . o henry more than this cold cover of stone , thy worth do hide and smother the love of luscious venery , and stubbornnesse in heresie . how with thy greatnesse i demand ( poor cosen'd briton ) could it stand to let a woman on thee tread and yet to be the churches head ? vii . another , on queen elizabeth . tthis urne doth iesabels dust comprise . here the new athalia lies . o' th' western ore the harpye , the cruell firebrand of the sea. here lies a wit , of fame the most worthy that ever earth could boast , if , to arrive at that blest bay of heaven , she had not miss'd her way . vii . to sim the letcher . i told sim if he breath'd his last at rome his dust with courtizans should mingled lie : for whores and heretiques there find one tomb. he answer'd , that 's a happy turne , for why alive but one at one time i enjoy'd , but dead in that elizian grave shall i with thousands lie at once and not be cloy'd . viii . to momus . momus , my poems i have sent abroad ere the carnavall is spent , cause i would have carpes cheap in lent. ix . on the same . my book , like persius , ' gainst the wall he hurries saying , dicitque tibi tua pagina fur●es . and t is more crime ( synesius did suppose ) to steale a dead mans labours than his cloathes . what author in the vatican is left , if this be true , unblemished with theft ? i must confesse i 'm guilty as the rest , and am ( like them ) contented to be prest . x. to will : ad. upon his marriage . now thou hadst need be very mild and still , seeing thy kate is wedded to her will. xi . on wittoll : vvittell said , he hop'd his love would a pretty fortune prove . as so she has indeed , for she is famous for inconstancy . xii . on hornes . vvhen as the wife deserveth them why should the man hornes weare ? because he is his wifes head , and no beast weares hornes but there . xiii . epitaph , on henry the fourth , surnam'd the great , king of france . stay traveller , see honours fraile decay , then passe , and wash with teares thy further way , seek not in sols whole round a nobler tombe . a greater king ne'r laid in lesser roome . no death ere drew more rivers from swoln eyes , no funerall broke the aire with sadder cries . pallas was so shar'd in him 't were a bold word to say which sharpest was his wit or sword . these drops o'● all the blubber'd marble spread are pearl like teares , griefs gems , to crown him dead , weep too , lest thou be'st harder than these stones ; then passing say , ( in broken sounds and grones ) although a bruter hand rob'd him of breath , france own'd a caesar in brave deeds and death . xiv . on sir iohn suckling . the rose ( the splendor of flora's treasurie ) smells sweeter when t is pluckt than on the tree . so odorous suckling ( when he liv'd a flower able alone to make the nine a bower ) is held since he by times sith mow'd has been the sweetest plant in the pierian green . nor envious fate , nor northern blasts together , though he was nipt i' th ▪ bud can make him wither . xv. on spend-all . spend-all to court , to learn some manners went , but there in revelling , all his manors spent . xvi . to leigh the linguist . i oft have heard thee spend much of thy lunges praising the copious french , greek , latine , tongues . english thou saist is poor , and much doth want emphatick phrases , words significant t' expresse the ideas that the mind affords , t is easly helpt ; marry , you i want no words . xvii . to mr robert brownrigg . prophetick delius , ( to whom is seen what is , and what shall be , and what ere hath been , from whose instructive genius , meeter springs , and how to touch the well-concording strings , ) being banish'd delphos ( where he us'd to shew inquisitive mortalls what should ensue ) to abions woollie isle he came , to find a monastry where he might sit enshrin'd . upon thy head he happily hath hit , where he raignes , mounted on a throne of wit ; and by prerogative has given to thee th' manor of tempe , t' hold in capite xviii . to mrs diana willoby , vpon her marriage day morning it being very dark and misty . vvhy is the sun so thrifty of his light ? is it to shew a lovers day is night ? no. i 've the reason , the god of amorous heat takes up your eyes to light his torches at ; so bankrupt sol , the wandring knight so fair , ' can't borrow thence one beam to gild the air . look then , and rescue with a glimpse divine from almost conquering clouds his fainting shine . as with us ( madam ) so it fares with him , without you shine all beames are sick and dim . astrologers ( the lanthorn-men o' th' year ) shall henceforth tell , that from diana cleer sol borrowes light , not she from his pale ray , since you make both his and our ( wedding ) day . xix . to his rivall . iprethee why , since twins in love we be , may not one mistris serve both thee and me ? since in the worlds embroidered canopy ther 's but one virgo for the gemini ? xx. the rivalls answer . vvhilst both unmarried be there needs no strife ; one mistris may serve two , but not one wife . xxi . to sir iohn falstaffe . thou think'st sack makes men fat , faith't makes them leane if they drink much of 't , ' gainst the wall i mean. xxii . vpon the picture of my nephew mr. iohn man. the simulachre of the queen of love in which apelles cunning hand did prove it abler skill , by adverse ●ates was crost , but art , loath to have such a piece quite lost , only th' intended sex of feminine have metamorphos'd into masculine , and though not cypria , t is a young man whose fittest epithet is cyprian . xxiii . of sutes . taylors are liquids , lawyers be no mutes , yet here they jump , they both do live by sutes . xxiv . epitaph , on ascolding woman , sub persona mariti . here lies my wife interr'd ; oh how good is't for her quiet , and mine too . xxv . the golden age. the golden age , that gild such golden rimes , was but a prophecie of our now times , though somwhat antidated , or ( sans doubt ) now the great yeer of plato's wheel'd about . for this wherein lawes lives and all are sold is , or the golden age , or th' age of gold. xxvi . to kate common . if like loves like , why should'st thou love the night and deeds of darknesse , since thou art so light ? xxvii . on the same . to sell her selfe is her chiefe care , she is both her own shop and ware . xxviii . on the same . peacocks and whores are neer ally'd , since both their tailes maintaine their pride . xxix . occupations . t is an hard time say tradesmen , if it so continues , our haire soon through our caps will grow . but whosoever breakes , who ever thrives , hoarse lawyers will live , and sweet-tooth'd midwives . especially the last , for young and old stir every stone , to make their trading hold . t'wish their gain more than lawyers is no sin , they jars , these wish agreement friends between ; they live by fallings out , these falling in . xxx . to an antidated cuckold . thou said'st ' cause war makes men scarce , women common , thou would'st ne'r marry , lesse to som great woman . nor have thy hand thy tongue and oath beguild , thou 'st marry'd a great woman , ( t' wit ) with child . xxxi . women strongest . vvhy should wee women th' weaker vessells call ? the vulgar reason , we put them next the wall ? when i 've heard say one ladies single hair can draw more than of oxen twenty pair ? and lesse it be in constancy we men th' exceed in strength ; nay th' devill himself , for when he showes his face he only makes ( weak fiend ) our hair , these make our flesh to stand on end . xxxii . to mal : winter . vvould'st know why thy name's winter ? ther 's reason for 't , th' art like a winters day , durty and short . xxxiii . to curst tib. ' cause her low husbands breeches are so short , long-shank't tib raves , and beates the taylor for 't ; peace tib , what need you care what weares the else ? o , cry a mercy , you 'd weare them your selfe . xxxiv . to loan tosse-pot amongst couragious drinkers thou dost surely bear the bell. though like a founder'd jade thou look'st yet thou draw'st passing well , xxxv . campo-musae . silvan by wagging of a bough , did becken me forth to see how the spring ( the fair mother of flowers ) had given new coats to whistling bowers . in this gay palace of the spring to hear may's harmlesse syrens sing . and teach nimph eccho aires , i spread my limbes upon a spicy bed of sweet though ordinary flowers perfum'd with west winds balmy showers , here many a theam my fancy hit , each object drew my thoughts to it ▪ i saw the marygold ( clytie pale ) her beauty to the sun unvaile , as if she hop'd he would be to her no longer coy , but came to woe her . i thought no plant in all the bower so like a woman as this flower , ' cause when she feels a litle heat she opes her leaves and wide doth spread . but she doth this whilst the worlds eye doth brave the east , and gild the skie ; when he descends into the maine and makes night shee shuts-close again . with that my muse her theam did vary , knowing women do the contrary . xxxvi . to my lady venetia grey . madam , from whom vertue might copies take , and nature learn more beauteous forms to make , chide not my muse , your humblest servant , when even in your softer sex she spares not sin , since this e're was and e're shall be her care to tax the crimes but yet the persons spare . xxxvii . to the same , on her wedding day morning . good morrow to the bride , who ( only ) can show us the day , sol like a servingman attends her windowes , whilst she sits undrest he westward seems , though newly ros●●●th ' east . xxxviii . to my poetique friend , i. s. daphne is star-proof , fork'd bolts never , her flourishing trunk could split or sever ; she having then secured thine head , what need'st thou foul tongues thunder dread ? xxxix . to poetaster . of admiration ignorance is sire , but i know thee , therefore i don't admire . xl. to fiery face . telling som pranks of thee ( plump jack ) you blam'd me , and desir'd , lest i should make ye asham'd , your name to hide ; why fear'st thou that ( jack ) tush , thy face is shame-proof , scarlet cannot blush . xli . too a covetous puritan . a crosse you dare not see , for you from that and neck-weed feare your due . xlii . to the same . crosses you hate , and wish them banish'd hence , reform your purse first , cast away your pence . xliii . to a detractor . i thank thee aristarchus or stark asse , for taking with a sowre tobacco face my lines , in snuff , still spitting on each letter , for this makes me review and make them better . xliv . past recovery . hei mihi quod nullis amor est medicabilis herbis ! vvhen sage lycurgus , sparta's law inactor , made mulcts for this and th' other malefactor , no penalty for paricides he set , thinking none would so foule a crime commit . so aesculape the physic deitie gave salves for every other malady , but none for loves sore , ' cause he thought indeed no liver so corrupt was such a plague to breed . xlv . perfumed corruption . you that quaffe amber , and with musk-cats lie , embalming your corrupt bodies 'fore you die ; who rottennesse to make sweet by perfumes think lose coine and time to gain a dearer stink . finis . epigrams, divine and moral by sir thomas vrchard, knight. urquhart, thomas, sir, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing u ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing u estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) epigrams, divine and moral by sir thomas vrchard, knight. urquhart, thomas, sir, - . [ ], , [ ] p. : port. printed by barnard alsop, and thomas favvcet, london : . "the errata's": p. . first edition, with portrait. imperfect: frontispiece lacking in filmed copy. reproduction of original in bodleian library. eng epigrams, english. a r (wing u ). civilwar no epigrams: divine and moral· by sir thomas vrchard, knight. urquhart, thomas, sir c the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the c category of texts with between and defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - rachel losh sampled and proofread - rachel losh text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion epigrams : divine and moral . by sir thomas vrchard , knight . london : printed by barnard alsop . and thomas favvcet , in the yeare , . to the right honourable ▪ iames lord marqvis of hamilton , earle of arren , and cambridge , lord baron of even , and innerdale , lord master of his majesties horses , knight of the most noble order of the garter , and one of his majesties most honourable privie counsell in both kingdomes , &c. my lord , being confident , that your gracious disposition will hold in greater account the ingenuous meaning of who gives , then the sufficiency of the present : i here tender to the favour of your honours acceptance a bundle of epigrams ; which though they be but flashes of wit , and such , as may with advantage receive point from your ordinary conceptions : yet for that nothing doth better recommend them , then vivacitie of conce●t , i cannot figure to my fancie a fitter patron to protect the sublimest poems of this nature , then your owne noble selfe ; of whose valour , and prudence , even from your infancie , both this , and forraine nations will afford an approbation so authentick , that by the universall consent of all , that ever knew your lordship , the depth of experience since the memory of man was never seene wedded to fewer yeares : nor the splendor of heroicke vertue to the astonishment of whole armies , and princes palaces , more evidently apparent , then in the magnanimity of your generous carriage . what formerly , by the most vertuous , and pregnant wits , could not bee acquired without a long continuance of time : and was esteemed to be incompatible with youth ( and much more extraordinary in young gallants , then gray haires , or the gout ) hath beene still in your lordship , a quality concomitant to the source of all your actions : coaevall with the gentile powers of your mind : and no lesse naturall , then to speake , or thinke . and what others , not being able to reach into ( have therefore admired in the legend of the worthies ) hath , since the yeares of discretion , bin the constant object of your dailie exercise , and complyed with your very most neglected cogitations : which glorious , and rare endowments , out-reaching the extent of vulgar goodnesse , and seeming the more wonderfull , that it is not long since by your birth , you did grace the world with the honour of your presence , doe possesse the faculties of my soule with a stedfast resolution , so unfainedly to acknowledge the absolute right , your lordship hath over me , and the inclinations of my mind : that , as i cannot impart that portion of the fruits thereof to any , which by a prior disposition is not already yours : so may not i ( though the matter be but small ) without breach of duty , devote this dedication to another . therefore ( my lord ) you may be pleased , according to your accustomed manner , to vouchsafe a courteous entertainment to this testimony of my regard : till fortune be so favourable , as to blesse me with the opportunity , one day to make knowne my designments more effectually yours ; for the best of my affections , being touched with the magnetick vertue of your good parts , are fixed on you , as on their pol-estar which serveth to direct the course of my life in a continuall progresse of embracing all the occasions , whereby i may testifie , how earnest i am , and alwayes shall be , deservingly to obtaine the title of yours my lord in all humilitie of sincere respect , to serve your lordship . thomas vrchard ▪ epigrams the first booke . to the king ▪ great monarch , since the worlds nativity , no mind , nor body had so divine parts to grace the state of sov'rain majesty , as hath your royall person , whose deserts soare higher 'bove the reach of other kings , then the bright sun transcends terrestriall things . . that those of a solid wit , cannot be puffed vp with applause ; nor incensed by contumelie . what vulgar people speake ( if we be wise ) will neither joy , nor miscontentment breed us ; for we ought mens opinions so to prise : as that they may attend us , and not lead us , it not being fit their praise should rule our actions : or that we shun what 's good for their detractions . a brave spirit disdaineth the threats of fortune . no man of resolution , will endure his liberty in fortunes hands to thrall ; for he 's not free , o'r whom she hath least pow'r : but over whom she hath no pow'r at all , nor hath she any chaine , wherewith to bind , the inclination of a noble mind . . how to become wise . who would be truly wise , must in all haste his mind of perturbations dispossesse ; for wisedome is a large , and spatious guhest : and can not dwell , but in an empty place , therefore to harbour her , we must not grudge , to make both vice , and passion to dislodge . . the wise , and noble resolution of a truly couragious , and devout spirit , towards the absolute danting of those irregular affections , and inward perturbations , which readily might happen to impede the current of his sanctified designes : and oppose his already initiated progresse , in the divinely proposed course of a vertuous , and holy life . my soule shall rule my body , raigne o'r it : and curb the pentarchie of sensuall charmes ; for though they live togither , 't is not fit , they be compagnons upon equall termes : but in my mind j'l harbour such a reason , as strongly may o'rmaster each temptation can be suggested to 't : and choake the treason of all , and ev'ry will-betraying passion : in this judicious order the realme , or little world of mine owne selfe to guide , it is my whole intent , till j make calme , rebellious motions , and suppresse the pride of flesh : then , while j breath , maintaine that right , in spight of satan , and all worldly might . . that the fellowship of vertuous , or vicious people , contributes much to the bettering , or depraving of the mind . that he must needs be bad , there is some likenesse , who to lewd company is much affected ; for it is the beginning of a sicknesse t' associat with him , that is infected : would you be good then , haunt the conversation of them , whose actions merit estimation . . riches without further , can make no man happy . as he , whose body is not well in health , to search for ease , from bed to bed will rise : so to a mind , that is diseased , wealth is not the end : but change of miseries ; and that , which made his poverty to vexe him , will make his riches likewise to perplexe him . . what man it is , that is truly wealthie . who measures poverty by natures rules , and frames his mind to what he hath , is rich ; for we can never doe , but vexe our soules , so long's we straine them to a higher pitch : and hee , whose heart is discontented , is but a poore wretch , though all the world were his . . how a valiant was ought to behave himselfe towards those , that basely offer to offend him . hee is beyond the reach of common men , who can despise an injury ; for as the billowes of the sea insult in vaine , against a rocke : a stout breast finds no cause , of being commov'd at wrongs , whereof the dart , resiles from him , as from a brasen wall , on the offender , while his mighty heart , and noble mind , far more sublime , then all the regions of the ayre , most bravely scorne th'inferiour dangers of a boystrous storme . why the world is at variance . each man hath his owne sense , and apprehension , and faith wherein he lives ▪ but from this ill , that each hath his owne will , springs all dissension ; for that all men agree , their lackes but will : warres never raging in so shrewd a cace : but that , if men were pleas'd , would turne to peace . . how to be alwayes in repose . so that desire , and feare may never jarre within your soule : no losse of meanes , nor ryot of cruell foes , no sicknesse , harme by warre , nor chance whats'ever will disturbe your quiet ; for in a setled , and well temper'd mind , none can the meanest perturbation find . . a wise man onely may properly be said to enjoy life . his life is short , who present times neglects , feares times to come , and hath past-times forgot : or rather , while he breaths his age , hee makes a base abode in time , but liveth not ; for onely hee leades , in judicious eyes , the longest life , who lives , till he be wise . . who is not satisfied with his owne fortune , how great soever it be , is miserable . though the septemvirat of dutch electors jnaugurat him caesar : and each one extoll his valour above that of hectors : in wit , and wealth surpassing salomon ; yet if he proudly soare a higher pitch : he 's neither mighty , valiant , wise , nor rich . . a certaine old mans expression before his death , to his son . that j am at the period of mine age : nor you , nor j , have any cause to mourne ; for life is nothing , but a pilgrimage ; when we have travel'd long , we must returne : let us be glad then , that my spirit goes , after so many toiles , to his repose . . to one of a great memory , but depraved life . though many things your memory containe : jf by your mind , to matters it be led , which are lesse profitable to retaine , then to commit t' oblivion , it is bad : and whatsoever arts it comprehend : if it remember not on piety : repentance for enormous sins : the end of life , god jndgements , and his clemencie ; those necessary precepts while you lake , you but forget your selfe : and it is weake . . how a man should oppose adversitie . gainst misadventure being resolv'd to fight , my mind shall be the bow , whence j'l apace shoot back the arrows , fortune out of spight , assaults me with ; and breake them in her face : for all her soverain'ties i abjure : her harmes i dread not : and defye her pow'r . . the expression of a contented mind in povertie . that i 'm not covetous , is all my land , from whence my thoughts new treasours dayly bring : and the best moveable , which i command is , i buy no unnecessary thing : by these , i of true wealth possesse such store , that all the kings on earth can have no more . . not time , but our actions , are the true measure of our life . that life is short , which measur'd by the span of time hath been of vertuous actions scant : and one day's longer in a learned man , then twenty lusters of an ignorant ; for life is good , and 't is the quality of goodnesse , that extends its quantity . . ingratitude is such a common vice , that even those who exclame most against it , are not freest of it . it would not be an universall cace , nor could each man have so true cause to fall in rayling 'gainst ingratitude ; unlesse there were some reason to complaine of all : thus , who have with unthankfulnesse beene met , may from such dealing this instruction draw , that if themselves did ever prove ingrate , they get but justice from the talion-law , to th'end they may from those their faults refraine , which they so ugly see in other men . of negative , and positive good . not onely are they good , who vertuously , employ their time ( now vertue being so rare ) but likewise those , whom no necessity , nor force can in the meanest vice insnare ; for sin 's so mainly further'd by the devill , that 't is a sort of good , to doe no evill . . to one bewailing the death of another . you have no cause to thinke it strange , that he hath yeelded up his last , and fatall breath ; for 't is no wonder for a man to dye , whose life is but a journey into death : nor is there any man of life deprived for age , or sicknesse : but because he lived . . why covetous , and too ambitious men prove not so thankfull , as others for received favours . whose mind with pride , and avarice doth flow , remember seldome of a courtesie , so well , as humbler spirits doe ; for who lean's most on hope , yeelds least to memory : their thoughts so farre on future aimes being set , that by-past things they purposely forget . . a counsell not to vse severity , where gentle dealing may prevaile . strive , never by constraint to crosse his will , whose best affection fairely may be had ; the noble mind of man being such , as still follow's more heartily , then it is led : for there was never power , charme , nor art , that could without consent , obtaine the heart . . that they may be alike rich , who are not alike abundantly stored with worldly commodities . i have of lands , nor moneyes no large portion : yet , if i be content , to thinke , that j● am not as rich , as any , were great dulnesse ; for wealth not being in plenty , but proportion , though vessels have not like capacity : they may be all of them alike in fulnesse . . vertue , and goodnesse are very much opposed by the selfe-conceit , that many men have of their owne sufficiencie . ther 's nothing hinders vertue more , then the opinion of our owne perfection ; for none endeavours to doe that , which hee imagineth he hath already done : and some by thinking t'have what they have not , neglect the wisedome , which they might have got . . how to support the contumelie of defamatorie speeches . if men deservedly speake ill of you , be angry not at them : but at the cause , which you to them did furnish so to doe : but if they still continue 'gainst the lawes of truth , and modesty their bad report ( while with a valiant heart , and testimony of a good conscience , you your selfe comfort ) contemne those rascals , that insult upon ye ; for a reproach , by honest meanes obtain'd , doth full of glory to the heav'ns ascend . . of lust , and anger . lust taking pleasure in its owne delite , communicats it selfe to two togither : but far more base is anger , whose despite rejoyceth at the sorrow of another ; for th'one is kindly , th'other sows debate ; lust hath a smack of love : but wrath of hate . . an encouragement to an impatient man in an ague . why should you in your sicknesse thus enrage ; seeing patience doth a gen'rous mind befit ? you may be sure , it will not last an age ; for if it leave not you : you must leave it : take courage then , faint not : but bravel endure whats'ê● to kill the soule hath not the pow'r . the firme , and determinate resolution of a couragious spirit , in the deepest calamities , inflicted by sinister fate . seeing crosses cannot be evited , i 'l expose my selfe to fortune , as a rock within the midst of a tempestuous ocean : so to gainstand the batt'ry of her spight , that though jaile , sicknesse , poverty , exile assault me all , with each a grievous stroak of sev'rall misery , at the devotion of misadventure , ev'ry day , and night : yet with a mind , undanted all the while , i will resist her blows , till they be broke jn the rebounding , and without commotion , till all her rage be spent , sustaine the fight : so that she shall not b'able to subdue one thought of mine , with all that she can doe ; for when sh'hath try'd her worst , i will not yeeld , nor let her thinke , that she hath gain'd the field . . that wise men , to speak properly , are the most powerfull men in the world . the greatest power is to wise men due : the pow'r of all men else to theirs being nought ; for wise men onely , what they will , can doe ; because they will not doe ; but , what they ought : such being their cariage , that their reason still directs their power : and informes their will . . to a rich man , become poore . your poverty should be the more esteemed , that by the meanes thereof you are exeemed from stubborne servants , lying sycophants , and faigned friends : in lieu whereof , it grants these three of a more vertuous company , ease , humble cariage , and sobriety . . that if we strove not more for superfluities , then for what is needfull , we would not be so much troubled , is wee are . if by the necessary use of things , the ornaments wee measure of our honour , and not by that , which fancy doth suggest us : wee will not need those wares , the marchant brings from forraine countries : and withall exoner our minds of what might otherwise molest us . . the onely true progresse to a blessed life . vvho hath of conscience a profound remorse for sins committed : and to keepe his senses from all sinister practice , doth divorce his thoughts from their accustomed offences , is in the way of vertue , which will tend ( jt being continu'd ) to a happy end . . that wee ought not to be excessively grieved at the losse of any thing , that is in the power of fortune . all those externall ornaments of health , strength , honour , children , beauty , friends , & wealth are for a while concredited to men , to decke the theater , whereon the scene of their fraile life is to be acted : some of which must ( without further ) be brought home to day , and some to morrow ; th'use of them being onely theirs , till new occasions claime a restitution of them all againe , as time thinkes fit , to whom they appertaine ; though such like things therefore be taken from us , wee should not suffer griefe to overcome us : but rather render thankes , they have beene lent us so long a space , and never discontent us . . wherein true wealth consists . vvho's truly rich , we ought not to esteeme by lands , nor goods , but by the mind ; the title of a poore man , being farre more due to him , that covets much , then that possesseth little ; for he is richer , doth the world neglect : then who possessing all , complaines for lack . . how difficult a thing it is , to tread in the pathes of vertue . the way to vertue 's hard , uneasie , bends aloft , being full of steep , and rugged alleys ; for never one to a high place ascends , that alwayes keepes the plaine , and pleasant valleyes : and reason in each humane breast ordaines , that precious things be purchased with paines . . a counsell to one oppressed with bondage , and cruell disasters . vvhats'ever be your fortune , let your deeds with your affection alwayes jump ; for by desiring to doe that , which you must needs : you 'l blunt the sharpnesse of necessity : and making of constraint a willingnesse , be glad in spight of crosses , and distresse . . how fortune oftentimes most praeposterously pond'ring the aections of men , with a great deale of injustice bestoweth her favours . fortune with wealth , and honour at her feet : and holding in her hand a ballance , sits weighing human desert , as she thinks fit : one of the scales whereof the learn'dest wits , most vertuous , and of choisest parts containes : the other being appointed for such , as are vicious , light , and destitute of braines . the light are mounted up into the place , where riches , and preferment lye exposed to those , can reach them : while the other scale , by th'only weight of worth , therein inclosed is more submissively deprest , then all that hangs on fortunes ballance : and the higher , that hair-brain'd heads b'advanc'd above the states of others in this world : so much the higher to want , and bondage are the wiser pates ; of such things then , as to the disposition of fortune doe pertaine , let no man wonder , while the most wicked gaine the acquisition , that by their meanes , the good be brought at under ; for wheresoever vice is most respected : the greatest vertues are the more rejected . . when a true friend may be best knowne . as the glow-worme shines brightest in the darke , and frankincense smells sweetest in the fire : so crosse adventures make us best remarke a sincere friend from a dissembled lyer ; for some being friends to our prosperity , and not to us : when it failes , they decay . . the duty of a husband to his wife . though he be head , he must not tyrannize over his mate in sacred bonds of mariage ; for in the head the wit , and judgement is : and therefore he , with a judicious cariage , should towards her behave himselfe , respect her , instruct her , love her , and from harme protect her . . concerning those , who marry for beauty , and wealth without regard of vertue . how can such wedded people lead their lives , with a respect unfainedly entire , where husbands are not married to their wives : but money to the covetous desire : where men in little estimation hold womens discretion , wit , and chastitie : but meerely aime at handsomnesse , and gold , to serve their avarice , and leacherie : which fashion lately is become so common , that first , w'espouse the money : then , the woman . . the speech of a noble spirit to his adversary , whom after he had defeated , he acknowledgeth to be nothing inferiour to himselfe in worth , wit , or valour , thereby insinuating that a wise man cannot properly bee subdued : though he be orthrown in body , and worldly commodities . i will not of this victory be glorious : nor ought you for being vanquish'd to repine , you not being overcome : nor j victorious ; your fortune onely is o'rcome by mine ; for by the force of judgment , grace , and will : you have a mind , that is invincible . . in how farre men are inferiour to many other living creatures , in the faculties of the exteriour senses . in touching , spiders are the subtillest : the bores , in hearing : vulturs , in the smell : in seeing , eagles , and the apes in taste : thus beasts in all the senses men excell ; so that , if men were not judicious creatures : some brutes would be of more accōplish'd natures . . to one , who was heavily cast downe in spirit , by reason of some scandalous speeches , blased forth to his disadvantage . be not discouraged at calumnies , which are not ( at the worst ) but loads of wind ; and therefore , with a strong and patient mind ▪ most easie to support , if you be wise ; for nat'rally such burthens are but light : unlesse the bearers weaknesse give them weight . thus endeth the first booke , of sir thomas vrchards epigrams . epigrams : the second booke . . no crosse adventure should hinder vs from being good ; though we be frustrate of the reward thereof . by any meanes , with all your might endeavour for honesty , whats'ever be th'event : although sinister fortune should dissever vertue from honour , be not discontent ; for if you be deprived of your due , the fault is in the time : and not in you . . those that have greatest estates are not alwayes the wealthiest men . they 're richer , who diminish their desires : though their possessions be not amplified , then monarchs : who in owning large empires , have minds , that never will be satisfied ; for he is poore , that wants what he would have : and rich , who having nought , doth nothing crave . . the couragious resolution of a valiant man . seeing nature entred me on this condition jnto the world , that j must leav 't , i vow , a noble death shall be my chiefe ambition ; to dye being th'end of all j ought to doe : and rather gaine , by a prime vertue , death : then to protract with common ones my breath . . how abject a thing it is , for a man to have bin long in the world without giving any proofe either by vertue , or learning , that he hath beene at all . that aged man , we should ( without all doubt ) of all men else the most disgracefull hold : who can produce no testimony , but the number of his yeares , that he is old ; for of such men what can bee testifyed , but that being borne , they lived long , then dyed . . that a vertuous mind in a deformed body maketh one more beautifull , then a handsome body can doe , endowed with a vicious mind . external comelinesse few have obtain'd without their hurt ; it never made one chast ▪ but many'adulterers : and is sustain'd by qualities , which age , and sicknesse waste ▪ but that , whose lustre doth the mind adorne , surpasseth farre the beauty of the bodie ; for that , we make our selves : to this , we 're borne ▪ this , onely comes by chance : but that by study ; jt is by vertue then , that wee enjoy deservedly the stile of beautifull , which neither time , nor fortune can destroy ; and the deformed body , a faire soule from dust to glory everlasting caries : while vicious soules in handsome bodies perish . . to one , whom poverty was to be wished for , in so farre , as he could hardly otherwise be restrained from excessive ryot , and feasting . you should not be a whit the more dejected , that ( as in former times ) not being sustain'd , your fare , and dyet daily doe decrease ; for want doing what your modestie neglected : it is a happy thing to be constrain'd to that , which willingly you ought t' embrace . . that men are not destitute of remedies , within themselves against the shrewdest accidents , that can befall them . if you expect to be of toyle , and care sometime exeem'd , hope may your griefe diminish : and patience comfort you , ere you despaire , though both those faile , death will your troubles finish ; thus are you fitly served with reliefes , 'gainst fortunes most elaboured mischiefes . . what sort of benefits one ought to bestow . vvould you oblige to you a friend , by giving , most cheerfully your favours to acquite : give that , which gives content in the receiving : and when it is received yeelds delight ; for if it faile in either of those two , it will impaire his thankfulnesse to you . . to one , who did glory too much in the faire , and durable fabrick of a gorgious palace , which he had caused lately to be built . boast never of the permanence of that , which neither can prolong your dayes , nor houres ; for that your house is stately , strong , and great : the praise is the artificers , not yours : death cares not for your palace , who can climb , without a ladder to the tops of towers : and shortly with a visage pale , and grim will come , and turne you naked out of doores : but make your body ( like a church of marbre ) a castle fit , a vertuous mind to harbour . that a contented man is rich , how litle wealth soever he have . he 's rich who craving nothing else , doth find content in the possession of his owne ; for in so much as doth concerne the mind : not to desire , and have is all , but one ; for if the thoughts thereof be rich , we 're sure ; fortune hath not the skill to make us poore . . how dangerous it is , to write , or speake of moderne times . though all , some errors doe commit : yet few . having committed them , would have them told : that talke then being displeasing which is true , who cannot flatter , he his peace must hold : so hand a thing it is , to say or pen , without offence , the truth of living men . . that the most solid gaine of any , is in the action of vertue , all other emoluments , how lucrative they so ever appeare to the covetous mind , being the chiefest precipitating pushes of humane frailty to an inevitable losse . such is the thin , and ragged maske of vice , that whosoe'r to peevish thoughts are pronest , will know some time b'experience , that there is no profitable thing , which is not honest : nor can there be to god a man more odious , then he who leaves the good , for what 's cōmodious . . what the subject of your conference ought to be with men of judgment , and account . let the discourse be serious , you impart , to the grave audience of judicious eares : being either of the common-wealth , some art , or science , on your owne , or friendes affaires ; for if it can to none of those pertaine : it must be idle , frivolous , and vaine . . that a truly generous mind , had rather give a curtesie , then be resting one , after the presented opportunity to repay it . as stil a greater care doth men possesse , to keepe things well , then freely to bestowe them : so to a noble spirit it is lesse laborious to giue benefites , then owe them : in whom brave actions are more naturall , then to the flame to mount , or earth to fall . to a certain lady of a most exquisit feature , and comely presentation : but who gloried too much in the deceitfull excellencie of these fading , and perishable qualities . though you be very handsome , doe but stay a litle while , and you will see a change ; for beautie flieth with the tyme away , wherwith it comes : nor must you think it strange , that hardly being skin deepe in the most faire , and but a separable accident of bodys , which , but living shadowes are ; ( and therfore frayle ) it is not permanent ; be then not proud of that , which at the best , decrepit age will spoyle : or sicknesse wast . who is truly rich , and who poore . by the contempt , not value of the matter of worldly goods , true riches are possess'd ; for our desire by seeking groweth greater : and by desiring , povertie's increass'd : so that on earth there can be none so poore as he , whose mind in plentie longs for more . how generous a thing it is , not to succumbe to pleasure , and sensualitie . no great exploit can be expected from that man , who being profoundly plung'd in his owne sense , permits himselfe to be o'rcome b' a foe s'effeminat , as pleasure is ; for mightie minds most pleasures doe conceive , when pleasures over them no power have . that we ought not to be sorie at the losse of worldly goods . those things , which are to us by fortune lent , we should sequestrat , and to such a place , from whence she may , without our discontent , fetch them away againe before our face ; for if we grudge thereat by any meanes : we doe but vexe our selves , and lose our paines . . what is not vertuously acquired , if acquired by vs , is not properly ours . whos'ever by sinister meanes is come to places of preferment , and to walke within the bounds of vertue takes no pleasure : provideth onely titles for his tombe , and for the baser people pratling talke : but nothing for himselfe in any measure ; for fortune doth with all things us befit , save the sole mind of ours : and vice kils it . . riches affoord to vertue more matter to worke upon , then povertie can doe . for temperance , and other qualities of greater moment , men have beene respected in riches : but in poverty there is this onely goodnesse , not to be dejected ; whence shunning want , we means embrace , which yeeld , to vertue a more large , and spacious field . . death maketh us all alike in so farre , as her power can reach . 'mongst all the rites , that nature can pretend in justice , this is chiefest , and a sequell , which doth on mortall principles depend : that drawing neare to death , we are all equall ; therefore we otherwise , then by the sense should betwixt man , and man make difference . a very ready way to goodnesse , and true vvisedome . who vertuously would settle his endeavours , to mortifie his passions , and be wise : must still remember on received favours , forgetting alwaies by-past injuries ; for that a friend should prove ingrate , is strange : and mercy is more noble , then revenge . . we ought not to regard the contumelies , and calumnies of lyars , and profane men . aspersions , which base people viciously inflict upon mens credits , i contemne ; that sentence having small authoritie , where he , that is condemned , doth condemne : and to be hated by a wicked spirit , doth argue oftentimes the greater merit . . no man should glory too much in the flourishing verdure of his youth . let none be proud of life : nor thinke , that longer he then another will , because he 's younger , enjoy his pleasures ; for though old age stand a great way off , death alwaies is at hand ; who ( without taking heed to time , or yeares ) no living creature spares , when she appeares . . that vertue is of greater worth , then knowledge . to a speculative philosopher . why doe you study morals , if you take no paines t' abate your avarice , and lust ? for how can vertues definition make you valiant , prudent , temperate , or just : jf you industriously purge not your mind of any vice , to which you are inclin'd ? consolation to a poore man . that you are poore , it should not much disheart you ; for povertie securely keepes your house from theeves , & robbers : and makes roome to vertue , by banishing of pride , and the abuse of riches : the losse thereof , and feare of losse , surfets , and vices , that prejudge the health : which being shut out of doores , strive to compose your mind to quietnesse , more worth , then wealth ; for without wealth you may have happinesse : but not without tranquillitie , and ease . the bad returnes of ingrate men should not deterre us from being liberall . though you ingrate receivers dayly find , let not their faults make you lesse noble prove ; it not being , th'action of a gen'rous mind to give and lose so , as to lose , and give ; for that , a churle may doe , in hope of gaine : but this partakes of a heroick straine . that riches is a sicknesse to those , that doe not possesse the good thereof , so much as they are possest thereby . some peoples senses wealth doth so bereave , that they to nothingelse their minds can frame : so have they wealth , as men are said to have the ague , when 't is th'ague , that hath them ; for it afflicts them with the maladies of covetous desire , and avarice . . a truely liberall man never bestoweth his gifts , in hope of recompence . a hearty giver , will conceive such pleasure in th'onely action of his good intent : that though he be not met in the like measure , it never breeds him any discontent ; for when he doth bestow a benefit , he meerely lookes to the receivers profit : and in the instant , that he guideth it , reapes all the vse , that he exspected of it : vertue no other recompence allowing ; the price of honest deeds being in the doing . that the setled quiet of our mind ought not to be moved at sinister accidents . man should for no infortunate event deprive himselfe of that , which fortune is vnable to restore him : the content of mind , ease , and tranquilsity of his reposed spirit ; for who lacketh those , can nothing else possesse , that 's worth to lose . . as it was a precept of antiquity , to leane more to vertue , then parentage : so is it a tenet of christianity , to repose more trust on the blood of christ , then our owne merits . vertue , not blood was thought of anciently ; yet blood , more then our vertue ought to please us : for we on blood , not vertue should rely ; not on our vertue : but the blood of iesus , his blood being able to make heavenly kings ; of men , plagu'd here for lacke of earthly things . our inclination is so depraved , that it is apt enough of it selfe to runne to sin , without any instigation , whereby to drive it forward . our mind 's so prone to vice , it needs a bridle to hold it rather , then a spurre , to prick it ; for left unto it selfe , it hardly stands : but if perverse enticements find it idle , and push it , then , it ( runing on a wicked , and headlong course ) no reason understands , while at the windows of the eares , and eyes temptations enter , which the soule surprise , that there is no true riches , but of necessary things . the use of mony , is to have the meanes , whereby all needfull things may be possess'd , which are , but few , and small , & got with ease : what we have more then that , ' snot wealth , but chains , or fetters of the mind : and at the best , but heapes of labour , feare , and carefulnesse . . the misery of such , as are doubtfull , and suspicious of their vvives chastitie close jealous men make not so evident in any thing the madnesse of their braines : as that , the more that they are diligent , they have the greater hope to lose their paines ; for their whole care , to search that , is imployed , which not to find , they would be overjoyed . . how deplorable the condition of most men is , who , though they attaine to the fruition of their praeterit projects , by covering neverthelesse the possession of future pleasures , honours , and commodities , never receive contentment ( is they ought ) in the present time . in things , to fortune subject , when we get what we did long for , we anew desire to have wherewith t' uphold the former state : which likewise , we obtaining , more require ; for businesse engendreth businesse : and hope , being th'usher of another hope , our enjoyd ' wishes serve but to make place to after aimes , whose purchase to the top of our ambition never reacheth ; thus by still aspiring higher we can find no end in miseries , that trouble us : turmoyle the body : and perplex our mind , although we change with great varietie the matter , which procures our miserie . . the different fruits of idlenesse , and vertue in young men . as singing grashoppers , a fond youth revels in summer blinks : & starves when tempests rage : but wise men ( pismire like ) enjoy the travels of their young yeares , in th'winter of their age : these by their providence have wealth in treasure : while those are pained for their by-gone pleasure . . to a generously disposed gentleman , who was maine sorrie , that he had not wherewith to remunerat the favours , by the which he was obliged to the curtesie of a friend . you have restor'd his kindnesse , if you owe it willingly , and doth not prove forgetfull ; for with all mankind it would hardly goe : if no man could with empty hands be gratefull : and in what may concerne a benefit , 't is th'onely mind refounds , and maketh it . . the truest wealth , man hath it from himselfe . if you from discontents have a desire to live exeem'd , the way is ne'r t' importune your friends with suits : but alwaies to require your riches from your selfe : and not from fortune ; for your dislike , affection , and opinion are things still subject to your owne dominion . . that the impudicity of a lascivious woman staines but her owne , and not her husbands honour . though of her sacred matrimoniall oath your wife make no account : if what be due to a wise husband you performe : she doth bring to her selfe discredit : not to you ; for others faults can no disgrace impart you : ( though to your losse they tend , and make you sorrie ) no more then you can by anothers vertue , ( though it breed joy , and gaine ) reape any glorie : 't is our owne vertu ' , & vice must praise or blame u 〈…〉 and either make us glorious , or infamous . . who really are rich , and who poore . he , that agreeth with his povertie , is truly rich : while ( on the other part ) he 's poore , who 'midst the superfluitie of wealth , in new desires consumes his heart ; for 't is an empty mind inflicts the curse of poverty : and not an empty purse . . how to oppose sinister fate . if of misfortune you suppose t' exoner by any other meanes , then those of vertue , your troubled spirit : you bestow upon her both your owne skll , and weapons to subvert you ; for that , wherewith you ' magine to resist her furie , is already in her hand : and which she holds extended to your breast , to make you plyable to her command : it is not then great friends , nobilitie , health , beauty , strength , nor store of worldly treasure , that can preserve you from her blowes ; for the of all those things disposeth at her pleasure : but you , your selfe must furnish with such armes , as may defend you against vice , and sin : and so you shall not need to feare her harmes : for being so warded , you are happy in the tumults of the world : and she unable with all her might , to make you miserable . . the deserved mutability in the condition of too ambitious men . as is the tortoise used by the eagle : so fortune doth vaine-glorious men inveagle ; who carries them upon the wings of honour the higher up , that they may breake the sooner . . that inconveniences ought to be regarded to before hand . to wait for crosses , that may happen , is the meane ▪ whereby to beare them easily ; they not being much unlike the cockatrice , which , if fore-seene by us , dyes instantly : while unexpected misadventures kill joy in the breed , and tyrannize the will . . concerning those , who disdaine to walke on their owne feet , when , at any rate ▪ they may have the convenience to be carried . we will not see with others eyes : nor heare ( so with borrow'd eares ; yet hath fond custome prevailed , that we take especiall care , upon the feet of others still to goe : although our owne be nere so strong , to beare the burthen of our bodies ? i am sure , that no man came into this world in chaire , on horseback , or in coach ; our birth was poore , and we must dye in no lesse poore estate : but 'twixt those abject ends such pride there is , and in so short a course of life , so great forgetfulnesse of both extremities , as if enjoying an immortall breath , we could not have beene borne : nor tast of death . thus endeth the second booke of sir thomas vrchards epigrams , epigrams : the third booke , . how to behave ones selfe in all occasions . no kind of trouble to your selfe procure : and shun as many crosses , as you can : stoutly support , what you must needs endure : and with the resolution of a man , whose spirit is affliction-proofe , possesse a joyfull heart in all occurrences . that no man , to speake properly , liveth , but he , that is wise , and vertuous . if wee lacke vertue , and good deeds to hold our life 〈…〉 true life affords not ▪ though it make us old ; nor lived he that lives not after death for in good minds , the lives of men consist : and they alone mortalitie resist ▪ we ought always to thinke upon what we are to say , before we utter any thing ; the speeches and talk of solid wits , being still premeditated , and never using to forerunne the mind . our tongu 's the hearts interpreter , and still in wise discourse hath but the second place ▪ the heart ▪ should end , ere th'tongue begin ; for while the legate speakes , the truch-man holdes his peace . which order being inverted , we abuse the hearers patience : and our selves confuse . that lust , and drunkennesse are odious vices . wrath makes a man to sin couragiously , and pride doth swell with faire appearances : but drunkenesse , and too much leacherie are sloven , filthie , villanous , and base ; for by the one gods image being exil'd , his temple by the other is defil'd . . a certaine ancient philosopher did hereby insinuate , how necessary a thing the administration of iustice was : and to be alwaies vigilant in the judicious distribution of punishment , and recompence . seeing by the multitude of those offend , the shame of sin 's diminish'd now in such a measure , that a common crime , in end will cease to be accounted a reproach : i am affrayd , that ( if iniquitie be suffer'd thus to propagate ) it will with bad example safer be to stray , then to prove singular in doing well : nor is this grievous inconvenience ( tho pernicious to the state ) to be withstood , if any the least care be wanting to chastise the wicked , and reward the good : which law each prince should in his bosome nourish ; that vice may be supprest : and vertue flourish . . that overweening impedeth oftentimes the perfectioning of the very same qualitie , wee are proudest of . fond selfe-conceit likes never to permit ones mind , to see it selfe with upright eyes ; whence many men might have attain'd to wit , had they not thought themselves already wise : to boast of wisedome then , is foolishnesse ; for while we thinke , we 're wise : we 're nothing lesse . . to one , who seemed to be grievously discontented with his poverty . let never want of money vexe your braine ; seeing all contentment is in th'only mind , to the which mony doth no more pertaine , then to the hierarchies of angel-kind : thus gold being earthly , and the mind sublime : t' abase your spirit , is a sort of crime . . the resolution of a proficient in vertue . i hope so little to transgresse the law , my conscience will endite me , or be proud of wealth , and pomp : as not to care a straw for fortunes frownes : so that my deeds be good , which eternize my blisse , while she makes kings . t' enjoy at best , but transitory things . . that a courtesie ought to be conferred soone , and with a good will . no man will from his heart owe that , which was extorted by meere importunity , without regard of true desert ; because it seemes to have beene giv'n unwillingly : who distributes his benefits that way , needs not then wait for a gratification from him , whom he hath dulled with delay , and tortured with grievous expectation ; for we acknowledge gifts according to th'intent of him , who doth the same bestow . . the best wits , once depraved , become the most impious . the whitest lawne receives the deepest moale : the purest chrysolit is soonest stained : so without grace , the most ingenious soule , is with the greatest wickednesse profaned : and the more edge it have , apply'd to sin , where it should spare , it cuts the deeper in . . that those employ not their occasions well , who spend the most part of their life in providing for the instruments of living . some wasting all their life with paine , and sorrow , to seeke the meanes of life no leasure give their thoughts , from ayming alwaies at to morrow ; whereby they live not , but are still to live ; in their whole age the fruits , that issue from their labours , being but hopes of times to come . . an vprightly zealous , and truly devout man is strong enough against all temptations . that man , in whom the grace of god begins , his soule with divine comfort to refresh , may the whole heptarchie of deadly sins , in spight of all , the devill , the world , the flesh are able to suggest , enforce to yeeld ; christ , being his guide : and christian faith , his shield . . that to employ our thoughts on the study of mortality , and frailty of our nature , is a very necessary , and profitable speculation . be not from death ( by any meanes ) a stranger : but make her your familiar friend ; that if the cause require , it , vilipending danger , you may step forth t' embrace her , without griefe ; for the more boldly you intend to meet her : the relish of your life will prove the sweeter . . the generous speech of a noble cavallier , after he had disarmed his adversary at the single combate . though with my raper , for the guerdon , your fault deserveth , i may pierce ye : your penitence , in craving pardon transpassions my revenge in mercy ; and wils me both to end this present strife , and give you leave in peace t' enjoy your life . . to one , who was excessively cheerefull , for being recovered of a fever , wherewith he had beene for a time extreame sorely shaken . that to your health you are restored , you may in some sort be joyfull : and yet pleased to know your dying day is nearer now , then when you were most heavily diseased ; for to its journeyes end your life still goes , which cannot stay , nor slow it's pace : nor hath jt any inne , to rest in ; toyle , repose , sicknesse , and health being alike steps to death : let this thought then your gladnesse mortifie , that once againe you must fall sicke , and dye . . that the most of our contentment , while we are upon the earth , consisteth rather in negatives , as not to be perplexed with ment all perturbations , outward diseases , and other such like life-tormenting crosses , then in the reall fruition of any positive delight , that can befall vs . there being no possibility , that men can here enjoy a greater delectation , then to possesse a body without paine , and mind untroubled by the meanest passion : without desire of further pleasure , health , and a good conscience should be our chiefe wealth . . vvhy we must all dye . it being the law of nations to restore what we have borrow'd , ther 's no remedy : but being engaged to a creditor , who will not lose his debt : we must needs dye : nor can we plead one halfe a termes delay ; for when death craves it , we are forc'd to pay . . of the covetous , and perverse inclination of the greatest part of mankind . when profit goes with vertue , we respect her , so that her very foot-steps we adore : but if she walke alone , then we neglect her , and will not wait upon her any more : so basely 'gainst their consciences , most men descend from honour , to attend on gaine . . the parallel of nature , and fortune . a fly , which is a despicable creature obtaines , beside her wings , six feet from nature : yet foure feet onely , she is pleas'd to grant to the huge body of an elephant : so fortune doth withdraw her gifts from some , whose real worth surpasseth theirs , on whom she hath bestowed them , as forcibly , as elephants in strenth exceed a fly . . how we should enjoy the delights , we have : and contemne such , as we have not . let not the want of pleasures be unpleasant to your remembrance : and with moderation make use of those contentments , which are present : if you would ne'r be griev'd with expectation ; for to our owne , things absent to preferre , frustrates our hope , when it hath bred us feare . to one , who did confide too much in the sound temperament , and goodly constitution of his bodily complexion . boast not of outward health : but have a care your soule be not distemperd ; for we find the case of them most dangerous , who are in wholsome bodies of a sickly mind , vice tyrannizing over flesh , and blood in those , whose will , and judgement are not good . . a counsell to be provident , and circumspect in all our actions , without either cowardise , or temeritie . doe nothing tim'rously , and yet b'aware , you be not rash : let prudence therefore guard your words , and deeds ; for he needs not to feare what 's to be shun'd , that shuns what 's to be fear'd ; nor in the present time be vex't , who from things past , discerne of what is like to come . . of foure things , in an epalleled way vanquished each by other . as death o'rthroweth man , and cuts his breath : and fame most gloriously subdueth death : so gourmandizing time doth fame or'come : and to eternity time must succumbe . . a consolation to those , that are of a little stature not to be sorry thereat . none of a little burthen should complaine ; you 're cloth'd with flesh , and bones , and not supprest : a little house a gyant may containe : and little bulks great spirits oft invest ; for vertue hath not such desire to find the stature of the body , as the mind . . that too much bewailing , and griefe is to be avoided at funerals , to one lamenting the decease of a friend . it were more fit , that you relinquish'd orrow , then that you should be left by it ; that may , what ever may be done , be done to morrow : and what to morrow may be done to day ; we should therefore , as soon's we can desist from that , wherein we cannot long insist . . the vertuous speech of a diseased man , most patient in his sicknesse . my flesh still having beene an enemy unto my spirit , it should glad my heart , that paines , which seize now on my body , may be profitable to my better part ; for though diseases seeme at first unpleasant , they point us out the way , we ought to goe : admonish us exactly of our present estate : and t' us at last this favour shew , that they enlarge us from that ruinous , close , and darke prison , which confined us . . we should not be sorry , to be destitute of any thing : so long as we have judgments to perswade vs , that we may minister to our selves , what we have not , by not longing for it . to want , what j should have , shall never make my heart lesse cheerfull ; reason still requiring , that j be pleas'd , what 's ' ever things j lacke , to furnish to my selfe , by not desiring ; for not to wish for things , against the griefe of feare , and frustrate hopes provides reliefe . . that vertue is better , and more powerfull then fortune . vertue denyeth nought , but what to grant hurts the receiver , and is good to want : nor takes she ought away , which would not crosse the owner : and is lucrative to losse ; she no man can deceive : she lookes not strange : nor is she subject to the meanest change : embrace her then ; for she can give that , which will ( without gold , or silver ) make you rich . . how magnanimous a thing it is , in adversity , patiently to endure , what cannot bee evited . vvhat grievous weight so ever be allowed by misadventrous fate , wherewith to load ye , shrinke not thereat , but yeeld your shoulder to it , and with a stedfast mind support your body ; for valiant spirits can not be o'rcome : though fortune force their bodies to succumbe . . that nothing more opposeth the tranquillity of life , which is proper , and peculiar to wise-men , then to be tyed to a generality of publicke example in all our actions . amongst the causes of our evils , this is one of the most ordinary , that we live b'example : things which are amisse supplying oftentimes the place of what is rightest , and most vertuous : for there 's no man ( scarce ) holds that error , which is done in cōmon . . a temperate dyet , is the best physicke . to keepe a moderation in our dyet , is the chiefe meane , to be of health assured ; for nothing sickens so , as too much ryot : and feasts kill more , then galen ever cured , nor is ther physicke , should so fully please us ; others expell : but this prveens diseases . . that all our life , is but a continuall course , and vicissitude of sinning , and being sorry for sinne . we sinne with joy : and having fin'd , we mourn , then kindle , after teares , new sinfull fires ; there being a turne perpetuall , and returne 'twixt our repentance , and profane desires ; for senses to delights are wedded wholly , which purchas'd , reason doth bewaile their folly . . why our thoughts , all the while we are in this transitory world , from the houre of our nativity , to the laying downe of our bodies in the grave , should not at any time exspaciat themselves in the broad way of destruction . seeing the strait lodging of your mothers wombe , brought you to life , from whence you must depart to the darke entry of a little tombe : betwixt your birth , and buriall let your heart tread vertues narrow path : till you contract to so strict bounds the pleasures of this wide , and spacious world , as that you may draw backe the reines of covetous desire , hate , lust , and pride ; for by so doing , you will make your death a blessed passage to eternall breath . . it is the safest course to entertaine poverty in our greatest riches . your thoughts in greatest plentie moderate , lest with superfluous things you be insnared : let poverty be your familiar mate , that fortune may not find you unprepared ; for so it will not lye into her pow'r , t' inflict that crosse , which you cannot endure . . to a gentleman , who was extreamly offended at the defamatory speeches of a base detractor . at his reproachfull words doe not conceive the meanest grudge ; for curs will still be barking nor take you notice of him , seeing a knave is like a scabbed sheepe , not worth the marking ; and this your setting him at nought will make him swell , as a toad , till his owne poyson breake him . . of death , and sin . bodies , which lack the soules , did them inform , turn'd to corruption , lose their former grace : and out of hearts corrupted breeds a worme still gnawing upon guilty consciences . as from deceased bodies , death withdrawes the living soules , another life t' enjoy : so sinne , contrary to the divine lawes , in living bodies doth the soule destroy . death is not vanquish'd till the resurrection of bodies , testifie the soules conjunction and by regeneration , sin's infection is buri'd in a mortifi'd compunction ; lesse then is death , then sinne : the tomb , then hell : the more that soules the bodies doe excell . . the advantages of povertie . if you have povertie , you have no sumptuous , but a most easie ghuest , secure , and quiet : who will preserve your mind from being presumptuous , from prodigality , excessive ryot : from vicious pleasures , robbers , and the stealth of theeves , which ills befall to those , have wealth . . how to make all the world peaceable . if so in ev'ry man the flesh would dwell at concord with the spirit , that it cease against its soverainty to rebell , the universall world would be at peace ; for if there were no avarice , no hate : no pride , nor lust , there could be no debate . . one , who did extreamly regret , his bestowing of a great benefit vpon an ingrate man . by giving moneyes to a thanklesse man , you lost the matter of your benefit : but the best part thereof doth still remaine , which was your willingnesse in giving it ; for his repaying of your gratefull action , had made you gaine all , that you had received and getting nought , you lacke not satisfaction ; it onely being , to give it , that you gave it ; else in your gifts , a bargaine we should find : and not the noble acts of a free mind . . of wisedome , in speech , in action ▪ in reality , and reputation . wisely to talke deserveth much respect : yet to live wisely ( without doubt ) is better : to be accounted wise is a great matter : but it is most to be it in effect ; such as would follow wisedome then , let them strive more for deeds , then words : for life , then fame . . to one , who was grieved within himselfe , that he was not endewed with such force , and vigour of body , as many others were . though you be not so strong , as other men , jf you have health , the matter is but small ; you being reserv'd for tasks , more noble , then the labours of the body : therefore all you can complaine of , is not of defect , but of imparitie : nature did grant milo great strength , in whose regard you 're weake : so was he weaker then an elephant : his strength decay'd : but solons lasted longer , and wise men love not , what 's not durable : care not for strength ; seeing sicknesse will be stronger : but with your soule , as with a sword of steele , within a sheath of wooll , subdue temptations ; for the true strength of man , being in the mind , he is much stronger , overcomes his passions , then who can with main force a lyon bind ; and who himselfe thus in subjection brings , surmounts the power of all earthly kings . . an encouragement to those of meane parentage , not to be hindered by the obscurity of their extraction , from the undertaking of glorious enterprises . the baser , that your parents are , the greater renowne , and honour will to you redound ; jf all your actions be on vertue grounded : to give being more , then to receive , and better to have a noble life , then birth : to found a new nobility , then find it founded . we should not be troubled at the accidents of fortune : nor those things , which cannot be eschewed . let 's take in patience , sicknesse , banishments , paine , losse of goods , death , and enforced strife ; for none of those are so much punishments , as tributes , which we pay unto this life ; from the whole tract whereof we cannot borrow one dram of joy , that is not mix'd with sorrow . . age meerly depending on the continuall flux of time , we have very small reason to boast of a long life , already obtained : or be proud of the hope , hereafter to attaine unto it . the present time doth fly away so fast , that one can hardly follow 't with his mind : the praeterit's a time already past : and seeing the futur 's still to come , we find , both those being absent , that they are not ours : although they breed to us no meane vexation , th'one with the slip'ry thought of ill-spent houres : and th'other , with a carefull expectation : thus life is almost nothing , in effect , whereof two parcels never are our owne : the third being such , as e'r we can reflect upon th'enjoying of it , is quite gone ; the longest time not having bounds to measure a reall , permanent , and solid pleasure . here end the first three bookes of sir thomas vrchards epigrams . laud to the father , with the son , and ghost triun , as fore , and still hath beene since times begun , be now , and evermore . the errata's . page . line . for , place a : p. . l. . at dart , blot out , l. . for . place a : p. . l. . for find , read find . p. . l. . for misadventure , read misadventures l. . at with place a : and at face a ; p. . l. . at law ▪ place a ; p. . l. . at doe , place a : & at ought , a ; p. . l. . and . must be indented , p. . l. . at estates , place a , l. . before , at all , read lived , p. . l. . for guideth read giveth , l. for ▪ place a ; line , blot out the ; p. . line . for u , read us , and place there a : page . l. . for skll reed skill page . line , at death place a ; l. . for . place a : the printers to the reader . though in none of the printed copies , be all those above collected faults , yet ( the forme , in severall sheets happening to passe divers times the presse , before an exact revise was made ) many of the bookes are found to containe some , as the whole impression them all : therefore , thought we fit , for the ease of the more curious , in every penult page to subjoyne them as they are here sum'd up ; willing rather to insert the totall , where the parts are wanting in their distinguish't places , then by omitting any thing of the due count , to let an errour slip uncorrected . what else hath escaped our animadversion , we heartily intreat the courteous , and judicious readers to excuse , and amend : and humbly beg their favours , they may be pleased to vouchsafe an acceptance of these our endeavours with the same intention , we have offered them ; the furtherance of the common good , and satisfaction of every one in particular , being all wee aime at , our chiefe ambition , and the most approved testimony , which our consciences affoord us in the discharge of our calling . finis . imprimatur . johannes hansley . march . . paradoxes, problemes, essayes, characters written by dr. donne, dean of pauls ; to which is added a book of epigrams ; written in latin by the same author ; translated into english by j. maine d.d. ; as also, ignatius his conclave, a satyr, translated out of the originall copy written in latin by the same author, found lately amongst his own papers. donne, john, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing d estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) paradoxes, problemes, essayes, characters written by dr. donne, dean of pauls ; to which is added a book of epigrams ; written in latin by the same author ; translated into english by j. maine d.d. ; as also, ignatius his conclave, a satyr, translated out of the originall copy written in latin by the same author, found lately amongst his own papers. donne, john, - . mayne, jasper, - . [ ], p. printed by t.n. for humphrey mosely ... london : . imperfect: pages stained with loss of print. "ignatius his conclave" has special t.p. reproduction of original in the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams, english. satire. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - amanda watson sampled and proofread - amanda watson text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion paradoxes , problemes , essayes , characters , written by d r donne dean of pauls : to which is added a book of epigrams : written in latin by the same author ; translated into english by i : maine , d. d. as also ignatius his conclave , a satyr , translated out of the originall copy written in latin by the same author ; found lately amongst his own papers . de iesuitorum dissidiis . quos pugnare , scholis , clamāt , hi , ( discite regna ) non sunt unanimes , conveniuntque nimis . london , printed by t : n : for humphrey moseley at the prince's armes in st pauls churchyard , . the table . paradoxes . i. a defence of womens inconstancy . ii. that women ought to paint iii. that by discord things increase . iv. that good is more common then evill v. that all things kill themselves vi. that it is possible to finde some vertue in some women . vii . that old men are more fantasticke then young. viii . that nature is our worst guide . ix . that only cowards dare lye , x. that a wise man is known by much laughing . xi . that the gifts of the body are better then those of the minde . xii . that virginity is a vertue . problems . i. why have bastards the best fortune . ii. why puritans make long sermons . iii. why did the devil reserve iesuites till these latter dayes . iv. why is there more variety of green then of other colours . v. why doe young lay-men so much study divinity . vi. why hath the common opinion afforded women souls . vii . why are the fairest falsest . viii . why venus-star only doth cast a shadow ? ix . why is venus-star multinominous , called both hesperus & vesper ? x. why are new officers least oppressing ? xi . vvhy doth the pox so much affect to undermine the nose ? xii . vvhy die none for love now ? xiii . vvhy doe women delight much in feathers ? xiv . vvhy doth not gold soyle the fingers ? ib. xv. vvhy doe great men of all dependants , choose to preserve their little pimps ? xvi . vvhy are courtiers sooner atheists , then men of other conditions ? xvii . vvhy are statesmen most incredulous ? characters . the character of a scot at the first sight . the true character of a dunce . an essay of valour , a sheaf of miscellany epigrams , ignatius nis conclave , ben. johnson to the author . who can doubt , donne , where i a poet bee ? when i dare send my epigrams to thee that so alone canst judge , so alone dost make : and in thy censures , evenly , dost take as free simplicitie , to disavow , as thou hast best authority t' allow : read all i send : and , if i finde but one mark'd by thy hand , and with the better stone my title 's seal'd . those that for claps do write , let punies , porters , players praise delight , and till they burst , their backs , like asses load : a man should seek great glory , and not broad . paradoxes . i. a defence of womens inconstancy . that women are inconstant , i with any man confess , but that inconstancy is a bad quality , i against any man will maintain : for every thing as it is one better than another , so is it fuller of change ; the heavens themselves continually turn , the stars move , the moon changeth ; fire whirleth , aire flyeth , water ebbs and flowes , the face of the earth altereth her looks , time staies not ; the colour that is most light , will take most dyes : so in men , they that have the most reason are the most inalterable in their designes , and the darkest or most ignorant , do seldomest change ; therfore women changing more than men , have also more reason . they cannot be immutable like stocks , like stones , like the earths dull center ; gold that lyeth still , rusteth ; water , corrupteth ; aire that moveth not , poysoneth ; then why should that which is the perfection of other things , be imputed to women as greatest imperfection ? because thereby they deceive men. are not your wits pleased with those jests , which cozen your expectation ? you can cal it pleasure to be beguil'd in troubles , and in the most excellent toy in the world , you call it treachery : i would you had your mistresses so constant , that they would never change , no not so much as their smocks , then should you see what sluttish vertue , constancy were . inconstancy is a most commendable and cleanly quality , and women in this quality are far more absolute than the heavens , than the stars , moon , or any thing beneath it ; for long observation hath pickt certainty out of their mutability . the learned are so well acquainted with the stars , signes and planets , that they make them but characters , to read the meaning of the heaven in his own forehead . every simple fellow can bespeak the change of the moon a great while beforehand : but i would fain have the learnedst man so skilfull , as to tell when the simplest woman meaneth to vary . learning affords no rules to know , much less knowledge to rule the minde of a woman . for as philosophy teacheth us , that light things do always tend upwards , and heavy things decline downward ; experience teacheth us otherwise , that the disposition of a light woman , is to fall down , the nature of women being contrary to all art and nature . women are like flies , which feed among us at our table , or fleas sucking our very blood , who leave not our most retired places free from their familiarity , yet for all their fellowship will they never be tamed nor commanded by us . women are like the sun , which is violently carried one way , yet hath a proper course contrary : so though they , by the mastery of some over-ruling churlish husbands , are forced to his byas , yet have they a motion of their own , which their husbands never know of : it is the nature of nice and fastidious mindes to know things only to be wary of them : women by their slye changeableness , and pleasing doubleness , prevent even the mislike of those , for they can never be so well known , but that there is still more unknown . every woman is a science ; for he that plods upon a woman all his life long , shall at length finde himself short of the knowledge of her : they are born to take down the pride of wit , and ambition of wisdom , making fools wise in the adventuring to win them , wisemen fools in conceit of losing their labours ; witty men stark mad , being confounded with their uncertainties . philosophers write against them for spight , not desert , that having attained to some knowledge in all other things , in them only they know nothing , but are meerly ignorant : active and experienced men rail against them , because they love in their liveless and decrepit age , when all goodness leaves them . these envious libellers ballad against them , because having nothing in themselvs able to deserve their love , they maliciously discommend all they cannot obtain , thinking to make men believe they know much , because they are able to dispraise much , and rage against inconstancy , when they were never admitted into so much favour as to be forsaken . in mine opinion such men are happie that women are inconstant , for so may they chance to be beloved of some excellent woman when it comes to their turn out of their inconstancy and mutability , though not out of their own desert . and what reason is there to clog any woman with one man , be he never so singular ? women had rather , and it is far better and more judicial to enjoy all the vertues in several men , than but some of them in one , for otherwise they lose their taste , like divers sorts of meat minced together in one dish : and to have all excellencies in one man ( if it were possible ) is confusion and diversity . now who can deny , but such as are obstinately bent to undervalue their worth , are those that have not soul enough to comprehend their excellency , women being the most excellent creatures , in that man is able to subject all things else , and to grow wise in every thing , but still persists a fool in woman ? the greatest scholler , if he once take a wife , is found so unlearned , that he must begin his horn-book , and all is by inconstancy . to conclude therefore ; this name of inconstancy , which hath so much been poysoned with slanders , ought to be changed into variety , for the which the world is so delightfull , and a woman for that the most delightfull thing in this world . ii. that women ought to paint . foulness is lothsome : can that be so which helps it ? who forbids his beloved to gird in her waste ? to mend by shooing her uneven lameness ? to burnish her teeth ? or to perfume her breath ? yet that the face be more precisely regarded , it concerns more : for as open confessing sinners are always punished , but the wary and concealing offenders without witness , do it also without punishment ; so the secret parts needs the less respect ; but of the face , discovered to all examinations and surveys , there is not too nice a jealousie . nor doth it only draw the busie eyes , but it is subject to the divinest touch of all , to kissing , the strange and mystical union of souls . if she should prostitute her self to a more unworthy man than thy self , how earnestly and justly wouldst thou exclaim ? that for want of this easier and ready way of repairing , tobetray her body to ruine and deformity ( the tyrannous ravishers , and sodain deflourers of all women ) what a hainous adultery is it ? what thou lovest in her face is colour , and painting gives that , but thou hatest it , not because it is , but because thou knowest it . fool , whom ignorance makes happy , the stars , the sun , the skye whom thou admirest , alas , have no colour , but are fair , because they seem to be coloured : if this seeming will not satisfie thee in her , thou hast good assurance of her colour , when thou seest her lay it on . if her face be painted on a board or wall , thou wilt love it , and the board , and the wall : canst thou loath it then when it speaks , smiles , and kisses , because it is painted ? are we not more delighted with seeing birds , fruits , and beasts painted then we are with naturals ? and do we not with pleasure behold the painted shape of monsters and devils , whom true , we durst not regard ? we repair the ruines of our houses , but first cold tempests warns us of it , and bites us through it ; we mend the wrack and stains of our apparel , but first our eyes , and other bodies are offended ; but by this providence of women , this is prevented . if in kissing or breathing upon her , the painting fall off , thou art angry , wilt thou be so , if it stick on ? thou didst love her , if thou beginnest to hate her , then 't is because she is not painted . if thou wilt say now , thou didst hate her before , thou didst hate her and love her together , be constant in something , and love her who shews her great love to thee , in taking this pains to seem lovely to thee . iii. that by discord things increase . nullos esse deos , inane coelum affirmat coelius , probatque quod se factum vidit , dum negat haec , beatum . so i assevere this the more boldly , because while i maintain it , and feel the contrary repugnancies and adverse fightings of the elements in my body , my body increaseth ; and whilst i differ from common opinions by this discord , the number of my paradoxes increaseth . all the rich benefits we can frame to our selves in concord , is but an even conservation of things ; in which evenness vve can expect no change , no motion ; therefore no increase or augmentation , which is a member of motion . and if this unity and peace can give increase to things , how mightily is discord and war to that purpose , which are indeed the only ordinary parents of peace . discord is never so barren that it affords no fruit ; for the fall of one estate is at the worst the increaser of another , because it is as impossible to finde a discommodity without advantage , as to finde corruption without generation : but it is the nature and office of concord to preserve onely , which property when it leaves , it differs from it self , which is the greatest discord of all . all victories and emperies gained by war , and all iudiciall decidings of doubts in peace , i do claim children of discord . and who can deny but controversies in religion are grown greater by discord , and not the controversie , but religion it self : for in a troubled misery men are always more religious then in a secure peace . the number of good men , the only charitable nourishers of concord , we see is thin , and daily melts and wains ; but of bad discording it is infinite , and growes hourly . we are ascertained of all disputable doubts , only by arguing and differing in opinion , and if formal disputation ( which is but a painted , counterfeit , and dissembled discord ) can work us this benefit , what shall not a full and main discord accomplish ? truely me thinks i owe a devotion , yea a sacrifice to discord , for casting that ball upon ida , and for all that business of troy , whom ruin'd i admire more then babylon , rome , or quinzay , removed corners , not only fulfilled with her fame , but with cities and thrones planted by her fugitives . lastly , between cowardice and despair , valour is gendred ; and so the discord of extreams begets all vertues , but of the like things there is no issue without a miracle : vxor pessima , pessimus maritus miror tam malè convenire . he wonders that between two so like , there could be any discord , yet perchance for all this discord there was ne're the less increase . iv. that good is more common then evil. i have not been so pittifully tired with any vanity , as with silly old mens exclaiming against these times , and extolling their own : alas ! they betray themselves , for if the times be changed , their manners have changed them . but their senses are to pleasures , as sick mens tastes are to liquors ; for indeed no new thing is done in the world , all things are what , and as they were , and good is as ever it was , more plenteous , and must of necessity be more common then evil , because it hath this for nature and perfection to be common . it makes love to all natures , all , all affect it . so that in the worlds early infancy , there was a time when nothing was evil , but if this world shall suffer dotage in the extreamest crookedness thereof , there shall be no time when nothing shall be good . it dares appear and spread , and glister in the world , but evil buries it self in night and darkness , and is chastised and suppressed when good is cherished and rewarded and as imbroderers , lapidaries , and other artisans , can by all things adorn their works ; for by adding better things , the better they shew in lush and in eminency ; so good doth not only prostrate her amiableness to all , but refuses no end , no not of her utter contrary evil , that she may be the more common to us . for evil manners are parents of good laws ; and in every evil there is an excellency , which ( in common speech ) we call good . for the fashions of habits , for our moving in gestures , for phrases in our speech , we say they were good as long as they were used , that is as long as they were common ; and we eat , we walk , only when it is , or seems good to do so . all fair , all profitable , all vertuous , is , good , and these three things i think imbrace all things , but their utter contraries ; of which also fair may be rich and vertuous ; poor may be vertuous and fair ; vitious may be fair and rich ; so that good hath this good means to be common , that some subjects she can possess intirely ; and in subjects poysoned with evil , she can humbly stoop to accompany the evil . and of indifferent things many things are become perfectly good by being common , as customs by use are made binding laws . but i remember nothing that is therefore ill , because it is common , but women , of whom also ; they that are most common , are the best of that occupation they profess . v. that all things kill themselves . to affect , yea to effect their own death all living things are importuned , not by nature only which perfects them , but by art and education , which perfects her . plants quickened and inhabited by the most unworthy soul , which therefore neither will nor work , affect an end , a perfection , a death ; this they spend their spirits to attain , this attained , they languish and wither . and by how much more they are by mans industry warmed , cherished and pampered ; so much the more early they climb to this perfection , this death . and if amongst men not to defend be to kill , what a hainous self , murther is it , not to defend it self . this defence because beasts neglect , they kill themselves , because they exceed us in number , strength , and a lawless liberty : yea , of horses and other beasts , they that inherit most courage by being bred of gallantest parents , and by artificial nursing are bettered , will run to their own deaths , neither sollicited by spurs which they need not , nor by honour which they apprehend not . if then the valiant kill himself , who can excuse the coward ? or how shall man be free from this , since the first man taught us this , except we cannot kill our selves , because he kill'd us all . yet least something should repair this common ruine , we daily kill our bodies with surfeits , and our minds with anguishes . of our powers , remembring kils our memory : of affections , lusting our lust ; of vertues , giving kils liberality . and if these kil themselves , they do it in their best and supream perfection : for after perfection immediately follows excess , which changeth the natures and the names , and makes them not the same things . if then the best things kill themselves soonest , ( for no affection endures , and all things labour to this perfection ) all travel to their own death , yea the frame of the whole world , if it were possible for god to be idle , yet because it began , must die . then in this idleness imagined in god , what could kill the world but it self , since out of it , nothing is ? vi. that it is possible to finde some vertue in some women . i am not of that seard impudence that i dare defend women , or pronounce them good , yet we see physitians allow some vertue in every poyson . alas ! why should we except women ? since cerrtainly they are good for physick at least , so as some wine is good for a feaver . and though they be the occasioners of many sins , they are also the punishers and revengers of the same sins : for i have seldom seen one which consumes his substance and body upon them , escape diseases , or beggery ; and this is their justice . and if suum cuique dare , be the fulfilling of all civil iustice , they are most just ; for they deny that which is theirs to no man , tanquam non liceat nulla puella negat . and who may doubt of great wisdome in them , that doth but observe with how much labour and cunning our iusticers and other dispensers of the laws studie to imbrace them : and how zealously our preachers dehort men from them , only by urging their subtilties and policies , and wisdom , which are in them ? or who can deny them a good measure of fortitude , if he consider how valiant men they have overthrown , and being themselvs overthrown , how much and how patiently they bear ? and though they be most intemperate , i care not , for i undertook to furnish them with some vertue , not with all . necessity , which makes even bad things good , prevails also for them , for we must say of them , as of some sharp pinching laws ; if men were free from infirmities , they were needless . these or none must serve for reasons , and it is my great happiness that examples prove not rules , for to confirm this opinion , the world yeilds not one example . vii . that old men are more fantastick then young. who reads this paradox but thinks me more fantastick now , than i was yesterday , when i did not think thus : and if one day make this sensible change in men , what will the burthen of many years ? to be fantastick in young men is conceitfull distemperature , and a witty madness ; but in old men , whose senses are withered , it becomes natural , therfore more full and perfect . for as when we sleep our fancy is most strong ; so it is in age , which is a slumber of the deep sleep of death . they tax us of inconstancy , which in themselves young they allowed ; so that reproving that which they did approve , their inconstancy exceedeth ours , because they have changed once more then we . yea , they are more idlely busied in conceited apparel than we ; for we , when we are melancholy , wear black ; when lusty , green ; when forsaken , tawny ; pleasing our own inward affections , leaving them to others indifferent ; but they prescribe laws , and constrain the noble , the scholler , the merchant , and all estates to a certain habit . the old men of our time have changed with patience their own bodies , much of their laws , much of their languages ; yea their religion , yet they accuse us . to be amorous is proper and natural in a young man , but in an old man most fantastick . and that ridling humour of iealousie , which seeks and would not finde , which requires and repents his knowledg , is in them most common , yet most fantastike . yea , that which falls never in young men , is in them most fantastike and naturall , that is , covetousnesse ; even at their journeys end to make great provision . is any habit of young men so fantastike , as in the hottest seasons to be double-gowned or hooded like our elders ? or seemes it so ridiculous to weare long haire , as to weare none . truely , as among the philosophers , the skeptike , which doubts all , was more contentious , then either the dogmatick which affirmes , or academike which denies all ; so are these uncertain elders , which both cals them fantastick which follow others inventions , and them also which are led by their own humorous suggestion , more fantastick then other . viii . that nature is our worst guid. shall she be guide to all creatures , which is her self one ? or if she also have a guide , shall any creature have a better guide then we ? the affections of lust and anger , yea even to err is natural , shall we follow these ? can she be a good guide to us , which hath corrupted not us only but her self ? was not the first man , by the desire of knowledge , corrupted even in the whitest integrity of nature ? and did not nature , ( if nature did any thing ) infuse into him this desire of knowledge , and so this corruption in him , into us ? if by nature we shall understand our essence , our definition or reason , nobleness , then this being alike common to all ( the idiot and the wizard being equally reasonable ) why should not all men having equally all one nature , follow one course ? or if we shall understand our incli nations : alas ! how unable a guide is that which follows the temperature of our slimie bodies ? for we cannot say that we derive our inclinations , our minds , or souls from our parents by any way : to say that it is all from all , is error in reason , for then with the first nothing remains , or is a part from all , is error in experience , for then this part equally imparted to many children , would like gavel-kind lands , in few generations become nothing : or to say it by communication , is error in divinity , for to communicate the ability of communicating whole essence with any but god , is utter blasphemy . and if thou hit thy fathers nature and inclination , he also had his fathers , and so climbing up , all comes of one man , and have one nature , all shall imbrace one course ; but that cannot be , therefore our complexions and whole bodies , we inherit from parents ; our inclinations and minds follow that : for our minde is heavy in our bodies afflictions , and rejoyceth in our bodies pleasure : how then shall this nature governe us that is governed by the worst part of us ? nature though oft chased away , it will return ; 't is true , but those good motions and inspirations which be our guides must be wooed , courted , and welcomed , or else they abandon us . and that old axiome , nihil invita , &c. must not be said thou shalt , but thou wilt doe nothing against nature ; so unwilling he notes us to curbe our naturall appetites . wee call our bastards alwayes our naturall issue and we define a foole by nothing so ordinary , as by the name of naturall . and that poore knowledg whereby we conceive what rain is , what wind , what thunder , we call metaphysicke , supernaturall ; such small things , such no things do we allow to our pliant natures apprehension . lastly , by following her we lose the pleasant , and lawfull commodities of this life , for we shall drinke water and eate rootes , and those not sweet and delicate , as now by mans art and industry they are made : we shall lose all the necessities of societies , lawes , arts , and sciences , which are all the workemanship of man : yea we shall lack the last best refuge of misery , death , because no death is naturall : for if yee will not dare to call all death violent ( though i see not why sicknesses be not violences ) yet causes of all deaths proceed of the defect of that which nature made perfect , and would preserve ; and therefore all against nature . ix . that only cowards dare die . extreames are equally removed from the meane ; so that headlong desperatenesse asmuch offends true valour , as backward cowardice : of which sort i reckon justly all un-inforced deaths . when will your valiant man die of necessity ? so cowards suffer what cannot be avoided : and to run into death unimportun'd is to run into the first condemned de sperateness . will he die when he is rich and happie ? then by living he may do more good : and in afflictions and miseries , death is the chosen refuge of cowards . fortiter ille facit qui miser esse potest . but it is taught and practised among our gallants , that rather than our reputations suffer any maim , or we any misery , we shall offer our breasts to the cannons mouth , yea to our swords points : and this seems a very brave and a very climbing ( which is a cowardly , earthly , and indeed a very groveling ) spirit . vvhy do they chain these slaves to the gallies , but that they thrust their deaths , and would at every loose leap into the sea ? vvhy do they take weapons from condemned men , but to barr them of that ease which cowards affect , a speedy death . truely this life is a tempest , and a warfare , and he which dares die , to escape the anguish of it , seems to me , but so valiant , as he which dares hang himself , least he be prest to the wars . i have seen one in that extremity of melancholy , which was then become madness , to make his own breath an instrument to stay his breath , and labour to choak himself ; but alas ! he was mad . and we knew another that languished under the oppression of a poor disgrace , so much , that he took more pains to die , then would have served to have nourished life and spirit enough to have out-liv'd his disgrace . vvhat fool will call this cowardlyness , valour ? or this baseness , humility ? and lastly , of these men which die the allegoricall death of entring into religion , how few are found fit for any shew of valiancy ? but onely a soft and supple metal , made only for cowardly solitariness . x. that a wise man is known by much laughing . ridi , si sapis , ô puella ride ; if thou beest wise , laugh : for since the powers of discourse , reason , and laughter , be equally proper unto man only , why shall not he be only most wise , which hath most use of laughing , as well as he which hath most of reasoning and discoursing ? i always did , and shall understand that adage ; per risum multum possis cognoscere stultum , that by much laughing thou maist know there is a fool , not , that the laughers are fools , but that among them there is some fool , at whom wise men laugh : which moved erasmus to put this as his first argument in the mouth of his folly , that she made beholders laugh : for fools are the most laughed at , and laugh the least themselves of any . and nature saw this faculty to be so necessary in man , that she hath been content that by more causes we should be importuned to laugh , than to the exercise of any other power ; for things in themselves utterly contrary , beget this effect ; for we laugh both at witty and absurd things : at both which sorts i have seen men laugh so long , and so earnestly , that at last they have wept that they could laugh no more . and therefore the poet having described the quietness of a wise retired man , saith in one , what we have said before in many lines ; quid facit canius tuus ? ridet . we have received that even the extremity of laughing , yea of weeping also , hath been accounted wisdom : and that democritus and heraclitus , the lovers of these extreams , have been called lovers of wisdom . now among our wise men i doubt not but many would be found , who would laugh at heraclitus weeping , none which weep at democritus laughing . at the hearing of comedies or other witty reports , i have noted some , which not understanding jests ; &c. have yet chosen this as the best means to seem wise and understanding , to laugh when their companions laugh ; and i have presumed them ignorant , whom i have seen unmoved . a fool if he come into a princes court , and see a gay man leaning at the wall , so glistring , and so painted in many colours that he is hardly discerned from one of the pictures in the arras , hanging his body like an iron-bound chest , girt in and thick rib'd with broad gold laces , may ( and commonly doth ) envy him . but alas ! shall a wise man , which may not only not envy , but not pitty this monster , do nothing ? yes , let him laugh . and if one of these hot cholerick firebrands , which nourish themselves by quarrelling , and kindling others , spit upon a fool one sparke of disgrace , he , like a thatcht house quickly burning , may be angry ; but the wise man , as cold as the salamander , may not only not be angry with him , but not be sorry for him ; therefore let him laugh : so he shall be known a man , because he can laugh , a wise man that he knows at what to laugh , and a valiant man that he dares laugh : for he that laughs is justly reputed more wise , then at whom it is laughed . and hence i think proceeds that which in these later formal times i have much noted ; that now when our superstitious civilitie of manners is become a mutuall tickling flattery of one another , almost every man affecteth an humour of jesting , and is content to be deject , and to deform himself , yea become fool to no other end that i can spie , but to give his wise companion occasion to laugh ; and to shew themselves in promptness of laughing is so great in wise men , that i think all wise men , if any wise man do read this paradox , will laugh both at it and me . xi . that the gifts of the body are better then those of the minde . i say again , that the body makes the minde , not that it created it a minde , but forms it a good or a bad minde ; and this minde may be confounded with soul without any violence or injustice to reason or philosophy : then the soul it seems is enabled by our body , not this by it . my body licenseth my soul to see the worlds beauties through mine eyes : to hear pleasant things through mine ears ; and affords it apt organs for the convenience of all perceivable delight . but alas ! my soul cannot make any part , that is not of it self disposed to see or hear , though without doubt she be as able and as willing to see behinde as before . now if my soul would say , that she enables any part to taste these pleasures , but is her selfe only delighted with those rich sweetnesses which her inward eyes and senses apprehend , shee should dissemble ; for i see her often solaced with beauties , which shee sees through mine eyes , and with musicke which through mine eares she heares . this perfection then my body hath , that it can impart to my minde all his pleasures ; and my mind hath still many , that she can neither teach my indisposed part her faculties , nor to the best espoused parts shew it beauty of angels , of musicke , of spheres , whereof she boasts the contemplation . are chastity , temperance , and fortitude gifts of the minde ? i appeale to physitians whether the cause of these be not in the body ; health is the gift of the body , and patience in sicknesse the gift of the minde : then who will say that patience is as good a happinesse , as health , when wee must be extremely miserable to purchase this happinesse . and for nourishing of civill societies and mutuall love amongst men , which is our chief end while we are men ; i say , this beauty , presence , and proportion of the body , hath a more masculine force in begetting this love , then the vertues of the minde : for it strikes us suddenly , and possesseth us immoderately ; when to know those vertues require some iudgement in him which shall discerne , a long time and conversation between them . and even at last how much of our faith and beleefe shal we be driven to bestow , to assure our selves that these vertues are not counterfeited : for it is the same to be , and seem vertuous , because that he that hath no vertue can dissemble none , but he which hath a little , may gild and enamell , yea and transforme much vice into vertue : for allow a man to be discreet and flexible to complaints , which are great vertuous gifts of the minde , this discretion will be to him the soule and elixir of all vertues , so that touched with this even pride shall be made humility ; and cowardice , honourable and wise valour . but in things seen there is not this danger , for the body which thou lovest and esteemest faire , is faire : certainly if it be not faire in perfection , yet it is faire in the same degree that thy iudgment is good . and in a faire body , i do seldom suspect a disproportioned minde , and as seldome hope for a good in a deformed . when i see a goodly house , i assure my selfe of a worthy possessour , from a ruinous weather-beaten building i turn away , because it seems either stuffed with varlots as a prison , or handled by an unworthy and negligent tenant , that so suffers the wast therof . and truly the gifts of fortune , which are riches , are only handmaids , yea pandars of the bodies pleasure ; with their service we nourish health , and preserve dainty , and wee buy delights so that vertue which must be loved for it selfe , and respects no further end , is indeed nothing : and riches , whose end is the good of the body , cannot be so perfectly good , as the end whereto it levels . problems . i. why have bastards best fortune ? because fortune her self is a whore , but such are not most indulgent to their issue ; the old natural reason ( but those meeting in stoln love are most vehement , and so contribute more spirit then the easie and lawfull ) might govern me , but that now i see mistresses are become domestick and in ordinary , and they and wives wait but by turns , and agree as well as they had lived in the ark. the old moral reason ( that bastards inherit wickedness from their parents , and so are in a better way to preferment by having a stock before-hand , then those that build all their fortune upon the poor and weak stock of original sin ) might prevail with me , but that since we are fallen into such times , as now the world might spare the devil , because she could be bad enough without him . i see men scorn to be wicked by example , or to be beholding to others for their damnation . it seems reasonable , that since laws rob them of succession in civil benefits , they should have something else equivalent . as nature ( which is laws pattern ) having denyed women constancy to one , hath provided them with cunning to allure many ; and so bastards de jure should have better wits and experience . but besides that by experience we see many fools amongst them , we should take from them one of their chiefest helps to preferment , and we should deny them to be fools : and ( that which is only left ) that women chuse worthier men then their husbands , is false de facto : either then it must be that the church having removed them from all place in the publick service of god , they have better means than others to be wicked , and so fortunate : or else because the two greatest powers in this world , the devil and princes concur to their greatness : the one giving bastardy , the other legitimation : as nature frames and conserves great bodies of contraries . or the cause is , because they abound most at court , which is the forge where fortunes are made , or at least the shop where they be sold. ii. why puritans make long sermons it needs not for perspicuousness , for god knows they are plain enough : nor do all of them use sem-brief-accents , for some of them have crotchets enough . it may be they intend not to rise like glorious tapers and torches , but like thin-wretched-sick-watching-c●…s , which languish and are in a divine consumption from the first minute , yea in their snuff , and stink , when others are in their more profitable glory . i have thought sometimes , that out of conscience , they allow long measure to course ware . and sometimes , that usurping in that place a liberty to speak freely of kings , they would reigne as long as they could . but now i think they do it out of a zealous imagination , that , it is their duty to preach on till their auditory wake . iii. why did the divel reserve iesuites till these latter dayes . did he know that our age would deny the devils possessing , and therefore provided by these to possesse men and kingdomes ? or to end the disputation of schoolmen , why the divel could not make lice in egypt ; and whether those things bee presented there , might be true ; hath he sent us a true and reall plague , worse than those ten ? or in o●…ntation of the greatness of his kingdome , which even division cannot shake , doth he send us these which disagree with all the rest ? or knowing that our times should discover the indies , and abolish their idolatry , doth he send these to give them another for it ? or peradventure they have been in the roman church these thousand yeeres , though we have called them by other names . iv. why is there more variety of green then of other colours ? it is because it is the figure of youth wherin nature would provide as many green , as youth hath affections ; and so present a sea-green for profuse wasters in voyages ; a grasse-green for sudden new men enobled from grasiers ; and a goose-green for such polititians as pretend to preserve the capitol . or else prophetically foreseeing an age , wherein they shall all hunt . and for such as misdemeane themselves a willo-green ; for magistrates must aswell have fasces born before them to chastize the small offences , as secures to cut off the great . v. why do young lay-men so much study divinity . is it because others tending busily churches preferment , neglect study ? or had the church of rome shut up all our wayes , till the lutherans broke down their uttermost stubborn doores , and the calvinists picked their inwardest and subtlest lockes ? surely the devill cannot be such a foole to hope that he shall make this study contemptible , by making it common . nor that as the dwellers by the river origus are said ( by drawing infinite ditches to sprinkle their barren country ) to have exhausted and intercepted their main channell , and so lost their more profitable course to the sea ; so we , by providing every ones selfe , divinity enough for his own use , should neglect our teachers and fathers . he cannot hope for better heresies then hee hath had , nor was his kingdome ever so much advanced by debating religion ( though with some aspersions of error ) as by a dull and stupid security , in which many gross things are swallowed . possible out of such an ambition as we have now , to speake plainly and fellow-like with lords and kings , we thinke also to acquaint our selves with gods secrets : or perchance when we study it by mingling humane respects , it is not divinity . vi. why hath the common opinion afforded women soules ? it is agreed that we have not so much from them as any part of either our mortal soules of sense or growth ; and we deny soules to others equall to them in all but in speech for which they are beholding to their bodily instruments for perchance an oxes heart , or a goates , or a foxes , or a serpents would speake just so , if it were in the breast , and could move that tongue and jawes . have they so many advantages and means to hurt us ( for , ever their loving destroyed us ) that we dare not displease them , but give them what they will ? and so when some call them angels , some goddesses , and the palpulian hereticks made them bishops , we descend so much with the stream , to allow them soules ? or do we somewhat ( in this dignifying of them ) flatter princes and great personages that are so much governed by them ? or do we in that easiness and prodigality , wherein we daily lose our own souls to we care not whom , so labour to perswade our selves , that sith a woman hath a soul , a soul is no great matter ? or do we lend them souls but for use , since they for our sakes , give their souls again , and their bodies to boot ? or perchance because the devil ( who is all soul ) doth most mischief , and for convenience and proportion , because they would come nearer him , we allow them some souls ; and so as the romans naturalized some provinces in revenge , and made them romans , only for the burthen of the common-wealth ; so we have given women souls only to make them capable of damnation ? vii . why are the fairest falsest . i mean not of fals alchimy beauty , for then the question should be inverted , why are the falsest fairest ? it is not only because they are much solicited and sought for , so is gold , yet it is not so common ; and this suit to them , should teach them their value , and make them more reserved . nor is it because the delicatest blood hath the best spirits , for what is that to the flesh ? perchance such constitutions have the best wits , and there is no proportionable subject , for womens wit , but deceit ? doth the minde so follow the temperature of the body , that because those complexions are aptest to change , the mind is therefore so ? or as bels of the purest metal retain their tinkling and sound largest ; so the memory of the last pleasure lasts longer in these , and disposeth them to the next : but sure it is not in the complexion , for those that do but think themselvs fair , are presently inclined to this multiplicity of loves , which being but fair in conceit are false in deed : and so perchance when they are born to this beauty , or have made it , or have dream'd it , they easily believe all addresses and applications of every man , out of a sense of their own worthiness to be directed to them , which others less worthy in their own thoughts apprehend not , or discredit . but i think the true reason is , that being like gold in many properties ( as that all snatch at them , but the worst possess them , that they care not how deep we dig for them , and that by the law of nature , occupandi conceditur ) they would be like also in this , that as gold to make it self of use admits allay , so they , that they may be tractable , mutable , and currant , have to their allay falshood . viii . why venus-star only doth cast a shadow ? is it because it is nearer the earth ? but they whose profession it is to see that nothing be done in heaven without their consent ( as re — says in himself of astrologers ) have bid mercury to be nearer . is it because the works of venus want shadowing , covering , and disguising ? but those of mercury need it more ; for eloquence , his occupation , is all shadow and colours ; let our life be a sea , and then our reason and even on s are winde enough to carry us whether we should go , but eloquence is a storm and tempest that miscarries : and who doubts that eloquence which must perswade people to take a yoke of soveraignty ( and then beg and make laws to tye them faster , and then give money to the invention , repair and strengthen it ) needs more shadows and colouring , then to perswade any man or woman to that which is natural . and venus markets are so natural , that when we solicite the best way ( which is by marriage ) our perswasions work not so much to draw a woman to us , as against her nature to draw her from all other besides . and so when we go against nature , and from venus-work ( for marriage is chastitie ) we need shadowes and colours , but not else . in seneca's time it was a course , an un - roman and a contemptible thing even in a matron , not to have had a love beside her husband , which though the law required not at their hands , yet they did it zealously out of the councel of custom and fashion , which was venery of supererrogation : et te spectator plusquam delectat adulter , saith martial : and horace , because many lights would not shew him enough , created many images of the same object by wainscoting his chamber with looking-glasses : so that venus flies not light , so much as mercury , who creeping into our understanding , our darkness would be defeated , if he were perceived . then either this shadow confesseth that same dark melancholy repentance which accompanies ; or that so violent fires , needs some shadowy refreshing and intermission : or else light signifying both day and youth , and shadow both night and age , she pronounceth by this that she professeth both all persons and times . ix . why is venus-star multinominous , called both hesperus and vesper . the moon hath as many names , but not as she is a star , but as she hath divers governments ; but venus is multinominous to give example to her prostitute disciples , who so often , either to renew or refresh themselves towards lovers , or to disguise themselves from magistrates , are to take new names . it may be she takes new names after her many functions , for as she is supream monarch of all suns at large ( which is lust ) so is she joyned in commission with all mythologicks , with iuno , diana , and all others for marriage . it may be because of the divers names to her self , for her affections have more names than any vice : scilicet , pollution , fornication , adultery , lay. incest , church-incest , rape , sodomy , mastupration , masturbation , and a thousand others . perchance her divers names shewed her appliableness to divers men , for neptune distilled and wet her in love , the sun warms and melts her , mercury perswaded and swore her , iupiters authority secured , and vulcan hammer'd her . as hesperus she presents you with her bonum utile , because it is wholsomest in the morning : as vesper with her bonum delectabile , because it is pleasantest in the evening . and because industrious men rise and endure with the sun in their civil businesses , this star cals them up a little before , and remembers them again a little after for her business ; for certainly , venit hesperus , ite capell●…e : was spoken to lovers in the persons of goats . x. why are new officers least oppressing ? must the old proverb , that old dogs bite sorest , be true in all kinde of dogs ? me thinks the fresh memory they have of the money they parted with for the place , should hasten them for the re-imbursing : and perchance they do but seem easier to their suiters ; who ( as all other patients ) do account all change of pain , easie . but if it be so , it is either because the sodain sense and contentment of the honor of the place , retards and remits the rage of their profits , and so having stayed their stomacks , they can forbear the second course a while : or having overcome the steepest part of the hill , and clambered above competitions and oppositions they dare loiter , and take breath : perchance being come from places , where they tasted no gain , a little seems much to them at first , for it is long before a christian conscience overtakes , or straies into an officers heart . it may be that out of the general disease of all men not to love the memory of a predecessor , they seek to disgrace them by such easiness , and make good first impressions , that so having drawn much water to their mill , they may afterwards grind at ease : for if from the rules of good horfemanship , they thought it wholsome to jet out in a moderate pace , they should also take up towards their journeys end , not mend their pace continually , and gallop to their inns-dore , the grave ; except perchance their conscience at that time so touch them that they think it an injury & damage both to him that must sell , and to him that must buy the office after their death , and a kind of dilapidation if they by continuing honest should discredit the place , and bring it to a lower rent , or under-value . xi . why doth the poxe soe much affect to undermine the nose ? paracelsus perchance saith true , that every disease hath his exaltation in some part certaine . but why this in the nose ? is there so much mercy in this disease , that it provides that one should not smell his own stinck ? or hath it but the common fortune , that being begot and bred in obscurest and secretest places , because therefore his serpentine crawling and insinuation should not be suspected , nor seen , he comes soonest into great place , and is more able to destroy the worthiest member , then a disease better born ? perchance as mice defeat elephants by knawing their proboscis , which is their nose , this wretched indian vermine practiseth to doe the same upon us . or as the ancient furious custome and connivency of some lawes , that one might cut off their nose whome he deprehended in adulterie , was but a tipe of this ; and that now more charitable lawes having taken away all revenge from particular hands , this common magistrate and executioner is come to doe the same office invisibly ? or by withdrawing this conspicuous part , the nose , it warnes us from all adventuring upon that coast ; for it is as good a marke to take in a flag as to hang one out . possibly heate , which is more potent and active then cold , thought her selfe injured , and the harmony of the world out of tune , when cold was able to shew the high-way to noses in muscovia , except she found the meanes to doe the same in other countries . or because by the consent of all , there is an analogy , proportion and affection between the nose and that part where this disease is first contracted , and therefore heliogabalus chose not his minions in the bath but by the nose ; and albertus had a knavish meaning when he preferd great noses ; and the licentious poet was naso poeta . i think this reason is nearest truth , that the nose is most compassionate with this part : except this be nearer , that it is reasonable that this disease in particular should affect the most eminent and perspicuous part , which in general doth affect to take hold of the most eminent and conspicuous men . xii . why die none for love now ? because women are become easyer . or because these later times have provided mankind of more new means for the destroying of themselves and one another , pox , gunpowder , young marriages , and controversies in religion . or is there in true history no precedent or example of it ? or perchance some die so , but are not therefore worthy the remembring or speaking of ? xiii . why do women delight much in feathers ? they think that feathers imitate wings , and so shew their restlessness and instability . as they are in matter , so they would be in name , like embroiderers , painters , and such artificers of curious vanities , which the vulgar call pluminaries . or else they have feathers upon the same reason , which moves them to love the unworthiest men , which is , that they may be thereby excusable in their inconstancy and often changing . xiv . why doth not gold soyl the fingers ? doth it direct all the venom to the heart ? or is it because bribing should not be discovered ? or because that should pay purely , for which pure things are given , as love , honor , iustice and heaven ? or doth it seldom come into innocent hands , but into such as for former foulness you cannot discern this ? xv. why do great men of all dependants , chuse to preserve their little pimps ? it is not hecause they are got nearest their secrets , for they whom they bring come nearer . nor because commonly they and their bawds have lain in one belly , for then they should love their brothers aswel . nor because they are witnesses of their weakness , for they are weak ones . either it is because they have a double hold and obligation upon their masters for providing them surgery and remedy after , aswel as pleasure before , and bringing them always such stuff , as they shal always need their service ? or because they may be received and entertained every where , and lords fling off none but such as they may destroy by it . or perchance we deceive our selves , and every lord having many , and , of necessity , some rising , we mark only these . xvi . why are courtiers sooner atheists then men of other conditions ? is it because as physitians contemplating nature , and finding many abstruse things subject to the search of reason , thinks therfore that all is so ; so they ( seeing mens destinies , mad at court , neck out and in joynt there , war , peace , life and death derived from thence ) climb no higher ? or doth a familiarity with greatness , and daily conversation and acquaintance with it breed a contempt of all greatness ? or because that they see that opinion or need of one another , and fear makes the degrees of servants , lords and kings , do they think that god likewise for such reason hath been mans creator ? perchance it is because they see vice prosper best there , and , burthened with sinne , doe they not , for their ease , endeavour to put off the feare and knowledge of god , as facinorous men deny magistracy ? or are the most atheists in that place , because it is the foole that said in his heart , there is no god. xvii . why are statesmen most incredulous ? are they all wise enough to follow their excellent pattern tiberius , who brought the senate to be diligent and industrions to believe him , were it never so opposite or diametricall , that it destroyed their very ends to be believed , as asinius gallus had almost deceived this man by believing him , and the major and aldermen of london in richard the third ? or are businesses ( about which these men are conversant ) so conjecturall , so subject to unsuspected interventions that they are therefore forc'd to speake oraculously , whisperingly , generally , and therefore escapingly , in the language of almanack-makers for weather ? or are those ( as they call them ) arcana imperii , as by whom the prince provokes his lust , and by whom he vents it , of what cloath his socks are , and such , so deep , and so irreveald , as any error in them is inexcusable ? if these were the reasons , they would not only serve for state-business . but why will they not tell true , what a clock it is , and what weather , but abstain from truth of it , if it conduce not to their ends , as witches which will not name jesus , though it be in a curse ? eithere they know little out of their own elements , or a custom in one matter begetts an habite in all . or the lower sort imitate lords , they their princes , these their prince . or else they believe one another , and so never hear truth . or they abstain from the little channel of truth , least , at last , they should finde the fountain it self , god. the character of a scot at the first sight . at his first appearing in the charterhouse , an olive coloured velvet suit owned him , which since became mous-colour , a pair of unskour'd stockingsgules , one indifferent shooe , his band of edenburgh , and cuffs of london , both strangers to his shirt , a white feather in a hat that had bin sod , one onely cloak for the rain , which yet he made serve him for all weathers : a barrenhalf-acre of face , amidst whereof an eminent nose advanced himself , like the new mount at wansted , over-looking his beard , and all the wilde countrey thereabouts ; he was tended enough , but not well ; for they were certain dumb creeping followers , yet they made way for their master , the laird . — at the first presentment his breeches were his sumpter , and his packets , trunks , cloak-bags , portmanteau's and all ; he then grew a knightwright , and there is extant of his ware at l . l . and l . price . immediately after this , he shifteth his suit , so did his whore , and to a bear-baiting they went , whither i followed them not , but tom. thorney did . the true character of a dunce . he hath a soule drownd in a lump of flesh , or is a piece of earth that prometheus put not half his proportion of fire into , a thing that hath neither edge of desire , nor feeling of affection in it , the most dangerous creature for confirming an atheist , who would straight swear , his soul were nothing but the bare temperature of his body : he sleeps as he goes , and his thoughts seldom reach an inch further then his eyes ; the most part of the faculties of his soul lye fallow , or are like the restive jades that no spur can drive forwards towards the pursuite of any worthy design ; one of the most unprofitable of all gods creatures , being as he is , a thing put clean besides his right use , made fitt for the cart & the flail , and by mischance entangled amongst books and papers , a man cannot tel possible what he is now good for , save to move up and down and fill room , or to serv as animatum instrumentum for others to work withal in base imployments , or to be a foyl for better witts , or to serve ( as they say monsters do ) to set out the variety of nature , and ornament of the universe , he is meer nothing of himself , neither eates , nor drinkes , nor goes , nor spits but by imitation , for al which , he hath set forms & fashions , which he never varies , but sticks to , with the like plodding constancy that a milhors follows his trace , both the muses and the graces are his hard mistrisses , though he daily invocate them , though he sacrifize hecatombs , they stil look a squint , you shall note him oft ( besides his dull eye and louting head , and a certain clammie benum'd pace ) by a fair displai'd beard , a nightcap and a gown , whose very wrincles proclaim him the true genius of formality , but of al others , his discours and compositions best speak him , both of them are much of one stuf & fashion , he speaks just what his books or last company said unto him without varying one whit & very seldom understands himself , you may know by his discourse where he was last , for what he read or heard yesterday he now dischargeth his memory or notebook of , not his understanding , for it never came there ; what he hath he flings abroad at al adventurs without accomodating it to time , place persons or occasions , he commonly loseth himself in his tale , and flutters up and down windles without recovery , and whatsoever next presents it self , his heavie conceit seizeth upon and goeth along with , however heterogeneal to his matter in hand , his jests are either old flead proverbs , or lean-starv'd - apophthegm's , or poor verball quips outworn by servingmen , tapsters and milkmaids , even laid aside by bassaders , he assents to all men that bring any shadow of reason , and you may make him when he speaks most dogmatically , even with one breath , to averr pure contradictions , his compositions differ only terminorum positione from dreams , nothing but rude heaps of immaterial-inchoherent drossie-rubbish-stuffe , promiscuously thrust up together , enough to infuse dullness and barrenness of conceit into him that is so prodigall of his eares as to give the hearing , enough to make a mans memory ake with suffering such dirtie stuffe cast into it , as unwellcome to any true conceit , as sluttish morsells or wallowish potions to a nice-stomack which whiles he empties himselfe of , it sticks in his teeth nor can he be delivered without sweate and sighes , and humms , and coughs enough to shake his grandams teeth out of her head ; hee l spitt , and scratch , and yawn , and stamp , and turn like sick men from one elbow to another , and deserve as much pitty during this torture as men in fits of tertian feavors or selfe lashing penitentiaries ; in a word , rip him quite asunder , and examin every shred of him , you shall finde him to be just nothing , but the subject of nothing , the object of contempt , yet such as he is you must take him , for there is no hope he should ever become better . an essay of valour . i am of opinion that nothing is so potent either to procure or merit love , as valour , and i am glad i am so , for thereby i shall do my self much ease , because valour never needs much wit to maintain it : to speak of it in it self , it is a quality which he that hath , shall have least need of , so the best league between princes is a mutual fear of each other , it teacheth a man to value his reputation as his life , and chiefly to hold the lye unsufferable , though being alone , he finds no hurt it doth him , it leaves it self to others censures , for he that brags of his own valour , disswades others from believing it , it feareth a word no more then an ague , it always makes good the owner , for though he be generally held a fool , he shall seldom hear so much by word of mouth , and that enlargeth him more than any spectacles , for it maketh a little fellow be called a tall man , it yeilds the wall to none but a woman , whose weakness is her prerogative , or a man seconded with a woman as an usher , which always goes before his betters , it makes a man become the witness of his own words , and stand to whatever he hath said , and thinketh it a reproach to commit his reviling unto the law , it furnisheth youth with action , and age with discourse , and both by futures , for a man must ever boast himself in the present tense , and to come nearer home , nothing drawes a woman like to it ; for valour towards men , is an emblem of an ability towards women , a good quality signifies a better . nothing is more behooffull for that sex ; for from it they receive protection , and we free from the danger of it : nothing makes a shorter cut for obtaining , for a man of arms is always void of ceremony , which is the wall that stands between pyramus and thisbe , that is , man and woman , for there is no pride in women but that which rebounds from our own basenesse ( as cowards grow valiant upon those that are more cowards ) so that only by our pale asking , we teach them to deny , and by our shamefac'dness , we put them in minde to be modest , whereas indeed it is cunning rhetorick to perswade the hearers that they are that already which he would have them to be ; this kinde of bashfulness is far from men of valour , and especially from souldiers , for such are ever men ( without doubt ) forward and confident , losing no time least they should lose oportunity , which is the best factor for a lover , and because they know women are given to dissemble , they will never believe them when they deny , whilome before this age of wit , and wearing black , were broke in upon us , there was no way known to win a lady but by tylting , turnying , and riding through forrests , in which time these slender striplings with little legs were held but of strength enough to marry their widows , and even in our days there can be given no reason of the inundation of servingmen upon their mistresses , but ( only ) that usually they carry their masters weapons , and his valour ; to be accounted handsome , just , learned , or well favoured , all this carries no danger with it , but it is to be admitted to the title of valiant acts , at least the adventuring of his mortality , and al women take delight to hold him safe in their arms who hath 'scapt thither through many dangers : to speak at once , man hath a priviledge in valour ; in clothes and good faces we but imitate women , and many of that sex will not think much ( as far as an answer goes ) to dissemble wit too . so then these neat youths , these women in mens apparel are too near a woman to be beloved of her , they be both of a trade , but be grim of aspect , and such a one a glass dares take , and she will desire him for neatness and varietie ; a skar in a mans face is the same that a mole in a womans ; a jewel set in white to make it seem more white , for a skar in a man is a mark of honour and no blemish , for 't is a skar and a blemish too in a souldier to be with out one : now as for al things else which are to procure love , as a good face , wit , good clothes , or a good body , each of them i confess may work somewhat for want of a better , that is , if valour be not their rivall ; a good face avails nothing if it be in a coward that is bashfull , the utmost of it is to be kiss'd , which rather encreaseth then quencheth appetite ; he that sends her gifts sends her world also , that he is a man of small gifts otherwise , for wooing by signes and tokens implies the author dumb ; and if ovid who writ the law of love , were alive ( as he is extant ) would allow it as good a diversity , that gifts should be sent as gratuities , not as bribes ; wit getteth rather promise then love , wit is not to be seen , and no woman takes advice of any in her loving , but of her own eyes , and her waiting womans ; nay which is worse , wit is not to be felt , and so no good fellow ; wit apply'd to a woman makes her dissolve ( or disclose ) her simpering , and discover her teeth with laughter , and this is surely a purge for love ; for the beginning of love is a kind of foolish melancholy , as for the man that makes his taylor his bawd , and hopes to inveagle his love with such a coloured suit , surely the same deeply hazards the loss of her favour upon every change of his clothes ; so likewise for the other , that courts her silently with a good body , let me certifie him that his clothes depend upon the comelynesse of the body , and so both upon opinion ; she that hath been seduced by apparel , let me give her to wit , that men always put off their clothes before they go to bed : and let her that hath been enamour'd of her servants body , understand , that if she saw him in a skin of cloth , that is , in a suit made to the pattern of his body , she would see slender cause to love him ever after ; there are no clothes sit so well in a womans eye , as a suit of steel , though not of the fashion , and no man so soon surpriseth a womans affections , as he that is the subject of all whisperings , and hath always twenty stories of his own deeds depending upon him ; mistake me not , i understand not by valour one that never fights but when he is back'd with drink or anger , or hiss'd on with beholders , nor one that is desperate , nor one that takes away a servingmans weapons when perchance it cost him his quarters wages , nor yet one that wears a privy coat of defence and therein is confident , for then such as made bucklers , would be accounted the catalines of this commonwealth — i intend one of an even resolution grounded upon reason , which is always even , having his power restrained by the law of not doing wrong . but now i remember i am for valour and therefore i must be a man of few words . paradox . xii . that virginity is a vertue . i call not that virginity a vertue , which resideth onely in the bodies integrity ; much lesse if it be with a purpose of perpetuall keeping it : for then it is a most inhumane vice — but i call that virginity a vertue which is willing and desirous to yeeld it selfe upon honest and lawfull terms , when just reason requireth ; and untill then , is kept with a modest chastity of body and mind . some perchance will say that virginity is in us by nature , and therefore no vertue . true , as it is in us by nature , it is neither a vertue nor vice , and is onely in the body : ( as in infants , children , and such as are incapable of parting from it ) but that virginity which is in man or or woman of perfect age , is not in them by nature : nature is the greatest enemy to it , and with most subtile allurements seeks the over-throw of it , continually beating against it with her engines , and giving such forcible assaults to it , that it is a strong and more then ordinary vertue to hold out till marriage . ethick philosophy saith , that no vertue is corrupted , or is taken away by that which is good : hereupon some may say , that virginity is therfore no vertue , being taken away by marriage . virginity is no otherwise taken away by marriage , then is the light of the starres by a greater light ( the light of the sun : ) or as a lesse title is taken away by a greater : ( an esquire by being created an earle ) yet virginity is a vertue , and hath her throne in the middle : the extreams are , in excesse : to violate it before marriage ; in defect , not to marry . in ripe years as soon as reason perswades and opportunity admits , these extreams are equally removed from the mean : the excesse-proceeds from lust , the defect from peevishnesse , pride and stupidity . there is an old proverb , that , they that dy maids , must lead apes in hell. an ape is a ridiculous and an unprofitable beast , whose flesh is not good for meat , nor its back for burden , nor is it commodious to keep an house : and perchance for the unprofitablenesse of this beast did this proverb come up : for surely nothing is more unprofitable in the commonwealth of nature , then they that dy old maids , because they refuse to be used to that end for which they were only made . the ape bringeth forth her young , for the most part by twins ; that which she loves best , she killeth by pressing it too hard : so foolish maids soothing themselves with a false conceit of vertue , in fond obstinacie , live and die maids ; and so not onely kill in themselves the vertue of virginity , and of a vertue make it a vice , but they also accuse their parents in condemning marriage . if this application hold not touch , yet there may be an excellent one gathered from an apes tender love to conies in keeping them from the weasel and ferret . from this similitude of an ape & an old maid did the foresaid proverb first arise . but alas , there are some old maids that are virgins much against their wills , and fain would change their virgin-life for a married : such if they never have had any offer of fit husbands , are in some sort excusable , and their willingnesse , their desire to marry , and their forbearance from all dishonest , and unlawfull copulation , may be a kind of inclination to vertue , although not vertue it selfe . this vertue of virginity ( though it be small and fruitlesse ) it is an extraordinary , and no common vertue . all other vertues lodge in the will ( it is the will that makes them vertues . ) but it is the unwillingnesse to keep it , the desire to forsake it , that makes this a vertue . as in the naturall generation and formation made of the seed in the womb of a woman , the body is joynted and organized about the day , and so it begins to be no more an embrion , but capable as a matter prepared to its form to receive the soule , which faileth not to insinuate and innest it selfe into the body about the fortieth day ; about the third month it hath motion and sense : even so virginity is an embrion , an unfashioned lump , till it attain to a certain time , which is about twelve years of age in women , fourteen in men , and then it beginneth to have the soule of love infused into it , and to become a vertue : there is also a certain limited time when it ceaseth to be a vertue , which in men is about fourty , in women about thirty years of age : yea , the losse of so much time makes their virginity a vice , were not their endeavour wholly bent , and their desires altogether fixt upon marriage : in harvest time do we not account it a great vice of sloath and negligence in a husband-man , to overslip a week or ten dayes after his fruits are fully ripe ; may we not much more account it a more heynous vice , for a virgin to let her fruit ( in potentia ) consume and rot to nothing , and to let the vertue of her virginity degenerate into vice , ( for virginity ever kept is ever lost . ) avarice is the greatest deadly sin next pride : it takes more pleasure in hoording treasure then in making use of it , and will neither let the possessor nor others take benefit by it during the misers life ; yet it remains intire , and when the miser dies most come to som body . virginity ever kept , is a vice far wors then avarice , it will neither let the possessor nor others take benefit by it , nor can it be bequeathed to any : with long keeping it decayes and withers , and becomes corrupt and nothing worth . thus seeing that virginity becomes a vice in defect , by exceeding a limited time ; i counsell all female virgins to make choyce of some paracelsian for their physitian , to prevent the death of that vertue : the paracelsians ( curing like by like ) say , that if the lives of living creatures could be taken down , they would make us immortall . by this rule , female virgins by a discreet marriage should swallow down into their virginity another virginity , and devour such a life & spirit into their womb , that it might make them , as it were , immortall here on earth , besides their perfect immortality in heaven : and that vertue which otherwise would putrifie and corrupt , shall then be compleat ; and shall be recorded in heaven , and enrolled here on earth ; and the name of virgin shal be exchanged for a farre more honorable name , a wife . a sheaf of miscellany epigrams . written in latin by i. d. translated by j. main d. d. . upon one who for his wives fault took it ill to be called cuckold . rude scoffer ! why dost cal me cuckold ? no loose fires of love did in my bosome grow . no wedlock knot by me unti'd hath bin ; nor am i guilty of anothers sin . thy wife being not her own with thy limbs she , fool'd cuckold , doth commit adulterie . being , then , one flesh , and thou her head , t is fit the horus , in justice , on thy brow should fit . . upon one roger a rich niggard , familiarly unacquainted with the author . bottomless pit of gold ! slave to thy chest ! poor in the midst of riches not possest ! self tantalus ! to thine own wealth a thief ! affording scarce thy half-starv●…d womb relief . cheating thy limbs with cloths transparent worn ; plague to thy self ! to all men else a scorn ! who madly dost mens silver shapes adore ; and thence getst cheeks pale as the silver ore. feare not i 'le beg ; my mind 's above thy pelf ; good thrifty hodge , give something to thy self . . upon a whore barren and not barren . thy oft repeated is no childless sin ; when thou art lain with stil thy purs lies in . . on the same . thy dowbak'd lusts , and tail which vainly wags , are recompenc'd by thy still teeming bags . . on an old bawd. loe , i an old whore have to young resign'd ; yet in my old flesh dwels a young whores mind . . on the same . though ramage grown , th' art still for carting fit ; thy will with others bodies doth commit . . on the same . she , whose scarce yet quencht lust to freeze begins , liv'd by her own once , now by others sins . . on a bawdy-house . here mal , providing for threescore , sets up the trade she learn'd before , vvith watchings many , sweatings more . . upon an old rich scolding woman who being married to a poor young man upbraided him daily with the smallness of his fortune . the husbands complaint . vvhat wife like mine hath any husband known ? by day she is all noyse , by night all stone . . another . shut thy purse-mouth , old trot , and let 's appeal ; vvho'd without sauce taste so deform'd a meal ? . on her unpleasing kisses . they can't be kisses call'd but toothless nips , vvhich , beldam , come from thy faint trembling lips . . another . when thy dry grissels with my soft lips close , i give thee kisses , thou return'st me blows . . another . thy senses faile thee , and pray god they may , to me thy cofers will their loss defray . . on the same old wife . thou art no woman , nor no womans part , infant , or girl ; say , who the devil art . . to the same . be not seen , thou , whom i distracted love , least my prodigious dotage scandal prove . for being a meer image , 't wil be spread , that i no wife did , but an idol wed . . upon one who saw the picture of his scolding wife in a painters shop . dialog . painter , whose face is that i see ? thy wives . alas ! i fear t is she . just so her scolding eyes do burn ; and brow doth into wrincles turn . i tremble at her sharp nose ; so her frighting chin doth pointed grow . all parts are so drawn to the life , methinks the picture , like my wise , begins to brawl , and kindle strife . . another . say painter , who 's this whom thy hand hath made , thy wife who dost enquire , at least her shade . 't is so ; yet painter , i had cause to doubt , seeing her tongue , her most known part left out . . another . who 's this , painter ? thy wife , o that she were in earnest so . . another . venus , when pygmalion praid , chang'd a statue to a maid ; whose cold marble drunk warm bloud . if at my request she would my wife into marble turn , i would white doves to her burn . . upon a pipe of tobacco mis-taken by the author for the tooth-ach . outlandish weed ! whilst i thy vertues tell , assist me bedlam , muses come from hell. . another . an hearb thou art , but useless ; for made fire , from hot mouths puft , thou dost in fumes expire . . another . a cloud ixion for a goddess kist ; so thou thy lovers cosen'st with a mist. . to the tobacco-seller . merchant of smoke , when next thou mak'st a feast invite some starv'd chamelion to be guest . . another . lothings , stincks , thirst , rhumes , aches , and catarrh , base weed , thy vertues , that 's , thy poysons are . . another . i love thee not , nor thou me having tri'd how thy scorcht takers are but takers fry'd . . another . niggards till dead are niggards ; so vile weed , thy bounty from thy ashes doth proceed . . upon a town built in the place where a wood grew ; from whence 't is called dukes-wood , or the burse a wood into fair buildings chang'd we see ; and th' oke stands city where 't was fel'd a tree . . another . falne okes the axe doth into timber hew ; and a town stands where trees demolisht grew . . another . from a woods ruines did these buildings rise , and it stood grove where now it rafters lies . . another . this naked beam which beares up roofes from ground , was once with branches & fair green top , crown'd . . another . wood yeelds to stone , boughs are made joyces here , and where a cops stood now fair streets appeare . . upon a navigable river cut through a town built out of a wood. horsmen turn sailers , waves roll where grew woods and against nature art make ways through floods . . another . the drownd land here a crystall garment wears , and her own trees , made barges , once more bears . . another . the tree her womb-bred on the back now floats of this o're-flown field , now in wandring boats. . another . the ground whose head was once enricht with okes , her temples now steept in sea-water sokes . . another . the place where once grew ash for warlike spears the maze makes drunk now with his brinish tears . upon the medows over-flown there . the medows which their perfum'd locks did boast ore-flown with waters have their perfumes lost . . another . the hungry cow here lately did mistake ; and seeking grasse was cosen'd with a lake . . another . here fishes dwell , till now not us'd to fields ; and pasture ground here sportful gudgeons yeelds . . another . mere pleasant fields drownd by the wandring maze , see scaly flocks swim where once sheep did graze . . another . dukes-wood where once thick bushes did appear , like a new iland now stands in a meer . . upon a piece of ground ore-flown , where once a leaguer quartered . here where tents stood , mars now to neptune yeelds , and sea-nymphs tread moist dances ore the fields . . another . fishes now quarter where pavilions stood ; and the smooth tench dies the sharp hook with blood . . another . finn'd soldiers here in belgick quarters jar ; and the fierce pike in troubled streams makes war. . another . dutchman ! this grove once hatcht the warlick speer , which angry perches on their backs now wear . . another . gudgeons , where soldiers lay , ly trencht in sand , fearing the bloudie colours of the land. . a dutch captain of foot , having with his soldiers entred a breach , and there a while fought valiantly with a two-handed sword ; in the very point of victory , being mortally wounded , spake thus : i fighting die ; how much more blest then they , whom a blind shot doth , standing idle , slay . . another . we 've conquer'd boys ; my wounds i highly rate , when with such honor they requite my fate . . another . thus conquering kild , my ashes triumphs gain , and make me wish thus to be often slain . . another . i die well paid , whilst my expiring breath , smiles ore the tombs of foes made kin by death . . another . me the queld spaniard to the next world sent not unreveng'd ; his troops before me went. . his will. let heaven my soul , the foe my life , the grave my corps , my fame let my sav'd countrey have . . to the prince of aurange , on his famous victory over the spaniards in dukes-wood . now golden fruit , prince , hang on dukes-wood boughes ; since it with lawrell crown'd thy conquering browes . . another . holland and aurange may their conquest boast of the quell'd spaniard , but brave aurange most . . another . spaniard , no more call golden fleeces thine , since the bright name of aurange doth more shine . . a panegyrick on the hollanders being lords of the sea. occasioned by the authors being in their army at dukes-wood . heathen ! no more thy neptune boast ; here see a neptune more lord of the sea then hee ; whom fruitfull holland feeds , holland sea-bred ; and neighbouring zealand folds in watry bed . neptune's a dutch god ; here his wandrings stay ; and his calm'd ragings con●…ring chains obey . his standing flood here to the bridle yeilds , and his fierce torrent plaies through unknown fields . here the swoln sea views the inferiour ground , and yet no green bush , even to wonder , drownd ; whilst billows , like huge mountains , do hang o're the pleasing vales which creep along the shore . banks hold waves captive , and through sluces free , and glebes from watry prisons snatcht we see . glebes , which were long of sun , and skie bereav'd , now the dutch plowman sees wel cornd & sheav'd . curbing the ocean with stout mounds and bars , and with the salt gods of it waging vvars . making art fetch from the deep 's rav'nous womb pastures , lost towns , and houses ; in which swomm shell'd citizens , ' mongst pillars drencht in brine . should achelous here joyn strengths with thine , and wrestle for the conquest , holland , here each drayner would a hercules appear ; and cosening art with art , in these dry'd plains , would bind the oft shape-changing god in chains . the oft tam'd maze here the dutch yoke endures , and his fear'd master to the vvalls secures of the sam'd burse now , dutchman , fear no harms , vvhen against neighbouring cities seas take arms . the oceans thine , with thee his waves have sworn the league which philip broke . by him th' art born to the parcht indians , and those lands of gold which the proud tyrant doth in bondage hold : whose wealth transported from the plunder'd mine his plate-fleet calls his , but the sea makes thine . each duch-man is columbus ; worlds unknown to the discovering spaniard , are his grown : nor can i here conceal , nor yet say well , where heynskirch's praise , or oliver's excell , or heyn's more bold adventure ; whose bright ore prest the sea's back with wealth snatch from the shore for whilst i do dutch voyages rehearse , and sail with thy victorious ships in verse , i , holland in thy swimming camp am roll'd into all seas , and there both poles behold . the africk sands to thee large tribute send , and asia glories to be stil'd thy friend ; america's rich mines grow in thy lands , and at thy conquests europe wondring stands . . to sleep , stealling upon him as he stood upon the guard in the corner of a running trench , at the siege of duke's-wood . why dost besiege mine eyes , untimely sleep ? and o'er my limbs with thy dull setters creep ? hence , hence , depart ; to roofs well tyll'd repaire ; to beds of down , and mindes unvext with care . shut virgins eyes , whilst love tir'd with delay , unstrings his bow , and lets his arrows play . rock weary ploughmen , and new strength beget in those whose spirits were breath'd forth in sweat ; to men opprest with grief , who court thy charms . and men unbusied lend thy opium arms . be kinde to men in bedlam , close the eyes of him who in a raging feaver lyes . but let me watch ; not as a spy , to mark , with whom my wench steals meetings in the dark . here guards are kept , & from yond watchful towres , the crasty foe vyes broken : sleeps with ours ; seeking by slye plots , what pitcht-fields deny ; hence , hence , then morpheus , from our quarters fly . our very standing still here business finde ; duty imploys our bodies , cares our minde . duty which may the next hour double strike ; whilst each man here stands grasping of a pike ; waitings stoln onsets with our weary spears , examining even whispers with our ears . doubts of the coming foe , with hopes are mixt , and all eyes are one his approaches fi●…t . all passengers we summon with our eyes , ask who they are , and question them or spies . if well-known friends , they pass ; if not , they stay till we their doubtful answers strictly weigh . wil not this serve , sleep ? wil not al this fright thee ? see , then , a night turn'd into day to light thee . see a bright shine from coal black powder spring , and light from darkness once more issuing . see flames like those belcht forth from aetna's maw , such flames as no fleece-stealing iason saw . hecuba's child of fire in dreams begot , was not like that from murdring canons shot . if yet thou 'lt stay , hear thunders mixt with flame , such as neer yet from cyclops anvil came . hark how the loud gun shakes the trembling sky , whilst threatning bals in showres of murther fly . sicilian bull did not so loudly roar ; nor was the sword more dreadful which hung o're damocles neck from guilt roof . then , away , and to such dangers , sleep , don't me betray . . to his fellow sentinels . and you , comrades , with me this night endure ; let our cause make us bold , courage secure . le ts with stout mindes our present dangers meet ; and let our stations from their toyls grow sweet . stations where souldiers are made brothers . night●… in wine , and revels spent make winged flights ; a coy whore is with patience watcht for , yet no honor's gain'd ; glory with dangers met here doth attend us ; toyls are paid with praise . let 's weave us crowns , then , of immortal bayes . to heaven our souls , to earth let 's flesh assign , but in our mindes let loyal honor shine . . in comaedam celeberrimam cinthiam dictam ad in stantiam alterius f●…cit . sic vaga formosas superabat cinthia nymphas ut tu nunc socias cinthia dicta tuas . quae tibi majestas vultus , que gratia frontis ! spiritus ut major quam muliebris inest ? tam bene compositum suavis decet actio corpus ut posset credi singula membra loqui . cùm velis esse venus , vel cùm velis esse diana tam sunilis non est ipsa vel ipsa sibi , si velis esse diana hos ô non desere saltus , haec nemus haec fontem florida scena dabit . o si te nudam semel hoc in fonte viderem cornua tunc essent paenaque grata canes . si luna esse velis fiat tibi sphaera theatrum , pascantur radiis lumina nostra tuis . sed raro hinc abeas , & cùm discedere velles o si te possent lumina nostra sequi ; aut tua cum desit foelix praesentia nobis impressis liceat viribus usque srui . idem anglicè versum . as wandring cinthia all her nymphs excells , so dost thou all thy fellows ; in thee dwells majesty mixt with loveliness , a spirit that 's more then womanish ; thy graces merit , and force a liking , as the lights above ; the earths light vapours upwards force and move : thy action doth each passion so well fit , as if each limb did help to utter it : if thou wilt venus or diana be , neither will be so like her self as thee . 〈◊〉 thou be diana , haunt these fields , 〈◊〉 both woods and fountains yeelds . that i could see thee here but wash thy snow , acteon's fate ide joy to undergo . wilt thou be th' moon , then make thy sphere this stage ; but it were pitty thou shouldst change thy age ; and if from our horizon thou shouldst go , still to view thee wee 'd change horizon too ; but that we may when thou art gone from hence , still be made happy by thy influence . on one particular passage of her action , when she was to be stript of her cloaths by fulvio , but not without much resistance . videns excogitavit . as fulvio cinthia's glory would eclips , and graced by her limbs , her robe off strips ; to see her how she strove , and pray'd , and cry'd , but for the plays sake none could have deny'd . and as she strove with him , so modesty did strive with anger for the mastery . how was she pale with anger , red with shame ! her colour chang'd , with choller went and came , as when the winking moon strives with a cloude , whose glory darkness doth by fits enshroude : was it nor envy , that we might not see that which from th' smock could scarce discerned be ; or wast for shamefastness : yes , yes , 't was so , that too much hiding of her face did show . so look'd the nymph which iupiter beguil'd i' th water with diana got with child ; so salmacis half ravish'd in the brook , as she almost stript to her smock did look . the poet was too sparing , had she been like intrapt venus nak'd to have been seen ; and with a net unhid been covered ; how on her limbs our hungry eyes had fed , and dwelt on her seen members , whilst the rest had by proportion easily been guest : but pitty 't were that she enjoyn'd had been so hard a penance , guilty of no sin . finis . ignatius his conclave : or , his inthronisation in a late election in hell . wherein many things are mingled by way of satyr . concerning the disposition of jesuites . the creation of a new hell. the establishing of a church in the moon . there is also added an apologie for iesuites . all dedicated to the two adversary angels , which are protectors of the papall consistory , and of the colledge of sorbon . by john donne , doctor of divinity , and late dean of saint pauls . printed at london , . to the two tutelar angels , protectors of the popes consistory , and of the colledg of sorbon . most noble couple of angels , lest it should be said that you did never agree , and never meet , but that you did ever abhorre one another , and ever resemble janus with a diverse face ; i attempted to bring and joyne you together once in these papers not that i might compose your differences , for you have not choson me for arbi●…or ; but , that you might beware of an enemy common to you both , i will relate what i saw . i was in an extasie , and my little wandring sportful soul , guest , and companion of my body , had liberty to wander through all places , and to survey and reckon all the roomes , and all the volumes of the heavens , and to comprehend the situation , the dimensions , the nature , the people & the policie , both of the swimming ilands , the planets , and of all those which are fixed in the firmament . of which , i think it an honester part as yet to be silent , then to doe galilaeo wrong by speaking of it , who of late hath summoned the other worlds , the stars to come neerer to him , and give him an account of themselves , or to keppler , who ( as himselfe testifies of himselfe ) ever since tycho braches death , hath received it into his care , that no new thing should be done in heaven without his knowledge . for by the law , prevention must take place ; and therefore what they have found and discovered first , i am content they speake and utter first . yet this they may vouchsafe to take from me , that they shall hardly find enoch , or elias any where in their circuit . when i had surveied all the heavens , then as the larke by busie and laborious wayes , having climb'd up th'ethereall hil , doth raise his hymnes to phoebus harpe : and striking then his sailes , his wings , doth fal down back agen , so suddenly , that one may safely say , a stone came lazily that came that way , in the twinckling of an eye , i saw all the roomes in hell open to my sight . and by the benefit of certain spectacles , i know not of what making , but i thinke , of the same , by which gregory the great and beda did discerne so distinctly the soules of their friends , when they were discharged from their bodies and sometimes the soules of such men as they knew not by sight , and of some that were never in the world , and yet they could distinguish them flying into heaven , or conversing with living men . i saw all the channels in the bowels of the earth ; and all the inhabitants of all nations , and of all ages were suddenly made familiar to mee . i thinke truly , robert aquinas when he took christ's long oration , as he hung upon the crosse , did use some such instrument as this , but applyed to the eare : and so i thinke did he , which dedicated to adrian . that sermon which christ made in praise of his father ioseph : for else how did they heare that , which none but they ever heard ? as for the suburbs of hel ( i mean both limbo and purgatory ) i must confess i passed them over so negligently , that i saw them not : and i was hungerly carried , to finde new places , never discovered before . for purgatory did not seem worthy to me of much diligence , because it may seem already to have been beleeved by some persons , in some corners of the roman church for about yeares ; that is ever since the councell of trent had a minde to fulfill the prophecies of homer , virgil , and the other patriarks of the papists , and being not satisfied with making one transubstantiation , purposed to bring in another : which is , to change fables into articles of faith. proceeding therefore to more inward places , i saw a secret place , where there were not many , beside lucifer himselfe ; to which , onely they had title , which had so attempted any innovation in this life , that they gave an affront to all antiquity , and induced doubts , and anxieties , and scruples , and after a libertie of beleeving what they would , at length established opinions , directly contrary to all established before . of which place in hell , lucifer afforded us hertofore some little knowledge , when more then . yeares since , in an epistle written to the cardinall s. sexti , he promised him a roome in his palace , in the remotest part of his eternall chaos , which i take to be this place . and here pope boniface . and mahomet , seemed to contend about the highest room . he gloried of having expelled an old religion , and mahomet of having brought in a new ; each of them a great deluge to the world . but it is to be feared , that mahomet will fail therein , both because he attributed something to the old testament , and because he used sergius as his fellow-bishop , in making the alcoran ; whereas it was evident to the supreme judge lucifer , ( for how could he be ignorant of that which himselfe had put into the popes minde ? ) that boniface had not only neglected , but destroyed the policy of the state of israel , established in the old testament , when he prepared popes a way , to tread upon the necks of princes , but that he also abstained from al example and coadjutor , when he took upon him that new name , which gregory himselfe ( a pope neither very foolish , nor overmodest ) ever abhord . besides that every day affords new advocates to boniface his side . for since the franciscans were almost worne out ( of whom their general francis , had seen , souldiers in one army , that is , in one chapter ) which , because they were then but fresh souldiers , he saw assisted with devils ; the iesuits have much recompenced those decaies and damages , who sometimes have maintained in their tents , schollers . for though the order of benedict have ever been so fruitful , that they say of it , that all the new orders , which in latter times have broken out , are but little springs , or drops , and that order the ocean , which hath sent out popes , cardinals , archbishops , bishops , and saints , approved by the church , and therefore it cannot be denied , but that boniface his part is much relieved by that order ; yet if they be compared to the iesuits , or to the weak and unperfect types of them , the franciscans , it is no great matter that they have done . though therefore they esteem mahomet worthy of the name of an innovator , and therein perchance not much inferior to boniface , yet since his time , to ours , almost all which have followed his s●…t , have lived barren in an 〈◊〉 and idle concord , and cannot boast that they have produced any new matter : whereas boniface his successors awakened by him , have ever been fruitfull in bringing forth new sinnes , and new pardons , and idolatries , and king-killings . though therefore it may religiously , and piously be beleeved , that turks as well as papists , come daily in troops to the ordinary and common places of hell ; yet certainly to this more honorable room reserved for especiall innovators , the papists have more frequent accesse ; and therefore mahomet is out of hope to prevail , and must imitate the christian emperours , and bee content to sit ( as yet he doth ) at the popes feet . now to this place not onely such endeavour to come , as have innovated in matters directly concerning the soul , but they also which have done so , either in the arts , or in conversation , or in any thing which exerciseth the faculties of the soule , and may so provoke to quarrelsome and brawling controversies , for so the truth be lost , it is no no matter how . but the gates are seldome opened , nor scarce oft●… then once in an age . but my destiny favored me so much , that i was present then , and saw all the pretenders , and all that affected an entrance , and lucifer himself , who then came out into the outward chamber , to heare them plead their own causes . as soon as the door creekt , i spied a certain mathematician , which till then had been busted to finde , to deride , to detrude ptolomey ; and now with an erect countenance , and setled pace , came to the gates , and with hands and feet , ( scarce respecting lucifer himselfe ) beat the doors and cried ; are these shut against me , to whom all the heavens were ever open , who was a soul to the earth , and gave it motion ? by this i knew it was copernicus : for though i had never heard ill of his life , and therefore might wonder to find him there ; yet when i remembred that the papists have extended the name and punishment of heresie , almost to every thing , and that as yet i used gregories and bedes spectacles , by which one saw origen , who deserved so well of the christian church , burning in hell , i doubted no longer , but assured my selfe that it was copernicus which i saw , to whom lucifer said , who are you ? for though even by this boldness you seem worthy to enter , and have attempted a new faction even in hell , yet you must first satisfie those which stand about you , and which expect the same fortune as you doe . except , o lucifer , answered copernicus , i thought thee of the race of the starre lucifer , with which i am so well acquainted , i should not vouchsafe thee this discourse . i am he , which pitying thee who wert thrust into the center of the world , raised both thee and thy prison , the earth , up into the heavens ; so as by my means , god doth not enjoy his revenge upon thee . the sunne , which was an officious spy , and a betrayer of faults and so thy enemy , i have appointed to goe into the lowest part of the world . shall these gates open to such as have innovated in small matters , and shall they be shut against me , who have turned the whole frame of the world , and am thereby almost a new creator . more then this he spoke not . lucifer stuck in a meditation . for what should he doe ? it seemed unjust to deny entry to him which had deserved so well , and dangerous to grant it to one of so great ambitions , and undertakings : nor did he think that himself had attempted greater matters before his fall . somthing he had which he might have conveniently opposed , but he was loath to utter it , lest he should confesse his fear . but ignatius loyola which was got neer his chaire , a subtile fellow , and so indued with the devill , that he was able to tempt , and not onely that , but ( as they say ) even to possesse the devill , apprehended this perplexity in lucifer . and making himselfe sure of his own entrance , and knowing well , that many thousands of his family aspired to that place , he opposeth himself against all others . he was content they should be damned , but not that they should govern . and though when he died he was utterly ignorant in all great learning , and knew not so much as ptolomeys or copernicus name , but might have been perswaded that the words almagest , zenith , and nadir , were saints names , and fit to be put into the letanie , and ora pro nobis joyned to them ; yet after he had spent some time in hell , he had learnt somewhat of his iesuits , which daily came thither . and whilst he staied at the threshold of hell , that is , from the time when he delivered himselfe over to the popes will , he took a little tast of learning . thus furnisht , thus he undertakes copernicus . doe you think to win our lucifer to your part , by allowing him the honour of being of the race of that starre ? who was not onely made before all the stars , but being glutted with the glory of shining there , transferred his dwelling and colonies unto this monarchy , and thereby gave our order a noble example , to spy , to invade , and to possesse foraign kingdoms . can our lucifer or his followers have any honour from that star lucifer , which is but ve●…us ? whose face how much we scorn , appears by this , that for the most part we use her aversly and preposterously . rather let our lucifer glory in lucifer the calaritan bishop ; not therefore because he is placed amongst heretiques , onely for affirming the propagation of the soule ; but especially for this , that he was the first that opposed the dignity of princes , and imprinted the names of antichrist , iudas , and other stigmatique marks upon the emperour ; but for you , what new thing have you invented , by which our lucifer gets any thing ? what cares he whether the earth travel , or stand still ? hath your raising up of the earth into heaven , brought men to that confidence , that they build new towres or threaten god again ? or do they out of this motion of the earth conclude , that there is no hell , or deny the punishment of sin ? do not men believe ? do they not live just as they did before ? besides , this detracts from the dignity of your learning , and derogates from your right and title of coming to this place , that those opinions of yours , may very well be true . if therefore any man have honour or title to this place in this matter , it belongs wholly to our clavins , who opposed himself opportunely against you , and the truth , which at that time was creeping into every mans minde . he only can be called the author of all contentions , and school-combates in this cause ; and no greater profit can be hoped for here in , but that for such brables , more necessary matters be neglected . and yet not only for this is our clavius to be honored , but for the great pains also which he took in the gregorian calender , by which both the peace of the church , and civil businesses have been egregiously troubled : nor hath heaven it self escaped his violence , but hath ever since obeyed his appointments : so that s. steven , iohn baptist , and all the rest , which have been commanded to work miracles at certain appointed days , where their reliques are preserved , do not now attend till the day come , as they were accustomed , but are awaked ten days sooner , and constrained by him to come down from heaven to do that business . but your inventions can scarce be called yours , since before you , heraclides , ecphantus , and aristarchus thrust them into the world : who notwithstanding content themselves with lower roomes amongst the other philosophers , and aspire not to this place , reserved only for antichristian heroes : neither do you agree so well amongst your selves , as that you can be said to have made a sect , since , as you have perverted and changed the order and scheme of others : so tycho brachy hath done by yours , and others by his . let therefore this little mathematician ( dread emperour ) withdraw himself to his own com pany . and if hereafter the fathers of our order can draw a cathedrall decree from the pope , by which it may be defined as a matter of faith , that the earth doth not move ; and an anathema inflicted upon all which hold the contrary : then perchance both the pope which shall decree that , and copernicus his followers ( if they be papists ) may have the dignity of this place . lucifer signified his assent : and copernicus without muttering a word , was as quiet as he thinks the sunne : when he which stood next him , entred into his place . to whom lucifer said : and who are you ? he answered , philippus aureolus theophrastus paracelsus bombast of hohenheim . at this lucifer trembled , as if it were a new exorcîsme , and he thought it might well be the first verse of s. iohn , which is always imployed in exorcismes , and might now be taken out of the welch or irish bibles . but when he understood that it was but the web of his name , he recollected himself , and raising himself upright , asked was he had to say to the great emperour sathan , lucifer , belzebub , leviathan , abaddon . paracelsus replyed , it were an injury to thee , o glorious emperor , if i should deliver before thee what i have done , as though all those things had not proceeded from thee , which seemed to have bin done by me , thy organ and conduit ; yet since i shal rather be thy trumpet herein then mine own , some things may be uttered by me . besides therefore that i brought all methodicall physicians and the art it self into so much contempt , that that kinde of physick is almost lost ; this also was ever my principal purpose , that no certain new art , nor fixed rules might be established , but that all remedies might be dangerously drawn from my uncertain , ragged , and unperfect experiments , in tryal whereof how many men have been made carkases ? and falling upon those times which did abound with paradoxicall and unusual diseases , of all which , the pox , which then began to rage , was almost the center and sink : i ever professed an assured and an easie cure thereof , lest i should deterr any from their licentiousness . and whereas almost all poysons are so disposed and conditioned by nature , that they offend some of the senses , and so are easily discerned and avoided , i brought it to pass , that that treacherous quality of theirs might be removed and so they might safely be given without suspicion , and yet perform their office as strongly . all this i must confess i wrought by thy minerals and by thy fires , but yet i cannot despair of my reward , because i was thy first minister and instrument in these innovations . by this time ignatius had observed a tempest risen in lucifers countenance : for he was just of the same temper as lucifer , and therefore suffered with him in every thing , and felt all his alterations . that therefore he might deliver him from paracelsus , he said ; you must not think sir , that you may here draw out an oration to the proportion of your name . it must be confessed that you attempted great matters , and well becoming a great officer of lucifer , when you undertook not only to make a man in your alimbecks , but also to preserve him immortal . and it cannot be doubted , but that out of your commentaries upon the scriptures , in which you were utterly ignorant , many men have taken occasion of erring , and thereby this kingdom much indebted to you . but must you therefore have access to this secret place ? what have you compassed even in physick it self , of which we iesuits are ignorant ? for though our ribadenegra have reckoned none of our order , which hath written in ●…ysick , yet how able and sufficient wee are in that faculty , i will be tryed by that pope who hath given a priviledge to iesuits to practise physick and to be present at deaths-bed , ( a ) which is denyed to other orders : for why should he deny us their bodies , whose souls he delivered to us ? and since he hath transferd upon us the power to practise physick , he may justly be thought to have transferd upon us the art it self by the same omnipotent bull ; since he which grants the end , is by our rules of law presumed to have granted all means necessary to that end . let me ( dread emperour ) have leave to speak truth before thee ; these men abuse and profane too much thy mettals , which are the bowels and treasure of thy kingdom : for what doth physick profit thee ? physick is a soft and womanish thing . for since no medicine doth naturally draw blood , that science is not fit nor worthy of our study . besides , why should those things which belong to you , be imployed to preserve from diseases , or to procure long life ? were it not fitter that your brother and colleague , the bishop of rome , which governs upon the face of your earth , and gives daily increase to your kingdom , should receive from you these helps and subsidies ? to him belongs all the gold , to him all the precious stones , conceald in your intrals , wherby he might bait & ensnare the princes of the earth , through their lords and councellours means , to his obedience , and to receive his commandments , especially in these times , when almost every where his antient rights and tributes are denyed unto him . to him belongs your iron , and the ignobler mettals , to make engines ; to him belongs your minerals apt for poyson ; to him the salt-peter , and all the elements of gun-powder , by which he may demolish and overthrow kings and kingdoms , and courts , and seats of justice . neither doth paracelsus truly deserve the name of an innovator , whose doctrin severi●…us and his other followers do referr to the most ancient times . think therefore your self well satisfied , if you be admitted to govern in chief that legion of homicid physicians , and of princes which shall be made away by poyson in the midst of their sins , and of women tempting by paintings and face-physick . of all which sorts great numbers will daily come hither out of your academy . content with this sentence , paracelsus departed ; and machiavel succeeded , who having observed ignatius his forwardness , and sauciness , and how , uncald , he had thrust himself into the office of kings-attorney , thought this stupid patience of copernicus and paracelsus , ( men which tasted too much of their germany ) unfit for a florentine : and therefore had provided some venemous darts , out of his italian arsenal , to cast against this worn souldier of pampelune , this french-spanish mungrell , ignatius . but when he thought better upon it , and observed that lucifer ever approved whatsoever ignatius said , he suddenly changed his purpose ; and putting on another resolution , he determined to direct his speech to ignatius , as to the principall person next to lucifer , as well by this means to sweeten and mollifie him , as to make lucifer suspect , that by these honours and specious titles offered to ignatius and entertained by him , his own dignity might be eclipsed or clouded ; and that ignatius by winning to his side politique men , exercised in civil businesses , might attempt some innovation in that kingdom . thus therefore he began to speak . dread emperor , and you , his watchfull and diligent genius , father ignatius , arch-chancellor of this court , and highest priest of this highest synagogue ( except the primacy of the roman church reach also unto this place ) let me before i descend to myself , a little consider , speak , and admire your stupendious wisdom , and the government of this state . you may vouchsafe to remember great emperor ) how long after the nazarens death , you were forced to live a solitary , a barren , and an eremiticall life , till at last , as it was ever your fashion to imitate heaven ) out of your aboundant love , you begot this dearly beloved son of yours , ignatius , which stands at your right hand . and from both of you proceeds a spirit , whom you have sent into the world , who triumphing both with mitre and crown , governs your militant church there . as for those sons of ignatius , whom either he left alive , or were born after his death , and your spirit , the bishop of rome , how justly and properly may they be called equivocall men ? and not only equivocall in that sense , in which the popes legates , at your nicene councel were called equivocal , because they did agree in all their opinions , and in all their words : but especially because they have brought into the world a new art of equivocation . o wonderfull and incredible hypercritiques , who not out of marble fragments , but out of the secretest records of hell it self , that is , out of the minds of lucifer , the pope and ignatius , ( persons truely equivocall ) have raised to life again the language of the tower of babel so long concealed , and brought us again from understanding one another . for my part ( o noble pair of emperors ) that i may freely confess the truth , all which i have done , wheresoever there shall be mention made of the jesuits , can be reputed but childish , for this honour i hope will not be denied me , that i brought in an alphabet , and provided certain elements , and was some kind of schoolmaster in preparing them a way to higher undertakings ; yet it grieves me and makes me ashamed that i should be ranked with this idle and chymaericall copernicus , or this cadaverous vulture , paracelsus . i scorn that those gates into which such men could conceive any hope of entrance , should not voluntarily flye open to me : yet i can better endure the rashness and fellowship of paracelsus then the other : because he having been conveniently practised in the butcheries and mangling of men , he had the reason to hope for favour of the jesuits : for i my self went always that way of blood , and therefore i did ever prefer the sacrifices of the gentiles and of the iews , which were perfor med with effusion of bloud ( whereby not only the people but the priests also were animated to bold enterprises ) before the soft and wanton sacrifices of christians . if i might have had my choice , i should rather have wished that the roman church had taken the bread than the wine from the people , since in the wine there is some colour to imagin and represent blood . neither did you ( most reverend bishop of this diocess ignatius ) abhor from this way of blood . for having consecrated your first age to the wars , and grown , somewhat unable to follow that course by reason of a wound ; you did presently begin to think seriously of a spiritual war against the church and found means to open waies even into kings chambers , for your executioners . which dignity you did not reserve only to your own order , but ( though i must confes , that the foundation , and the nourishment of this doctrine remains with you , and is peculiar to you , out of your infinite liberalitie , ) you have vouchsafed sometime , to use the hands of other men in these imployments . and therefore as well they , who have so often in vain attempted it in england , as they which have brought their great purposes to effect in france , are indebted only to you for their courage and resolution . but yet although the entrance into this place may be decreed to none , but to innovators , and to only such of them as have dealt in christian businesse , and of them also , to those only which have had the fortune to doe much harme ; i cannot see but that next to the iesuits , i must be invited to enter , since i did not only teach those wayes by which , thorough perfidiousnesse and dissembling of religion , a man might possesse and usurpe upon the liberty of free common-wealths ; but also did arme and furnish the people with my instructions , how when they were under this oppression , they might safeliest conspire , and remove a tyrant , or revenge themselves of their prince and redeem their former losses ; so that from both sides , both from prince and people , i brought an abundant harvest , and a noble encrease to this kingdome . by this time i perceived lucifer to be much moved with this oration , and to incline much towards machiavel ; for he did acknowledge him to be a kind of patriarke , of those whom they call laymen . and he had long observed , that the clergie of rome tumbled down to hell daily , easily , voluntarily , and by troupes , because they were accustomed to sinn against their conscience , and knowledge ; but that the laitie sinning out of a sloathfulnesse , and negligence of finding the truth , did rather offend by ignorance and omission . and therefore he thought himself bound to reward machiavel , which had awakened this drowsie and implicite laitie to greater , and more bloudie vndertakings . besides this , since ignatius could not be denied the place , whose ambitions and turbulencies lucifer understood very well , he thought machiavel a fit and necessarie instrument to oppose against him ; that so the skales being kept even by their factions , he might govern in peace , and two poysons mingled might doe no harme . but he could not hide this intention from ignatius , more subtil than the devil and the verier lucifer of the two : therefore ignatius rushed out , threw himselfe down at lucifers feet , and groveling on the ground adored him . yet certainly , vasques would not call this idolatry , because in the shape of the devill he worshipped him , whom he accounted the true god. here ignatius cryed , and thundred out , with so great noise and horror , that had that powder taken fire , by which all the isle of britain had flowne to the moon , it had not equalled this noyse and horror . and when he was able to speake distinctly , thus he spoke ; it cannot be said ( unspeakable emperour ) how much this obscure florentine hath transgressed against thee , and against the pope thy image-bearer , ( whether the word be accepted , as gratian takes it when he calles the scriptures ; imaginary books or as they take it , which give that stile to them who carry the emperours image in the field ; ) and last of all against our order . durst any man before him ; thinke upon this kind of injury , and calumny , as to hope that he should be able to flatter , to catch , to entrap lucifer himselfe ? certainly , whosoever flatters any man , and presents him those prayses , which in his own opinion are not due to him , thinkes him inferiour to himself , and makes account that he hath taken him prisoner , and triumphs over him . who ever flatters , either he derides , or ( at the best ) instructs . for there may be , even in flattery , an honest kind of teaching , if princes by being told that they are already indued with all vertues necessary for their functions , be thereby taught what those vertues are , and by a facile exhortation , excited to endeavor to gaine them . but was it fit that this fellow , should dare either to deride you , or ( which is the greater injury ) to teach you ? can it be beleeved , that he delivers your prayses from his heart , and and doth not rather herein follow gratians levity ; who sayes : that you are called prince of the world , as a king at chests , or as the cardinall of ravenna , only by derision ? this man , whilst he lived , attributed so much to his own wit , that he never thought himselfe beholden to your helps , and insinuations ; and was so farr from invoking you , or sacrificing to you , that he did not so much as acknowledge your kingdome nor beleeve that there was any such thing in nature as you . i must confess that he had the same opinion of god also ; therefore deserves a place here , and a better then any of the pagan or gentile idolaters : for in every idolatry and false worship there is some religion , and some perverse simplicity , which tasts of humility ; from all which this man was very free when in his heart he utterly denied that there was any god. yet since he thought so in earnest , and beleeved that those things which he affirmed were true , he must not be ranked with them ; which having been sufficiently instructed of the true god , and beleeving him to be so , doe yet fight against him in his enemies army . neither ought it to be imputed to us as a fault , that sometimes in our exorcismes we we speak ill of you , and call you heretick and drunkard , and whisperer , and scabbed beast , and conjure the elements that they should not receive you , and threaten you with indissoluble damnation , and torments a thousand thousand times worse then you suffer yet . for these things you know are done out of a secret covenant and contract between us , and out of mysteries which must not be opned to this neophite , who in our synagogue is yet but amongst the catechumeni . which also we acknowledge of holy water , and our agnus dei , of which you do so wisely dissemble a feare , when they are presented to you : for certainly if there were any true force in them , to deliver bodies from diseases , souls from sinnes , and the elements from spirits , and malignant impressions , ( as in the verses which urban the fifth sent with his agnus dei to the emperor it is pretended ) it had bin reason that they should first have exercised their force upon those verses , and so have purged and delivered them , if not from heresie , yet from barbarousnesse and soloecismes ; that hereticks might not justly say , there was no truth in any of them but onely the last ; which is , that the least piece which thence doth fall , will doe one as much good as all . and though our order have adventured further in exorcismes then the rest , yet that must be attributed to a speciall priviledge , by which we have leave to question any possessed persons of what matters we wil ; whereas all other orders are miserably bound to the present matter , and the businesse then in hand . for though i do not believe , that either from your selfe , or from your vicar the pope , any such priviledge is issued ; yet our cotton deserves to be praised , who being questioned , how he durst propose certain seditious interrogatories to a possessed person , to deliver himselfe , feigned such a priviledge ; and with an un-heard-of boldness , and a new kind of falsifying , did ( in a manner ) counterfeit lucifers hand and seal , since none but he onely could give this priviledg : but if you consider us out of this liberty in exorcismes , how humble and servile we are towards you , the relations of peru testifie enough , where it is recorded , that when one of your angels at midnight appeared to our barcena alone in his chamber , he presently rose out of his chaire , and gave him the place , whom he professed to be farre worthier thereof then he was . but to proceed now to the injuries which this fellow hath done to the bishop of rome , although very much might be spoken , yet by this alone , his disposition may be sufficiently discerned , that he imputes to the pope , vulgar and popular sins , far unworthy of his greatnesse . weak praising is a kind of accusing , and we detract from a mans honour , if when we praise him for small things , and would seem to have said all , we conceal greater . perchance this man had seen some of the catalogues of reserv'd cases , which every year the popes encrease , and he might think , that the popes did therefore reserve these sinnes to themselves , that they only might commit them . but either he is ignorant or injurious to them . for can they be thought to have taken away the liberty of sinning from the people , who doe not onely suffer men to keep concubines , but sometimes doe command them ? who make st. peter beholden to the stews for part of his revenue : and who excuse women from the infamous name of whore , till they have delivered themselves over to men . the professors of which religion teach , that university men which keep whores in their chambers , may not be expeld for that , because it ought to be presumed before hand , that scholars will not live without them . shall he be thought to have a purpose of deterring others from sinne , which provides so well for their security , that he teaches , that he may dispense in all the commandements of the second table , and in all morall law ; and that those commandements of the second table can neither be called principles nor conclusions , necessarily deduced from principles ? and therefore ( as they ever love that manner of teaching ) he did illustrate his rule with an example , and dispensed in a marriage between brother and sister , and hath hoorded up so many in dulgencies in one barn , the citie of rome , that it is easy for any man in an hour or two , to draw out pardons enough for years . how clear a witnesse of this liberality is leo the tenth ? who onely for rehearsing once the lords prayer , and thrice repeating the name of iesu ( be it spoken here without horror ) hath given three thousand years indulgence . how profuse a steward or auditor was boniface , who acknowledges so many indulgences to be in that one church of lateran , that none but god can number them ? besides these plenary indulgences are given not onely to the franciscans themselves , but to their parents also , and to any which dies in their habit ; and to any which desire that they may doe so : and to those who are wrapped in it after death , though they did not desire it ; and five years indulgence to those who doe but kisse it . and at last , clement the seventh by a priviledge first given to one order ( which since is communicated to our order , as the priviledge of all other orders are ) gave to any who should but visit a place belonging to them , or any other place if he could not come thither , or if he could come to no such place , yet if he had but a desire to it , all indulgences which had been granted , or hereafter should be granted in the universal world . and though it be true , that if in any of these indulgences a certain sum of money were limited to be given ( as for the most part it is ) a poor man who could not give that money though he were never so contrite for his sinnes , could have no benefit thereby : and though gerson durst call those indulgences foolish and superstitious , which gave twenty thousand yeares pardon for rehearsing one prayer , yet they doe abundantly testifie the popes liberall disposition , and that he is not so covetous in reserving sinnes to himselfe ; but if perchance once in an hundred years , some one of the scum of the people be put to death for sodomy ; and that not so much for the offence , as for usurping the right of the ecclesia stick princes , we must not much lament nor grudge at that , since it is onely done to discontinue and interrupt a prescription , to gain which title the laity hath ever been very forward against the clergie : for even in this kind of his delicacies , the pope is not so reserved and covetous , but that he allowes a tast thereof to his cardinals , whom whom you once called carpidineros ( by an elegancie proper onely to your secretaries the monkes ) in an epistle which you writ to one of that colledge : for since the cardinals are so compacted into the pope , and so made his own body , that it is not lawfull for them without licence first obtained from him , to be let blood in a fever , what may be denied unto them ? or what kind of sin is likely to bee left out of their glorious priviledges . which are at least two hundred ? which order the pope can no more remove out of the ecclesiasticke hirarchy , then he can bishops ; both because cardinals were instituted by god , and because the apostles themselves were cardinalls before they were bishops . whom also in their creation he stiles his brothers , & princes of the world , and co-judges of the whole earth , and to perfect all , that there are so many kings as there are cardinals . o fearefull body ; and as in many other things , so in this especially monstrous , that they are not able to propagate their species : for all the cardinals in a vacancy are not able to make one cardinal more . to these men certainely the pope doth no more grudge the plurality of sins , then hee doth of benefices . and he hath been content , that even borgia should enjoy , this dignity , if he hath heaped up by his ingenius wickednesse , more sorts of sins in one act , then ( as far as i know ) as any the popes themselvs have attempted : for he did not only give the full rein to his licentiousnesse , but raging with a second ambition , he would also change the sek . therein also his stomack was not towardes young , beardlesse boyes , nor such green fruit : for he did not thinke , that he went farr enough from the right sex , except he had a manly , a reverend , and a bearded venus . neither staied he there ; but his witty lust proceeded further : yet he solicited not the minions of the popes , but striving to equall the licenciousnesse of sodomites which would have had the angels ; to come as neer them as he could , he tooke a cleargy-man , one of the portion and lot of the lord ; and so made the maker of god , a priest subject to his lust ; nor did he seek him out in a cloyster , or quire ; but that his venus might be the more monstrous , he would have her in a mitre . and yet his prodigious lust was not at the height ; as much as he could he added : and having found a man a clergy man , a bishop , he did not sollicite him with entreaties , and rewards , but ravished him by force . since then the popes doe out of the fulnesse of their power , come to those kindes of sinn , which have neither example nor name , insomuch that pope paulus venetus which used to paint himselfe , and desired to seem a woman , was called the goddesse cibele , which was not without misterie , since , prostitute boyes are sacred to that goddesse ) and since they doe not grant ordinarily that liberty of practising sinnes , till they have used their own right and priviledge of prevention and anticipation ; this pratling fellow machiavel , doth but treacherously , and dishonestly prevaricate , and betray the cause , if he thinke he hath done enough for the dignity of the popes , when he hath affoorded to them , sins common to all the world . the transferring of empires , the ruine of kingdomes , the excommunications , and depositions of kings , and devastations by fire and sword , should have been produced as their marks & characters : for though the examples of the popes transferring the empire , which our men so much stand upon , be not indeed true , nor that the ancient popes practised any such thing ; yet since the states-men of our order , wiser then the rest have found how much this temporall jurisdiction over princes , conduces to the growth of the church , they have perswaded the popes , that this is not onely lawfull for them , but often practised heretofore : and therefore they provide that the canons , and histories be detorted to that opinion : for though one of our order doe weaken that famous canon , nos sanctorum , which was used still to be produced for this doctrin , yet he did it then when the king of great britain was to be mollified and sweetned towards us , and the laws to be mitigated , and when himself had put on the name eudaemon . but let him return to his true state , and profess himself a cacodaemon , and he will be of our opinion . in which respect also we may pardon our cudsemius his rashness , when he denies the english nation to be heretiques , because they remain in a perpetual succession of bishops : for herein these men have thought it fit to follow in their practise , that translation which reads the words of paul ; serve the time , and not that which says ; serve the lord. as for the injury which this petty companion hath offered to our order , since in our wrongs both yours and the popes majesty is wounded , since to us as to your dictators , both you have given that large and anti●…ent commission , that we should take care that the state take no harm , we cannot doubt of our revenge : yet this above all the rest , doth especially ve●… me , that that when he cals me prelate and bishop ( names which we so much abhor and detest ) i know well that out of his inward malignity he hath a relation to bellarmines , and tolets sacrilegious vow-breaking ambitions , by which they imbraced the cardinalship , and other church dignities : but herein this poor fellow unacquainted with our affairs , is deceived , being ignorant that these men by this act of being thus incorporated into the pope , are so much the nearer to their center and final happiness , this chamber of lucifer , and that by the breach of a vow which themselves thought just , they have got a new title thereunto : for the cardinalship is our martyrdom : and though not many of our order have had that strength that they have been such martyrs , and that the popes themselves have been pleased to transfer this persecution into the other orders , who have had more cardinals than we ; yet without doubt for such of ours which have had so much courage , new crowns , and new garlands , appropriate to our martyrs , are prepared for them in this their heaven ; because being inabled by greater means they are fitter for greater mischiefs . we therefore lament the weakness of our laynez and our borgia , who refused the cardinalship offered by paulus . and iulius . for in this place and this meeting it is not unfit to say they did so , even amongst the antient romans when they sacrificed to you those sacrifices which offerd any resistance , were ever reputed unaccepted : and therefore our bellarmine deserves much praise , who finding a new genius and courage in his new cardinalship , set out his retractions and corrected all those places in his works , which might any way be interpreted in the favour of princes . but let us pass over all these things ; for we understand one another well enough : and let us more particularly consider those things which this man who pretends to exceed all ancient and modern statesmen boasts to have been done by him . though truely no man will easily believe , that he hath gone far in any thing which did so tire at the beginning or mid-way , that having seen the pope and known him , yet could never come to the knowledge of the devil . i know what his excuse and escape will be ; that things must not be extended infinitely ; that we must consist and arrest somewhere , and that more means and instruments ought not to be admitted where the matter may be dispatched by fewer . when therefore he was sure that the bishop of rome was the cause of all mischief , and the first mover thereof , he chose rather to settle and determine in him , than by acknowledging a devil to induce a new tyranny , and to be driven to confess that the pope had usurped upon the devils right , which opinion if any man be pleased to maintain , we do not forbid him : but yet it must be an argument to us of no very nimble wit , if a man do so admire the pope that he leave out the devil , and so worship the image , without relation to the prototype and first pattern . but besides this , how idle and how very nothings they are which he hath shoveld together in his books , this makes it manifest that some of every religion and of every profession have risen up against him , and no man attempted to defend him : neither do i say this because i think his doctrin the worse for that , but it is therefore the less artificially carried , and the less able to work those ends to which it is directed . for our part we have not proceeded so . for we have dished and dressed our precepts in these affairs with such cunning , that when our own men produce them to ens●…re and establish our pupils , then we put upon them the majesty and reverence of the doctrin of the church and of the common opinions : but when our adversaries alledge them either to cast envy upon us , or to deterr the weaker sort ; then they are content with a lower room , and vouchsafe to step aside into the rank of privat opinions . and the canons themselves are with us sometime glorious in their mitres and pontifical habits and sound nothing but meer divine resolutions out of the chair it self , and so have the force of oracles , sometimes we say they are ragged and lame , and do but whisper with a doubtfull and uncertain murmure , a hollow cloystral , or an eremiticall voice , and so have no more authority than those poor men which writ them : sometimes we say they were but rashly throwne into the peoples ears out of pulpits in the homilies of fathers ; sometimes that they were derived out of such councels as suffered abortion , and were delivered of their children , which are their canons before inanimation , which is the popes assent ; or out of such councels as are now discontinued and dead ( howsoever they remained long time in use , and lively and in good state of health ) and therfore cannot be thought fit to be used now , or applyed in civil businesses ; sometimes we say the popes voice is in them all by his approbation ; sometimes that only the voice of those authors from whom they are taken speaks in them . and accordingly we deliver divers and various philosyphy upon our gratian who compiled them ; sometimes we allow him the honour and dignity of diamonds and the nobler sort of stones , which have both their clearness and their firmness from this , for that they are compacted of less parts and atomes then others are : and so is gratian ; whom for the same cause , sometimes we account but a hill of many sands cast together , and very unfit to receive any foundation . i must confess that the fathers of our order , out of a youthful fiercenes which made them dare and undertake any thing ( for our order was scarce at years at that time ) did amiss in inducing the councel of trent to establish certain rules and definitions from which it might not be lawfull to depart : for indeed there is no remedy but that sometimes we must depart from them : nor can it be dissembled that both the writers of our order , and the dominicans have departed from them in that great war and tragedy lately raised at rome about grace and freewill : for it is not our purpose that the writings of our men should be so ratified that they may not be changed so that they be of our order which change them : so by the same liberty which daemon ioannes hath taken in delivering the king of britain from the danger of deposition ; ( because as yet no sentence is given against him ) and also from many other canons which others think may justly be discharged against him , it will be as lawfull for us , when that kingdom shall be enough stupified with this our opium to restore those canons to their former vigour , and to awake that state out of her lethargy , either with her own heat , intestine war , or by some medicine drawn from other places : for princes have all their securities from our indulgence , and from the slack and gentle interpretation of the canons : they are but priviledges which since they are derived , and receive life from us , they may be by us diminished , revoked and annulled : for as it was lawfull for mariana to depart from the doctrin of the councel of constance , so it was lawfull for cotton to depart from mariana , which notwithstanding , we would have only lawfull for our order to whom it is given to know times and secrets of state : for we see the sorbonists themselves ( which may seem to have an aristocratical papacy amongst themselves ) though they laboured to destroy the doctrin of mariana , did yet wisely forbear to name him or any other iesuit , which was a modesty that i did not hope for at their hands ; since before i died they made one decree against me : but yet therein i think somewhat may be attributed to my patience and providence ; who knowing their strength and our own infancy , forbad all of my order to make any answer to that decree of theirs : neither were we so herculean as to offer to strangle serpents in our cradle . but yet since after that time they have been often provoked by our men : ( for i gave not so iron a rule and precepts to my disciple as francis did to his , who would not have his rule applyed to times & to new occasions ) certainly they might have bin excused if they had bin at this time sharper against us . and if the parliament of paris thought it not fit to carry the matter so modestly in their arrest against mariana , but made both the book and the doctrin , and the man infamous : what should we say more of it , but that it is a gyant and a wilde beast which our men could never tame , for still it cries and howles , the pope is bound to proceed lawfully and canonically : and this they maliciously interpret of their own laws , and of ancient canons , which they hope to bring in to use again , by an insensible way of arrest and sentences in that court. this then is the point of which we accuse machiavell , that he carried not his myne so safely but that the enemie perceived it still . but we who have received the church to be as a ship , do freely sail in the deep sea ; we have an ancor , but we have not cast it yet , but keep it ever in our power to cast it and weigh it at our pleasure . and we know well enough that as to sailing ships , so to our sailing church , all rocks , all promontories , all firm and fast places are dangerous , and threaten shipwrack , and therefore to be avoided ; and liberty and sea-room to be affected ; yet i do not obstinately say that there is nothing in machiavels commentary which may be of use to this church . certainly there is very much ; but we are not men of that poverty that we need beg from others , nor dignifie those things with our praises which proceed not from our selves . the senate of rome gave us heretofore a noble example of this temperance and abstinence , which therefore refused to place christ amongst their gods , because the matter was proposed by the emperor , and begun not in themselves . as for that particular wherein machiavel useth especially to glory ; which is that he brought in the liberty of dissembling and lying , it hath neither foundation nor colour : for not only plato and other fashioners of commonwealths , allowed the liberty of lying to magistrates and to physitians ; but we also considering the fathers of the church , origen , chrysostome , hierome , have not only found that doctrin in them , but we have also delivered them from al imputation and reprehension by this evasion , that it was lawfull for them to maintain that opinion till some definition of the church had established the contrary : which certainly ( though this should not be so openly spoken of ) as yet was never done . but yet we have departed from this doctrin of free lying , though it were received in practice , excused by the fathers , strengthened by examples of prophets and angels in the scriptures , and so almost established by the law of nations and nature ; only for this reason , because we were not the first authors of it . but we have supplied this loss with another doctrin less suspicious ; and yet of as much use for our church ; which is mentall reservation , and mixt propositions . the liberty therefore of lying is neither new nor safe , as almost all machiavels precepts are so stale and obsolete , that our serarius using i must confess , his jesuiticall liberty of wilde anticipation , did not doubt to call herod who lived so long before machiavel , a machiavelian . but that at one blow we may cut off all his reasons and all his hopes , this i affirm , this i pronounce , that all his books and all his deeds tend only to this , that thereby a way may be prepared to the ruine and destruction of that part of this kingdom which is established at rome : for what else doth he endeavor or go about , but to change the forme of common-wealth , and so to deprive the people ( who are a soft , a liquid , and ductile mettall , and apter for our impressions ) of all their liberty , and having so destroyed all civility and re-publick , to reduce all states to monarchies ; a name which in secular states , we doe so much abhor , ( i cannot say it without teares ) but i must say it , that not any one monarch is to be found , which either hath not withdrawn himselfe wholly from our kingdome , or wounded and endamaged in som weighty point ; hereupon our cotton confesseth , that the authority of the pope is incomparably lesse then it was , and that now the christian church , ( which can agree to none but the romans ) is but a diminutive . and hereupon also it is , that the cardinalls , who were wont to meet oftener , meet now but once in a week , because the businesses of the court of rome grow fewer . to forbeare therefore mentioning of the kings of britain & denmarke , and the other monarchs of the first sort , which have utterly cast off rome ; even in france , our enemies are so much encreased that they equall us almost in number : and for their strength , they have this advantage above us , that they agree within themselves and are at unity with their neighbour reformed churches ; whereas our men which call themselves chatholick there , do so much differ from the roman catholick that they do not only prefer councels , but even the king before the pope , and ever more oppose those their two great giants gog , and magog , their parliament of paris , and their colledge of sorbon , against all our endeavours . besides all this , we languish also miserably in spain , where clergy-men , if they break their fealty to their lord , are accused of treason ; where ecclesiasticall persons are subject to secular judgment and , if they ●…e sa●…rilegious , are burnt by the ordinary magistrate ; which are doctrines and practices , contrary and dangerous to us . and though they will seem to have given almost half the kingdom to the church , and so to have divided equally : yet those grants are so infected , with pensions and other burdens by which the kings servants , 〈◊〉 the younger sorts of great persons are maintained , that this greatness of the church there , is rather a dropsie then a sound state of health established by well-concocted nourishment , and is rather don to cast an envy upon the church , then to give any true majesty to it . and even in usurping ecclesiasticall iurisdiction ; the kings of spain have not only exceeded the kings of france , but also of britany ; for ( sayes baronius of that king ) there is now risen up a new head , a monster and a wonder : he excommunicates , and he absolves , and he practiseth this power even against bishops , and cordinals . he stops appeals , and he acknowledges no superiority in the sea of rome , but only in case of prevention : and therefore , the name monarch , is a hatefull and execrable name to us . against which , baronius hath thundred with such viol●…e , such ●…ercheffe , and such ●…nesse , that i could hardly , add any thing thereunto , if i should speak ( unspeakable emperor ) with thine own tongue for he calls it an a●…lterine name , and a tower of babel , and threatens destruction to that king ( though himself were his subject ) except he for , beare the name . in the mean time , he resolves him to be a tyrant , and pronounces him to stand yearly excommunicate by the bulla coenae . neither doth he offer to defend himselfe with any other excuse , when a cardinall reprehended his fiercenes toward the king then this ; an imperious zeale hath no power to spare god himselfe . and yet he confesseth , that this zeale was kindled by the popes speciall command , and by his oath taken , as cardinall . neither hath our bellarmine almost any other cause of advancing monarchical government so much as he doth , then thereby to remoove all secular men from so great a dignity , and to reserve it only to the church . it was therefore well done of that rebullus ( who now begins to be known in this state ) when having surfeted with calumnies against the french church and her ministers , he hath dared of late to draw his pen , and to joyne battell against a most puissant forrain prince : he did well ( i say ) and fitly , when he called bellarmine and baronius , the sword and buckler of the roman church . and i cannot choose but thanke him for affoording the title of sword to our order ; as well , because after so many expositions of those words , ( behold , heer are two swords ) which our side hath gathered , to establish a temporall jurisdiction in the pope , and which our adversaries have remooved , worn out , or scorned , this man hath relieved us with a new , and may seem to intend by the two swords , the popes excommunications , and the iesuites assassinates , and king-killings ; as also because he hath reserved to our order that soveraigne dignity , that as god himselfe was pleased , to defend his paradice with fire and sword , so we stand watchfull upon the borders of our church not only provided , as that cherubin was with fire and sword , but with the later invention of gunpouder ; about the first inventour whereof i wonder , why antiquaries should contend , whether it were the devil or a fryer , since that may be all one . but as ( o unspeakable emperour ) you have almost in all things indeavoured to imitate god : so have you most throughly performed it in us ; for when god attempted the reformation of his church , it became you also to reforme yours . and accordingly by your capuchins , you did reform your franciscans , which before we arose , were your chiefest labourers and workmen : and after , you reformed your capuchins , by your recolets . and when you perceived that in the church god , some men proceeded so farre in that reformation , that they endeavoured to draw out , not onely all the peccant and dangerous humours , but all her beauty , and extorior grace and ornament , and even her vitall spirits with her corrupt blood , and so induce a leannesse and ill-favourednesse upon her , and thought to cure a rigid coldness with a fever ; you also were pleased to follow that example , and so in us did reform and awaken to higher enterprises the dispositions as well of the circumcellions as of the assassins : for we do not limit our selves in that low degree of the circumcellions , when we urge and provoke others to put us to death ; not of the assassins , which were hired to kill some kings which passed through their quarter : so we exceed them both , because we do these things voluntarily for nothing , and every where . and as we will be exceeded by none in the thing itselfe : so to such things as may seem mysticall and significant , we oppose mysticall things . and so lest that canon ; that no clergy-man should wear a knife with a point , might seem to concern us , by some propheticall relation , we in our rules have opposed this precept , that our knife be often whetted , and so kept in an apt readiness for all uses : for our divination lies in the contemplation of entrails ; in which , art we are thus much more subtile then those amongst the old romans , that we consider not the entrails of beasts , but the entrails of souls , in confessions , and the e●…trails of princes in treasons whose hearts we doe not beleeve to be with us till we see them : let therfore this pratling secretary hold his tongue , and be content that his book be had in such reputation as the world affords to an ephemerider or yearly almanack , which being accommodated to certain places and certain times , may be of some short use in some certain place and let the ru●…s and 〈◊〉 of his disciples like the canons of provinciall councels , be of force there where they were made ; but only ours which pierce and passe through all : the world , retai●… the strength and vigo●… of universall councels . let him enjoy some honorable place amongst the gentiles ; but abstain from all of our sides : neither when i say , ou●…side , doe i onely mean modern men : for in all times in the roman church there have been friers which have farre ex ceeded machiavel . truly i thought this oration of ignatius very long : and i began to think of my body which i had so long abandoned , lest it should putrifie , or grow mouldy , or be buried ; yet i was loath to leave the stage till i saw the play ended . and i was in hope that if any such thing should befall my body , the jesuits , who work miracles so familiarly , and whose reputation i was so carefull of in this matter , would take compassion upon me , and restore me again . but as i had sometimes observed , feathers or strawes swim on the watersface , brought to the bridge , where through a narrow place the water passes , thrown back , and delay'd ; and having danc'd awhile , and nimbly plaid upon the watry circles , then have bin by the streams liquid snares , and jaws suck'd in , and sunk into the womb of that swoln bourn , leave the beholder desperate of return : so i saw machiavel often put forward , and often thrust back , and at last vanish . and looking earnestly upon lucifers countenance , i perceived him to be affected towards ignatius , as princes , who though they envy and grudge that their great officers should have such immoderate means to get wealth ; yet they dare not complain of it , lest thereby they should make them odious and contemptible to the people : so that lucifer now suffered a new hell : that is , the danger of a popular devill , vain-glorious , and inclined to innovations there . therefore he determined to withdraw himselfe into his inward chamber and to admit none but ignatius : for he could not exclude him who had deserved so well ; neither did he think it safe to stay without , and give him more occasions to amplifie his own worth , and undervalue all : them there in publick , and before so many vulgar devils . but as he rose , a whole army of souls besieged him . and all which had invented any new thing , even in the smallest matters , thronged about him ; and importuned an admission . even those which had but invented new attire for women and those whom pancirollo hath recorded in his commentaries for invention of porcellan dishes , of spectacles , of quintans , of stirrups , and of cavi●…ri , thrust themselves into the troop . and of those which pretended that they had squared the circle , the number was infinite . but ignatius scattered all this cloud quickly by commanding , by chiding , by deriding , by force and violence . amongst the rest , i was sorry to see him use peter aretine so ill as he did : for though ignatius told him true when he boasted of his licentious pictures , that because he was not much learned , he had left out many things of that kind , with which the ancient histories and poems abound : and that therefore areti●… had not onely not added any new invention , but had also , taken away all courage and spu●… from youth , which would rashly trust and nely upon his dillgence , and seek no further , and so lose that 〈◊〉 on●… preti●… 〈◊〉 suoe of ●…quity . he ●…ed moreove●… , that though 〈◊〉 , and others of his order , did use to gold p●…ts and other 〈◊〉 and here i could not ●…huse but wonder , why they have not gel●…ed their 〈◊〉 ed●…on , which in some places hath such obse●…e words as the hebrew ●…gne , which is therfore also called 〈◊〉 , doth so much ahhor , that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things can be ●…ed in it , info●…uch 〈◊〉 ( as one of them very sub●…y notes ) the 〈◊〉 of venus is very seldome called ●…hy that name in 〈◊〉 for how could 〈◊〉 wood being not in 〈◊〉 yet ( said h●… ) 〈◊〉 men doe not g●…ld them to that p●…rpose that the memory thereof should he abolished : but that when themselves had first tried whether tyberius his spintria , and martialis symphlegma , and others of that kinde , were not rather chymera's , and speculations of luxuriant wits , then things certain and constant , and such as might b●…educed to an art and method in licentiousnesse , ( for jesuits never content themselves with the theory in any thing , but straight proceed to practice ) they might after communicate them to their own disciples and novitiates : for this church is fruitful in producing sacraments and being now loaded with divine sacraments , it produces morall sacraments . in which , as in the divine , it binds the laity to one species ; but they reserve to themselves the divers forms , and the secrets and mysteries in this matter , which they finde in the authors whom they geld . of which kinde i think they give a little glimmering and intimation , when in the life of their last made coddesse , francisc●… romane , they say , that the bed where she lay with her hisband , was a perpetual martyrdome to her , and a shop of miracles . but for all this , since aretine was one , who by a long custome of libellous and contumelious speaking against princes , had got such a habit , that at last he came to diminish and disesteem god himselfe . i wonder truly , that this arch-iesuite , though he would not admit him to any eminent place in his triumphant church , should deny him an office of lower estimation : for truly to my thinking he might have been fit , either to serve ignatius , as master of his pleasures , or lucifer as his cryer : for whatsoever lucifer durst think , this man durst speak . but ignatius , who thought himselfe sufficient for all uses , thrust him away , and when he offered upward , offered his staffe at him : nor did he use christopher columbus with any better respect ; who having found all ways in the earth and sea open to him , did not fear any difficulty in hell , but when he offered to enter ignatius staid him , and said , you must remember sir , that if this kingdom have got any thing by the discovery of the west indies , all that must be attributed to our order : for if the opinion of the dom●…eans had prevailed , that the inhabitants should be reduced only by preaching and without violence , certainly their of men would scarce in so many ages have been brought to which by our means was so soon performed . and if the law made by ferdinando only against canibals ; that all which would not be christians should be bond slaves , had not been extended into other provinees , we should have lacked men to dig us out that benefit which their countreys afford . except we when we took away their old idolatry , had recompenced them with a new one of o●… , except we had obtruded to those ignorant and barbarous people , sometimes natural things , sometimes artificial , and counterfeit in stead of miracles , and except we had been alwaies ready to convey and to apply this medicine made of this precious american dung unto the princes of europe , and their lord , and councellours , the profit by the only discovery of these places ( which must of necessity be referred to fortune ) would have been very ●…le ; yet i praise your perseverance and your patience which ( since that seems to be your principal vertue ) you shall have good occasion to exercise here , when you remain in a lower and remote●… place , then you think belongs to your merits . but although lucifer being put into a heat and almost smothered with this troop and deluge of pretenders , seemed to have admitted ignatius as his lieatenant , or legat ●…ere , and trusted him with an absolute power of doing what he would , yet he quickly spied his own error and danger thereby . he began to remember how forcibly they use to urge the canon alius ; by which the king of france is said to have been deposed , not for his wickedness , but for his infirmity and unfitness to govern : and that kings do forfeit their dignity if they give themselves to other matters , and leave the government of the state to their officers . therefore lucifer thought it time for him to enter into the business , lest at last ignatius should prescribe therein ; by which title of prescription he well knew , how much the church of rome doth advance and defend itself against other princes . and though he seemed very thankfull to ignatius for his delivery from this importunate company , yet when he perceived that his purpose was to keep al others out , he thought the case needed greater confideration ; for though he had a considence in his own patriarks which had long before possest that place , and in whose company ( as an abbot said to the devil , who after long intermission , now tempted him ) he was grown old , and doubted not but that they would defend their right , and oppose themselvs against any innovation which ignatius should practise , yet if none but he in a whole age should be brought in , he was afraid that this singularity would both increase his courage and spirit , and their reverence and respect towards him . casting therefore his eyes into every corner , at last a great way off he spied philip nerius : who acknowledging in his own particular no especial merit towards this kingdom , forbore to press nearer the gate , but lucifer called to his remembrance , that nerius and all that order , of which he was the author , which is called congregatio oratorii , were erected , advanced , and dignified by the pope , principally to this end , that by their incessant sermons to the people , of the lives of saints , and other ecclesiastick antiquities , they might get a new reputation , and so the torrent , and general superstition towards the iesuits might grow a little remisser , and iuke-warm , for at that time the pope himself began to be afraid of the jesuits , for they begun to publish their paradox of confession and absolution to be given by letters , and messengers , and by that means to draw the secrets of all princes only to themselves ; and they had tryed and sollicited a great monarch who hath many designes upon italy against the pope and delivered to that prince divers articles , for the reforming of him . now the pope and lucifer love ever to follow one anothers example : and therefore that which the one had done in the middle world , the other attempted in the lower . hereupon he called for philip , nerius , and gave him many evidenoes of a good inclination towards him . but nerius was too stupid to interpret them aright . yet ignatius spied them , and before lucifer should declare himself any further , or proceed too farr herein , lest after he were farengaged , there should be no way to avert or withdraw him from his own propositions ( for he saw there must be respect had of his honor and constancy ) he thought it fittest to oppose now at the beginning . he said therefore , that he now perceived that lucifer had not been altogether so much conversant with philip , as with the ●…esuirs , since he knew not how much philip had ever professed himself an enemy to him for he did not only deny all visions and apparitions , and commanded one to spit in maries face when she appeared again , because he thought it was the devil ; and drove away another that came to tempt a sick man , in the shape of a physitian ; and was hardly drawn to believe any possessings ; but when three devils did meet him in the way , to afright him , he neither thought them worthy of any exorcismes , nor so much as the signe of the cross , but meerly went by them , as though he scorn'd to look at them , and so despighted them with that negligence . it may be that he hath drawn others into religion , but himself remained then in the laity ; in so much as i remember , that i used to call him the saints bell , that hangs without , and calls others into the church . neither do they which follow this order , bind themselves with any vow or oath ; neither do i know any thing for which this kingdom is beholding to him , but that 〈◊〉 moved baronius to write his annals . to all this nerius said nothing , as though it had been spoken of some body else . without doubt , either he never knew , or had forgot that he had done those things which they write of him . but lucifer himself took the boldness ( having with some difficulty got ignatius leave ) to take nerius his part : and proceeded so far , that he adventured to say , that baronius , bozius and others , which proceeded out of the hive of nerius , had used a more free , open , and hard fashion against princes , and better provided for the popes direct jurisdiction upon all kingdoms , and more stoutly defended it than they , which undertaking the cause more tremblingly then becomes the majestie of so great a business , adhered to bellarmines sect , and devised such crooked ways , and such perplexed intanglings , as by reason of the various and uncertain circumstances , were of no use : and that whatsoever nerius his schollers had performed , must be attributed to him , as the fruit to the root . ignatius perceiving that lucifer undertook all offices for nerius , and became judge , advocate , and witness , pursuing his former resolution , determined to interrupt him lest when he had inlarged himself in nerius commendation , he should thereby be bound to a reward . he therefore cryed out , what hath nerius done ? what hath he or his followers put in execution ? have they not ever been only exercised in speculations , and in preparatory doctrins ? are these books which are written of the jurisdiction of the pope , to any better use than physicians lectures of diseases , and of medicines ? whilst these receits lie hid in physicians books and no body goes to the patient ; no body applyes the medicines to the disease . what good , what profit comes by all this ? what part , what member of this languishing body have they undertaken ? in what kingdome have they corrected these humours which offend the pope , either by their incision or cauterising ? what state have they cut up into an anatomy ? what sceliton on have they provided for the instruction of posterity ? do they hope to cure their diseases by talking and preaching as it were with charms and enchantments ? if nerius shall be thought worthy of this honour , and this place , because out of his schollers writings something may be gleaned , which may be applyed to this purpose , why should we not have bez●… and caloin , and the rest of that sort here in hell , since in their books there may be some things found which may be rested to this purpose ? but since their scope was not to extirpate monarchies , since they published no such canons and aphorismes as might be applyed to all ca●…es , and so brought into certain use and consequence , but limited theirs to circumstances which seldome fall out , since they delivered nothing dangerous to princes , but where in their opinion , the soveraigntie resides in the people , or in certain ephory , since they never said , that this power to violate the person of a prince , might either be taken by any private man , or committed to him , and that therefore none of their disciples hath ever boasted of having done any thing upon the person of his soveraigne : we see that this place hath ever been shut against them : there have bin some few of them ( though i can scarce afford those men the honour to number them with knox and goodman , and buchanan ) which following our examples , have troubled the peace of some states , and been injurious to some princes , and have been admitted to some place in this kingdome ; but since they have performed nothing with their hands nor can excuse themselves by saying , they were not able : ( for wherein was clement , or ravillac more able than they , or what is not he able to do in the middesof an army , who despiseth his own life ? they scarce ever aspire , or offer at this secret and sacred chamber . lucifer had a purpose to have replied to this : that perchance all their hands which had bin imbrued in the bowells of princes were not so immediatly armed by the iesuites , as that they were ever present at all consultations and resolutions : ( and yet he meant to say this , not as sworn witnesse , but as lucifer himselfe , and the father of lies , in which capacitie he might say any thing . ) but that it was enough that confessors doe so possesse them with that doctrine that it is not now proposed to them as physick , but as naturall food , and ordinary diet ; and that therfore for the performance of these things , a iesuites person is no more requisite , then that the heart of a man , because it sends forth spirits into every limbe , should therefore be present in every limbe : that when it was in use for the consuls of rome for the the safety of their country and army , to devote themselves over to the infernall god , it was lawfull for themselves to abstain and forbear the act , and they might appoint any souldier for that sacrifice : and that so the iesuits for the performance of their resolutions , might stir up any amongst the people : ( for now they enjoy all the priviledges of the franciscans , who say ; that the name of people , comprehends all which are not of their order ; ) and that if this be granted , nerius his schollers are inferiour to none ; with whose bookes ( if all the iesuits should perish ) the church might content her selfe , and never fear dearth nor leanenesse . this lucifer would have spoken ; but he thought it better and easier to forbeare : for he observed , that ignatius had given a sign , and that all his troupes which were many , subtile , and busie , set up their bristles , g●…mbled , and compacted themselves into one body , gathered , produced , and urged all their evidence , whatsoever they had done , or suffered . there the english legion , which was called capestrata , which campian led , and ( as i thinke ) garnet concluded , was fiercer than all the the rest . and as though there had been such a second martirdome to have been suffered , or as though they might have put off their immortallity , they offered themselves to any imployment . therefore lucifer gave nerius a secret warning to withdraw himself , and spoke no more of him ; and despairing of bringing in an other , began earnestly to thinke , how he might leave ignatius out . this therefore he said to him : i am sorry my ignatius , that i can neither find in others , deserts worthy of this place , nor any room in this place worthy of your deserts . if i might die , i see there would be no long strife for a successor : for if you have not yet done that act which i did at first in heaven , and thereby got this empire , this may excuse you , that no man hath been able to tell you what it was : for if any of the ancients say true when they call it pride , or licentiousnesse , or lying ; or if it be in any of the casuists , which professe the art of sinning , you cannot be accused of having omitted it . but since i may neither forsake this kingdome , nor divide it , this only remedy is left : i will write to the bishop of rome , he shall call galilaeo the florentine to him , who by this time bath throughly instructed himselfe of all the hills , woods , and cities in the new world , the moone . and since he effected so much with his first glasses , that he saw the moon in so neer a distance , that he gave himselfe satisfaction of all , and the least parts in her , when now being grown to more perfection in his art , he shall have made new glasses and they received a hallowing from the pope , he may draw the moon , like a boat floating upon the water , as neer the earth as he will. and thither ( because they ever claim that those imployments of discovery belong to them ) shall all the iesuits be transferred , and easily unite and reconcile the lunatick church to the roman church : without doubt , after the iesuites have been there a little while , there will soon grow naturally a hell in that world also : over which , you ignatius shall have dominion , and establish your kingdom and dwelling there . and with the same ease as you passe from the earth to the moon , you may passe from the moon to the other stars , which are also thought to be worlds , and so you may beget and propagate many hels , and enlarge your empire , and come neerer unto that high seate , which i left at first . ignatius had not the patience to stay till lucifer had made an end ; but as soon as he saw him pause , and take breath , and look , first upon his face , to observe what changes were there , and after to cast his eye to another place in hell , where a great noyse was suddenly raysed : he apprehended this intermission , and as though lucifer had ended , he said : that of lucifers affection to the roman church , and to their order , every day produced new testimonies : and that this last was to be accounted as one of the greatest . that he knew well with how great devotion the bishop of rome did ever embrace and execute all councels proceding from him : and that therefore he hoped , that he would reserve that imployment for the iesuits and that empire for him their founder : and that he beleeved the pope had thought of this before ; and at that time when he put parsons the english iesuite in hope of a cardinalship , he had certainely a reference to this place , and to this church : that it would fall out shortly , that all the dammages , which the roman church hath lately suffered upon the earth , shall be recompenced only there . and that now this refuge was opened if she should be reduced into greater streights , or if she should be utterly exterminated , the world would not much lament and mourne for it . and for the entertainment of the iesuites there , there can be no doubt made at this time , when , ( although their profession be to enter whether princes will or no ) all the princes of the world will not only graciously afford them leave to go , but willingly and cheerfully accompany them with certificates , and demissory letters . nor would they much resist it , if the pope himself would vouchsafe to go with them , and so fulfill in some small measure , that prophecie of his gerson , de auferibilitate papae . besides this , a woman governs there ; of which sex they have ever made their profit , which have attempted any innovation in religion ; with how much diligence were the two empresses , pulcheria and eudoxia , solicited by the pope for the establishing of easter ? how earnestly did both pelagius and the pope strive by their letters to draw the empress to their side ? for since iulia had that honour given to her in publique coyns , that she was called the mother of the armie , the mother of the gods , and of the senate , and the mother of her countrey : why may not women instructed by us , be called mothers of the church ? why may not we relye upon the wit of women , when once , the church delivered over her self to a woman-bishop ? and since we are reputed so fortunate in obtaining the favour of women , that women are forbid to come into our houses ; and we are forbid , to take the charge of any nunns ; since we have had so good experience of their favour●… in all the indies , or at least have thought it fit , that they which have the charge to write our anniversarie letters from thence should make that boast , and add something to the truth , both because the ancient heretiques held that course in insinuating their opinions , and because they which are acquainted with our practices , will think any thing credible , which is written of us in that behalf , why should we doubt of our fortune in this queen , which is so much subject to alterations and passions ? she languishes often in the absence of the sun , and often in eclipses falls into swounds , and is at the point of death . in these advantages we must play our parts , and put our devices in practise : for at these times any thing may be drawn from her . nor must we forbear to try what verses and incantations may work upon her : for in those things which the poets writ though they themselves did not believe them , we have since found many truths , and many deep mysteries : nor can i call to minde any woman which either deceived our hope , or escaped our cunning , but elizabeth of england ; who might the rather be pardoned that , because she had put off all affections of women . the principal dignity of which sex ( which is to be a mother ) what reason had she to wish or affect , since without those womanish titles , unworthy of her , of wife and mother , such an heir was otherwise provided for her , as was not fit to be kept any longer from the inheritance . but when i , who hate them , speak thus much in the honour of these two princes , i finde my self carried with the same fury as those beasts were , which our men say , did sometime adore the host in the mass. for it is against my will , that i pay thus much to the manes of elizabeth ; from scorning of which word manes , when the king of great britain writ it , i would our parsons had forborn , since one of our own jesuits useth the same word , when reprehending our adversaries , he saies , that they do insult upon garnets manes . and yet this elizabeth was not free from all innovation ; for the ancient religion was so much worn out , that to reduce that to the former dignity , and so to renew it , was a kinde of innovation : and by this way of innovating she satisfied the infirmity of her sex , if she suffered any : for a little innovation might serve her , who was but a little , a woman . neither dare i say that this was properly an innovation , lest thereby i should confess , that luther and many others which live in banishment in heaven far from us , might have a title to this place , as such innovators . but we cannot doubt , but that this lunatick queen will be more inclinable to our innovations : for our clavius hath been long familiarly conversant with her : what she hath done from the beginning , what she will do hereafter , how she behaves her self toward her neighbour kingdoms , the rest of the stars , and all the planetary , and firmamentary worlds , with whom she is in league and amity , and with whom at difference , he is perfectly instructed , so he have his ephemerides about him . but clavius is too great a personage to be bestowed upon this lunatick queen , either as her counceller , or ( which were more to our profit ) as her confessor . so great a man must not be cast away upon so small a matter . nor have we any other besides , whom upon any occasion we may send to the sun , or to the other worlds , beyond the world . therefore we must reserve clavius for greater uses . our herbestus , or busaus , or voellus ( and these be all which have given any proof of their knowledg in mathematicks although they be but tastless , and childish , may serve to observe her aspects and motions , and to make catechismes fit for this lunatick church : for though garnet had clavius for his master , yet he profited little in the arts , but being filled with bellarmines dictates , ( who was also his master ) his minde was all upon politicks . when we are established there , this will add much to our dignity , that in our letters which we send down to the earth ( except perchance the whole roman church come up to us into the moon ) we may write of what miracles we list : which we offered to do out of the indies , and with good success , till one of our order , in simplicitie , and ingenuity , fitter for a christian , then a jesuite , acknowledged and lamented that there were no wiracles done there . truly it had been better for us to have spit all those five brothers , acostas , out of our order , then that any one of them should have vomited this reproach against us . it is of such men as these in our order , that our gretzer sayes , there is no body without his excrements , because though they speak truth , yet they speak it too rawly . but as for this contemplation , and the establishing of that government , ( though it be a pleasant consideration ) we may neither pamper our selves longer with it now , nor detain you longer therein . let your greatness write , let the pope execute your counsell , let the moon approach when you think fit . in the mean time let me use this chamber as a resting place . for though pope gregorie were strucken by the angell with a perpetuall pain in his stomack and feet , because he compelled god by his prayers to deliver trajan out of hell , and transferre him to heaven , and therefore god , by the mouth of gregorie took an assurance for all his successors , that they should never dare to request the like again : yet when the pope shall call me back from hence , he can be in no danger , both because in this contract god cannot bee presumed to have thought of me , since i never thought of him , and so the contract therein voyd ; and because the condition is not broken , if i be not removed into heaven , but transferred from an earthly hell to a lunatique hell. more then this he could not be heard to speak : for that noyse , of which i spoke before , increased exceedingly , and when lucifer asked the cause , it was told him , that there was a soule newly arrived in hell , which said , that the pope was at last intreated to make ignatius a saint , and that he hastened his canonization , as thinking it an unjust thing , that when all artificers and prophane butchers had particular saints to invocate , onely these spirituall butchers , and king-killers , should have none . for when the jesuit cotton in those questions which by vertue of his invisible priviledge he had provided for a possest person , amongst others , dangerous both to england and france , had inserted this question : what shall i doe for ignatius his canonizing ? and found at last , that philip king of spain , and henry king of france , contended by their ambassadors at rome , which of them should have the honour of obtaining his canonizing ( for both pretending to be king of navarre , both pretended that this right and honour belonged to him ; and so both deluded the jesuits : ) for d alcala a franciscan , and penafort a iacobite , were by philips means canonized , and the jesuite left out . at last he despaired of having any assistance from these princes ; nor did he think it convenient that a jesuit should be so much beholding to a king ▪ since baronius was already come to that height and constancy , that being accused of som wrongs done to his king , he did not vouchsafe to write in his own excuse to the king , till the conclave which was then held , was fully ended , lest ( as himselfe gives the reason ) if he had then been chosen pope , it should be thought he had been beholden to the king therein . for these reasons therfore they labour the pope themselves . they confess , that if they might chuse , they had rather he should restore them into all which they had lost in france and venice , then that ignatius should be sent up into heaven ; and that the pope was rather bound to doe so , by the order which god himselfe seems to have observed in the creation where he first furnished the earth , and then the heavens , and confirmed himselfe to be the israeiltes god by this argument , that he had given them the land of canaan and other temporall blessings . but since this exceeded the popes omnipotence in earth ; it was fit he should try what he could doe in heaven . now the pope would fain have satisfied them with the title of beatus , which formerly upon the intreaty of the princes of that family he had afforded to aloisius gonzaga of that order . he would also have given this title of saint rather to xaverius , who had the reputation of having done miracles . indeed he would have done any thing , so he might have slipped over ignatius . but at last he is overcome ; and so against the will of heaven , and of the pope , lucifer himselfe being not very forward in it , ignatius must be thrust in amongst the saints . all this discourse , i , being grown cunninger then that doctor , gabriel nele ( of whom bartolus speaketh ) that by the onely motion of his lips , without any utterance , understood all men , perceived and read in every mans countenance there . these things as soon as lucifer apprehended them , gave an end to the contention : for now he thought he might no longer doubt nor dispute of ignatius his admission , who , besides his former pretences , had now gotten a new right and title to the place by his canonization ; and he feared that the pope would take all delay ill at his hands , because canonization is now grown a kind of declaration , by which all men may take knowledge , that such a one to whom the church of rome is much beholden , is now made partaker of the principall dignities and places in hell : for these men ever make as though they would follow augustine in all things , and therfore they provide that that also shall be true which he said in this point , that the reliques of many are honoured upon earth , whose souls are tormented in hell. therefore he took ignatius by the hand , and led him to the gate . in the mean time , i , which doubted of the truth of this report of his canonizing , went a little out for further instruction : for i thought it scarce credible , that paulus quintus , who had but lately burdened both the citie of rome , and the church , with so great expences , when he canonized francisca romana , would so easily proceed to canonize ignatius now , when neither any prince offered to bear the charge , nor so much as sollicited it : for so he must be focred to wast both the treasures of the church at once . and from leo . who years after christ , is the first pope which canonized any , i had not observed that this had ever been done : neither doe i think that paulus quintus was drawn to the canonizing of this woman by any other respect , then because that rule which she appointed to her order , was dictated and written by s. paul : for though peter and magdalen , and others , were present at the writing thereof , as witnesses , yet paul was the author thereof . and since st pauls old epistles trouble and disadvantage this church , they were glad to apprehend any thing of his new writing which might be for them , that so this new work of his might bear witness of his second conversion to papistry , since by his first conversion to christianity , they got nothing : for to say that in this business paulus quintus could not chuse but be god , god himselfe to say that he must needs have lived familiarly with the godhead : and must have heard predestination it self whispering to him : and must have had a place to sit in councell with the most divine trinity , ( all which valaderius sayes of him , is not necessary in this matter , wherein the popes for the most part proceed , as humane affections lead them . but at last , after some enquiry , i found that a certain idle gazettior , which used to scrape up newes and rumors at rome , and so to make up sale letters , vainer & falser then the iesuits letter of iapan and the indies , had brought this newes to hell , and a little iesuiticall novice , a credulous soul , received it by his implicit faith , and published it . i laughed at lucifers easinesse to beleeve , and i saw no reason ever after , to accuse him of infidelity . upon this i came back again , to spy ( if the gates were still open ) with what affection ignatius , and they who were in ancient possession of that place , behaved themselves towards one another . and i found him yet in the porch , and there beginning a new contention : for having presently cast his eyes to the principal place , next to lucifers owne throne ; and finding it possest he stopt lucifer , and asked him who it was that sate there . it was answered that it was pope boniface : to whom ▪ as to a principal innovator , for having first challenged the name of universal bishop , that honour was afforded . is he an innovator thundred ignatius ? shall i suffer this , when all my disciples have laboured all this while to prove to the world , that all the popes before his time did use that name ? and that gregory did not reprehend the patriarch iohn for taking to himself an antichristian name , but for usurping a name which was due to none but the pope . and could it be fit for you , lucifer ( who in this were either unmindfull of the roman church , or else too weak and incapable of her secrets and mysteries ) to give way to any fentence in hell , which ( though it were according to truth ) yet differed from the iesuits oracles ? with this ignatius flyes upwards , and rushes upon boniface , and throwes him out of his seat : and lucifer went up with him as fast , and gave him assistance , lest , if he should forsake him , his own seat might be indangered . and i returned to my body ; which as a flower wet with last nights dew , and then warm'd with the new sun , doth shake off agen all drowsiness , and raise his trembling crown , which crookedly did languish , and stoop down to kiss the earth , and panted now to finde those beams return'd , which had not long time shin'd . was with this return of my soul sufficiently refreshed . and when i had seen all this , and consider'd how fitly and proportionally rome and hell answered one another , after i had seen a iesuit turn the pope out of his chair in hell , i suspected that that order would attempt as much at rome . an apology for iesuits . now it is time to come to the apologie for iesuits : that is , it is time to leave speaking of them , for he favours them most , which says least of them ; nor can any man , though he had declaimed against them till all the sand of the sea were run through his hour-glass , lack matter to add of their practises . if any man have a minde to add any thing to this apologie , he hath my leave ; and i have therefore left room for three or four lines , which is enough for such a paradox ; and more than iungius , scribanius , gretzerus , richeomus , cydonius , and all the rest which are used to apologies , and almost tired with a defensive war , are able to employ , if they will write only good things , and true , of the iesuits . neither can they comfort themselves with this , that cato was called to his answer four and forty times : for he was so many times acquitted , which both the parliaments of england and france deny of the iesuits . but if any man think this apology too short , he may think the whole book an apologie , by this rule of their own , that it is their greatest argument of innocency to be accused by us . at this time , whilst they are yet somewhat able to do some harm in some places , let them make much of this apologie . it will come to pass shortly , when as they have bin dispoyled and expelled at venice , and shaked and fanned in france , so they will be forsaken of other princes , and then their own weakness will be their apologie , and they will grow harmless out of necessity , and that which vegetius said of chariots armed with sithes ond hooks , will be applyed to the jesuits , at first they were a terror , and after a scorn . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e place this after paradox xi . fol. . notes for div a -e nuncius ●…ydereus . de stella 〈◊〉 cygno . paleotus de sindone cap. . iosephina di gieron gratian. theod : ni em : nemus unio , tra. . cap. . sedulius apolog. pro libro con form . l. . cap. . harlay defence des iesuites . vollader : decanoniza fran cis ro. in epist. bellar. de purgat . lib. . c. . august de haer. c. harlay . defence dis iesuites mesdi . . bulla in gre●… cont . 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 ovius de majest . e●…s . milic . c. mosnes . theor. cap. . imaginarium . q. omnis jactura . modest. in verb. milite . q. . pudor . flagel . daemon . menghi . summa bullarii , verbo agnus dei. litera di diego torres . dist. . qui. ibid. vidua . scappus de jure non script - l. . c. . sum. angel . verb. papa , n : money-takers . theol. niem . nemus unio tract . c. . rod : cupers de eccles : univers : fol. . azor : par : . l. . c : . moscontus de maj. eccl. mil : c : . ibid : idem c : . scappus de iure non scrip : l : . c : . azor : ubi supra . plat : in vit : adr. i. apologia pro garnete . de desperata calv : causa , c. rom : . ribadineyra catal : fol : & . brisson de formul : l : 〈◊〉 gretzer : examen : speculi fol : . l'eschuffier , f : . id : fol : . observat : in cassianum , fol : . ex collat : . triha●…es lib : . c : . de la messe , fol : . synta . tholos : lib . c : . v : . scap : de iure non script : l. . c : . ibid : c : ibid. c. de regno sicil●… ▪ resp. ad card. colum . salmonees . hypocr : l. . aphor. . garrauca stat . synod . n. regul . iesuit . cap. praefect . refector . de rebus ●…uper inventis . harlay defence des iesuit . fol. . valla-der fol. . matalius metellus , praefat . in osorium . paris de puteo , de syndicat . de excess . regn . sophronius cap. . conse●…uerat . vita nerii-fol . . fol. . fol. . fol. . fol. . fol. . fol. . fol. . brisson d●… formul . l. . reinsulk manual . franciscan cap. . nuncius sydereus . e rog. iesuit . f●…l . . lbid . fol. . heissius ad aphor iesuit . fol. . eudaem . ioan. apol . pro garn●… . c. . acosta d●… procur . ind. salu l. , c. . de studiis iesuit . abstrus . c. . bellar. de purg. l. . c. . pierre mathier i. l. . nar. litera ejus ad philip. . gen. . . gen. . . vita ejus epist. ad paul. . l. . de ve●…blig . valade . eius fol. . fol. . notes for div a -e bonar . in ampbitb . lib. . c. . recreation for ingenious head-peeces, or, a pleasant grove for their wits to walk in of epigrams , epitaphs , fancies a number, fantasticks abundance : with their addition, multiplication, and division. mennes, john, sir, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing m estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) recreation for ingenious head-peeces, or, a pleasant grove for their wits to walk in of epigrams , epitaphs , fancies a number, fantasticks abundance : with their addition, multiplication, and division. mennes, john, sir, - . smith, james, - . ca. p. : ill. printed by m. simmons ..., london : . added t.p. engr. and illus.: witt's recreation refined, augmented with ingenious conceites for the wittie, and merry medicines for the melancholie. "has been ascribed to sir john mennes and james smith, but includes the work of others"--nuc pre- imprints. reproduction of original in the university of illinois (urbana-champaign campus). library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng english wit and humor. epigrams. epitaphs. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - rina kor sampled and proofread - rina kor text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion recreation for ingenious head-peeces . or , a pleasant grove for their wits to walk in. of epigrams , . of epitaphs , . of fancies , a number . of fantasticks , abundance . with their addition , multiplication , and division . marr. non cuique datur habere nasum . london , printed by m : simmons , in aldersgate-street . . witt' 's recreations refined augmented , with ingenious conceites for the wittie , and merrie medicines for the melancholie . see the next page . printed by m.s. sould by edw : archer in little brittain . . ad lectorem . this little book is like a furnishe feast ; and hath a dish , i hope , to please each guest . here thou may'st find some good and solid fare ; if thou lov'st pleasant junket● , here they are ; perhaps sh●rp sawces take thee most ; if so , i have cooke for thee some sharp sawces too ; but if thy squemish stomack can like none , no body hinders thee , thou may'st be gone . the stationer to the reader . if new , or old wit , please the reader best , i 've hope , each man of wit , will be our guest the new , was fram'd to humour some mens tast ▪ which if they like not , they may carve the last ▪ each dish hath sawce belongs to 't ; and you wil● by your dislike , censure the authors skill ; yet if you cannot speake well of it , spare to utter your dislike , that the like snare may entrap o●hers ; so the booke may be sold , though not lik'd ▪ by a neat fallacie : that 's all i aske , yet 't will your goodness raise , if as i gaine your coyne , he may your praise . epigrams . . to the reader . excuse mee reader , though i now and than , in some light lines , doe shew my selfe a man ; nor be so sowre , some wanton words to blame , they are the language of an epigramme . . on battus . battus doth brag he hath a world of books , his studies maw holds more then well it may , but seld ' or never , he upon them looks , and yet he looks upon them every day . he looks upon their outside , but within he never looks , nor never will begin . . on prue . prues nose hangs down so low , one would suppose when ere she gapes , that prue would eat her nose . . to gripe . gripe keeps his coyn well , and his heaps are great , for which he seems wise in his own conceit ; be not deceiv'd gripe , for ought i can see , thy bags in this sense are as wise as thee . . on man and woman . when man and woman dyes , as poets sung , his heart 's the last that stirs , of hers the tongue . . on womans will. how dearly doth the honest husband buy his wives defect of will when she doth dy ? better in death by will to let her give , then let her have her will while she doth live . . spangle the spruce gal : spruce spangle's like to a cynamon tree ; his outside is of much more worth then he . . chaerilus . eat toste and oyle , eat supple herbs and loos , for thou look'st wondrous costive chaerilus . . in paulum . by lawfull mart , and by unlawfull stealth , p●ulus from th' ocean hath deriv'd much wealth : but on the land , a little gulfe there is , wherein he drowneth all that wealth of his . . vestitus peritus . clitus goes oft time clad in suits of scarlet , that els no colour had to play the varlet . . of poetus . poetus with fine sonnets painted forth this and that foul ladies beauties worth : he shews small wit therein , and for his pains , by my consent , he never shall reap gain● ; why , what needs poets paint them , o sweet elves ! when ladies paint their beauties best themselves . . of shift the sharker . shift swears he keeps none but good company , for , though th' are such as he did never see , worse then himselfe he 's sure they cannot be . . on an vpstart . pray wrong not ( late coyn'd ) give the man his right , he 's made a gentleman although no knight , for now 't is cloaths the gentleman doth make , men from gay cloaths their pedegrees doe take ; but wot you what 's the arms to such mens house ? why this — hands chancing of a rampant louse . . volens nolens . will with provisio wills you testifie , has made his will , but hath no will to die . . ad clodium . wit , once thou said'st was worth thy weight in gold , though now't be common for a trifle sold ; it dearer seems to thee that get'st not any , ( when thou shouldst use it ) for thy love or money . . in getam . geta from wooll and weaving first began , swelling and swelling to a gentleman ; when he was gentleman and bravely dight , he left not swelling till he was a knight : at last ( forgetting what he was at first ) he sweld to be a lord , and then he burst . . to emson . emson thou once in dutch wouldst court a wench , but to thy cost she answered thee in french. . in fimum . fimus is coach'd , and for his farther grace doth a●k his friends how he becomes the place ; troth i should tel him , the poor coach hath wrong and that a cart would serve to carry dung . . in flaccum . the false knave flaccus once a bribe i gave ; the more fool i , to bribe so false a knave : but he gave back my bribe , the more fool he , that for my folly did not cousen me . . of womens naked breasts . in open shop● flyes often blow that flesh , which in close safe● might be kept longer fresh . they but invite flesh-flyes , whose full spread pap● like road wayes lie between their lips and laps . . on morcho . morcho for haste was married in the night , what needed day ? his fair young wife is light . . on a bragadocio . don lollus brags , he comes from noble blood , drawn down from brutus line ; 't is very good , if this praise-worthy be , each flea may then , boast of his blood more then som gentlemen . . edens vomens . cacus that sups so duly at the rose , casts up the reckning truly ere he goes . . on a pumpe stopt with stones . m. i 'le cut it down , i swear by this same hand , if 't will not run , it shall no longer stand . r. pray sir be patient , let your pump alone , how can it water make when 't hath the stone ? yet did he wisely when he did it fell . for in so doing he did make it well . . of prittle-prattle . though th'danger be not great , of all tame cattle , yet the most troublesome is prittle-prattle . . in aulum . thou still art muttring aulus in mine ear , love me and love my dog : i will i swear , thou ask'st but right ; and aulus , truth to tell , i think thy dog deserves my love as well . . ad tilenum . tilens ' cause th' art old , fly not the field , where youthfull cupid doth his b●nner wield ; for why ? this god , old men his souldiers stil'd ; none loves but he who hath been twice a child . . to vellius . thou swearst i bowl as well as most men doe , the most are bunglers , therein thou say'st true . . three genders . a wife although most wise and chast , is of the doubtfull gender ; a quean o th' common : feminines , are women small and tender . . of brawle . brawle loveth brabling , as he loves his life , leave him for dead , when he leaves stirring strife . . in paulum . paul , what my cloak doth hide thou fain wouldst know , wer 't to be seen i would not cover'● so . . of sleep and death . that death is but a sleep i not deny , yet when i next would sleep , i would not dye . . vpon methusus . methusus ask'd me why i call'd him sot , i answer made , because he lov'd the pot , for while methusus busie is with it , the fool i 'm sure 's as busie with his wit. . on thraso . thraso goes lame with blows he did receive in a late duell , if you 'l him believe . . newes . when news doth come , if any would discusse the letter of the word , resolve it thus : news is convey'd by letter , word , or mouth , and comes to us from north , east , west , and south . . of rufus . rufus had rob'd his host , and being put to it , said , i am an arrant rogue if i did doe it . . of marcus. when marcus fail'd , a borrowed sum to pay , unto his friend at the appointed day ; t were superstition for a man , he sayes , to be a strict observer of set dayes . . of a thief . a thief arrested , and in custody under strong guards of armed company , askt why they held him so ; sir , quoth the chief , we hold you for none other then a thief . . of motion . motion brings heat , and thus we see it prov'd , most men are hot and angry when they 'r mov'd . . formall the fashionist . formall all form and fashion is , for matter , who sayes he sees it in him , doth but flatter ; open and search him , you shall quickly find with what course canvas his soft silks are lin'd . . ad scriptorem quend . halfe of your book is to an index growne , you give your book contents , your reader non● . riches . gold 's th' onely god , rich men bear rule , money makes majesty : rich pluto , not plain plato now , speaks with applause most high . . on sextus . sextus doth wish his wife in heaven were , where can she have more happinesse then there ? . secreta nobis . tassus from temple-stairs by water goes , to westminster , and back to temple rowes , belike he loves not trot too much the street or surbait on the stones his tender feet : tut ! come , there 's something in 't must not be known but sir beleev 't , the debt is not his own . . of text-corruptors . bad commentators spoyle the best of books , so god gives meat , ( they say ) the devil sends cook● ▪ . on a drawer drunk . drawer with thee now even is thy wine , for thou hast pierc'd his hogs-head , and he thine . . vpon the weights of a clock . i wonder time 's so swift , when as i see , upon her heels , such lumps of lead to be . . on cynna . because i am not of a gyants stature , despise me no● , nor praise thy liberall nature , for thy huge limbs ; that you are great , 't is true , and that i 'm little in respect of you : the reason of our growths is eas'ly had , you , many had perchance ; i but one dad. on alastrus . alastrus hath nor coyn , nor spirit , nor wit. i think hee 's only then for bedlam ●it . . of mendacio . mendacio pretends to tell men news : and that it may be such , himselfe doth use to make it : but that will no longer need , let him tell truth , it will be news indeed . . on landanno . landanno in his gallant bravery , ruffled his silks , lookt big , and thrust me by : and still as often as he meets me so , my home-spun cloth must to the channell go . advise thee well landanno , children note , and fools admire thee for thy velvet coat : i keep ( landanno ) in repute with such , as think they cannot scorn poor thee too much . but thou canst squire fine madams , thou canst vail thy cap and feather , cringe , and wag thy tail most decently : now by you stars that shi●e , so thou transcend'st me : take the wall , 't is thine . . on shanks . shanks swears he fasts ; and always cryes for beef : o how he fasts ! that 's how fast eats the theef ! . cito bene . sir iohn at mattins prayes he might dispatch , who by true promise is to bowl a match . . of pertinax . it will , it must , it shall be so , saith pertinax ; but what 's the reason trow ? nay , that i cannot tell , nor doth he know . . to valiant dammee . dammee thy brain is valiant , 't is confest ; thou more , that with it every day dar'st jest thy self into fresh braules ; but cal'd upon , with swearing damme , answer'st every one . keep thy self there , and think thy valour right , he that dares damne himself , dares more then fight . . on cornuto . cornuto is not jealous of his wife , nor e're mistrusts her too lascivious life , ask him the reason why he doth forbear , hee 'l answer straight , it cometh with a fear . . on a shrew . a froward shrew being blam'd because she show'd not so much reverence as by right she ow'd unto her husband , she reply'd he might forbear complaint of me , i do him right ; his will is mine , he would bear rule , and i desire the like , onely in sympathy . . of lawlesse . lawlesse the worst times liketh best , why i st ? because then lawlesse may doe what he list . . a rich curre . dru dares good men deprave because hee 's rich , whether more fool or knave , i know not which . . on a youth married to an old woman . a smooth-fac'd youth , what wedded to an old decrepit shrew ! ( such is the power of gold ) thy fortune i dare tell ; perchance thou 'lt have at supper dainties , but in b●d a grave . . on a fly in a glasse . a fly out of his glasse a guest did take , e're with the liquor he his thirst would slake ; when he had drunk his fill , again the fly into the glasse he put , and said , though i love not flyes in my drink , yet others may , whose humour i nor like , nor will gain-say . . on collimus . if that collimus any thing doe lend , or dog , or horse , or hawk unto his friend , he to endear the borrowers love the more , saith he ne'r ●ent it any one before , nor would to any but to him : his wife having observ'd these speeches all her life , behinde him forks her fingers , and doth cry , to none but you , i 'de do this courtesie . . to loquax . loquax , to hold thy tongue would do thee wrong , for thou wouldst be no man but for thy tongue . . good wits jump . against a post a scholler chanc'd to strike at unawares his head ; like will to like : good wits will jump ( quoth he : ) if that be true , the title of a block-head is his due . . on womens masks . it seems that masks do women much disgrace , sith when they wear them they do hide their face . . of sawcy the intruder . sawcy , though uninvited , is so rude , as into every comp'ny to intrude ; but he 's no fit companion for any , who all ways makes the number one too many . . vpon a pair of tongs . the burnt child dreads the fire ; if this be true , who first invented tongs its fury knew . . lawyers and souldiers . if lawyers had for term , a tearm of warre , souldiers would be as rich as lawyers are ; but here 's the difference 'tween guns and gowns , these take good angels , th' other take crack't crowns . . on momus . momus can call another fool , but he can never make his brain and wit agree . . woman . a woman is a book , and often found to prove far better in the sheets then bound : no marvail then , why men take such delight above all things to study in the night . . clytus cunning . clytus the barbar doth occasion fly , because 't is bald , and he gains nought thereby . . rich promises . lords promise soon , but to perform are long , then would their purse-st●ing● were ty'd to their tongue . . on comptulus . i wonder'd comptulus , how thy long hair , in comely curles could show so debonair , and every hair in order be , when as thou couldst not trim it by a looking glasse , nor any barber did thy tresses pleat ; 't is strange ; but monsieur i conceive the ●eat when you your hair doe kemb , you off it take , and order 't as you please for fashion sake . . on gellius . in building of his house , gellius hath spent all his revenues and his ancient rent , ask not a reason , why gellius is poor , his greater house hath turn'd him out of door . . to ponticus . at supper time will pon●u● visit me , i 'd rather have his room then company ; but if him , from me i can no ways fright , i 'd have him visit me each fasting night . . balbus . balbus a verse on venus boy doth scan , but ere 't was finish'd cupid's grown a man. . on a pot-poet . what lofty verses coelus writes ? it is but when his head with wine oppressed is : so when great drops of rain fall from the skies in standing pools , huge bubbles will arise . . on onellus . thou never supp'st abroad , onellus , true , for at my home i 'm sure to meet with you . . of professed atheists . if even devils themselves believe and tremble , atheists profest methinks should but dissemble . . to termagant . my termagant , as i have ought to save , i neither cal'd thee fool , nor knave : that which i cal'd thee is a thing well known , a trifle not worth thinking on : what i suppose thy self wilt easily grant , i cal'd thee cuckold , termagant . . on a vertuous talker . if vertue 's alwayes in thy mouth , how can it e're have time to reach thy heart , fond man ? . to severus . beleeve severus , that in these my rimes i tax no person but the common crimes . . vpon pigs devouring a bed of penny-royall , commonly called organs . a good wife once a bed of organs set , the pigs came in and eat up every whit , the good man said , wife you your garden may hogs norton call , here pigs on organs play . . on gubs . gubs calls his children kitlins : and wo'd bound ( some say ) for joy to see those kitlins dround . . on a fortune-teller . the influence of th' stars are known to thee , by whom thou canst each future fortune see : yet sith thy wife doth thee a cuckold make , t is strange they do not that to thee partake . . to sweet sir ou●side . th' expence in odours , is a foolish sin , except thou couldst sweeten thy corps within . . on a gallant . a glittering gallant , from a prancing steed , alighting down desir'd a boy with speed to hold his horse a while , he made reply , can one man hold him fast ? 't was answer'd , i : if then one man can hold him sir , you may doe it your self , quoth he , and slunk away . . to eras-mus . that thou' art a man each of thy learn'd works shows , but yet thy name tels us thou wast a mouse . . on bunce . money thou ow'st me ; prethee fix a day for payment promis'd , though thou never pay : let it be dooms-day ; nay , take longer ●●ope ; nay when th' art honest , let me have some hope . . on an empty house . lollus by night awak'd heard theeves about his house , and searching narrowly throughout to find some pillage there , he said , you may by night , but i can find nought here by day . . a trim barber . neat barber trim , i must commend thy care , which dost all things exactly to a haire . . on a bragging coward . corsus in camp , when as his mates betook themselves to dine , encourag'd them and spoke , have a good stomach lads , this night we shall in heaven at supper keep a festivall . but battail join'd he fled away in hast , and said , i had forgot , this night i fast . . on a great nose . thy nose no man can wipe , proclus , unless he have a hand as big as hercules : when thou dost sneeze the sound thou dost not hear thy nose is so far distant from thine ear . . on an unequall pair . fair phillis is to churlish priscus wed , as stronger wine with waters mingled ; priscus his love to phillis more doth glow with fervency then fire ; hers cold as snow : 't is well , for if their flames alike did burn , one house would be too hot to serve their turn . . in quintum . quintus is burnt , and may thereof be glad , for being poor he hath a good pretence at every church to crave benevolence , for one that had by fire lost all he had . . on a changeable rayment . know you why lollus changeth every day , his perriwig , his face , and his array ? 't is not because his comings in are much , or 'cause hee 'l swill it with the roaring dutch ; but 'cause the sergeants ( who a writ have had long since against him ) should not know the lad. . on guesse . guesse cuts his shooes , and limping goes about to have men think he 's troubled with the gou● , but 't is no gout ( beleive it ) but hard beere , whose acrimonious humour bites him here . . on stale-batch . for all night-sins with other wives unknown batch now doth daily penance in his own . . to sir guilty . guilty , be wise ; and though thou knowst the crime● be thine i tax ; yet do not own my rimes ; 't were madnesse in thee to betray thy fame , and person to the world , ere i thy name . . veritas subverta . luke that a man on hor●-back met but late , would simply seem thus to equivocate , and strong maintain 'gainst them , contend who dare , 't was meerly but a taylor and a mare . . on hugh . hugh should have gone to oxford th' other day , but turn'd at tiburn , and so lost his way . . on a painted madam . men say y' are fair ; and fair ye are , 't is true , but ( hark! ) we praise the painter now , not you . . on barossa . barossa boasts his pedigree , although he knows no letter of the christ-crosse row , his house is ancient , and his gentry great , for what more ancient e're was heard of yet then is the family of fools ? how than dare you not call barossa gentleman ? . experto credendum . how durst capritius call his wedlock whore , but that he speaks it plusquam per narratum . nam ipse teste : what require you more , unlesse you 'ld have it magis approbatum ? . on iack cut-purse . jack cut-purse is , and hath been patient long , for hee 's content to pocket up much wrong . . on afer . afer hath sold his land and bought a horse , whereon he pranceth to the royall burse , to be on hors-back he delights ; wilt know ? 'cause then his company he 'd higher show : but happy chance tall afer in his pride , mounts a gunnelly and on foot doth ride . . on charismus . thou hast compos'd a book , which neither age , nor future time shall hurt through all their rage ; for how can future times or age invade , that work which perished as soon as made ? . facilis descensus averni . the way to hell is easie , th' other day , a blind man thither quickly found the way . . age and youth . admire not youth , despise not age , although some yong are grave , most old men children grow . . on orus . orus sold wine , and then tobacco , now he aqua-vitae doth his friends allow . what e're he had was sold to save his life , and now turn'd pander , he doth sell his wife . . on sneape . sneape has a face so brittle , that it breaks forth into blushes , whensoere he speaks . . on acerra . tobacco hurts the brain physitians say , doth dull the wit , and memory decay , yet fear not thou acerra , for 't will ne're hurt thee so much by use , as by thy feare . . empta nostra . madam la foy wears not those locks for nought , ask at the shop else , where the same she bought . . on briso . who private lives , lives well , no wonder then , you doe absent you from the sight of men , for out of doors you ne'r by day appear , what , is a sergeant such a huge bug-bear ? . a foolish querie . how rich a man is , all desire to know ; but none inquires if good he be or no. . on the king of swedens picture . who but the half of this neat picture drew , that it could ne're be fully done , well knew . . b. i. answer to a thief bidding him stand . fly villain hence , or by thy coat of steel , i 'le make thy heart , my brazen bullet feel , and send that thrice as theevish soule of thine , to hell , to wear the devils valentine . . thiefs reply . art thou great ben ? or the revived ghost of famous shakespeare ? or some drunken host ? who being tipsie with thy muddy beer , dost think thy rimes shall daunt my soule with fear ? nay know base slave , that i am one of those ▪ can take a purse as well in verse as prose ; and when th' art dead write this upon thy herse , here lyes a poet that was rob'd in verse . . nothing new. nothing is new : we walk were others went ; th●re's no vice now but has his president . . on cupid . cupid hath by his sly and subtill art , a certain arrow shot , and pierc'd my heart ; what shall i doe to be reveng'd on love ? there is but one way , and that one i 'le prove ; i 'le steale his arrows , and will head them new with womens hearts , and then they 'l ne'r fly true . a tobacconist . all dainty meats i doe defie ▪ which feed men fat as swine , he is a frugall man indeed , that on a leaf can dine . hee needs no napkin for his hands , his fingers ends to wipe , that keeps his kitchin in a box , and roast-meat in a pipe. . feeble standing . mat being drunken , much his anger wreaks on 's wife ; but stands to nothing that he speak● . . long and lazie . that was the proverb . let my mistriss be lazie to others ; but belong to me . . on the tobaconist . if mans flesh be like swines , as it is said , the metamorphosis is sooner made : then full fac'd gnatho no tobacco take , smoaking your corps , lest bacon you do make . . another . tom i commend thee above all i know , that sold'st thy cushion for a pipe of to — for now 't is like if e're thou study more , thou'●t sit to 't harder then thou didst before . . on button the grave-maker . ye powers above and heavenly poles , are graves become but button-holes ? . on long haire . lucas long hair down to his shoulders wears , and why ? he dares not cut it for his ears . . to a stale lady . thy wrinkles are no more , nor lesse , then beauty turn'd to sowernesse . . a crab is restorative . the crab of the wood is sawce very good , for the crab of the foaming sea ; but the wood of a crab is sawce for a drab that will not her husband obey . . alius altior . would you with cajus offer now confer in such familiar sort as heretofore ? and not observe he 's grown an officer , that looks for adoration ten times more ? tut ! what of pedegree , or turpe domo , t is not so now ye see , nam ecce homo . . sor●e tua contentas . if adverse fortune bring to passe , and will that thou an asse must be ; then be an asse , and live an asse , for out of question wise is he that undergoes with humble mind , the state that chance hath him assign'd . . on a pretender to prophecy . ninety two years the world as yet shall stand , if it doe stand or fall at your command ; but say , why plac'd you not the worlds end ny●r l●st ere you dy'd you might be prov'd a lyer ? . mart. lib. . epigr. . old poets onely thou dost praise , and none but dead ones magnifie , pardon vocerta , thee to please , i am not yet in mind to die . . on a gamester . for hundred-thousands matho playes ; olus what 's that to thee ? not thou by means thereof , i trow , but matho poor shall be . . parcus profusus . old doting claudus that rich miser known , made drunk one night , & jumping but with ioan , was forc't not onely to discharge the shot , but keep the bastard which the gull ne'r got . . on fr. drake . sir drake , whom well the worlds end knew , which thou didst compasse round , and whom both poles of heaven once saw , which north and south do bound . the stars above would make thee known , if men here silent were ; the sun himselfe cannot forget , his fellow traveller . . b. i. approbation of a copy of verses . one of the witty sort of gentlemen , that held society with learned ben — shew'd him some verses of a tragick sense ; which did his ear much curious violence ; but after ben had been a kind partaker of the sad lines , he needs must know the maker ; what unjust man he was , that spent his time , and banish'd reason to advance his rime : nay gentle ben , replyes the gentleman , i see i must support the poet than ; although those humble strains are not so fit for to please you , hee 's held a pretty wit ; is he held so ? ( sayes ben ) so may a goos , had i the holding , i would let him loos . . vt pluma persona . why wears laurentius such a lofty feather ? because he 's proud and foolish both together . . gaine and gettings . when others gain much by the present cast , the coblers getting time , is at the last . . domina praedominatis . ill may radulphus boast of rule or riches , that lets his wife rule him , and wear the breeches . . on doll . doll she so soon began the wanton trade , she ne'r remembers that she was a maid . . to a nose and teeth very long . gape 'gainst the sun , and by thy teeth and nose 't is easie to perceive how the day goes . . on a welshman and an englishman . there was a time a difference began , between a welshman and an englishman , and thus it was ; the englishman would stand against all argument , that this our land was freest of her fruits : there is a place , quoth he , whose ground so fruitfull is of grasse , but throw a staffe in 't but this night , you shall not see 't the morrow , 't would be cover'd all . the welshman cry'd , 't is true it might lye under the o'r-grown grasse , which is with us no wonder : for turn your horse into our fruitfull ground , and before morning come , he shan't be found . . on pride . why pride to others doth her self prefer , the reason 's clear , she 's heir to lucifer . . on skrew . skrew lives by shifts , yet swears by no small oaths , for all his shifts , he cannot shift his cloaths . . o mores . now vertu's hid with follies jugling mist , and hee 's no man that is no humorist . . to teltale . thy glowing ears , to hot contention bent , are not unlike red herrings broyl'd 〈…〉 . . sperando pariens . hodg hir'd him such a house , at such a rent , as might 'gainst marriage , much his state augment ; but lingring fates did so his hopes prevent , as hodg perforce must flye , for all was spent . . on a souldier . the souldier fights well , and with good regard , but when he 's lame , he lyes at an ill ward . . vivens mortuis . what makes young brutus bear so high his head , and on the sudden gallant it so brave ? pray understand sir ; 's father 's newly dead , who hath so long been wish'd for laid in 's grave . . a secret necessity . what makes f. g. wear still one pair of hose ? ask banks the broker ; he the businesse knows . . on garret and chambers . garret and his friend chambers having done their city businesse , walkt to paddington , and coming neer the fatall place , where men , i mean offender● , ne'r return agen , looking on tyburn in a merriment : sayes chambers , here 's a pretty tenement had it a garret ? garret hearing that , replyes , friend chambers i doe wonder at your simple censure , and could mock you for it , there must be chambers e're there be a garret . . dubium indubitatum . say parnels children prove not one like th' other ; the best is yet , she 's sure they 'd both one mother . . on linnit . linnit plays rarely on the lu●e , we know ; and sweetly sings , but yet his breath sayes no. . on vsuring gripe . gripe feels no lameness of his knotty gout , his moneys travell for him in and out . and though the soundest legs goe every day , he toyls to be at hell as soon as they . . a phrase in poetry . fairer then that word faire , why so she must , or be as black as timothies toasted crust . . a witt-all . ieppa thy wit will ne'r endure a touch , thou knowst so little , and dost speak so much . ad lectorem . is 't possible that thou my book hast bought , that said'st 't was nothing worth ? why was it nought ? read it agen , perhaps thy wit was dull , thou may'st find something at the second pull : indeed at first thou nought didst understand ; for shame get something at the second hand . . on skinns . skinns he din'd well to day ; how doe you think ? his nayles they were his meat , his reume the drink ? . suum cuique pulchrum . posthumus not the last of many more , asks why i write in such an idle vain , seeing there are of epigrams such store ; o give me leave to tell thee once again , that epigrams are fitted to the season , of such as best know how to make rime reason . . certa dissimulans . monsieur piero's wise trades all in french , and coyly simpring cryes , pardona moy : as who should think , she 's sure no common wench but a most true dissembler , par may foy . . in magnis voluisse sat est . in matters great to will it doth suffice : i blush to hear how loud this proverb lyes , for they that owe great sums by bond or bill , can never cancell them with meer good will. . as proud as witlesse dracus . dracus his head is highly by him born . and so by straws are empty heads of corn . . saltem videretur . a welshman and an englishman disputed , which of their lands maintain'd the greatest state ; the englishman the welshman quite confuted , yet would the welshman nought his brags abate , ten cooks , quoth he , in wales one wedding fees , truth , quoth the other , each man tosts his cheese . . knowing and not knowing . cosmus by custome taunts each man , and yet can nought of reason scan , how can that be , when who knows least , knows he should wise be , that would jest : then thus no further i allow , that cosmus know● , but knows not how . . stupid binus . sith time flyes fast away , his safest flight , binus prevents with dreaming day and night . . postrema pessima . cacus in 's cunning ne'r so prov'd o'r-reacht as now at last , who must be halter-stretcht ▪ . on his mistris . my love and i for kisses play'd , she would keep stakes , i was content , and when i won she would be paid ; this made me ask her what she meant , saith she , since you are in this wrangling vain , take you your kisses , and give me mine again . . on a proud maid . she that will eat her breakfast in her bed , and spend the morn in dressing of her head , and sit at dinner like a maiden-bride , and talk of nothing all d●● but of pride ; god in mercy may doe much to save her , but what a case is he in that shall have her ? . tempus edax rerum . time eateth all things , could the po●ts say , the times are chang'd , our times drink all away . . facies ignota . why should not rubin rich apparell wear , that 's left more money then an asse can bear ? can any guesse him by his outward guise , but that he may be generous and wise ? . on a coy woman . she seems not won , yet won she is at length ; in loves war , women use but half their strength . . on bed-keeping . bradus the smith hath often sworn and sed , that no disease should make him keep his bed , his reason was , i oft have heard him tell it , he wanted money , therefore he would sell it . . on a man stealing a candle from a lanthorn . one walking in the street a winter night , climb'd to a lanthorn , thought t'●ave stole the light , but taken in the manner and descri'd by one o'th'servants , who look'd & cry'd , whose there : what d' you ? who doth our lanthorn handle ? nothing , said he , but onely snuffe the candle . . on fraternus . fraternus ' opinions show his reason weak , he held the nose was made for man to speak . . little and loud . little you are ; for womens sake be proud ; for my sake next , ( though little ) be not loud . . on a french fencer , that challenged church an english fencer . the fencing gaules in pride and gallant vaunt , challeng'd the english at the fencing skill , the fencer church , or the church militant , his errors still reprov'd and knock'd him still ; but sith our church him disciplin'd so sore , he ( rank recusant ) comes to church no more . . on gella . gella is light , and like a candle wasteth , even to the snuffe , that stinketh more it lasteth . . on i. lipsius who bequeathed his gown to the v. mary . a dying latinist of great renown , unto the virgin mary gave his gown ; and was not this false latine so to joyn with female gender , the case masculine ? . on two striving together . two falling out , into a ditch they fell , their falling out , was ill ; but in was well . . a lawyers will. a lawyer being sick and extream ill , was moved by his friends to make his wil , which soon he did , gave all the wealth he had to frantick persons , lunatick , and mad ; and to his friends this reason did reveale ; ( that they might see , with equity hee 'd deal ) from mad mens hands i did my wealth receive , therefore that wealth to mad mens hands i leave . . youth and age. age is deformed , youth unkind , we scorn their bodies , they our mind . . somnus decipiens . dod sweetly dreamt this other night had found in gold and silver ne'r an hundred pound , but waking felt he was with fleas sore bitten , and further smelt he had his shirt be — . to a shoomaker . what boots it thee , to follow such a trade , that 's alwayes under foot and underlaid ? . death . the lives of men seem in two seas to swim , death comes to young folks , and old go to him . . quos ergo , &c. rufus in rage the pots flings down the stairs , and threats to pull the drawer by the ears , for giving such attendance : slave ( sayes he ) where 's thine observance ? ha! must such as we be no more waited on ? goe ; bring to pay , and keep my rapier till i come this way . . a disparity . children fondly blab truth , and fools their brothers ; women have learn'd more wisdome of their mothers . . to maledict . thou speakest ill , not to give men their dues , but speakest ill , because thou canst not chuse . . on newter ned. newter convict of publick wrongs to men , takes private beatings , and begins agen ; two kinds of valour he doth shew at once , active in 's brains , and passive in his bones . . interpone tuis , &c. not mirth , nor care alone , but inter-wreath'd ; care gets mirths stomach , mirth makes care long breath'd . . ignotus sibi . fastidius finds it nimis ultra posse , how to distinguish of teipsum nosce : i doe not marvell much it should be so , for why the coxcomb , will himselfe not know . . on craw. craw cracks in sirrop ; and do's stinking say , who can hold that ( my friends ) that will away . . pot poet. poet and pot differ but in a letter , which makes the poet love the pot the better . . content . content is all we aim at with our store ? if that be had with little , what needs more ? . fast and loose . paphus was marry'd all in hast , and now to rack doth run ; so knitting of himself too fast , he hath himselfe undone . . tortus . tortus accus'd to lye , to fawn , to flatter ; said he but set a good face on the matter ; then sure he borrow'd it , for 't is well known , tortus ne're wore a good face of his own . . on raspe . raspe playes at nine-holes , and 't is known he get● many a teaster by his game , and bet● ; but of his gettings there 's but little signe , when one hole wasts more then he gets by nine . . impar impares odit . sotus hates wise men , for himselfe is none , and fools he hates , because himself is one . . similis doctrina libello . croesus of all things loveth not to buy so many books of such diversity : your almanack ( sayes he ) yeelds all the sence of time 's past , profit , and experience . . on tullus . tullus who was a taylor by profession , is late turn'd lawyer , and of large possession . so who before did cut but countrey freeze , now cuts the countrey in excessive fees . . vt parta perdita . marcellus proves a man of double means , first rais'd by drunkards , then undone by queans . . on iack and iill . since iack and iill both wicked be ; it seems a wonder unto me , that they no better doe agree . . on women . woman 's the centre , and the lines be men , the circles , love ; how doe they differ then ? circles draw many lines into the center , but love gives leave to onely one to enter . . on womans love . a womans love is like a syrian flow'r , that buds , and spreads , and withers in an hour . . on cooke a cuckold . a young cook marry'd upon sunday last , and he grew old e'r tuesday night was past . . nomine , non re . grace i confesse it , hath a comely face , good hand and foot as answerable to it : but what 's all this except she had more grace ? oh you will say , 't is want that makes her do it . true , want of grace indeed , the more her shame : gracelesse by nature , onely grace by name . . a mounsieur naso , vero le . naso let none drink in his glasse but hee , think you 't is pride ? 't is courtesie . . a butcher marrying a tanners daughter . a fitter match then this could not have bin , for now the flesh is married to the skin . . a widow . he which for 's wife a widow doth obtain , doth like to those that buy clothes in long-lane , one coat 's not fit , another's too too old , their faults i know not , but th' are manifold . . on a farmer knighted . in my conceit sir iohn , you were to blame , to make a quiet good-wife , a mad-dame . . on pallas and bacchus birth . pallas the off-spring of ioves brain , bacchus out of his thigh was ta'en : he breaks his brain that learning wins , when he that 's drunk breaks but his shin● . . on an old man doting upon a young wench . a rich old man loving a fair young lasse , out of his breeches his spectacles drew , wherewith he writ a note how rich he was ; all which ( quoth he ) sweet heart i 'l give to you . excuse me sir ( quoth she ) for all your riches , i 'l marry none that wears his eyes in 's breeches . . on a welshman . the way to make a welshman think on blisse , and daily say his prayers on his knees , is to perswade him , that most certain 't is , the moon is made of nothing but green cheese ; then he 'l desire of iove no greater boon , then to be plac'd in heaven to eat the moon . . on lungs . lungs ( as some say ) ne'r sets him down to eat , but that his breath doth fly-blow all his meat . . ad quintum . thy lawfull wife , fair lelia needs must be , for she was forc'd by law to marry thee . . as many dayes in the year , so many veins in man. that every thing we doe , might vain appear , we have a vein for each day in the year . . to a friend , on the losse of his mistresse . i● thou the best of women didst forgo , weigh if thou found'st her , or didst make her so : if she was found , know there is more then one ; if made , the workman lives though she be gone ▪ . on a whore. rosa is faire , but not a proper woman ; can any woman proper be that 's common ? . aequalis consensus . caecus and 's choyce , for change no time defers , both separate , yet consenting each together , he maids for his turn takes , she men for hers , and so they jump , though seldome joyn together ▪ . on a welshman a welshman late coming into an inne , asked the maid what meat there was within ; cow-heels she answer'd , and a brest of mutton ; but quoth the welshman , since i am no glutton ; either of both shall serve ; to night the brest , the heels i' th morning , then light meat is best ; at night he took the brest , and did not pay , i' th morning took his heels , and run away . . on men and women . ill thrives that haplesse family that shows a cock that 's silent , and a hen that crows : i know not which lives more unnaturall lives , obeying husbands , or commanding wives . . on linus . linus told me of verses that he made , riding to london on a trotting jade ; i should have known , had he conceal'd the case , even by his verses of his horses pace . . sauce for sorrowes . although our sufferings meet with no reliefe , an equall mind is the best sauce for griefe . . on a little dimunitive band. what is the reason of god-dam-me's band , inch-deep , and that his fashion doth not alter ? god-dam-me saves a labour , understand , in pulling't off when he puts on the halter . . on fine apparrell . some that their wives may neat and cleanly go , doe all their substance upon them bestow : but who a gold-finch , fain would make his wife , makes her perhaps a wag-tail all her life . . vpon conscience . many men this present age dispraise , and think men have small conscience now adays ; but sure , i 'l lay no such fault to their charge , i rather think their conscience is too large . . dicta praedicta . battus breaks jests on any thing that 's spoken , provided alwayes , they before are broken . . on vmber . vmber was painting of a lyon fierce , and working it , by chance from vmbers erse flew out a crack , so mighty , that the fart , ( as vmber swears ) did make his lyon start . . in cornutum . cornutus cal'd his wife both whore and slut , quoth she , you 'l never your brawling but — but what quoth he ? quoth she , the post or door , for you have horns to butt , if i 'm a whore . . a witty passage . an old man sitting at a christmasse feast , by eating brawn occasioned a jest ; for whilst his tongue and gums chased about , for want of pales the chased bore broke out ; and light perchance upon a handsome lasse , that neer him at the table placed was ; which when she spy'd , she pluck'd out of her sleeve a pin , and did it to the old man give ; saying , sith your brawn out of your mouth doth slip , sir take this pin , and therewith close your lip ; and bursting into laughter , strain'd so much , as with that strain her back-part spake low-dutch which th' old man hearing , did the pin restore ; and bad her therewith close her postern door . . on cob. cob clouts his shooes , and as the story tels , his thumb-nayles par'd afford him sparables . . omnia pariter . ralph reads a line or two , and then cryes mew ; deeming all else according to those few ; thou might'st have thought and prov'd a wiser lad ; ( as ioan her fooding bought ) som good som bad . . a new married bride . the first of all our sex came from the side of man , i thither am return'd from whence i came . . on a pudding . the end of all , and in the end , the praise of all depends . a pudding merits double praise , because it hath two ends . . answer . a pudding hath two ends ; you lye my brother for it begins at one , and ends at th' other . . si nihil attuloris , ibis , &c. planus , an honest swaine , but moneylesse , besought a lawyer to be good unto him , who either ( gratis ) must his cause redresse , or promise what he never meant to doe him . being asked why he carelesse lingred it ? made this reply , ex nihilo nihil sit . . on maids . most maids resemble eve now in their lives , who are no sooner women , then th' are wives ; as eve knew no man , e'r fruit wrought her wo ; so these have fruit oft e'r their husbands know . . vt cecidit surgit . now martha married is , shee 'l brave it out , though ne'r so needy known to all about ; and reason good , she rise once in her life , that fell so oft before she was a wife . . on a man whose choyce was to be hang'd or married . m. lo here 's the bride , and there 's the tree , take which of these best liketh thee . r. the choyce is bad on either part , the woman's worst , drive on the cart. . women . were women as little as they are good ; a pescod would make them a gown and a hood . . on a louse . a louse no reason hath to deal so ill , with them of whom she hath so much her will ; she hath no tongue to speak ought in their praise , but to backbite them finds a tongue alwayes . . a courtier and a scholler meeting . a courtier proud walking along the street , hap'ned by chance a scholler for to meet : the courtier said ( minding nought more then place , unto the scholler ( meeting face to face ) to take the wall , base men i 'l not permit ; the scholler said , i will ; and gave him it . . cede majoribus . i took the wall , one rudely thrust me by , and told me the high-way did openly , i thank'd him that he would me so much grace , to take the worse and leave the better place ; for if by owners we esteem of things , the wall 's the subject● , but the way the kings . . on betty . sound teeth has betty , pure as pearle and small , with mellow lips , and luscious therewithall . . a rule for courtiers . he that will thrive in court , must oft become , against his will , both blind , and deaf , and dumb● . why women wear a fall . a question 't is , why women wear a fall ; the truth it is , to pride they 're given all , and pride , the proverb sayes , will have a fall . . for as expertus . priscus hath been a traveller , for why ? he will so strangely swagger , swear and ly . . to a painted whore. whosoever saith thou sellest all , doth jest , thou buy'st thy beauty , that sells all the rest . . detur quod meritum . a courtier kind in speech , curst in condition , finding his faults could be no longer hidden , came to his friend to clear his bad suspition , and fearing least he should be more then chidden ▪ fell to flatt'ring and most base submission , vowing to kisse his foot if he were bidden . my foot said he ? nay that were too submisse ; you three foot higher , well deserve to kisse . . non lubens loquitur . gluto , at meals is never heard to talk , for which the more his chaps and chin do walk , when every one that sits about the bord , makes sport to ask , what gluto , ne'r a word ? he forc'd to answer being very loath , i● almost choak'd , speaking and eating both . . on philos. if philos , none but those are dead , doe praise , i would i might displease him all his dayes . . the promise-breaker . ventus doth promise much , but still doth break , so all his promises are great and weak : like bubbles in the water ( round and light ) swelling so great , that they are broke out-right , . change. what now we like , anon we disapprove ; the new successor drives away old love . . on a passing bell. this dolefull musick of impartiall death , who danceth after , danceth out of breath . . nummos & demona jungit ▪ bat bids you swell with envy till you burst , so he be rich , and may his coffers fill , bringing th' example of the fox that 's curst and threatning folks who have least power to kill● for why 't is known , his trade can never fall , that hath already got the devill and all . . nil gratum ratione carens . paulus a pamphlet doth in prose present unto his lord ( the fruits of idle time ) who far more carelesse , then therewith content , wisheth it were converted into rime : which done , and brought him at another season , said : now 't is rime , before nor rime nor reason . . non cessat perdere lusor . ask ficus how his luck at dicing goes : like to the tide ( quoth he ) it ebbes and flows , then i suppose his chance cannot be good , for all men know 't is longer ebbe than flood . . womens policy . to weep oft , still to flatter , sometime spin , are properties women excell men in . . volucrem sic decipit auceps . hidrus the horse-courser ( that cunning mate ) doth with the buyers thus equivocate ; claps on his hand , and prays he may not thrive , if that his gelding be not under five . ☞ . perdat qui caveat emptor . nor lesse meant promus when that vow he made then to give o'r his cousening tapsters trade , who check'd for short and frothy measure , swore he never would from henceforth fill pot more . . on death . how base hath sin made man , to fear a thing which men call mors ? which yet hath lost all sting , and is but a privation as we know , nay is no word if we exempt the o : then let good men the fear of it defie , all is but o , when they shall come to dye . . to mr. ben iohnson , demanding the reason why he call'd his playes works . pray tell me ben. where doth the mystery lurk , what others call a play , you call a work . . thus answer'd by a friend in ben iohnsons defence . the authors friend thus for the author sayes , bens plays are works , when others works are plays . . on crambo a lowsie shifter . by want of shift , since lice at first are bred , and after by the same increast and fed ; crambo i muse how you have lice so many , since all men know , you shift as much as any . . ad aristarchum . be not agriev'd , my humorous line● afford of looser language here and there a word : who undertakes to sweep a common sink , i cannot blame him , though his broom do stink . . in aulum . aulus gives naught , men say , though much he crave yet i can tell to whom the pox he gave . . on covetous persons . patrons are latrons , then by this th' are worst of greedy people , whose cognizance a wolfs head is , and in his mouth a steeple . . on a dyer . who hath time hath life , that he denies , this man hath both , yet still he dies . . non verbera , sed verba . two schollars late appointed for the field ; must , which was weakest to the other yield ; the quarrell first began about a word , which now should be decided by the sword : but e'r they drew , there fell that alteration , as they grew friends again by disputation . . love and liberty . ●ove he that will ; it b●st likes mee ●o have my neck from loves yoke free . to a neat reader . ●hou say'st my verses are rude , ragged , ruffe , ●ot like some others rimes , smooth dainty stuffe● ●pigrams are like satyrs , rough without , ●ike chesnuts sweet , take thou the kernell out . . of letting . ●n bed a young man with his old wife lay ▪ o wife , quoth he , i 've let a thing to day , by which i fear , i am a loser much : his wife replyes , youths bargains still are such ; so turning from him angry at her heart , she unawares let out a thundring — o wife , quoth hee , no loser am i now , a marv'lous saver i am made by you ; young men that old wives have may never sell ; because old wives , quoth hee , let things so well , . sublata causa &c. why studies silvester no more the lawes , 't is thought duck-lane has tane away the cause . . sapiat qui dives , oportet . 't is known how well i live , sayes romeo , and whom i list , i 'le love , or will despise : indeed it 's reason good it should be so : for they that wealthy are , must needs be wise : but this were ill , if so it come to passe , that for your wealth you must be beg'd an 〈◊〉 . in dossum . dosse riding forth , the wind was very big , and strained court'●ie with his perriwig , leaving his sconce behind so voyd of haire , as esops crow might break her oyster there ; fool he to think his hair could tarry fast , when boreas tears forrests with a blast . . post dulcia , finis amarus . ienkin a welshman that had suits in law , journying to london , chanc'd to steal a cow ; for which ( pox on her luck as ne'r mon saw ) was burnt within the fist and know not how : being ask'd if well the lawes with him did stand ▪ hur have hur now ( quoth ienkin ) in hur hand . . feminae iudificantur viros . kind katharine to her husband kis● these words , mine own sweet will , how dearly doe i love thee ▪ if true ( quoth vvill ) the world no such affords . and that it 's true , i durst his warrant bee ; for ne'r heard i of woman good or ill , but alwayes loved best , her owne sweete will. . ad tusserum . tusser , they tell me when thou wert alive , thou teaching thrift , thy self couldst never thrive ; so like the wh●●stone many men are wont to sharpen others when themselves are blunt . . praestat videri quam esse . clitus with clients is well customed , that hath the lawes but little studied ; no matter clitus , so they bring their fees , how ill the case and thy advice agrees . . tunc ●ua res agitur . a jealous marchant that a sailor me● , ask'd him the reason why he meant to marry , knowing what ill their absence might beget , that still at sea , constrained are to tarry ? sir ( quoth the saylor ) think you that so strange ? 't is done the time whiles you but walke th' exchange . . on skoles . skoles stinks so deadly , that his breeches loath his dampish but tocks furthermore to cloth : cloyd they are up with arse ; but hope , and blast will whirle about , and blow them thence at last . . a conference . a dane , a spaniard , a polonian , my self a swisse , with an hungarian , at supper met , discoursed each with other , drank , laught , yet none that understood another . . in marcum . marcus is not an hypocrite , and why ? he flyes all good , to fly hypocrisy . . quod non verba suadeant ? sextus halfe sav'd his credit with a jest , that at a reckoning this devise had got , when he should come to draw amongst the rest , and saw each man had coyn , himself had not ; his empty pocket feels , and 'gins to say , in sadnesse sirs , here 's not a crosse to pay . . stupid binus . sith time flyes fast away , his safest flight binus prevents with dreaming day and night . . in divites . rich men their wealth as children rattles keep , when play'd a while with 't then they fall asleep . . in fannium . what fury 's this ? his foe whilst fannius flyes , he kils himself , for fear of death he dyes . . on a vaunting poetaster . cecilius boasts his verses worthy be to be ingraven on a cypresse tree ; a cypresse wreath befits them well , 't is true ; for they are near their death and crave but due . . in divites iracundo● . rich friends 'gainst poor to anger still are prone : it is not well but profitably done . . durum telum necessitas . coquus with hunger pennilesse constrain'd to call for meat and wine three shillings cost , had suddenly this project entertain'd , in stead of what 's to pay , to call mine host ; who being come entreateth him discusse , what price the law alots for shedding blood : whereto mine host directly answers thus ; 't was alwayes forty pence he understood : so then , quoth coquus , to requite your pains , pray break my head , and give me what remains ▪ . to an upstart . thy old friends thou forgotst having got wealth ▪ no marvaile , for thou hast forgot thy selfe . . ambition . in wayes to greatnesse , think on this , that slippery all ambition is . . suum cuiq●e . a strange contention being lately had , which kind of musick was the sweet'st and best , some praise the sprightly sound , and some the sad some lik't the viols ; and among the rest , some in the bag-pipes commendation spoke , quoth one stood by , give me a pipe of smoke . . in prodigum . each age of men new fashions doth invent ; things which are old , young men do not esteem ▪ what pleasd our fathers , doth not us content : what flourish'd then , we out of fashion deem : and that 's the cause as i doe understand , why prodigus did sell his fathers land. . in medicum . when mingo cryes , how do you sir ? 't is thought he patients wanteth ; and his practice's naught : wherefore of late , now every one he meeteth , with [ i am glad to see you well ] he greeteth : but who 'l believe him now , when all can tell , the world goes ill with him , when all are well ? . on zelot . is zelot pure ? he is : yee see he wears the signe of circumcision in his ears . . crispati crines plumae dant calcar amori . why is young annas thus with feathers dight ? and on his shoulder wears a dangling lock ? the one foretels hee 'l sooner fly then fight , the other shows hee 's wrapt in 's mothers smock . but wherefore wears he such a jingling spur ? o know , he deals with jades that will not stir . . on boung-bob . bob , thou , nor souldier , theef , nor fencer art , yet by thy weapon liv'st , th' hast one good part , . on glaucus . glaucus a man , a womans hair doth wear , but yet he wears the same comb'd out behind : so men the wallet of their faults doe bear , for if before him , he that fault should find : i think foul shame would his faire face invade , to see a man so like a woman made . . on crab. crab faces gowns with sundry furres ; 't is know● ▪ he keeps the fox-furre for to face his own . . dolo intimus . nor hauk , nor hound , nor hors , those letters hhh ▪ but ach it self , 't is brutus bones attaches . . of batardus . batardus needs would know his horoscope , to see if he were born to scape the rope : the magus said , ere thou mine answer have , i must the name of both thy parents crave : that said , batardus could not speak but spit ; for on his fathers name he could not hit : and out of doors at last he stept with shame , to ask his mother for his fathers name . . consuetudo lex . two wooers for a wench were each at strife , which should enjoy her to his wedded wife , quoth th' one , she 's mine , because i first her saw ; she 's mine , quoth th' other , by pye-corner law● where sticking once a prick on what you buy , it 's then your own , which no man must deny . . on womens deniall . women , although they ne're so goodly make it , their fashion is but to say no , and take it . . in battum . battus affirm'd no poet ever writ , before that love inspir'd his dull-head wit : and that himself in love had wit no more , then one stark mad , though somwhat wise before . . on marriage . wedding and hanging the destinies dispatch , but hanging seems to some the better match . . vidua aurata . gallus hath got a widow wondrous old , the reason is he woo'd her for her gold : knowing her maids are young and serve for hire , which is as much as gallus doth desire . . in dol praegnantem . dol learning propria quae maribus without book , like nomen crescent is genitivo doth look . . timidos fortuna repellit . when miles the serving-man my lady kist , she knew him not ( though scarcely could resist ) for this ( quoth he ) my master bid me say ; — how 's that ( quoth she ) and frowning flings away : vext to the heart , she took her mark amisse , and that she should a serving creature kisse . why thus it is when fools must make it known , they come on others businesse , not their own . . against a certain — for mad-men bedlam , bridewell for a knave , choose whether of those two th'adst rather have . . loves progresse . loves first approach , delights sweet song doth sing : but in departure , she woes sting doth bring . . on old scylla . scylla is toothlesse , yet , when she was young , she had both teeth enough , and too much tongue . what shall i then of toothlesse scylla say , but that her tongue hath worn her teeth away ? . on gallants cloaks . without , plain cloaks ; within , plush't : but i doubt the wearer's worst within , and best without . . on banks the vserer . banks feels no lamenesse on his knotty gout , his money travels for him in and out : ●nd though the soundest legs goe every day , ●e toils to be a● hell as soon as they . . pecunia praevalens . ●ell tom of plato's worth or aristotles ; ●ang't , give him wealth enough ; let wit stop bottles . . on the same . ●om vow'd to beat his boy against the wall , ●nd as he struck he forthwith caught a fall : ●he boy deriding , said , i doe aver , ●'have done a thing , you cannot stand to sir. . on debt . to be indebted is a shame men say , then 't is confessing of a shame to pay . . a forsworn maid . ●osa being false and perjur'd , once a friend ●id me contented be , and mark her end : but yet i care not , let my friend goe fiddle ; ●et him mark her end , i 'l mark her middle . . adversity . ●ove is maintain'd by wealth , when all is spent , adversity then breeds the discontent . . on soranzo . soranzo's broad-brim hat i oft compare to the vast compasse of the heavenly sphere : his head , the earth's glo●● , fixed under it ; whose center is , his wondrous little wit. . to a great guest . with other friends i bid you to my feast , though coming late , yet are you not the least . . in cottam . cotta when he hath din'd saith , god be praisd , yet never praiseth god for meat or drink : sith cotta speaketh , and not practiseth , he speaketh surely what he doth not think . . de corde & lingua . the tongue was once a servant to the heart , and what it gave she freely did impart : but now hypocrisie is grown so strong , she makes the heart a servant to the tongue . . on rumpe . rump is a turn-spit , yet he seldome can steale a swolne sop out of the dripping-pan . . on poverty . if thou be poor , thou shalt be ever so , none now do wealth , but on the rich bestow . . in ebriosum . fie man ( saith she ) but i tell mistrisse anne , her drunken husband is no drunken man. for those wits which are overcome with drink , are voyd of reason , and are beasts i think . . wills error . will sayes his wife 's so fat , she scarce can go , but she as nimbly answers , faith si● no : alas good will , thou art mistaken quite , for all men know , that she is wondrous light . . on rome . hate and debate , rome through the world hath spread , yet roma , amor is , if backward read : then is 't not strange , rome hate should foster ? no , for out of backward love all hate doth grow . . on tuck . at post and paire , or slam , tom tuck would play this christmasse , but his want therewith , says nay . . some thing no savour . all things have savour , though some but small ; nay , a box on th' eare , hath no smell at all . . art , fortune , and ignorance . when fortune fell asleep , and hate did blind her , art , fortune lost ; and ignorance did find her : sith when , dull ignorance with fortunes store , hath been inrich'd , and art hath still been poor . . on bibens . bibens to shew his liberality , made lusus drunk ; ( a noble quality , and much esteem'd ) which bibens faln would pro●● to be the signe of his familiar love : lusus beware , thou 'lt finde him in the end , familiar devil , no familiar friend . . on tobacco . things which are common , common men do us● the better shrt doe common things refuse : yet countries-cloth-breech , & court-velvet-hose puffe both alike tobacco through the nose . . on cupid . cupid no wonder was not cloth'd of old , for love though naked , seldome e'r is cold . . on ebrio . see where don ebrio , like a dutchman goes , yet drunk with english ale , one would suppose that he would shoulder down each door & wall , but they must stand , or he , poor fool must fall . . on love. love hath two divers wings , as lovers say : thou following him , with one he flyes away ; with th' other , if thou fly he follows thee : therefore the last , love , onely use for me . . on the same . love , as 't is said , doth work with such strange tools , that he can make fools wise-men , wise-men fools , then happy i , for being nor fool , nor wise , love with his toyes and tools i shall despise . . on a woman . some the word woman fetch , though with small skil , from those that want one to effect their wil if so , i think that wantons there are none , for till the world want men , can they want none . . ingluviem sequitur fames . curio would feed upon the daintiest fare , that with the court or country might compare : for what lets curio that he need to care , to frolick freely with the proud'st that dare : but this excesse was such in all things rare , as he prov'd bankrupt e'r he was aware . . on maulsters . such maulsters as ill measure sell for gain , are not meer knaves , but also knaves in grain . . in corbum . corbus will not , perswade him all i can , the world should take him for a gentleman : his reason 's this , because men should not deem , that he is such as he doth never seem . . on priscus mistresse . priscus commends his mistris for a girle , whose lips be rubies , and whose teeth are pearle ▪ th 'had need prove so , or else it will be found , he payes too door ; they cost him many a pound ▪ . on women . women think wo — men far more constant be , than we — men , and the letter o we see , in wo — men , not in we — men , as they say , figures earths constant orbe ; we — men say nay it means the moon , which proves ( none think i● strang● women are cōstant , & most true in change . . on souldiers . nor faith , nor conscience common soldiers carry ▪ best pay , is right ; their hands are mercenary . . drusius and furio. furio would fight with drusius in the field , because the straw , stout drusius would not yield , on which their mistris trod ; they both did meet ; drusius in field fell dead at furio's feet ; one had the straw , but with it this greek letter π the other lost it , pray who had the better ? . on cupid . love is a boy , and subject to the rod some say , but lovers say he is a god : i think that love is neither god nor boy , but a mad brains imaginary toy . . on candidus . when i am sick , not else , thou com'st to see me , would fortune from both torments still would free me . . on a puritan . from impure mouths , now many bear the name of puritan , yet merit not the same . this one shall onely be my puritan that is a knave , yet seems an honest man. . ostendit hedera vinum . a scoffing mate , that past along cheap-side , incontinent a gallant lasse espide ; whose tempting breasts ( as to the sale laid out ) incites this youngster thus to 'gin to flout . lady ( quoth he ) is this flesh to be sould ? no lord ( quoth she ) for silver nor for gold , but wherefore aske you ? ( and there made a stop ) to buy ( quoth he ) if not shut up your shop . . quantum mutatus ab illo ! pedes grown proud makes men admire thereat , whose baser breeding , should they think not beare it , nay , he on cock-horse rides , how like you that ? tut ! pedes proverb is , win gold and weare it . but pedes you have seen them rise in hast , that through their pride have broke their neck at last . . vpon lavina . lavina brought to bed , her husband lookes to know's childs fortune throughout his books , his neighbours think h 'had need search backward rather , and learn for certain who had been the father . . report and error . error by error , tales by tales , great grow ; as snow-balls doe , by rowling to and fro . . in superbum . rustick suerbus fine new cloths hath got , of taffata and velvet , fair in sight ; the shew of which hath so bewitcht the sot , that he thinks gentlemen to be his right : but he 's deceiv'd ; for true that is of old , an ape 's an ape , though he wear cloth of gold . . no truth in wine . truth is in wine , but none can find it there , for in your taverns , men will lye and sweare . . on infidus . infidus was so free of oaths last day , that he would swear , what e'r he thought to say : but now such is his chance , whereat he 's griev'd the more he swears , the lesse he is believ'd . . on celsus . celsus doth love himself , celsus is wise , for now no rivall e'r can claim his prize . . on christmasse ivy. at christmasse men doe alwayes ivy get , and in each corner of the house it set : but why doe they , then , use that bacchus weed ? because they mean , then bacchus-like to feed . . adversity . adversity hurts none , but onely such whom whitest fortune dandled has too much . . on bacchus . pot-lifting bacchus to the earth did bend his knee to drink a health unto his friend : and there he did so long in liquour pour , that he lay quite sick-drunk upon the floor . judge , was there not a drunkards kindnes shown , to drink his friend a health , and loose his own ? . of a fat man. he 's rich , that hath great in-comes by the year : then that great belly'd man is rich , i 'l swear : for sure his belly ne'r so big had bin , had he not daily had great commings in . . a wished cramp . some have the cramp in legs , and hands , 't is told , i wish't in my wifes tongue , when she doth scold . . vindicta vim sequitur . nick being kick'd and spurr'd , pursues the law , that doom'd the dammage at twice forty pence . which , when the party which had wrong'd him , saw ; thought 't was too great a fine for such offence . why then , quoth nick , if i too much request , thou maist at any time kick out the rest . . on flaccus . flaccus being young , they said he was a gull ; of his simplicity each mouth was full : and pittying him , they 'd say , the foolish lad would surely be deceived , of all he had . his youth is past , now may they turn him loose ; for why ? the gull is grown to be a goose. . per plumas anser . see how young rusus walks in green each day , as if he ne'r was youthfull until now : ere christmas next , his green goose will be gray , and those high burnish'd plumes in 's cap wil bow : but you do wrong him , since his purse is full , to call him goose , that is so young a gull. . of ienkin. ienkin is a rude clowne , goe tell him so ; what need i tell , what he himself doth know ? perhaps he doth not , then he is a sot ; for tell me , what knows he that knows it not ? . on trigg . trigg having turn'd his sute he struts in state , and tells the world he 's now regenerate . . to fortune . poets say fortune's blind , and cannot see , and therefore to be born withall , if she sometimes drops gifts on undeserving wights : but sure they are deceiv'd ; she hath her sight ; else could it not at all times so fall out , that fools should have , and wise men go without . . on briscus . i pray you give sir briscus leave to speak , the gander loves to hear himself to creak . . on an english ape . would you believe , when you this monsieur see , that his whole body should speak french , not he ? that he untravell'd should be french so much , as french men in his company should seem dutch ? or hung some monsieurs picture on the wall ; by which his damne conceiv'd him , cloaths & all ? no , 't is the new french taylors motion , made dayly to walk th' exchange , and help the trade . . possessions . those possessions short liv'd are into the which we come by warre . . nulla dies sine linea . by ever learning , solon waxed old , for time he knew , was better far then gold : fortune would give him gold which would decay but fortune cannot give him yesterday . . in cornutum . one told his wife , a harts-head he had bought , to hang his hat upon , and home it brought : to whom his frugall wife , what need● that care ? i hope , sweet-heart , your head your hat can beare . . on more-dew . more-dew the mercer ; with a kind salute , would needs intreat my custome for a suite : here sir , quoth he , for sattins , velvets call , what e'r you please , i 'l take your word for all . i thank'd , took , gave my word ; say than , am i at all indebted to this man ? . pari jugo dulcis tractus . when caecus had bin wedded now three dayes , and all his neighbours bad god give him joy , this strange conclusion with his wife assayes , why til her marriage-day she prov'd so coy : 'fore god ( saith he ) 't was well thou didst not yeild for doubtless then my purpose was to leave thee . oh sir ( quoth she ) i once was so beguild , and thought the next man should not so deceive me . now fie upon 't ( quo●h he ) thou breedst my wo. why man ( quoth she ) i speak but quid pro quo . . on sims mariage . six months , quoth sim , a suiter , and not sped ? i in a sev'n-night did both woo and wed who green fruit loves , must take long paines to shake ; thine was some down-fall , i dare undertake . . vpon sis. si● brags sh' hath beauty , and will prove the same : as how ? as thus sir ; 't is her puppies name . . on clym . clym cals his wife , and reckoning all his neighbors , just half of them are cuckolds , he avers . nay sie , quoth she , i would they heard you speak ; you of your self , it seems , no reckoning make . . on gut. science puffs up , sayes gut , when either pease make him thus swell , or windy cabbages . . on womens faults . we men in many faults abound , but two in women can be found : the worst that from their sex proceeds , is naught in words , and naught in deeds . . to a muck-worm . content great riches is , to make which true , your heir would be content to bury you . . on law. our civil law doth seem a royall thing , it hath more titles then the spanish king : but yet the common-law quite puts it down , in getting , like the pope , so many a crown . . in coam . a nor ☊ will coa espy , til she ascend up to the corner'd π . maids nay's . mayds nayes are nothing , they are shy but to desire what they deny . . de ore. os of o , a mouth , scaliger doth make ; and from this letter , mouth his name doth take : and i had been of scaligers belief , but that i look'd in o , and saw no teeth . . in hugonem . though praise , and please , doth hugo never none , yet praise , and please , doth hugo ever one ; for praise , and please , doth hugo himselfe alone . . on severus . severus is extream in eloquence , for he creates rare phrase , but rarer sense : unto his serving-man , alias his boy , he utters speech exceeding quaint and coy ; diminutive , and my defective slave , my pleasures pleasure is , that i must have my corps coverture , and immediately , t'insconce my person from frigility . his man believ's all 's welsh his master spoke , til he rails english , rogue go fetch my cloke . . on iulias weeping . she by the river sate , and sitting there , she wept , and made it deeper by a teare . . on a gallant . what gallant 's that , whose oaths fly through mine ears ? how like a lord of pluto's court he swears ! how dutchman-like he swallowes down his drink ! how sweet he takes tobacco til he stink ! how lofty sprighted he disdains a boor ! how faithfull hearted he is to a — ! how cock-tail proud he doth himself advance ! how rare his spurs do ring the morrice-dance ! now i protest by mistris susans fan , he and his boy will make a proper man. . on vertue , milla's maid . saith aristotle , vertue ought to be communicative of her self & free ; and hath not vertue , milla's maid , been so ? who 's grown hereby , as big as she can go . . on corydon . an home-spun peasant with his urine-glasse , the doctor ask'd what country-man he was . quoth corydon , with making legs full low , your worship , that , shall by my water know . . on a spanish souldier . a spanish souldier , sick unto the death , his pistol to 's physitian did bequeath . who did demand , what should the reason be , 'bove other things to give him that ; ( quoth he ) this with your practice joyned , you may kill , sir , all alive , and have the world at will. . vpon the asse . the asse a courtier on a time would be , and travel'd forrain nations for to see ; but home returned , fashion he could none , his main and tail were onely larger grown . . on hypocrisie . as venison in a poor mans kitchin 's rare ; so hypocrites and usurers in heaven are . . daemonum certamen . a broker and an usurer contended , which in 's profession was the most befriended ; and for experience more to have it tride , a scrivener must the difference decide , to whom ( quoth he ) you like the fox & cub , one shall be mammon , th' other belzebub . . on love. love 's of it selfe too sweet ; the b●st of all is ; when loves honey has a dash of gall . . on man and woman . when man and woman dyes , as poets sung ; his heart 's the last that stirs , of hers the tongue . . on fabullus . i ask'd fabullus , why he had no wife ? ( quoth he ) because i 'd live a quiet life . . on fornus . fornus takes pains , he need not without doubt , o yes , he labours much . how ? with the gout . . quid non ebrietas . rubin reports , his mistris is a punk : which being told her , was no whit dismaid , for sure as death ( quoth she ) the villains drunk ▪ and in that taking , knows not what he said . 't was well excus'd , but oft it comes to passe , that true we find , in vino veritas . . no paines , no gaines . if little labour , little are our gaines , mans fortunes are according to his pains . . infirmis animosus . pontus by no means from his coyn departs , z'foot , will you have of men more then their hearts ? . a culina ad curiam . lixa , that long a serving-groom hath been , will now no more the man be known or seen : and reason good , he hath the place resign'd ; witnesse his cloak , throughout with velvet lin'd , which by a paradox comes thus to passe ; the greasie gull is turn'd a gallant asse . . frustra vocaveris heri . dick had but two words to maintain him ever , and that was stand , and after stand deliver . but dick's in newgate , and he fears shall never be blest again with that sweet word , deliver . . magnis non est morandum . see how silenus walks accomplished , with due performance of his fathers page : looks back of purpose to be honoured , and on each slight occasion 'gins to rage ; you , villain , dog , where hath your stay bin such ? quoth he , the broker would not lend so much . . puduit sua damna referre . such ill successe had dick at dice last night , as he was forc'd , next day , play least in sight : but if you love him , make thereof no speeches , he lost his rapier , cloak , and velvet breeches . . ad lectorem . reader , thou seest how pale these papers look , while they fear thy hard censure on my book . . nimis docuit consuetudo . old fucus board is oft replenished , but nought thereof must be diminished , unlesse some worthlesse upper-dish or twain ; the rest for service still again remain . his man that us'd to bring them in for show , leaving a dish upon the bench below , was by his master ( much offended ) blam'd , which he , as brief , with answer quickly fram'd ; t' hath been so often brought afore this day , as now ch'ad thoft it selfe had known the way . . poculo junguntur amici . a health , saith lucas , to his loves bright ey ; which not to pledge , were much indignity ; you cannot doe him greater courtesie , then to be drunk , and dam'd for company . . nullum stimulum ignaris . caecus awake , was tol'd the sun appear'd , which had the darknesse of the morning clear'd : but caecus sluggish , thereto makes reply , the sun hath further far to goe then i. . in richardum . at three goe-downs dick doffs me off a pot , the english gutter's latine for his throat . . non penna , sed usus . cajus accounts himself accurst of men , onely because his lady loves him not : who , till he taught her , could not hold her pen , and yet hath since , another tutor got . cajus it seems , thy skill she did but cheapen , and means to try him at another weapon . . an absolute gallant . if you will see true valour here display'd , heare poly-phemus , and be not afraid . d' ye see me wrong'd , and will ye thus restrain me ? sir let me go , for by these hilts i 'l brain ye . shall a base patch with appearance wrong me ? i 'l kill the villain , pray do not prolong me . call my tobacco putrified stuffe ? tell me it stinks ? say it is drosse i snuffe ! sirrah ! what are you ? why sir , what would you ? i am a prentice , and will knock you too : o are you so ? i cry you mercy then , i am to fight with none but gentlemen . . to momus . momus thou say'st my verses are but toyes : 't is true , yet truth is often spoke by boyes . . in dolentem . dolens doth shew his purse , and tell you this , it is more horrid then a pest-house is ; for in a pest-house many mortals enter , but in his purse one angel dares not venter . . abditio perditio . from mall but merry , men but mirth derive , for trix 't is makes her prove demonstrative . . on a gallant . sirrah , come hither , boy , take view of me , my lady i am purpos'd to goe see ; what doth my feather flourish with a grace ? and this my curled hair become my face ? how decent doth my doublet 's form appear ? i would i had my sute in long-lane here . do not my spurs pronounce a silver sound ? is not my hose-circumference profound ? sir these be well , but there is one thing ill , your taylor with a sheet of paper-bill , vowes hee 'l be paid , and sergeants he hath fee'd , which wait your coming forth to do the deed . boy god-a-mercy , let my lady stay , i 'll see no counter for her sake to day . . in sextum . sextus six pockets wears , two for his uses , the other four to pocket up abuses . . a stammerer . balbus with other men would angry be , because they could not speak as well as he ; for others speak but with their mouth he knows , but balbus speaks both through the mouth & nose . . on himselfe . i dislikt but even now ; now i love i know not how . was i idle , and that while was i fired with a smile ? i le to work , or pray , and then i shall quite dislike agen . . tom's fortune . tom tel's he 's rob'd , and counting all his losses , concludes , all 's gone , the world is full of crosses : if all be gone , tom take this comfort then , th' art certain never to have crosse agen . . opus and vsus . opus for need consum'd his wealth apace , and ne'r would cease untill he was undone ; his brother vsus liv'd in better case than opus did , although the eldest son . 't is strange it should be so , yet here was it , opus had all the land , vsus the wit. . a good wife . a batchelor would have a wife were wise , fair , rich , and young , a maiden for his bed — nor proud , nor churlish , but of faultlesse size ; a country houswife in the city bred . but he 's a fool , and long in vain hath staid ; he should bespeak her , there 's none ready made . . anger . wrong● if neglected , vanish in short time ; but heard with anger , we confesse the crime . . vpon gellia . when gellia went to school , and was a girle ; her teeth for whitenes might compare with pearle but after she the taste of sweet meats knew , they turn'd all opals , to a perfect blew ; now gellia takes tobacco , what should let , but last they should converted be to jet ? . on an unconstant mistresse . i dare not much say when i thee commend , lest thou be changed e'r my praises end . . in lesbiam . why should i love thee lesbia ? i no reason see : then out of reason , lesbia , i love thee . . in paulinum . paul by day wrongs me , yet he daily swears , he wisheth me as well as to his soul : i know his drift to damn that he nought cares , to please his body , therefore good friend paul , if thy kinde nature will afford me grace , hereafter love me in thy body's place . . on zeno. zeno would fain th' old widow egle have ; trust me he 's wise , for she is rich and brave : but zeno , zeno , she will none of you ; in my mind she 's the wiser of the two . . of a drunkard . cinna one time most wonderfully swore , that whilst he breath'd he would drink no more ▪ but since i know his meaning , for i think he meant he would not breath whilst he did drink . . to cotta . be not wroth cotta , that i not salute thee , i us'd it whilst i worthy did repute thee ; now thou art made a painted saint , and i , cotta , will not commit idolatry . . to women . ye that have beauty , and withall no pitty , are like a prick-song lesson without ditty . on creta . creta doth love her husband wondrous well , it needs no proof , for every one can tell : so strong 's her love , that if i not mistake , it doth extend to others for his sake . . on priscus . why still doth priscus strive to have the wall ? because he 's often drunk and fears to fall . . on rufus . at all , quoth rufus , lay you what you dare , i 'l throw at all , and 't were a peck of gold ; no life lies on 't , then coyn i 'l never spare ; why rufus , that 's the cause of all that 's sold ? for with frank gamesters it doth oft befall , they throw at all , till thrown quite out of all . . on tobacco . tobacco is a weed of so great pow'r , that it ( like earth ) doth all it feeds , devour . . vpon nasuto . when at the table once i did averre , well-taken discord , best did please the ear , and would be judg'd by any q●irister , were in the chappel , pauls , or westminster ; nasuto sitting at the nether end , ( first having drunk and cough'd ) quoth he my friend , if that were true , my wife and i , i feare , should soon be sent to some cathedral q●ire . . nec vultus indicat virum . dick in a raging deep discourtesy , calls an atturny meer necessity : the more knave he ; admit he had no law , must he be flouted at by every daw ? . on furius . furius a lover was , and had loving fits , he lov'd so madly that he lost his wits ; yet he lost nought , yet grant i , he was mad , how could he lose that which he never had ? . fools fortune . fools have great fortune , but yet not all , for some are great fools , whose fortune 's small . . tace sed age . little or nothing said , soon mended is , but they that nothing do , do most amisse . . on count-surly . count-surly will no scholler entertain : or any wiser then himself ; how so ? the reason is , when fools are in his train , his wit amongst them , makes a goodly show . . on women . when man lay dead-like , woman took her life , from a crook't embleme of her nuptiall strife ; and hence ( a● bones would be at rest ) her ease she loves so well , and is so hard to please . . verses . who will not honour noble numbers , when verses out-live the bravest deeds of men ? . poor irus . irus using to lye upon the ground , one morning under him a feather found , have i all night here lien so hard ( quoth he ) having but one poor feather under me : i wonder much then how they take their ease , that night by night , lie on a bed of these . . merry doll . i blame not lusty doll , that strives so much , to keep her light heart free from sorrowes touch ; shee 'l dance and sing a hem boyes , hey all six , she 's steel to th' back , all mirth , all meretrix . . heaven and hell. i● heaven 's call'd the place where angels dwell , my purse wants angels , pray call that hell. . like qu●stion like answer . a young beginner walking through cheap-side , a house shut up he presently espy'd and read the bill , which o'r the door was set , which said , the house and shop was to be let ; that known , he ask'd a young man presently , which at the next door stood demurely . may not this shop be let alone ? qoth he , yes , you may let 't alone for ought i see . . on deaf ioan. she prates to others , yet can nothing heare , just like a sounding jugge that wants an eare . . of an ill wife . priscus was weeping when his wife did dye , yet he was then in better case then i : i should be merry , and should think to thrive , had i but his dead wife for mine alive . . meum & tuum . megge lets her husband boast of rule and riches , but she rules all the roast , and wears the breeches . . deaths trade . death is a fisherman , the world we see his fish-pond is , and we the fishes be . he sometimes , angler-like , doth with us play , and slily takes us one by one away ; diseases are the murthering-books , which he doth catch us with , the bait mortality , which we poor silly fish devour , til strook , at last too late we feel the bitter hook . at other times he brings his net , and then at once sweeps up whole cities ful of men , drawing up thousands at a draught , and saves onely some few , to make the others graves : his net some raging pestilence ; now he is not so kind as other fishers be ; for if they take one of the smaller ●rye , they throw him in again , he shall not dye : but death is sure to kill all he can get , and all is fish with him that comes to net. . o● bice . bice laughs when no man speak● , and doth protest it is his own breech there that break● the jest . . valiant in drinke . who onely in his cups will ●ight , is like a clock that must be oil'd wel ere it strike . . master and scholler . a pedant ask'd a puny ripe and bold , in an hard frost , the latine word for cold : i 'l tell you out of hand , ( quoth he ) for lo , i have it at my fingers ends , you know . . gasters great belly . gaster did seem to me to want his eyes , for he could neither see his legs nor thighs ; but yet it was not so ; he had his sight , onely his belly hanged in his light . . drunken dick. when dick for want of drunken mates grows sick , then with himself to work goes faithfull dick. the buttery dore t'himself he shutteth close that done , then goes the pot straight wayes to 's nose : a health ( quoth noble dick ) each hogs-head than must seeming pledge this honest faithfull man : but straight from kindnes dick to humors grows , and then to th'barrels he his valour shows , throwing about the cups , the pots , the glasses , and rails at the tuns , calling them drunken asses : ne'r ceasing this same faithfull coyl to keep , till under th'hogshead dick fals fast asleep . . in sextinum . a pretty block sextinus names his hat , so much the fitter for his head by that . . sine sanguine . ralph challeng'd robin , time and place appointed , their parents heard on 't , o how they lamented ! but good luck was , they soon were freed of fear , the one ne'r meant , the other came not there . . on humane bodies . our bodies are like shooes , which off we cast , physick their cobler is , and death the last . . on trencherman . tom shifts the trenchers , yet he never can , endure that luke-warm name of servingman ; serve or not serve , let tom doe what he can , he is a serving , who 's a trencher-man . . a toothlesse-pratler . nature the teeth doth as an hedge ordain , the nimble frisking tongue for to contain : no marvel then since that the hedge is out , if fuscus tongue walketh so fast about . . a musicall lady . a lady fairer far then fortunate , ( in dancing ) thus o'r-shot her self of late , the musick not in tune , pleasd not her mind , for which he with the fidlers fault did find ; fidlers ( quoth she ) your fiddles tune for shame ▪ but as she was a speaking of the same , to mend the consort , let she did a ( f. ) whereas the fidling knaves thus did her greet , madam your pipe 's in tune , it plays most sweet ; strike up , qd . they , ( but then the knaves did smile ) and as you p●p● , wee 'l dance another while . at which , away the blushing lady flings , but as she goes , her former notes she sings . . in laurettam . lauretta is laid o'r , how i 'l not say , and yet i think two manner of wayes i may , doubly laid o'r , videlicet , her face , laid o'r with colours , and her coat with lace . . on macer . you call my verses toy's , th' are so , 't is true , yet they are better then ought comes from you . . briskap the gallant . though thou hast little judgement in thy head , more than to dresse thee , drink and goe to bed ; yet may'st thou take the wall , & th' way shalt lead , sith logick wills that simple things precede . . necessity hath no law. florus did beat his cook , and 'gan to sweaee , because his meat was rotten roasted there . peace good sir ( quoth the cook ) need hath no law , 't is rotten roasted , 'cause 't was rotten raw . . in carientium . garentius might have wedded where he woo'd , but he was poor , his means was nothing good , 't was but for lack of living that he lost her ; for why ? no penny now , no pater noster . . on harpax . harpax gave to the poor all by his will , because his heir should not faign'd tears distill . . to a barber . tonsorius onely lives by cutting haire , and yet he brags that kings to him sit bare : me thinks he should not brag and boast of it , for he must stand to beggars while they sit . . vpon grand●orto . the morrow after just saint georges day , grand●orto piteous drunk , sate in a ditch , his hands by 's side , his gelding stray'd away , his scarlet hose , and doublet very rich ; with mud and mire all beastly raid , and by his feather with his close-stool-hat did ly . we ask'd the reason of his sitting there , zounds 'cause i am king solomon ( quoth he ) and in my throne ; then for the love we beare , ( replyed my selfe ) unto your majesty , wee 'l pull you out , & henceforth wish your grace would speak your proverbs in a warmer place . . the fencer and physick doctor . lie thus ( the fencer cryes ) thus must you guard , thus must you slip , thus point , thus pass , thus ward and if you kill him sir , this trick learn then with this same trick you may kill many men . a doctor standing by , cryes , fencing fool , both you & he to me may come to school , thou dost but prate : my deeds shall show my skil where thou hurt'st one , an hundred i doe kill . . in lusiam . lusia who scorns all others imitations , cannot abide to be out-gone in fashions : she sayes she cannot have a hat or ruffe , a gown , a peticoat , a band , or cuffe . but that these citizens ( whom she doth hate ) will get into 't , at ne'r so dear a rate : but lusia now doth such a fashion wear , whose hair is curl'd , and costs her som what dear : that there 's no citizen , what e'r she be , can be transform'd so like an owl as she . . kisses . give the food that satisfies a guest : kisses are but dry banquets to a feast . a civilian . a lusty old grown-grave gray-headed sire , stole to a wench , to quench his lusts desire ; she ask'd him what profession he might be ? i am a civil lawyer , girle , ( quoth he ) a civil lawyer sir ! you make me muse , your talk 's too broad for civil men to use ; if civil lawyers are such bawdy men , oh what ( quoth she ) are other lawyers then ? . rainaldo , and rainer . rainaldo meeting reiner in the street , deep in his debt , he doth thus reiner greet , you know some money is betwixt us two , that well-nigh now these ten years hath bin due ; quoth reiner ( looking down unto his feet ) i'●aith and we will part it , if i see 't : but as i live rainaldo i find none , as fain as you , i would you had your owne . . spinus his choyce . spinus would wed , but he would have a wench that hath all tongues , italian , spanish , french , but i disswade him ; for if she hath any , she hath enough ; if two , she hath too too many . . backbiters . when codrus catches fleas , what e'r he ailes , he kils them with his teeth , not his nails ; saying , that man by man may blamelesse go , if every one would use backbiters so . . in salonus . oft in the night salonus is inclin'd , to rise and pisse ; and doth as oft break wind ▪ if 's urinall be glasse , as 't is no doubt , i wonder it so many cracks holds out . . in leonatum . the filthiest , the fowlest , deformedst lasse , that is , will be , i think or ever was , leonatus loves ; wherewith should she him draw , except as she 's like jet , he be like straw ? . nosce teipsum . walking and meeting one not long ago , i ask't who 't was , he said he did not know : i said , i know thee ; so said he , i you , but he that knows himselfe i never knew . . an old silvium . silvius by simony a living got , and he liv'd well upon it ; pray why not ? for he the poor did pill , the rich did lurch , and so became a pillar of the church . . on perfumes . they that smel least , smell best : which intimates , they smell like beasts that smell like civet cats . . arcades ambo . iack and dick both with one woman dealt so long till she the pains of woman felt : now dick he thinks to put a trick on iack and iack again to hang it on dicks back : which got the child , it seems a double case , i● hath so like ( they say ) iacks nose , dicks face . but by both marks my judgement should be quick , et vitulo tu dignus iack & dick. . on punchin . give me a reason why men call punchin a dry plant-animall . because as plants by water grow , punchin by beer & ale spreads so . . ne fide colori . when bassa walks abroad she paints her face , and then she would be seen in every place , for then your gallants who so e'r they are , under a colour will account her faire . . in flavium . when flavius once would needs praise tin , his brain could b●ing no reason in ; but what his belly did bethink , platters for meat , and pots for drink . . ad quintum . thy lawfull wife , fair lelia needs must be , for she was forc'd by law to marry thee . . in virtutem . vertue we praise , but practice not her good , ( athenian-like ) we act not what we know ▪ so many men doe talk of robin-hood , who never yet shot arrow in his bow . . a good wits diet . that which upholds our tottering walls of flesh , is food : and that which doth our wits refresh , is wholsome study : for like longer fare , be solid arts , but sweet meats poems are . . on womens tongue . things that be bitter , bitterer than gall , physitians say , are alwayes physicall . then womens tongues , if into powder beaten , and in a potion , or a pill be eaten , nothing more bitter is , i therefore muse , that womens tongues in physick they ne'r use : there 's many men who live unquiet lives , would spare that bitter member of their wives . then prove them doctor , use them in a pill ; things oft help sick men , that do sound men kill . . a proper comparison . as there are three blue beans in a blue bladder , as there are thrice three rounds in a long ladder , as there are three nooks in a corner'd cap , and three corners and one in a map , even so like all these , there are three universities . . of death . he that fears death , or mourns it in the just , shews of the resurrection little trust . . woman . woman was once a rib , ( as truth hath said ) else sith her tongue runs wide from every point , i should have dream'd her substance had bin made of adams whirle-bone , when 't was out of joynt . . pepertit , &c. nels husband said , she brought him nought but toys , but yet ( without his help ) she brings him boys . . insipiens . two friends discoursing that together stood , the one enquiring if the other could tell whether such a man were wise ? he answer'd no , but he is otherwise . . romes wifelesse clergy . long did i wonder , and i wonder'd much , rome should her clergy that contentment grudge as to debar them of their proper due ; what , doth she all with continence indue ? o no ; they find a womans lips so dainty , they 'l tye themselves from one , 'cause they 'l have twenty . . on eves apples . eve for thy fruit thou gav'st too dear a price , what ? for an apple give a paradise ? if now adayes of fruit such gaines were made , a coster-monger were a devilish trade . . will the perfumer met me in the street , i stood amaz'd , he ask'd me what i meant ; in faith , said i , your gloves are very sweet , and yet your breath doth cast a stronger sent : . beauty . beauty 's no other but a lovely grace , of lively colours , flowing from the face . . on poeticall blinks . he nine wayes looks , and needs must learned be , that all the muses at one view can see . . a conceit . as sextus once was opening of a nut , with a sharpe knife his finger deeply cut , what signe is this , quoth he , can any tell ? 't is sign , quoth one , y'have cut your finger well . not so , saith he , for now my finger's sore , and i am sure that it was well before . . women . howsoe'r they be , thus doe they seem to me , they be and seem not , seem what least they be : . mutuans dissimulans . dick crafty borrows to no other end , but that he will not ought to others lend , that else might ask him : 't is some wisedome dick how ere , accounted but a knavish trick . . writing . when words we want , love teacheth to indite ; and what we blush to speak , she bids us write . . a cure for impatience . who would be patient , wait he at the pool , for bull-heads , or for block-heads in the school . . satisfaction . for all our works , a recompence is sure : 't is sweet to think on what was hard t' endure . . to mistris mutable . love runs within your veins , as it were mixt with quick-silver , but would be wisely fixt : for though you may for beauty bear the bell , yet ever to ring changes sounds not well . . on a mad-man . one ask'd a man-man , if a wife he had ? a wife ! quoth he , i never was so mad . . to scilla . if it be true that promise be a debt , then scilla will her freedom hardly get ; for if she hath vow'd her service to so many , she 'l neither pay them all , nor part from any . yet she to satisfie her debts , desires to yeeld her body , as the law requires . . nescis , quid serus vesper vehat . lyn●us deviseth as he lyes in bed , what new apparrell he were best to make him : so many fashions flow within his head , as much he fears the taylor will mistake him : but he mistook him not , that by the way did for his old suit lay him up that day . . to ficus . ficus hath lost his nose , but knows not how , and that seems strange to ev'ry one that knows it : me thinks i see it written in his brow , how , wherefore , and the cause that he did loose it . to tell you true , ficus , i thus suppose , 't was some french caniball bit off your nose . . on a painted curtezan . whosoever saith thou sellest all , doth jest , thou buy'st thy beauty , that sels all the rest . of arnaldo . arnaldo free from fault , demands his wife , why he is burthen'd with her wicked life ? quoth she , good husband doe not now repent , i far more burthens bear , yet am content . . labor improbus omnia vincit . glogo will needs be knighted for his lands , got by the labour of his fathers hands , and hopes to prove a gentleman of note , for he hath bought himself a painted coat . . quis nisi mentis inops — ware proffer'd stinks ; yet stay good proverb , stay , thou art deceiv'd , as clients best can say ; who proferring trebble fees , for single care , it 's well accepted , gold it is such ware . . on a friend indeed . a reall friend a cannon cannot batter ; with nom'nall friends , a squib's a perilous matter , . on an italian proverb . three women met upon the market day , do make a market , ( they do use to say in italy ) and why ? their tongues do walk as loud , as if an hundred men did talk . one hearing this , swore had his wife been there and made a fourth , there might have been a faire . . mans ingresse and egresse . nature , which head-long into life did throng us , with our feet forwards to our grave doth bring us what is lesse ours , then this our borrow'd breath ? we stumble into life , we goe to death . . on bad debtors . bad debtors are good lyers ; for they say , i 'l pay you without faile , on such a day ; come is the day , to come the debt is still , so still they lye , though stand in debt they will. but fulcus hath so oft ly'd in this wise , that now he lyes in ludgate for his lyes . . on a iustasse . a iustice walking o'r the frozen thames , the ice about him round , began to crack ; he said to 's man , here is some danger , iames , i pray thee help me over on thy back . . genitoris nesciens . tom asks no fathers blessing , if you note him , and wiser he , unlesse he knew who got him . . to a sleeping talker . in sleep thou talk'st un-forethought mysteries , and utter'st un-foreseen things , with close eyes . how wel wouldst thou discourse if thou wert dead since sleep , deaths image , such fine talk hath bred ? . omne simile non est idem . together as we walk'd , a friend of mine mistook a painted madam for a signe , that in a window stood ; but i acquainted , told him it was no wooden sign was painted , but madam meretrix : yea , true , said he , yet 't is a little signe of modesty . . tandem manifestum . katharine that hid those candles out of sight , may well conceive they 'l come at length to light . . qui ebrius laudat temperantiam . severus likes not these unseason'd lines of rude absurdities , times foul abuse , to all posterities , and their assignes , that might have been ( saith he ) to better use . what senslesse gull , but reason may convince , or jade so dull , but being kick'd will wince ? . quantum mutatus ab illo . would any deem manasses now the man , that whilome was not worth a wooden kan . doubtlesse the dunce in something doth surpasse , yet his red nose is still the same it was . . on wisedome and vertue . wise-men are wiser than good-men , what then ? 't is better to be wiser than wise men . . on ducus . ducus keeps house , and it with reason stands , that he keep house , hath sold away his lands . . mysus and mopsa . mysus and mopsa hardly could agree , striving about superiority : the text which saith that man and wife are one , was the chief argument they stood upon . she held , they both one woman should become : he held , they should be man , and both but one . so they contended daily , but the strife could not be ended , till both were one wife . . on photinus . i met photinus at the b — court , cited ( as he said ) by a knave relator : i ask'd him , wherefore ? he in laughing sort , told me it was but for a childish matter . how e're he laught it out , he lied not ; indeed 't was childish , for the child he got . . on castriotes . see , see , what love is now betwixt each fist , since castriotes had a scabby wrist : how kindly they , by clawing one another , as if the left hand were the right hands brother ! . new rhetorique . good arguments without coyn , will not stick ; to pay , and not to say , 's best rhetorick . . to some kinde readers . this book of mine i liken to a glasse , wherein the fool may look and laugh his fill : he having done with 't readers , as ye passe , here take and use it , as long as you will. . est mihi divi parens . owinus wondreth , since he came from wales , what the description of this isle might be ; that ne'r had seen but mountaines , hils , and dales , yet would he stand and boast on 's pedegree . from rice ap richard , sprung from dick a cow , be cot , was right good gentleman , law ye now ? . principia sordida . bassus hath lands good store , and leases farms , whose mother , milk-pails bore , e'r he bore arms . . on thirsites . although thirsites have a filthy face , and staring eyes , and little outward grace : yet this he hath , to make amends for all , nature her selfe , is not more naturall . . on zoilus . if souldiers may obtain four terms of war , muskets should be the pleaders , pikes the bar ; for black bags , bandeliers , jackets for gowns , angels for fees , we 'll take no more crackt crowns . . on a long beard . thy beard is long , better it would thee fit , to have a shorter beard , and longer wit. . on my selfe . who seeks to please all men each way , and not himselfe offend ; he may begin to work to day , but god knows when hee 'l end . . nimium ne crede colori . battas believed for a simple truth , that yonder gilt-spur spruce and velvet youth , was some great personage , or worthy weight , untill one told him he was but a knight . a knaight ( quoth battas ) vaith i chud a zworne , a hod not bin lass then zome gen-man borne . . silens simplex . will would seem wise , and many words let passe , speaking but little 'cause he 's such an — . to the mis-interpreter . cease gaul'd back guilt , these inscious lines to mince , the world wil know y' are rub'd if once ye wince ; they hem within their seeming critique wall , particularly none ; generally all : 'mongst which if you have chanc'd to catch a prick cry we-hy if you will , but doe not kick . . to mary meare . meare , since unmixt , unmary'd , and a maid ; then you to be a mearmaid may be said : a mearmaid's flesh above , and fish below , and so may you be too , for ought i know . . ad rinaldum amic . see , see , rinaldus ! prethee who is that , that wears you great green feather in his hat , like to some tilter ? sure it is some knight , whose wits being green , his head must needs be light . . on himselfe . mirth pleaseth some , to others 't is offence , some commend plain conceit , some profound sence ; some wish a witty jest , some dislike that , and most would have themselves , they know not what . then he that would please all , and himself too , takes more in hand then he is like to doe . . fingers end . philomathes once studying to indite , nibled his fingers , and his nailes did bite : by this i know not what he did intend , unlesse his wit lay at his fingers end . . sapia qui vendit oportet . ianus doth jesting , use equivocation , which he alludes as doubtfull words of art , to hide the colour of his occupation , but to the devil he bears an honest heart . . clamans asinus . who says tom tipstaffe is no man of calling ? can any cryer at sessions be more bawling ? . vpon dunmo . i dunmo ask'd as we at supper sate , how long he had liv'd in the maried state , sir , just ( quoth dunmo ) with my wife i met in the great plague time , i remember yet , and sighing , as he would have burst in twain , said , now almost the thirtieth of her raign . . vpon tom tolthams nose . the radiant colour of tom toltham's nose , puts down the lilly , and obscures the rose ; had i a jewell of such precious hew , i would present it to some monarch's view , no subject should possesse such jems as those , ergo , the king must have tom toltham's nose . . domina praedominans . ill may rodolphos boast of rule or riches , that lets his wife rule him , and wear the breeches : . titus the gallant . brave titus three years in the town hath been , yet not the lyons , nor the tombs hath seen ; i cannot tell the cause without a smile , he hath bin in the counter all this while . . in lalum . lalus which loves to hear himselfe discourse , talks to himselfe as if he frantick were , and though himself might no where hear a wors● , yet he no other but himselfe will heare ; stop not his mouth if he be troublesome , but stop his ears , and then the man is dumbe . . to criticus . criticus about to kisse a mayden throng , he hapned first on one whose nose was long ; he flouting , said , i fain would kisse you sweet , but that i fear our lips will never meet , your nose stands out so far ; the maiden dy'd her cheeks with crimson , but soon thus reply'd , pray sir , then kisse me in that place where i to hinder you , have neither nose nor eye . . profundo scientia . sal can by silence , deep profundity , force you cry , fough ! ieronimo go by . . on two by sea. two youngsters going by sea , th' one that ne'r before had been the sea upon . casts up ; and as he heaves , he bo doth cry ; o said the other , sir , y' are sick , ye'll dy . no ( says the sea-sick ) though my stomack 's loose , you see , i can cry bo unto a goose. . vt pluma parsona . why wears laurentius such a lofty feather ? because he 's proud , and foolish both together . . aurum volat ocius euro . monsieur flemingo fraught with angels store , would see fair london , never seen before : where lodging with his mistress but one night , had ( ere he parted ) put them all to flight . . to pontilianus . dogs on their masters fawn and leap , and wag their tails apace ; so , though the flatt'rer want a taile , his tongue supplies the place . . instabilis stans . mat being drunken , much his anger wreaks on 's wife ; but stands to nothing that he speaks . . on some lawyers . law serves to keep disordered men in aw , but aw preserves orders , and keeps the law , were aw away l [ aw ] yers would lyers be for lucre ; which they have and hold in fee. . health . even from my heart , much health i wish , no health i 'll wash with drink , health wish'd , not wash'd , in words , not wine , to be the best i think . . case is altered . tom case ( some do report ) was lately haltered ; if this be true , why then the case is altered . . quae placuit domino nupta est ancilla sodali . madam rugosa knows not were to find one chamber-maid of ten to please her mind . but yet my lor● so likes their comely carriage , as he prefers them to his men in marriage . . plagis mitior . katharine that grew so curst , and fit for no man , with beating soon became a gentle-woman . . priscus . when priscus raisd from low to high estate , rode through the street in pompous jollity ; cajus his poor familiar friend of late , bespake him thus , sir now you know not me ; 't is likely friend ( quoth priscus ) to be so , for at this time my selfe i doe not know . . anger soon appeased . when iohn cornutus doth his wife reprove , for being false and faithlesse in her love , his wife to smooth those wrinkles in his brow , doth stop his mouth with , iohn come kisse me now . . a foole for company . fatuus will drink with no such asse , that lets his jests ( unapprehended ) passe : or if he jest with such of shallow brain , he laughs himselfe to make his jests more plain . thus fatuus doth jest and play ●he sany , to laugh at 's self , hee 's fool if there be any . . in cineam . when cineas comes amongst his friends in mourning , he slily notes , who first his cap doth move ; him he salutes , the rest so grimly scorning , as if for ever he had lost his love ; i knowing how the humor it did fit of the fond gull to be saluted first , catch at my cap , but move it not a whit , which he perceiving , seems with spight to burst . but cineas , why expect you more of me ▪ then i of you ? i am as good a man , and better too by many a quality : for vault , and dance , and fence , and rime i can : you keep a whore at your own charge , men tell me , indeed friend cineas , therein you excell we . . on captain sharke . one ask'd a friend where captain shark did lye , why sir ( quoth he ) at adiv ate , at the pye ; away , quoth th' other , he lies not there i know 't , no , sayes the other , then he lies in 's throat . . a witty answer . a lean , yet ●at recusant being confin'd unto a justice house , whose wife was great , ( not great with child , but hugely great w th meat ) at supper thus began to grope his mind , to hoc est corpus what say you ? she sed ; marry ( quoth he ) i say it is well feed . . gossips discourse . when gillian and her gossips all are met , and in the match of gossiping down set , and plain mass-parson cutting bread for th'table to tell how fast they talk , my tongue 's not able one tels strange news , th' other godsworbet cries , the third shakes her head , alack replies , she on her hens , this on her ducks do talk , on thousand things at once their tongues do walk . so long as cocks can tread , and hens will lay , gill , and gills gossips will have words to say . . capa● incapabilis . produs in 's office seem● a simple scribe , yet hath he cunning learnt to take a bribe . . a parson and a thief . a lusty parson riding on the way , was by a theef commanded for to stay ; the parson drew his sword , for well he durst , and quickly put his foe unto the worst . sir ( quoth the theef ) i by your habit see you are a church-man , and debate should flee , you know 't is written in the sacred word , iesus to peter said , put up thy sword : true ( quoth the parson ) but withall then hear , saint peter first had cut off malchus ear . . similes habent labra lactucas . dick swash ( or swaggering dick ) through fleetstreet re●les , with si● & brettice waiting at his heels : to one that would have tane the wall , he swore , zounds , dost not see my punck and paramour ? . a souldiers jest . one told told a souldier sitting at the board , ( and silent ) that he had an edgelesse sword ; who straigh● reply'd , sir , i will do my best , to break your pate , though i ne'r break a jest . . good advice . one to a serving-man this counsell sent , to get a master that 's intelligent ; then if of him no wages he could get , yet he would understand he 's in his debt . . theeves . two theeves by night began a lock to pick , one in the house awake , thus answer'd quick , why , how now ? what a s●ir you there doe keep ? goe , come again , we are not yet asleep . . asse . he that loves glasse without a g. leave out l. and what is he ? . enecat amplexu nimio , sic simia foetum . call davus knave , he straight-way draws his sword , and makes you prove as much , or eat your word . but if you call him honest rogue , or jew , he huggs you then for giving him his due . . to festus . festus th' art old , and yet wouldst mary'd be : ere thou doe so , this counsel take of me ; look into lillies grammar , there thou 'lt find , cornu a horn , a word still vndeclin'd . . a gentleman and his physitian . a gentleman not richest in discretion , was alwayes sending for his own physitian . and on a time , he needs would of him know , what was the cause his pulse did goe so slow ? why ( quoth the doctor ) thus it comes to passe , t' must needs go slow , which goes upon an asse . . on saint george . to save a maid saint george a dragon slue , which was a noble act , if all be true ; some say there are no dragons ; and 't is said there 's no saint george ; pray iove there be a maid . . similis cum simili . tom went to the market , where tom met with tom , tom asked tom , what tom ? ●ow far'st thou tom ? who tom , i tom ? is tom ( quoth tom ) you tom ; well god a mercy tom ; how doe you tom ? faith ne'● so well ( quoth tom ) since tom was tom : and thus was the greeting past 'twixt tom and tom. . ebrius oblitus . fucus was fox'd last night , but 't is conceal'd , and would not for his office 't were reveal'd . . dulce quod utile . an honest vicar riding by the way , not knowing better how to spend the day , did sing unto himself some certain psalms ; a blind man hearing him , strait begg'd his alms ; to whom ( quoth he ) with coyn i cannot part , but god thee blesse , good man with all my heart . o , said the blind man , greater is my losse , when such as you doe blesse without a crosse . . in dacum . dacus with some good colour and pretence , tearms his wifes beau●y silent eloquence ; for she doth lay more colours on her face , then ever tully us'd his speech to grace . . in sillam . though i were blind , or though i never saw him , yet if i should silla but talking hear ; for a right roaring gallant i should know him , for of a whore he talks , and still doth swear . . varietas iniquit●s . mat will not marry : true , 'cause ty'd to none , he may have wenches new , when th' old are gone . . good sawce . i went to sup with cinna th' other night , and to say true ( for give the devil his right ) though scant of meat we could a morsell get , yet there with store of passing sawce we met . you ask what sawce , where pittance was so small ? this , is not hunger the best sawce of all ? . plagis mitior . katharine that grew so curst and fit for no man , with beating soon became a gentle-woman . . to a lawyer . to goe to law , i have no maw , although my suite be sure , for i shall lack suits to my back , ere i my suit procure . . semel insanivimus . bedlam fate bless thee , thou wantst nought but wit , and having gotten that , we 'r freed from it ; bridewell , i cannot any way dispraise thee , for thou dost feed the poor , and jerk the lazie . newgate , of thee i cannot much complain ; for once a month , thou freest men out of pain ; but from the counters , goodness it self defend us ? to bedlam , bridewell , or to newgate send us , for there in time , wit , work , or law sets free ; but here wit , work , nor law gets liberty . . of himselfe . some men there be , which say of me , that i am not a poet ; they say well , why ? i doe not lye , i write the truth ; i know it . . vpon annes marriage with a lawyer . anne is an angel , what if so she be ? what is an angel , but a lawyers fee ? . aenigma . the devil , men say , in devonshire dy'd of late , but devonshire lately liv'd in rich estate , till rich his toyes did devonshire so bewitch , as devonshire dy'd , and left the devil rich. . on cupid . why feign they cupid robbed of his sight ? can he whose seat is in the eye , want light ? . an answer . experience shew , and reason doth decree that he who sits in 's own light cannot see . . lucus journey . lucus hath travel'd with an hundred pound , was rob'd and left well beaten , and fast bound : but when to share their prize , they had begun , no miracle was wrought , yet he undon . . of nature . nature did well in giving poor men wit , that fools well monifi'd may pay for it . . vilescit dives avarus . rufus is wondrous rich , but what of that ? he lives obscurely , like a water-rat . . visum ignotum . that crambo's wife's with child , her belly shews it : but who was 't got it ? pray ask those that know it . . vpon marriage . marriage as old men note , hath lik'ned bin unto a publick fast , or common rout , where those that are without would fain get in , and those that are within would fain get out . . on annas a news-monger . annas hath long ears for all news to passe : his ears must needs be long , for he 's an asse . . sir iohn . now good sir iohn ( the beggar cries ) i pray bestow your worship's alms on me to day , relieve my wants ( quoth he ) i am your brother , we born are , one to help and ayd another ; my brother ( qd . sir iohn ) poor wretch●d wight , why , thou mistakest me , i am a knight ; i know 't , quoth he , but hark you kind sir iohn , there 's many a knight kin to the begger men . . conjectus . conjectus says hee 'l plainly prove , anothers child he ought to love , more than his parents ; which is strange , and yet 't is true ; for i protest , he ought to love his wife the best . . aulus . some ( speaking in their own renown ) say that this book was not exactly done ; i care not much , like banquets let my books , rather be pleasing to the guests than cooks , . on envy . why say some , wealth brings envy , since 't is known poor men have backbiters fifteen for one ? . errantes errare licet . pandorus spends the day by telling newes , of such his travels as will make you muse : nay sir believe it , hee 'l discourse at large , how should he else be fed at others charge ? . to a drunkard . much pratling causeth greatest thirstinesse : thy wife talks more then thou , why drinks she lesse . . on pru. pru give me leave to laugh , why shouldst thou buy ceruse , and stibium , and mercury , and sleiking oyles , the best that may be got , when thy whole face prue is not worth a groat ? . to momus . leave for shame , momus , leave to bark and cry , my actions give thy slandrous tongue the lye . . to roba . th' art fair , 't is true ; and pretty too , i know it ; and well bred ( roba ) for thy manners show it ; but whilst thou mak'st self-praise thy onely care , th' art neither pretty , nor well bred , nor faire . . on gallo . gallo's a pretty man , hath pretty hair , a pretty hat , and cloke as one need wear ; gallo's a gallant , and as gallant● use , can court his mistresse , with a sprightly muse : gallo's a dunce , for i supply his wit , which he makes nonsence by his reading it , and 't is no wonder , as all wise-men know , for pretty gallants to be dunces now . . pudor est sua damna referre . peter hath lost his purse , but will conceale it , least she that stole it , to his shame reveale it . . wheele-greace . men th'axletree do greaze , that they not screak , but lawyers must be greaz'd to make them speak . . who best friend . a louse i say , for when a man 's distrest , and others fall off , she sticks the surest . . o times and manners ! why thus do men , manners and times accuse , when men themselves , manners and times abuse ? w' are bad in them , they worse by us doe grow , yet we complain that help to make them so . . carpe . of all our modern writers , carpe likes none , he loves th' old poets that are dead and gone : pardon me honest carpe , i would not be laid in my grave a while yet , to please thee . . non nunquam jactat egenus ▪ iack is a gentleman i must confesse , for there 's no womans taylor can be lesse . . on terpin . terpin sips wine , and gluts down meat ; i think , my terpin drinks his meat , and eats his drink . . to phaulo . as often ( phaulo ) as thou dost amisse , thou hast no more excuse for it , but this , it was against thy will ; why , be it so , against thy will thou shalt be punisht to . . little , nothing , too much , enough . the poor have little , beggars none , the rich too much , enough not one . . on spurco of oxford . spurco from chandler , started aldermen , and trust me now most elder-like he can behave himself : he ne'r appears in town , but in his beaver , & his great fur'd gown : his ruffe is set , his head set in his ruffe ; his reverend trunks become him well enough ; he wears a hoop ring on his thumb ; he has of gravidud a dose full in his face : and trick'd and trim'd , thus bravely he supposes himselfe another man ; but men have noses ; and they that have so , maugre spurco's skill , through all his robes may smell the chandler stil. . on the same . spurco made candles once , 't is true enough , yet when i told him so , he too kt in snuffe . . to damon . what cause , what confidence draws thee to town ? oxford can yeeld thee nothing , get thee down ; thou canst not turn rogue for thy private ends , thou canst not play the baud to please thy friends . thou hat'st to sell thy breath at any price , or flatter great ones to their prejudice . whence wilt thou live ? ( unhappy wretch ! ) i am a trusty friend , thou say'st , an honest man. that 's nothing , damon , set thy wits to school , not to be knave here , is to be a fool . . compotatio . tasso , torquato , trew-wit , manlius , brave merry greeks all , and ingenious : let us be mad a while : come here thou squire of pints and pottles , pile us up a fire : then bring some sack up , quick you canniball , some cleanly sack to wash our brains withall : there is i am sure , no other thespian spring , no other helicon to bathe us in . troul then your sack about boyes , never faile , commending dull men to their stands of ale. tinkers wind off whole pottles in a breath , i hate such puddle coxcombs worse than death ; but we true bra●● of bacchus , as our use is , with lusty wines will sacrifice to th' muses . . conscientia testis . what makes antonia deem himselfe undone , being question'd since his office first begun : but that a conscience tells him quae sumuntur tam male parta , male dilabuntur ? . on terpin . listen who list , my terpins nose i sing , and much i labour to expresse the thing : for when he snorts , it is his trumpet shrill ; it is his conduit , for 't is running still ; it is his drag , his e●le-spear in the brook ; his spade , his mattock , and his pruning hook ▪ 't is a convenient staple for a wall , a handsome wedge to cleave his wood withall : 't will make a good ship-anchor when he lacks , it is his gimlet , and his twibill axe . regard not then , what m●n thy nose abuses ; thy nose is proper terpin for most uses . . on ned. have not i friends ( quoth ned ) i dare to say , i have not supt at home this twelve months day : and very true it is , for sherking ned , at home ( poor man ) goes supperlesse to bed . . pecunia prevalens . hand off , si● sauce-box ! think you mistris phips allows such lobs as you to touch her lips ? but then 't is question'd further ; if you bring her some legem pone , that 's another thing sir. . on love. where love begins , there dead they first desire : a spark neglected , makes a mighty fire . . a herculean taske . to curb the courage and wives tongue keep under . may well be call'd hercules thirteenth wonder . . on coritia . coritia , when all her table 's set with manchet , sauches , and good wholsome meat , she still gives brown bread to her son and heir , and tells the little boy 't will make him fair . if so ( my love ) if it be true you say , you never ate brown bread coritia . . on drammato . drammato makes new playes great store ; and yet 't is plain , drammato has not too much wit : he strives too , to be pleasant , and brings in mimicks , and fools , to make the people grin , i know not what the rest think , but i say , drammato's the best fool in every play . . taming of a shrew . wouldst tame thy wife : first tame her tongue , who thus his wife comes o'r shall overcome . . liberty . if he be well which hath what he can wish , why then doe men for stinging serpents fish ? true liberty 'mongst vertues bears the bell ; he may live as he will , which may live well . . drammato . of all drammato's playes that ere i see , nothing could ever make me laugh but he . . on galba . galba she sayes , she never tasted man ; galba will lye , beleeve it , now and than . . to the reader . such tenour i have kept here all along , as none ( i hope ) can challenge me with wrong . i injure not the least , i give no blow to any person ; he that knows not how to scourge mans vice , unlesse he tax his name , makes a base libel of an epigram . . on formidando . stout formidando walks imperiously , with tragick bilbo girt upon his thigh ; his roping locks , his buffe becomes him well , and to say sooth , he looks right terrible ; he swayes the town before him , and will slay whatever man he be that dares gain-say : but formidando pawn'd his coat last night , and formidando's out of money quite ; nor oaths will passe , nor credit from henceforth , for one poor penny , or a penny-worth : starv'd creditors begin to gape ; and how to quit himself he scarcely knows ; that now stout formidando who was wont to daunt whole thousands , trembles at a pursivant . . the german-dutch . death 's not to be : so seneca doth think : but dutchmen say 't is death to cease to drink . . death . what death is , dost thou ask of me ? till dead i doe not know ; come to me when thou hear'st i 'm dead , then what 't is i shall show . . on carp and manilla . manilla would with carp be maried , manilla's wise i trow : but carp by no means will manilla wed ; carp's the wiser of the two . . on carp. these are my verses which carp reads ; 't is known ; but when carp makes them non-sense , th' are his own . . to phaulos . thou art offended ( phaulos ) as i hear , because i sometimes call thee whoremaster ; my nature 's blunt , and so will ever be ; i call a spade a spade , pray pardon me . . to coracine . what crispulus is that in a new gown , all trim'd with loops and buttons up and down ? that leans there on his arm in private chat with thy young wife , what crispulus is that ? he 's proctor of a court , thou say'st , and does some businesse of my wives : thou brainlesse goose ! he does no businesse of thy wives , not he , he does thy businesse ( coracine ) for thee . . on pru. pru praises her complexion , nay swears she dares compare with any of her years ; and very true it is , that prudence sayes , i saw not better sold these many dayes . . the parret . if lawful't be , of things t' invent the name ; with pratling parret , prater is the same . . to maronilla . my maronilla , i could easily spare thy hands and arms , thy shoulders and fraught haire , i could well spare thy feet , thy legs and thighs , thy tongue and teeth , thy lips , cheeks , forehead , eyes : and not to reckon each part severall , my maronilla i could spare thee all . . study . some men grow mad by studying much to know ; but who grows mad by studying good to grow ? . to lionell . lionell shows his honourable scars , and labours to invite me to the wars : but i will not by no means lionell ; i doe not love to live ill , and drink well . . on pumilio a dwarfe . pumilio lying in despaire of further life , said , take no care to make a tomb for me , good folks , i will be buried in a box. . sharpe sauce . kisses and savours are sweet things , but those have thornes , and these have stings . . on drad-nought . drad-nought was for his many riots laid ith'counter lately , now he 's wondrous staid . . on phaulos and gellia . phaulos he visits , gellia she 's sick : i am no wizard , yet i know their trick . . to his friend . i will not be a foe to any , nor be familiar with too many ; and twice i will not love my friend , but whom i love , i 'l love to th' end . . maried folke . man love thy wife ; thy husband , wife obay : wives are our heart , we should be head alway . . on pru and galla. why are pru's teeth so white , and galla's black ? the reason is soon knowne : pru buyes new teeth as often as she lacks , but galla wears her owne . . on bombo . when bombo preaches ( and that 's thrice a year ) nothing but wit sounds wisely in his ear . his ●ustian phrases make a noise ; each strain and swelling rapture fills his mouth again : he 's parcell-states-man , parcell-priest , and so if you observe , he 's parcel poet to . bombo thy fetches ▪ and thy fangles may become a stage perhaps , but us'd this way , th' are base , and impious : let me prevail , talk till thy strong lines choak thee ; if they fail , commence at tyburn in a cart , sweet poet , and there a strong line will for cert●in do it . . on lulls . lulls swears he is all heart , but you 'l suppose by his probassis , that he is all nose . . on paeto . implore the muses , and their two top'd hill , still to supply fresh matter to thy quill : crave phoebus aid , call homer with the throng of all the bardes , learn'd manes , to thy song . i dare not ( paeto ) be so bold , as do it , nor seem so like what i am not ; a poet. my page invokes no deities : here love , and indignation the best muses prove . . on the same . my paeto thinks he sings melodious , and like a swan : alas he 's but a goose. . on plutus . plutus , rich plutus would have me b●stow some new-years gift , as other neighbours do . why i will send thee what thou want'st my friend ; nothing thou want'st , and nothing i will send . . to phocion . thou buy'st up all that thou canst light upon , this is the way to sell all phocion . . to lividus . doe not raile basely , doe not swell with spight , doe not scoffe ( lividus ) at what i write : for ridden , trust me , i can hardly pace , nor bear thee gently like a patient asse ; but trot amain , and if thou chance to kick , i shall wince too , and gall thee to the quick . flinging full fast till i have thrown thee off , till i have shook thy snaffle from thy mouth ; and then in triumph ( lividus ) look to 't , i spurn thy pride and follies under foot . . on his verses . he 's blind with love that likes them ev'ry one , and he is blind with envy , that likes none . . truth . truth is best found out by the time and eyes ; falshood wins credit by uncertainties . . time. time all consumes , both us and every thing , we time consume ; thus , both one song doe sing . . to bombo . most men condemn thee bombo , when they hear thy high and mighty sermons , but i swear thou preachest movingly ; and well i may ; thou preachest all thy auditors away . . on plutus . rich plutus needs would buy a fool , and paid fifty good pounds : but after triall made , perceiving him an understanding man , plutus would have his money back again . . to linus . thou wast my debtor when i lent the coin , pay me mine own , and then i wil be thine . . leven . love is a leven , and a loving kiss the leven of a loving sweet-heart is . to phaulos . thou ask'st me whom i think best man to be , he 's the best ( phaulos ) that is least like thee . . to claudius and linus . ungodly claudius , to be good , wants nothing but a will : lewd linus , also , wanteth nought but power to be ill . . hot-waters . our trickling tears expresse our private love , love causeth tears ; strange ! fire should water prove . . on grotto . talk but of death , grotto begins to rage , and sweat , and swear , and yet he 's blind with age . fie on thee grotto , what a coil you keep ? thy windowes they are shut , 't is time to sleep . . on boreman . boreman takes tole , cheats , flatters , lyes , yet boreman for all the devill helps , will be a poor man. . on crab. crab being caught , and in the serjeants power , for shame and anger look'd both red and sower . . on fargo . fargo by his wit and pleasing tongue , hath won a wench that 's wondrous fair & young ; the match ( he saith ) is halfe concluded , he indeed is wondrous willing ; but not she . . on richard. dick being drunk , in bed thought on his sin , and that lewd course of life he lived in , yet long hereof for thirst , dick could not think , but , drawer , cryes , now for thy smallest drink . . to spruce . spruce wears a comb about him , alwayes he to prune and smooth his pollisht haire : the cock's ne'r too without his comb you see , spruce 't is a coxcomb then you weare . . on this wise age . the wise men were but seaven : now we scarce know so many fooles , the world so wise doth grow . . on profuso . unstayd profuso hath run thorough all , almost the story of the prodigall , yet swears , he never with the hoggs did dine , that 's true , for none durst trust him with their swine . . on a fire in towne . one night through all the streets the men did cry , fire , fire ! at which i wak't and wondred by ; not that dry wood should burn , but because all did cry fire , when for water they should call . . to either vniversity . indudiv ent mother , and kind aunt , no where throughout all europe find i such a paire ; from whose faire breasts those milky rivers run , that thousands feed , else thousands were undone . oh were it not that some are wean'd too young , and some doe suck ( like● esse● calves ) too long . . on mounsieur congee . a proper handsome courtly man indeed , and well set out with cloaths , can for a need discourse with legs , and quarter congees , and talk halfe an houre with help of foot and hand ; but when i view'd this mounsier clean throughout , i found that he was onely man without . . to my reader . my person is another as i list , i now but act the epigrammatist . . on physitians . physitians are most miserable men , that cannot be deny'd : for they are never truly well , but when mo●● men are ill beside . . on puff . puff quarrels in his cups , and then will fight , is beaten sober ; troth he is served right . . to flash . flash when thou' rt drunk , then in thy own conceit thou' rt valiant , wise , great , honest , rich , discreet . troth flash be alwayes drunk ! for well i know when you are sober you are nothing so . . wi●tily wicked . good wine ( they say ) makes vinegar most ta●t , thou , the more witty , the more wicked art . . a doctor and his patient . a doctor told his patient omphida ; the grief she felt was a sciatica : which she not perfect how to nominate , mistaking cryes , o my certificate ! . on mounsier powder-wig . oh doe but mark you crisped sir you meet ! how like a pageant he doth stalk the street ? see how his perfum'd head is powderd ore : twu'd stink else , for it wanted salt before . . to rash. rash swear not ! think not 'cause you swear that i believe you , no : he that will swear will lye . . drunk-bounty . i 'l tell you why the drunk so lavish are , they have too much , nay more then they can bear . . to gut. gut eats and drinks , doth nothing else but swill , his teeth doe grind , his mouth 's the water-mill . . to simple . simple , you know i gave you good advice ; little to say , that men might think you wise ; if you 'l proclaim your selfe a foole you may : i onely tell you now what others say . . on quaff . to quench his sorrows quaff drinks very free , sorrow is dry , he sayes , and so is he . . to tom coriat . of all the toms that ever yet were nam'd , was never tom like as tom coriat fam'd . tom thumb is dumb , untill the pudding creep , in which he was intomb'd , then out doth peep . tom fool may go to school , but ne'r be taught speak greek , with which our tom his tongue is ●raught . tom asse may passe , but for all his long ears , no such rich jewels as our tom he wears . tom tell-troth is but forth , but truth to tell , of all toms , this tom , bears away the bell . . to a fat vsurer . fat folks we say by nature are most free : you and your purse are fat , and yet i see your hand and that still shut , the reasons this ; in costive flesh thy leane soule buried is . . on brisk . brisk brag'd of 's ready wit ; i tempting him but for one distick , did propound this theam nothing : i● cannot be , he wondring said that out of nothing ought shu'd ere be made . dull brisk thou ne'r couldst tune apollo's lyre ; a pure steeld-wit , will strike mercuriall fire out of the flintiest subject : but thy head is all compos'd of softer mettle , lead . . semel insanivimus omnes . thus have i waded through a worthlesse task , whereto i trust there 's no exception ta'n , for meant to none , i answer such as ask , 't is like apparell made in birchen-lane ; if any please to suit themselves and wear it , the blame's not mine , but theirs that needs will bear it . . on sullen . sullen will eat no meat , but peevishly replies , i care not , nor i will not , i : troth i commend his abstinence , 't is great , when having such a stomach hee 'l not eat . . to banks . when spendall asks to borrow , you reply , you know not when hee 'l pay you ; troth nor i. . to boldface . boldface , i wonder at thy impudence , that da●'st affi●m things so against all sence : for shame ben't impudent and foolish too ! and think all men are fools 'cause you are so . . of his booke . part of the work remaines ; one part is past : and here my ship rides , having anchor cast . . on bearill . bearill because his wife is somewhat ill , uncertain in her health , indifferent still ; he turns her out of doors without reply : wondring at which , i askt the reason why ? in sicknesse and in health , sayes he , i 'm bound onely to keep her , either weak or sound ; but now shee 's neither , he replies ; you 'l see , shee 'l quickly now or mend or end , sayes he . . on bib. wisdome doth teach us silence , now bib is with drink made speechlesse , is he not then wise . on silly . silly by chance did loose his diary of wit , which he had got in company : no marvel he now so mute and pensive sits , how can he choose , since he hath lost his wits . . ad sesquipidales poetastros . hence brauron's god to tauriminion , and you levaltoring corybant● be gon ; fly thundering bronsterops to hippocrene , and mauros to nymph-nursing mytelene ; grisly megaera's ne●romantique spell depart to black nights acherontick cell : avaunt transformed epidaurian , unto th'antipod isles of trabroban , away cyllenius plumy-pinnion'd god , with thy peace making wand , snakecharming rod , and all the rest not daring look upon vranus blood-born brood , and fell typhon ; chimera's victor great bellerophon , thou vanquisher of spanish geryon . stout asdruball sicilian lord of yore , thou that destroy'dst the caledonian bore , couragious conqueror of cretes minotaure , thou pride of mermeno's cloudy semitaure . perseus whose marble stone transforming shield , enforc'd the whale , andromeda to yeeld , you argonautes that scour'd syndromades , and passd the quick-sands of symplegades , help demogorgon , king of heaven and earth , chaos , lucina , at litigiums birth , the world with child looks for delivery of canibals , or poetophagy . a devilish brood from ericthonius , from iphidemia , nox , and erebus , chide pegasus for op'ning helicon , and poets damn pyry-phlegeton ; or make this monstrous birth abortive be , or else i will shake hands with poetry . — nihil sic nisi carmina desunt . marmora maeonii vincunt menumenta libelli ; vivitur ingenio , caetera mortis erunt . the muses works stone-monumen●● outlast ; 't is wit keeps life , all else death will down cast . epitaphs . . on a lyer . good passenger ! here lyes one here , that living did lye every where . . on a dyer . he lives with god none can deny , that while he liv'd to th' world did dy . . on a iugler . death came to see thy tricks , and cut in twain thy threed , why didst not make it whole again ? . on mr. fish. worm's bait for fish , but here is a great change , fish bait for worms , is not that very strange ? . on a child . a child and dead ? alas ! how could it come ? surely thy thread of life was but a thrumme . . on mr. do. do is my name , and here i lye , my grammar tels me , do fit di. . on taylor a serjeant , kill'd by a horse . a taylour is a theef , a sergeant is worse , who here lies dead , god-a-massy horse . . on mr. thomas best . with happy starres he sure is blest , where ●'ere he goes , that stil is best . . on robin . round robin's gone , and this grave doth inclose the pudding of his doublet and his hose . . on bell the tinker . bell though thou dy'dst decrep●t , lame , forlorn , thou was 't a man of mettle , i 'l be sworn . . on proud tygeras . proud and foolish , so it comes to passe , he liv'd a tyger , and he dy'd an asse . . on iohn cofferer . here lyes iohn cofferer , and takes his rest , now he hath chang'd a coffer for a chest. . on blind and deaf dick freeman . here lyes dick freeman , that could not hear nor see man. . on a miller . death without warning was as bold as brief , when he kil'd two in one , miller and thief . . on a lady . here lyes one dead under this marble stone , who when she liv'd , lay under more than one . . on a wrestler . death to the wrestler gave a pretty fall , tript up his heels , and took no hold at all . . on iohn death . here 's death interred , that liv'd by bread , then all should live , now death is dead . . on an infant . the reeling world turn'd poet , made a play ; i came to see 's , dislik'd it , went my way . . on a little but very ingenuous youth . grim death perceiving , he had far out ran the elder youth● ; mistook him for a man. . on a lady dying quickly after her husband . he first deceased , she a little try'd to live without him , lik'd it not , and dy'd . . on mr. stone . jerusalems curse is not fulfill'd in me , for here a stone upon a stone you see . . on mr. strange . here lies one strange , no pagan , turk , nor jew , it 's strange , but not so strange as it is true . . a forts epitaph . reader , it was born , and cry'd , crack'd so , smelt so , and so dy'd . . on mr. anguish a scholler . some doe for anguish weep , for anger i , that ignorance should live , and art should dye . . on a lovely young youth . from thy quick death , conclude we must , the fairest flowers are gather'd first . . on mr. thomas a●len . no epitaphs need make the just man fam'd , the good are prais'd when they are onely nam'd . . on a lady . finis and bonum are converted , so , that every good thing to an end must go . . on a pious benefactor . the poor , the world , the heavens , and the grave , his alms , his praise , his soule , and body have . . on a poet in prison . though i in prison here doe lye , my muse shall live altho i dye . . on a poor poet. here lies the poet buried in the night , whose purse , men know it , was exceeding light . . a man and his wife . viator siste , ecce miraculum ! vir & uxor hic non ligitunt . . on a pauls-walker . defessus sum ambulando . . on a scrivener . may all men by these presents testifie , a lurching scrivener here fast bound doth lye . . on one that cheated his father . here lies a man , who in a span of life , beyond his father ran . . on a cut-purse . death hath that cut-purse seiz'd on at alhallows , who by good hap hath so escap'd the gallows . . on a young great wit. great wits are dangerous , for then , it seems , they seldome come to men . . on an vsurer . that all those goods and riches scrap'd together , should with himself depart , & knows not whither . . on a captain . who late in wars did dread no foes in field , now free of scars his life in peace doth yeeld . . on a potter . he that on clay his chiefest trust repos'd , is now in clay , in stead of dust repos'd . . on a merchant . who from accounts and reckning● ne'r could rest , at length hath summ'd up his quietus est . . on a young man newly maried , dyed . the world and thou art quickly gone about , that but now en●ring in , art entred out . . on iohn friend . how ere he fail'd in 's life , 't is like iack friend was no mans foe but 's own , and there 's an end . . on christopher fowler . let all say what they can , ' ●is known kit fowle● was held an honest man , though no good bowler . on dorothy rich. here resteth young doll rich , that dainty drab , who troubled long with itch , dy'd of the scab . . on ralph . ralph bids adue to pleasures good or ill , but tels you true , 't is much against his will. . on walter moone . here lies wat moone , that great tobacconist , who dy'd too soon for lack of had i wist . . on iohn cooling a player-foole . death hath too soon remov'd from us io. cooling , that was so well belov'd , and liv'd by fooling . . on a welshman . who living least ▪ espy'd his life should leese , by meer metheglin dy'd ; and tosted cheese . . on io. long. here sleep i. long , who liv'd till new-year●-tide , full fourscore strong , but then fell sick and dy'd . . on stephen spooner . death hath time borrow'd of our neighbour spooner . whose wife much sorrow'd that he di'd no sooner . . on a lawyer . god works wonders now and than , here lyes a lawyer dy'd an honest man. . on a waterman . here sleep● will slater , why ? by death● command , hath left the water to possesse the land . . on sir francis drake . england his heart , his corps the waters have , and that which raisd his fame , became his grave . . on a gallant . who cloth of tissue wore , here flat doth lye , having no issue , more than that in 's thigh . . on iohn garret . gone is iohn garret , who to all mens thinking , for love to claret , kill'd himself with drinking . . on notable ned. cause of the good nought must be said but good , 't is well for ned that nought he understood . . on a taylour who dyed of the stitch . here lies a taylour in this ditch , who liv'd and dyed by the stitch . . on a travelling beggar . here lies a vagrant person whom our laws ( of late grown strict ) denied passage , 'cause he wandring thus , therefore return he must , from whence at first he hither came ; to dust . . on a mason . so long the mason wrought on others wals , that his own house of clay to ruine fals : no wonder , spitefull death wrought his annoy , he us'd to build , and death seeks to destroy . . on a schoolmaster . the grammar school , a long time taught i have , yet all my skill could not decline the grave , but yet i hope it one day will be shown in no case save the ablative alone . . on prince henry . i have no vein in verse , but if i could distill on every word a pearl , i would . our sorrows pearls drop , not from pens , but eyes , whilst other muses write , mine onely cryes . . on the death of mr. newcomin of clare-hall in cambridge . weep ye clarenses , weep all about , for new-com-in is new gone out ; weep not clarenses , weep not a● all , he 's gone but from clare to trinity-hal . . on hobson the carrier . hobson ( what 's out of sight , is out of mind ) is gone and left his letters here behind , he that with so much paper us'd to meet is now , alas ! content to take one sheet . . another . he that such carriage store , was wont to have , is carried now himselfe unto his grave : o strange ! he that in life ne'r made but one , six carriers makes , now he is dead and gone . . another . here hobson lyes , prest with a heavy load , who now is gone the old and common road ; the waggon he so lov'd , so lov'd to ride , that he was drawing on whilst that he dy'd . . another . hobson's not dead , but charls the northern swain hath sent for him to draw his lightsome wain . . on a footman . this nimble footman ran away from death , and here he rested being out of breath ; here death him over-took , made him his slave , and sent him on an arrand to the grave . . iustus lipsius . some have high mountains of parian stone , and some in brasse carve their inscription , some have their tombs of costly marbles rear'd ; but in our tears onely are they interr'd . . on a child . like birds of prey , death snatche away , this harmlesse dove , whose soule so pure is now secure in heaven above . . on a rich gentleman . of woods and plains , and hills and vales , of fields , of meads , of parks , and pales ; of all i had , this i possesse ; i need no more , i have no lesse . . on a child . that flesh is grasse its grace a flower , read ere you passe whom worms devoure . . on a lock-smith . a zealous lock-smith dy'd of late , who by this time 's at heaven gate . the reason why he will not knock , is 'cause he means to pick the lock . . on a collier . here lies the collier ienkin dashes , by whom death nothing gain'd he swore , for living he was dust and ashes , and being dead he is no more . . on dick pinner . here lyes dick pinner , o ungentle death ! why didst thou rob dick pinner of his breath ? for living , he by scraping of a pin , made better dust than thou hast made of him . . on a sack-sucker . good reader blesse thee , be assur'd , the spirit of sack lyes here immur'd : who havock't all he could come by for sack , and here quite sack'd doth ly . . on a child . into this world as stranger to an inne , this child came guest-wise , where when it had bin a while , and found nought worthy of his stay , he onely broke his fast , and went away . . on a candle . here lyes the chandlers chiefest joy , here lyes the schollers pale-fac'd boy ; having nought else but skin and bone dy'd of a deep consumption . . on t. h. the pannier-man of the temple . here lyes tom hacket this marble under , who often made the cloysters thunder ; he had a horn , and when he blew i● , call'd many a cuckold that never knew it . . on a young infant . the life of man is but a span , the common saying is ; but death did pinch his to an inch , ere he could say , what 's this ? yet he hath gain'd , not lost , thereby changing time for eternity . . on mr. calfes death . heaven of his soul take charge , for he , of all his dayes liv'd but the halfe ; who might have grown to be an oxe , but dyed ( as you see ) a calfe . . on bolus . if gentlenesse could tame the fates , or wit delude them , bolus had not dyed yet ; but one that death o'r-rules in judgement sits , and sayes our sins are stronger then our wits . . on a clowne . softly tread this earth upon , for here lyes our corydon : who through care to save his sheep watch'd too much , oh let him sleep ! . on a child . as carefull nurses on their beds doe lay , their babes which would too long the wantons play , so to prevent my youths ensuing crimes , nature my nurse laid me to bed betime● . . on a musitian . be not offended at our sad complaint , you quire of angels , that have gain'd a saint ; where all perfection met in skill and voyce , we mourne our losse , but yet commend your choyce . . on a gardener . could he forget his death that every houre was emblem'd to it , by the fading flowre ? should he not mind his end ? yes , sure he must , that still was conversant 'mongst beds of dust . . on a drunkard . bibax the drunkard , while he liv'd would say , the more i drink , the more methinks i may ; but see how death hath prov'd his saying just , for he hath drunk himselfe as dry as dust . . on a child . tread softly passenger , for here doth lye , a dainty jewell of sweet infancy : a harmlesse babe , that onely came and cry'd in baptism to be wash'd from sin , and dy'd . . another . in this marble casket lyes a matchlesse jewell of rich pri●e , whom nature in the worlds disdain but shew'd , and put it up again . . on mr. sands . who would live in others breath ? fame deceives the dead mans trust , when our names doe change by death , sands i was , and now am dust . . on mr. goad . go adde this verse , to goad's herse , for goad is gone , but whither ? goad himselfe is gone to god , 't was deaths goad drove him thither . . on monday . hallowed be the sabbath and farewell all worldly pelf ; the week begins on tuesday , for munday hath hang'd himself . . on a child . here a pretty baby lyes sung asleep with lullabies : pray be silent , and not stir th' easie earth that covers her . on a matron . here lies a wife was chast , a mother blest ; a modest matron , all these in one chest : sarah unto her mate , mary to god , martha to men , whilst here she had aboad . . in latine thus . vxor casta , parens felix , matrona pudica , sara viro , mundo martha , maria deo. . on a souldier . when i was young , in wars i shed my blood , both for my king , and for my countries good : in elder years , my care was chief to be souldier to him that shed his blood for me . . on mr. dumbelow , that dyed of the winde collicke . dead is dick dumbelow would you the reason know ? could his tail have but spoken , his stout heart had not broken . . on mr. kitchins death . kitchin lyes here ( for so his name i found ) i see death keeps his kitchin under ground . and the poor worms ( that flesh of late did eat ) devour their kitchin now for want of meat . . on isabella a curtezan . he who would write an epitaph , whereby to make fair is'bell laugh , must get upon her , and write well , here underneath lies isabell. . on a vertuous wife . in brief , to speak thy praise , let this suffice , thou wert a wife most loving , modest , wise , of children carefull , to thy neighbours kind , a worthy mistresse , and of liberall mind . . on mr. christopher lawson . death did not kill unjustly this good man , but death , in death , by death did shew his power , his pious deeds and thoughts to heaven fore-ran , there to prepare his soule a blessed bower . . on a welshman . here lyes puryed under these stones , shon ap williams , ap shinkyn , ap shones , her was porn in whales , her was kill'd in france , her went to cot by a very mis-shance . la ye now . . on mr. carter , burnt by the great powder-mischance in finsbury . here lies an honest carter ( yet no clown ) unladen of his cares , his end the crown , vanish'd from hence , even in a cloud of smoke , a blown-up citizen , and yet not broke . . on a lady dying in childbed . born at the first to bring another forth , she leav● the world , to leave the world her worth : thus phoenix-like , as she was born to bleed , dying her selfe , renews it in her seed . . on a faulconer . death with her talon● having seiz'd this prey , after a tedious flight , trus●'d him away : we mark'd him , here he fell , whence he shall rise at call , till then unretriv'd here he lyes . . on ioan truman who had an issue in her legge . here lyes crafty ioan , deny it who can , who liv'd a false maid , and dy'd a truman , and this trick she had , to make up her cunning , whilst one leg stood still , the other was running . . on a youth . now thou hast heaven for merit , but 't is strange , morality should envy at thy change : god thought us unfit for such as thee , and made thee consort of eternity . we grieve not then that thou to heaven art taken ▪ but that thou hast thy friends so soon forsaken . . on prince henry . did he dye young ? o no , it could not be , for i know few that liv'd so long as he , till god and all men lov'd him ; then behold , the man that lives so long , must needs be old . . on — borne before his time . greiv'd at the world and times , this early bloom look'd round , and sigh'd , and stole into his tomb , his fall was like his birth , too quick ; this rose made hast to spread , and the same hast to close : here lyes his dust , but his best tomb's fled hence , for marble cannot last like innocence . . on a very fat man. under this pebble stone , here fast sleepeth one , and that is not two ; yet was without doubt far bigger about , then both i , and you ; his kidneys encreast so much , that his wast was hooped all round : but his girdle death cuts , and down fell his guts , ' bouts heels to the ground . . on iohn newter . reader , iohn newter who erst plaid the jack on both sides , here is laid who like the herb iohn indifferent was not for king , or parliament , yet fast and loose he could not play with death , he took him at a bay ; what side his soule hath taken now god or devil ? we hardly know : but this is certain , since he dy'd he hath been mist of neither side . . on hocas pocas . here hocas lyes with his tricks and his knocks , whom death hath made sure as his juglers box : who many hath cozen'd by his leiger-demain , i● presto convey'd and here underlain : thus hocas he 's here , and here he is not , while death plaid the hocas , and brought him to th'pot . . on a child of two years old , being born and dying in july . here is laid a iuly flowre with surviving tears bedew'd , not despairing of that houre when her spring shall be renew'd ; ere she had her summer seen , she was gather'd fresh & green . . on a cobler . death at a coblers door oft made a stand , and alwayes found him on the mending hand ; at last came death in very foul weather , and ript the sole from the upper leather : death put a trick upon him , and what was 't ? the cobler call'd for 's awle , death brought his last . . on a young gentlewoman . nature in this small volume was about to perfect what in woman was left out : yet carefull least a piece so well begun , should want preservatives when she had done : ere she could finish what she undertook , threw dust upon it , and shut up the book . . on a scholler . forbear friend t'unclaspe this book , only in the forefront look , for in it have errours bin , which made the author call it in : yet know this , 't shall have more worth , at the second coming forth . . on a young woman . the body which within this earth is laid , twice six weeks knew a wife , a saint , a maid ; fair maid , chast wife , pure saint , yet 't is not strange she was a woman , therefore pleasd to change : and now shee s dead , some woman doth remain , for still she hopes once to be chang'd again . . on brawne . here brawne the quondam begger lyes , who counted by his tale , full sixscore winters in his life ; such vertue is in ale. ale was his meat , ale was his drink , ale did him long reprive , and could he still have drunk his ale , he had been still alive . . on a candle . here lyes ( i wot ) a little star that did belong to iupiter , which from him prometheus stole , and with it a fire-coale . or this is that i mean to handle , here doth lye a farthing candle , that was lov'd well , having its light , but loosing that , now bids good night . . on m. r. who soonest dies , lives long enough , our life is but a blast or puffe . i did resist and strive with death , but soon he put me out of breath ; he of my life thought to bereave me , but i did yield onely to breath me . o'r him i shall in triumph sing , thy conquest grave , where is thy sting ? . on a child . here she lies a prtty bud , lately made of flesh and blood : who , as soon , fell fast asleep , as her little eyes did peep ; give her strewings ; but not stir the earth that lightly covers her . . on an inne-keeper . it is not i that dye , i do but leave an inn , where harboun'd was with me , all filthy kind of sin ; it is not i that dye ▪ i doe but now begin into etenall ●oy by faith to enter in . why weep you then my friends , my parents , and my kin ? lament ye when i loose , but weep not when i win . . on a cobler . come hither , read my gentle friend , and here behold a coblers end . longer in length his life had gone , but that he had no last so long ; o mighty death , whose dart can kill the man that made him souls at wil● . on m. aire . under this stone of marble faire , lies th'body ' ntomb'd of gervase aire . he dy'd not of an ●gue-fit , nor surfeited of too much wit , me thinks this was a wondrous death , that aire should dye for want of breath . on mr. rice . m. who can doubt ( rice ) to what eternall place thy soul is fled , that did but know thy face ? whose body was so light it might have gone to heaven without a resurrection ; indeed thou wert all type , thy limbs were signes , thy arteries but mathematick lines ; as if two soules had made the compound good , which both should live by faith , & none by blood . . on thomas iones . here for the nonce came thomas ionce in st. iileses church to lye , none welch before , none welshman more till shon clerk dye . i le tole the bell , i le ring his knell , he dyed well , he 's saved from hell : and so farewell tom ionce . . on a young man. surpriz'd by grief and sicknesse here i lye , stopt in my middle age , and soon made dead , yet doe not grudge at god , if soon thou dye , but know he trebles favours on thy head . who for thy morning work equals thy pay , with those that have endur'd the heat oth'day . . on the two littletons that were drowned at oxford , . here lye we ( reader , canst thou not admire ? ) who both at once by water dy'd and fire , for whilst our bodies perish'd in the deep , our soules in love burnt , so we fell asleep : let this be then our epitaph : here lyes two , yet but one , one for the other dyes . . on a butler . that death should thus from hence our butler catch , into my mind it cannot quickly sink ; sure death came thirsty to the buttry-hatch , when he ( that busi'd was ) deny'd him drink . tut ! 't was not so , 't is like he gave him liquor , and death made drunk , him made away the quicker ; yet let not others grive too much in mind ( the butler's gone ) the keys are left behind . . on m. cook. to god , his country , and the poor , he had a zealous soule , free heart , and lib'rall mind . his wife , his children , and his kindred sad , lack of his love , his care and kindnesse find : yet are their sorrows asswag'd with the thought he hath attain'd the happinesse he sought . . on a porter . at length by works of wondrous fate , here lyes the porter of winchester-gate : if gone to heav'n , as much i feare : he can be but a porter there : he fear'd not hell so much ●or's sin , as for th'great rapping , and oft coming in . . vpon one who dyed in prison . reader , i liv'd , enquire no more , left a spy enter in at doore , such are the times , a dead man dare not trust nor credit common aire , but dye and lye entombed here , by me , i 'l whisper in thine ear such things as onely dust to dust ( and without witnesse ) may entrust . . on waddam colledge butler . mans life is like a new-tunn'd cask they say , the formost draught , is oft times cast away , such are our younger years , the following still are more and more inclining unto ill ; such is our manhood , untill age at length , doth sowre its sweetnes , & doth stop its strength : then death prescribing to each thing its bounds , takes what is lef● , and turns it all to grounds . . on a horse . here lies a horse , who dyed but to make his master go on foot . a miracle should it be so : the dead to make the lame to go ; yet fate would have it , that the same should make him goe , that made him lame . . on an old man a residenciary . tread , sirs , as lightly as you can upon the grave of this old man. twice forty ( bating but one yeare , and thrice three weeks ) he lived here . whom gentle fate translated hence to a more happy residence . yet , reader let me tell thee this , ( which from his ghost a promise is ) if here ye will some few tears shed , he 'l never haunt ye now he 's dead . . on a maid . here she lyes ( in bed spice ) faire as eve in paradise . for her beauty it was such poets co'd not praise too much . virgins come , and in a ring her supreamest requium sing ; then depart , but see ye tread lightly , lightly ore the dead . . on husband and wife . to these , whom death againe did wed , this grave 's the second marriage-bed . for though the hand of fate could force , twixt soule and body a divorce ; it could not sever man and wife , because they both liv'd but one life ; peace , good reader , doe not weep , peace the lovers are asleep : they ( sweet turtles ) folded lye , in the last knot that love could tye . let them sleep , let them sleep on , till this stormy night be gone . and th' eternall morrow dawne , then the curtaines will be drawne , and they waken with that light , whose day shall never sleep in night . . on aretyne . here biting aretyne lyes buried ▪ with gall more bitter , never man was fed . the living nor the dead to carp he spar'd , nor yet for any king or caesar car'd : onely on god to raile he had forgot , his answer was , indeed i know him not . . on william coale an alehouse-keeper , at coaton near cambridge . doth william coale lye here ? henceforth be stale , be strong and laugh on us , thou coaten ale : living indeed , he with his violent hand never left grasping thee , while he could stand . but death at last , hath with his fiery flashes burnt up the coale , and turn'd it into ashes . . on one andrew leigh , who was vext with a shrewd wife . here lies leigh , who vext with a shrewd wife , to gain his quiet , parted with his life ; but see the spight ! she that had alwayes crost him living , dyes , and means to hunt his ghost . but she may faile , for andrew out of doubt will cause his brother peter shut her out . . in quendam . stay mortall , stay , remove not from this tomb , before thou hast consider'd well thy doome ; my bow stands ready bent , and couldst i● see , mine arrow 's drawn to th' head , and aims at thee : prepare yet wandring ghost , take home this line ; the grave that next is open'd may be thine . . on a vertuous youth . reader , let a stone thee tell that in this body there did dwell a'soule , as heavenly , rich , and good , as e'r could live in flesh and blood : and therefore heav'n that held it deare , did let it stay the lesse while here , whose corps here sacred ashes makes ; thus heav'n and earth have parted stakes . . on a cock-master . farewell stout hot-spur , now the battel 's done , in which th' art foil'd , and death hath overcome , having o'r-match'd thy strength that made thee stoop shee quickly forc'd thee on the pit to droop : from whence thou ar● not able rise or stir ; for death is now become the vanquisher . . on a mathematician . lo● , in small closure of this earthly bed , rests he , that heavens vast motions measured , who having known both of the land and sky , more than fam'd archimede , or ptolomy , would further presse , and like a palmer went , with iacobs staffe , beyond the firmament . . on a taylour . iack snip the taylor 's dead , 't is now too late to brawl or wrangle with the cruel fate , yet sure 't was hardly done to clip his thred , before he gave them leave , in his own bed . he dy'd at forty just ; poor shred of base mortality ! who pities not his case ? of a whole ell of cloth , he would not take above a nail at most , for conscience sake : but of his span of life , i dare to say , death stole not much lesse than one halfe away ; and coward-like , just when he was not well , with his own bodkin ( pitifull to tell ) he board a hole through him , that all his men and prentices could not stitch up agen . . on his mistris death . unjustly we complain of fate , for shortning our unhappy dayes , when death doth nothing but translate , and print us in a better phrase . yet who can chuse but weep ? not i : that beauty of such excellence , and more vertue than could dye , by deaths rude hand is vanish'd hence . sleep blest creature in thine urn , my sighs , my tears , shall not awake thee . i but stay untill my turn ; and then , o then ! i 'l overtake thee . . on hobson the carrier . if constellations which in heaven are fixt , give life by influence to bodies mixt , and every sign peculiar right doth claime of that to which it propagates a name ; then i conjure , charles the great northern star whistled up hobson for to drive his car. he is not dead , but left his mansion here , has left the bull , and flitted to the beare . me thinks i see how charons fingers itches , but he 's deceiv'd he cannot have his riches . . another on hobson . whom seek ye firs ? old hobson ? ●ie upon your tardinesse , the carrier is gon , why stare you so ? nay , you deserve to faile , alas , here 's nought , but his old rotten maile . he went a good-while since , no question store are glad , who vext he would not goe before : and some are griev'd hee 's gone so soon away , the lord knows why he did no longer stay . how could he please you all ? i 'm sure of this , he linger'd soundly , howsoe'r you misse ; but gone he is , nor was he surely well at his departure , as mischance befell : for he is gone in such unwonted kind , as ne'r before , his goods all left behind . . old hobsons epitaph . here hobson lies among his many betters , a man unlearned , yet a man of letters ; his carriage was well known , oft hath he gone in embassy 'twixt father and the sonne : there 's few in cambridge , to his praise be it spoken , but may remember him by some good token . from whence he rid to london day by day , till death benighting him , he lost his way : his team was of the best , nor would he have been mir'd in any way , but in the grave . nor is 't a wonder , that he thus is gon , since all men know , he long was drawing on . thus rest in peace thou everlasting swain , and supreme waggoner , next charles his wain . . vpon iohn crop , who dyed by taking a vomit . mans life 's a game at tables , and he may mend his bad fortune by his wiser play ; death playes against us , each disease and sore are blots , if hit , the danger is the more to lose the game ; but an old stander by binds up the blots , and cures the malady , and so prolongs the game ; iohn crop was he death in a rage did challenge for to see his play , the dice are thrown , when first he drinks , casts , makes a blot , death hits him with a sinqu●● he casts again , but all in vain , for death by th'after game did win the prize , his breath . what though his skill was good , his luck was bad , for never mortall man worse casting had . but did not death play false to win from such as he ? no doubt , he bare a man too much . . an honest epitaph . here lyes an honest man , reader if thou seek more , thou art not so thy selfe ; for honesty is store of commendations ; and it is more praise , to dye an honest man , then full of dayes . . on a cobler . here lyes an honest cobler , whom curst fate , perceiving near worn out , would needs translate ; 't was a good thrifty soul , and time hath bin , he would well liquor'd wade through thick and thin : but now he 's gone , 't is all that can be said , honest iohn cobler is here under-laid . . on a proud man. good reader know , that commest nigh , here lies he low , that look'd so high . both poor and nak'd , that was gay-cloath'd : of all forsak'd , who others loath'd . he once thought all envy'd his worth : nor great , nor small , now grudge his turf : the heavenly cope was his ambition : three cubits scope is his fruition . he was above all ; god above him : he did not love all ; nor god love him : he that him taught first to aspire , now hath him caught , and payes his hire . . on an irefull and angry man. here lyes a fury , hight sir ire , that bred , & earn'd immortal fire . he 'gan to wrangle from the womb ; and was a wrangler to his tomb. a peevish , and a foolish elfe , foe to his god , his saints , his self . he hated men , men did not love him : no evill but his own might move him . he was , and was earths load and care : he is , and is hells brand , and share . . on iohn dawson butler . dawson the butler's dead , although i think poets were nere insusd with single drink , i le spend a farthing muse , a watery verse will serve the turn to cast upon his herse . if any cannot weep among us here , take off his cup , and so squeze out a teare . weep o ye barrels , let your drippings fall in trickling streams , make wast more prodigall , then when our beer was good , that iohn may float to stix in beer , and lift up charrons boat , with wholsome waves : and as the conduits ran vvith claret , at the coronation , so let your channels flow with single tiff , for iohn i hope is crown'd : take off your whiff , ye men of rosemary , and drink up all , remembring 't is a butlers funerall : had he been master of good duble beer , my life for his , iohn dawson had been here . . on turn-coat . passenger , stay , reade , walke . here lyeth , andrew turncoat , who was neither slave , nor souldier , nor physitian , nor fencer , nor cobler , nor filcher , nor lawyer , nor usurer , but all who lived neither in city , nor country , nor at home , nor abroad , nor at sea , nor at land , nor here , nor elsewhere , but every where . who died , neither of hunger , nor poyson , nor hatchet , nor halter , nor dogge , nor disease , but of all together . . . h. being neither his debtor , nor heire , nor kinsman , nor friend , nor neighbour , but all , in his memory have erected , this neither monument , nor tomb , nor sepulcher , but all wishing neither evil , nor wel , neither to thee , nor to me , nor him , but all unto all. . on a dyer . though death the dyer colour-lesse hath made , yet he dies pale , and will not leave his trade ; but being dead , the means yet doth not lack , to dye his friends cloth into mourning black . some sure foresaw his death , for they of late usd to exclaim upon his dying fate . and weak , and faint , he seem'd oft times t' have been , for to change colours often he was seen ; yet there no matter was so foul , but he would set a colour on it handsomely : death him no unexpected stroke could give , that learnt to dye , since he began to live . he shall yet prove , what he before had try'd , and shall once more live after he hath dy'd . . on a disagreeing couple . hic jacet ille , qui centies & mille did scold with his wife : cum illo jacet illa , quae communis in villa did qui●tance his life : his name was nick , the which was sick , and that very male , her name was nan , who loved well a man , so gentlemen , vale . . on a foot-boy that dyed with overmuch running . base tyrant death , thus to assail one tir'd , who scarce his latest breath being left expir'd ; and being too too cruell thus to stay so swift a course , at length ran quite away . but pretty boy , be sure it was not death that left behind thy body out of breath : thy soul and body running in a race , thy soul held out , thy body tir'd apace , thy soul gained , and left that lump of clay to rest it selfe untill the latter day . . on a scrivener . here to a period is the scrivener come , this is the last sheet , his full point this tomb. of all aspersions● excuse him not , 't is known he liv'd not , without many a blot ; yet he no ill example shew'd to any , but rather gave good copies unto many . ●e in good letters hath alwayes been bred , and hath writ more then many men have read . he rulers had at his command by law , and though he could not hang , yet he could draw he far more bond-men had , and made , then any ; a dash alone of his pen ruin'd many ; that not without good reason , we might call his letters great , or little , capitall . yet is the scriveners fate as sure as just , when he hath all done then he falls to dust . . on mr. p. gray . reader stay , and if i had no more to say , but here doth lye till the last day , all that is left of philip gray ; it might thy patience richly pay : for , if such men as he could dye , what surety of life have thou and i ? . on a chandler . how might his dayes end that made weeks ? or he that could make light , here laid in darknesse be ? yet since his weeks were spent , how could he chuse but be depriv'd of light , and his trade lose ? yet dead the chandler is , and sleeps in peace , no wonder , long since melted was his greace : it seems that he did evill , for day-light he hated , and did rather wish the night : yet came his works to light , and were like gold prov'd in the fire , but could not tryall hold ; his candle had an end , and deaths black night is an extinguisher of all his light . . on a smith . farewell stout iron-side , not all thine art could make a shield against deaths envious dart. without a fault , no man his life doth passe , for to his vice the smith addicted was . he oft ( as choler is increast by fire ) was in a fume , and much inclin'd to ire . he had so long been usd to forge , that he was with a black-coal markt for forgery : but he for witnesse needed not to care , who but a black-smith was , though ne'r so fair ; and opportunities he needed not . that knew to strike then when their'n was hot ; as the door-nailes he made , hee 's now as dead ; he them , and death him , hath knockt on the head . . on a man drown'd in the snow . within a fleece of silent waters drown'd , before my death was known , a grave i found ; the which exil'd my life from her sweet home , for grief straight froze it selfe into a tombe . one element my angry fate thought meet to be my death , grave , tomb , and winding sheet : phaebus himself , an epitaph had writ , but blotting many ere he thought one fit ; he wrote untill my grave , and tomb were gone , and 't was an epitaph that i had none ; for every one that passed by that way , without a sculture read that there i lay . here now the second time untomb'd i lye , and thus much have the best of destiny : corruption , from which onely one was free , devour'd my grave , but did not feed on me : my first grave took me from the race of men , my last shall give me back to life agen . . on doctor hackets wif● . drop mournfull eyes your pearly trickling tears , flow streams of sadnesse down the spangled sphears , fall like the tumbling cataracts of nile , make deaf the world with cryes ; let not a smile appear , let not an eye be seen to sleep nor slumber , onely let them serve to weep her dear lamented death , who in her life was a religious , loyall , loving wife , of children tender , to an husband kind , th' undoubted symtomes of a vertuous mind : which makes her glorious , 'bove the highest pole , where angels sing sweet requiums to her soule , she liv'd a none-such , did a none-such dye , ne'r none-such here her corps interred lye , . on a beautifull virgin. in this marble buri'd lyes , beauty , may inrich the skyes , and adde light to phaebus eyes . sweeter then aurora's aire , when she paints the lilies faire , and gilds cowslips with her haire . chafter then the virgin spring , ere her blossomes she doth bring , or cause philomel to sing . if such goodnesse live 'mongst men , bring me it ; i know then she is come from heaven agen . but if not , ye standers by cherish me , and say that i am the next design'd to dy . . an ancient epitaph on martin mar-prelate . the welshman is hanged , who at our kirk flanged , and at her state banged , and breaded are his bukes : and though he be hanged , yet he is not wranged , the devill has him fanged in his kruked klukes . . vpon hodge pue's father . oh cruell death that stop● the view of thoms parishioner good-man pue , who lived alwayes in good order , untill that death stopt his recorder , which was betwixt easter and pentecost , in the year of the great frost : at new-market then was the king , when as the bells did merrily ring ; the minister preached the day before unto his highnesse , and no more , returning home , said prayers , and buried the man as i understand . . on our prime english poet geffery chaucer , an ancient epitaph . my master chaucer , with his fresh comedies is dead , alas ! chiefe poet of britaine , that whilome made full piteous tragedies : the fault also of princes did complaine , as he that was of making soveraigne ; whom all this land should of right preferre , sith of our language he was the load-sterre . . on mr. ed● : spencer , the famous poet. at delphos shrine , one did a doubt propound , which by the oracle must be released , whether of poets were the best renown'd , those that survive , or they that are deceased ? the gods made answer by divine suggestion , while spencer is alive , it is no question . . on iohn owen . well had these words been added to thy herse , what e'r thou spak'st ( like ovid ) was a verse . . on michael drayton buryed in westminster . doe pious marble , let thy readers know , what they , and what their children ow to draytons sacred name , whose dust we recommend unto thy trust . protect his memory , preserve his story , and a lasting monument of his glory , and when thy ruines shall disclaime to be the treasury of his name : his name which cannot fade , shall be an everlasting monument to thee . . on mr. beaumont . he that hath such acutenesse , and such wit , as well may ask six lives to manage it ; he that hath writ so well , that no man dare deny it for the best ; let him beware : beaumont is dead , by whose sole death appears , wit 's a disease consumes men in few years . . on william shakespeare . renowned spencer lye a thought more nigh to learned chaucer , and rare beaumont lye a little nearer spencer , to make room for shakespeare in your threefold , fourfold tomb , to lodge all four in one bed make a shift untill dooms-day , for hardly will a fifth betwixt this day and that , by fates be slain , for whom your curtains may be drawn again . if your precedency in death doe bar a fourth place in your sacred sepulcher ; under this sacred marble of thine owne , sleep rare tragoedian shakespeare ! sleep ●lone . thy unmolested peace in an unshared cave , possesse as lord , not tenant of thy grave , that knto us , and others it may be , honour hereafter to be laid by thee . . on ben : iohnson . here lyes iohnson with the rest of the poets ; but the best . reader , wo'dst thou more have known ? ask his story , not this stone ; that will speak what this can't tell of his glory . so farewell . . another on ben : i. the muses fairest light , in no dark time ; the wonder of a learned age ; the line that none can passe ; the most proportion'd wit to nature : the best judge of what was fit : the deepest , plainest , highest , clearest pen : the voyce most eccho'd by consenting men : the soul which answer'd best to all well said by others : and which most requitall made : tun'd to the highest key of ancient rome , returning all her musick with her owne . in whom with nature , study claim'd a part , and yet who to himself ow'd all his art ; here lyes ben : iohnson , every age will look with sorrow here , with wonder on his book . . on mr. francis quarles . to them that understand themselves so well , as what , not who lies here , to ask , i 'l tell , what i conceive , envy dare not deny , far both from falshood , and from flattery . here drawn to land by death , doth lye a vessell fitter for the skye , then iasons argo , though to greece , they say , it brought the golden fleece . the skillfull pilot steer'd it so , hither and thither , to and fro , through all the seas of poetry , whether they far or near doe lye , and fraught it so with all the wealth , of wit and learning , not by stealth , or piracy , but purchase got , that this whole lower world could not richer commodities , or more afford to adde unto his store . to heaven then with an intent of new discoveries , he went , and left his vessell here to rest till his return shall make it blest . the bill of lading he that looks to know , may find it in his books . . on doctor donnes death . he that would write an epitaph for thee , and doe it well , must first begin to be such as thou wert ; for none can truly know thy worth , thy life , but he that hath liv'd so . he must have wit to spare , and to hurle down : enough to keep the gallants of the town . he must have learning plenty ; both the laws , civill , and common , to judge any cause ; divinity great store , above the rest ; none of the worst edition , but the best ; he must have language , travall , all the arts ; judgement to use ; or else he wants thy parts . he must have friends the highest , able to do ; such as maecenas and augustus too ; he must have such a sicknesse , such a death , or else his vain descriptions come beneath . who then shall write an epitaph for thee , he must be dead first ; let alone for me . . on doctor whaly . what ? is the young apollo grown of late conscious his tender years are nothing fit to rule the now large heliconian s●ate , without a sage competitor in it ? and therefore sen● death , who might whaly bring to be a guardian to this stripling king ? sure so it is , but if we thought it might be worse then this : namely , that th' gods for spight to earth , had ta'n him hence ; wee 'd weep amain , wee 'd weep a phlegethon , an ocean ; which might without the help of charous oares , ferry his soule to the elysian shoares . . on doctor bambrigg . were but this marble vocall , there such an elogium would appear as might , though truth did dictate , move distrust in either faith or love ; as ample knowledge as could rest inshrined in a mortals breast , which ne'rethelesse did open lye , uncovered by humility . a heart which piety had chose , to be her altar , whence arose such smoaking sacrifices , that we here can onely wonder at ; a honey tongue that could dispence , torrents of sacred eloquence ; that 't is no wonder if this stone because it cannot speak , doth groan ; for could mortality assent , these ashes would prove eloquent . . on sir walter rawleigh at his execution . great heart , who taught thee so to dye ? death yielding thee the victory ? where took'st thou leave of life ? if there , how couldst thou be so freed from fear ? but sure thou dyest , and qui●'st the state of flesh and blood before the fate . else what a miracle were wrought , to triumph both in flesh and thought ? i saw in every stander by , pale death , life onely in thine eye : th' example that thou left'st was then , we look for when thou dy'st agen . farewell , truth shall thy story say , we dy'd , thou onely liv'dst that day . . on sir horatio palavozeene . here lies sir horatio palavozeene , who rob'd the pope to pay the queene , and was a thief . a thief ? thou ly'st : for why ? he rob'd but antichrist . him death with his beesome swept from babram , into the bosome of old abraham : but then came hercules with his club , and struck him down to belzebub . . on sir francis drake drowned . where drake first found , there last he lost his fame : and for tomb left nothing but his name . his body 's bury'd under some grea● wave , the sea that was his glory , is his grave : of him no man true epitaph can make , for who can say , here lies sir francis drake . . sir ph. sidney on himselfe . it is not i that dye , i do but leave an inn , where harbour'd was with me , all filthy sin ; it is not i that dye , i doe but now begin into etenall joy by faith to enter in . why mourn you then my parents , friends , and kin ? lament you when i lose , not when i win . . on sir wal●er rawleigh . if spight be pleasd , when as her object 's dead , or malice pleasd , when it hath bruisd the head , or envy pleasd , when it hath what it would , then all are pleasd , for rawleighs blood is cold , which were it warm and active , would o'rcome , and strike the two first blind , the other dumbe . . on sir philip sidney . reader : within this ground sir philip sidney lyes , nor is it sir , that more i should acquaint ; left superstition rise , and men adore a lover , scholler , souldier , and a saint . . on a learned nobleman . he that can read a sigh , and spell a tear , pronounce amazement , or accent will fear , or get all grief by heart , he , onely he , is fit to write , or read thy elegie . unvalued lord ! that wert so hard a text , read in one age , and understood i'th'next . . on the tombs in westminster . mortality , behold , and feare , what a change of flesh is here ! think how many royall bones , sleep within these heaps of stones ; here they lye , had realms , and lands ; who now want strength to stir their hands . where from their pulpits seal'd with dust , they preach , in greatnesse is no trust . here 's an acre sown indeed , with the richest , royal'st seed , that the earth did e'r suck in , since the first man dy'd for sin : here the bones of birth have cry'd , though gods they were , as men they dy'd : here are sands , ignoble things , dropt from the ruin'd sides of kings , here 's a world of pomp and state buried in dust , once dead by fate . . on queen elizabeth . kings , queens , mens , virgins eyes see where the mirrour lyes . in whom her friends have seen , a kings state in a queen : in whom her foes survai'd , a mans heart in a maid . whom lest men for her piety , should grow to think some deity ; heaven hence by death did summon her , to shew that she was woman . . on queen anne , who dyed in march , was kept all aprill , and buried in may. march with his winds hath struck a cedar tall , and weeping aprill mourns the cedars fall : and may intends her month no flowres shall bring , since she must lose the flow'r of all the spring . thy march his winds , have caused aprill show'rs , and yet sad may must lose his flow'r of flow'rs . on prince henry . reader ; wonder think it none , though i speak , and am a stone , here is shri●'d coelestialll dust , and i keep it but in trust : should i not my treasure tell , wonder then you might as well , how this stone could chuse but break , if it had not learn'd to speak : hence amaz'd and ask not me whose these sacred ashes be , purposely it is conceal'd , for alasse ! were that reveal'd , all that read would by and by melt themselves to tears and dy . . on king iames his death . we justly , when a meaner subject dyes , begin his epitaph with , here he lyes , but when a king , whose memory remains triumphant over death ; with , here he reignes : now he is dead , to whom the world imputes deservedly , eternall attributes . for shall we think his glory can decease , that 's honour'd with the stile , the king of peace : whose happy union of great britanny ? calls him the blessed king of unity . and in whose royall title it ensu'th , defender of the faith , and king of truth , these girt thy brows with an immortal crown , ( great iames ) & turn thy tomb into a throne . . on the king of sweden . the world expects swede's monumentall stone should equall the philosophers ; each groane should breath a golden vein , and every verse sould draw elixar from his fatall herse . no fitter subject where strong lines should meet , than such a noble center : could the feet of able verse but trace his victories , where all 's transcendent , who out parallel'd pluiarchs selected heroes , and is held the tenth of worthies : who hath over-acted great german-comment , and contracted h● expeditions by preventing aw , he often overcame before he saw : and ( what of his great son , iove us'd to say ) he alwayes either found or made his way . such was his personall and single fight , as if that death it self had ra'n her flight into brave swedens●cabbard ●cabbard , when he drew , death with that steel inevitably flew . his camp a church , wherein the gen'ralls life was the best sermon , and the onely strife amongst his , was to repeat it ; bended knee was his prime posture , and his enemy found this most prevalent ; his discipline impartiall and exact , it did out-shine those antique martiall grecian , roman lamps , from which most of the worlds succeeding camps have had their borrow'd light ; this , this was he , all this and more ; yet even all this can dye . death surely ventur'd on the swede to try , if heav'n were subject to mortality ; and shot his soule to heav'n , as if that she could ( if not kill ) unthrone a deity . both death 's deceiv'd , 't is in another sense ▪ that heaven is said to suffer violence . no ir'n chain-shot , but 't is the golden chaine of vertue , and the graces are the maine , that doe unhinge the everlasting gates , all which like yoked undivided ma●es , were lin'd in sweden ; where then were ●nchain'd like orthodoxall , volumes nothing feign'd : though fairly bound , his story is not dipt in oyle , but in his own true manuscript . it is enough to name him , surely we have got that romans doting lethargy : and may our names forget , if so we can forget the name of sweden ; renown'd man ? thou hadst no sooner made the worthies ten , but heaven did claim the tenth ; jealous that men would idolize thee , but their instrument . thus thy meridian prov'd thy occident : had longer dayes been granted by the fates , rome had heard this hanniball at her gates . farewell thou austrian scourge , thou modern wonder , strange rain hath followed thy last clap of thunder , a shower of tears : and yet for ought we know , the horn that 's left , may blow down iericho . . to death . death , art thou mad ? or having lost thine eyes , now throw'st thy dart at wild uncertainties ? which hits those men , who hadst thou eyes or sense would challenge from thee mild obedience . their prudent looks gilt with divinity , thy trembling hand would cast thy dart away , and grant the wearied bells a holy day ; and thou griev'd for thy former cruelty , wouldst to the world proclaim a jubilee . but thou art blind and deaf : yet one or two at most , me thinks , had been enow to satisfie thy bloody tyranny . but thou wouldst fain rob poor mortality of all true worth , that men might be as base as thou art , and the devils of thy race . art thou coward grown ? why didst not dart thy spight at lusty youth ? whose valiant heart would scorn thy fond alarums , and would sl●ght thy mighty malice , and thy puny might . this had bin fair enough ; but thou goest further : that had been but man-slaughter , this is murther ; to kill those rich-soul'd men , who sweetly doe whisper unto their willing souls to goe . but knowledge of thy weaknesse makes thee wise , thou seek'st not triumphs now , but sacrifice . thy malice fools thee too , thou hop'st they 'd griev because they should be forc'd behind to leave their honour'd worth ; but ( fond fool ) they be now crown'd and cloath'd with immortality . nor shal● thou kill their fames ; here we will raise a monument to them , shall out-last dayes ; nor shall decay , untill the trumpets call the world to see thy long-wish'd funerall : till then sleep blest soules , freed from hopes and fears . whilst we do write your epitaphs in tears . fancies and fantasticks . maze time that all things doth inheritt renders each desert his meritt , youth with youth is best combined , each one with his like is twined , bewty should have bewteous meaning , ever that hope easeth playning , doe so and to love be turning el's each ♡ it will be burning learne to love & leave denying , endles knotts let fates be tying , such a face so fine a feature , kindest , fairest , sweetest creature , never yet was found but loving , o then let my plaints be moving , i love not with vowes contesting , faith is faith without protesting , aenigma . as often as i please it changeth forme , it is no coward , though it doe no harme ; 't is never hurt , nor ever doth it seed ; 't is nothing worth , yet nothing doth it need . swiftly it runs , yet never maketh sound , and once being lost , again 't is never found . 't is a fit servant for a gentleman , and a true pattern for a serving-man . 't is born a gyant , lives a dwarfe , and nigh unto its death , a gyant doth it dye . another on the six cases . no. nanta was nominated for a w. gen. for she that had been genitive before : da. notice hereof was to the iustice given , acc. who her accu'sd , that she had loosly liven . voc. but she cry'd mercy , and her fault up ript , abl. and so was ta'n away and soundly whipt . her case was ill ; yet will the question be , being thus declin'd , in what a case was she if v i , as i v am true , v i must lye , and i in v thoughts — c searching c valued may b love — may b truth never ties too a foole yy if have part and v bb y 'ave . . many then i. c. and r not worth write qq i 'le — not yours vv a riddle . a begger once exceeding poore , a penny pray'd me give him , and deeply vow'd ne'r to ask more and i ne'r more to give him , next day he begg'd again , i gave , yet both of us our oaths did save . another . there was a man bespake a thing , which when the owner home did bring , he that made it , did refuse it , he that bought it , would not use it ; he that hath it doth not know whether he hath it , yea or no. another . one evening , as cold , as cold might be , with frost and snow , and pinching weather , companions about three times three , lay close all in a bed together ; yet one after other they took heat , and dy'd that night all in a sweat . maze this is love and worth commending , still beginning never ending , like a wilie net insnaring in a round shuts up all squaring . in and out , whose everie angle more and more doth still intangle . keeps a measure still in moving , and is never light but lovinge twyning armes exchanging kisses , each partaking others blisses . laughing weepinge still togeather blisse in one is myrth in either . never breaking ever bending , this is love & worth commending . a doubtfull meaning . the faeminine kind is counted ill : and is i swear : the contrary ; no man can find : that hurt they will ; but every where : doe show pity ; to no kind heart : they will be curst ; to all true friends : they will be trusty ; in no part : they work the worst ; with tongue and mind : but honesty ; they doe detest : inconstancy ; they doe embrace : honest intent ; they like least : lewd fantasie ; in every case : are penitent ; at no season : doing amisse ; to it truly : contrary ; to all reason : subject and meek ; to no body : malicious ; to friend or foe : or gentle sort ; they be never : doing amisse ; in weale and woe : of like report ; they be ever : be sure of this ; the faeminine kind : shall have my heart ; nothing at all : false they will be ; in word and mind : to suffer smart ; and ever shall : believe you me . a goe that doth that 's rul'd by . whose sayes no : i 'le try ere trust ward left my find slight regard . the a whilst i lovers that gazed me . there was nor nor loathsome that might disturb or break delight , nor nor in that same road , and yet to me they seem'd affright . then favour them i told , true love cannot be bold . these may be read two or three wayes . your face your tongue your wit so faire so smooth so sharp first drew then mov'd then knit mine eye mine eare my heart mine eye mine eare my heart thus drawn thus mov'd thus knit ●ffects hangs on yeelds to your face your tongue your wit these may be read backward or forward . joy , mirth , triumphs , i doe defie , destroy me death ; fain would i dye : forlorn am i , love is exil'd , scorn smiles thereat ; hope is beguild : men banish'd blisse , in woe must dwell , then joy , mirth , triumphs all farewell . maze true love is a pretious pleasure , rich delight unvalu'd treasure , two firme heartes in one ♡ meeting , grasping hand in hand ne'r fleeting , wreathlike like a maze entwineing two faire mindes in one combineing ; foe to faithless vowes perfidious true love is a knott religious , dead to the sinnes that flameing rise through beauties soule seduceing eyes , deafe to gold enchaunting witches , love for vertue not for riches ; such is true loves boundles measure . true love is a pretious pleasure . est aliis servire tenetur iure qui sum servire necesse est iure tibi me te nulli cunctos aut are videris qui cunctos hos laude aut fero cunctis . thus englished . - ling is bound to serve his mris. hands an - you & bound to do your high cōmands i 'm none 's you you all are then i 'll praise you other men . a new years gift . that our loves may never alter , tye it fast with this strong halter . the answer . the rope is old , the jest is new , i 'll take the jest , the rope take you . a gentleman to his love. tell her i love ; and if she ask how well ; tell her my tongue told thee no tongue can tell . her answer . say not you love , unlesse you do , for lying will not honour you . his reply . madam , i love , and love to doe , and will not lye , unless with you . to his mistresse . a constant heart within a womans breast , is ophir gold within an ivory chest. her answer . of such a treasure then thou art possest , for thou hast such a heart in such a ghest . on chloris walking in the snow . i saw fair chloris walk alone , when feather'd rain came softly down , then iove descended from his tower , to court her in a silver shower : the wanton snow flew to her brest , like little birds into their nest ; but overcome with whitenes there for grief it thaw'd into a teare ; then falling down her garment hem , to deck her , froze into a gem . vpon clarinda , begging a lock of her lovers hair . fairest clarinda , she whom truth calls faire , begg'd my heart of me , and a lock of haire ; should i give both , said i , how should i live ? the lock i would , the heart i would not give : for that , left theeving love should steal away , discretion had lock'd up , and kept the key ; as for the lock of hair which lovers use , my head laid on her knee , i pray'd her chuse , taking her sizars by a cunning art , first pick'd the lock , and then she stole my heart . maze a ✚ begins love's criss cross row . love 's not wthout a cross or two . a duble ✚ begins this knot love wthout crosses meritts not , this knot & love are both alike . seeing first & last are both to seek reaching , spreading , round about , all wayes turning in & out still increasing still renewing crossing meeting still continuing winding this way that way bending wthout beginning without ending true love's stirring still in action allways tending to perfection no cross can stop true loves intent but it goes on to what it ment and though it meet w th many a one , true love makes a ✚ seeme non to those that never love but one love of manys true loves bane and such shall be cross'd & cross'd againe who lives to love must learne to know a ✚ begins loves criss cross-row . a loving bargain . give me a kisse , i 'll make that odde one even , then treble that which you have given ; be sure i 'l answer you , and if i misse , then take a thousand forfeits for a kisse , and a thousand be too few , than take more : kisse me with your kisses , make me poore : when i am begger'd some hope will remain , you will for pity give me some again . a question . between two suiters sat a lady faire , upon her head a garland she did wear : and of the enamoured two , the first alone , a garland wore like hers , the second none ; from her own head she took the wreath she wore , and on him plac'd it that had none before . and then mark this , their brows were both about beset with garlands , and she sate without : beholding now these rivalls on each side of her thus plac'd and deck'd with equall pride : she from the first mans head the wreath he had took off , and therewith her own brow she clad . and then ( not this ) she and the second were with garlands deck'd ; and the first man sate bare . now which did she love best ? of him to whom she gave the wreath ? or him she took it from ? the answer . in my conceit , she would him soonest have , from whom she took , not him to whom she gave . for to bestow , many respects may move : but to receive , none can perswade but love . shee grac'd him much on whom the wreath shee plac'd ; but him whose wreath she wore , she much more grac'd . for where she gives , she there a servant makes , but makes her selfe a servant where she takes . then where she takes , she honours most : & where she doth most honour , she most love doth bear . an incomparable kisse . give me a kisse from those sweet lips of thine , and make it double by enjoyning mine , another yet , nay yet another , and let the first kisse be the seconds brother . give me a thousand kisses , and yet more ; and then repeat those that have gone before ; let us begin while day-light springs in heav'n and kisse till night descends into the ev'n , and when that modest secretary , night , discolours all but thy heav'n-beaming bright , we will begin revels of hidden love , in that sweet orbe where silent pleasures move . in high , new strains , unspeakable delight , we 'll vent the dull houres of the silent night . were the brigh● day no more to visit us , o then for ever would i hold thee thus ; naked , inchain'd , empty of idle feare , as the first lovers in the garden were . i 'll dye betwixt thy breasts that are so whi●● , for , to dye there , would doe a man delight . embrace me still , for time runs on before , and being dead we shall embrace no more . let us kisse faster then the hours doe flye , long live each kisse , and never know to dye . yet if that fade , and fly away too fast , impresse another , and renew the last ; let us vie kisses , till our eye-lids cover , and if i sleep , count me an idle lover , admit i sleep , i 'll still pursue the theam , and eagerly i 'l kisse thee in a dream . o give me way ; grant love to me thy friend , did hundred thousand sui●ers all contend for thy virginity , there 's none shall woe with heart so firm as mine ; none better do then i with your sweet sweetnesse ; if you doubt , pier●● with your eyes my heart , or pluck it out . to his mistresse . dearest , thy twin'd haires are not threds of gold , nor thine eyes diamonds ; nor doe i hold thy lips for rubies , nor thy cheeks to be fresh roses ; nor thy dugs of ivory ; the skin that doth thy dainty body sheath , not ●lablaster is ; nor dost thou breath arabian odours ; these the earth brings forth , compar'd with thine , they would impair thy worth ; such then are other mistresses ; but mine ▪ hath nothing earth , but all divine . the answer . if earth doth never change , nor move , there 's nought of earth sure in thy love ; sith heavenly bodies with each one , concur in generation ; and wanting gravity are light , or in a borrowed lustre bright ; if meteors and each falling starre , of heavenly matter framed are , earth hath thy mistresse , but sure thine all heavenly is , though not divine . to his mistresse . i love , because it comes to me by kind ; and much , because it much delights my mind : and thee , because thou art within my heart : and thee alone , because of thy desert . i love , and much , and thee , and thee alone , by kind , mind , heart , and every one . her answer . thou lov'st not , because thou art unkind , nor much , cause it delighteth not thy mind : nor me , because i am not in thy heart : nor me alone , because i want desert : thou lov'st nor much , nor me , nor me alone , by kind , mind , heart , desert , nor any one . clownish courtship . excellent mistresse , brighter than the moon , then scoured pewter , or the silver-spoon , fairer then phaebus , or the morning starre ; dainty faire mistresse , by my troth you are as far excelling dian and her nymphs , as lobsters crawfish , and as crawfish shrimps : thine eyes like diamonds , doe shine most clearly , as i 'm an honest man , i love thee dearly . a comparison . like to the selfe-inhabiting snaile , or like a squirrell pent-hous'd under his taile , even such is my mistresse face in a vaile : or like to a carp that 's lost in mudding , nay , more like to a black-pudding : for as the pudding , the skin lies within , so doth my mistresse beauty in a taffity gin . a question . tell me ( sweet-heart ) how spell'st thou ione , tell me but that , 't is all i crave ; i shall not need to be alone , if such a lovely mate i have ; that thou art one , who can deny ? and all will grant that i am i , if i be i , and thou art one , tell me ( sweet-heart ) how spell'st thou ione . the answer . i tell you sir , and tell you true , that i am i , and i am one , so can i spell ione without you , and spelling so , can lye alone : my eye to one is consonant , but as for yours it is not so ; if that your eye agreement want , i to your eye must answer no ; therefore leave off your loving plea , and let your i be i per se. loves prime . dear love , doe not your fair beauty wrong with thinking still you are too young , the rose and lilly in your cheek doe flourish , and no ripening seek : those flaming beams shot from your eye , doe show loves midsumer is nigh . your cherry-lip , red , soft and sweet , proclaim such fruit for tast is meet : then lose no time , for love hath wings , and flies away from aged things . another to his mistresse . when first i saw thee , thou didst sweetly play the gentle thief , and stol'st my heart away ; render me mine again , or leave thy owne , two are too much for thee , since i have none : but if thou wilt not , i will swear thou art a sweet-fac'd creature with a double heart . another . sweetest fair be not too cruell , blot not beauty with disdain , let not those bright eyes adde fewell to a burning heart in vain ; lest men justly when i dye , deem you the candle , me the flye . another . i cannot pray you in a studyed stile , nor speak words distant from my heart a mile ; i cannot visit hide-park every day , and with a hackney court my time away ; i cannot spaniolize it week by week , or wait a month to kisse your hand or cheek ; if when you 'r lov'd , you cannot love again , why , doe but say so , i am out of pain . excuse for absence . you 'll ask perhaps wherefore i stay , ( loving so much , ) so long away ? i doe not think 't was i did part , it was my body , not my heart : for like a compasse in your love , one foot was fixt , and cannot move ; th' other may follow the blind guide of giddy fortune , but cannot slide beyond your service ; nor will venter to wander far from you the center . to a faire , but unkind mistresse . i prethee turn that face away , whose splendor bu● benight● my day ; sad eyes like mine , and wounded hearts , shun the bright rayes that beauty darts ; unwelcome is the sun tha● prie● into those shades where sorrow lyes . goe shine on happy things , to me the blessing is a misery ; for your bright sun , not warms , but burns ; like that the indian sooty turnes . i 'l serve the night , and there confin'd , wish thee lesse fair ; or else more kind . to himselfe . retreat sad heart , breed not thy further pain ; admire , but fonder thoughts seek to refrain . to some ladies . ladies , you that seem so nice , and in show as cold as ice , and perhaps have held out thrice , doe not think , but in a trice , one or other may entice ; and at last by some device , set your honour at a price . you whose smooth and dainty skin , rosie lips , or cheeks , or chin , all that gaze upon you win , yet insult not , sparks within slowly burn e'r flames begin , and presumption still hath bin held a most notorious sin . a heart lost . good folk , for love or hire , but help me to a cryer , for my poor heart is gone astray after two eyes that went that way . o yes ! if there be any man in town or country , can bring me my heart again , i 'll pay him for his pain . and by these marks i will you show , that onely i this heart doe ow : it is a wounded heart , wherein yet flick● the dart , every part sore hurt throughout : faith and troth writ round about . it is a tame heart and a deare , that never us'd to roame , but having got a haunt , i feare will never stay at home , for love-sake walking by this way , if you this heart doe see ; either impound it for a stray , or send it home to me . the sad lover . why should i wrong my judgement so , as for to love where i doe know there is no hold for to be taken ? for what her wish thirsts after most , if once of it her heart can boast , straight by her folly 't is forsaken . thus whilst i still pursue in vaine , me thinks i turn a child again , and of my shadow am a chasing . for all her favours are to me like appari●ions which i see , but never can come near th'●bracing . oft had i wish'd that there had been some almanack whereby to have seen when love with her had been in season . but i perceive there is no art can find the epact of the heart , that loves by chance , and not by reason . yet will i not for this despaire , for time her humor may prepare to grace him who is now neglected . and what unto my constancy shee now denies : one day may be from her instancy expected . a watch sent to a gentlewoman . goe and count her happy hours , they more happy are than ours : that day that gets her any blisse , make it twice as long as 't is : the houre she smiles in , let it be by thine art increas'd to thee : but if she frown on thee or mee , know night is made , by her , not thee : be swif● in such an hour , and soon make it night , though it be noon : obey her time , who is the free , fair sun that governs thee and me . on a fairing . let them whose hear● distrusts a mistresse faith , bribe it with gifts : mine no suspition hath : it were a sin of as much staine in me , to think you false , as so my selfe to be . if to reward that thou hast exprest , thou dost expect a present : 't is confest 't were justice from another , but i am so poor ; i have not left my self a name in substance ; not made thine by gift before : he that bestowes his heart , can give no more if thou wouldst have a fairing from me , then give me my self back , i 'll give it thee agen . posies for rings . wee are agreed in time to speed . i trust in time thou wilt be mine . in thy breast my heart doth rest . this and the giver are thine for ever . t is love alone makes two but one . loves knot once tyde who can divide ? where hearts agree no strife can be . god above increase our love . though time doe slide , yet in true love abide . nought so sweet , as when we greet . thy affection , my perfection . with a to julia. iulia , i bring to thee this ring , made for thy finger fit ; to shew by this , that our love is or sho'd be , like to it . close though it be , thy joynt is free : so when lov's yoke is on it must not gall , or fret at all with hard oppression . but it must play still either way ; and be , too , such a yoke , as not too wide , to over-slide ; or be so strait to choak . so we , who beare , this beam , must reare our selves to such a height : as that the stay of either may create the burden light . and as this round is no where found to flaw or else to sever : so let our love as endlesse prove ; and pure as gold for ever . true beauty . may i finde a woman faire , and her mind as clear as air ; if her beauty gone alone , 't is to me , as if 't were none . may i find a woman rich , and not of too high a pitch : if that pride should cause disdain , tell me , lover , where 's thy gain ? may i find a woman wise , and her falshood not disguise ; hath she wit , as she hath will ? double arm'd she is to ill . may i find a woman kind , and not wavering like the wind ▪ how should i call that love mine , when 't is his , and his , and thine ? may i find a woman true , there is beauties fairest hue ; there is beauty , love and wit , happy he can compasse it . choyce of a mistresse . not that i wish my mistris more or lesse than what she is , write i these lines , for 't is too late rules to prescribe unto my fate . but yet a● tender stomach● call for some choyce mea● , that bears not all ▪ a queazie lover may impart , what mistresse 't is that please his heart . first i would have her richly spred , with natures blossomes white and red ; for flaming hearts will quickly dye , that have not fewell from the eye . 〈◊〉 this alone will never win , except some treasure lies within ; for where the spoile's not worth the stay , men raise their siege and goe away . i 'd have her wise enough to know when , and to whom a grace to show : for she that doth at randome chuse , she will , as soon her choyce refuse . and yet methinks i 'd have her mind to flowing courtesie inclin'd : and tender hearted as a maid , yet pity onely when i pray'd . and i would wish her true to be , ( mistake me not ) i mean to me ; she that loves me , and loves one more , will love the kingdome o'r and o'r . and i could wish her full of wit , knew she how to huswife it : but she whose wisdome makes her dare to try her wit , will sell more ware . some other things , delight will bring , as if she dances , play , and sing . so they be safe , what though her parts catch ten thousand forain hearts . but let me see , should she be proud ; a little pride should be allow'd . each amorous boy will sport and prate too freely , where he finds not state . i care not much though she let down sometime a chiding , or a frown . but if she wholly quench desire , 't is hard to kindle a new fire . to smile , to toy , is not amisse , sometimes to interpose a kisse ; but not to cloy ; sweet things are good , pleasant for sawce , but not for food . wishes to his supposed mistresse . who e'r she be , that is the onely she , that shall command my heart and me . might you hear my wishes bespeak her to my blisses , and be call'd my absent kisses . i wish her beauty , that owes not all his duty to gawdy tire , or some such folly . a face that 's best by its own beauty drest ; and can alone command the rest . smiles , that can warme the blood , yet teach a charme that chastity shall take no harme . joyes that confesse vertue her mistresse , and have no other head to dresse . dayes , that in spight of darknesse , by the light of a clear mind , are day all night . life that dares send a challenge to his end , and when it 's come , say , welcome friend . soft silken howers , open sunnes ; shady bowers , bove all ; nothing within that lowers . i wish her store of wealth may leave her poore of wishes ; and i wish no more . now if time knowes , that her whose radiant browes , weave them a garlant of my vowes . her that dare bee , what these lines wish to see , i seek no further , it is shee . such worth as this is , shall fix my flying wishes and determine them to kisses . let her full glory , ( my fancies ) fly before ye , be ye my fiction , but her my story . to a lady . madam , should i not smother this ambitious fire , which actuates my verse : it would aspire to blear your vertues , in a glimm'ring line ; and your perfections in its measures twine . but i have check'd my fancie muse , nor dare● dull poetry attempt to scan the spheares ; or in a cloudy rime invaile the light , or court the trembling watchmen of the night ; some vulgar vertue , or a single blaze , might stand in verse ; and would endure a gaze : but when both art , and nature , shall agree to summe them all in one epitome : when the perfections of both sexes , are lock'd in one female store-house ; who shall dare in an audacious rapture , to untwine into loose numbers , what heaven doth enshrine , in one rich breast ? dazled invention say , canst thou embowell either india , in one poor rime ? or can thy torch-light fire , shew us the sun ; or any star that 's higher ? if thou wilt needs spend thy officious flame , doe it in admiration : but disclaime thy power to praise : thy senders wishes , bear , and be the herauld of the new-born year : wish that each rising sun , may see her more happy , then when he rose the morn before ; and may , when e'r he gilds the envious west , leave her more blest , then when he grac'd the feast ; wish higher yet , that her felicity may equalize her vertues : poetry thou art too low ; canst thou not swell a strain may reach my thoughts : good madam since 't is vain , ( and yet my verse to kisse your hand presum'd ) let it to be your sacrifice be doom'd : and what it wants in true poetique fire , let the flame adde , till so my muse expire . an eccho . come eccho i thee summon , tell me truly what is woman ? if worn , she is a feather , if woo'd she's frosty weather ; if worn , the wind not slighter : if weigh'd , the moons not lighter : if lain withall , she 's apish : if not laine with , she 's snappish . come eccho i thee summon , tell me once more what is woman ? if faire , she 's coy in courting , if witty , loose in sporting , if ready , she 's but cloathing , if naked , she 's just nothing , if not belov'd , she horns thee ; if lov'd too well , she scorns thee . the eccho still replyed , but still me thought she lyed . then for my mistresse sake , i againe reply did make . if worn , she is a jewell , if woo'd , she is not cruell , if won , no rock is surer , if weigh'd , no gold is purer , if laine withall , delicious ; if not , yet no way vitious . false eccho goe , you lye , see your errours i descry . and for the second summon i this for woman doe reply . if faire , she 's heavenly treasure , if witty , she 's all pleasure , if ready , she is quaintest , if not ready , she 's daintiest , if lov'd , her heart she spares not , if not belov'd , she cares not . false eccho , goe you lye , see , your errours i descry . icar . oh you doe my hearing wrong , i have turn'd my eyes thus long to be captiv'd by your tongue . phil. then my houres are happy spent , if my tongue give such content , it shall be thy instrument . icar . but be sure you use it then , thus unto no other men , lest that i grow deaf agen . fidelius and his silent mris. flora. fid. my dearest flora can you love me ? flo. prethee prove me . fid. shall i have your hand to kisse ? flo. yes , yes . fid. on this whitenesse let me sweare , flo. no , pray forbeare . fid. i love you dearer then mine eyes . flo. be wise . fid. i prize no happinesse like you . flo. will you be true ? fid. as i● the turtle to her mate . flo. i hate . fid. who my divinest flora , me ? flo. no flattery . fid. he that flatters , may he dye . flo. perpetually . fid. and his black urne be the cell , flo. where furies dwell . fid. may his name be blasphemous , flo. to us . fid. his memory for ever rot ; flo. and be forgot . fid. lest it keep our age and youth , flo. from love and truth . fid. thus upon your virgin hand , flo. your vows shall stand . fid. this kisse confirmes my act and deed . flo. you may exceed . fid. your hand , your lip , i 'll vow on both ; flo. a dangerous oath . fid. my resolution ne'r shall start ; flo. you have my heart . fears and resolves of two lovers . a. what wouldst thou wish ? tell me dear lover , i. how i might but thy thoughts discover . a. if my firme love i were denying , tell me , with sighes wouldst thou be dying ? i. those words in jest to hear thee speaking , for very grief , this heart is breaking . a. yet wouldst thou change ? i prethee tell me , in seeing one that doth excell me ? i. o no , for how can i aspire , to more then to my own desire ? this my mishap doth chiefly grieve me ; though i doe swear'● , you 'l not believe me . a. imagine that thou dost not love me ; but some beauty that 's above me . i. to such a thing sweet doe not will me ; the naming of the same will kill me . a. forgive me faire one , love hath feares : i. i doe forgive , witnesse these teares . a sonnet . who can define , this all things , nothing love , which hath so much of every thing in it ? which watry , with the planets oft doth move , and with the zoane it hath a fiery fit ; oft seizes men , like massy stupid earth , and with the aire , it filleth every place ; which had no midwife , nor i think no birth , no shrine , no arrows , but a womans face . a god he is not , for he is unjust ; a boy he is not , for he hath more power ; a faction 't is not , all will yeeld i trust ; what is it then , that is so sweetly sower ? no law so wise , that can his absence prove ? but ( ah ) i know there is a thing call'd love. a love-sick-sonnet . love is a sicknesse full of woes , all remedies refusing : a plant that with most cutting grows , most barren with best using . why so ? more we enjoy it , more it dies , if not enjoy'd , it sighing cries hey ho ! love is a torment of the minde , a tempest everlasting ; and iove hath made it of a kinde , not well , nor full nor fasting . why so ? more we enjoy it , more it dies , if not enjoy'd , it sighing cryes hey ho ! a question . fain would i learn of men the reason why they swear they dye for love , yet lowly ly ? or why they fondly dote on , and admire a painted face , or a fantastick tyre . for while such idols they fall down before , they prove more fools then those they thus adore . answer . the reason why men loving lowly ly ; is hope to gaine their purposes therby . and that they fondly dote on paint and tires ; 't is just in love , to shew mens fond desires . and for the rest , this have i heard from schools that love , makes foolish wise , & wise men fools . sighs . all night i muse , all day i cry , ay me . yet still i wish , tho still deny . ay me . i sigh , i mourn , and say that still , i onely live my joyes to kill . ay me . i feed the pain that on me feeds , ay me . my wound i stop not , though it bleeds ; ay me . heart be content , it must be so , for springs were made to overflow . ay me . then sigh and weep , and mourn thy fill , ay me . seek no redresse , but languish still . ay me . their griefs more willing they endure , that know when they are past recure . ay me . to celia weeping . fairest , when thine eyes did poure a chrystall shower ; i was perswaded , that some stone had liquid grown ; and thus amazed ; sure thought i when stones are moist , some rain is nigh . why weep'st thou ? cause thou cannot be more hard to me ? so lionesses pitty , so doe tygres too : so doth that bird , which when she 's fed on all the man , pines or'e the head. yet i 'le make better omens till event beguile ; those pearly drops , in time shall be a precious sea ; and thou shalt like thy corall prove , soft under water , hard above . an hymne to love. i will confesse with cheerfullnesse , love is a thing so likes me , that let her lay on me all day , i 'le kisse the hand that strikes me . i will not , i , now blubb'ring cry , it ( ah ! ) too late repents me , that i did fall to love at all , since love so much contents me . no , no , i 'le be in fetters free ; while others they sit wringing their hands for paine ; i 'le entertaine the wounds of love with singing . with flowers and wine and cakes divine , to strike me i will tempt thee : which done ; no more i le come before thee and thine altars empty . loves discoverys . with much of paine , and all the art i knew , have i endeavor'd hitherto to hide my love ; and yet all will not doe . the world perceives it , and it may be , she ; though so discreet and good she be , by hiding it , to teach that skill to me . men without love have oft so cunning growne , that something like it they have showne , but none that had it ever seem'd t' have none . love 's of a strangely open , simple kind , can no arts or disguises find , but thinks none sees it cause it self is blind . the very eye betrayes our inward smart ; love of himselfe left there a part , when through it he past into the heart . or if by chance the face betray not it , but keep the secret wisely , yet , like drunkennesse into the tongue 't will get . heart-breaking . it gave a piteous groan , and so it broke ; in vaine it something would have spoke : the love within too strong for't was like poyson put into a venice glasse . i thought that this some remedy might prove , but , oh , the mighty serpent love , cut by this chance in pieces small , in all still liv'd , and still it slung in all . and now ( alas ) each little broken part feels the whole pain of all my heart : and every smallest corner still lives with that torment which the whole did kill . even so rude armies when the field they quit , and into severall quarters get ; each troop does spoyle and ruine more then all joyn'd in one body did before . how many loves reigne in my bosome now ? how many loves , yet all of you ? thus have i chang'd with evill fate my monarch love into a tyrant state. a tear sent his mistresse . glide gentle streams , and bear along with you my tear to that coy girle ; who smiles , yet slayes me with delayes ; and strings my tears as pearle . see! see she 's yonder set , making a carkanet of mayden-flowers ! there , there present this orient , and pendant pearl of ours . then say , i 've sent one more jem , to enrich her store ; and that is all which i can send , or vainly spend , for tears no more will fall . nor will i seek supply of them , the springs once dry ; but i 'le devise , ( among the rest ) a way that 's best how i may save mine eyes . yet say , sho'd she condemn me to surrender them ; then say ; my part must be to weep out them ; to keep a poor , yet loving heart . say too , she wo'd have this ; she shall : then my hope is , that when i 'm poore , and nothing have to send , or save ; i 'm sure she 'll ask no more . a song . to thy lover deer , discover that sweet blush of thine tha● shameth ( when those roses it discloses ) all the flowers that nature nameth in free ayre , flow thy haire ; that no more summers best dresses , be beholden for their golden locks to phaebus flaming tresses . o deliver love his quiver , from thy eyes he shoots his arrowes , where apollo cannot follow : feathered with his mothers sparrows . o envy not ( that we dye not ) those deer lips whose door encloses all the graces in their place● , brother pearles , and sister roses . from these treasures of ripe pleasures one bright smile to clear the weather . earth and heaven thus made even , both will be good friends together . the aire does wooe thee , winds cling to thee , might a word once flye from out thee ; storm and thunder would fit under , and keep silence round about thee . but if natures common creatures , so deer glories dare not borrow ; yet thy beauty owes a duty , to my loving lingring sorrow . when my dying life is flying ; those sweet aires that often slew me ; shall revive me , or reprive me , and to many deaths renew me . the cruell maid . and cruell maid , because i see you scornfull of my love , and me : i le trouble you no more ; but goe my way , where you shall never know what is become of me : there i will find me out a path to dye ; or learn some way how to forget you , and your name , for ever : yet ere i goe hence , know this from me , what will , in time , your fortune be : this to your coynesse i will tell ; and having spoke it once , farewell . the lilly will not long endure ; nor the snow continue pure : the rose , the violet , one day see , both these lady-flowers decay : and you must fade , as well as they . and it may chance that love may turn , and ( like to mine ) make your heart burn . and weep to see 't ; yet this thing doe , that my last vow commends to you : when you shall see that i am dead , for pitty let a tear be shed ; and ( with your mantle o're me cast ) give my cold lips a kisse at last : if twice you kisse , you need not feare , that i shall stir , or live more here . next hollow out a tomb to cover me ; me , the most despised lover ; and write thereon , this , reader , know , love kill'd this man. no more but so . silence . no ; to what purpose should i speak ? no , wretched heart , swell till you break ! she cannot love me if she would ; and to say truth , 't were pity that she should . no , to the grave thy sorrows beare , as silent as they will be there : since that lov'd hand this mortall wound doth give , so handsomely the thing contrive , that she may guiltlesse of it live . so perish , that her killing thee may a chance medley , and no murther be . 't is nobler much for me , that i by ' her beauty , not her anger dye ; this will look justly , and become an execution , that a martyrdome . the censuring world will ne're refrain from judging men by thunder slain . she must be angry sure , if i should be so bold to ask her to make me by being hers , happier then she ; i will not ; 't is a milder fate to fall by her not loving , then her hate . and yet this death of mine , i fear , will ominous to her appear ▪ when , sound in every other part , her sacrifice is found without an heart ; for the last tempest of my death shall sigh out that too , with my breath . his misery . water , water i aspie : come , and coole ye ; all who fry in your loves ; but none as i. though a thousand showers be still a falling , ye● i see not one drop to light on me . happy you , who can have seas for to quench ye , or some ease from your kinder mistresses . i have one , and she alone of a thousand thousand known , dead to all compassion . such an one , as will repeat both the cause , and make the heat more by provocation great . gentle friends , though i despaire of my cure , doe you beware of those girles , which cruell are . the call. marina , stay , and run not thus like a young roe away , no enemy pursues thee ( foolish girle ) 't is onely i , i le keep off harmes , if thou 'l be pleas'd to garrison mine arms ; what dost thou feare i le turn a traytour ? may these roses here to palenesse shred , and lillies stand disguised in new red , if that i lay a snare , wherein thou wouldst not gladly stay ; see , see the sun doth slowly to his azure lodging run ; come sit but here , and presently hee 'l quit our hemisphere ; so still among lovers , time is too short or else too long ; here will we spin legends for them , that have love martyrs been ; here on this plaine wee 'l talke narcissus to a flower again ; come here and chose on which of these proud plate thou wouldst here mayst thou shame the rusty violets , with the crimson flame , of either cheek ; and primroses white as thy fingers seek ; nay , thou mayst prove that mans most noble passion , is to love . a check to her delay . come come away , or let me goe ; must i here stay , because y' are slow ; and will continue so ? troth lady , no. i scorne to be a slave to state : and since i 'm free i will not wait , henceforth at such a rate , for needy fate . if you desire my spark sho'd glow , the peeping fire you must blow ; or i shall quickly grow to frost or snow . the l●re . farewell , nay prethee turn again , rather then loose thee , i le arraign my self before thee ; thou ( most faire ) shall be thy self the judge ; i le never grudge a law , ordain'd by thee . pray doe but see , how every rose a sanguine visage doth disclose , o see , what aromatick gusts they breath ; come here we 'le sit , and learn to knit , them up into a wreath . with that wreath , crowned shalt thou be ; not grac't by it , but it thee ; then shall the fawning zephir● wait to hear what thou shalt say , and softly play , while newes to me they bear . come prethee come , wee 'l now assay to piece the scantnesse of the day ; wee 'l pluck the wheel● from th'charry of the sun ▪ that he , may give us time to live ; till that our scene be done . wee 'l suffer viperous thoughts , and cares , to follow after silver haires ; let 's not anticipate them long before ; when they begin , to enter in , each minute they 'l grow more . no , no , marina , see this brook how't would its posting course revoke , ere it shall in the ocean mingled lie , and what i pray , may cause this stay ; but to attest our joy ? far be 't from lust ; such wild fire , ne're shall dare to lurk or kindle here ; diviner flames shall in our fancies roule , which not depresse to earthlinesse , but elevate the soule . then shall a grandiz'd love , confesse , that soules can mingle substances ; that hearts can easily counter-changed be , or at the least , can alter breasts , when breasts themselves agree . to iulia. 't is ev'ning my sweet , and dark ; let us meet ; long time w'have here been a toying : and never as yet , that season co'd get , wherein t' have had an enjoying . for pitty or shame , then let not loves flame , be ever and ever a spending ; since now to the port the path is but short ; and yet our way has no ending . time flyes away fast ; our howers doe wast ; the while we never remember , how soon our life , here , grows old with the yeere , that dyes with the next december . of beauty . what doe i hate , what 's beauty ? lasse how doth it passe ? as flowers , assoon as smelled at evaporate , even so this shadow , ere our eyes can view it , flies . what 's colour ? 'las the sullen night can it affright ; a rose can more vermilion speak , then any cheek ; a richer white on lillies stands , then any hands . then what 's the worth , when any flower is worth far more ? how constant's that which needs must dye when day doth flye ? glow-worms , can lend some petty light , to gloomy night . and what 's proportion ? we discry that in a fly ; and what 's a lip ? 't is in the test red clay at best . and what 's an eye ? an eglets are more strong by farre . who can that specious nothing heed , which flies exceed ? who would his frequent kisses lay on painted clay ? wh'would not if eyes affection move young egle●s love ? is beauty thus ? then who would lye love-sick and dye ? and 's wretched selfe annihilate for knows not what ? and with such sweat and care invade a very shade ? even he that knows not to possesse true happinesse , but has some strong desires to try what 's misery , and longs for tears , oh he will prove one fit for love . farewell to love. well-shadow'd landship , fare-ye-well : how i have lov'd you , none can tell , at least so well as he , that now hates more then e're he lov'd before . but my dear nothings , take your leave , no longer must you me deceive , since i perceive all the deceit , and know whence the mistake did grow . as he whose quicker eye doth trace a false star shot to a market place , do's run apace , and thinking it to catch , a gelly up do's snatch . so our dull souls tasting delight far off , by sence , and appetite , think that is right and reall good ; when yet 't is but the counterfeit . oh! how i glory now ; that i have made this new discovery ? each wanton eye enflam'd before : no more will i increase that score . if i gaze , now , 't is but to see what manner of deaths-head 't will be , when it is free from that fresh upper-skin , the gazers joy and sin . a quick coarse me-thinks i spy in ev'ry woman ▪ and mine eye , at passing by , check , and is troubled , just as if it rose from dust. they mortifie , not heighen me : these of my sins the glasses be : and here i see , how i have lov'd before , and so i love no more . to a proud lady . is it birth puffs up thy mind ? women best born are best inclin'd . is it thy breeding ? no , i ly'de ; women well bred are foes to pride . is it thy beauty , foolish thing ? lay by thy cloths , there 's no such thing ? is it thy vertue ? that 's deny'd , vertue 's an opposite to pride . nay , then walk on , i 'll say no more , who made thee proud , can make thee poore . the devill onely hath the skill to draw fair fools to this foule ill . on women . find me an end out in a ring , turn a stream backwards to its spring , recover minutes past and gone , undoe what is already done , make heaven stand still , make mountaines fly , and teach a woman constancy . an apologetique song . men , if you love us , play no more the fools , or tyrants , with your friends , to make us still sing o're and o're , our own false praises , for your ends . we have both wits and fancies too , and if we must , let 's sing of you . nor doe we doubt , but that we can , if we would search with care and pain , find some one good , in some one man ; so going thorough all your strain , wee shall at last of parcells make one good enough for a song sake . and as a cunning painter take● in any curious piece you see , more pleasure while the thing he makes , then when 't is made ; why , so will we . and having pleas'd our art , wee 'll try to make a new , and hang that by canto . like to a ring without a finger , or a bell without a ringer ; like a horse was never ridden , or a feast and no guest bidden , like a well without a bucket , or a rose if no man pluck it : just such as these may she be said , that lives , not loves , but dies a maid . the ring if worn , the finger decks , the bell pull'd by the ringer speaks , the horse doth ease , if he be ridden , the feast doth please , if guest be bidden , the bucket draws the water●forth , the rose when pluck'd , is still most worth : such is the virgin in my eyes , that lives , loves , marries , ere she dies . like a stock not graffed on , or like a lute not playd upon , like a jack without a weight , or a bark without a fraight , like a lock without a key , or a candle in the day : just such as these may she be said , that lives , not loves , but dies a maid . the graffed stock doth bear best fruite , there 's musick in the finger'd lute , the weight doth make the jack goe ready , the fraight doth make the bark goe steady , the key the lock doth open right , a candle 's usefull in the night : such is the virgin in my eyes , that lives , loves , marries , ere she dyes . like a call without a non-sir , or a question without an answer , like a ship was never rigg'd , or a mine was never digg'd ; like a cage without a bird , or a thing not long preferr'd . just such as these may she be said , that lives , not loves , but dies a maid . the non-sir doth obey the call , the question answer'd pleaseth all , who rigs a ship sailes with the wind , who digs a mine doth treasure find , the wound by wholsome tent hath ease , the box perfum'd the senses please : such is the virgin in my eyes , that lives , loves , marries ere she dies . like marrow-bone was never broken , or commendation and no token , like a fort and none to win it , or like the moon , and no man in it ; like a school without a teacher , or like a pulpit and no preacher . just such as these may she be said , that lives , ne'r loves , but dies a maid . the broken marrow-bone is sweet , the token doth adorn the greet , there 's triumph in the fort being won , the man rides glorious in the moon ; the school is by the teacher still'd , the pulpit by the preacher fill'd . such is the virgin in mine eyes , that lives , loves , marries , ere she dies . like a cage without a bird , or a thing too long deferr'd : like the gold was never try'd , or the ground unoccupi'd ; like a house that 's not possessed or the book was never pressed . just such as these may she be said , that lives , ne'r loves , but dies a maid . the bird in cage doth sweetly sing , due season prefers every thing , the gold that 's try'd from drosse is pur'd , there 's profit in the ground manur'd , the house is by possession graced ; the book when prest , is then embraced . such is the virgin in mine eyes , that lives , loves , marries , ere she dies . a disswasive from women . come away , doe not pursue a shadow that will follow you . women lighter then a feather , got and lost and altogethar : such a creature may be thought , void of reason , a thing of nought . . come away , let not thine eyes gaze upon their fopperies , nor thy better genius dwell upon a subject known so well : for whose folly at the first man and beast became accurst . . come away , thou canst not find , one of all that 's faire and kind , brighter be she then the day , sweeter then a morne in may ; yet her heart and tongue agrees as we and the antipodes . . come away , or if thou must stay a while : yet doe not trust , nor her sighs , nor what she swears . say she weep , suspect her tears . though she seem to melt with passion , 't is old deceipt , but in new fashion . . come away , admit there be a naturall necessity ; doe not make thy selfe a slave for that which she desires to have . what she will , or doe , or say , is meant the clean contrary way . . come away , or if to part soon from her , affects thy heart , follow on thy sports a while , laugh and kisse , and play a while : yet as thou lov'st me , trust her not , left thou becom'st a — i know not wh●● . an answer to it . stay , o stay , and still pursue , bid not such happinesse adue , know'st thou what a woman is ? an image of celestiall bliss . such a one is thought to be the nearest to divinity . . stay , o stay , how can thine eye feed on more felicity ? or thy better genius dwell on subjects that doe this excell ? had it not been for her at first ; man and beast had liv'd accurst . . stay , o stay , has not there been o● beauty , and of love a q●een ? does not sweetnesse term a she worthy its onely shrine to thee ? and where will vertue chuse to ly , if not in such a treasury ? . stay , o stay , wouldst thou live free ? then seek a nuptiall destiny : 't is not natures blisse alone , ( she gives ) but heavens , and that in one ; what she shall , or doe , or say , never from truth shall goe astray . . stay , o stay , let not thine heart afflicted be , unlesse to part soon from her . sport , kisse and play whilst no howers enrich the day : and if thou dost a cuckold prove , impute it to thy want of love . the postscript . good women are like stars in darkest night , their vertuous actions shining as a light to guide their ignorant sex , which oft times ●all ▪ and falling oft , turns diabolicall . good women sure are angels on the earth , of these good angels we have had a dearth : and therefore all you men that have good wives , respect their vertues equall with your lives . the description of women . whose head befringed with b●-scattered ●resse● ▪ shew● like apoll●es , when the morn he dresse● : or like aurora when with pearle she sets , her long discheveld rose-crown'd trammelets : her forehead smooth , full , polish'd , bright and high , bears in it selfe a gracefull majesty ; under the which , two crawling eye-brows twine like to the tendrills of a flatt'ring vine : under whose shade , two starry sparkling eyes are beautifi'd with faire fring'd canopies . her comely nose with uniformall grace , like purest white , stands in the middle place , parting the paire , as we may well suppose , each cheek resembling still a damask rose ; which like a garden manifestly shown , how roses , lillies , and carnations grown ; which sweetly mixed both with white and red , like rose-leaves , white and red , seem mingled . then nature for a sweet allurement sets two smelling , swelling , bashfull cherry-lets ; the which with ruby-rednesse being tip'd , doe speak a virgin merry , cherry●lip'd . over the which a 〈◊〉 sweet skin is drawne , which makes them shew like roses under lawne . these be the ruby-portalls and divine , which ope themselves , to shew an holy shrine , whose breach is rich perfume , that to the sense smells like the burn'd sabean frankincense ; in which the tongue , though 〈…〉 member sm●ll stande guarded with a rosie-hilly-wall . and her white teeth , which in the gums are set , like pearle and gold , make one rich cabinet : next doth her chin , with dimpled beauty 〈◊〉 for his white , plump , and smoth prerogative . at whose faire top , to please the sight the●e grow● the fairest image of a blushing rose ; mov'd by the chin , whose motion causeth this , that both her lips doe part , doe meet , doe 〈◊〉 her ears , which like two labyrinths are pla●●d on either side , with which rare jewels grac'd : moving a qu●st●on whether that by them the jem is grac'd , or they grac'd by the jem . but the foundation of the architect , is the swan-staining , faire , rare stately ●eck , which with ambitious humblenesse stands under , bearing aloft this rich round world of wonder . her breast a place for beauties throne most fit , bears up two globes , where love and pleasure sit ; which headed with two rich round rubies , show like wanton rose-buds growing out of snow , and in the milky valley that 's between , sits cupid kissing of his mother queen . then comes the belly , seated next below , like a faire mountain in riphean snow : where nature in a whitenesse without spot , hath in the middle tide a gordian knot . now love invites me to survey her thighes , swelling in likenesse like two crystall 〈◊〉 ; which to the knees by nature fastned on , derive their e●er well 'greed motion . her legs with two clear calves , like silver try'd , kindly swell up with little pretty pride ; leaving a distance for the comely small to beautifie the leg and foot withall . then lowly , yet most lovely stand the feet , round , short and cleer , like pounded spices sweet ; and whatsoever thing they tread upon , they make it sent like bruised cynamon . the lovely shoulders now allure the eye , to see two tablets of pure ivory : from which two arms like branches seem to spread with tender vein'd , and silver coloured , with little hands , and fingers long and small , to grace a lute , a viall , virginall . in length each finger doth his next excell , each richly headed with a pearly shell . thus every part in contrariety meet in the whole , and make an harmony : as divers strings doe singly disagree , but form'd by number make sweet melodie . her supposed servant , described . i would have him if i could , noble ; or of greater blood : titles , i confesse , doe take me ; and a woman god did make me , french to boo● , at least in fashion , and his manners of that nation . young i 'd have him to , and faire , yet a man ; with crisped haire cast in a thousand snares , and rings for loves fingers , and his wings : chestnut colour , or more slack gold , upon a ground of black . venus , and minerva's eyes , for he must look wanton-wise . eye-brows bent like cupids bow , front , an ample field of snow ; even nose , and cheek ( withall ) smooth as is the biliard ball ; chin , as wholly as the peach ; and his lip should kissing teach , till he cherish'd too much beard , and make love or me afeard . he should have a hand as soft as the downe , and shew it oft ; skin as smooth as any rush , and so thin to see a blush rising through it e're it came ; all his blood should be a flame quickly fir'd as in beginners in loves school , and yet no sinners . 't were too long to speak of all what we harmony doe call in a body should be there . well he should his cloaths to wear ; yet no taylor help to make him drest , you still for man should take him ; and not think h 'had eat a stake , or were set up in a brake . valiant he should be as fire , shewing danger more then ire . bounteous as the clouds to earth ; and as honest as his birth . all his actions to be such as to doe nothing too much . nor o're-praise , nor yet condemne ; nor out-valew , nor contemne ; nor doe wrongs , nor wrongs receive ; nor tye knots , nor knots unweave ; and from basenesse to be free , as he durst love truth and me . such a man with every part , i could give my very heart ; but of one , if short he came , i can rest me where i am . another ladies exception . for his minde , i doe not care , that 's a toy that i could spare ; let his title be but great , his clothes rich , and band sit neat , himself young , and face be good , all i wish 't is understood . what you please , you parts may call , 't is one good part i 'd lie withall . abroad with the maids . come sit we under yonder tree , where merry as the maids we 'l be , and as on primroses we sit , we 'l venture ( if we can ) ●t wit : if not , at draw-gloves we will play ; so spend some minutes of the day ; or else spin out the thred of sands , playing at questions and commands : or tell what strange tricks love can do , by quickly making one of two . thus we will sit and talk ; but tell no cruell truths of philomell , or phillis , whom hard fate forc't on , to kill her selfe for demophon . but fables we 'l relate ; how iove put on all shapes to get a love ; as now a satyr , then a swan ; a bull but then ; and now a man. next we will act how young men woe ; and sigh , and kisse , as lovers doe , and talk of brides ; and who shall make that wedding smock , this bridal-cake ; that dresse , this sprig , that leafe , this vine ; that smooth and silken columbine . this done , we 'l draw lots , who shall buy and guild the bayes , and rosemary : what posies , for our wedding rings ; what gloves we 'l give and ribonings : and smiling at our selves , decree , who then the joyning priest shall be . what short sweet prayers shall be said ; and how the posset shall be made with cream of lillies ( not of kine ) and maidens-blush , for spiced wine . thus having talkt , we 'l next commend a kisse to each ; and so we 'l end . the shepheards holy-day . mopso and marina . mop. come marina let 's away , for both bride , and bridegroom stay : fie for shame , are swains so long pinning of their head-gear on ? prethee see , none but we 'mongst the swaines are left unready : fie , make haft , bride is past , follow me , and i will lead thee . mar. on , my loving mopsus , on , i am ready , all is done from my head unto my foot , i am fitted each way too 't ; buskins gay , gowne of gray , best that all our flocks doe render ; hat of straw , platted through , cherry lip , and middle slender . mop. and i think you will not find mopsus any whit behind , for he loves as well to goe , as most part of shepheards doe . cap of browne . bottle-crowne , with the legge i won at dancing , and a pumpe , fit to jumpe , when we shepheards fall a prancing . and i know there is a sort ▪ will be well provided for for i hear , there will be there , liveliest swaines within the shier● : jetting gill , jumping will ; o'r the floore will have their measure : kit and kate there will waite ▪ tib and tom will take their pleasure . mar. but i feare ; mop. what dost thou feare ? mar. crowd the fidler is not there : and my mind delighted i● with no stroke so much as hi● . mop. if not he ; there will be drone the piper that will troun●e it . mar. but i● crowd struck alowd ; lord me-thinks how i could bounce it . mop. bounce it mall i hope thou will , for i know that thou hast skill ▪ and i am sure , thou there shalt find measures store to please thy mind . roundelayes . irish hayes , cog● and rongs , and peggie ramsy , spaniletto , the venetto , iohn come kisse me , wilsons fancy . mar. but of all there 's none so sprightly to my ear , as touch me lightly ; for it 's this we shepheards love , being that which most doth move ; there , there , there , to a haire ; o tim crowd , me thinks i hear thee , young nor old , ne're could hold , but must leak if they come near thee . mop. blush marina , fie for shame , blemish not a shepheards name ; mar. mopsus , why , is 't such a matter , maid● to shew their yeelding nature ? o what then , be ye men , that will hear your selves so forward , when you find us inclin'd to your bed and board so toward ? mop. true indeed , the fault is ours , though we term it oft time yours . mar. what would shepheards have us doe , but to yeeld when they doe woe ? and we yeeld them the field , and endow them with their riches . mop. yet we know oft times too , you 'l not stick to wear the breeches . mar. fools they 'l deem them , that do hear them , say their wives are wont to wear them ; for i know , there 's none has wit , can endure or suffer it ; but if they have no stay , nor discretion ( as 't is common ) then they may●● give the sway ▪ as is fitting , to the woman . mop. all too long ( dear love ) i ween , have we stood upon this t●eam : let each lasse , a● once it was , love her swain , and 〈◊〉 his lasse : so shall we honour'd be , in our mating , in our meeting , while we stand hand in hand , honest swainling , with his sweeting . alvar and anthea . come anthea let us two go to feast , as others do . tarts and custards , cream and cakes , are the junkets still at wakes : unto which the tribes resort , where the businesse is the sport : morris-dancers thou shalt see , marian too in pagentrie : and a mimick to devise many grinning properties players there will be , and those base in action as in clothes ▪ yet with strutting they will please the incurious villages . neer the dying of the day there will be a cudgel-play , where a coxcomb will be broke , ere a good word can be spoke● ▪ but the anger ends all here ▪ drencht in ale , or drown'd in beere happy rusticks , best content with the cheapest merriment : and possesse no other fear , then to want the wake next year . the wake . i , and whither shall we go● ? to the wake i trow : 't is the village lord majors show , oh! to meet i will not fa●le ; for my pallate is in hast , till i sip againe and tast of the nut-browne lasse and ale. feele how my temples ake for the lady of the wake ; her lips are as soft as a medler with her posies and her points , and the ribbons on her joynts , the device of the fields and the pedler . enter maurice-dancer . with a noyse and a din , comes the maurice-dancer in : with a fine linnen shirt , but a buckram skin . oh! he treads out such a peale from his paire of legs of veale , the quarters are idols to him . nor doe those knaves inviron their toes with so much iron , 't will ruine a smith to shooe him . i , and then he flings about , his sweat and his clout , the wiser think it two ells : while the yeomen find it meet , that he jangle at his feet , the fore-horses right eare jewels . enter fidler . but before all be done , with a christopher strong , comes musick none , though fidler one , while the owle and his granchild , with a face like a manchild , amaz'd in their nest , awake from the rest , and seek out an oak to laugh in . such a dismall chance , makes the church-yard dance , when the screech owle guts string a coffin . when a fidlers coarse , catches cold and grows hoarse , oh ye never heard a sadder , when a rattle-headed cutter , makes his will before supper , to the tune of the nooze and the ladder . enter the taberer . i , but all will not doe , without a passe or two , from him that pipes and tabers the tattoo . he 's a man that can tell 'em , such a jigge from his vellam ; with his whistle & his club , and his brac't halfe tub , that i think there ne're came before ye , though the mothes lodged in 't , or in manuscript or print , such a pitifull parchment story . he that hammers like a tinker kettle musick is a stinker , our taberer bids him heark it ; though he thrash till he sweats , and out the bottome beats of his two dosser drums to the market enter the bag-piper . bag-piper good luck on you , th' art a man for my money ; him the bears love better then honey . how he tickles up his skill , with his bladder and his quill ; how he swells till he blister . while he gives his mouth a glister , nor yet does his physick grieve him ; his chops they would not tarry , for a try'd apothecary , but the harper comes in to relie●e him . whose musick took its fountaine , from the bogge or the mountaine , for better was never afforded . strings hop and rebound , oh the very same sound may be struck from a ●ru●kle-bed coarded . cock-throwing . cock-a-doodle-doe , 't is the bravest game , take a cock from his dame , and bind him to a st●k● ▪ how he strutt● how he throwes , how he swaggers , how he crowes , as if the day newly brake . how his mistriss cackles , thus to find him in shackles , and ty'd to a pack-threed garter ; oh the bears and the bulls , are but corpulent gulls to the valiant shrove-tide martyr . canto . let no poet critick in his ale , now tax me for a heedlesse tale , for ere i have done , my honest ned , i 'll 〈◊〉 my matter to a head . the brazen head speak● through the nose , more logick then the colledge knowes : quick-silver heads run over all , but dunces heads keep leaden-ball . a quirristers head is made of aire , a head of wax becomes a player , so pliant 't is to any shape , a king , a clowne , but still an ape . a melancholy head it was , that thought it selfe a venice glasse ; but when i see a drunken sot , methinks his head 's a chamberpot . a poets head is made of match , burnt sack is apt to make it catch ; well may he gri●● his houshold bread , that hath a windmill in his head. there is the tongue of ignorance , that hates the time it cannot dance ; shew him dear wit in verse or prose , it reeks like brimstone in his nose ; but when his granhams will is read , o dear ! ( quoth he ) and shakes his head . french heads taught ours the gracefull shake , they learn'd it in the last earth-quake . the gentle head makes mouths in state , at the mechanick beaver pate . the empty head of meer esquire , scorns wit ; as born a title higher . in capite he holds his lands , his wisdome in fee-simple stands . which he may call for , and be sped , out of the footmans running head . the saracens , not gorgons head , can look old ten in th'hundred dead but deaths head on his fingers ends , afflicts him more then twenty fiends an oxford cook that is well read , knows how to dresse a criticks head . take out the brains , and 〈◊〉 the noats , o rare calves-head for 〈◊〉 throats . prometheus would be puzled , to make a new projectors head : he hath such subtile turns and nooks , such turn-pegs , mazes , tenter-hooks : a trap-door here , and there a vault , should you goe in , you 'ld sure be caught ; this head , if e'r the heads-man stick , he 'll spoile the subtile politick . six heads there are will ne'r be seen , the first a maide past twice sixteen : the next is of an unicorne , which when i see , i 'll trust his horne ; a beggars in a beaver ; and a gyant in a pigmies 〈◊〉 ▪ a coward in a ladies lap , a good man in a fryers cap. the plurall head of multitude , will make good hodg-podge when 't is stude ; now i have done my honest ned , and brought my matter to a head. interrogativ● camilena . if all the world were paper , and all the sea were inke ; if all the trees were bread and cheese , how should we doe for drinke ? if all the world were sand'o , oh then what should we lack'o ; if as they say there were no clay , how should we take tobacco ? if all our vessels ran'a , if none but had a crack'a ; if spanish apes eat all the grapes , how should we doe for sack'a ? if fryers had no bald pate● ▪ nor nuns had no dark cloysters , if all the seas were 〈◊〉 and pease , how should we doe for oysters ? if there had been no projects , nor none that did great wrongs ; if fidlers shall turne players all , how should we doe for songs ? if all things were eternall , and nothing their end bringing ; if this should be , then how should we , here make an end of singing ? the seven planets . ♄ ♃ ♂ ☉ ♀ ☿ ☽ saturne diseas'd with age , and left for dead ; chang'd all his gold , to be in involv'd in lead . iove , iuno leaves , and loves to take his range ; from whom , man learns to love , and loves to change ▪ iuno checks iove , that he to earth should come having her selfe to sport withall at home . mars is disarmed , and is to venus gon , where vulcans anvill must be struck upon . 〈◊〉 sees , yet 'cause he may not be allow'd , ●o say he sees , he hides him in a cloud . venus tels vulcan , mars shall shooe her steed , for he it is that hits the naile o' th head . the aery-nuntius sly mercurius , ●s stoln from heaven to galobelgicus . lvna is deemed chast , yet she'● a sinner , witnesse the man that she receives within her : but that she 's horn'd it cannot well be sed , since i ne'r heard that she was married . the signes of the zodiack . ♈ venus to mars , and mars to venus came , venus contriv'd , and mars confirm'd the same : 〈◊〉 the place , the game what best did please , 〈◊〉 vulcan ▪ found the sun in aries . ♉ taurus , as it hath been alledg'd by some , ●s fled from neck and throat to roare at rome . 〈◊〉 now the bull is growne to such a rate , the price has brought the bull quite out of date . ♋ cancer the backward crab is figur'd here . o'r stomack , breast , and ribs to domineere . eve on a rib was made , whence we may know , women from eve were crab'd and backward too ▪ ♍ virgo the phoenix signe ( as all can tell ye ) has regiment o'r bowells , and o'r belly . but now since virgo could not her belly tame , belly has forc'd virgo to lose her name . ♏ scorpio serpent-like , most slily tenders , what much seduceth man , his privy members : which mov'd our grandam eve give eare unto that secret-member-patron scorpio . ♑ the goatish capricorne that us'd to presse 'mongst naked mermaidens , now 's faln on ●s 〈◊〉 where crest-faln too ( poor snake ) he lies as low as those on whom he did his horns bestow . ♊ with arm in arm our gemini enwreath , their individuate parts in life and death : the arms and shoulders sway , o may i have but two such friends to have me to my grave . ♌ leo a port-like prelate now become , emperiously retires to th' sea of rome : a sea , and yet no levant-sea , for than he were no leo , but leviathan . ♎ libra the reins , which we may ●ustly call a signe which tradesmen hate the worst of all : for she implies even weights , but doe not look to find this signe in every grocers-book . ♐ if thou wouldst please the lasse that thou dost marry , the signe must ever be in sagittary : which rules the thighs , an influence more common mongst marmosites & monkies , then some women . ♒ aquarius ( as i informed am ) kept puddle-wharfe , and was a waterman , but being one too honest for that kind , he row'd to heaven , and left those knaves behind . ♓ piscis the fish is said to rule the feet , and socks with all that keep the feet from sweat ▪ one that purveyes provision enough , of ling , poore-iohn , and other lenten stuffe . a hymne to bacchus . i sing thy praise bacchus , who with thy thyrse dost thwack us : and yet thou so dost black us with boldnesse that we feare no brutus entring here ; nor cato the severe . what though the lictors threat us , we know they dare not beat us ; so long as thou dost heat us . when we thy orgies sing , each cobler is a king ; nor dreads he any thing . and though he doth not rave , yet he 'l the courage have to call my lord major knave ; besides too , in a brave . although he has no riches , but walks with dangling breeches , and skirts that want their stitches ; and shews his naked flitches ; yet he 'l be thought or seen ; so good as george-a-green ; and calls his blouze , his queen , and speaks in a language keen . o bacchus ! let us be from cares and troubles free ; and thou shalt hear how we will chant new hymnes to thee . the welshmans praise of wales . i's not come here to tauke of prut , from whence the welse do● take hur root ; nor tell long pedegree of prince camber , whose linage would fill full a chamber , nor sing the deeds of ould saint davie , the ursip of which would fill a navie . but hark you me now , for a liddell tales sall make a gread deal to the creddit of wales . for her will tudge your ●ares , with the praise of hur thirteen seers ; and make you as clad and merry , as fouteen pot of perry . 't is true , was wear him sherkin freize , but what is that ? we have store of seize ; and got is plenty of coats milk that sell him well will buy him silk inough , to make him fine to quarrell at herford sizes in new apparrell ; and get him as much green melmet perhap , sall give it a face to his momouth cap. but then the ore of lemster ; py cot is uver a sempster ; that when he is spun , or did yet match him with hir thrid . aull this the backs now , let us tell yee , of some provisions for the belly : as cid and goat , and great goats mother , and runt , and cow , and good cows uther . and once but tast on the welse mutton ; your englis seeps not worth a button . and then for your fisse , shall shoose it your disse , look but about , and there is a trout . a salmon , cor , or chevin , will feed you six or seven , as taul● man as ever swagger with welse club , and long dagger . but all this while , was never think a word in praise of our welse drink : yet for aull that , is a cup of bragat , aull england seer may cast his cap at . and what you say to ale of webley , toudge him as well , you 'll praise him trebly , as well as metheglin , or syder , or meath , s'all sake it your dagger quite out o' the seath . and oat-cake of guarthenion , with a goodly leek or onion , to give as sweet a rellis as e'r did harper ellis . and yet is nothing now all this , 〈◊〉 of our musicks we doe misse ; both harps , and pipes too , and the crowd , must aull come in , and tauk aloud , as lowd as bang●● , davies bell , of which is no doubt you have here tell : as well as our lowder wrexam organ , and rumbling rocks in the seer of glamorgan , where look but in the ground there , and you sall see a sound there ; that put her all to gedder , is sweet as measure pedder . hur in love. a modest shentle when hur see the great laugh hur made on mee , and fine wink that hur send to hur come to see hur friend : her could not strose py got apove , put was entangle in hur love . a hundred a time hur was about to speak to hur , and lave hur out , put hur being a welshman porne , and therefore was think , hur woud hur scorne : was fear hur think , nothing petter , then cram hur love into a letter ; hoping he will no ceptions take unto her love , for country sake : for say hur be welshman , whad ten ? py got they all be shentlemen . was decend from shoves nown line , par humane , and par divine ; and from venus , that faire goddess , and twenty other shentle poddy● : hector stout , and comely parris , arthur , prute , and king of fayris , was hur nown cosins all a kin we have the powells issue in : and for ought that hur con see , as goot men , as other men pee : but whot of that ? love is a knave , was make hur doe whot he woud have ; was compell hur write the rime , that ne'r was writ before the time and if he will nod pity hur paine , as got shudge hur soule , sall ne'r write againe : for love is like an ague-fit , was brin poor welseman out on hur wit : till by hur onswer , hur doe know whother hur do love hur , ai or no. hur has not bin in england lung , and conna speak the englis tongue : put hur is hur friend , and so hur will prove , pray a send hur word , if hur con love . of melancholy . when i goe musing all alone , thinking of divers things fore-knowne , when i build castles in the aire , vold of sorrow and void of feare , pleasing my selfe with phantasmes sweet , me thinks the time runs very fleet . all my joyes to this are folly , naught so sweet as melancholy . when i lye waking all alone , recounting what i have ill done , my thoughts on me then tyrannise , fear and sorrow me surprise , whether i tarry still or goe , me thinks the time moves very sloe . all my griefs to this are jolly , naught so sad as melancholy . when to my selfe i act and smile , with pleasing thoughts the time beguile , by a brook side or wood so green , unheard , unsought for , or unseen , a thousand pleasures doe me bless , and crown my soul with happinesse . all my joyes besides are folly , none so sweet as melancholy . when i lye , sit , or walk alone , i sigh , i grieve , making great moan , in a dark grove , or irksome den , with discontents and furies then , a thousand miseries at once , mine heavy heart and soul ensconce . all my griefs to this are jolly , none so soure as melancholy . me thinks i hear , me thinks i see , sweet musick , wondrous melody , towns , places and cities fine , here now , then there , the world is mine , rare beauties , gallant ladies shine , what e're is lovely or divine , all other joyes to this are folly , none so sweet as melancholy . me thinks i hear , me thinks i see ghosts , goblins , feinds , my phantasie presents a thousand ugly shapes , headlesse bears , black-men and apes , dolefull outcries , and fearfull sights , my sad and dismall soule affrights . all my griefs to this are jolly , none so damn'd as melancholy . me thinks i court , me thinks i kisse , me thinks i now embrace my mistrisse . o blessed dayes , o sweet content , in paradise my time is spent , such thoughts may still my fancy move , so may i ever be in love . all my joyes to this are folly , naught so sweet as melancholy . when i recount loves many frights , my sighes and tears , my waking nights , my jealous fits ; o mine hard fate , i now repent , but 't is too late . no torment is so bad as love , so bitter to my soule can prove . all my griefs to this are jolly , naught so harsh as melancholy . friends and companions get you gone , 't is my desire to be alone , ne're well but when my thoughts and i , doe domineer in privacy . no jem no treasure like to this , 't is my delight , my crowne , my blisse . all my joyes to this are folly , naught so sweet as melancholy . 't is my sole plague to be alone , i am a beast , a monster growne , i will no light nor company , i find it now my misery . the scene is turn'd , my joyes are gone , fear , discontent , and sorrowes come . all my griefs to this are jolly , naught so fierce as melancholy . i le not change life with any king , i ravisht am : can the world bring more joy , then still to laugh and smile , in pleasant toyes time to beguile ? doe not , o doe not trouble me , so sweet content i feele and see . all my joyes to this are folly , none so divine as melancholy . i le change my state with any wretch , thou canst from gaole or dunghill fetch : my pain 's past cure , another hell , i may not in this torment dwell . now desperate i hate my life , lend me an halter or a knife . all my griefs to this are jolly , naught so damn'd as melancholy . on the letter o. run round my lines , whilst i as roundly show the birth , the worth , the extent of my round o that o which in the indigested masse did frame it selfe , when nothing framed was . but when the worlds great masse it selfe did show , 〈◊〉 largenesse , fairnesse , roundnesse a great o. the heavens , the element , a box of o's , where still the greater doth the lesse inclose . the imaginary center in o's made , that speck which in the world doth stand or fade . the zodiack , colours , and equator line , in tropique and meridian o did shine , the lines of bredth , and lines of longitude , climate from climate , doth by o seclude . and in the starry spangled sky the o makes us the day from night distinctly know . and by his motion , round as in a ring , light to himselfe , light to each o doth bring ; in each dayes journey , in his circle round , the framing of an o by sense is found . the moon hath to the o's frame most affection : but the suns envy grudgeth such perfection . yet dian hath each moneth , and every year , learned an o's frame in her front to bear . and to requite sols envy with the like , with oft eclipses at his o doth strike in our inferiour bodies there doth grow matter enough to shew the worth of o. our brains and heart , either in o doth lye , so that the nest of o's the sparkling eye . the ribs in meeting , fashion an o's frame , the mouth and ear , the nostrills bear the same . the latins honouring the chiefest parts , gloryed to make our o the heart of hearts ; fronting it with three words of deepest sense , order , opinion , and obedience . oft have i seen a reverend dimmed eye , by the help of o to read most legibly . each drop of rain that fals , each flower that grows each coyne that 's currant doth resemble o's . into the water , if a stone we throw , mark how each circle joyns to make an o. cut but an orange , you shall easily find , yellow with white and watery o's combin'd . o doth preserve a trembling conjurer , who from his circle o doth never stir . o from a full throat cryer , if it come , strikes the tumultuous roaring people dumbe . the thundring cannon from this dreadfull o , ruine to walls , and death to men doth throw . o utters woes , o doth expresse our joyes , o wonders shews , o riches , or o toyes . and o yee women which doe fashions fall , o ●●tre , o gorget , and o farthingall , and o yee spangles , o ye golden o's that art upon the rich embroydered throws think not we mock , though our displeasing pen sometime doth write , you bring an o to men , 't is no disparagement to you ye know , since ops the gods great grandame bears an o ; your sexes glory ( fortune ) though she reele , is ever constant to her o , her wheele , and you carroches through the street that glide , by art of four great o's doe help you ride . when tables full , and cups doe overflow , is not each cup , each salt , each dish an o? what is 't that dreadfull makes a princes frowne , but that his head bears golden o the crowne ? unhappy then th'arithmatician , and he that makes o a barren cipher stand . let him know this , that we know in his place , an o adds number , with a figures grace ; and that o which for cypher he doth take , one dash may easily a thousand make . but o enough , i have done my reader wrong , mine o was round , and i have made it long . pure nonsence . when neptune's blasts , and boreas blazing storms , when tritons pitchfork cut off vulcans horns , when eolus boyst'rous sun-beams grew so dark , that mars in moon-shine could not hit the mark : then did i see the gloomy day of troy , when poor aeneas leglesse ran away , who took the torrid ocean in his hand , and sailed to them all the way by land : an horrid sight to see achilles fall , he brake his neck , yet had no hurt at all . but being dead , and almost in a trance , he threatned forty thousand with his lance . indeed 't was like such strange ●ights then were seen an ugly , rough , black monster all in green . that all about the white , blew , round , square , sky ; the fixed starres hung by geometry . iuno amazed , and iove surpriz'd with wonder , caus'd heaven to shake , and made the mountaines thunder . which caus'd aeneas once again retire , drown'd aetna's hill , and burnt the sea with fire . nilus for fear to see the ocean burn , went still on forward in a quick return . then was that broyle of agamemnon's done , when trembling ajax to the battell come . he struck stark dead ( they now are living still ) five hundred mushrooms with his martiall bill . nor had himselfe escap'd , as some men say , if he being dead , he had not run away . o monstrous , hideous troops of dromidaries , how bears and bulls from monks and goblins varies ! nay would not charon yield to cerberus , but catch'd the dog , and cut his head off thus : pluto rag'd , and iuno pleas'd with ire , sought all about , but cou'd not find the fire : but being found , well pleas'd , and in a spight they slept at acharon , and wak● all night : where i let passe to tell their mad bravadoes , their meat was tosted cheese and carbonadoes . thousands of monsters more besides there be which i fast hoodwink'd , at that time did see ; and in a word to shut up this discourse , a rudg-gowns ribs are good to spur a horse . a messe of non-sense . like to the tone of unspoke speeches , or like a lobster clad in logick breeches , or like the gray freeze of a crimson cat , or like a moon-calfe in a slipshooe-hat , or like a shadow when the sun is gon , or like a thought that ne'r was thought upon : even such is man , who never was begotten , untill his children were both dead and rotten . like to the fiery touchstone of a cabbage , or like a crablouse with his bag and baggage , or like th' abortive issue of a fizle , or the bag-pudding of a plow-mans whistle , or like the foursquare circle of a ring , or like the singing of hey down a ding ; even such is man , who breathles , without doubt , spake to small purpose when his tongue was out . like to the green fresh fading rose , or like to rime or verse that runs in prose , or like the humbles of a tinder-box , or like a man that 's sound , yet hath the pox , or like a hob-naile coyn'd in single pence , or like the present preterperfect tense : even such is man who dy'd , and then did laugh to see such strong lines writ on 's epitaph . an encomium . i sing the praises of a fart ; that i may do 't by rules of art , i will invoke no deity but butter'd pease & furmity , and think their help sufficient to fit and furnish my intent . for sure i must not use high straines , for fear it bluster out in graines : when virgils gnat , and ovids flea , and homers frogs strive for the day there is no reason in my mind , that a brave fart should come behind ; since that you may it parallell with any thing that doth excell : musick is but a fart that 's sent from the guts of an instrument : the scholler but farts , when he gains learning with cracking of his brains . and when he has spent much pain and oile , thomas and dun to reconcile ; and to learn the abstracting art , what does he get by'● ? not a fart . the souldier makes his foes to run with but the farting of a gun ; that 's if he make the bullet whistle , else 't is no better then a fizle : and if withall the wind doe stir up rain , 't is but a fart in syrrup . they are but farts , the words we say , words are but wind , and so are they . applause is but a fart , the crude blast of the fickle multitude . five boats that lye the thames about , be but farts severall docks let out . some of our projects were , i think , but politick farts , foh how they stink ! as soon as born , they by and by , fart-like but onely breath , and dy . farts are as good as land , for both we hold in taile , and let them both : onely the difference here is , that farts are let at a lower rate . i 'll no say more , for this is right , that for my guts i cannot write , though i should study all my dayes , rimes that are worth the thing i praise . what i have said , take in good part , if not , i doe not care a fart . the drunken humors . one here is bent to quarrell , and he will ( if not prevented ) this his fellow kill : he fume● , and frets , and rages ; in whose face nothing but death and horrour taketh place . but being parted , 'tother odd jugg , or two , makes them all friends again with small ado● . another he makes deaf your ears to heare the vain tautologies he doth declare ; that , had you as many ear● as argus eyes ; he 'd make them weary all with tales , and lyes : and at the period of each idle fable , he gives the on-set to out-laugh the table . one he fits drinking healthe to such a friend , then to his mistris he a health doth send : this publick captain● health he next doth mean , and then in private to some nasty que●n ; nothing but health● of love is his pretence , till he himselfe hath lost both health and sense . to make the number up amongst the crew , another being o're-fil'd , begins to spue worse then the brutish beast ; ( o fy upon it ! ) it is a qualme forsooth doth cause him vomit . so that his stomack being over-prest , he must disgorge it , o're he can have rest . here sits one straining of his drunken throat beyond all reason , yet far short of note : singing is his delight , then hoops and hallows , making a garboyle worse then vulcans bellows . now for a coun●er-tenor he takes place , but straining that too high , fall● to a base . then screws his mouth an inch beyond his forme , to treble it , just like a gelders-horne : he 's all for singing , and he hates to chide , till blithfull bacchus cause his tongue be tide . one like an ape shews many tricks and toyes , to leap , and dance , and sing with ru●full noise ; o're the foorme skips , then crosse-legd sits upon the table , in his apish fits . from house to house he rambles in such sort , that no baboon could make you better sport : he pincheth one , another with his wand he thrusts , or striketh , or else with his hand : p●ss●s the room , and as he sleeping lyes , waters his couch ( not with repenting eyes . ) a seaventh , he sits mute , as if his tongue had never learn'd no other word but mum ; and with his mouth he maketh mops and mews , just like an ape his face in form he screws : then nods with hum , and hah ; but not one word his tongue-tide foolish silence can afford . to note his gesture , and his snorting after , 't would make a horse break all his girts with laughter but questionlesse he 'd speak more were he able , which you shall hear , having well slept at table . sir reverence , your stomacks doe prepare against some word , or deed , ill-sent doth beare . so this most sorded beast being drunk , doth misse the chamber-pot , and in his hose doth pisse . nay , smell but near him , you perhaps may find , not onely piss'd before , but — behind ; each company loaths him , holding of their nose , scorning , and pointing at his filthy hose : as no condition of a drunkard 's good , so this smels worst of all the loathsome brood . the post of the signe . though it may seem rude for me to intrude , with these my bears by chance-a ; 't were sport for a king , if they could sing as well as they can dance-a . then to put you out of fear or doubt , he came from st. katharine-a . these dancing three , by the help of mee , who am the post of the signe-a . we sell good ware , and we need not care , though court and countrey knew it ; our ale 's o' th best : and each good guest prayes for their soules that brew it . for any alehouse , we care not a louse , nor tavern in all the town-a ; nor the vintry cranes , nor st. clement dones , nor the devill can put us down-a . who has once there been , comes hither agen , the liquor is so mighty . beer strong and stale , and so is our ale ; and it burns like aqu●-vitae . to a stranger there , if any appeare , where never before he has bin ; we shew th'iron gate , the wheele of st. kate , and the place where they first fell in . the wives of wapping , they trudge to our tapping , and still our ale desire ; and there sit and drink , till they spue and stink , and often pisse out the fire . from morning to night , and about to day-light , they sit and never grudge it ; till the fish-wives joyne their single coyne , and the tinker pawns his budget . if their brains be not well , or bladders doe swell , to ease them of their burden ; my lady will come with a bowl and a broom , and their handmaid with a jourden . from court we invite , lord , lady , and knight , squire , gentleman , yeoman , and groom , and all our stiffe drinkers , smiths , porters , and tinkers , and the beggers shall give ye room . if you give not credit , then take you the verdict , or a guest that came from st. h●llow● ; and you then will sweare , the man has been there , by his story now that follows . a ballade . a discourse between two countrey-men . i tell thee dick where i have been , where i the rarest things have seen ; oh things beyond compare ! such sights againe cannot be found in any place on english ground , be it at wake or faire . at charing-crosse , hard by the way where we ( thou know'st ) do sell our h●y , there is a house with stair● ; and there did i see coming down such volk as are not in our town , vortie at l●ast in pairs . amongst the rest , on p●st'lent fine , ( his beard no bigger though then thine ) walkt on before the rest : our landlord looks like nothing to him : the king ( god blesse him ) 't would undo him should he goe still to drest . at course-a-park , without all doubt , he should have first been taken out by all the maid● 〈◊〉 town : though iusty roger there had been , or little george upon the green , or vincent of the crown . but wot you what ? the youth was going to make an end of all his wooing ; the parson for him sta●d : yet by his leave ( for all his ha●t ) he did not so much wish all past ( perchance ) as did the maid . the maid ( and thereby hangs a tale ) for such a maid no widson-ale could ever yet produce : no grape that 's kindly ripe , could be so round , so plump , so soft as she , nor halfe so full of juice . her finger was so small , the ring would not stay on which he did bring , it was too wide a peck : and to say truth ( for out it must ) it lookt like the great collar ( just ) about our young colts neck . her feet beneath her peticoat , like little mice stole in and out , as if they fear'd the light : but dick she dances such a way i no sun upon an easter day is halfe so fine a sight . he would have kist her once or twice , but she would not , she was so nice she would not do'●●n sight , and then she lookt as who would say i will doe what i list to day ; and you shall do 't at night . her cheeks so rare a white was on , no d●zy make comparison ( who sees them is undone ) for streaks of red were mingled there , such as are on a katherine peare , the side that 's next the sun. ) her lips were red , and one was thin compar'd to heat was next her chin ; ( some bee had stung it newly ) but ( dick ) her eyes so guard her face , i durst no more upon them gaze , then on the sun in iuly . her mouth so small when she does speak , thou 'dst swear her teeth her words did break , that they might passage get , but she so handled still the matter , they came as good as ours , or better , and are not spent 〈◊〉 whit . if wishing should be any sin the parson himselfe had guilty bin , ( she lookt that day so purely ) and did the youth so oft the feat at night , as some did in conceit , it would have spoil'd him surely . passion oh me ! how i run on ! there 's that that would be thought upon , ( i trow ) besides the bride . the businesse of the kitchin 's great , for it is fit that men should eat ; nor was it there deny'd . just in the nick the cook knockt thrice , and all the waiters in a trice his summons did obey , each serving-man with dish in hand , marcht boldly up like our train'd band , presented and away . when all the mea● was on the table , what man of knife , or teeth , was able to stay to be intreated ? and this the very reason was before the parson could say grace , the company was seated . now hats fly off , and youths carrouse ; healths first goe round , and then the house , the brides came thick and thick ; and when 't was nam'd anothers health , perhaps he made it here by stealth ; ( and who could help it dick ? ) o' th sudain up they rise and dance ; then sit againe , and sigh , and glance : then dance againe and kisse : thus sev'rall wayes the time did passe , whil'st every woman wisht her place , and every man wisht his . by this time all were stolne aside , to councell and undresse the bride ; but that he must not know : but 't was thought he ghest her mind , and did not mean to stay behind above an houre or so . when in he came ( dick ) there she lay like new-faln snow melting away , ( 't was time i trow to part ) kisses were now the onely stay , which soon she gave , as who would say , god b'w'y ' ! with all my heart . but just as heavens would have to crosse it , in came the bride-maids with the posset : the bridegroom eat in spight ; for had he le●● the women to 't it would have cost two houres to do 't , which were too much that night . at length the candle 's out , and now , all that they had not done , they doe : what that i● , who can tell ? but i beleeve it was no more then thou and i have done before with bridget , and with nell . the good fellow . when shall we meet again to have a tast of that transcendent ale we drank of last ? what wild ingredient did the woman chose to make her drink withall ? it made me lose my wit , before i quencht my thirst ; there came such whimsies in my brain , and such a flame of fiery drunkennesse had sing'd my nose , my beard shrunk in for fear ; there were of those that took me for a comet , some afar distant remote , thought me a blazing star ; the earth me thought , just as it was , it went round in a wheeling course of merriment . my head was ever drooping , and my nose offering to be a suiter to my toes . my pock-hole face , they say , appear'd to some , just like a dry and burning honey-comb : my tongue did swim in ale , and joy'd to boast it selfe a greater sea-man then the toast . my mouth was grown awry , as if it were lab'ring to reach the whisper in mine eare . my guts were mines of sulphur , and my se● of parched teeth , struck fire as they met . nay , when i pist , my urine was so hot , it burnt a hole quite through the chamber-pot : each brewer that i met , i kiss'd , and made suit to be bound appren●i●e to the trade : one did approve the motion , when he saw , that my own legs could my indentures draw . well sir , i grew stark mad , as you may see by this adventure upon poetry . you easily may guesse , i am not quite grown sober yet , by these weak lines i write : onely i do 't for this , to let you see , whos'ere paid for the ale , i 'm sur't paid me . canto , in the praise of sack. listen all i pray , to the words i have to say , in memory sure insert um : rich wines doe us raise to the honour of bayes , quem non fecere disertum ? of all the juice , which the gods produce , sack shall be preferr'd before them ; 't is sack that shall create us all , mars , bacchus , apollo , virorum . we abandon all ale , and beer that is stale , rosa-solis , and damnable hum : but we will rack in the praise of sack , gainst omne quod exit in um . this is the wine , which in former time , each wise one of the magi was wont to carouse in a frolick blouse . recubans sub tegmine fagi. let the hop be their bane , and a rope be their shame let the gout and collick pin 〈◊〉 that offer to shrink , in taking their drink , seu graecum , sive latinum . let the glasse goe round , let the quart-pot sound , let each one doe as hee 's done do : avaunt yee that hugge the abominable jugge , 'mongst us heteroclita sunto . there 's no such disease , as he that doth please his palate with beer for to shame us : 't is sack makes us sing , hey down a down ding , musa paulo majora canamus . he is either mute , or doth poorly dispute , that drinks ought else but wine o , the more wine a man drinks , like a subtile sphinx tantum valet ille loquendo . 't is true , our soules , by the lowsie bowles of beer that doth nought but swill us , doe goe into swine , ( pythagoras 't is thine ) nam vos mutastis & illos . when i 've sack in my brain , i 'm in a merry vain , and this to me a blisse is : him that is wise , i can justly despise : mecum confertur vlysses ? how it chears the brains , how it warms the vains , how against all crosses it arms us ! how it makes him that 's poor , couragiously roar , et mutatas dicere formas . give me the boy , my delight and my joy , to my tantum that drinks his tale : by sack he that waxes in our syntaxes . est verbum personale . art thou weak or lame , or thy wits to blame ? call for sack , and thou shalt have it , 't will make thee rise , and be very wise , cui vim natura negavit . we have frolick rounds , we have merry go downs , yet nothing 〈◊〉 done at randome , for when we are to pay , we club and away , id est commune notandum . the blades that want cash , have credit for crash , they 'll have sack whatever it cost um , they doe not pay , till another day , manet alta mente repostum . who ne'r fails to drink , all clear from the brink , with a smooth and even swallow , i 'll offer at his shrine , and call it divin● et erit mihi magnus apollo . he that drinks still , and never hath his fill , hath a passage like a conduit , the sack doth inspire , in rapture and fire , sic aether aethera fundit . when you merrily quaffe , if any doe off , and then from you needs will passe the , give their nose a twitch , and kick them in the britch , non componuntur ab asse . i have told you plain , and tell you again , be he furious as orlando , he is an asse , that from hence doth passe , nisi bibit ad ostia stando . the vertue of sack. fetch me ben iohnsons scull , and fill 't with sack , rich as the same he drank , when the whole pack of jolly sisters pledg'd , and did agree , it was no sin to be as drunk as he : if there be any weaknesse in the wine , there 's vertue in the cup to mak 't divine ; this muddy drench of ale does tast too much of earth , the mault retains a scurvy touch of the dull hand that sows it ; and i fear there 's heresie in hops ; give block-heads beer , and silly ignoramu● , such as think there 's powder-treason in all spanish drink , call sack an idoll ; we will kisse the cup , for fear the conventickle be blown up with superstition ; away with brew-house alm● , whose best mirth is six shillings beer , & qualms . let me rejoyce in sprightly sack , that can create a brain even in an empty pan . canary ! it's thou that dost inspire and actuate the soule with heavenly fire . thou that sublim'st the genius-making wit , scorn earth , and such as love , or live by it . thou mak'st us lords of regions large and faire , whilst our conceits build castles in the aire : since fire , earth , aire , thus thy inferiour● be , henceforth i 'll know no element but thee : thou precious elixar of all grapes , welcome by thee our muse begins her scapes , such is the worth of sack ; i am ( me thinks ) in the exchequer now , hark how it chinks , and doe esteem my venerable selfe as brave a fellow , as if all the pelfe were sure mine own ; and i have thought a way already how to spend it ; i would pay no debts , but fairly empty every trunk ; and change the gold for sack to keep me drunk ; and so by consequence till rich spaines wine being in my crown , the indie● too were mine : and when my brains are once afoot ( heaven blesse us ! ) i think my self a better man then croesus . and now i doe conceit my selfe a judge ▪ and coughing laugh to see my clients trudge after my lordships coach unto the hall for justice , and am full of law withall , and doe become the bench as well as he that fled long since for want of honestie : but i 'll be judge no longer , though in jest , for fear i should be talkt with like the rest , when i am sober ; who can chuse but think me wise , that am so wary in my drink ? oh admirable sack ! here 's dainty sport , i am come back from westminster to court ; and am grown young again ; my ptisick now hath left me , and my judge● graver brow is smooth'd ; and i turn'd amorous as may , when she invites young lovers forth to play upon her flowry bosome : i could win a vestall now , or tempt a queen to sin . oh for a score of queens ! you 'd laugh to see , how they would strive which first should ravish me : three goddesses were nothing : sack has ●ipt my tongue with charms like those which paris sipt from venus , when she taught him how to kisse faire helen , and invite a fairer blisse : mine is canary-rhetorick , that alone would turn diana to a burning stone , stone with amazement , burning with loves fire ; hard to the touch , but short in her desire . inestimable sack ! thou mak'st us rich , wise , amorous , any thing ; i have an itch to t'other cup , and that perchance will make me valiant too , and quarrell for thy sake . if i be once inflam'd against thy foe● that would preach down thy worth in smal-beer prose , i shall doe miracles as bad , or worse , as he that gave the king an hundred horse : t'other odd cup , and i shall be prepar'd to snatch at stars , and pluck down a reward with mine own hands from iove upon their backs that are , or charls his enemies , or sacks : let it be full , if i doe chance to spill over my standish by the way , i will dipping in this diviner ink , my pen , write my selfe sober , and fall to 't agen . the answer of ale to the challenge of sack. come , all you brave wights , that are dubbed ale-knights now set out your selves in sight : and let them that crack in the praises of sack , know malt is of mickle might . though sack they define to holy divine , yet it is but naturall liquor : ale hath for its part an addition of art , to make it drink thinner or thicker . sacks fiery sume doth wast and consume mens humidum radicale ; it scaldeth their livers , it breeds burning feavers , proves vinum venenum reale . but history gathers , from aged fore-fathers , that ale 's the true liquor of life : men liv'd long in health , and preserved their wealth , whilst barley-broth onely was rife . sack quickly ascends , and suddenly ends what company came for at first : and that which yet worse is , it empties mens purses before it halfe quencheth their thirst . ale is not so costly , although that the most lye too long by the oyle of barley , yet may they part late at a reasonable rate , though they came in the morning early . sack makes men from words fall to drawing of swords , and quarrelling endeth their quaffing ; whilst dagger-ale barrels bear off many quarrels , and often turne chiding to laughing . sack 's drink for our masters : a●l may be ale-tasters ▪ good things the more common the better . sack 's but single broth : ale 's meat , drink , and cloth , say they that know never a letter . but not to entangle old friends till they wrangle , and quarrell for other mens pleasure ; let ale keep his place , and let sack have his grace , so that neither exceed the due measure . the triumph of tobacco over sack and ale. nay , soft , by your leaves , tobacco bereaves you both of the garland : forbear it : you are two to one , yet tobacco alone is like both to win it , and wear it . though many men crack , some of ale , some of sack , and think they have reason to doe it ; tobacco hath more , that will never give o're the honour they doe unto it . tobacco engages both sexes , all ages , the poor as well as the wealthy , from the court to the cottage , from childhood to dotage , both those that are sick and the healthy . it plainly appears that in a few years tobacco more custome hath gained , then sack , or then ale , though the double the tale of the times , wherein they have reigned . and worthily too , for what they undoe tobacco doth help to regaine , on ●airer conditions , then many physitians , puts an end to much grief and paine . it helpeth digestion , of that there 's no question , the gout , and the toothach , it easeth : be it early , or late , 't is never out of date , he may safely take it that pleaseth . tobacco prevents infection by sents , that hurt the brain , and are heady , an antidote is , before you 're amisse , as well as an after remedy . the cold it doth heat , cools them that doe sweat , and them that are fat maketh lean : the hungry doth feed , and , if there be need , spent spirits restoreth again . tobacco infused may safely be used for purging , and killing of lice : not so much as the ashes but heals cuts and slashes , and that out of hand , in a trice . the poets of old , many fables have told , of the gods and their symposia : but tobacco alone , had they known it , had gone for their nectar and ambrosia . it is not the smack of ale , or of sack , that can with tobacco compare : for taste , and for smell , it bears away the bell from them both where ever they are . for all their bravado , it is trinidado that both their noses will wipe of the praises they desire , unlesse they conspire to sing to the tune of his pipe . turpe est difficiles habere nug●s . a farewell to sack. farewell thou thing , time past so true and dear to me , as bloud to life , and spirit , and near , nay thou more near then kindred , friend , or wife , male to the female , soule to the body , life to quick action , or the warm soft side of the yet chast , and undefiled bride . these and a thousand more could never be more near , more dear , then thou wert once to me . 't is thou above , that with thy mystick faln work'st more then wisdome , art , or nature can ; to raise the holy madnesse , and awake the frost bound-blood and spirits , and to make them frantick with thy raptures , stretching through the soul● like lightning , & as active too . but why , why doe i longer gaze upon thee , with the eye of admiration , when i must leave thee , and inforc'd must say , to all thy witching beauties , goe away ? and if thy whimpring looks do ask me , why ? know then , 't is nature biddeth thee hence , not i ; 't is her erroneous selfe hath form'd my brain , uncapable of such a soverain , as is thy powerfull selfe ; i prethee draw in thy gazing fires , lest at their sight the sin of fierce idolatry shoot into me , and i turn apostate to the strict command of nature ; bid me now farewell , or smile more ugly , lest thy tempting looks beguile my vows pronounc't in zeal , 〈◊〉 thus much shows thee , that i have sworn , but by thy looks to know thee let others drink thee boldly , and desire thee , and their lips espous'd , while i admire and love , but yet not tast thee : let my muse faile of thy former helps , and onely use her inadulterate strength , what 's done by me , shall smell hereafter of the lamp , not thee . a fit of rime against rime . rime the rack of finest wits , that expresseth but by fit● true conceit . spoyling senses of their treasure , cousening judgement with a measure , but false weight . wresting words from their true calling , propping verse for fear of falling to the ground . joynting syllables , drowning letters , f●st●ing vowels , as with fetter● they were bound . soon as lazie thou wer 't known , all good poetry hence was flown , and art banish'd . for a thousand years together , all parnassus green did wither . and wit vanish'd . pegasus did fly away , at the wells no muse did stay , but bewayl'd . so to see the fountaine dry , and apollo's musick dye ; all light fail'd ! s●arveling rimes did fill the stage , not a poet in an age worth crowning . not a work deserving bayes , nor a l●ne deserving praise ; pallas frowning . greek was free from rimes infection , happy greek by this protection was not spoyled . whilst the latine , queen of tongues , is not free from rimes wrongs ; but 〈◊〉 soiled . scarce the hill againe doth flourish , scarce the world a wit doth nourish , to restore , phaebus to his crown again ; and the muses to their brain , as before . vulgar languages that want words , and sweetnesse , and be scant of true measure , tyran rime hath so abused , that they long since have refused other ceasure . he that first invented thee , may his joynts tormented be , cramp'd for ever . still may syllables joyn with time , still may reason war with rime , resting never . may his sense when it would meet , the cold ●umor in his feet , grow unsounder . and his title be long foole , that in rearing such a schoole , was the founder . a letany . from a proud woodcock , and a peevish wife , a pointlesse needle , and a broken knife , from lying in a ladies lap , like a great foole that longs for pap , and from the fruit of the three corner'd tree , vertue and goodnesse still deliver me . from a conspiracy of wicked knaves , a knot of villains , and a crew of slaves , from laying plots for to abuse a friend , from working humors to a wicked end , and from the wood where wolves and foxes be , vertue and goodnesse still deliver me . from resty bacon , and ill rosted e●les , and from a madding wit that runs on wheeles , a vap'ring humour , and a beetle head , a smoky chimney , and a lowsie bed , a blow upon the elbow and the knee , from each of these , goodnesse deliver me . from setting vertue at too low a price , from losing too much coyn at cards and dice . from surety-ship , and from an empty purse , or any thing that may be 〈◊〉 worse ; from all such ill , wherein no good can be , vertue and goodnesse still deliver me . from a foole , and serious toyes , from a lawyer three parts noise ; from impertinence like a drum beat at dinner in his room , from a tongue without a file , heaps of phrases and no 〈◊〉 , from a fiddler out of tune , as the cuckoo is in iune . from a lady that doth breath worse above , then underneath . from the bristles of a hog , or the ring-worm in a dog : from the courtship of a bryer , or st. anthonies old fire . from the mercy of some jaylors , from the long bills of all taylors , from parasites that will stroak us , from morsells that will choak us , from all such as purses cut , from a filthy durty slut , from canters and great eaters , from patentees and cheaters , from men with reason tainted , from women which are painted , from all far-fetch'd new fangles , from him that ever wrangles , from rotten cheese , and addle eggs , from broken shine , and gowty leggs , from a pudding hath no end , from bad men that never mend , from the counter or the fleet , from doing penance in a sheet , from jesuites , monk● , and fryers , from hypocrites , knaves , and lyers , from romes pardons , bulls , and masses , from bug-bears , and broken glasses , from spanish pensions and their spies , from weeping cheese with argus eyes , from forain foes invasions , from papisticall perswasions , from private gain , by publick losse , from coming home by weeping crosse , from all these i say agen , heaven deliver me , amen . the gypsies . the captain sings . from the famous peake of darby , and the devills-arse there hard-by , where we yearly keep our musters , thus the aegyptians throng in clusters . be not frighted with our fashion , though we seem a tattered nation ; we account our raggs , our riches , so our tricks exceed our stitches . give us bacon , rinds of wallnuts , shells of c●ckels , and of small nuts ; ribands , b●ll● , and saffrand linnen , all the world is ours to win in . knacks we have that will delight you , slight of hand that will invite you . to endure ou● tawny faces quit your places , and not cause you cut your laces . all your fortunes we can tell yee , be they for the back or belly ; in the moods too and the tences , that may fit your fine five senses . draw but then your gloves we pray you , and ●it still , we will not fray you ; for though we be here at burley , wee 'd be loath to make a hurley . another sings . stay my sweet singer , ●he touch of thy finger , a 〈◊〉 and linger ; for me that am bringer of bound to the border , the rule and recorder , and mouth of the order , as pri●t of the game , and prelate of the same . there 's a gentry cove here , is the top of the shiere , of the bever ken , a man among men ; you need not to feare , i have an eye , and an eare that turns here and there , to look to our geare . some say that there be , one or two , if not three , that are greater then he . and for the rome-mor●s , i know by their ports and their jolly resorts they are of the sorts that love the true sports of king ptolomeus , or great coriphaeus , and queen cleopatra , the gypsies grand matra . then if we shall shark it , here faire is , and market . leave pig py and goose , and play fast and loose , a short cut and long , some inch of a song , pythagoras lot , drawn out of a pot ; with what says alkindus and pharaotes indus , iohn de indagine with all their pagine , of faces and palmestrie , and this is all mysterie . lay by your wimbles , your boring for thimbles , or using your nimbles , in diving the pockets , and sounding the sock●ts of simper the cocke●s ; or angling the purses , of such as will curse us ; but in the strict duell be merry , and cruell , strike faire at some jewell that mine may accrew well for that is the fuell , to make the towne brew well , and the pot wring well , and the braine sing well , which we may bring well about by a string well , and doe the ●hing well . it is but a straine of true legerdemaine , once twice and againe . or what will you say now ? if with our fine play now , our knack and our dances , we work on the fancies of some of your nancies . these trinckets , and tripsies ▪ and make 'em turn gypsies . here 's no justice lippus will seek for to nip us , in cramp-ring or cippus , and then for to strip us , and after to whip us . his justice to vary , while here we doe tarry but be wise , and wary and we may both carry the kate and the mary , and all the bright ae'ry . away to the q●arry . or durst i goe further in method and order , there 's a purse and a seale , i have a great mind to steale . that when our tricks are done , we might seale our own pardon ; all this we may doe , and a great deal more too , if our brave ptolomee , will but say follow me . to those that would be gypsies too . friends not to refell ye , or any way quell ye , to buy or to ●ell ye , i onely must tell ye , ye aim at a mystery worthy a history ; there 's much to be done , ere you can be a sonne , or brother of the moone . 't is not so soone acquir'd as de●ir'd . you must be ben-bousie , and sleepy and drowsie , and lasie , and lowsie , before ye can rouse ye , in shape that arowse ye . and then you may stalk the gypsies walk ; to the coops and the pens . and bring in the hens , though the cock be sullen for losse of the pullen : take turkie , or capon , and gammons of bacon , let nought be forsaken ; we 'l let you goe loose like a fox to a goose , and shew you the stye where the little pigs lye ; whence if you can take one or two , and not wake the sow in her dreams , but by the moon beam● ; so warily hie , as neither doe cry . you shall the next day have license to play at the hedge a flirt for a sheet or a shirt ; if your hand be light , i 'le shew you the slight of our ptolomies knot , it is , and 't is not . to change your complexion with the noble confection of wallnuts and hogs-grease , better then dogs-grease : and to milk the kine , ere the milkmaid fine hath opened her ●●ne . or if you desire to spit , or fart fire , i le teach you the knacks , of eating of flax ; and out of their noses , draw ribbands and posies . and if you incline to a cup of good wine , when you sup or dine ; if you chance it to lack , be it claret or sack ; i le make this snout , to deale it about , or this to run out , as it were from a spout . a farewell to folly. farewell , ye gilded follies , pleasing troubles ; farewell , ye honor'd rag● , ye christall bubles ; fame's but a hollow eccho ; gold , poor clay ; honour , the darling , but of one short day ; beauties chief idoll , but a damask skin ; state , but a golden prison to live in , and torture free-born minds ; imbroydred trains , but goodly pageant● ? proudly swelling vains , and blood alal'd to greatnesse , is but loane , inherited , not purchast , not our owne . fame , riches , honour , beauty , state , trains , birth ▪ are but the fading blessings of the earth , i would be rich , but see man too unkinde ; digs in the bowels of the richest mine . i would be great , but yet the sun doth still levell his beams against the rising hill . i would be faire , but see the champion proud , the worlds faire eye , oft setting in a cloud . i would be wise , but that the fox i see suspected guilty , when the fox is free . i would be poor , but see the humble grasse trampled upon , by each unworthy asse . rich , hated ; wise , suspected ; scorn'd if poor ; great , fear'd ; fair , tempted ; high , still envide more . would the world then , adopt me for her heire ; would beauties queen , entitle me the faire ; fame , speak me honours minion ; and could i with indian-angels , and a speaking eye , command bare heads , bow'd knees , strike justice dumbe , as well as blind and lame , and give a tongue to stones by epitaphs ; be call'd great master ; in the loose lines of every poetaster ; could i be more , then any man that lives ; great , wise , rich , faire , all in superlatives : yet i these favours , would more free resigne , then ever fortune would have had them mine . i count one minute of my holy leasure , beyond the mirth of all this earthly pleasure . welcom pure thoughts , welcom ye carelee groves ; these are my guests ; this is the court age loves . the winged people of the skies shall sing me anthems , by my sellers gentle spring . divinity shall be my looking-glasse , wherein i will adore sweet vertues face . here dwels no heartlesse loves , no pale-fac't fears , no short joyes purchast with eternall tears . here will i sit and sigh my hot youths folly ; and learn to affect an holy melancholy : and if contentment be a stranger , then i le ne'r look for it but in heaven agen . an invitation to the reader . having now fed thy youthfull frencies , with these juvenilian fancies ; let me invite thee ( with my selfe ) to sing altiora peto . and then to meet with this thy noble resolution ; i would commend to thy sharpest view and serious consideration ; the sweet caelestiall sacred poems by mr. henry vaughan , intituled silex scintillans . there plumes from angels wings , he 'l lend thee , which every day to heaven will send thee . ( heare him thus invite thee home . ) if thou wouldst thither , linger not , catch at the place , tell youth , and beauty , they must rot , they 'r but a case : loose , parcell'd hearts will freeze ; the sun with scatter'd locks scarce warm● , but by contraction can heat rocks ; call in thy powers ; run , and reach home with the light ; be there , before the shadows stretch , and span up nighs ; follow the cry no more : there is an ancient way all strewed with flowers and happinesse , and fresh as may ; there turn , and turn no more ; let wits , smile at faire eyes , or lips ; but who there weeping sits , hath got the prize . finis . . the house of correction: or, certayne satyricall epigrams. written by i.h. gent. together with a few characters, called par pari: or, like to like, quoth the deuill to the collier house of correction. i. h. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the house of correction: or, certayne satyricall epigrams. written by i.h. gent. together with a few characters, called par pari: or, like to like, quoth the deuill to the collier house of correction. i. h. heath, john, fellow of new college, oxford, attributed name. [ ] p. : ill. printed by bernard alsop, for richard redmer, and are to be sold at his shoppe at the west end of saint pauls church, london : . sometimes attributed to john heath. partly in verse. signatures: a-c d⁴. "certaine characters, called par pari. or, like to like, quoth the deuill to the collier" has separate dated title page; register is continuous. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams, english. characters and characteristics -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - jonathan blaney sampled and proofread - jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the hovse of correction : or , certayne satyricall epigrams . written by i. h. gent. together with a few characters , called par pari : or , like to like , quoth the deuill to the collier . ficta voluptaetis causa sint proxima veris. hor. de art po. london , printed by bernard alsop , for richard redmer , and are to be sold at his shoppe at the west end of saint pauls church . . the authour to his booke . come hither booke , take counsell . he that goes into the world , meetes with a world of foes . thy mother was my muse , a gentle dame , who much ador'd appollo's sacred name : then being free-borne , know that thou art going vnto a world of wits ; still fresh , still growing : yet wonder not , that i haue got no friend to write in thy behalfe ! what! should i send thee , like a seruingman , with letters ? no. the world shall see thee first ; and seeing , know whether thou merit'st prayse : none shall haue cause to be condem'd of folly in the applause . of thy harsh lines , the worst that can be thought is this , that none would write , they were so naught . alas , poore booke , hunt not thou after prayse , nor dare to stretch thy hand vnto the bayes vpon a poets head : let it suffice to thee and me , the world doth vs despise . for 't is a mad world , and it turnes on hinges , whilst some a birding goe , and set their springes for to catch woodcocks . others sting and bite like wasps and mastiffs , and doe take delight to quarrell with their shaddowes , nay , themselues , and their owne broode . sure these are spitefull ●●●es . 〈◊〉 at all writers striue to haue a l●rke : meddle not with them , lest thou get a yerke : and yet their venamous breath ( as on a glasse ) no sooner lighteth , but away doth passe . then feare them not . the wise , which know thee best , will entertayne thee , as a welcome ghest ; prayse that 's prayse-worthy , winke at faults but small , like thy conceits , and prayse thy vayne withall . yet be not proude , though thou their prayse dost gayne , remembring what is writ is writ in vayne . t is for a better pen then mine to say by god 't is good , and if you lik's you may . epigrams . ¶ lectori . my epigrams , like to a wandring guest , or tattard souldier , that 's but lately prest , your fauour craues , to grant a passe vnto them , a greater kindnesse you can neuer doe them . bibens his bountie . bibens , to shew his liberalitie , made lusus drunke . a noble qualitie , and much esteemed , which bibens fayne would proue , to be the signe of his familiar loue . lusus , beware , thou 'lt finde him in the end familier deuill , no familier friend . i● ducum . dvcus keepes house : and it with reason stands that he keepe house , that sold away his lands ¶ omne simile non est idem . together as we walkt , a friend of mine mistook a painted maddame for a signe , that in a window stood ; but i acquainted , told him , it was no woodden signe was painted , but maddam ( — . ) yea true , sayd he , yet 't is a signe of little modestie . gr●●e pondus . what tell you vs that milo bore a bull ! is that so strange ? yon silke & siluer gull beareth a countrey church vpon his backe . the lighter bull made milo's shoulders ake : a steeple on his head , and at his heeles a ring of bells , and yet nor stoopes nor reeles . on a shoemaker . what bootes it thee to follow such a trade that 's alwayes vnderfoote and vnderlayde ? on fuscus his valour . fvscus the bragart being , in field to fight , protesting of his valour ouernight , shaking his sword , he swore , now by this hand . i le fight and kill so long as i can stand . the field was pitcht : and now begins the fray ; and fuscus now begins to runne away , nor euer stints his course , vntill by flight he had outrunne the danger of the fight . the combat ended , fuscus he was wanting , and found ere long , where he for feare stood panting . and thus they mockt him ; you swore by your hand , you 'ld fight and kill so long as you could stand . 't is true ( sayd one , ) but pray doe fuscus right ; for fuscus neyther stood to kill nor fight . ad rinaldum amic . see , see , rinaldus ! prethee who is that that weares you great greene fether in his hat , like to some tilter ? sure it is some knight , whose wits being greene , his head must needs be light . in lusiam . lvsia , who scornes all others imitations , cannot abide to be out-gone in fashions : she sayes , she cannot haue a hat or ruffe . a gowne , a pettycoate , a band , or cuffe , but that these citizens ( whom she doth hate ) will get into 't , at nere so deare a rate : but lusia now doth such a fashion follow , whose hayre is flax , and band as saffron yellow , that there 's no citizen , what ere she be , can be transformed so like an owle as she . in lincum . lincus the draper , for his more auayle , dams vp his lights to set his ware to sayle ; and counts it ( in his art ) a misterie to gayne by lying , oaths , and flatterie : but take this rule , if lincus his lights stoppe , deeme you his conscience darker then his shoppe . destruit aedificat mutat quadrata rotundis . a man there was ( which here shall not be nam'd ) that with great cost a wondrous building fram'd ; but as the building rose , the builders purse did pine in substance , ( builders common curse . ) it cost him many a pound : but that 's no matter . slightly being built , the building gan to tatter : and by mischance , downe falls of it a part . the workmen ( they being glad with all their heart come to their master , thereof to complayne , and askt his leaue to ●ayse it vp agayne . nay soft ( quoth he ) it is a question whether more may fall downe ; let 's set vp all together . canutus reformation . canutus now will be no more a ranger , but marryed liue , and lye at rack and manger . so meanes not shee . well , if she goe to grasse , hee 'll prooue an oxe , that was before an asse . on a maydens thoyse . a parent to his childe this counsell gaue , quoth he , my girle , two suiters thou must haue , the one is yong and faire , vertuous & wise , of worthiest stocke , and rarest qualities : the other different , both in age and nature , n●yther so fit , nor yet so sweete a creature ; yet be resolued , and make that suiter blest whom in thy loue thou thinkst the worthi●st ? straight she replyes , since choyce is left to mee , nature commands , that age with age agree , vertue and loue compell my heart thereto to loue the youngman ; and in truth i doe . why , but ( sayd he ) be not mistaken than , conceiue , the elder is the better man. how so , quoth she ! it's a paradox to mee , how being the woorse , he can the better bee ? in pigmeum . little pigmeus weares his mistris gloue , her ring , and feather , ( fauours of her loue . ) who could but laugh , to see the little dwarfe grace out himselfe with her imbrodered scarfe ? 't is strange , yet true , her gloue , ring , scarfe and fan , makes him ( vnhansome ) a wel fauoured man. flemminius sickenesse . flemminius nere was sicke ; yet was it sed flemminius he was sicke , yea , sicke and dead : his friends lamented , shedding many a teare : at length it came vnto flemminius care , who thus ●aue answer ; neuer let them feare it , the newes is ill , yet am i glad to heare it . in oblitum . i wondred much ( as i had wondrous reason ) oblitus should , within so short a season , forsake , forget his old and ancient friend , for whom he oft had vow'd his life to spend : i was not altred much , but so was hee , from low estate , to higher dignitie , yet knew i him ; hath he forgotten me ? preferment then hath spoyld his memorie : yet this i know , 't is but his paltry pelfe . he knowes me well ; but he forgets himselfe . lucus iourney . lvcus that trauel'd with an hundred pound , was rob'd , and left wel beaten , and fast bound : but when to share their prize they had begun , no miracle was wrought , yet he vndone . nimis amor. two friends ( that had not met a long time since ) together supt : but at their parting thence , tom swore hee 'd haue kit home : but all in vayne . kit swore as fast hee 'd haue tom backe agayne . in kindnesse thus they striue , and striuing goe from home to home : nor could they end it so ; but too and fro , walking through many a streete : it now being late , the constable they meete . he gaue command ; his bil-men quickly staid them , and took thē thence , & in the compter laid them . and thus by fortune was a meanes prouided to end the strife , which could not be decided : all which was well , but that that fell out worse ; they saued their oath , but could not saue their purse . in priscus commendations of his mistris . priscus commends his mistres for a girle , whose lips are rubies , & whose teeth are pearle . they neede prooue so , or else it will be found he payes too deare , they cost him many a pound : vltra posse non est esse . how should rattillo lose his purse last night , and . shillings in it ? was 't not by slight ? why ? he came in no crowd . what , did hee play ? no. hee 's no gamester . did he no debts pay ? nor fee no lawyers ? neyther . was he not drunk ? neyther . nor did bestow it on his punke ? why , then the question 's this ; if none of these , how should he lose what he had not to leese ? in rufum . as rufus prays'd his beauer hat of late , one that stood by ( striking him o're the pate ) sayd it was felt . rufus would not beleeue it . he stroke againe , till rufus did conceiue it . so darke was the conceit , that out of doubt , he nere had found , had he not felt it out . in cornutum . why should cornutus wife lie in the strand , and hee , poore silly man , lye in the citie ? belike the shop was not sufficient man'd . to part the head and members yet 't is pittie : but what cares she for head ; i hope she scornes were he seauen heads , shee 'd crowne him with ten hornes . richards mourning . when his old master buried was with cost , dick had a mourning cloke , but it was lost . the corse to churchward goes , ech takes his turne , but dick took none : for richard could not mourne . yes , that he did ; the company he forsooke , and mourn'd not in , but mourned for his cloke . flaccu's payment . flaccus came to a tauerne , there to dine , cal'd for good store of meat , great store of wine , the reckoning brought , flaccus sayes not a word , nor drawes his purse ; but out he drawes his sword : some say he proffer'd wrong ; but how thinke you ? he drew vpon the drawer , pay'd his due . he owed him the reckoning but of late : hath he not scored , and payd him on the pate ? on iustice her entertaynment . ivstice came downe from heauen of late to be a perfect iudge , without partialitie : but when that iustice to the bench was come , the bench it was so full she had no roome ; so backe she tooke her flight vnto the heauens , and left the world againe at sixe and seauens . iustice her reward . ivstice fledde vp to heauen , some say was blinde : why so is many a iustice left behinde : but iustice being blinde , the cause regarded , r●spected none nor neuer was rewarded . so say not all , some of the bench agrees , that iustice kept a clarke to take her fees . in briscum . his father being dead , briscus was told , and found ere long where was his fathers gold , all angels rich , but poorely clad in leather . briscus tooke pitty on them , and straight hither sends some for sattin , other some for tissue , gloues , scarfes , hats , hangers : but now marke the issue , they all being freed , did all consent together , and took their flight , poor briscus knows not whither , which he lamēts , blaming those former kings , who made a law , he might not clippe their wings . in ledaem . because i 'me black & swarfe , leda doth scorn me , and if i marry her , she vowes shee 'l horne me : but leda , know ( i speak 't not in disgrace ) your red and white is but a pybauld face . enigma . as often as i please it changeth forme . it is no coward , though it doe no harme : t is neuer hurt , nor euer doth it feede , t is nothing worth , yet nothing doth it neede . swiftly it runnes , yet neuer maketh sound , and once being lost , againe 't is neuer found . 't is a fit seruant for a gentleman , and a true patterne for a seruingman . 't is borne a gyant , liues a dwarfe , and nigh vnto its death , a gyant doth it dye . ad bonos socios . old women told vs tales long time agoe , of robbin goodfellow , what he would doe , who now they say is gone : but yet wee finde , there 's many of his name are left behinde . in pratum iur : cons. i asked pratus what was his profession ? he savd a lawyer , who by h●s discretion , could right and wrong , according to the law , to cherrish vertue , and keepe vice in awe : i know it contrary , and full of ire , setti●g his awe aside , i call'd him lier . on captaine drake his voyage . some thinke it true , whilst other some do doubt , whether capt. drak● compast the world about . some say he did it in the deuils name , and none ere since could doe the like againe : but these are al deceiued , why should they doubt it ? they know each yeere there 's some that goe about it . ad amicam . i i am the happiest ere inioy'd a loue , u. you are the first did euer constant proue : ly . lye down my wandring thoughts , thē take your rest , an . an blessed once , continue euer blest . answere . na . na , he that shall : tour affections grutch , yl . ill be his fortune , since my prayer is such : u. you loue me now , let not affections seuer , i. i loue you now , and i shall loue you euer . will 's error . will sayes his wife 's so fat , she scarce can go : but she as nimbly answeres , faith sir , no. alas , good will , thou art mistaken quite , for all men know that she is wondrous light . spinus his choyce . spinus would wed , but he would haue a wench that hath all tongues , italian , spanish , french , but i diswade him ; for if she hath any , she hath enough ; if two , sh 'as two too many . to mr. richard moore , one of the masters of the chancery , on his name . for to be rich and hard , or hard and rich , is not thy nature , though thy name be such : for to be rich 't is hard , but thou hast store of riches , honour , yet of vertue more : which vertue , honour , riches now adayes being hard to get , more great must be thy prayse , so i , and all that know thee , doe agree , the more 's the pittie there 's no more like thee . to the bookeseller . nay , feare not bookeseller , this booke will sell : for be it good , as thou know'st very well , all will goe buy it ; but say it be ill , all will goe by it too : thus thou sei'st still . vulcans marriage . vvlcan and venus were together wedded : but mars charg'd in , & vulcans venus bedded . what thogh the smith were black , & she were white , she might haue ask't him leaue , for leaue is light : why so is she , what then ? why then she scornes but to make vp the waight with vulcan's hornes . in borachium . borachio sayd , wine made his head too light , and therfore would not drinke it : yet last night carowsing healths , so heauy was his head , he fell asleepe , and there was left for dead : within a while he wak't , and found for right , the wine had made his purse , not head , too light . in dominam membrosam . madam membrosa had to me a suite , to set forth her good parts : and thus i 'le do 't : setting a side thy iudgement , and thy wit , ( which though but little is ) for thee more fit : first , of rare complexion thou hast store , and when 't is gone , ' knowst well where to haue more . then , for thy hayre , ( nay , thinke not i doe flatter ) it cost thee to the tire man , no small matter . fingers like spiders clawes ; nay , not so thicke , and yet to picke a pocket farre more quicke . thou a small foote , nor a short heele do'st lacke , which makes thee fall so often on thy backe . as for thy other parts ( which i know least ) thou get'st thy liuing by ; sure those are best . theeues falling out , true men come by their goods . two cheating mates , whose only trade was shift , to chea●e a countrey fellow was their drift : the place being fi● , they quarrel'd , and fell out , and needes at buffets they would haue a bout : the honest man slept in to part the fray ; but they in bustling , nim'd his purse away : which after missing , he ( poore man ) laments , and that he parted them , greatly repents : but they being parted , part what they had got , and laughed a maine at the poore simple sot , swearing , the ancient prouerbe they had crost , since they fell out , and he his goods had lost . on the sixe cases . no. nanta was nominated for a whore , gin. for that she had bin ginitiue before : da. notice hereof was to the iustice giuen , acc. who her accused , that she had loosely liuen ; vo. but she cry'd mercy , and her fault vpript ' , abl. and so was tane away , and soundly whipt . her case was ill : yet will the question be , being thus declin'd , in what a case was she ? ad lectorem . is 't possible that thou my booke hast bought , that sayd'st 't was nothing worth ! why was it naught ? read it again , perchance thy wit was dul , thou mayst finde something at the second pull : indeed at first thou naught didst vnderstand , for shame get something at the second hand . on luce's maintenance . hee that takes paines shall get , the prouerbe go●s ; but luce takes pleasure , yet doth nothing lose . poore labouring porters , with much toyle & sweat , scarce get sufficient victuals for to eate : but if that luce at any time doth lacke , she with her belly can maintayne her backe . peters trouble . peter is troubled with a froward wife , whose curstnesse makes him wearie of his life : the simple fellow , ( with her rayling crost ) hath often wish't that she her tongue had lost . alas ( poore peter ) sure thy case is ill , when shee 'le nor lose her tongue , nor keepe it still . parnels comfort . parnell , being taken in the very act , was sent vnto bride-well , for such her fact : but be contented , parnell , cease to mourne , th' art at the wheele of fortune , make it turne . in duellum . stratus and stremon went to field to fight , stratus was slayne , and stremon taken streight ; he being condem'd , was saued : yet by this strife , the one , his liuing ; th' other lost his life . in bachum & venèrem . bachus and venus well accord together : and whither bachus goes , venus goes thither : bachus backs venus ; venus for his paine , pleasureth bachus on her backe againe . on venter the merchant . venter the merchant is runne madde , they say , on the report his ships are cast away . what , did he venter with his goods his wits , that he is falne into these franticke fits ? then , peraduenture , it may well be found , the sea his goods , and he his wits hath drown'd . to the gentlewomen painters . appelles , famous for the art of painting , vnto whose worke there naught but life was wāting ; had he cōpar'd , or held with you the strife , he had not wonne , yours comes so neere the life : your portractures you make to speake and goe , appelles workmanship could nere doe so . tempora mutantur & nos mutamur in illis . to be a whore-master , in former time , was by our fathers counted a base crime : how much the world 's worse then it was before , each gallant makes his mistris of his whore. ad iur : cons. words wisely set are worth much gold , so were we by our ancient fathers told , and so we doe beleeue : experience then doth teach vs , lawyers are the wisest men . tom's bargaine . tom should haue payd ten shillings for a sword but would not take it on the cutlers word ; he bid him try 't , he did , at the first stroke it prou'd not worth a point , the point was broke . to mistris e. s. let but thy beautious eyes looke on this line , to see , as in thy glasse , thy beautie shine , which beauty nature gaue thee to disgrace our latter artists , who make vp a face of seeming beautie , for to blinde such eyes , as with pigmalion them doe idolize . should i not praise , what i praise-worthy see , i should doe wrong to nature and to thee : yet , whilst i speake thee faire , so short i come of thy perfection , that i 'me deem'd by some to light the shining sunne : yet from my hand receiue this graine vnto thy heape of sand . epitaph . stay , doe not passe ! here fixe your eyes vpon a virgins obsequies ! pay tribute to a troubled heart , t' is but a teare before you part : and what are teares ? they are but streames of sorrow , which , like frightfull dreames , disturbe your sences - yet i craue no other sacrifice to haue : but if you passe , and let fall none , y' are harder then this marble stone . your loue is colder , and your eyes as senselesse of my miseries . on my venture in sir walter rawleigh's voiage . i being perswaded ( not by reason led ) for gold vnto gwyan aduentured ; great were our hopes of good successe ; for none expected lesse to gaine then fiue for one : but following fate ( she fickle ) thither led , where neyther they of gold nor siluer sped : but , poore , distrest , homeward returne againe , mony , liues , labour , all was spent in vaine . the hopefull necke of their designe was broke ; for all their gold was vanish't into smoke . thus i lost all ; wherefore it is a signe the found no mine of gold , yet gold of mine . a data fata sequtus . the motto on sir walter rawghlie's armes . in costum . costus his custome stole ; but by the way the wayters met him , and his goods did stay : he it denyes , and proffers those to bring , should proue it was no vnaccustomed thing . he meant to steale . if so ? why should they choose such customes , rather to finde then loose . on smithfield . t' was faire at smithfield once , but once a yeere ; at bartholmetide : but now the cities care hath mad● it fayre at all times , paued it round . t' is twentie shillings better by the pound . nor haue they much bestowed their cost amisse , since there 's no soile so plentifull as this ; heere 's hay in great abundance , heads of cattell ; as horses , oxen , hither come to battle : yet what is strangest , it nere needeth dressing . here is the horne of plentie . vulcans blessing . epitaph on a foote-man . this nimble foote-man ran away from death ; and here he rested , being out of breath . here death him ouertooke , made him his slaue , and sent him of an arrant to his graue . censures on the voyage to gwyana . svndry oppinions abroad are spred , why the gwyanians no better sped ; some say , they were preuented out of spayne , others , because some did returne agayne : some say , 't was sicknesse : others , their abode so long ere they put from the english rode. some say , their general 's absence : but the most say , captaine kemish death , when he was lost , all was ouerthrowne , he onely was to doe it , and that sir walter came but rawly to it . on a scriuener . i told a scriuener of his briberie , his broking , forging , cheating , knauery , he sayd , he heard me not ; so 't may appeare , how could he heare , that had no eares to heare ? ad templum pro bonis . haile to this holy place , this ancient seate , where iustice , ioyn'd with wisedome doth intreat of right & wrong , & reads her sacred lawes , more for deuotions sake , then for applause . this is the place chosen to be the helme , where iustice sits , to steare about the realme . both law and equitie , hence iustice driues the charriot of fayre peace , and leades in gyues , wrong , and oppression , throughout the land , whilst peace and plentie ride ioyn'd hand in hand . this is astrea's temple , which is greac't with many a golden vessell , which are plac't in places eminent . those astrea blesse ; and blessing , make their number numberlesse . de templo in malos . saint peters and s. pauls are in disgrace : the middle temple , that ●… the onely place , whither both citie and the countrey come , as to the temple of ierusalem , to heare the law , and many a iew to proffer ; as many an angell . none must come to offer a widdowes mite : for how should liue the scribes , but by false profits , and by double bribes ? doues are brought hither to be bought and sold , and countrey clyants bring their bags of gold hither to change both friends , and foes , & strangers are vs'd alike , for these are money changers . this is a sanctuary that is free for all but sarjants ; yet we doe agree , there 's many good , and graue , whom these things greeues , wer 't not for them , 't were but a denne of theeues . sextus purchase . it may be true ( for sextus in it stands , ) that he hath purchased great store of lands : but 't is conceald : yea marry , so 't may be , for i am sure 't was neuer knowne to me . what if he lyes ? why , then the question 's , whether the truth and lands bee both conceal'd together . yea , that they are : for if the truth were knowne , the lands would soone be found , but few or none . mirabilie visu . when old penochio came first to towne , and saw the coaches rūning vp & down , staring vpon them long , he hoopt alowd : the people thronging round him made a crowd , and askt him , what he meant ? quoth he i hooted because before i nere saw women booted . on the lotteries . some doe condemne our late great lotteries , and say they were but tricks and fopperies for to get money : this is all the thanke they giue the founders ; yet all were not blanke . one myracle it wrought , say what they can , it made a tayler for to be a man. currit mercator ad indos . some fondly thinke our great east-india trade hath all our other merchants beggars made ; and that they carry men , and money store , to kill our marriners , and make vs poore . these are confuted all , and held as vaine , in eighteene moneths they now returne againe : returne a gaine said i ? nay , but a losse , if they lose men and money , but for drosse . on the high spring tide at the shewes at the palsgraue's wedding . the sea fled in , willing to see this sport , that to the neighbouring lands she might report their valiant prowesse , and each glyding flood , came rowling in ; & each streame would haue stood for to particip●te these warlike shewes , so that the thames could hardly them enclose : for some , to be spectators of the sight , got vp vpon the bancks to see them fight . on iustice ballance . some doe paint iustice sitting in her state , with scales & ballance to giue each his waight : surely her scales are euen , so thinke i , and that the beame hangs not in iustice eye . old siluium . siluius by simmony a liuing got , and he liu'd well vpon it . 'pray why not ? for he the poore did pill , the rich did lurch , and so became a piller of the church . de perochia beatae mariae de arcubus . an archer , bragging , sayd , he well did know how to bring any man vnto his bow : yet , when he put his knowledge into vse , hee hardly could say bo vnto a goose. ex abundantia cordis es loquitur . the mouth speaks frō the abundance of the heart , so were we taught : but they haue found an art , lately at westminster , which is farre woorse , most mouthes speake from th' abundance of the purse . ad lectorem candidum . my booke arraign'd for causes criminall , must dye a death which is vnnaturall : a iury ignorant haue past vpon it , and found it guiltie : so there is throwne on it many contemptuous speeches , insomuch as i appeale to you , whose wisedome's such as errs not , and craue iudgement from your breath , whether it shall be burnt or prest to death . certaine characters , called par pari . or , like to like , quoth the deuill to the collier . — ego nec studium sine diuite verna , nec rude quod prosit video ingenium ; alterius sic altera poscit opem res . hor. de art. po. london , printed by bernard alsop , for richard redmer , and are to be sold at his shoppe at the west end of saint pauls church . . certaine characters , called par pari : or , like to like , quoth the diuell to the collier . a pirat is an excellent bow-man . who from his childe-hood being much bent to rouing , is in time become a cunning shooter , and thereby hath wonne many a prize . if you purpose to out-goe him , you must betake you to your flight : but if once he boord you , your game is lost . adam bell and his archers gaue him first example to bee an out-law ; and because in times past he hath beene a beneficiall souldier to the english , hee is sent vnto the marshalsey ; for whose sake , there is a stake or two set vp at wapping , for him , or any of his companions to make vse of . a drunkard is a master of defence , who dares challenge any dutchman or german . he takes no felicitie at the single , but dares any man at the double . he is but too to cruell : for oftentimes hee seekes the bloud of the grape ; ye● hath he in many a duel bin ●eft for dead , when his friends , taking of him vp , haue f●und his crowne crackt . once he had almost lost his eyes , insomuch as he was led home to his lodging . and if at any time he be not able to stand , he may be well excused , because he hath got a cut in the leg . many times haue i seene him so stonied , he had not the power 〈◊〉 speake ; yet w●ll he justle any man in the streete , and very manfully fal vpon all fewer at a time . if ●erchance he meetes with a constable , hee prepares for the encounter , and betakes him to his word . a meere gallant is one that playes at noddy . one & twentie ends his game ; for the like number ended his nonnage , and made him flush , which if perchance he be , expect him to shew it very openly : but if there come a sequ●ns , you shall haue him keepe close . for feare of a payre of knaues , you we●e best to looke to his d●aung , lest that hee shuffle with you but of all things , take neede how you fall out about scoring ; for hee is knowne to bee a g●eat cutter . if it bee you fortune 〈◊〉 get to twentie , it is impossible for you to loose the gam● , because you are sure to haue a noddi● in hand . a curtezan is a musi●ian . who from her youth being brought vp to pricksong , hath lost no time , but is become a woman of note . she learnt it of the nightingale , and in imitati●n of he● sleepes , alwaies against a prickle . she sings sometimes in paris ▪ but they are not much respected , because they are growne common ; yet neuer was she put downe by any but onely in the closing , and the reason , as some say , is because she fals oftē too flat , she steales away your cares with her voice , and in the meane time hath many crotchets in her head how to straine courtesie with your purse . a large and a long shee is well affected with ; but a briefe or a sembriefe , nothing pleaseth her . of all instruments she loues not the recorder because it makes her too melancholy . shee hath playd at many a marriage , yet neuer could affect the bride-well , although shee hath beene paid largely for her paine . imitating the ancient poets , she sings her poems in cars , and the people being much delighted therewith , for the maintainance of her voyce , haue bestowed many an egge vpon her , which oftentimes haue proued as rotten as her selfe . faine would she haue beene a quarrister at pauls , but that she loues not to stand in a surplisse : yet many times she repayres thither , especially vnto the lower end of the middle i le . she is neuer out of the moods but when she meetes with a be●dle or constable , and then shee begins to quarter , because shee feareth to sing a counter tenor . if you have a desire to heare her , eyther shee is gone to lambeth to take the ayre ; or else you shall meete her at the next tauerne with her conserts . a gull traueller is the ball at tennis , who , by reason of the later racket in france , hath left it , and now hath tooke vp his place of residence in the court of england . after his passage hither , hee held vs with a long discourse of the seuerall hazzards he had bin driuen into : how he was tost from this place to that place , hauing not a few times past vnder the line . neither forgot hee his rare exploy●s done in the field , in the late banding of faction : nor what grea● seruices hee had beene proffered so his g●od parts in court : but because he lyeth for his v●●tage , which in him in a fault , it is fit he be whipt out of the court. a swaggerer is one that playe● at ruffe , from whence hee tooke the denomination of a ruffin . take heede how you deale with him , for he is much giuen to packing ; and at play his vsuall oath is renounce me . he cares but for one good suite at a time : and the foure orders of knaues are his most familier companions . let no wenches trust him , for hee is neuer well but when he is taking vp their coates , who for his sawcinesse is oftentimes sent to the stocks , where euery one is glad to finde h●m . a broking scriuener is a barbersurgion . who in his apprenticehood being brought vp to the art of poleing , is now made free of the shauers . he hath his shop fully furnisht with most rare and cunning instruments . his chiefe customers consists of vsurers and mad-men , which mad-men he so hampers , keeping them fast bound , that in sixe moneths many of them recouer their wits againe . he begins to haue some practise in phisicke ; 〈◊〉 , ●f any young gentleman be troubled wi●h a looseness , he can giue him a bynding potion ▪ and againe , if he be bound , he can minister vnto him a purging pill , that shall fetch an extraordinarie quantitie of yellow stuffe from him . he neuer mist of his cunning but once , when looking into the market-place through a window , he lost one of his eares , and neuer since could be cured . a gamester at irish is a merchant aduenturer . the dice are his ships , the men are his goods , which lye in seuerall parts to to bee brought home in safetie . in the returne , many times , his goods are taken by pyrats , who lye in waite for them : but if in the pursuite hee can but safely bring ●hem ore the barre , he cares not a point for them . if ●he weather be so tempestious , that hee be constrained to lye at hull , ten to one but the ships are cast away . when he comes to make vp his accompts , hee beares away as much of his goods as he can possible ▪ for then is he compelled to breake , which is a great bi●● to his credite : and his aduersaries imediately enter their actions , and attache his goods : so are they carried backe againe to the bilbowes , where they lye wind-bound vntiil such time as he hath spent most part of his estate . when his aduersaries hauing got their will of him , more of constraint thē pity , release him . an amorist is a painter . who paints foorth his passions in blacke and white , and carries his mistris colours in his hat. he hath made her picture in a sonnet , & doth idolize her like pigmalion . if you make any comparisons with her , he will draw , although he be beate● blacke and blew in the quarrell hee is so obseruatiue , that he will not omit her shaddow , and accounts it the heig●t of his happinesse when hee can frame his demeanour to please her . the vtmost end of his studie . is but to attaine to the secrets of the arte of l●●ming , wherein being vnskilfull , hee sometimes layes his colours on a false ground , whereby they fading he himselfe is disgraced . lectoribus . friends these are like to like , my iudgmēt's such , the deuill to the collier sayd as much . — vitani denique culpam , non laudem merui . hor. de art. po. finis . a helpe to memory and discourse with table- talke as musicke to a banquet of wine : being a compendium of witty, and vsefull propositions, problemes, and sentences / extracted from the larger volumes of physicians, philosophers, orators and poets, distilled in their assiduous and learned obseruations, and which for method, manner, and referent handling may be fitly tearmed, a second misselany, or helpe to discourse. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc . estc s ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a helpe to memory and discourse with table- talke as musicke to a banquet of wine : being a compendium of witty, and vsefull propositions, problemes, and sentences / extracted from the larger volumes of physicians, philosophers, orators and poets, distilled in their assiduous and learned obseruations, and which for method, manner, and referent handling may be fitly tearmed, a second misselany, or helpe to discourse. basse, william, d. ca. . phillips, e. [ ], p. printed by t.b. for leonard becket, and are to be sold at his shop in the temple, neere the church, london : . sometimes attributed to william basse and e. phillips; contains on p. - , and p. the earliest known printings of two poems by john donne--cf. stc. imperfect: stained, torn and tightly bound, with loss of text. "table-talke, as musicke to a banquet of wine" has special t.p. and continuous paging. signatures: a-f¹², g¹⁰. reproduction of original in: harvard university. library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - olivia bottum sampled and proofread - olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a helpe to memory and discovrse : with table-talke , as musicke to a banquet of wine . being a compendium of witty , and vsefull propositions , problemes , and sentences , extracted from the larger volumes of physicians , philosophers , orators and poets : distilled in their assiduous and learned obseruations : and which for method , manner , and referent handling , may be fitly tearmed , a second misselany ; or , helpe to discourse . london : printed by t. b. for leonard becket , and are to be sold at his shop in the temple , neere the church . . ad lectorem . as bastard once the epigramist said , as euery skill is nothing when 't is showne : so were his labors slighted when th'were knowne . foure lines ( saith he ) which tug'd me houres twaine , my reader swallows vp and takes no paine . of books and pamphlets i commerse with many , before i drew a good conceit from any . a hundred ballads had not so much wit , to yeeld one platforme for to build on it : and yet my printer thinkes that hee shall leese , that buyes my epigrams at pence a piece . yet a wise looker on , that viewes a ground , set with rich grafts and plants but rarely found , from seueral nurseries brought in and set , must thinke some paines was taken such to get . and if a gardner much waste woods passe by , before one wholesome fruit makes glad his eye ; why should he think that such a plot doth sute but he should reape the haruest of his fruit ? though bastards printer seem'd to be so nice , matter & lines are good , must beare me price . to the reader . of all th'internall faculties of man , none nobler then the memory : for when our youthfull industry with labour tooke , hath suck't schooles dry , and made it selfe a booke , this trusty treasourer that turnes the key , must lock't in memories chest , or 't will away ; for man is truly said to know no more , then what he can remember of his store , and vouch at need , i 'de haue a man to be a minshaw , or gesuers history , to know all names , and natures , and to read ▪ a lecture to each question doth proceed . in praise of the worke , and the author . he that doth read , & fain would vnderstād shall find instruction here at the first hand . welcome his willingnesse : lead him along to the choice arbo●s , where a fragrant throng of sauors delicate seemes to inuite him , and mutually agree , all to delight him . this book 's the garden , and since thou art in , walke through each arbor , whilst alone vnseen , then contemplate the beauties that be there planted , to fill thy pleasure euery where : l●t then thy memory striue to regaine , these preparatiues and cordials for the braine , since by it plausible discourses is cherished , which else by ignorance and fate had perished . glad then the author , since his willing hand , twixt thee and ignomy , is content to stand : and let him prayses haue ; for thankefull spirits giue solace to the man that truely merits . w. lort . directions for discov●se . in your discourse vse not many circumstances before you come to the matter , for that begets a wearinesse in the auditors : and yet for eschuing of bluntnesse , vse some preamble thereunto ; for that perswades attention , and conceit of some methodicall consequence . of all the excellent attributes and faculties of man , in none doth he differ more from a beast , then in his ratione & oratione , in his reason and discourse : in the excellency and perfection whereof , like the penne of a ready writer , is the tongue of a perfect speaker , which in the wise management and excellency of that quality , in the prosecution of his relation and story , possesseth with a silent 〈◊〉 derment and admiration , the eares and 〈◊〉 fes of those within the compasse of his c●●ning : for as the poet could say , dic mihi musa virum — qui mores hominum multorum vidit & vrbes , so i say , giue me the man for discourse , that hath seene the manners and situations of cities and men ; which hath scene , and is obseruable in the passages and occurrences of the world , the creatures thereof , and the casualties therein : for that drawes vp to the ●are of life and fresh view , what hath past , and is buried in the graue of obliuion . for without discourse and the preciousnes thereof , how should fore-passed actions which to that end are sometimes done , bee presidents , examples , or fore-warnings , both to present and future times , and which though done , and to vs knowne , yet in a dead vnderstāding appeare to the sense like landskip to the eye , till some perfect musician with the excellency of this instrument present them to the eare , in more fresher colours and life . oh the tedious houres that haue beene posted away with this inchanting syren ! this it is that presents education , gentility , vnderstanding , memory : this it is like musicke to a banquet of wine , luls the sence in the sweetest and highest fulnesse and melody of content : it hath beene a porter to admit many a poore outside for his preicous inside , to silken laced and perfumed hindes , that had rich bodies , but poore wretched minds . and though in the crosse carriage and misimployment , it hath subdued many a rich chastity of it selfe , which though it make not for the good , yet it argues for the power : but where lady pecunia and she ioyne hand to hand in conspiracy , they make hauocke and deuastation of all in the way . i● luls asleep heauy senses after large suppers , and takes captiue many a faire lady , that if the first and second bait take them not , they are not mist with the third . trauellers and historiographers goe a fishing with no other bait : in a word , communication and conference betweene man and man , is the life of liuing : but discourse the life of that life . q. since discourse is so excellent , precious and profitable , and yet so few can orderly mannage it , wherein consisteth the greatest helpe thereunto . a. in relation and memory : for as without knowledge our memory hath no su●iect to worke vpon , euen so without m●mory , our knowledge is alwayes in the a●tumne , withering , and decay ; the brittle and slippery footing whereof ( as testifieth each mans experience ) forgets much more then it can containe . for as once one learned in the lawes , told his fellow aduocate at the barre , entring into some wrangling comparisons , that he had forgot more law then euer the other learned ; to which i easily assent , because i know all memory to be infida & labilis , vntrusty to keepe , and trusty onely to deceiue ; and which was peraduenture more then he himselfe at that time was master of , that being onely ours that we remember : for euery man may say of the much seed that hath fallen into his ground , little haruest hath beene gathered into his barne ; not vnlike the fruit which the sower in the gospell receiued from his seed , of which whilst he cast it foorth , some fel into the highway , a ground vnfit to receiue it in , like the vncapable memory of the old man , by reason of his too much drinesse , of the yong man ; by reason of his too much moisture : and though it fall as some of his s●●d fell into good ground , that of it selfe had that reasonable fruitfulnesse , in regard of some proportionable mixture of heat and moisture , that it might haue yeelded an increase sutable thereunto ; yet then the cares and troubles of the world , doe either exhaust and drinke it dry , or like the seed which fell among thorns , choke it vp , that it can take no root or impression . qu. but if the memo●y be so precious , that the waste of the tongue spends vpon the storehouse there ▪ so vsefull , so delightfull , that to it we walke as to some castle or tower of antiquity , to view the records and registers of forepassed ages and accidents , there hung vp as monuments to our view ; without which , whatsoeuer hath beene done , had beene as soone forgotten as done , without further vse or consequence , but that there we finde it registred by the finger of gods prouidence and power , and committed to this great custos recordorum : where of euery man is a keeper , that somethings detaines in such capitall letters , that many yeeres obscure nor deface not : and yet other things againe so slightly and negligently apprehends , that in a short period of time they are wiped out as with a spunge ; yea , euen such as w● grieue to forgoe , and thereupon it growe● that the question is , by what meanes 〈◊〉 ordering , this precious virgin ( secretary of the soule ) may be kept vncorrupted , euer flourishing , in her best and middle youth and ripest apprehension . an. though i am not ignorant of the precious vertue of this most excelē●t handmaid of the soule , that lodgeth in the hindermost closet and chamber of the braine , the volume & contents wherof she so often ouerturnes with delight : yet am i not so skilfull to propose any rules whereunto she may be wedded to become more fruitfull , though i know there are that haue layd downe such : but that any were euer much bettered thereby , hath not come vnto my knowledge , more then by doubtfull relation . in authours i haue read of some men of wonderfull memories , as of seneca , that he could recite . names . of others againe so weake , that they haue forgotten to read , nay , their owne names ; and all these out of the strength or weaknesse of their naturall memory : for how should it be that a weake memory by nature , should become much bettered by art , when it must recount or set downe by so many ideas , or imaginations formed in the minde ; by certaine places , colours , or letters the circumstances whereof require a reasonable strength that way , without which there is no possibility of working . for in this artificial memory distinguished by places as it were paper leaues , the ideas or images , letters , the disposition of the images in their places , the method for the reading , all which are a charge to the memory ; yet the authours in this art say , this is done more by the vnderstanding then the memory : the helpes whereof by this art memoratiue , they would proue to be as effectuall , by these conceiued fictions in the eye of the mind , as those we remember by the visible eye of the body : for exāple whereof , say they , concerning the latter we read in the holy scriptures of . stones that were erected in the riuer iordan in memory of the wonderfull transpassage of the israelites , ios. . . likewise the sacraments ordained of god ( say they ) are as visible ideaes to remember inuisible things , to which we easily assent : or as by the tying of the finger with a thread , wee are sometimes remembred , what that cannot tell vs , but points vs to , as an adiunct to ou● memory . so in like manner are these places , and ●●deaes , mementoes , and helpes for the ey● of the minde , as significant as the other for the body . the art whereof by reason of some difficulty therein , i leaue to the practisers , and those that will further wade therein , whilst i onely relying vpon a naturall memory , and the strength thereof infused by god , am carefull , not disparaging any other either helpe or art , both to preserue it in my selfe , and to commend to others , such preseruatiues and helpes , as are drawn from the workes of the learned in this kind . directions for the preseruation of the naturall memory , consisting first in auoyding of things hurtfull : secondly , in imbracing such things as are helpfull . the memory , whose eyes are seated in the backe part of the braine , hath no obiect till something bee effected : shee lookes not forward at things to come , but recordeth euents already succeeded ; the edge wherof , like the finest razor , is quickly turned or blunted : wherefore among many things that are required to preserue it in a perfect temperature , these especially ensuing , are respected as principall furtherers or decayers thereof . and first of the offensiue part . things hurtfull for the memory to be anoyded . first , wee are to obserue , that all co●rupt ayres , noysome vapours and sent● are offensiue thereunto , and therefore o● chiefest respect ought to bee , that the ayre wherein we breathe , be not thicke , foggy , and vnwholesome , annoyed with stinking marishes , standing ditches , and lakes , &c. secondly , that we walke not forth in foggy or mystie euenings or mornings , before or after the sunne be downe or vp . thirdly , that we abstaine from all crude and grosse flesh , vnripe fruits , greene herbes , and all other things , cold by nature or vaporous , which send vp grosse humore into the braine . fourthly , that wee auoid all fuming drinks , strong wine , and ale , or any broths made of vnwholesome water . fiftly , from beanes , pease , garlicke and onions , which especially cause head-ache , hurt the eyes and the sinews , and by weakning the senses , cause dreames and phantasies . sixtly , likewise from such things as are flow of digestion , as cheese , nuts , wallnuts , and meates of diuers sorts at one meale . also we are to auoid ( as dangerous therinto ) immoderate sleepe , too much venery , especially when the stomacke is full , or the body drie : at change of the moone , or where sleepe may not follow . but from it altogether should young men abstaine , as likewise old men , and women with childe . all cold in the hindermost part of the head , necke , stomacke , and belly , is offensiue . likewise immoderate labour , which dryes vp the strength and duls the spirits , especially in moyst and windy places . much care , feare , griefe , and all violent passions of the minde : too much reading and study , night-watching , long-hayre , washing the head in cold water , with the distraction of the mind into diuers studies , all offensiue and hurtfull . things good to preserue and restore the memory , are for the most part the vse of these precedent contraries , aa all meates that yeeld good iuyce or nourishment to 〈◊〉 body : more especially the braine of 〈◊〉 partridge , the sparrow , hare , conny ▪ 〈◊〉 henne , the last whereof is the first and 〈◊〉 in reckoning . for , some physicians write , that 〈◊〉 braine of the hen , addes to the very su●●stance of the braine : of whom it is thus written : the henne of all fowles is accounted best : in two things farre excelling all the rest . for first , for those that want or braine or wit : the hennes braine doth augment both that and it . and in her body she the egge doth breed , the yolke whereof turnes to much blood and seed . likewise the vapour and decoction of these herbes infused into the eare through some tunnell , much comforteth the brain , that is to say , of nigella romana , the flowers of rosemary , and cardnus benedictus : and these not onely comfort the braine ▪ but also sharpen the wit , exhilarate the mind , and procure healthfull sleepe . the washing of the feet in warme water once a moneth , and throughly boyled , wherein hath beene decocted camomill , the leaues of lawrell , and the like . after meat abstaine one houre from all ●mmoderate labour , either of minde or body ; as after supper some reasonable time from sleepe ; for to fleepe vpon a full stomacke , much dulleth the braine , as it indangereth the body , which some say is thereby exposed to as much as to serue in the face of an enemy . when thou goest to thy bed , shut the windowes of thy chamber , to exclude the winde , and draw close the curtaines to shut out the moone-light , which is very offensiue and hurtfull to the braine , especially of those that sleepe , much more then of those that wake . afterwards in thy lying downe , first turne thee vpon thy right side , when thou awakest again , vpon thy left side , that thy blood and digestion may the better replenish thy body ; euer practising the memory to record and repeat things receiued in the euening , the morning following : for by want of practice , the retentiue faculty becomes dull and forgetfull , as the verse to this purpose seemes to insinuate ; saepe recordari medicamen fortius omni . solus et artificem qui facit , vsus erit . englished . t is vse & practice that becomes each 〈◊〉 for that makes perfect , what neglect 〈◊〉 kill . neither desire superficially to read man● things , but rather well to vnderstand those few that thou doest ; for euen as it little auaileth the stomack to haue receiued much meate , except it bee thence disgested into nutriment to the body , so doth such reading bring as little profit to the minde . signes to iudge of the debility , and constitution of euery braine , with some aduice for remedy of the ill disposition thereof . the debility of each weake memory ariseth out of one of these foure causes : that is to say , either out of the too much heat of the braine , or too much cold , or too much moisture , or too much drinesse ; for too much heat dries vp the spirits , too much cold hinders their operation and motion in the cauerne of the brain , too much driness● the reception of formes , and too muc● moisture drownes them vp ; the signes whereof are thus perceiued . . if the braine be ouer-hot , you shall perceiue an extraordinary heat in the head by the touching of it , and the parts about the head wil be hot and red , as likewise the eyes very nimble in turning , the hayres quickly growing and fast increasing . . but if ouer-cold , the head expresseth it by his coldnesse , in the face scarce appeares any rednesse , the turning of the eyes are slow and weake , the pulse and breathing very deliberate , the hayres long a growing , the head neuer offended with any hot cause : such are for the most part sleepy , fearefull , slothfull , slow to anger , and dull of memory , cold in their desire to women , and weak of sense . . those of a moyst braine , are for the most part hairy , and such as are neuer troubled with baldnesse : they smell slowly , but sleepe soundly , and are seldome troubled with dreames . . but if the braine be ouer-dry , there the apprehension is but slow to conceiue , yet strong to retaine what it hath receiued : those of this disposition haue their haires hard and curled , the eyes hollow , and become quickly bald ▪ the state and disposition of the brain being thus knowne , it remains then , that 〈◊〉 ry man be obseruant and temperate 〈◊〉 diet , to take or forbeare such things , as 〈◊〉 be either good or hurtfull vnto it : 〈…〉 the braine be ouer-hot , those things are 〈◊〉 be obserued , and accustomed , that dimin●●● and allay the heat thereof , as the other to be forborne that increase it . if ouer-cold , then are we to abstaine from all cold meates , and betake to their contraries such as increase heate , and so moderating the extremity thereof , it may be reduced by this meanes , to a perfect perfection , and so of the rest . and thus much shall suffice to haue sp●●ken of the foure constitutions or qualit●● of the braine , the direction whereof is c●●pious , in the workes of many learned a●●thors , which here i pursue not , because purpose breuity , but betake my selfe to fu●●ther matter of discourse , history , and 〈◊〉 ty propositions , furniture and talke for 〈◊〉 triall of wits and braines . of memories true vse . he that remembers what he should forget , hath taken memory from her seat , and set 〈◊〉 three degrees below her . ●e that forgets what he remember should , 〈◊〉 equall ballance in account doth hold ●●th him , that doth not know her . ●e that remembers what he knowes is fit , and to obliuion doth the rest commit : that man hath learned all the rules of it , and may proceed to practise — of the excellency of memory . memory , it is that keepes aliue all the old ages of the world , and actions of men , from adam to him that dyed yesterday : all which were else raked vp●● the embers of obliuion ; but that mem●●● takes them vp , discourse layes them open ●nd keepes them aliue . were it not for 〈◊〉 excellent sense ; how should the iust be ●ewarded , whose memory shall bee blessed ▪ when as the memoriall of the wicked shall ●ot ? we see memory to be a record , let vs then put nothing on this file , but what is worthy a lasting durance : for it is a perpetuall register ; deface it not then , blot it not , choake it not by any distemper , but cherrish and refresh it by these or better ●duices in this kinde , when thou meetest with them ; she cannot want food : 〈◊〉 the world is her dyet , and in these di●●●ses thou shalt finde sentences and 〈◊〉 conclusions , some whereof will be 〈◊〉 worthy to be hung vp in this store-ho●●● and so i leaue thee to gather what thou ●●dest worthy , and to lay vp what thou ●●therest . propositions follow . qu. vvhat is the chiefe vertue and b●nefit of the memory ? a. recordare beneficia . iudicia , exempla . nouissima , englished , to remember . benefits long , to require them . . iudgements , to auo●● them . . examples , to bee forewarned by them . . the last things , that we neuer dow amisse by thinking on them . and withall as we must remember benefits long , so we must forget iniuries quickly , so that memory , and this forgetfulnesse will be equiualent in goodnesse . q. what doe we account the best staeyes and helpes to memory ? a. writing ; for that hath conueyed and carried along , one ages actions to another ; hath inriched one age with anothers knowledge ; by that we doe conferre with the deceased , and call the dead to liuing conferences : from saint austen and other those fathers and lights of the church , how are our studies diuinely inlightned , whose continuall vigilancy and labour hath discouered vnto vs the bottome of those deepes , where the elephant might bee drowned , at the end of whose labors we set to our meditations , and goe forward to our much ease and comfort , as is most decent ; as one writes , that she that 's neerest to the king of kings , should be most search't of any thing of things . by these and such like helps haue our moderne diuines the veyle of miseries drawn from before the face of diuinity , and shee her selfe set more resplendent before them . from esculapius , hippocrates , and galen , fathers of physicke , ( which though heathens ) did acknowledge a deity in the wonderfull composure of mans body ; but fro● them haue not our moderne physicians le●● into the quicker and more certaine know●ledge : and as other ages to come shall b● bettered by ours , so haue these beene bettered by others , as the latter age hath euer beene the scholler of the former ; heretofore a wry necke , or the stone , went to the graue with him that had it : now art hath found out common repaires for either , so that although memory be infida & labilis , hauing but slippery footing in the minde ; yet , by this meanes we find where she hath and may rest her foot . q. who haue the best naturall memories ? a. they that exercise them most , and abuse them least : and therefore i haue knowne diuers vnlettered persons trusting onely to strength of memory , could record and retaine much more then the scholler or penman that committeth all to record . and now of late yeeres was there a woman , one mistresse iostlin of cambridgeshire , who for excellency of memory deserues here to be remembred , who by vse and moderate preseruation thereof , was so strong and quicke , that vpon the first rehearsall he was able to repeat . lines latine or english , and to carry a whole sermon from church , and after set it downe almost verbatim in her chamber . she wrote a legacy to her child before it was borne , and prophesied of her owne death , and died accordingly at the time . q. whence comes it that some memories are as dull as lead , or as a deepe gulfe that swallowes all , and retaines nothing ? or like some quicke prodigall , that layes vp nothing for time to come ? a. late suppers , the too much vse of tobacco , meates that ingender grosse humors , too much woman , too much surfetting and costly fulnesse ; all bad for memory , ill for the purse , and worse for the health : for the rich prodigall or wealthy vnthrift is like a powder-master , that hath prouision against an enemy , but is in danger of being blowne vp himselfe . and therefore here let vs a little stay and ballase our selues with these or such like considerations . with little , nature is content ▪ whilst hers we doe ●bide : and at our death , a little graue doth couer all our pride . imperious caesar dead and turn'd to clay . is now but night , that once had so much day ▪ why sell we then our selues so cheape , to buy repentance deere ? to hang proud robes vpon our backe , to out diues in good cheere ? why should the worme exceed the sheepe , whose fleece doth cheaper warme , and better then the silke-wormes twist gainst winde and weather arme ? in which the rich man findes lesse ease , with gout and paines opprest , within his softest downy bed , or in his wealthiest chest , then doth the poore man in his wants whose health doth far exceed , although his sinewes first must stretch , before his belly feed : whose leg a cushion must attend for that 's the rich mans dance : his wealth but buyes the doctors skill , and hyres the surgeons tance . to which purpose it is as one writes , that fortune neuer comes with both hands full ; either she sends a stomacke , and no food ; such are the poore in health ; or else plenty of food , and no stomacke : such are the rich . and therefore saith the wiseman , spare dyet is my food , my clothes more fit then fine , i know i feed and cloath a foe , that pampred would repine . enough i reckon wealth , content my meanest lot , that lies too low for base contempt too high for enuies shot . q. what is the most precious thing in the world , yet the most brittle and vncertaine ? a. the life of man , which although it hath but one comming into the world , hath a thousand wayes to goe out , the frailty whereof considered , should be like a preacher , euer to admonish vs of our end , crying vnto vs sinfull creatures , as the saylers cryed to ionas in the storme ▪ arise , o sleeper , o arise and see , there 's not a twiny thred 'twixt death and thee . to which purpose is here annexed a story of one , who trauelling by the way side ( which is the wildernesse of this world ) fel into a well , in the fall he catcht hold of certaine twigges that grew on the side thereof , by which he staid himselfe ; at the bottome thereof , looking downe , were crawling serpents , toades , and other noysome creatures , which came in vpon the lapse or fall of man , rather then in the first creation ; for then god pronounced of all things that they were good , and the most sauage creatures rebelled not against man : but now hereupon so changed in this change , as obserues du bartas . there 's not the smallest fly , but she dares bring her little wrath against her quondam king. now whilst hee staid himselfe by this weake support , came two little beasts , a blacke and a white , and did gnaw the twigs vpon which he hung , to his greater terror . now the morall hereof is ; the man that fell into the well , is euery man , which so soone as he comes from the wombe , is trauelling towards his tombe , through the dangers of this world : the well that he fell into , is the graue , that lyes open for all men ; the two twigges that he catcht hold of , the brittle thread of humane life ; the blacke and white beasts , day and night , which in some small continuance weare in sunder this thread . q. wherein consists the naturall life of man ? a. of heat and moysture , which as the one is daily decayed , and the other dried vp by the operation of that limbecke of mans body , are againe replenished by meates and drinkes , and so vpheld by this parget and plastering . q. but may not then this life of man thus continually supplied , be continually maintained in health , sicknesse and old age kept by , and kept backe for euer ? a. no , in despight of all preuention , age shall waste the one , and sicknesse dry vp the other , and so resolue them into their first matter . for when our sand is runn● , and houres are spent , death comes ; no herb nor doctor can preuent . for further illustration hereof , fryer bacon , a man of infinite learning , study , and capacity in his time , amongst many his strange and impossible indeauours , published a booke de retardanda s●nectute , or the keeping backe of old age , the which whilst he himselfe was ouer-curious in obseruing , and studying this art of health , grew old in the act , and himself was ouertaken with age . let then the ayre , the chiefe preseruer thereof , blow from his healthiest corner , and from thence brush ouer rockes , and hills , and fields , and fountaines , and breathe into the nostrils of the healthiest man liuing ; nay , though he haue suckt the indian mindes , that haue k●st ten thousand leaues of synamon tr●es , their barkes , their rindes : all which of sweetnesse them bereaues . yet all this ayre , so sweet , so fayre , for euer cannot health repaire . so by this we finde , it cannot be preuented of his purpose , though it may be something tardied in his speed : so that hee may hang vp his motto , as that daring artist did : cedo nulli , nec domi , nec foras : i yeeld to none neither at home nor abroad . q. whether is man , that is said to be made after the image of god , according to his corporall substance , like vnto him , or doth in any wise represent the diuine maiesty ? a. the image of god is in the soule of man , and the admirable faculties thereof , and in nothing doth the body resemble it more , then that it is the representation or glasse of the soule , that immediate stampe of the image of god , erectus ad coelum , of an eleuated stature , that his thoughts might ascend where their obiect is , and not ●robble below on the earth . q. whether is the woman made to the image of god , or not ? a. there be some that auerre , the woman is made onely to the image & glory of man , but these doth the text confute : for when it was said , let vs make man after our owne image , hee made them both male and female ; and man is said to resemble the image of god , as hee is an intellectuall and reasonable creature . so likewise the woman , being both indued with an immortall soule , and supernaturall gifts of grace and glory , man being made little lower then the angels . q. how many , according to some writers , are the degrees or hierarchy of angels ? a. nine , which say there is a mystical resemblance of the holy trinity , there being in thrice . and in euery . thrice one , so that there are superiours , inferiours , and three middle degrees . the superiours , are seraphins , cherubins , and thrones : the middle , are dominions , principalities , and powers : and the inferior , vertues archangels and angels . the most vsuall names and appellations of the sonne of god through the scriptures . sp●s , via , vita , salus , ratio , sapientia , lumen , iudex , porta , gigas , rex , gemma , propheta , socerdes , messiah , zebaoth , rabbi , sponsus , mediator , virga , columna , manus , petra , filius , emanuélque , vinea , pastor , o●is , pax , radix , vitis , oliua , ●ons , paries , agnus , vitulus , leo , propitiator , verb●m , homo , rete , lapis , domu● , & sic omnia christus . englished , the hope , the way , the life , health , reason , wisedome , light , the iudge , the gate , that 's past with strife , a gyant , king of might , a gemme , a priest , a prophet hie , messias ; zeboath , nam'd rabbi , from her whose eyes ne'r dry , whose heart all these inflam'd . the mediator , bridegroome deckt , the rod , the doue , the hand , the rocke , the sun , who●e beames reflect , ore-spreading sea and land. the vine , the shepheard , sheepe , the oliue , peace , the root , the lambe , the wall , that o●t doth keepe the darts that sa●an shoote . the fount that doth refresh all dry , the truth , the lyon strong , the calfe that fatted was to die for him that had gone wrong . emanuel , the man , the word , a net , a house , a stone , a mercifull and louing lord , and christ that 's all in one . q. whether are men of short and little statures , or those of the more ample and spacious , commonly the wisest or the longest liued ? a. those of the lesser volume , by reason that in them the soule and faculties therof are more neere & nimbly compact , and with greater vigor and dexterity impart their functions ouer all the body ; and therfore homer prince of poets , for whom seuen cities stro●e for his birth-righ● , ( whose proper name was melesegenes , but called homer for his blindnesse ) doth describe vlisses to be short and wise , and aiax long and a foole . in aiax and vlisses what art of physiognomy might one behold ? the face of either cypher eithers heart , their face , their manners , most expresly to●d : in aiax eyes blunt rage and rigor rold , but the mi●d●glance that sly vlisses lent , shew'd deep regard , in smyling merriment . q. of all morall vertues , which is reputed the most beautifull ? a. humility , for she both shunnes honour and yet is the way to it , preuailing often with meeknesse , when the haughty and proud are put by : for example , two goates met vpon a narrow bridge , vnder which glided a deepe and violent streame , get backe they could not , the planke was so narrow for the turning , and forward they could not , without hazarding their liues , stand still they might , but that was but a prolonging of their misery : that they might therefore both passe by in safety , the one lies down , whilst the other goes ouer him , and so by this quiet passage they both secure their liues , and preuent their further danger . the want of this yeelding , is for the most part , the beginning of all controuersie and trouble ; for when iron meets iron , they meet with violence , but let wooll meet iron , there is a gentle yeelding and end : according to this , the poet wittily obs●rues : the meeke and gentle lambe with small adoo , suckes his owne dam , we see , and others too . in courts men longest liue and ke●pe t●e●r ranks by taking iniuries , and giuing thankes . seneca faith , the meeke and the wiseman , in good turnes lou●s not to owe more then he must , in euill to owe and not to pay . q. which is thought to be that wildernesse through which the children of israel wandred . yeeres , where their food was so miraculously sent downe from heauen , and their cloathes preserued from not wearing out ? a. the desart of arabia , from whom is brought the excellentest mummia . q. where of is it made , and whereto doth it serue ? a. it is a thing like pitch , some say it is made of mans flesh boyld in pitch , others , that it is taken out of old tombes , being a corrupted humour , that droppeth from embalmed bodies : or those there buried in the hotter sands , it is the principall of poysons , which physicke in some kindes maketh vse of . q. since we haue a little entred to speake of the hebrewes , whose deriuation haebraei quasi abrahaei i purpose to relate a little further , for the better vnderstanding of their names in scriptures , the quantities of some of their measures , and first of the gomer , what may that signifie ? a. the gomer was the name of a measure containing more then a gallon , the israelites in the wildernesse receiued euery day this measure full for a dayes allowance . q. what the cab ? a. a measure of . wine quarts . for the rest of the hebrew measures they are further related in the first part of the helpe to discourse . q. the manna that they receiued , what was it in the similitude and likenesse ? a. it was like a dew that fell euery euening , and white like the coriander seed . q. who was the chiefe deliuerer of the children of israel from the oppression of pharaoh ? a. moses , by the hand of god miraculously preserued by pharaohs daughter , by her there found in the bulrushes cast forth to be drowned ; where note , that all the kings of egypt were called pharaohs , as al the emperours of rome , caesars : for it is said , there arose another pharaoh that knew not ios●ph ; of which great prophet thus further illustrated by the poet : loe here an obiect vtterly forlorne , left to destruction as a violent prey , whom man might iudge accursed to bee borne : to darke obliuion moulded vp in clay , that man of might in after-times should be the bounds of fraile mortality that brake , which that almighty gloriously should see , when he in thunder on mount sinai spake . there was one that came vpon a time to a great counsellor of this kingdome to craue his direction , what good morall or politicall booke he would commend to his reading , seeing the world was ful of books , and there was no end of making many bookes that were made to no end , and that much reading was a wearinesse to the flesh , and bad for the eye-sight , and too little ●●ading a friend to igno●ance , worse for the insight : and what was his answer ? quoth he , reade the world , reade men , record remarkeable euents , set them as a patterne before thee for thy owne instruction , reade ouer thy owne actions , see where thou hast trayned worthily , where thou hast digrest wickedly , and thou shalt obserue , as one writes : that by bad courses may be vnderstood that their euents haue n●uer falne out good . with which opinion this authour seemes to accord . for many books i care not , and my store might now suffice mee , though i had no more then gods two testaments & therwithal , that mighty volume which the world men call : for these well look't on , well in mind preseru'd the presentages passages obseru'd my priuate actions seriously ore view'd , my thoughts recal'd , and what of them insu'd , are bookes that better far instruct me can ▪ then all the other paper-workes of man. if thou wilt reade history , lay thine eye to the french story , goe thorow that volume of kings from pharamond the first , to the last : there see how the good and vertuous haue flourished ; how the euill and tyrannous haue ruined and decayed . likewise to the dutch , to the spanish , and there see the various occurrences and changes of times and men ; the wheele of fortune sometime deiecting one , and as suddenly exalting another . reade the turkish history , and there thou shalt find obseruable matter ; amongst many other things thou shalt there finde baiazet the scourge of princes , himselfe captiued in tamberlaynes iron cage . the scottish , from donaldus the first , to the last of that line , to this present . then suruey the english speed , hollinshead and others , and in these and all the rest , thou shalt finde rewards and punishments of vertuous and vicious princes , as inherent to them as their blood and crownes , and many their wicked actions repayd by way of retribution and retaliation : to example in two or three presidents of our owne 〈◊〉 home : henry the first , by cruelty disinherited his elder brother , robert duke of normandy , and put forth his eyes ; and this , to make hiw owne children the more secure heyres of the kingdome : but see what happened hereupon ; his owne being at that time in france , and to come ouer to keepe their christmas here in england with their father , put forth to sea , and were all drowned in their comming ouer . the manner ▪ thus , the saylors and ship-men through excesse of wine , which was plenteous at their parting , were a●l drunke , so that the master could not well guide the sterne , nor the mariners the ship , but it rode at randome ; which the ladies ( being launced out into the maine ) perceiuing , fell a weeping , praying , and lamenting : in this state the ship for a long time continuing in a doubtfull perplexity , betwixt hope and despaire , when at last in some hope of safegard and in view of land , the ship vpon a sudden split in two pieces against a rocke ; vpon this was a grieuous skrieke , till the water had quickly silenced it . now whilst euery one sought to get vpon something to defraud the gaping billowes of their prey , if it were possible , the prince had taken the cockboat , where being in some likelihood of safety himselfe , aduenturing to saue his sister , who had hitherto maintained her life by grappling to a planck , recouered her into his boat ; into which , the rest so violently thronged after one another , euery one willing to reprieue a life , so ouer-loaded the little vessell , that with the weight and number , the boat sunke , and all perished , except one butcher , that swomme to shore to tell the heauy tydings . so likewise the conquerour , his father , who , to erect new forrest in hampshire , pulled downe ● . churches , all the towns , villages , and houses farre and neere , and brought all within miles compasse , to a wildernesse for wild beastes ; in which afterwards his . sons were slain , as you may read more at large in the first part of the helpe to discourse . by hastings aduice , the earle riuers and gray , with others , were without triall of law , or offence giuen , executed at pomfret , and in the same day , neere about the same houre ▪ in the same lawlesse manner , hastings himse●●e was beheaded in the tower of london : a greater iudgement then this of hastings you shall not find in any story . and thus much for a taste of some few . examples are copious in this kind , and for mu●●bility , chronicle this in thy brest , that there is no stability vnder the sun , kingdomes alter and change ; the easterne , the grecian , the roman , the turkish empire succeeding one another into a continuall succession of change , and so of all things vnder the sunne . he that had ●eene i●lius caesar goe into the senate 〈◊〉 his royal state , and his poniarded body and ●loody robe , seianus in the morning ▪ and his complexion at euening , of which one thus writes of him magnifying himselfe : swell , swell , my ioyes , and faint not to declare your selues as ample , as your causes are ▪ i did not liue till now , this my first houre , wherein i see , my thoughts matcht by my power , but this , and touch my wishes great and hye , the world knowes only two , that 's rome and i. my roofe receiues me not , t is ayre i tread , and at each step , i feele m'aduanced head . knocke out a starre in heauen — it were infinite to instance in this kinde these downefalls of greatnesse , philotas , bellizarius and others . richard the second , a man of misery , as richard the third , a man of cruelty , the first whereof , of a king became a captiue , deliuering vp his royalty with his owne hands into his enemies ; whose ominous raigne was pointed at from heauen , at his landing with his young queene anne of beme from france , where at his first setting foot vpon his owne shore , arose such a tempest , that it dasht in pieces and draue the shippes all out of the harbour , and withall two ship-wrights hewing of a mast , at euery stroke dropped blood out of the tree : an ominous portent , and after fearefully succeeding : first , losing his crowne , and after , his life at pom●r●t castle , slaine by sir pierce of exon and . men more that he brought with him , whereof king richard slew foure of them . richard the third , first affrighted by dreames , and after slaine in bosworth field , where by force and number beaten from his hor●● he bit the ground with his teeth , and to● it with his hands ; and in contempt of death and man , died as if he would haue carried his kingdome with him ; and so much for example in this kinde . q. which are the most dangerous yeeres r●puted in a mans whole life ? a. euery seuenth yeere of a mans life is noted to be dangerous : some hold the ninth yeere very dangerous , and by this account the . , &c. but the most dangerous yeere of all is , for that both accounts doe meet in this number ; namely , . times . and . times . either of which numbers make . the most dangerous yeere of all . certaine diuine precepts or aduertisements that a wise-man first obserued himselfe , and after left them to his sonne and friends . . if a weaker man then thy selfe doth wrong thee , spare him ; if a stronger , then spare thy selfe . . gods hand is heauiest on the conscience , when it is lightest on the carkasse , if lie suffer it to surfet on pleasure till death . . the vsurer and the broker may bee ●ompared to two milstones that grind the ●oore to powder : come not therefore vnder ●heir sayles . . obserue how pharaohs dreame is verified amongst vs in these dayes , that the ●eane kine eate vp the fat ; for gods leane blessings , which are riches and pleasures , blessings of his left hand , eate vp the fat , which are grace and religion , blessings of his right . . good lawes without execution , stand like the picture of st. george , with his hand alwayes vp , but neuer striking . . pleasures doe not alwayes follow a man liuing , but euer leaue him dying . . a vertuous man is famous on the earth , glorious in the graue , immortall in heauen . . christ calleth the godly , kinsmen , be they neuer so poore , but the rich scorn them be they neuer so honest : so proud is the seruant aboue his master . . it is miserable for a bold sinner to meet with a cold preacher . . two things out of euery sermon are to be noted : first , that which thou didst not know : secondly , that which speaketh to thy conscience : for by the one thou shal● increase knowledge , by the other lessen thy vices . . the vsurers money to a man in time of necessity , is like cold water to a hot ague in time of extremity . . he that drinkes on follies cup , shall haue small cause to licke his lippes after it . . feare doth not more multiply euils , then faith diminish them . . it is good so to diet the body , that the soule may be fatned . . one sin openeth the dore for many vertues to flye out . . a man would haue teachers doe as they teach : so god would haue hearers doe as they heare ; for else the hearers shall be no more saued by hearing , then the preachers by preaching . . lending was ordained to be a staffe or support to the borrower ; now vsury hath turned this staffe into a serpent . . the man that hath a quiet conscience , is like to him that hath a good wife , he is alwayes sure of peace at home . . in prayer be not like the pharise in popular ostentation , but pray in secret : for he prayes with a witnesse , that so prayes with out a witnesse . precepts or aduices concerning marriage . woo not by embassadours . make not thy friend too familiar with thy wife . conceiue not an idle ielousie , being a fyre once kindled not easily put out . affect him not that would ill possesse thee . blaze not her beauty with thy owne tongue . if thy estate be weake and poore , marry farre off and quickly , if otherwise firme and rich , at home , and with deliberation . be aduised before thou conclude , for though thy errour may teach thee wit , t is vncertaine whether euer thou shalt againe haue occasion to practise it ; for marriage is like a stratagem in warre , wherein a man can erre but once . marry not for gentility without her support , because it can buy nothing in the market without money . make thy choyce rather of a ver●●●●s then a learned wife . esteeme rather what shee is , of her●selfe , then what shee should bee by inheritance . in tactam quaeris intactam esto : be that example to thy wife , that thou wouldest haue her to imitate ; for he that strikes with the point , may be content to be beaten with the pommell . shee whose youth hath pleased thee , despise not her age . that thou mayst be beloued , bee amiable . sayle not in this sea without a compasse , for a wicked woman brings a man sooner to repentance then suretiship . t is the greater dispraise to children , to be like to wicked parents . t is more torment to be iealous of a mans wife , then resolued of her dishonesty ; and more misery , that a man may be assured of her vice that way , but cannot bee of her vertue . true chastity doth not onely consist in keeping the body from vncleanenesse , but in keeping the minde from sinne ; and she may be more a maid , that hath been muisht against her will , then shee that hath but onely wished amisse . a wise-man was wont to say , that by marriage foure ioyes most vndoubtedly accrew vnto the husband . a wife . alliance and friends . patrimony . children , all strong walls and bullwarkes to fence a man. but now see ( saith another ) which of these are firme , and which fleeting : . for the wife no man will deny , but that shee stickes firmely till death . . for friends they depend vpon fortune ; for who neuer lackes , shall neuer want a friend . and who in want a hollow friend doth try , directly seasons him his enemy . lastly , by death many times friends are cut off for portion , without wary gouernment , charge increasing , that quickly decreaseth . then see the anker , that remaines alone , the wife and children , friends and portion none . the louers complaint written by a gentleman of quality . he is starke mad who-euer sayes that he hath beene in loue an houre , not for that loue so soone decayes , but that it can ten in lesse space deuource . who will beleeue , if i sweare that i haue had the plague a yeere ? who would not laugh at me , if i should say i saw a flash of powder burne a day ? o what a trifle is a heart , if once into loues hands it come , al other griefs allow a part to other griefs , and aske themselues but some . they come to vs , but vs loue drawes , he swallowes vs , and neuer chawes . by him , as by chaine shot whole rankes doe die , he is the tyrant-pike , our hearts the fry. his abiuration . hence all the fond delights , as short as are the nights wherein loue spends his folly : ther 's naught in this world sweet , if men were wise to see 't , but melancholy : hence welcome folded armes and fixed eyes , a sight that piercing mortifies , a looke that fastned to the ground a tongue chain'd vp , without a sound . fountaine heads , and pathlesse groues , places which pale passion loues , moone-light walkes when all the fowles are warmely hous'd saue bats and owles . a panting bell , a midnight grone , these are the sounds to feed vpon : then stretch our bones in some close gloomy vally , there 's nothing dainty sweet , saue melancholy . the husbands complaint . i tooke a wife , i lou'd her deare , her loue to me was due , yet she was false , o who would thinke a wife should proue vntrue ? thus you poore birds that hony make from many a seuerall flower , not make it for your selues , but them that you and it deuoure . the vnbounded louer . my choyce of women i enioy of them what i desire , my children eat not yet my bread , nor warme them by my fire . so you poore birds , that make your nests , in right they are your due , for others , yet you hatch your young , they 'r not enioy'd by you . q. which was the most deadly meeting that euer was ? a. eue and the serpents meeting wrought our sinne , would th' one had deafe , or th' other dumbe had bin : or as another , eue and the serpents meeting wrought our woe , would they had neuer met , or parlied so . so great a losse vpon mankind did fall , one woman at one blow then kild vs all ; and singly one by one they kill vs still , partly against , and partly with our will. our eyes thus dim'd , our vnderstanding blinde , wee kill our selues , to propagate our kind . q. of how many genders doe women consist of ? a. of three genders : all of the foeminine , many of the doubtfull , for as the saying is , long absence from a wife , though chaste , if faire , doth fil a iealous husbands head with care . — and some there are of the common : and those are the common subiects of misery to themselues , and ruine to other , and ioyne with sicknesse , to out-shuffle health . q. which is the fittest season for marriage ? a. marry in thy youth ; for it is in marriage , as it is in gathering of flowers , where for the most part we delight in the bud , and leaue the full blowne to seed : yet a learned man in this kingdome was wont to say , wiues are young mens mistrisses , companions for middle age , and olde mens nurses : so that a man may haue a quarrell to marry when hee will. old haywood was wont to say , he that marries a widdow , is like to him that buyes a sute in long-lane , where he shall hardly finde any , but they are turned , or drest , or old , or rotten , or bad linings ; like to a cunning widdowes dissembling chests : hee further thus describes a woman , aut amat , aut odit mulier , nil tertium . q. what is the greatest comfort or addition of happinesse in this world ? a. a sure friend , and yet in that this is the misery , that he cannot know him to be his friend without being in misery ; and as it is vulgarly said , he is happy that findes a true friend in aduersity , but he is happier that findes not aduersity wherein to try a true friend : as saith another , it is good to haue friends , but naught to need them : which is agreeable to that which the physician wrote at the end of his rules . now you our physicke lines , that friendly read , god grant that physicke you may neuer need ▪ to which another added : who takes his diet by the doctors skill , shall eat no meat that 's good , drinke drinke b●●'s ill . q. whether it is better to dream vpon dreams that are good or bad ? a. whilst we breathe waking , we liue all in one common world , but at night in our dreames , we goe euery one into a seuerall region , and in these my visitations i desire rather my dreames should bee bad then good ; for if my dreames bee good , i grieue whē i wake that they were dreams , but if euill , i reioyce that they were not truths but dreames . to this purpose , a poore man that had dreamed the night before , that he was as rich as croesu● , and that he had abundance of gold and treasure , met a great lord the next day following and besought him for something , saying , if his dreame that he dreamed last night had been true , he had not needed to aske a reward ; for i dreamed that i was a king. this lord replied vnto him , it had beene good for thee if thou haddest neuer waked , for it is better to be a king in a dreame , then a begger awake . a great lord of great stomacke , sharpely in the fury thereof that sought to giue satisfaction to his belly and lose no time , so eagerly slasht in the cutting vp of a capon , that he cut off a pi 〈…〉 f his finger ; whereupon it was repo 〈…〉 hat this gluttonous lord had at one b 〈…〉 ft his finger and his stomacke . no worse ●ewes , quoth the hearers , but if a poore man finde it , and so cherish it , it will vndoe him . q. whether is it of a certaine or not , that is vulgarly reported , that when we are talked of abroad by friends or others , our eares tingle and glow , and whether may this be thought the reason thereof ? a. nothing lesse , there is in man or woman a certaine flushing of blood and heat , which naturally runnes thorow the body , and is sometimes more inward , and sometimes more outward , as the body doth need ; which falling into the cheekes or eares of a sudden by the motion of the body , and her naturall heat , doth extraordinarily warm those parts , which some , though vnwisely doe attribute to this first cause . q. what is that onely which hath an audible voyce , but not a visible body , and what the contrary , which presents the shape of a body , but without any sound of voyce ? a. eccho , and the looking-glasse . instruction for bel●efe and action . twice beleeue , bu 〈…〉 ein doe not rest : ten things performe ●●oue all things the best . thy wants and duties howsoere they rise , in . petitions thou maist all comprise . to these adde loue , and so thou maist ascēd higher then faith , or hope , that here doe end . q. there are foure things doe what they list , and are vnreprou●d : and what are they ? a. the winde bloweth where it lists , a woman talkes and does what shee list , a traueller lyes what wonders he lists , and a wise-man , of all belieues what he lists . q. whether is it of a truth or not that is v●●gularly , or are they popish fables , that m●n● spirits walke after their deaths , for treasure 〈◊〉 , for murders committed , or the like ? a. they are not truths : for after death ( as diuinity will tell vs ) the soule goes either to ioy or paine , from whence there is no recession ; as abraham told di●es , and as that diuine poet wrote to that purpose , and if any such appearance there be , the diuell doth assume the shape . for doubtles such a soul as vp doth mourn , and doth appeare before her makers face , holds this vild world in such a base accoūt , that shee lookes downe , and scornes this , wretched place . but such as are detruded downe to hell , either for shame , they still themselues retyre , or ty'd in chaines , they in close prison dwell , and cannot come , although they much desire . to this purpose is heere annexed a sto●● of a diuine and a lawyer , that meeting at dinner , the lawyer , to helpe discourse , proposed this question to the diuine : when lazarus had laine foure dayes in the gra●e , and after was raysed vp againe , where was his soule in the meane time ? the diuine not answering his question , proposed vnto him another ; which was , if lazarus and his heyres should haue fallen at strife about his lands , the quaere was , whose ought they to haue been ? this was according to the question in virgils eglogues , di● quibus in terris . one difficulty choked by proposing another , and yet , for further confirmation thereof , saith lemnius , a scholler trauelling with his family , came into a towne to aske lodging , and finding none , it was told him there was a faire house that stood empty , that he might either lodge , or dwell in gratis ; but the inconuenience was , it was haunted with sprites , and euery night in it was heard a great iumbling , and rattling of chaines : he nothing affrighted hereat , desired to haue it : which was accordingly granted . at bed-time hauing disposed his family to rest , hee himselfe sate vp in a chamber reading : about midnight ( the time that church-yards yawne , and spirits take their progresse ) he heard a noyse at bottome of the staires , and presently it came vp : he nothing daunted , ●ate still reading , till at last it appeared on the top of the stayres in the similitude of askeliton , or anatomy , wrapped about with chaines of iron : which comming vp , beckened with his finger , and so went downe the stayres to haue him follow him : which he did ; and first hee led him thorow an outward roome , then thorow a yard , and thence into a garden where he left him ; in which place he pulled vp some grasse and left it for a marke ; and in the next day digged vp that place , where was found a man buried , that had beene there strangled , which man being taken vp and buried with due rites , the house was euer quiet after . but this doe i take rather to be an ancient fiction then a certaine truth . a certaine mountebancke hauing long cheated with his drugges and playsters , and hauing profited little , left his old profession and turned priest ; and patching together diuers remnants of old sermons and homilies , so vnfitly applied , that his want of schollership was soone discouered , and hee of his ministery as soone discarded : 〈◊〉 dismission from thence hee made this p●●testation ; now shall this businesse you 〈◊〉 done , cost many a good mans life : the parishioners thus threatned , accuse him before a iustice ; the iustice demanded what he meant to doe : ( why quoth he ) i meane to fal to my old trade of paracelsus , and that i am sure will cost some deare . q. whether doth a dead body in a shippe cause the ship to sayle slower , and if it doe , what is thought to be the reason thereof ? a. the shippe is as vnsensible of the liuing , as of the dead , and as the liuing makes it to goe the faster , so the dead makes it not goe the slower , for the dead are no rhemorahs to alter the course of her passage , though some there be that thinke so , and that by a kinde of mournfull sympathy . a philosopher seeing a yong man proudly decked out like a shippe vnder saile , said ; i could wish i were such a one as that fond man thinkes himselfe , but my enemies such as hee is . seeing likewise the world full of contention , wished he might liue to see men striue for loue , and not loue to striue . q. what is the epitome or summe , the ●●uare , and measure of a christian mans duty , ●hich euen nature teacheth , and god approues . a. to doe to others , as wee would bee ●one vnto our selues , a most vpright iustice , ●nd the fulfilling of the law and the prophets . q. what is the epitome or summe of all philosophy ? a. it is collected out of the infinite volumes of philosophers , that those precepts that pertaine to humane felicity , are comprised onely in these two words , sustinendo , & abstinendo , or in ferendo , & sperando , in sustaining , and abstaining , in induring , and hoping , in bearing aduersities patiently , and abstaining from pleasures warily ; hope still supporting vs to the hauen of happinesse , that we be not too much cast downe by the one , nor corrupted by the other . q. what is that , which they that haue nothing else for the most part are not without ? a. hope . q. what is the most beautifull thing of all others ? a. thal. mil. answered , the world , the admirable worke of god , and nothing more beautifull , himselfe onely excepted , wherein we haue the greene carpet of the earth vnder our feet , the goodly canop●●● heauen ouer our heads fretted with gold●● starres , the wa●y curtaines of the ayre beside vs , all the creatures to serue and delight vs , and all to set forth the praise of the creator ; of which both from the greekes and latines it receiues the name . clemen● alexandrinus saith , the creation of the world , is the scripture of god , whose . leaues are the heauens , the earth , and the sea , being as many letters therein , as there are creatures in heauen and earth : for the heauens declare the glory of god , and the earth sheweth his handy-worke . q. by what element most hath it pleased god to expresse to the world his iustice and his mercy ? a. by water , when for the sinnes of his people hee therewith drowned the world : but his mercy thereby in the institution of baptisme by water , and in that hee would haue the holy spirit by which wee are regenerate , called by the name of water . q. what shippe of all other was the most ancient , the most spacious , the most holy , and the most rich that euer was or will be ? a. the arke of noe , in which all the ●en , wealth and creatures that escaped the ●ood , were preserued ; and this is noted to ●●a type of the church , for as without the ●●rke was no safety , so without the church 〈◊〉 no saluation . q. who was he that of a dumbe father , came 〈◊〉 the most excellent orator in the world ? a. s. iohn baptist , of whom christ himselfe affirmes no greater to haue risen among the sonnes of women ; vpon whom ●nd the disparity betweene christ and him , ●●is thus obserued , that at his natiuity the dayes begin to shorten , as at christs natiuity to increase and lengthen : so likewise in their deaths , when the body of christ was exalted , and stretched out vpon the crosse , the body of s. iohn was shortned by the head , according to his owne testimony , it behoues christ to increase , and mee to be diminished . q. of the children of iob and their number , is a question i wil● now propound : when iob had all his goods restored him double , yet had hee by generation but seuen sonnes , and three daughters , as many as he had before : how then did he receiue all things doubled ? a. concerning his goods ▪ and cattell : first i will instance for his . sheepe , he had . for his . camells ● and so of the rest . and concerning his children ; true it is , he receiued but his former number : yet it is conceiued that the number of them was likewise doubled , because these his . former remained yet with god ; therefore it may be said he had . for as saint hierome saies , quicquid reuertitur ad domin●m , in familiae numero computatur . whosoeuer they are that are returned to the lord , are reckoned in the number of the family : wherefore if he had receiued them doubled vpon earth , he should haue had them trebled : and in this lyes a mystery of the resurrection . q. who , and how many were those , that had their names foretold before they were borne ? a. sixe , ismael , isack , iosias , cyrus , saint iohn baptist , and christ our sauiour for euer blessed . q. what number is it that our romanists so much dignifie aboue any other ? a. the fift , which they affirme to bee a number of great efficacy and power , and much honoured by god : fot by fiue words say they he would bee incarnate , a virgin should become a mother , and hee himselfe god and man ; fiat mihi secundum verbu● ●uum , be it vnto mee according to thy word : by fiue words he would haue his body consecrate in the eucharist , hoc enim est corpus meum , this is my body . lastly , by fiue words he absolued the publican , deus propitius esto mihi peccatori , god be mercifull vnto me a sinner : and so with other numbers they fable and trifle , which we passe ouer with many other of their errors . q. much disputation and controuersie hath risen amongst the philosophers , about theseus shippe ; but what may wee resolue thereon , and wherein doth it resemble the n●w present romish religion ? a. this was the shippe in which theseus sayled into creet , when hee passed the labyrinth , and slue the minotaure ; which shippe being long time after kept for a monument , was so supplied and preserued by pieces , that the question grew , whether it were any part of theseus shippe , or not ; and it was afterwards resolued that it was rather a new shippe all of pieces , then any part of the old : much like vnto the modern religion of rome , that hath beene so pieced from time to time by tradition and nouelty , that it now scarce retaines any thing of the ancient verity . q. luther committed two great sinnes , say some , and what were they ? a. hee tooke from the pope his treble crowne , and from the monks their fat belly-cheare . q. what was hee the most wretched and poorest of all creatures , that offered to the most rich and mighty in the world , what hee neither had to giue , nor was able to performe ? a. satan , when hee offered christ the kingdomes of the world , and to fall downe and worship him . q. what riches are those that cannot bee wasted ? a. good turnes , for those in bestowing are not wasted , but increase : if thou bestow them , thou art the richer , if thou keep thē , thou art the poorer , if thou scatter them , thou doest not lose , if thou keepe them , they lose thee . q. wherefore did not god make all alike rich ? a. because in his secret counsell and wisedome he saw it not fit , in which wee must rest our selues content in this wise distribution of his owne : for as one saith , the poore and the rich are two contraries , but either necessary vnto the othsr : for if all ●ere rich , who would labour ? if all were ●ore , where were reliefe or helpe ? there●●re god made the poore for the rich , and ●e rich for the poore , and either for each ●ther : and it had beene a controuersie a●ong some , whether of the estates is the more happy : most are of opinion that in pouerty is the lesse euil , the more freedome : for compare the rich man and the poore together : the poore man laughes oftner and more heartily , without any deepe care : if it appeare , it doth no more , but so passeth ouer like a cloud ; but the rich mans mirth is fained , but his griefes are not , but indeed deepe rooted , and of long continuance : and what doth it profit a foole to haue riches , when they cannot buy wisedome ? the sicke man , when they cannot buy wealth ? q. whether is art or wealth more precious ? a. res valet , ars praestat , si res perie , ars mihi restat . ars manet , ars durat , fortuna recedere curat . english. riches are good , but art commands that drosse : and stickes to life , not subiect to that losse . q. whether hath law , or phisick the high●est place , or precedency ? a. this in times past was a question disputed in greece , touching the professors in those parts , where the physicians thus argued for superiority , that since there are three chiefe goods pertaining to man his welfare and support , ouer which , euery one hath a regent and gardian assigned ; which are the goods of the minde , the goods of the body , and the goods of fortune : the first whereof , was the care of the diuine the , highest officer , for the worthiest mistris . the second of the physician , because the body is more worth then raimēt , or goods ; and the last of the lawyer : hereupon phisicke challenged the second place and precedency before law : the lawyer i know not what arguments hee vsed ; but after a long controuersie it was concluded , that law notwithstanding , should walke in equall ballance , and in some places take the vpper hand of physicke , for as the one intends to preserue health , which is the iewell of the body , so the other , to preserue peace and wealth , which is the hand that weares it , being the thred by which wee ●ut betweene all estates and rights , being ●o lesse needfull to the common-wealth , ●hen the sunne is to the world : but for such ● degenerate from the truth of their pro●ession , and onely like vultures prey vpon ●he carkasses of spoyle , it were not amisse if such were cast out of the society of men , as most hurtfull infections to the common-wealth . q. from whence had physick his beginning and perfection ? a. out of diseases , sores , and distemperatures of the body , which consisting of . contrary elements , are euer at opposition and oddes among themselues , still menacing and offending each other : and so vpon this regard , to maintaine vnity and preseruation , this great lord sicknesse admitted physick 〈◊〉 weare his liuery , which now since is growne greater then his master . for it hath the way to increase . for , what in health men grapple and retains , if sicknesse comes , it flies to ease their paine . and it is the physicians rule , well apprehending the aduantage of extremity , to cry giue , giue : whilst the sicke hand replies , take , take . the truth whereof was well approued by philip king of macedon , when being dangerously sicke , and hauing a most skilfull , yet most couetous physician , that euery day asked him a reward : ( quoth hee ) take what thou wilt out of my treasury : for thou hast the key that will open the locke of it . whereupon it is guessed that sometimes physicians vse their patients , as lawyers doe their rich clients , who keepe them long in hand , not for difficulty of the cause so much , as for the prolonging o● their gaine : and if it be alwayes true , that as the market goes , the market-folke will talke , some say , and which is a worse fault too , that their conclusions are as deare as mens liues , and that no physician can be expert , before he haue made 〈◊〉 dangerous experiment : but they are happy say some in this regard , because their successes the sunne shall behold , but their errours the earth shall bury : and as one once spoke to a paracelsian quackesaluer : i commend thy art , because thou sufferest not poore men to languish long in misery , but helpest them quickly to their graues . q. what art or faculty hath the most professors ? a. one answered , physicke , but another replied , that could not be , because there was not aboue two physicians in a whole towne : when the other to maintaine his argument , thus proceeded to the confirmation . vpon a market day he sets one in the principall place thereof very ruthfully aspected , his gummes trust vp with a handkercher , making lamentation , and to euery one that demanded his griefe , he answered , his paine was tooth-ach : vnto which euery one that demanded , taught a medicine ; so that he had as many medicines as market folkes , with which pretty conclusion , the verdict was giuen vpon his side : to which purpose one thus writes , in mundo omnes volunt esse medici , omnes volunt aliorum infirmitates curare , nemo suas : euery one would be a physician to cure other mens infirmities , but no man his owne . q. what is that we first wish for , and are neuer after weary of ? a. health , which makes the most excellent harmony of content , especially where there is a sound minde , in a sound body . q. from whence had law his originall and commencement ? a. it had his originall from the corruption of cunning and corrupt braines , and since by the infection thereof hath spred and infected far and neere , that if it be demanded what is the reason that men , houses , and volumes increase so fast : it is answered in these two verses : queritur vt crescunt tot magna volumina legis in prompt●s causa est , crescit in orbedolus . q. what effect of all other is the most iust , and the most vniust ? a. enuy , vniust , because for the most part it pursues good men . but secondly iust , because it most hurts those that most cherish it , for the enuious man is grieued , not so much for his owne euill , as for others good : and so saith dauid , concerning the felicity of the godly , impius videbit & irascitur , the wicked shall behold it , and be sorrowfull , and as the poet sayes : inuidiâ siculi non inuenêre tyranni , tormentum maius . no tyrant ere did greater torment finde , then enuy , that corrupts & frets the mind . and as seneca likewise saith , the enuious man drinkes the greatest part of his owne poyson himselfe , and therefore let vs auoyd that euill , if not for others , yet for our own sakes . q. in how many dayes consists the whole span of mans life ? a. ah , the many dayes that wee can remember , when as yet our whole life is but one day ; for what see we in our whole life , that we see not euery day , the same sunne , the same moone , the same winter , the same summer , the same businesse ? and what is that , that hath bin , but the same that shall be ? & there is no new thing vnder the sun : yet for this little inch of time , and the lesser variety therein , how many sell themselues to perdition ? for computate the whole extent of time , i doe not say from this day to the end of the world , but from adam : and what is it but a drop of water to the whole ocean ? not a minute to eternity . and yet saith one , we liue here as if eternity were vpon earth , and time onely in heauen . q. what two things are those that make equall the happy and the wretched ? a. sleepe and death , that makes one the oppressor and the oppressed , the seruant , and the master , codrus and crassus , and so like the publican giues away the one halfe from our vse , out of the little that we haue . q. what is the nature of sleepe ? a. aristotle affirmes it to be the porch betweene life and death , for he that sleeps , is neither aliue nor dead , neither mortall nor immortall , but hauing a kind of temperature of either . it is mentioned in the romane histories , of a certaine man , that being in much debt and danger , the perturbations of humane mindes , and depriuers of this nurse of nature sleepe , notwithstanding as one insensible thereof , he securely tooke his rest : after dying , the emperour would needs haue his bed , as though perswaded some hidden vertue had beene in the same , that nothing could breed his distemper thereupon . q. there are three messengers of death , and which are they ? a. casualty , infirmity , and old age : the first shewes it lying hid , second appraring , third at hand . an explication of the word mors , and the letters thereof . m-ordens o-mnia r-ostro s-uo . m-utans omnes res sepultas . english. death controules all mortall things , wasting subiects , changing kings . q. there are three things especially , that are enemies to sleepe ( deaths image ) and what are they ? a. an vnquiet bed , vnrestlesse cares , a troubled mind . and therefore as the poet saith : when all things else to rest themselues betake , then theeues , and cares ▪ and troubled mindes they wake . and so the contrary . where vnbrused youth with vnstuft braine doth couch his golden limbes , there sleepe● raigne . her soueraignty being for the 〈…〉 sooner found in a thatcht cotta 〈…〉 a lordly palace . question . before i proceed any further , i know tho 〈◊〉 not ignorant , that it hath beene a questio 〈◊〉 old , and discussed by wise men of either part , 〈◊〉 as yet i thinke sub iudice lis est , whether it 〈◊〉 necessary for a wise man to marry , and enter th● society by which generations are produced , and death is exercised , notwithstanding his wastfull sickle , with still ple●tifull haruests and increase ? a. though some hold it a weakenesse in a wise man to marry , to deliuer vp his freedome , and inthrall himselfe and his liberty into the hands of a woman : yet wise men that better haue wayed the condition thereof , finde many profits that accrue vnto man thereby , without which , a wiseman can hardly liue a contented life : as first , the benefit of society . for , it is not good for man to be alone . secondly , of the marriage bed : for auoyding of fornication , let euery man haue his wife . and thirdly for the fruit thereof , which are i hil 〈…〉 : thy wife shall bee as the fruitfull 〈…〉 d lastly , herby thou hast found out 〈…〉 uardian for thy house and goods ; 〈…〉 er of thy seruants , a comforter in 〈…〉 nd misery , and the full accom 〈…〉 of thy ioy and felicity . away there 〈◊〉 ye haters of women ; for it is verified 〈◊〉 by the oracle of god , that they are 〈◊〉 dfull , necessary , behouefull . the author●●●y whereof , without further question , here ●eales vp the controuersie . and as another saith , he that hath no wife ; is as a man vnbuilt , wanteth one of his ribbes : is like ionas in the middest of the sea , ready to be ouerwhelmed with euery surge and billow ; but then comes a wife like a ship , and wafts him ashore , and so saues him from perishing . of whom the poet thus further addes , prima fuit mulier , patuit cui ianua lethi : per quam vitaredit , prima fuit mulier . english : as by a woman entred death by sinne : so , by a woman , life and grace came in . q. what was the wise-mans counsell for the choyce of a wife ? a. non solùm est oculis ducenda , sed auribus vxor : not to choose a wife by the eye , that is , for beauty , a brittle and fading dowry ; but by the care , that is , from the good report and commendation of others . q. what comparison haue the ancients made betwixt the woman and the ribbe , and what reasons haue they thereupon framed , for their much loquacity and babbling ? a ▪ these : that first as the ribbe is a bone , hard , crooked , and inflexible : so is a woman in her will , like the forme thereof , crooked and peruerse , and hardly inclining to the desire of her husband : and for their much loquacity , hereupon they ground their reason : that , as if you put a company of bones or ribbes into a bagge , they will rattle and clatter together , but if you put certaine lumpes of earth therein , the metall of mans creation , they meet without noyse or iarring violence . but we pursue this argument no further , because we haue formerly toucht vpon the same in another kind , and place . q. who was hee that had that one woman , that was to him both mother , sister , and wife ? a. euphorbus , of whom the verse follows , me pater è nata genuit , mihi iungitur illa : sic soror & coniux , sic fuit illa parens . q. what is the true law of friendship ? a. to loue our friend as our selfe , and neither more nor lesse , but so : to which purpose is here inserted a story of a certaine wise woman , that had but one onely sonne , whose society in the way of friendship many desired : to him she gaue three apples , willing him to giue them to his three friends , when they were hungry in the way to be cut & diuided among them . in the doing wherof , the first cuts his apple in two , in equall parts , giuing this lesse to the womans sonne , and reseruing the greater part vnto himselfe . the second likewise vnequally diuided his , but yet gaue the bigger to this womans sonne , and kept the lesser for himselfe : but the third diuided his equally , reseruing iust the one halfe that he gaue ; which being told to his mother , she bade him choose the last for his associate ; because the first was vniust to another , the second to himselfe , and he onely vpright in his diuision . q. who was hee that first forbade priests marriage , and whereupon did he afterwards alter that constitution ? a. p. greg. . was the first that proceeded in that restraint : but when afterwards hee heard to be found the heads of . infants , that had beene drowned in the riuer tiber : he then sighing , repelled his decree , and said , it is better to marry then burne . q. whence proceeds it , that those creatures that are most vsefull and beneficiall to man , are so fruitfull and plenteous , whereas those other wilde , rauenous , and cruell , are more rare and retired ? a. this proceeds meerely from the prouidence of god , and his goodnesse to mankind ; for otherwise how would it be ▪ it there should be as many wolues as sheep , which though killed and eaten daily , are notwithstanding plentifull , as diuers others of his good creatures , whom he multiplieth aboue measure ? as for example likewise ; the hare whom all doe hunt and pursue , yet her kinde is not diminished in regard of her fruitfulnesse , which is such , that when she is with young , shee againe coupleth , hauing within her some of a former maturity already hairy , others naked without their furre others not yet formed , and yet others conceiuing : whereas the lyon , a cruel creature , brings forth but one in her whole life time . q. what little creature is that , that hath the softest body but the hardest teeth of all other ? a. the white worme , the body whereof is more soft then wooll , yet with her teeth doth she pierce the hardest oake . q. what artificers are those that haue most thieues come vnder their hands ? a. not taylors nor myllers , as the old saying is , but barbers : for euery thiefe and knaue , to disguise themselues , falls vnder their hands . q. what was s. chrysostomes opinion concerning dancing ? a , that where dancing was , there was the diuell : neither ( saith hee ) to that end did god giue vs our feet , so want only to abuse them . for , if we shall answer for euery idle word , shall we not likewise for euery lasciuious and idle motion of the body , which tend onely to folly and lust ? hereupon was annexed a story of a certaine dancer , whose ambitious actiuity was such , that forsaking the ground , hee would needs shew his trickes in the ayre ; to the which purpose hauing there fastned a rope , hee beginning after his accustomed manner , to caper and dance , his footing failed him , and downe he fell , whereat some laughed : when among the rest a foole not standing farre off , fell a weeping ; of whom a reason being required , he thus answered : i weepe , because jam counted a foole , yet haue more wit then this dancer , because i know that it is written in the psalme , that not the ayre , but the earth is giuen vnto the sonnes of men : vpon which i content my selfe to tread , not atttempting further , as icarus , and dedalus , and some others as wel as this fellow , that hath payed for his presumption . q. what two things are those that many desir● before they haue them , and when once possest , with a greater desire would bee depriued thereof againe ? a. old age and marriage , the latter whereof , hath oft beene compared to a feast , where those that are within and full , would faine come out , and those that are without empty , would faine come in . q. in what things doth laudable old age most solace , and make glad it selfe ? a. in the remembrance of an honest fore-passed life , and in the hope of a better n●●re succeeding . q. whence was it that of old , bacchus or the god of wine , was pictured like a childe ? a. thence it was , because the drinking of wine puts care and troubles out of the minde , and in stead thereof , fills it with mirth and lightnesse , making men free from sorrow , louiall , lightsome , and pleasant as children : and secondly , like children it makes them speake all they know . q. in what part of the earth doth no snow fall ? a. in the sea , which by reason of the hot vapours it sends vp , dissolueth it before it falls therein . q. in what part of the earth doht it neuer rayne ? a. in egypt , which is watered by the ouer-flowing of nylus . q. a certaine scholler told esop , hee had heard there was nothing more strong then iron , by which all things are wrought and ouercome : but yet for all that ( quoth he ) i think the smith to be more strong then it , which workes and inforceth it as he pleaseth : but what was esops answer ? a. the mother of the smith which he held to be more strong then either , which bore the tamer of iron . q. dionysius the tyrant demanded the reason why philosophers visited the gates of rich men , and not rich men the gates of philosophers ? a. it was answered by diogenes , because philosophers know what they want , but these know not , and therefore seeke it not ; for if rich men vnderstood they wanted knowledge , they would much more visit the doores of philosophers : for the pouerty of the minde , is much more then the pouerty of the body , for hee is a man that wants money , but a beast that wants knowledge . dionysius king of sicilia sent for an excellent musician , to sing and play before him , promising him a reward therefore . the musician , after three dais imployment , demanded his reward , which this king refused to pay , telling him , the pleasure of the hope of his reward , was as much to him as the pleasure of his singing , and so hee should take one pleasure for another . q. who of all other were the best orators ? a. tully and demosthenes . q. wh●t did the ancients thinke of homer ? a. that he was the father of all wits : and hereupon it was that palaton the painter drew homer vomiting , with a flocke of poets standing about him , ready to sup it vp ; one of which , it was obiected to virgil , that he had beene , in that hee had stollen some of homers verses , and framed them into his owne worke : who thereunto answered , am not i then a strong man , that can wring hercules club out of his hand ? q. whether is that common-wealth more happily gouerned , in which the prince is euill , and the counsellors good , or where the counsellors are euill and the prince good ? a. most true it is , that lampridius reports , that that common-wealth is more safe and better gouerned , where the prince is euill and the counsellors good , then where the counsellors are euill , and the prince good : and the reason is , for that one euill man or disposition , is more easily amended by the example or perswasion of many good , then many euill by the example of one good may become bettered : for instance whereof , saul was a wicked king ; yet by the counsell of samuel did he those things , which otherwise he would not haue done : on the other side , there is no prince so good , that may not be seduced by wicked counsellors . q. s. austen wished he● had liued to haue seene rome in her florishing estate , to haue heard s. paul preach , to haue seene christ in the flesh . but what saith lactantius and bede ? a. thereupon , peraduenture ( saith hee ) the first wee shall neuer see , that is , rome , neither is it any matter to see that harlot as she now is , but for the other two , i trust both to see & behold in a greater perfectiō . but saith bede , my soule desires onely to see christ my redeemer , in his exaltation and glory . q. wherein doth principally consist the worship of god ? a. in one word , god is to be worshipped . amore . amore summo more vero ore fideli re omni with all our loue , with the right ma●●●● with faithfull mouth , with all affection . q. how is his kingdome to be purchased ? a. hearken , and s. austen will tell thee , where in the person of god he thus saith , venale habeo : quid , domine : i haue to bee sold , what , lord ? the kingdome of heauen . how is it to be purchased ? my kingdome is to be purchased by pouerty ; my ioy , by griefe ; my rest , by labour ; my glory , by ignominy ; my life , by death , &c. q. what heires are they that first die , before they enter into their possession ? a. the faithfull . q. wherein consists the faith of most ignorant romanists ? a. to beleeue as the church beleeues : for instance whereof , saith one , a collier being tempted of the diuell about his faith , the diuel thus asked him how he beleeued ? ( quoth he ) i beleeue as the church beleeues . and how beleeues the church , quoth the diuell : as i beleeue , saith the collier ; and further the diuell could not driue him ▪ euen such is the faith of the church of rome , and her ignorant followers , vnderstanding nothing , but following others opinions , in beleeuing as they beleeue . q. a certaine godly man being inuited to a banquet on the morrow following , what was his answer ? a. if you will any thing with me , now i am ready ; but i will not promise you to be so to morrow : for of all the dayes that i haue liued , i haue not beene assured of one morrow . q. wherein consisteth true wisedome ? a. not in grauity of looke , in face or hayre , but in the wisedome of the minde , which is to remember time past , to imbrace the present , and wisely prouide for the time to come ; to which purpose is heere inserted the error of king fredericke , to whom the venetians sometimes sent embassadors two gentlemen very seeming young , but of ripe wisdome & vnderstanding : the king distasting their too-much seeming youth , would not admit them into his presence : who thereupon answered him , that if the senate of venice had imagined wisdome to cōsist in hoarinesse or beard , they would haue sent him two long bearded goates : to which purpose the poet thus supplieth : si prolixa facit sapientem barba , quid obstat barbatus possit quin caper esse plato . english , if wisdome did consist in hayre or beard , a goat might then , to plato be preferd . q. what part of what creature is that which mingles all the foure elements in one ? a. the belly of man , which receiues into it the fruits of the earth , of trees , the fishes of the sea , the fowles of the ayre , and in stead of the element of fire , strong wines , spices , and the like , that it is no wonder if they ruine the whole , where such diuersities of mixtures are — frigida cum calidis pugnant humentis siccis , mollia cum duris , sine pondere habentia pondus . where cold , and hot , and moist , and dry , and soft , & hard , things light & heauy lie . q. what was the greeke monkes answere to him that demanded the reason : wherefore he would not eat his meat sitting , but walking ? a. because ( quoth hee ) i will not make of it as a worke , but as an accessory thereunto : but our seasons yeeld more philoxines , then such greekes that will not onely sit with ease to prolong time , but with him could wish there crane neckes might more long retaine their pleasure . q. three things are moderately to be vsed , and what are they ? a. baths , wine , and women : the meane or excesse whereof , either much helpe , or hurt the body . q. how doth the wise man interpret the drunkards cups ? a. the first ( saith he ) is for health , second for pleasure , third for excesse , the fourth for madnesse , the fift for quarrell , and the sixt for sleepe ? q. what foure good mothers are those , that bring ●orth foure bad daughters ? a. truth , hatred ; security , danger ; prosperity , pride ; familiarity , contempt . q. whence was it that architas that famous architect became so admired for his art and skill ? a. by his woodden doue that hee so quaintly made for the tryall of his workemanship , which as many authors doe deliuer , being filled with ayre and breath , and hung with wings and appurtenances necessary , flue in the ayre like another liue doue . q. whether are there antipodes or not ? a. the ancient philosophers and geographers haue gathered by strong coniectures and reasons , on the other side of this habitable world , to be another earth beyond the ocean , and couered therewith , in which are men that with their feet walke opposite to ours : saint austin and lactantius deride the conceit heereof , without shewing any reason to the contrary : but pliny is not of their opinion , who saith , that there are such , euen reason it self perswades , and experience showes . q. an old courtier being asked by what meanes ●e continued so long to liue , and grow olde in court , being a thing so rarely happening ? a. answered , by taking of iniuries , receiuing wrongs , and returning of thankes : and thereupon grew his happinesse , to be one of those few , according to the saying , for paucos ●eauit aula , pl●res perdidit , & quos beauit , perdidit : the court hath made few happy , it hath vndone many ; and those that it hath most fauoured , it hath vndone ; dealing with her fauourites as dalilah with samson , or as time with her minions , that still promiseth better and longer dayes , when in a moment she withdraweth the one , and performeth not the other , but falsifieth in both ; as one lately to this purpose hath both experienced , and vttered as followeth . euen such is time , that takes in trust our youth , our ioyes , and all we haue , and payes vs but with age and dust , within the darke and silent graue . when we haue wandred all our wayes , shut vp the story of our dayes . — but this generall rule is not without exception . q. what westerne iland is that , that hath lost more people and blood , then all the easterne can repaire to her former station againe ? a. the iland of hyspaniola , oner-runne by the spanyard , where the poore indian sauages haue beene slaughtered in greatest number , in greatest cruelty , yea euen vpon wagers laid vpon their liues , for sport and merriment ; vpon the simplicity of one of which , this ensuing story hath dependance . a certaine spanyard sent his poore indian seruant of a message with birds and other gratuities to another of his country-men , with a letter therein mentioning the particulars sent , which this vassaile something pinched by hunger , not trustily carrying ▪ had made bold by the way , now and then to eate one of the birds , thinking his master could neuer come to knowledge thereof . but after , deliuering the residue and the letter : he to whom they were sent , finding his number short , wrote backe he had not receiued his due : whereupon the master questioning his seruant , with threates and blows , compelled him to reueale it : whereupon he wondring , gaue notice to his country men , that they should take heed of those white papers with black notes in them , for they could tell tales . q. the roman indiction is a phrase much met withall in almanackes , and there likewise are the dogdayes noted in iuly and august ; now i would know the signification and meaning of both these , and what they import ? a. the roman indiction is the space of . yeeres , by which account charters and publike writings are dated at rome , euery yeere still increasing one till it come to , and then returning to one againe . the dogdayes or canicular dayes , which are in iuly and august , are so called of the starre canis , which then riseth with the sunne , and maketh his progresse in an equall coniunction therewith , and much addeth to the heat of the sunne , and faintnesse of that season , much infeebling thereby mans body . of thought and opinion , that trauell the world without a pasport . saith a merry conceited wanton , euery bird thinks his owne the fairest , the crow thinkes his owne bird the whitest . not alwayes so , saith another , for many there be that thinke their neighbors wiues fairer then their owne , and of such their speech will somewhat point them out : for no man can so change himselfe , but his heart will be seene vpon his tongues end . hereafter follow certaine collections or choyces of things most materiall and ciuill , out of albertus magnus , lemnius , and others . of the longing of women . albertus saith , that the longings of women most commonly haue their beginnings at the end of three moneths , especially conceiued of a female child , which is the time that the haire beginneth to grow ; and the effect thereof proceedeth of the abundance of cold , and raw humours concreted in the wombe . the reason oftentimes that they are indangered , disappointed of their longings , growes through the vehement pursuite , and desire of the obiect presented to the minde , which is so extreme , that it alters and stops the course of nature , and office of the members within , whereupon many times death ensueth , but most commonly to the childe . for proofe whereof , a woman there was , that longed for a bit of the buttocke of a man , and hauing obtained it , was not satisfied , but likewise desired another , which failing of , she afterwards was deliuered of two children , wherof the one was liuing , preserued thereby , and the other perished . of the strength and power of imagination . imagination according 〈◊〉 lemnius , &c. of that strength and force , that it makes the things to be , that many times it ima●●neth are : as for example , it hath infe●●●● a body by meere imagination that it hath taken infection ; and strong it is , that it makes a begger a king , and a king a begger , deceiues poore fathers , blessing their children for their owne , by apparance of similitude . in forming whereof ; the imagination of the mother is of no little force , as is witnessed by the story of an ethiopian queene : which by her husband of the same kinde , conceiued and brought forth a childe , of a delicate hiew & complexion , by fixing her eyes and intention vpon a beautifull picture that hung before her . to which effect sir tho. moore likewise in an epigram and other writings of his , wittily iesteth at one , who exceedingly doted on his childe , because it so truly resembled him , when his wife , and some other , knew ( as he addeth ) it was begot when hee was not at home : for which similitude he thus giueth like reason : the strong imagination of the mother dwelling vpon her husband , in thought of his wrong , and feare of his returne , had power to create in this act , his similitude of body , by his presence in mind . and this likewise is the reason , saith another , that children are sometimes like their vncles , grandfathers , or others ( one more of thought most commonly seated vpon them then strangers . ) and therefore we conclude it of more certainety to iudge our children our owne , by their inclination & disposition drawing neere vnto ours , than by the physiognomy or feature . whether monstrous births , or abortiues of reasonable soules , shall be partakers of the resurrection ? it is answered , that whatsoeuer indued with humane forme , and takes from our first parents , the due order of their naturall procreation and birth , although monstrous in shape , and deformed in habit , indued with the gifts of reasonable soules , shall be partakers of the resurrection : yet those things which present nothing but the shape of man , and commixt with other creatures , exercising their actions otherwise then men , they haue no part of this promise , nor shall haue the honour of renouation at the latter day : such are fawnes , and satyres , centaures and syrens , and such like : but for the other borne and begot of reasonable soules , they shall be raysed vp , and their deformities done away . but for such vntimely births , whose bodies vncompact and destitute of reasonable soules , deseruing not the name of humane creatures , shall not be raised vp againe . and therefore wee conclude , that whatsoeuer is brought forth of humane seed , and not ingendred of the concourse of vicious and superfluous humours , although neuer so deformed , hauing once receiued the breath and spirit of life , shall be raised vp at the latter day , and made beautifull and perfect . what it is that prickes the conscience , guilty of any notorious crime ? the conscience is the true witnesse of gods diuine power and iustice , seated in the bosome of euery liuing man , by that finger that made all men and creatures , as the faithfull teste or witnesse , to approue or condemne , to our ioy or grief the whole actions of our liues , either good or euill , performed or intended : the force whereof is so great , that in its owne purity it acquits amiddest a thousand condemnations , but tainted , condemneth it selfe where no man accuseth : it is like the vpright iudge that will not be corrupted , but ●ay open the sowne bosome , euer presenting the most carlet sins , and such as we would labour to put from vs , and wash away in wine and strong drinkes , or forget with merriment , setting them before the face and forehead of him that committeth them , with the deserts and punishments due vnto them , from which continuall apprehension and terror , as our naturalists doe obserue , is strucken a chilling and coldnesse into the blood , and a retyring of it selfe into the more interiour parts : which feare and apprehension of iustice , an instinct of that diuine impression , suddenly strikes & startles , thereby causing as it were a sensible compunction or pricking in the brest ; and by which terror of the minde , and inordinate retirement and shrinking of the blood and spirits , the countenance becommeth pale and meager , the body and all the parts thereof deficient . for as ( saith salomon ) the body will beare his infirmity , but a wounded and broken spirit who can sustaine ? &c. of the strange nature of the cocke . the cocke , as pliny writeth , and as our owne experience witnesseth , is a bird not great , yet of that height and courage , that it rather dyeth in fight , then yeeldeth to his aduersary : of that piercing voyce , that it daunteth the lyons courage ▪ of that obseruance and intelligence , that he distinguisheth houres , and seasons : and whereas all other creatures after the act of venery , are dull and melancholike , only the cocke , the country horologe , as one tearmeth him , is otherwise ; as appeareth , by the after-clapping of his wings , sprightly rowsing of himselfe , and sending forth of his note , yet in his age , it is obserued , as at . . . . yeeres , sooner or later in some than in others ; he layeth an egge , which is round and small , in some hole , or hedge , which by sitting vpon , he bringeth forth to some venemous serpent , or other thing , but most commonly to the basiliske , a serpent that poysoneth by his breath or sight : as africa and some parts of germany doe witnesse● as our poet writeth to that effect . to lurke farre off , yet lodge destruction by , the basiliske doth poyson with the eye . of the strange nature of the wolfe . pliny likewise noteth of the wolfe , a creature outwardly resembling a dog , yet for her sence in some degree drawing neere vnto man , that , minded to make prey vpon any thing , as by extremity of hunger oftentimes inforced thereunto , shee first suruayes the likelihood of aduantage to be made against her , which if she finde too able for her single incounter , shee presently by howling drawes together more of her cumrades ; which so assembled , deuoure either man or beast . and it was credibly informed by a gentleman long resident in ireland , of one that trauelling in an euening betwixt two townes in that countrey , some three miles distant , was three seuerall times set vpon by a wolfe , from whose iawes by his sword he so oft deliuered himselfe ; approaching neere the towne whereto he was bent , hee incountred a friend of his trauelling vnarmed towards the towne from whence he came , vnto whom ( aduising him of his perill , and assault , accounting him selfe secure so neere the towne ) he lent his sword : now hauing parted and diuided themselues some little distance , this old wolfe sets vpon his new guest , who finding him armed with the others weapon , presently leaues him , making after the other with all speed he might ; ouertooke him before he came to the towne , assaulted and slue him . pliny likewise addeth , that the breath of a wolfe , who-euer it breathe vpon , maketh hoarse . of the tyger and the elephant . the tyger , as gesner and pliny make mention ▪ is of stature not great , yet o● foot the swiftest of many swift ones , which i● noted of her in the pursuite of her yong , fetcht off when shee trauelleth for prey , which when she returneth and findeth not , she presently coasting the countrey about , in a moment ouertaketh her fellon , that many miles was before her , which he warily obseruing , as behoueth his safety and cūning , perceiuing , setteth down one of her young ones , which shee taking vp in her mouth , seeketh no more till shee haue brought that home to her furre againe , how farre soeuer in distance , which there deliuered , out shee maketh againe , and vnlesse more speed preuent , or cunning preuaile , she recouereth another , which sometimes by looking-glasses and such like , laid in her way ; wherein viewing her selfe , or the like of young , she amazedly stayeth : so hindred and disappointed , loseth the substance for shadowes ; which when she perceiues , returning with rage , she furiously assaulteth what ●re she meets in her way . of the excellency , vertue , and nature of stones . the turcoyse stone , if the wearer of it be not well , changeth his colour , and looketh pale and dimme , but increaseth to his perfectnesse , as hee recouereth to his health , with which our poet thus accordeth in his comparison : as a compassionate turcoyse that doth tell , by looking pale , the wearer is not well , many other precious iemmes there are , that lose their vertue and splendor , worne vpon the finger of any polluted person ; and therfore lewd and vncleane liuers , such as defile their bodies with women , neuer adorne themselues with these dissenting iewels , which would blush at their shame , and betray their guiltinesse . a rich inuesture , saith one , they are , but of small vse in our dayes , hardly meeting with a finger that spoyles them not . in the end of august , the moone increasing , there is found in the swallowes belly a stone of excellent vertue , for the cure of the falling sicknesse , and which dries vp the thin and glutinous humours whereupon it is chiefly ingendred . there is likewise found in the head of an old toad a stone very precious against all inflamations and swellings ; as bytings of venemous beasts , poysonings , and such like ▪ likewise there is sometimes found in the head of a carpe , a stone that stancheth all bleeding at the nose . hereafter follow certaine epigrams , riddles , and witty positions . epitaph . vpon matilda , augusta daughter to henry the first of england , wife to henry the fourth emperor , & mother to henry the second of england . magna ortis , maiorque viro , sed maxima prole , hic iacet henrici , filia , sponsa , parens . english. great by thy birth , but greater by thy bed , yet by the issue greater then both th' other , to dignifie all which , it may be sed , here lies a henries daughter , wife and mother . . a thing there is hath neither fl●sh nor bone , yet of the liuing once depending on : so dry it is , no creature can it cate , yet may stened by some . art , it words can speake . it workes not treason first , like traitors many , but i● beheaded ere it can doe any ; and then it falls to action without rest , whispers with secrets of a ladies brest : conuayes a message , be it farre or neere , five hundred miles from hand vnto the eare . it faster binds by dashes and by blots , t●en doth a cable with a hundred knots . thus and much more it works by slight of hand . now what this is i faine would vnder stand . resol . a quill , of which is made a pen. . h. b.f. musca . a ●lie . h. b.f. musica , musi●ke . . with head i run , with foot & head i fly : : with these intire , i musicks sweet notes try . . in tibiam . non ego continueè morior , si spiritus exit , nam re dit assiduè , quamuis & sape recedat . englished . all creatures that subsist and liue by breath , when it departs , is life for euer fled , but mine is contrary , that brings no death , but as it wastes , is new breath'd in & bred . . a harpe . thus the harpe sounds out it selfe . a silent tree i was , and mute did stand , that now doth speake sweet tunes to euery hand . my life was death , my death to me was life , for heere with nature , art begins her strife , that since in life by her i might not liue , art after death a life to me did giue . . q. what is the ground and vse of musicke , and wherein doth it consist ? a. it consists in these fiue keyes or words , turned into these two verses . ve releuet mi-serum fatum solitosque la-bores ▪ eua sic dulcis musica noster amor . englished . sweet musicke doth refresh and ease those cares , to which , by eues offence we al are heires . . si caput est , currit ; ventrem coniunge , volabit ; adde pedem , comedes , & sine ventre bibes . ca. ven . pes . resol . mus . musca , muscetum mustum . a mouse , a flie , muscadel . englished . with head i run , with head and belly flie , with foot thereto am food , and for the dry without my belly drinke , all this am i. . sir tho. moores epig. vpon a poore physicion . tv te sers medicū , nos te plus esse fatemur : vna tibi plus est litera quàm medico . englished . thou tearm'st thy selfe physician , and would'st be , and yet thy art and skill both keepe thee poore , that i can hardly yeeld thee that to be , and yet i will allow thee something more . not medicus a physician , but mendicus , a begger , a word of a letter more . . in somnum . sponte mea veniens , varias ostendo figuras , engo metus varios , nullo discrimine veri . sed me nemo videt , nisi sua lamina claudit . vpon sleepe . of selfe accord i come and fill the minde , with thousand toyes and fancies i deuise ; but few thereof for truth i noted finde , and none sees thē , or me , but winkin● eies . . aliud . dum nihil ipse vides , facio te multa videre , lumina ni claudat , me quoque nemo videt . thou seeing nothing , many things i show , which but with closed eyes thou canst not know . ii. ter tria dant septem , septem sex , sex quoque , 〈◊〉 sunt , octo dant quatuor , quatuor faciunt tibi septem , haec numeres rectò , faciunt tibi milli● quinque . it is vnderstood of the letters in the words , for the first words , ter tria , yeeld seuen letters , the word septem six , the word sex . octo . quatuor . millia . though it signifie . . vpon a hammer or mallet . the strength of all my body 's in my head , with what i fight , am neuer vanquished , my head is great , my body is but small , a hammer , or a mallet most me call . . mulae asinaeque duos imponit seruulus vtres impletos vino , signémque vt vidit ase●●am pondere defessam , vestigia figere tarda mula rogat , &c. englished . a mule & asse did each a vessel beare , repleat with wine , the asse slow creeping on the mule did thus regreet , my parēt deer , why doest so heauy passe and make such mone ? if thou one measure vnto me doe lend , then twice thy burthen's , borne vpon my backe : but out of mine , if i to thee one send , then both of vs doe beare one equal packe . now learn'd arithmetician , i would know vnder what burthen each of these did goe . resol . the mule bore . and the asse . . in clauem . virtutes magnas de viribus affero paruis , pando domos clausàs , iterum concludo , petentes seruo domum domino , sed rursum seruor ab illo . vpon a key . great vertue i afford in substance small , to shut and open when mine owner will , whom faithfull i attend at becke , at call , when many times the theefe doth curse my skill . . sunt duo quae duo sunt , & sunt duo quae duo non sunt : quae duo si non sunt , sunt duo nulla duo . englished . there 's two that are not two , yet are not one , which two another saith , are two , none . the wedded paire . . dictio lassat equum , mel comedit , abstrahe primam , tolle sed inde duas , remanebit amica luto su● . cursus , versus , sus . the horse for race , the beare for hunny sweet , the durty sow makes these three names to meet for of cursus for a course , take away c. it is vrsus for a beare , and the latter part o● the word is sus for a sow . . how is this verse construed ? sunt oculus clari qui cernis ●ydera tanquam . dico grāmaticum versum qui construit istum . c. o. q. s. e. t. s. cernis oculos qui sunt clari tanquam sydera . thou beholdest eyes , as cleare as the skies . . in iuris consultum . a lawyer sitting plodding at his book , expecting clients in a long vacation , sometimes fitzarbert , turning sometimes brooke ; in comes his mā & brings him this relatiō ; that one had late discharged to his cost , a peece for pleasure , that might breed his paine , for by the statute there was . pound lost . to whom his master thus repli'd againe , who was the man so fondly him behau'd ? quoth he , i know ; then there is fiue pound sau'd . . vpon disparity of dispositions in two sonnes . two sons there were that issued from one mother , in disposition far vnlike each other : the one delighted onely in his pride , his care was for neat clothing , naught beside , and rather if his coyne did fall but scant , three dayes hee 'd fast , before one button want . the other made his belly all his care , to clothe his carkasse , that had little share : as the other all he got , hung on his backe , so this would eat his shoos rather thē lack ; the mother 'twixt them twaine , this difrence puts , her silken son , and sonne with silken guts . vpon a bragging angler . one that to angle often did resort : for well it seem'd , he lik't the patient sport : meeting another , would relate and show what store of fish he caught , as braggards doe : when passing by a may-pole , he did say , he caught a trout as thick as that lait day : this thoght incredible by his gaping friēd , his man must thereto confirmation lend ▪ quoth he , because i would not speake a wrong , i thinke 't was scarce so thicke , but 't was as long . of money and the quality thereof , that well knowne metall , first made by man , as afterwards man seekes to be made by it . that which imployes the world , toyles sea and land , is but t' atchieue this creature of mans hād , which since the world began , what sundry shapes , it hath transform'd it in , what murders , rapes , it might haue blusht for , but that guiltlesse pale , it is being so pursude being each mans tale : it cannot colour , can in no place lye , made after with such ceaslesse hue and cry , it sets the world a sweating by the eares , entring the rich with cares , the poore with feares , to either sometimes both a foe and friend , sometimes prolongs a life , hastens an end , so slie a shifter , that it finds an houre , to break each prison , to escape the tower ▪ though all the warders round about it stād , yet out it gets and flies about the land , as by experiēce many a one to his sorrow , hath bin today his keeper , not to morrow . worse for to fit a garment , & more strange , then for the moone , which euery month doth change . because no worke-man hath the skil or power , to fit the thing that 's changed euery houre , within that leathern channell that it goes , it like the sea continuall ebbes and flowes , and is of such strong power , such secret might , it makes the lady , as it bought the knigh● ▪ it sends the merchant ouer shelues & sands , to forraine regions and far distant lands ; who in his watry pilgrimage is sed , to be with neither liuing nor yet dead : to deale with doubtfull foes , for firmest friends , leauing his wife at home to doubtful ends . this draws the lawyer , dwel he ne'r so far , with gainful tearms , to wrangle at the bar , whose breath like to a whirlwind this to boot , towseth a state , and turns it vp by th'root for this the doctor dealeth out his skill , which sometimes ●aues , and oftentimes doth kill . for this the broker to the diuell drawne , writes bought , and halfe worth seaseth on your pawne . who coozning statutes strangely to be wondred , makes forty of his fourscore or his hūdred ▪ the gain of this each tradesmās liuing ca●● opes euery shop , and vttoreth euery ware . this makes the vsurer , & no wonder then , that would be boundles , be confin'd to te● defraud his brother , ventersoule and nam● though scripture say , thou shalt not doe the same . this from that fatall newgate , old gate iayle , hath sēt forth many , a short life to bewail : her helpelesse fortune , and her fatall hap , on doctor stories first three cornerd cap ; many a rich chastity strongly pursu'd by iust , effectlesse , yet by this subdu'd hath here been captiu'd to this ruine won , that else in former times had beene a nun. more orator then tully to preuaile , by force of tongue , then samson , to assaile by might of strength . for this men sweare and sinne , seeke both by good & bad to gaine & win . and in a word , this is that good and euill , brings some to god , but more vnto the diuell . a supplication to lady pecunia . great lady , how vnlike some sollid maid , that long in vaine hath for a sutor staid , art thou , which not for worth , but beauty too , makes all in loue , and all the world to woo ! grant me , tho neither fauorite nor friend , nor none that thy great troopes nor traines attend ; not of so meane a fauour to bee bard , that craue , though not redresse , yet be heard : that since thou oft hast progrest by my doore , that makes all rich , & yet i still am poore that thou wouldst one day call , and lodge , and rest with one had ne'r more need of such a guest . which if thou daigne , this fauor thou shalt finde , i le not vplocke thee with a mysers minde but vse thee as a lady of respect , which dost from care and misery protec● all that imbrace thee with a plentious hand most cōstant , that most aydfully dost stand where friends forsake vs , and where kindred fall , a bulwark to vs , thou that all in all commandest ; art sought vnto , to thee i cry to fal some drops into a ground that 's dry vnlike to vsury that euer yet appli'd her needlesse moisture wet to we● o● monarchs hands , that let not bounty fa● where want cries some , but where exces● gets all . her reply . of all the ladies ere were woo'd or wed , or euer forst vnto a loathed bed , am i most wretched , that the least may chuse where i affect , or where i loath , refuse , but like some misers daughte● made a bride , to riches onely , and naught else beside : am i thrust off to euery worthlesse clown , when men of vertue , goodnesse & renown , are bar'd my presence , whilst i am inforst , rauisht , offended , striue to be deuorst , abus'd with vsurers , and forst to br●ed , quite against nature , without wombe or seed ; yea , held in darknes vnder barres & bolts , where none but earth-wormes court me , fooles , and dolts , depriu'd of light , of liberty , and view , and whatsoeuer else a ladies due . could i deceiue those argoses me keepe , with many thousand eyes that neuer sleep : i would take my progresse to each prison doore , shake off their shackles , & let out the poor that long haue look't with pouerty & pain expecting my returne , but all in vaine . i would build churches , be in godly motiō , but that such nabals hinder my deuotion . from a captiuing hand i broke of late , and out i got , and straight rais'd vp a gate . frō thence i took my progresse into pauls , and glas'd some windowes that did want no holes ; and if it were not for such stayes and lets , i 'de giue security for all mens debts . for without me , where-euer i am staid , is no bond canceld , nor no reckoning paid . for me are al brains labor'd , hands imploid , and without me the world is not inioyd . and therefore at my latest cloze of breath , great king of mortall things ( i clipped death ) to thee i humbly my petition make , that thou thy haruest of such iaylors take ; that till their death will grapple what they haue , and naught shall part them but thy sithe and graue : that thou wouldst mow them downe , euen vnto dust , from others wants , that bar me till i rust . deaths supplication to time. within a dungeon all in darkenesse grounded , sate a grim ghost , of sinews al cōpounded : where more to increase his melancholy moanes , he grapples to himselfe , the sculs & bones of men departed , & with these he playes , as sorrowes were his ioyes and shortning dayes . which though his workmen , sicknesse , ach , and paine , were all in labor , yet he thought his gaine was small or nothing , without plague , or warre ; which time still fauouring , did prolong too farre . gainst whom , was deadly enmity and hate , for safe protecting all things to their date : before which expiration death may stand ▪ in expectation , but with empty hand : and therefore to this lady did reply , the fault was times , thogh hers the iniury ▪ for if that i were master of my will , with blood i 'ld surfet , and the whole world kill . there should not such a miser liue so long , to iniure many , by one ladies wrong . and therefore vnto time i humbly pray , to stir his wings more swift and fly away , that i with griefe and stay , no longer pine , but so many haue my wish , and thou haue mine . times reply . of all the ages that are past and fled by me out-worne , decay'd , deceast , and dead : was neuer any spoke with so small heed , to say that time was slow & had no speed . although i might fly faster farre away , with snayle i euer creepe , when swift things stay . and that our parallells a sudden hast , which swiftly doth begin , but slowly last . indeed t is true , all liuing things depend on my supplied minutes , which shall end , and euery sublunary thing below , but when that time shall be , time doth not know . yet now i must confesse , that i grow old , hauing fiue thousand yeeres six hundred told . in which long summer i am so well read , that i doe teach all arts that skil are bred . i know all history how ere it runne , and the truth thereof , being witnesse when 't was done . the death of kings , of princes , change of state , what is 't i know not , to discourse , relate ? with many secrets i doe counsell keepe , done at darke midnight , in contempt of sleepe . which some petitioners to me would know : to all which sifting thoughts , i answer , no i must not tell , the linnins then are tost , those dainties touched , and those nice things lost . this minutes guiltines of losse of strength , decay of stomacke , and eclipse of length . of which , another time i more may say , but now must answer death , which craues with stay , licence to hurry forth , to mow and kill , which yet i cannot giue , but shortly will. for i am but a seruant , and this sore must be indur'd with griefe , or patience bore . for till this worlds cōsumption there must bee rich diues , and poore lazar , wants to see . and yet i cannot hasten to amend , what heere thou dost complain vntill the end . and then this lady that thou wouldst set free , shall want her courtiers and a vaine thing be . table-talke , as mvsicke to a banqvet of wine : serued in , in witty propositions , seasoning and questions : together with their resolutions and answers : to exhilarate and recreate the bodies and mindes both of our selues and our friends at our tables and meetings . singula cum valeant , sunt meliora simul . london , printed by tho. brudenell , for leonard becket , and are to be sold at his shop in the temple neere the church . . preface . at bed and boord , where pleasures are exact , at both we complement as well a● act : and at them both should euery one desire something to bring , to crowne delight the higher . who brings himselfe as an inuited guest , onely to fill a roome and taste the best , and nothing more retaines , nor can impart , doth recompence but ill by his des●rt the fauour hee hath found , to taste g●●● fare , and come in company where betters are , that can discourse , that know what doth befit , whose euery word , out-values euery bit , so wisely strow'd befitting time and place , such shine like lampes , whilst the vnlettered base smother t'th socket , whilst these lights excell , to th' eare as welcome , as theirs harsh to th' smell . therefore to further such as would partake of the best things , but cannot , for their sake is here a dictionar● , where phrases walke● and subiects of discourse and table-talke , are various intermixt , some graue , some light , like to our courses methode , noone and night : her 's questions , answers , riddles , tales and iests , to crowne with laughter both our friends and feasts . here is a garden , wherewith weedes are flowers , to sticke in princes halls , and ladies bowers , to giue their pretty persons some delight , in tedious day-times , that are made for night , the which to all i wish of either gender , in lieu whereof the sequell here i tender , wishing it musicke to th' inchanted eare , vnto the taste a feast of christmas cheare . and this is all the trumpet shall be blowne to th' troope so small , that will so soone be showne . the introduction . he that knowes not what he ought to know , is a beast among men . he that knoweth no more then hee hath need of , is a man among beasts . but he that knowes all that may be knowne , is a god amongst men . he that knoweth only but to know . hath a silent , but a fruitles knowledge . hee that knoweth onely to make others know that he knoweth , hath an ambitious ▪ but a vain glorious knowledge . hee that knoweth onely to instruct others , and make vse himselfe , hath the true and blessed knowledge . table-talke . question . in what part of the yeere ( according to the coniectures of the learned ) was the world created ? answer . concerning the resolution of this question , much controuersie hath arisen , as well betwixt seuerall nations , as men : as among the hebrewes , the chaldeans , the arabians , the egyptians , the greekes and latines : some conceiuing it to be created in the summer , others in the spring , others in autumne ; to which ( as say some ) moses seemes to assent , where it is said in genesis , let the earth bring forth the greene herbe , and trees bring forth fruit according to their kinde . the egyptians thinke it was created in summer ; most in the spring . likewise they vary about the planets , and what houses they were created in : some thinke when the sunne was in leo , the moone in cancer , and so of the rest . which may be somewhat more confirmed by this necessary rule following , for the falling of easter day , which is , as vpon the day of the first moneth from the creation , which is march , at the coniunction of the sunne and the moone , next the equinoctiall ; the paschall lambe was chosen out of the flocke , and kept till the . day , or full moone : so the tenth day of the first moneth , being palm sunday , our sauiour entred into ierusalem , and the day suffered his passion ; so as the next sunday after the . day of the moone or full moon in the moneth of march is alwayes easter day , and probable to confirme the former supposition . q. but of this what shall i determine ? a. that by the wisedome , mercy , and goodnesse of god it was created , in the fulnesse of time , in what part his wisedome thought most meet : the admirable composition and frame whereof , that wee daily contemplate and behold with the eyes of our vnderstanding , with the diuersity and distinction of all the creatures therein ; they and all these for the seuerall vses and seruice of man , and man onely for the seruice of god. q. wherefore then , since the world was only made for man , ( for man onely knowes the vs● thereof ) are the dayes of his pilgrimage v●●on earth , contracted from the length of many cubits to a span-long , in comparison of the trebled date and extension of bruit beasts , senslesse and irrationall creatures ; as the hart , the daw , the oake , rauens , rockes , and such like , most of which haue trebled dates beyond the short period of mans life ? for concerning the hart , one of the most doubtfull , of whons notwithstanding hist●ries make mention : how alexander desirous to aepproue to posterity the long life of this creature , to that end caused to be put certaine golden collers about diuers of their neckes , with the time of their dates , some of which were found . yeeres after his death in full vigour and liuelihood , not perceiued to decline , or grown into age , but continuing and lasting : when the life of man doth vanish like a shadow , like a flower ; when neither absolons beauty , samsons strength , salomons wisedome , asaels swiftnesse , croesus wealth , alexanders liberality , hectors strength , homers eloquence , augustus fortune , traianes iustice , ciceroes zeale , one , nor all of these can protect it , but that hee falls from the graue of the wombe , to the wombe of the graue , cut downe like a flower , as these verses seeme to import : est hominum status per florem significatus : vt flos cito perit , sic homo puluis erit . mans life is fitly semblanc'd by the flowers , which flourish now , and fade ere many ho●res ▪ therefore this inequality considered , may it not be thought iniustice and wrong to man in this disposure ? and if not , by what consequent or reason may he settle his appeasement ? for as the poet : if death destroy vs quite ; we haue great wrong , since for our seruice al things else were wrought , that dawes , and trees , and rockes , should last so long , when we must at an instant turne to naught . a. by this , because the wise creator fore-saw that these in their dislolution , though neuer so long protracted , should altogether perish , but man at his end should but renew a better , nay an immortall life : and therefore what he is abridged of here , he hath amends for hereafter . q. wherein consists the naturall life of man , that it so soone doth cease , and so quickly wheele off from the thing of so vnstable continuance ? a. in heat and moisture , which daily wasting themselues to keep life afoot , are againe daily replenished in vs by our meat and drinke ; for by our meat is our naturall heat maintained , and by our drinke the radicall moisture daily replenished . q. why should the epicure then say , let vs eate and drinke , for to morrow wee shall dye , when by eating and drinking , our life is strengthened and renewed ? and why may not the life of man by this moderate and seasonable supplie , be preserued continually , at least-wise the life of our fore-fathers ? a. because as the sea hath bounds which it cannot passe , so is there to euery life a period set , hitherto shalt thou come , and no further : which though it may be shortened , as it is in the psalme , the bloud-thirsty and deceitfull man shall not liue forth halfe his daies , yet can it in no wise be prolonged further , at leastwise prorogued euer : for set all other aduersaries aside , time it selfe shall at last bring in age , whose antipathy shal be such , that it shal quench thy heat , and dry vp thy moisture ; for be thou neuer so well fenced ▪ comes death at last , and with a little pinne bores thorow thy castle wall , and farewell man : but of this formerly more at large . q. what were the opinions of the egyptian sages and philosophers concerning the longitude or breuity of mans life ? and whereupon did they ground their reasons ? a. they were conceited that men did liue according to the increasing or diminishing of the heart , some thinking the heart to grow and increase till . yeers , and that it did ▪ augment euery yeere . drachmes weight ; & grown to the full bignes , did again diminish euery yeere as much , vntil it came to nothing , whereupon ensued death . q. what are the opinions of some more moderne physicians for the naturall length or shortnesse thereof , vpon the dependencie of complexion either good or euill ? a. some thinke that the more better complexion , as those of the sanguine , bee long in growing old , because they haue much heat and humidity . that the melancholy waxeth soone old , because they be cold and dry ; and as touching the feminine sex , they become sooner old then the masculine . hipocrates reporteth that female children , in their mothers wombes are formed in seuen moneths , and then after grow slowlier then men ; but borne , grow faster , and become sooner wise , and sooner old , for the feeblenesse of their body and manner of life , being for the most part idle , is an inducement to old age . q. whether are the tall or low of stature , according to the coniectures of some learned , of longest health or life ? a. some thinke the shortest statures , because their vitall spirits are more strong and nimble , imparting their liuelihood with more vigor in their shorter circuit , then in the more spacious compasse : others again that they are more durable , because the cedar many times is sooner blasted with a tēpest then the shrubs ; others are of a contrary opinion , that the taller limbes haue the more temperate humours and complections , that fumes not so much do offend the braine , because the stomacke and it are more separate : but howsoeuer we conclude these arguments of small validity , because death lookes not so high , that hee passeth by the low , nor so low , that hee passeth by the high , but leuels equally at both alike , as that more high prouidence guides the hand from which there is no euasion . q. whether were the yeeres of th●●●ncient patriarches , when they liued eight or nine hundred yeeres , of the length of our yeeres with vs ; or so short as some haue imagined , that tenne of theirs made but one of ours , or an hundred of theirs but ten of ours ? a. of equall length and parity with ours , finished by the course of the sunne : and for further proofe hereof , the scriptures affirme , that in the . yeere of noahs life , in the second moneth , a●d . day of the moneth , the flood came : now if the yeere were but . dayes , so little a yeere must either haue no moneths , or it must haue but three dayes in a month , to make twelue moneths in a yeere after that computation . and as in this , so likewise it may be inferred in diuers other places , to proue that their yeers had their equall longitudes and continuance with ours . q. what accidents or other remarkeable consequence of time and place , haue followed the day and houre of the weeke , since the creation of adam , as i haue seen it recorded in an ancient manuscript , but of what probability i aue●re not ? a. that as vpon the . day of the moneth of march , the first month from the creation , the . day of the week , & . houre of the day , adam was created , brake the commandements , the seed of the woman was promised , & he for disobedience banished out of paradise : so the same day of the moneth , the same houre of the day , cain slue his brother abel , the promise was renewed vnto abrahā , isaac was to be offred vp in sacrifice , the message by the angell to the virgin mary , our sauior christ was conceiued , deliuered , suffered his passion on mount caluary , the same place where adam was buried , that the second adam might there by his obedience , make good to man , what the first adam lost by disobedience and sin , & that the crosse whereupon he died , was a part of the same tree from which adam plucked the forbidden fruit . but of the certainty hereof , i can auouch no warrant . q. we reade in the scripture , after cai● had slaine his brother abel , that hee was our●● to be a vagabond and runnagate vpon the face of the earth , and that he had a marke set vpon him , that no man might slay him ? yet after it is said that he built a city , and dwelt at the east side of eden : now i would know what was the end of cain : how if he were a housholder & a citizen , he was a runnagate ? and if hee built a city , who were his workmen ? what masons and carpenters had ; for it is thought by some , there were not as that time aboue fiue or six persons in the whole world , neither are there more nominated in the scripture ? a. in that primitiue age of the world men liued long , for adam his father liued . yeeres ; and some are of opinion , that he liued the longer , by reason that he knew the vertue , nature , and operation of euery beast , and herbe , & plant , as well as to name them , and could apply them , wherein they were most seruiceable to his vse . now it is not improbable that cain in his longinquity of life might wander foure or fiue hundred yeeres , and in his latter age build a city , which might bee caused out of his feare , for before that guiltinesse of conscience that he had , no man intrencht himselfe within walles or bulwarkes , neither feared the violence of man or beast . and for his worke-men , they might be many ; for in the latter end of his age , it may not bee thought but his children , and his childrens children might be many generations , and enow to build and inhabit a city , though moses onely names but some principall parties . and for his death , wee leaue it as doubtfull , though the hebrewes doe report , that lamech being led a hunting ( being blinde ) by his sonne tubalcaine , shooting at wilde beasts , kild cain in the thicket vnawares ; and after hearing thereof by his sonne , strooke him ouer the head with his bow , that he died likewise : grounding their opinion vpon the words of lamech , gen. . where hee saith to his two wiues , i haue slaine a man to my wounding , and a young man to my hurt : both which we leaue as vncertainties . q. by what signes doe we iudge men to be the more long or shorter lyued ? a. the life of man is compared vnto an apple , which being ripe drops downe of it selfe , and sometimes in the immaturity is cast downe by windes and tempests . the signes of a short life are ancientl● noted to be these three : . thinnenesse of teeth . . longnesse of fingers . . leaden or heauinesse of colour ▪ the contrary , or of a long life . . straight shoulders . . wide nostrils , and the opposite aduerse signes , that is , . many teeth . . short fingers , and . a good color . hereafter followeth a triplicity of somemore diuine , witty , short and compendious precepts and conclusions to seuerall natures and purposes . q. there are three inuisible vertues of god , and which are they ? a. power , goodnesse , wisedome , which are thus explicated : of power , all things proceed . of wisedome , all things consist . of goodnesse all things are gouerned . q. what was the wise mans memento to preuent sinne ? a. recordare nouissima , & non peccabis in ●ternum . first , to remēber these foure last things , before wee accomplish any euill , and then we shall seldome doe amisse : which are death , iudgement , the paines of hell , and the ioyes of heauen . and they are so called for these foure reasons : . because death is the end of life , and the last thing which is to happen to vs in this world . . because this iudgement is the last of all iudgements that are to bee giuen , and therefore there is no appealing from it . . because hell is the last euill that malefactors are to haue , and they are to remaine therein for euer . . because heauen is the last good which the good are to haue , and they are neuer to lose it . q. what foure things are those that most plainely proue the bookes of the apocrypha not to be canonicall ? a. . because they are not written by any prophet , neither containe they any prophesies in them . . because they were written in greek , and all the rest in hebrew . . because malachy the last of the prophets , saith , that after him they should not looke for any other prophet , till the comming of eliah , that was , s. iohn baptist. . because the author of the machabeas in one place craueth pardon for his work and saith , if it be not so wel as it shuld be , yet it was as well as he could , which is no fitting phrase for a penman of the holy scripture . q. there are three sayings found in saint pauls epistles , which are taken from the heathen , and which are they ? a. the first out of menander , euill words corrupt good manners , cor. . . the second out of aeratus , couetousnesse is the root all euils , tim. . the third out of epimenides , cretans are alwayes lyers , euill beasts , flow bellies , tit. . . q. what are the three parts of repentance ? a. contrition in heart , confession in mouth , satisfaction in workes . q. what foure things are those that ouercome one another ? a. death ouercomes man. fame ouercomes death . time ouercomes fame . eternity ouercomes time. q. there is held to be a scarcity of two sorts of men in our age , and who ore they ? a. of noblemen , because citizens doe daily aspire to honour and buy nobility . of iewes , because christians make an occupation of vsury . q. wee cannot know the authors of three mischiefes which happen oftentimes , and what are they ? a. . hee that is drunke , cannot iustly say , this cup of wine , or that , made me drunke . . he that walketh among thorns , knows not which woundeth him . . a common whore being with childe , knowes not who is the father of it . the husbandmans lesson to his sonne . be holy in lent. be painefull in haruest . be merry at christmas . a further counsell or lesson . touch nothing in a smiths forge . taste nothing in an apothecaries shop . be not curious in reading other mens let . bragge not of three things , if thou wouldest 〈◊〉 ioy plenty , and preserue a good name . that thou hast good wine in thy house . a faire wife for thy bed . plenty of money in thy chest . q. whether is a good name sooner lost , or found ? a. as soone lost as sound , and therefore be diligent to atchieue it before thou hast it , in embracing wise counsell ; and can●full to keepe it when thou hast it : for actum est de homine , quum actum est de nomine . there be three manner of sages . the sage herbe , the sage wise , and the sage foole . of which one writes , whost for wise himselfe doth accept , may match any sage , the sage wise except . he that comes to a lawyer , must bring with him three pockets , which must bee thus imployed : in the first must be his declarations and his euidences . in the second his siluer and his gold . in the third his patience for expence and delay . likewise three things are said to be necessary for him that is a student in the law . an iron head . a purse full of gold . a leaden taile . q. what and how many are the properties of a good seruant ? a. to haue the backe of an asse , the tongue of a sheepe , the snowt of a swine : to beare all patiently , to keepe all silently , to digest all things heartily . likewise : to be long of eare , light of foot , trusty of hand : to heare quickly , to run swiftly , to execute honestly . and not to haue , mel in ore , verba lactis , fel in corde , fraus in factis . q. three things should be alwayes at 〈◊〉 and what are they ? a. the hen-roost , the cat , and the good wife . three occasions many times moue deate , and these are they : to talke with him that is angry . to send him of an arrand that is weary . to wake a man out of his sleepe . q. how stand the english , the french , the italian and the spaniard affected to their w●●men for stature or complexion ? a. the english is indifferent for stature , so she be amiable and beautifull . the french affects the pale & the slēder . the spaniard , the round and the tender . the italian , the ruddy , and the tall , as their owne prouerbe seemes to confirm it ▪ grande & alia me fare dîo bella & bianco me fare î● . englished : if god will make me tall and hye , what wants in beauty , i le supply . and therfore it is said , as he affects dearly , so he suspecteth deepely : yet cannot his most narrow suspition so turne the key to his owne safety , thereby solely to ingrose and secure the portion of his owne right , without a most hatefull riuall ; to which purpose vpon the generall inconstancy of women , after triall of so many beauties abroad ▪ in so many seuerall countries , by two such worthy personages so vnworthily wronged by their owne wiues , and none found constant or of better condition , then their owne at home , but many worse ; returned homewards , refuging their sorrows with the generality of others fortune ▪ a in my hostes tale in the story of orlando , is more largely dilated to the comfort of his ▪ country men , where this was acted . to which purpose and effect , one ill opinioned generally of women , thus further adioyneth . go and catch a falling starre , get with child a mandrakes root : tell me where all past yeeres are , and who cleft the diuels foot . if thou be'st borne to strange sights , things inuisible to see : ride ten thousand dayes and nights , till age snow while hayres on thee . then a hen thou returned wilt tell me , all strange wonders that befell thee . and sweare , no where ▪ liues a woman true and faire . or as another woman-hater thus w●●teth causelesly , if he meant all . go and diue the ocean vnder , where vnfathom'd deepnesse be : then go scale the clouds of thunder , where the fiery regions be . through the ●ildernesse goe creepe , thorow the brakes where ne'r shone day , where the venome wonders keepe , and the dragons haue their way , and thou as soone shalt know the skill , all these wonders to impart , as to know the winding will of a womans protean heart . vpon the euill and inconstancy of which wicked women , one began thus to make an alphabet . auidissimum animal , bestiale barathrum , concupiscentiam carnis , duellum damnosum , &c. englished . auaritious , beastly , concupiscentious of the flesh , dangerous duellists , &c. which afterwards , another as their friend , thus inuerted it vpon the good , alphabeticall wise . amabiles , beneficae , castae , deuotae , elegantae , fideles , gratae , humiles , iucundae , lenes , misericordes , negotiosae , obedientes , prudentes , qu●stuosae , reuerentes , sapientes , tacitae , verae , xenophilae , & zenobiae . englished . amiable , bountifull , chaste , deuout , eegant , faithfull , gratefull , humble , ingenuous , lightsome , mercifull , needfull , obedient , prudent , quiet , reuerent , silent , trusty , vertuous , expert , &c. q. for the precedence betwixt england , france and spaine , which kingdome may the most iustly challenge the priority ? a. some writers affirme that the king of france may iustly claime the first place , and that for these reasons , as they alledge . . for that it pleased god to send from heauen , vnto clodoneu● , the first christian king of that nation , three lillies as a diuine fauour to be from thencesorth borne in the armes of that kingdome , before which time , the kings armes was three toads , as some write . secondly , for that , as they affirm , france is the most ancient kingdome in europe , and that swardus was king of that 〈◊〉 in the time of alexander . thirdly , because the king of france is anointed , which seemes a note of antiquity . fourthly , for his title , the most christian . others hold that it belongeth to spaine , and that for these reasons . because hee is intituled the most catholicke . because hee is king of many kingdomes , and so of much honour . but we conclude , the chiefe place and precedence belongeth to the kingdome of england . first , in respect of antiquity , for brute was king of england , when alexander , the first king of the grecians called , himselfe king of the whole world . secondly , the king of england is anointed , and so is no other king but the french king , the king of cicill , and ierusalem . thirdly , the king of england is a prince most absolute in all respects . but the reason is , for that england receiued the christian faith before either france or spaine , notwithstāding the title of most christian. there are . happy men among many others , and these are they . foelix qui deum timet , qui mundum odit , qui nemini fert iniuriam . foelix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas . foelix qui didicit contentus viuere paruo . foelix qui nihil debet . foelix qui possidendo nihil , omnia possidet . foelix qui omnia quae vult habet , & 〈◊〉 mali vult . englished . happy is hee which feares god , hates the world , doth no man iniury . which hath learned to be content with a little . that owes nothing but loue . which knowes the causes of things . which possessing nothing , yet inioyes all things in not desiring . that hath all that he desires , and desires nothing that is hurtfull . q. what three things are those to be auoided ▪ a. medicus inctoctus . cibus non coctus . praua mulier . an vnlearned physician , meat ill dressed , a wicked woman . q. three things to bee bewayled , and the● 〈◊〉 are they . tempus amissum , peccatum commissum , bonum omissum . time lost , sinne committed , good omitted . q. who are the famous fooles ? a. a faithfull louer of an vnfaithfull friend . an honest gamester . a mercifull souldier . q. three things are to be taken heed of an● these are they ; a dogges tooth , a horse heele , and a womans tongue . q. there are three things , for which a wiseman should not giue counsell , and which are they ? a. for another man to take a wife , to make a voyage by sea , to follow the warres . q. three things concurre to make a man quickly rich , and what are they ? a. the fall of wiues , and the standing of sheepe and bees . q. what foure things kill a man before his time ? a. a faire wife , a troubled houshold , immoderate meat and drinke , and a corrupt ayre . q. there be three shooing-hornes to pluck on a cuckolds cap , and what are they ? a. a faire wife . a iealous husband . a wanton louer . foure workes of a tyrant . to destroy the good . to hate the poore . to extoll the euill . to root out the vertuous . q. what one thing is that , that is bo●h the hardest and easiest thing of all other ? a. t is the hardest for a man to know himselfe , and the easiest to deceiue himselfe . foure vnlikelihoods , which yet sometimes come otherwise to passe . he that is not faire by . strong by . wise by . rich by . t is vnlikely he will euer be any of them . q. when is the best time to vndertake a iourney ? a. to answer as one merrily answere● . it is then , when a man hath a good horse money in his purse , and good companions . q. two things thou maist shew , but not lend , and what are they ? a. thy sword , and thy wife which is thy scabberd . q. what in times past was the controu●● between the coffin-maker and the chest-ma● for superiority ? a. the chest-maker vaunted , that the commodity that he made , was of greatest worth , for that it lockt vp money that commanded all things . but ( quoth the coffin-maker ) the chest that i make , lockes vp him that commands money , euen the money-master himselfe ; and as the worthiest thing , hee takes that with him when he leaues all other behind . q. what creatures are those that sleep with their eyes open ? a. the lyon , and the hare , that bold , and fearefull creature . q. what binds faster then obedience , wedlocke , suspicion , or necessity ? a. fate and death . q. it is an approued maxime , that in nature is no vacuity , nothing produced in vaine : and hath this generall rule euer passed without exception ? a. not so , for the wisest and most precious good , but hath found some momus to carpe at it , and like the wolfe , turne their throat against the moone , to quarrell the highest and best things , as to this purpose is here annexed a story of some triall . certaine ordinary gentlemen meeting at an ordinary , amongst many propositions and discourses one to another , according to the too much liberty of such places , one at last began to fall into this admiration , that since god and nature , the common parent● of all creatures , produced nothing in vaine , why man , a creature of their principall workmanship ▪ in himselfe was altoget●● vanity ? for confirmation whereof , sai●● he of some , i knew a countrey church wel-furnished with a clocke , whose 〈◊〉 was stricken with an image like a man , vpon the wheele stood a ca●● which when the image strucke , made such haste away , as 〈◊〉 parishioners , when they should haue 〈◊〉 for their sinnes , fell a laughing at the 〈◊〉 nimblenesse : and to furnish the ch●●● with better merriment , their parson 〈◊〉 conceited as their clocke , amongst 〈…〉 of his digressions , falling to sp●●ke 〈…〉 prouidence of god , and such like , 〈…〉 sometimes in the first it might seeme weak to humane capacity , when notwithstanding it was wise in the ends propounded : as for example , ( said hee ) walking one euening in my garden vnder mine apple tree , i looked vp , and saw the little apples aduanced on the top of the high tree , eminent to the sight , whilst at my foot grew grubling the huge million , and the pumpion ( as me thought ) vnseemely , because obscurely on the ground : whereupon i began to thinke , it had beene more seemely and fit , that this worthier and fairer fruit should haue growne on the more high and perspicuous place , and the apples neerer to the ground , or in the place thereof : when sodainly thus gazing vp to behold the vnfitnesse of their growing , one blowes mee downe from the top of the high tree , and hits me on the top of my bald head . being so amazed , i began to thinke on mine owne folly ; for thought i then , if this pumpion had growne and fallen in this apples place , it had knocked out my foolish braines . to this seconded another , to falsifie the generall proposition , that nature had erred in many t●●ngs , and might ( as in others ) haue beene better aduised in these : for a man to repent in ; and hee 〈◊〉 repent a day before thy death . quo 〈…〉 that is ignotum per ignotius , one vnknown● thing answerd by another more vnknowne for ( quoth he ) i know not when the day 〈◊〉 my death will be . why then ( quoth 〈◊〉 repent to day , for ( for ought thou 〈◊〉 thy death may be to morrow . q. there are three powers of the soule 〈◊〉 signed vnto three parts of the body 〈…〉 are they ? a. reason to the head , a 〈…〉 heart , lust to the liuor : like 〈…〉 yeeldeth sense , the heart life , 〈…〉 nourishment . q. why doth the bayre and nayle 〈…〉 man , as also onions , and garlicke , 〈…〉 grow and increase after they are 〈…〉 thered ? a. those haue their issue 〈…〉 out of the abundance of mo 〈…〉 in men , though dead , or these 〈…〉 not in a long time diminishe 〈…〉 q. why are bastards 〈…〉 strong , forward , witty , and 〈…〉 those which are legitimate an 〈…〉 locke ? a. some thinke , 〈…〉 〈…〉 vehement and perpetuall , and 〈…〉 whatsoeuer outward heat is pre●●reunto , is weakened by the grea 〈◊〉 ●●ued within , which allayeth the 〈…〉 eof , as the heat of the fire is aba 〈◊〉 beames of the sunne . 〈…〉 omes it , that by looking vpon one 〈…〉 sore , our owne many times be 〈…〉 ? 〈…〉 done partly by the mutuall 〈◊〉 weene the eye and the eye , but 〈…〉 lly because the eie doth attract 〈…〉 it beholds , certaine rayes 〈…〉 nto it , by which it sees , and so 〈…〉 from thence what is infectious , it 〈…〉 the likewise infected it selfe . 〈…〉 doth the tyranny of age most ap 〈…〉 it self thy changing the haire from 〈…〉 into white , and dying the lockes 〈…〉 what meanes doth it most vsu 〈…〉 ? 〈…〉 that summer is decayed , 〈…〉 approching on , the frosts and 〈…〉 of she effecteth by drying 〈…〉 ch should digest superflu 〈…〉 ours , through the defect 〈…〉 lly proceed . 〈…〉 through the ouermuch much care and feare , by which di 〈…〉 ned men affirme that some men 〈…〉 prehension of death , haue grow 〈…〉 their youth , euen at yeeres o 〈…〉 q. how doth the basiliske poy 〈…〉 eye ; and the sight of the woolfe 〈…〉 voyce of him that beholdeth it , 〈…〉 poet ? to lurke farre off , yet lodge de 〈…〉 the basiliske doth poyson with 〈…〉 the wolfe that howles for han 〈…〉 noyse doth by her neere approach 〈…〉 voyce . a. by infection of the ay●e 〈…〉 gre●s approacheth the ray 〈…〉 so likewise is the hoar●nesse 〈…〉 effected , by drawing in ●y deg 〈…〉 after another , till that app 〈…〉 infected by the first . wolue 〈…〉 red and destroyed in eng 〈…〉 mand of king edgar , and 〈…〉 princes had beene deuour 〈…〉 q , what substa●ce or 〈…〉 commonly oppresseth hea 〈…〉 and is commonly called th 〈…〉 a. the night-ma 〈…〉 mour or bloud , whi 〈…〉 〈…〉 the vitall spirits of those that 〈…〉 pecially on their backe , in such 〈…〉 if some heauy weight or lumpe 〈…〉 heir stomack , which they would 〈…〉 ff , but cannot , and is not , as many 〈…〉 liuing thing or spirit . 〈…〉 foure things are those , that being 〈…〉 be recouered ? 〈…〉 time , virginity , a word 〈…〉 erefore for many causes wee 〈…〉 them present , and to a 〈…〉 in words , especially for 〈…〉 easons ▪ 〈…〉 cause in multiloquy the wisest 〈…〉 fend . 〈…〉 because it is a signe of folly . 〈…〉 ecause many words are the 〈…〉 d●●tents & displeasings , 〈…〉 more manifest by these exam 〈…〉 〈…〉 the gates that are alwayes 〈…〉 time admit an enemy as 〈…〉 is euer vncouered , is vn 〈…〉 infectious : to which pur 〈…〉 philosopher , amongst 〈…〉 ing his peace , and be 〈…〉 so , answered , because 〈…〉 times for speaking , but neuer a neaste of vvaspes latelie found out and discouered in the law-countreys, yealding as sweete hony as some of our english bees goddard, william, fl. . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a neaste of vvaspes latelie found out and discouered in the law-countreys, yealding as sweete hony as some of our english bees goddard, william, fl. . [ ] p. printed in the low-countreyes, at dort : . in verse. "to the reader" signed: will. goddard. signatures: a⁴(-a ) b-g⁴ h². imperfect: signature h lacking. reproduction of original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams, english. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - olivia bottum sampled and proofread - olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a neaste of vvaspes latelie fovnd out and discouered in the law-countreys , yealding as sweete hony as some of our english bees . at dort ▪ printed in the low-countreyes . . to the reader . give roome hoe ; giue roome to my actiue penn oh giue hir roome ; shee l laie about hir then . mistake hir not ; she plaies noe fencers parte , shee plaies the popes ; shee l make the whole world smarte . will. goddard . the commission . a broade my waspes , in to the world goe flie make knowne your natures to all men you spie searche eu'ry creeke ; goe flie you round aboute let noe wretche rest vntil y 'aue found him out , and hauinge found him , styng him : none forbeare but stinge em all , for all growne wicked are , my loue excepte , at which , if some repine saie thinges you muste not touche that are devine an epigram to my epigrams . mvsicke strike-vp , some livelie quick iigg plaie hange tunes that runne on malencollie kaie . skippe nowe my verse : light epigrams come skipp . like doe on lawne , come light and nimblie tripp like catt with mouse come sporte you swiftlie faste but see like catt you pinche and nipp at laste . my sences standes amaz'd , my hands doe tremble to think to what i should my loue resemble , compare hir to the rose ; hir cryimson die is farr more pure ; hir white excells the ivorie , vnto hir skynn rug'd is the smoothest iett the softest downe to it is counterfett with in hir faces circute there are plac'd , two heaunlie sonns , by whom the world is grac'd , whose golden beames from-of hir lippes exhales , that hunnye dewe which poets nectar calls soe faire is shee , soe sweete , smooth , soft , soe cleere as on this earthe naught like hir maie appeare , oh what a matchles mistresse haue i caught that iustlie cann compare hir vnto naught some men ill censures had-land ; calls him asse idle goose. vppon him most men passe but not so much for selling of his townes as vainelie spending and consuming's crownes for that a foole hee 's held . nowe i 'me of mind , a wiser man a man shall hardlie find who hath a crowne ; i but one crowne enioies must haue a thowsand cares . cares crownes annoies then hadland's wise , the other coxcombes are , for whoo 'd keepe crownes since one crowns full of care . for making , speede , pace , and firie spright the braue proude couser should the court delight his gentle gesture , milde-sterne-statelie grace maie gett him loue ( i graunt ) in eury place that hee 's respected i nere wonder why it is at th' asse ; at asses wonder i noe worthe's in th'asse , yet daubd ' hee is in gold and trickt-vp trymmer then proude iennetts bold at which i musd aud wondred , vntill when i found th' asse deare and neare to most great men . had i commaund at court i would casseere both all the porters and doore-keepers there they let too manie beggars in . t is seene ev'n in the presence there some beggars beene amend it porters ; t is noe seemlie thing to haue to manie beggars nere the kinge . at court a beggar to a porter came ope doore quoth hee , i am one cripled lame the porter annsweres sirrah gett you gone this is the court , of beggars here coms none then lett mee in quoth hee and make noe doubt t will scarce a courte be shut your beggars out . a chattring ape mett with a gruntling hogg hogg quoth the ape beware the may stife dogg oh ape quoth th'hogg , hard , oh hards my case for i doe meete with doggs in eurye place dost soe replies the ape ? what wilt thou giue and i will teache thee howe shalt feareles live forsake thy stie and to the lyons court from thy base contrye howse doe thou resort noe dogg soe hardie is as once to dare presume to make his bold appearaunce there for the braue lyons nature will not brooke vppon a churlish surlie curr to looke beasts of my nature like his nature beste his frownes wee turne to smiles with some sleight iest to see vs leape , skipp , make an antik face ▪ first wonn vs apes in to the lyons grace and therefore hogg i do wish thee take my shape the lyon fauours well the toying ape ▪ clownus would court it , nowe his countrye seate hee halfe doth loathe , in cloathes hee groweth neate dust here mee clowne for that life th art vnfitt thy want's a braine ; whose there must want noe witt hee that would court-it , in the court would thrive must sympathize in nature with these five in youth hee must bee ape and monkey both the ape to imytate what others doth and like the monkey hee in lust must burne : must stand readye ; prick-on at eurye turne the foxes nature hee in age must haue : must plott . none riseth like your deepe-sculd knaue like more beastes yet hee must be : doe you heare ? he must turne asse ; great mēs greate loads must beare must be an ox : must hugg who gives the horne t is noe disgrace for favours no we thare worne clowne , bee still a clowne , whood chaunge maulie shape to be an ox , fox , monkey , asse or ape ? a foole t' a wiseman came , wiseman quoth hee ive beene with fortune who hath blessed mee my sonne sayde fortune , thus i blesse thy birthe thou shalt euioye the happy'st life on earthe thou shalt haue wealth ease , mirth : thou shalt liue free live where thou wilt shalt neuer envy'd bee nor shall mistrust attend thee . crosse the seas : for sake the court ; i doe child what you please yet it shall like : it shall give noe distaste thy deedes thy mother fortune will haue graste with that about shee turnd hir , groping-out to find hir wheel ; which found , she turnd about allotting mee all pleasures on the earthe you , life envide : mistruste poysning your mirth come wiseman then ; come marcht in rank with mee the daungers lesse , yet honourd more you see a godlie father of the romishe sect a privie and ahogstie would erect workman saide hee looke on this logg of wood for those two purposes me thinkes 't is good the workman seeing tw'ould not serue the turne cry'd sir ▪ this is not good enoughe to burne howe not to burne the zealous father cries ? noe not to burne the carpenter replies : it is such rotten stuff t' wil not bewrought it is soe knottie ruf t is good for naught come come the papiste cries thou wantest witt i le haue a god made an t ; i le kneele to it to it i le praie : foe will i guild-it ore as all that see 't shal't for a god adore . what will not make a privie , godes will make for that vse , of the rottenst thinges wee take therefore to make my privie finde some good and i le wake godes of this my rotten wood . before his holines three sutors came the firste was one giv'n all to whore and game the second vnto drinke was givn-ore soe as sober to his bedde he 'ed neuer goe the third a murthrer was giv'n all toth stabb these comming to that babalonian drabb ( after greate revrence to his sacred knee ) they humblye craue that they might pardond be your sinns are greate his holines doth crie wee doe confesse it father they replie but as our sinns are greate our meanes is greate father quoth they with anngells wee haue mett which anngells told vs that yov lou'd em soe as anie thinge for theire sweete sakes you l doe therefore , for what w 'aue done , wee mercie craue for those good anngells sakes letts perdon haue pleades angells for you quoth the pope ? naie then i must for give . anngells haue powre o're men . ide haue a plaie could i but to my mind good actors gett ; but thats'not now to find for ( oh ) thare dead ; this age afordeth none , good actors all longe since are dead and gone for beggars parte a courtyer i would haue a courtyers parte your scoller act-would braue you souldyer should your scoller act . but yit to plaie the king lie parte hee is more fitt nowe for the foole i haue an exlent one oh for that parte giue mee your merchancts sonne to act the whore ; tutt that 's a common parte eache girle of twelue yeares old can do'ot with arte but oh the diuell ! i am graueld nowe to finde a divell out i knowe not howe and with out one my plaie shall nere comeforth for with out divells , plaies are nothing worth mas i haue thought of one for gold hee l come an exlent actor is the pope of roome , fryer quoth the divelles thou standst my freind i m'e caste awaie ; my daies are at an end nowe god defend the fryer saithe ; for then wee fryars should bee left fatherles poore men as for my frendshipp , doubt mee of noe evill faithfull fryers nere falfe-are to the divell therefore make knowne your case ; be bold , reveale our order can your secretts best conceale then knowe it fryer , in loue , in loue i am to thee for counsell in that case i came a nunn i loue , without i haue'a nunn tell all the world the divell is vndone loue you a nunn ? a nunn i st you desire take my shape on you ; nunns deneys noe fryer . at hells wide gates a souldyer once did stand his reason was to veiwe th' infernall band but as hee lea'nd to see eache troope passe by hee taken-was and doubted for some spie what makst thou here ? what art the divell cryes ? a martialliste ; a souldyer hee replies the multitude of monkes and fryers there at name of souldyer , thus cry'de-out with feare oh divell , if thou dost loue vs convaie that souldyer hence : wit hs passe pack him awaie in quiet else wee nothing here shall doe thei l vse our gods , our holie sisters too and therefore out with him , t is fowle abuse yf anie but oue selues doe those things vse this is the cloister we allotted are therefore from vs all souldyers out debarr children the divell cry'd yf it bee soe that hee 's a souldyer : hath naught with mee to doe nor i with him . god did ordaine theire birth not hell to trouble , but to vex the earthe my charge lies heere : their'es on the earthe : both hath a charge to shewe men our greate maisters wrath souldyers , mens bodies are to fall vppon i , on the soule , to see sharpe tortures done who for theire paines in heaun aboue must dwell and i for mine , belowe in this darke hell and therefore out hee shall , too 's heaun i le send him which yf hee likes not else where lett himmend him soe out from hell the souldyer straight was throwne since when in hell a souldyer nere was knowne . i praie tell mee my fortune sir : i am a beggar wench ; to you for that i cam a beggar wench the fortune-teller cryes ? indeed ' i am the beggar-wench replies then knowe it wench quoth hee thy fortunes good and these three babes shal springe from thy base bloud two bratts one beggar shall begett of thee both of them kinghts and both shall courtyers bee naie yet an other sonn thou shalt emoye a iugler shall begett of thee a boie this shall a lawyer bee , and shall in tyme with 's iugliug tricks vp to high turretts clime thou hearst thy fortune wench : be gone quoth hee it ioies mee much , i thank you for 't quoth shee yet ere i doe departe praie lett mee craue yf these bee all the sonns i 'me like to haue for trulie sir my mynd doth give me yit i shall haue one son more ; who shall in wirt and valour th' rest as farr surpasse as steedes in couradge doe the sillie asse my mind doth giue me sir i shall bring forth a sprightfull souldyer one of matchles worth a souldyer whore quothe hee ? out baggadg base a souldyer cannot spring from beggars race . plorus your wise let tenn — in one night one of those tenn you knowes the parsons right why pay 't him then ; thou knowst a barlie strawe will make a parish parson goe to lawe paye him his — oh pry thee lett him ha'te lesse thinges then — will stirr them to debate , t is saide that idelnes doth mischeefe breed and soe it doth ; that sayings true indeed then parish parsons you are nowe a daies the onelie men that doe deserue best praise for lawyers would growe idle , did not you stirr your parish to sett them taskes to doe a blessed worke ; a deed well worthy noate a thing befitting best , men of your coate i doe applande the deede ; and lawyers shall stand bare to you , shall you theire maisters call . benefio , benefis , benefit i de conster thus yf i should english it i doe well ; so 's englisht benefio benefis , a benefize to buy ho for though i 'ue neither learning nor goodwitt yet buy a benefice i le benefitt . oh deate th' art wrongd ! abused in our land thy office deathe is wrested out thy hand vnto thy office death it doth belonge t' vnloose that sacred knott god tyed soe stronge god did ordaine thee deathe , and onelye thee t' vnloose that knot , bu't nowe more deathes there bee . a iudge t' a surgeon came , surgeon quoth hee my arme is sore , what i st soe payneth mee ? the surgeon looking on it , sir hee cryes oh much corruption in your arme there lies a poore man by , cryes surgeou vnderstand t' is not in 's arme , corrupted is his hand . a bedrid man before a iudge was brought the iudge biddes stand-vp sirrah as you ought oh sir , nor goe , nor sitt , nor stand can i i am your freind praie give me leaue to lie art thou my freind quoth hee ? then lie thy fill a iudg gives all his freindes leaue to lie still . were i to choose a captaine , i would than not choose your courtyer or a youth full man noel would choose a iudge ; one grym and graue to make a captaine such a man i d'e haue giue mee that man whose frowning browe is deathe i such a one as cann kill men with breathe . younge lawyers cubs ( spruse studentes termd by some ) to you as humble sutor i doe come my sute is this you 'l send mee from yovr inns some of you old slye-pated foxes skynns wee l make drumms heades of them : in doinge soe i knowe by th' eares our foes and we shal goe praie send vs some ; wee all will thank you then ; i knowe theire skynns to braules will stirr-vp men . clarke quoth the coun sellor i must ride downe what shall i doe , ther'e 's not one horse in towne ? why sir replies the clarke , that is noe lack in steed of horse bestride some clyentes back although an asse vn seemelie is in showe yet hee treades sure , and whipp him on , hee l goe bestride a clyent sir , hee shall not tire i l'e spurr him on , vnto your owne desire . a woman to a lawyer came , sir quoth shee beseeche your doe a fauour vnto mee what wouldst thou haue the man a lawe replies ? o sir your helping hand the good wife cryes for god sake sir quoth shee let me entreate you l make my husbandes smale thing very great the saie of nothing lawyers can great matters make therefore i praie sir this thing vndertake . a chauncery clyent hauing spent his summs vnto a vsring broker sneaking comes broker saide hee t' is told me by a freind that you vppon a sute good gold will lend i haue a sute , faire , stronge , but verye deare one that i 've worne almost this twentie yeare which yet is freshe as when i firste did weare-it t' will weare-out me'till i 've noe strengh to beare it . a sute soe lastinge stronge thother replies ? i le deale for it : where is it sir hee cries ? why in the chauncrye replies the clowne there carelely my sutes throwne vp and downe and therefore praie sir ridd me oft : the saie men of your trade soone ridd mens sutes awaie the broker scornfullie from him goes forth and tells him those old sutes are little worth . an old bald-pated graue graie-bearded sire stole to a wench to quench his lustes desire shee askt him what profession hee might bee i am a civell lawyer girle quoth hee a civell lawyer sir ? you make mee muse your talkes too broade for cyvell men to vse yf civell lawyers are such bawdy men oh what ( quoth shee ) are other lawyers then ? take leases ho. you that haue hansome wiues good husbandes plaie , take leases for theire lives for if your wives but faire and hansom bee phisitians will warrant em for yee if they but feele theire pulse , then doubt noe lives i l'e warrant you thei le warrannt then your wiues by arte to women they cann put in life he 'es sure to gett that letts them warrants ' wife . three sortes of folkes there are which haue a trick gold out of men and womens tailes to pick your panda'rs one , the second of these three is one which nightlie scoures things priuylee i de name the third and last sorte of these men but all phisitians i should anger then . lye thus ( the fencer cryes , ) thus must you guard thus must you slipp , thus poynte , thus passe , thus ward and yf you l kill him sir , this trick learne then with this same trick you maie kill manie men a doctor standing by , cryes fencing foole both you and hee , to mee , maie come to schoole thou dost ' but prate : my deedes shall showe my skill where thou hurtst one , a hundred i do kill . if warrs should cease & tyme of peace should growe i would phisitian turne : that course i d'e goe soe might i keepe my handes in vre ; and still some one or other eu'rye daie might kill oh ide growe subtill , i would learne the trick to make a sick man sound , a sound man sick . are you returnd my waspes ? i cannot see howe manie men soe soone should stinged bee this world is spacious wide : t is roundlie large soe soone then howe could you my charge discharge therefore abroade againe ; aboute goe seeke i loue to see men arie , t' heare women shreeke ▪ t is saide of roringe boies ther'e 's manie theeues ( hee s in the truthe i thinke which soe beleeues ) yet i doe think more witches are of them then are of anie other sortes of men my reason 's this ( i feare i shall bee bangd ) cause alwaies ther'e 's as manie burnd as hangd ▪ hee that hath wealth t is fitt that hee should haue a lock on 's trunck , his gold and wealth to saue but he in whose pate there remaines noe witt me thinkes a lock on his pate is vnfitt then rorers why doe you weare such huge locks ▪ your heades are poore . of with them with a pox . hath hee in question beene for pursing crymes ? scap te sargants handes , the hangmans twentie tymes hath hee on whores consumd his landes and stock ? beene brought to bedd , deliv'red of the pock ? lost'es haire from 's heade ? loste th'ead of you know what ? yf he those scapes haue had , and hath loste that oh praie then let him passe : lett him enioye this famous title ; yon 's a roringe boie . wouldst thou turne rorer boye ? wouldst growe in fashon learne this garbe then , shalt gaine faire reputation tobacco take ; run in each mercers score visit plaies , be seene to court thy whore laughe at learning ; call preachers sheepishe men schollers asses : stick not nowe and then to censure deedes of kinges . naie gainst gods deytie be bold to belche forth broadest blasphemie must keepe a cattalogue : must haue the name of eurye merchannts wife which is of fame must slannder all ; the fairest dames muste staine must saie with conntesses , with queenes t hast laine muste bee noe coward : thy selfe must proudlie carye muste mouthe-it stoutelie in eache ordynarye where , yf but of thy losses thy tongue walke muste of noe lesse a losse then hundreds talke must learne to lie ; muste learne thy lie to face and lastelie howe to sweare god dam the : with a grace learne these younge boie , great man thou shalt be then . who doe these ill thinges well must needes bee men . furious hott-spurr , a reason pry thee yeild why thou soe fighst ; why thou goste soe in feild i st ' after bloude thy drye soule soe doth thriste ? remember cayn howe god that murthrer curste but tell me hott-spurr , wherein doste thou gaine when thou in feilde thy euemye haste slaine ? thy venter's muche : i ft ' bee but to gett bloude then tell mee ( being gott ) wherefore i st good ? thou canst not canst ? i tell thee thou vaine goose thou hazardst bodie howe thy soule to loose this bloud once spilte doth not like bodies die but that reviues and vp to th'eauns doth fllie where to the lord it pointes out that black deed crying-out for vengeanc , vengeance lord with speed foole sheathe thy sworde ; avoide fond privat braules our blades should sleepe vntill our countrie calles . gooden-dagh butter-boxe : i vnderstand thou dost in-habitt in the netherland i pry thee smeere-chopps doth not he which buyes a thing cald wife there , paie for hir excise ? who buyes an ox , a cowe , or such like beaste paies for hir hornes , hide , flleshe , excise at leaste hee knowes not when shee s bought : beside the boore he must betall the gelt to twentie more i pry thee butter-boxe make mee so wise as knowe , yf men maie wiue , not paie excise . dutchmen should paie ( yf they did paie theire due ) a taxe for eu'rye chymney old and newe then honest dutchmen , praye nowe lett me axe why for your womens tayles you paie noe taxe ? yf those are chymneys where folkes fyers make ? then your wiues tailes for chymneys i doe take for there are fiers , fyers there they dailie keepe : and therefore paie your dues ; those chymneys sweepe . demaund you why or'e stoues dutch-women sitts ? oh strange ! praie why doe you putt meate on spitts ? i st ' not to roste the same ? nere wonder then : for soe they sitt to roste meate for theire men althoughe theire men all daie on hodgepodge eate yet in the night they cloye them with roaste meate . water they saie will not wild-fyer quench then wild-fire in thy stoue thou bearst dutch-wench for yf by water it would quenched bee then out il would ; soe waterd t is by thee but why it wil not out , i nowe doe knowe thy bellowes wench ; they alwaies puff and blowe . in holland , zealand , all the netherlandes younge men with maides ( allnight ) walk handes in handes in darkest night , to walk , they moste delight for doinge which , some doe applaude theire sight they neede not do 't ; they see as other men for when t is darke they goe by feeling then . a huntsman and his dogg did latelie come to the lowe countreys from theire english home oh dogg quoth hee ( i spea kt ' with griefe of harte ) wee one from tother shal be for'cd to parte i shall not able-bee to give thee meate nowe bones and paringes i my selfe must eate why sir ( replies the dogg ? ) i hope not soe i cann and will your maisters pleasure showe pleasure quoth hee ? if thou wilt them delight thou must showe proffit dogg , or learn to fight . a messenger from the'auns was latelie sent t'envite poorè tradesmen vnto merryment bruers , taylors , and cookes ( amongst the reste ) envited ' were vnto that solenm feaste but they being verye busie annswerd thus oh messenger saide they excuse thou vs our leasure will not serue vs there to goe the divell here on earth employes vs soe my country'es french the taylor cryes : and i must liue there-in else frenchmen straight will die as th'ynglishe nation doe theire bellies cramm soe wee our backs : to them a nurse i am i 'me englishe quoth the cooke : my nation lookes for naught but meate , good stomacks and good cookes therefore should i to heaun ; my country men could not devise howe they should surfett then i 'me dutch the bruer cryes , and should i clyme aboue the cloudes before prefixed tyme our nations soules beneathe hells pitt would sincke for dead theire hartes growe when they want good drinke therefore tell god the divell staies vs here to keepe our nations from ascending there . when foxe-furr walkes , he treades the formalst pace when foxe-furr talkes , hee talkes with grauest grace hee licks not's lipps , nor pickes his fingers endes but to formality eache motion tendes in all thinges foxe-furs formall ; i , his nose at all times with formallitie hee blowes at meate ( at mouthe ) hee formallie breakes winde from meate as formallie hee breakes behind oh since graue foxe-furr cann saie i and noe 〈◊〉 a sheere-towne mayor maie passe i trow . aske crafte the merchante whether hee doth walke ; why to th'exchaunge quoth hee t'exchaunge some talke askes ' ietting wife ; his lisping prettie bride to what greene banck that golden snake doth slide shee lispes-out , to my garden trulie sir : but wott you what t' is thither draweth hir ? oh sir , that 's hir exchaunge : shee walketh there tex'change hir bodie , in the open aire hir prentize there , his maisters factor proues and choppes such wares as merchantes wiues best loues ; you sailors , yf you 'l wealthy-growe , and thrive , steere suche a course as you maie fairelie wiue gett you but bewtious wiues , and you shall see againste your comming home thei 'le loaded bee i , costom-free your merchanntes loade em will and with best wares your wiues ware-howsen fill . while sea-horse gallopps ouer gulfes and sandes entending to discouer vnknowne landes at home hee leaues his marchannt with his wife who sailes with hir yet nere adventers life nowe on a ruffe waues back his friggot daunceth anon t' a vaultie hollowe downe it channceth nowe is shee toste ; anon turnd o're and ouer : vnder nowe ; a non shee manlie doth recouer & thus on lande strannge straightes hee seekes to find runing his course soe longe as good 's his winde in hir hee rows ; but all 's discou'ries 〈◊〉 ther'es three thinges makes me think that cittie wiues are least infected with these papiste liues the firste is this ; they keepe noe hollidaies for then they are most occupyde men saies the second is , to see them croste t' is rare for townsmens wiues but sisdom crossed are the third is this ( this often hath beene tryde ) fastinge , and prayers they cannot well abide ill nunns they 'd make , for who of late did see a london girll that did vowe chastetee ? a souldyer , lawyer , and a cytizen in thicke-wide forreste ( once these wandring men ) had loste them selues , but fortune did provide for eache of these a beaste to bee his guide vnto the souldyer ( with a mild-maiestick grace ) a princelie lyon gentlye bent his pace vnto the lawyer did the subtill foxe two to the townsman went , the ass the oxe eache telling in theire languadge , howe that they would t'eache of them a guider bee in 's waie the firste the lyon thankes ; thother the oxe the townsman thankes and followes th'asse & thoxe but most in gratefull hee ( in humane borne ) robbes the mild asse ofs ' witt , and th'oxe ofs ' horne . i' st not a braue life hoe to serue a lorde ? it s naught but trusse his pointes and waite ats'borde a man shal bee assu'rd enoughe to eate yf hee catche bones which hath enough of meate the life hath ease ; a man neede ueuer stirr lesse whens lorde — t' aske , doe you call mee sir. had i a thousand girles noe care i 'de take for those my girles , portions to scrape or rake . i 'de make em chamber maides ; or else they should bee wayting gentlewomen if i could were they not then card'-for ? then yf they will vnder theire lordes they maie bee getting still . ist not straunge that townsmen daielie eates fatt uenison as oft as other meates ? noe , t is not straunge ; for theire sweete wiues may haue as manie warrants as thei 'le euer craue pure soules ! if they but lispe-out praye my lord giue me a warrant ; tha'ue it at firste worde lordes are kinde to giue ; and a cittie dame to begg a warrant neuer holdes it shame nowe good sir iohn ( the beggar cryes ) i praie bestowe your worshipps almes on mee to daie releeue my wantes quoth hee ; i am your brother wee borne-are one to helpe and ayde an other my brother quoth sr. iohn ? poore wretched wight ! why thou mistakest me , i am a knight i know 't quoth hee ; but harke you kinde sir iohn ther'e 's manie a knight kinn to the beggar man. late did i take a knight on beggar wench hee was on fire ; t was shee the flame must quench the beggar-wenche i askt yf shee did like better with knightes , then with poore beggars strike faithe sir quoth shee yf i shall speake but right i finde as one , the beggar and the knight . nowe god bee with old chuff ; avouch 't i cann that graie side-coated swadd dyed a good man yet dailie heed ' bee drunck : naie this is more the riche old churle for eache daie kept a whore yet not-withstanding i doe tell noe lie in saying chuff did a right goodman die praie speake ; maie not the knight his sonn bee glad , in that for father hee a good-man had . praie wronge not late-coynd ; giue the man his right hee 's made a gentleman although noe knight hath hee not bought a kinghts old cloathes ? why than late-coynd i hope is made gentleman for nowe t is cloathes the gentleman doth make men from gaie cloathes theire pedigrees doe take but wott you what 's the armes to such mens howse why this , hands chasinge of a rampant lowse . what shall wee thinke nowe of the iack-dawes state ? is not that fowle becom a potentate ? the eagles howse of stickes and strawes are built free from vaine pompe ; not burnist ore with guilt but dawes haue built em howses wondrous faire with proude pyramides t'out-braue the aire blame not the dawe to leaue base , strawes to peck : you sec whose ' nowe the iacke-dawes archyrect . why laughe you at iack-dawes ? i cannot see but that iacke-dawe's both wise and honest bee honest in this : howskeeping they vphold ; they keepe good howses as in daies of old . and herein wise : greate men greate howses make but iackdawes straight possession of them take thare wise and honeste , and to outward showe they are devoute ; to church they dailie goe longe maie they live . for iack-dawes i will praie ; were iackdawes dead , howskeeping would decaie . dost heare mee iacke-dawe ? thou doste saucie growe : gett better manners ; learne thy selfe to knowe , howe dar'st thou iett-it to the eagles courte ? thou art too bold ; why there doth none resort but birdes of noblest partes . there doth fall the soring faulcon which soe praies on all the peacock with his riche embrodred plumes spreades there his taile ; high place he there asumes the nitingall singes there , and nowe and than there falls a turtle doue , a milke-white swan a waie thou foolishe dawe , seeke not t' aspire keepe thou thy countrye howse ; perke-vp noe hire or yf thou needes must change , seeke-out the gull cuckoe ; woodcock ; eache cittie of them 's full exchaunge with them : cittie cuckoes loue to flie a breade : eache summer they remoue . england , of oxen , sheepe , horse , thou haste thy parte likewise , with hartes , hindes , buckes ; enritcht thou art plentie of these thou haste : but i doe muse noe more wild-bores with in thy boundes doe vse if bores of hogges doe come , thou shouldst haue store noe land of truer hogs had euer more search courte , or country ; woodes or fenny boggs all 's ' one , all places nowe yeildes gruntling hoggs . sir quoth a clowne , your father ( as wee saie ) was a good man ; yet neuer went soe gaie his cloathes were such as howsewiues fingers spinn i neuer sawe him strutt it in sattyn hee deed good deedes . t was seld seene from his doore a man came vnreleivd ' that liv'd but poore the chymneys of his howse were alwaies swept they allwaies smoakt : that she'wd what howse hee kept what talkst thou of his actes ( younge make-waste cries ? ) nowe good deedes with the good deed-doer dies talk of my acts ; i can orethrowe the oake and make my nostrylls like his chymneys smoake . prate-well hath courted me ; hath wood my witt told me for plaies it was exceeding fitt would haue mee beate my braines t' instruct & teache parrottes and mag-pies howe on stage to preache goe epigram goe annswere thas fond woer ' tell him i will not : bidd him sue noe more soe tell him i will teache noe cranes to stalke nor clipp these mag-pies tongues to make em talke i am noe beareward ; for doe what i can i cannot make an ape to imitate a man. goe to your plaie-howse you shall actors haue your baude , your gull , your whore , your pandar knaue goe to your bawdie howse , y 'aue actors too as bawdes , and whores , and gulls : pandars also . besides , in eyther howse ( yf you enquire ) a place there is for men themselues to tire since th' are soe like , to choose ther'e 's not a pinn whether bawdye-howse or plaie-howse you goe in . but speake i praie , who i st would gess or skann fantasmus to be borne a englishe man ? hee s hatted spanyard-like and bearded to ruft itallyon-like ; pae'd like them also his hose and doubletts ' frenche ; his bootes and shoes are fashond pole in heeles , but french in toes oh hee s compleate ! what shall i descant an ? a compleate foole : noe compleate englishe man. were i a captaine and might choose my men flattrers and parrasits i would choose then valyant they bee ; they neuer feare the shott tha 're forwardst still when seruice is most hott they feare noe shot . yet such men flattrers bee as still yf anie scapes , they scape shott-free mistake mee not ; misconster not this shott th' are shott-free , when , service in tavern 's hott . a honest baker latelie did espie a scivner preachinge on the pillorie scrivner hee saide , bequeathe thy eares to mee though i can heare , yet i want eares quoth hee take them the serivner cryes to doe thee good oft bakers eares or'e serivners heades haue stood . were i a gallant and could maintaine men i d'e haue bald-pated laddes t' attend mee then for men whose pates are bare and bald at topps are exlent fitt to keepe tobacco shoppes two thinges vppon a bald crowne on maie doe that 's cutt tobacco , and well drye-it too theire braines are hott : theere sculls as thinn as shell lay 't on the bald-place it will drye it well . souldyer ( quoth a iugler ) wilt learne of mee ? i le ' teache thee tricks ; such , thou didst neuer see the souldyer sighes , shakes head , and annsweres thus a las , too manye trickes are showne to vs tricks on poore souldyers eu'rye captaine putts : slyghts to drawe gold from-out our shrunck-vp gutts t is they haue tricks , and therefore iugling foole yf thou 't learne tricks , to them goe thou to schoole . captaine ( a seargant cryes ) , a souldyers dead what shall bee done ? shall hee bee buried ? howe buryed man ? thou dost thy office trymm firste lett mee make the moste i can of him aliue i made the moste of that poore man i 'le nowe as much make of him as i can if his haire , fleshe , skynn is nothing worthe then rypp-out's harte ; his verye harte pull forth sell it in spaine : folkes of those forraine partes will giv'es good gold for our poore souldyers hartes . a scotche and englishe-man made theire request vnto the godes that they in heaun might rest wee will admytt you both the godds did crie : but scotchman , vnto thee conditionallie . th'agreement's this ; yf here wee thee estate thou must not bee to bold , nor full of prate naie , more conditions yet ; thou must not lie nor sooth vs vp . wee goddes hate flatterie . why howe nowe waspes , are you returnd agen ? i knowe vnstung remaines a world of men and therefore once more out ; make th' other flight where yf you find noe men , on women light turne taile to them ; but mark you what i tell sting them not much , too much theire flesh will swell . my mistress is not light , yet shynes shee light hir bewties beames appeares in darkest night if in the darke shee s light , you must confess a dyamond shee is , or little less oh shee s a diamond ; in darke shee s light a tutchstone too , and tries yf thinges are right . to gild the heauns , in daie , the golden sunn through the cleere skie his course doth proudlie runn the silv'rye moone ( with thowsands spanglie lights ) doth likewise brnish-ore the gloomie nightes but th' earth ( our sullen damm ) to sett hir forth noe taper had vntill my mistresse birth but since hir birth th' earth maie with th'eauns compare for to hir lightnes they but darknes are . awaie with sicklye wenches ( whitelye fac'd ) and those whose heades with amber lockes are grac'd those puling creatures are vnfit for men they crye tha 're sick when wee haue neede of them wouldst chuse-out one vnto a man most true ? chuse then out one of cleere deepe-sanguy'nd hue with black-browne haire : in whose sweete face is sett two sparkling lampes ; yet black as blackest iett with dympled chynn , with lipps pure rubby-redd this wench a liue shalt find with in thy bedd i , actiue , nimble : hah ; hir stirring spright hates sluggishe sleepe . loues motion all the night chuse suche a one ; i chuse soe for my parte such , men should loue ; such loue men with theire harte . oh what a bodie hath my ladie there ? shee s straungelie stronge ! what burthens shee doth beare ! late did a dunghill carr vppon hir fall vnder which shee laie ; neuer hurt at all oh who but shee could liue , being soe brusht ? t' is wondrous strannge hir honours noe more crusht . some ladies in noe coatch or croatche will ride vnles tha 're dawbd with gold , such shewes their pride ▪ welfare my ladye constance ▪ heaunlie starr ! she leaues hir coatch-of to ride with a carr i with a dunghill carr nowe doth shee ride oh would all ladies were soe free from pride . poetus with fine sonnets painteth forth this and that fowle ladies , bewties worth hee shewes smale witt thereby ; and for his paines ( by my consent ) hee neuer shall reape gaines why what neede poetts painte them ? oh sweet elues ! why ladyes painte theire bewties best themselues . when i to court did come , i musd ▪ to see the lordes soe braue . it halfe amazed mee i did expect the most had mourners beene all widowers i thought i should haue seene i did in deed : this reason for t had i cause eurye daie theire ladies there doe die . my ladies teeth are alwaies extreame white yet fewe knowes howe they come in that faire plight shee rubbes em not with ranck tobacco ashes nor with pure water , white hir fanges shee washes nor i st with water as is stild from rose noe hirs distild is from hir owne sweete nose . for as the tubb receaues each dropp from spout soe doth hir mouth from hir still-dropping snoute . when maddam minsitt at hir table sitts shee seemes to straine to swallowe downe small bitts if shee but cram a larkes thighe downe hir bellie shee streakes , cryes shee s soe full , shee burst-shall wellie praie aske hir foole ( shee being out a sight ) what greate bitts then must serue hir appetite bitts then indeed , indeed then in hir bellie bitts of a pound hir foole doth putt-in wellie . maide quoth my ladye ( as in bedd shee lies ) make mee a caudle ' gainst such time i rise dy doctour saith it will doe me noe harme to put some thing into my bellie warme the maide lowe-cursey makes , and cries , forsooth it shall bee done ; soe ambling forth shee gooth but shee scarce gone , hir back not turned wellie but th'vsher putts warme caudles in hir bellie . boye , bring my horse quoth shift ; but doe not tarye this meale i meane to saue an ordynarie to daie my ladie shift-of i le goe see who will i hope to dynner envite mee : i le bring your horse his boye replies ; but sir you 'l loose your labour yf you visitt hir hir cooke for dynner nothing ready makes till dinners paste shee alwaies phisick takes shee 'l not bee seene ; hir chamber shee keepes then to eate , and feed , and feed , and eate agen . why should ladye my wedd ? this maradg knott is knitt too faste : till deathe it looseth not and what are husbandes good for ? faith d' yee heare for nothing after firste or second yeare therefore my ladyes wise : with out controule ( to please hir bodie ) shee maie damm hir soule ▪ an vsher shee maie haue nowe to hir mind nowe vnto what hir ladishipps enclind shee nowe maie haue ; hir page to come at call a wanton monkey else to sport with all him maie shee stroake , laie in hir lapp , make fatt doe anie thing with him ; yet what a that nowe maie shee ride , walke , daunce , kisse , laughe , lie downe what maie shee not doe nowe ? noe threatring frowne noe austeere looke , noe angry bended browe apales hir cheekes . shee s free , lives fearles nowe my ladyes wise ; there is noe mary'd wife such pleasure takes as shee in single life . ▪ my ladyes verdingall is wondrous wide but what a that ? shee wear'st not soe for pride indeed shee doth not sir. yet yf you 'd knowe why'boute hir bumm soe hudge a hoope doth goe i le tell it you . praie sweet sir vnderstand shee for a maide doth goe , as yet vn mand by vertue of hir vardingall , shee ( wellye ) doth make poore men beleeue shee hath noe bellie a rare trick t is : greate wastes t will make seeme small and bellies barrell-bigg , seeme naught at all . my ladye learnes hir little page to skipp i lie infaith for tis my ladies whipp but why think you my ladye takes such paines to borrowe from nedds britch such crimson staines oh nedd did see lie at my ladies back my ladyes freind , of which did edward clack who can excuse the boie ? waggs sworne toth smock should from their tongues such secrett secretts lock . a cannon-shaken souldyer lame-lie legd ' late of a braue court ladie boldlie begd madam ( the souldyer cried ) praie give releife vnto a man dismembred full of greife wantst members knaue quoth shee ? oh hang thee then wee ladies nere releiue dismembred men . if you were wise then would you nere ask why my ladyes womans tayle soe oft doth crie alas hir vardingales ' a doore soe wide as it letts more winde in then t'can abide and that 's the cause ( indeed i doe not lie ) which makes my ladies womans taile soe crie . page ( quoth my ladie ) goe shitt the doore . the wind whispers to lowde : a tyrant t is i find and therefore shitt boye shit ; shitt-too the doore t is good lett badd guests out , but in noe more . t'vnhappie wagg ( fraught with a knauish witt ) cryes , maddam , t is not my office doores to shitt praie bidd your gentlewoman doo 't : hir face doth looke as yf shee would shit eurie place . by wans wise pollicie it hath beene found that beastes ( though nere soe strōge ) are alwaies bound the hudge greate elaphaunt , the maystiff curr by men are bound ; both made they dare not sturr the princelie lyon by man's speciall witt is forcd with mildnes in his denn to sit but womens nere chain'd tongues ( beastes smale to th' eye ) mans moste engenious witt could neuer tie oh men i nere shall hold you trulie wise vntill to hold them engynns you devise . thinges that are bitter , bittr'er then gall phisitians holdeth to bee phisicall then womens tonges mee thinkes to powder beaten must needes bee soe , yf as a potion eaten nothing more bittir is . therefore i muse why they in physick womens tongues nere vse faithe prove them doctors : vse them in a pill : thinges oft helpe sick men which doe sound men kill . a revr'end iudg sitting to rite mens wronges cōmaundmēt gaue that all should hold theire tongues at which as dumb a while the audyence satt vntill a woman with hir taile gann chatt why who talkes there ( the rev'rend father cries ? ) all hold theire tongues ( graue iudge ) the men replies onelie a woman troubled here with wind vnto hir self ( wee thinke ) doth breake hir mind indeed quoth hee to much it is to doe t' make women hold theire tailes and their tongues too . naie trulie husband , praie nowe husband cease perswasions cannot moue and therefore peace haue not i saide i will not ? shewing why a leadging this stronge reason too , for i mee thinkes such reasons might ' perswade a man when wee saie will not , rockes moues sooner than . in bedd a younge man with his old wife laie oh wife quoth hee iv'e lett a thing to daie by which i feare i am a looser much his wife replies , youthes bargaines still are suche soe turning from him ( angrie at hir harte ) shee vn-awares letts-out a thundring — oh wife quoth hee noe looser i am nowe a marles greate sauer i am made by you younge men that old wiues haue neede neuer sell because old wiues ( quoth hee ) letts things soe well , a proper man which late had loste that iointe which men ymprysons with a cod peece pointe vnto a widowe came ; widowe quoth hee my wealthe is greate ; speake , wilt thou marrie me ? aboute my howse , faire goodlie pastures haue i my feildes are large ; by which much money saue i cowes haue i store ; and though men should not prize theire owne true worthes ; yet all men hold mee wise nor witt nor wealth i want your loue to merritt i am noe waie defective but in spiritt i st spright you want ? want you a spright quoth shee ? know 't ▪ were you lord of th' earthe you gett and mee . wouldst learne to woe ? a fawkner learne to bee wild hawkes by watching are made tame you see : soe must thou watch thy wench ; what though she'es wild ? yet watch hir well shalt rule hir as a child i , caste hir of ; yet hold thou vp thy lure then stoope shee will : i , downe shee will be sure . lisba hath manlie partes ; you shall not find a wenche on th'earthe that beares a manliere mind a wrasler she'es ; she'el trye a fall with anie a fencer she'es ; shath channgd a thrust with manie an archer she'es ; shee laies-well to a marke drawes home a shaft ; nockt right too in the darke s'hath yet more partes ; in parte a souldyers shee shee l fight , whore , drinke , vntill shee cannot see . when rich mens wiues are dead ( to couer them ) they vse t' haue marble stones laide over them since t' is an anncyent custome i much muse why harts-head thou dost not that custom vse thy wife was tall , fayre , wittie : such a one as in hir life would not haue lackt a stone therefore hartes-head , t'eternize hir good name laie ore hir one , write this vppon the same here lies one dead vnder this marble stone which when shee liv'd laye vnder more then one . vppon hir stone write this : yet dost thou heare at name of stone shee l rise againe i feare . smale-witt loues a woman ▪ oh wonder straunge ! but wherefore think you ? world t is time you channge t is tyme ; t is high time that you were renewd when men think women virtuoustie endewd aske him why hee loues hir , vp go'es eyes for virtue , for hir virtue sir he cries it is hir virtue onelie ( sir saith hee ) that hath soe sence-charmd and soe rauisht mee women virtuous ? oh straunge vnheard of iest ▪ world world ; thy latter age it seemes proues best fond ' smale witt nowe gives not his loue hot chace as others doe , onelie for flesh and case but for hir virtue ; t is for hir virtues sake that makes young smale-witt that chace vndertake nowe god be'es speed ; praie god the youth maie wynn hir but 's chaunce is rare yf hee findes virtue in hir . conclusion . clere-eyd bright titan allwaies blusheth redd when he beetakes him to his thetis bedd the youth full livelie god in glowing flame sitts and lies downe as yf surprisd with shame but man , oh shameles man ! t' is cause hee spies in 's daie-runn course , thy daie-done villanies . my epigrams make their encrease as men as fathers getteth sonns , soe sonns getts sonns agen follie's anatomie. or satyres and satyricall epigrams vvith a compendious history of ixion's wheele. compiled by henry hutton, dunelmensis. hutton, henry. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) follie's anatomie. or satyres and satyricall epigrams vvith a compendious history of ixion's wheele. compiled by henry hutton, dunelmensis. hutton, henry. [ ] p. printed [by nicholas okes] for mathew walbanke, and are to be sold at his shop at graies-inne gate, london : . in verse. printer's name from stc. signatures: [a] b-d e⁴ (-a ). "satyricall epigrams" has separate dated title page; register is continuous. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng ixion, -- (greek mythology) -- poetry. epigrams, english. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - jonathan blaney sampled and proofread - aptara rekeyed and resubmitted - jonathan blaney sampled and proofread - jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion follie's anatomie . or satyres and satyricall epigrams . with a compendious history of ixion's wheele . compiled by henry hutton , dunelmensis . london printed for mathew walbanke , and are to be sold at his shop at graies-inne gate . . to the reader , vpon the author , his kins-man . old homer , in his time made a great feast , and euery poet was thereat a guest : all had their welcome ; yet not all one fare . to them aboue the salt ( his chiefest care ) he spewd abanquet of choise poesie , whereon they fed euen to satietie . the lower end , had from that end their cates. for , homer setting open his dung-gates , deliuered , from that dresser , excrement , whereon they glutted , and returnd in print . let no man wonder that i this rehearse ; nought came from homer but it turnd to verse . now where our author was at this good cheere , where was his place , or whether he were there : whether he waited , or he tooke away ; of this same point i cannot soothly say : but thus i ghesse . being then a dandiprat , some witty poet tooke him in his lap and fed him from aboue , with some choice bit . hence his acumen , and aready wit : but prayses from a friendly pen ill thriue . and truth 's scarce truth , spoke by a relatiue . let enuy therefore giue her vote herein : enuy and th' author sure are nought a-kin . i le personate had enuy : yet say so , he lickt at homers mouth , not from below . r. h. ad lectores . to stād on terms t were vain . by hook & crook one terme i was defrauded of a booke . now readers your assistance i must craue , to play at noddy ; to turne vp a knaue . my foe at tick-tack playes exceeding well : for bearing ( sirs ) beleeue 't , he bears the bell. he 's of a blood-hounds kinde , because his nose vtters each new made sent ; be 't verse , or prose . could ye attache this felon , in 's disgrace i would not bate an inch ( not boltons ace ) to baite , deride , nay ride this silly asse , i would take paines ; he should not scot-free passe . all filching knaues ( be 't spoken as a trope ) will once be plaide , displayed by a rope : and be this proud disperser of stole workes once caught ( that now in clanks & corners lurks ) lest he delude some kinde affecting scholler , pray , haue him twiched in a hempen coller : once burntieh ' hand , he will example giue , to such times turne-coats as by filching liue . to the worthily honor'd knight , sir timothy hutton . noblest of mindes , vnknowne , i would inuite ▪ rich pyrrhus to accept a codrus mite . my lame-legd muse , nere clome pernassus mount ▪ nor drunke the iuice of aganippe's fount : yet doth aspire with dedall's wings , appeale to you , sole patron of our common weale . the foule maskt lady , night , which blots the skie , hath but one phoebe , feuer-shaking eye . olympus azure clime , one golden light , which drownes the starry curtaine of the night : and my rude muse ( which satyrists would rend ▪ one generous , graue patronizing friend . you this maecenas are , peruse my writ , and vse these metroes of true meaning wit : command ; commend them not : such humile art disclaimes applause , demerits no desert . value my verse according to her worth : no mercenary hope hath brought her forth . times puny , penny-wits , i loathing hate . though poore , i m'e pure , from such aseruile state . these workes ( fram'don the anuile of my braine ) my free borne muse , enfranchise from such shame : in which large calender , timists may view , i onely writ to please the world , and you . your worships friend nomine & re : henry hutton . satyres . ivrge no time , with whipt , stript satyrs lines , with furies scourge whipping depraued times . my muse ( tho fraught ) with such shall not begin t'vncase , vnlace , the centinell of sin : yet let earths vassailes , pack-horse vnto shame , know i could lash their lewdnesse , euill fame ; reade them a lecture , should their vice imprint with sable lines , in the obdured flint ; their mappes of knauery and shame descry , in liuely colours , with a sanguine die ; and tell a tale , should touch them to the quick ; shold make them startle ; fain thēselues cap-sick ; but , that no patron dare , or will maintaine the awfull subiect of a satyre's vaine . what haue we here ? a mirror of this age , acting a comicks part vpon the stage . what gallant 's this ? his nature doth vnfold him , to be framed in phantastes mold . lo how he iets ; how sterne he shewes his face , whiles from the wall he passengers doth chase . muse touch not this man , nor his life display , ne with sharpe censure gainst his vice inuey : for , sith his humor can no iesting brooke , he will much lesse endure a satyre's booke . beshrew me , sirs , i durst not stretch the streete , gaze thus on conduits scrowls , base vintners beat ▪ salute a mad-dame with a french cringe grace , greete with god-dam-me , a confronting face , court a rich widow , or my bonnet vaile , conuerse with bankrupt mercers in the gaile , nor in a metro shew my cupide's fire , being a french-poxt ladies apple-squire ; lest taxing times ( such folly being spide ) with austere satyres should my vice deride . nere breath , i durst not vse my mistrisse fan , or walke attended with a hackney-man , dine with duke humfrey in decayed paules , confound the streetes with chaos of old braules , dancing attendance on the black-friers stage , call for a stoole with a commanding rage , nor in the night time ope my ladies latch , lest i were snared by th' all-seeing watch : which critick knaues , with lynxes pearcing eye ▪ into mens acts obseruantly do prye . mvse , shew the rigour of a satyres art , in harsh sarcasmes , dissonant and smart . first , to you masse of humors , puffe of winde , which , polipe-like , doth enterchange his mind . note how this timist , scratching of his pate , inuents a fable to aduance his state , venting a legend of man , diuells lies , vvhich in the eares of potentates must flie . see how he squares it ▪ takes a priuate stand , to gnathonize , to act it with his hand . behold his gesture , and his brazen face , how stoutely he doth manage his disgrace . lo how he whispers in his masters eare , in 's closet tattles lest the seruants heare ; winkes of an eye , and laughs his lord to scorne , by his attractiue fingers making hornes . his swimming braine , thus being brought to bed ▪ as motiues to his wit , he rabs his head : then like a ledger at the tables end , takes place for an inui●ed friend ; applauding in discourse his masters speech , admiring's vertu , ore the pot doth preach : inueies 'gainst ding-thrifts , that their l●nds haue spent detesting ryot more then thin cheekt lent : censures base whoredome , with a mustard face . vvith a sowre pis-pot visage , doth disgrace a ruffled boote , and will in no case stand , in view of a ( sir reuerence ) yellow band . he rayles on musick , pride , and wines excesse , and from an organ-pipe himselfe doth blesse ▪ abhorres a sattin suit , or veluet cloake , and sayes tobaccho is the diuells smoake ; the thought of to ▪ his intrailes more doth gripe , then physicks art , or a strong glister-pipe . go tell this slaue , his vices shall not passe , such craftie colts , must feele the satyres lash . the lyons skinne a while may shade the ape : but yet his worship shall not scot-free scape . though he seeme nice , demeane himself demure , the world perceiues , this sycophants impure . his harpies face , dissembling syrens voyce , vvhich in each corner make a whistling noyce , cannot be sconced with each male pretence , nor blind the world with som misconstru'd sens● ▪ we know his thoght concurs not with his word ▪ his mouth speaks peace , his hart intends a sword ▪ none can discerne whence titan fram'd this mol●● ▪ vvhich , gnato like , doth blowe both hot & cold ▪ o subtle tyrant , whose corroding hate , depriues both life , and consummates the state of senselesse noddies , who repose in rest , foster hot embers , serpents in their brest , which sparkling flames , t' accomplish vain desire ▪ makes fooles , their subiects , fuell to the fire ; and like the viper , fraught with spleenefull maw ▪ the intralls of their patrons states doe gnaw . next , le ts suruey the letchers obscoene shame , rouze him from 's squat , pursuing of the game , depriue this wel mouth'd dog of his intēt , tracing each footestep , by his fresh made sent , and pinch him with a scandald soule , impure , note him with theta , for ay to endure . wil 't please you view this monster in his glasse ? it best discouers a phantastick asse . see how , narcissus like , the foole doth doate , viewing his picture , and his guarded coate ; and with what grace , bold actor like he speakes , hauing his beard precisely cut i th' peake ; how neat's mouchatoes do a distance stand , lest they disturbe his lips , or saffron band : how expert he 's ; with what attentiue care , doth he in method place each stragling haire . this idle idoll , doth bestow his wit , in being spruce ; in making's ruffe to sit : his daies endeauours are to be compleate , to vse his vestures nitid and facete : for vulgar oathes , he raps forth blood and heart , as coadiutors in the wenching art : in 's frizled periwig , with bended brow , sweares at each word : for , to confirm his vow , he holds an oath 's the ornamentall grace of veniall discourse , befitting's place ; and doth maintaine , in 's humor , to be drunk , is the preparatiue to loue a punke ; a pipe of to. th' indulgence of his brains , vsing potatoes to preserue the raines . pale horned luna , sister to darke night , in venus sport he vseth for a light ; thinking earth's sable mantle hides his shame , depriues the terror of swift winged fame . vvhen darknesse doth eclipse don phoebus raies ▪ vvhen nights vast terror hath expelld the daies ▪ then doth this subiect pase it to pickt-hatch , shore-ditch , or turneball , in despite o th' watch ▪ and there reposing on his mistrisse lap , beg some fond fauour , be 't a golden cap : plaies with her plume of feathers or her fan , vvishing he were accepted for her man ; and then at large in ample tearmes doth showe his cupids dart , and much endured woe , desiring cure to salue his languisht care , t' expell the willow-garland of despaire : and that he may obtaine his lust , compares her eyes to starres , to amber her pounc't hayres : equalls her hand to cignets purest white , vvhich in maeanders streames do take delight : her sanguine blush , and ruby painted mold , vnto aurora's red , rich indies gold . hauing earth 's weaker vassaile ouercome , he bribes a pandar with some trifling sum ; doth frolike with the musick in this vaine , hearing the diapason of their straine . perhaps hee 'l cut a caper , neately prance , and with his curtail some odde galliard dance ; then glutted with his lust make quick dispatch , pretending hee 's in danger of the watch : so taking vale , till some other night , must be conducted by a tapers light , along the streete to his polluted cell , where this vile letcher doth inhabit , dwell . he thinkes the secret quietnesse of night , which with phantasmes doth possesse each sprite , is a safe shelter to conceale his fact , hauing no witnesse to record his act . o stupid foole ! the heauens al-seeing eye , beholds thy base frequented infamy ; and will repay thee treble , with a pox , for the night-hanting of base shoreditch smocks all haile tom tospot : welcome to the coast. what paris news canst brag of , or make bost ? thy phisnomie bewraies thou canst relate some strange exploits attempted in the state. i know th' hast courted venus lusting dames , 't was thy intēt whē thou tookst ship on thames . let 's sympathize thy hap , enioy some sport . what art thou sencelesse , dead-drunk , alla mort ? gallants , this abiect obiect which you see , is an old picture of gentilitie . with coriat he trauell'd hath by land , to see christs crosse , the tree where iudas hangd . diuelin and amsterdam his sea crab pase , with other countries moe , did often trace . earth's circled orbe , he frequent trudged , went , with lesse expences then tom odcombe spent : with fewer cloaths , thogh furnisht with mo shifts ▪ with sparing diet , fewe receiued gifts . tom had one payre of stockins , shooes , one suite ; but tospots case tom coxcombs doth confute . for he has trauell'd all earths globe a-foote , without whole cloathes , good stockin , shooe or boote . his ragged iournall , i bemone , condole ; yet ( god be thankt ) he is return'd all-hole . tom had assistants , as his bookes report : but tospot trauell'd voide of all consort ; hauing no creature with him whiles he slept , or walkt ; but such as in his bosome crept . tospot detests all cloaths , hates new found forme , vnlesse it were no cloaths at all were worne . which method ( i dare say ) he would obserue , goe naked with his com-ragges , beg , and sterue . he is no boasting thraso which will vant of his aduentures , penurie , and scant . yet if you please to reade my slender muse , i shall describe the humor he doth vse . tobaccho , bottle ale , hot pippin-pies : such traffique , merchandize , he daily buies . with belly-timber , he doth cram his gut , with double iugges doth his orexis glut , sweares a god-dam-me for the tapsters shottes , and may pledge no health lesse then with . pots . he has a sword to pawne in time of neede , a perfect beggers phrase wherewith to pleade for maintenance , when his exhausted store is profuse lauisht on some pockie whore . tibornes triangle trees will be the thing , must send this knaue to heauens in a string . mounsier brauado , are you come t' out face , with your mouchatoes , gallants of such place ▪ pack hence , it is an humor to contend , ●n a brauado , with your neerest friend . wee 'l not contest or squabble for a wall , nor yet point field , though you vs vassailes call . inuent some other subiect to employ your gilded blade , your nimble footed boy . correct your frizled locks , and in your glasse behold the picture of a foolish asse . barter your lowsie sutes for present gaine , vnto a broker in rich birchin lane . compile a sonnet of your mistrisse gloue . copy some odes t' expresse conceited loue . ride with your sweet-heart in a hackney coach . pick quarrells for her sake , set fraies on broach . vse musicks harmony ( which yeelds delight ) vnder your ladies window in the night . stretch with a plume , & cloak wrapt vnder th' ar ▪ yong gallants glories soone will ladies charm● ▪ s'foot walke the streets , in cringing vse your wit● ▪ suruey your loue , which in her window sits . black-friers , or the palace-garden beare , are subiects fittest to content your eare . an amorous discourse , a poets wit , doth humor best your melancholy fit . the globe to morrow acts a pleasant play , in hearing it consume the irkesome day . goe take a pipe of to. the crowded stage must needs be graced with you and your page . sweare for a place with each controlling foole , and send your hackney seruant for a stoole . or if your mistrisse frowne , seeme maleconte● ▪ then let your muse be cloistred vp , ypent . be loue sicke , and harsh madrigalls expresse , that she may visit you in such distresse . i 'me sure you haue some pamphlet , idle toy , which you rate high , esteeme a matchlesse ioy . where 's your tobacco box , your steele & touch ▪ roarers respect , and value these too much . where is your larum watch your turkies rin ▪ muske-comfits , bracelets , & such idle things ? y' are nak't as adam if you haue not these , and your endeauours cannot ladies please . if you the gallants title will assume , goe vse th'apothecarie for perfume , weare eare-rings , iewels , cordiuants strong sent , which comely ornaments dame nature lent . fy , fy : you are to blame , which times misspend , that for a trifling cost will lose a friend . do not contend in each frequented lane , with euere idle coxcombe , busie braine : but your mineruaes industry employ , your ladies golden tresses to enioy . record your name in some rich mercers note , that tradesmen may come pull you by the coate . and in th'abysse of vintners chalked score , shipwrack good fortune , run thy state on shoare . diue in mechanicks books , till in the streete seargeants arrest , conuey thee to the fleete , and there in durance cag'd , consume with woe , beg with a purse , and sing fortune 's my foe . write , poetaster : fy for shame , your dayes wil dy without remembrancers of praise . ●tis pitty , such a pregnant witty verse should be intombed in the fatall herse . ●onfine your muse some tractates to compile , ●n scanned metre , or condigner stile ; that earth's milde censure may applauding blaze ●our phoenix quill , with volleys of great prayse . why art so slowe ? the trophies will bee lost , vnlesse you wright , all fortunes shall be crost . what canst thy stile prohibit ? gazing mute , where earth's contending for the golden fruite ▪ you vilifie your selfe with endlesse shame , imposing scandall to each poets name . i grieue he should be silent , in despite of all the muses , which sarcasmies write . he doth resemble minstrells in each thing ; inuited once , hee ' l neyther play , nor sing ; vnbidden , will inuey against each friend , incessant write great volumes without end . the amorist which doth your wardrobe keepe , admires your sluggish muse is yet asleepe . he should a riming madrigall compose ; and wanting you , must tell his griefs in prose . the wenches they exclayme , cry out , and call for poetasters workes extemporall . the alehouse tippler , he protests , your muse greatly dishonours him , with grosse abuse , infringing promise : which you lately made , concerning libells , that should touch the trad● ▪ he gaue you earnest after you were wooed , a dozen of strong liquor he bestowed , to bathe your muse , to make your fluent vai apt to despise a satyres taxing braine . the idle minstrell , he cries out of wrong , because you doe his sonnets still prolong . you iniure much his treble squeaking note , depriues him of the townships armes , red coate . such wrongs may not passe free : inuent a theam , rouze vp your muse from her conceited dreame . giue him a cup of ale , a pipe of to : and let him to his priuate study go . hee 'l breake a iest , when he has drunke a glasse , which shal for currant mongst the tapsters passe , and rime to any word you can propound , although a metre for it , nere were found , wright panegyricks in the praise of 's friend , make compleat verses , on his fingers end . he has a subiect he did late inuent , will shame the riming sculler , iack a lent. 't is writ in print ; perhaps you 'l see 't anon , 't was made of robin hood and little iohn . 't wil be discouerd er 't be long ; and ly vnder the bottome of a pippin-py , be pind to capons backs to shroude the heate , fixt to some solid ioynt of table meate . wish it be put to no worse seruice , then to shelter the scorcht caponet or hen. i pray 't may haue such office , worthy place , yet feares 't must suffer vile rebuke , disgrace . iack out of office wee 't ere long shall finde ' ●th house of office , being mew'd , confinde . well though it be , yet for the muses sakes , hee 'l pen a pithie tractate of a-iax . i wish he would reserue a-iax in minde , t will serue but for a-iax and come behinde : for men adiudge the volumes of this foole , worthie no chayre , scarce to deserue the stoole . let cease the clamor of thy hotchpot verse , the stupid pots , or sencelesse streetes to pearce . the doggrell discord of thy long legd rime , defameth poets , scandalize the time . your mock-verse muse deserueth nought but fire ▪ the beggers whipstock , or the gallowes hire . in silence spend the reliques of your dayes : for being mute you will attaine most prayse . auoide each satyres lash , censures of times , which doe deriding read pot-poets rimes . the crane-throate hell , of this depraued age , earths belly-god , let 's view vpon the stage . see how the squadron of his full fraught panch out-squares the straightnes of his narrow hanch ▪ making his stumppes supporters to vpholde this masse of guttes , this putrefied molde . his belly is a cesterne of receit , a grand confounder of demulcing meate . a sabariticke sea , a depthlesse gulfe , a sencelesse vulture , a corroding wolfe . behold this helluo , how he doth glut , fill ( like a wallet ) his immeasurde gut , cramming his stomack with vncessant loade , like a stuft bladder , hates bigge swelling toade ; and rammes his panch , that bottomlesse abysse , as if to glut were legall , promis'd blisse . all 's fish that comes to net , this harpy's tooth eates what 's within the compasse of his mouth . his table-talke hates hunger , more then vice , railes against fortune , cheating , cards , and dice , enuies'gainst actors , taxing such as fight , or in tobacco doe repose delight , and thousand subiects mo exactly scannes , rayling on cloakebagge breeches , yellow bands ; wishing the fencing-schooles might be supprest , and all saue belly-timber doth detest . this large discourse his gluttony doth cloake , are motiues his orexis to prouoke . which being fraught , till sences are a mort , at noone tide to concoct he takes a snort . his drowsie sences hudwinkt in a cap , leaning vpon his chaire do take a nap . conferre his belly with his lower part , and you 'l adiudge dame natures rarest art made not this bulke , infusing life , or blood , in such vnsquared timber , vnheawn wood . he 's more mishapen then crete's monstrous sin , deformed both without , and eke within . his circled panch , is barrell like rotound , like earths vast concaues hollow , and profound . his hanches which are lockt as in some box , with the straight compasse of a par a-dox , he doth into so little compasse bring , as if they should be drawne through gyges ring , so that he seemes as if black vulcans art , of diuerse fossiles had compil'd each part ; as if some taylor had bound on with points , nero's great belly , to staru'd midas ioynts . i could discipher this huge map of shame , and liuely pourtrait his abhorred name , wer 't not that criticks would debase , reuile , censure the sharpenesse of a satyres stile . 't is shame , such vipers , all deuouring hell , should be indured in our coasts to dwell . we can frame nothing of such naughtie earth , except a storehouse in the time of dearth ; or beg this minotaure , when he doth die , t' make dice of 's bones or an anatomie . i le therefore leaue him in his pan-warm'd bed , resting on 's pilllow his distempr'd head . wer 't not for censures , i should make him pranc● ▪ skip at the satyr's lash , leade him a dance , vnrip his bowels , and anatomize his filthy intrailes , which he doth much prize . but taxing times such proiects doe confute , silence sterne satyres , warnes them to be mute . the golden dayes are chang'd , when foxes sins passe scot free , marching in the lyons skins ; whē corrupt times may complot wrong , or right without controule , of contradicting might . my treatise next must touch ( thogh somwhat late ) a woman creature most insatiate . see this incarnate monster of her sex , play the virago , vnashamde , perplext . see omphale her effeminated king , basely captiue ; make him doe any thing . her whole discourse is of guy warwicks armes , of errant knights , or of blinde cupids charmes . her ciuill gesture , is to faigne a lie in decent phrase , in true ortographie . her modest blush , immodest shame , o fy , 't is grand disgrace to blush , indignity . she counts him hut a nazard , halfe a-mort , that will not iumble , vse dame venus sport . to kisse , to ●●ll , t' admire her painted face and doe no more ; ignoble , vile disgrace . she likes his humor which plaies for the marke , affects the man that 's expert in the darke . with costly vnguents she depaints her browes , calls them the palace of chast hymens vowes . and yet this statue for her honor'd trade , with eu'ry vassaile will be vnderlaide . her sole delight is fixed in a fan , or to walke vsherd by a proper man. nature hath polisht each externall part of this vile dame with oratories art ; making each limb an oratour , defence , to maske her scandall with some good pretence . doe but conferre and note her priuate speech , her diuine frame , will passe your humane reach . shee 'l complement , pathetically act a tragick story , or a fatall fact . liuely discouer cupid and his bowe , manage his sauage quiuer in her brow , court so compleately , rarely tune a song , that she will seeme a dido for a tongue , and by the vertue of all-conquering sight , infuse euen life in him , that has no sprite . her golden phrase will rauish so your eares with amorous discourse , pale louers teares , that you would iudge her rarest parts diuine , deeme her a virgin of chast vest●es shrine . yet this proud iezabell , so nice , demure , is but a painted sepulchre impure . shee seemes a saint ( in conference being hard ) yet is more spotted then the leopard . though she bestow her vigilancie , care , in coyning phrases , pouncing of her hayre : yet are her legends , golden masse of wit , but like apocrypha , no sacred writ . all 's not authenticall the which she pleades , or wholsome doctrine , that she daily reades . cease , austere muse , this counterfeit to touch : y'haue spoke satyricall , i doubt , too much . i le rather pitty , then enuy , inuay , their kalender of wretch'nesse to display , shutting my muse in silence , least she strip this saint-like creature with a satyres whip . i blush , my quill with so immodest face abruptly pointed at her great disgrace , loathing the subiect of a satyres stile , discernes desert , which should this sect defile . pardon my muse ( kinde sirs ) she whips not all whom we in specie do women call . 't is corinths lais , romes confronting whore , which like the hellespont we run on shore ; such as resemble dian in their deedes , i meane in giuing large actaeons heads . these are the subiects which demerit blame , and such we tax with earths eternall shame . applauding such chast philomels , whose loue , idem , per idem , doth most constant proue . finis . should i commend you satyres ? faith no , tu●●● ▪ 't is an old prouerbe , good wine needes no bush . if ye demerit earth's condigner laude , let grauer censures grace you with applaude . if ye deserue no poets lawrell stem , be ye base orphans , i disclaime ye then . to praise good works 't were shame , indigne , and vile , for none but counterfeits do prayse their stile . good , is but good ; and no man can more say : to praise the bad , makes satyrists inuay . goe seeke your fortunes , be it good or bad if bad , i 'le greiue ; if good , i shall be glad . henry hutton . to the reader . heark , ye yong roysters , that with inkehorn stuffe delude the state , and rayle the world in snuffe : let me , in court'sie , beg a friendly q , when you haue spent your mouths vpon the view . chop logick , chaw your cuds ; some leisure giue . my muse , which doth at rack and manger liue , must halt about the marke ; for she 's not flight : and yet , though slowe , she sometims speaks aright . i f●are no colours : let mad satyres write . the curres which barke the most , do seldome bite . let coxcombs curry fauour with a fee , extoll their braines , with claw me , i 'l claw thee . i write the truth : if any fault you see , impute it to ill readings , not to me . dispence with my bold quill : if she be fell , i doe it for the best : i wish all well . conniue yong wits ( which on your humors stand ) i 'l , with the prouerbe , turne the cat it h'band . and ere ye iarre , for peace sake giue the way ; sith few , or none , with edg'd tooles safely play . satyricall epigrams . ad lectorem . epi. . reader , i must present you a shrimp-fish : i hope you 'l make no bones to tast this dish . it is no carpe , vnlesse you giv 't that note : vvhich if you doe , i wish 't were in your throate . ad momum . epi. . momus , i wish your loue , and humbly crav 't : my suite is for the same ; pray let me hav 't . if that you think , according be not best , a cording be your end : and so i rest . maltsters ill measure . epi. . svch maltsters , as ill measure sell for gaine , are not mere knaues , but also knaues in grain . de equisone . epi. . can equiso be wauering as the winde ? faith no ; for he is of a stable kinde . in caluum . epi. . the commonty complaine , caluus of late , by hook , & crook , by pouling gaineth state : yet he protests , he takes few bribed gifts , and powling scornes aboue all other shifts ; appealing to his barber , who doth sweare , he is not worth one hayre to reach one eare . then , sith you tax him with this faultlesse ill , he 'l leaue off-powling , and begin to pill . epi. . kinde kit disdaines that men him fool do call . what is he else ? faith , nothing but wit-all . an action of the case . epi. . shouldring a minstrell , in a lane , i broke his violls case , by an vnlucky stroke : who swore he would cōplain , to vent his grudg . and what care i , what any law will iudge : for why ? i will maintaine it , face to face , 't can be no more , but th' action of the case . epi. . tom-cobbler sold his tools , a matter small : and yet vnto this day he keepeth awl . epi. . robin has for tobaccho sold his chaire , reseruing nothing but a stoole for 's lare : whence all men iudge , this silly sottish foole , though seldome sick , goes often to the stoole . god a-mercy horse . epi. . a friend , who by his horse receiu'd a fall , made bold ( he swore ) in priuate for to call . i made him welcome , as dame nature bindes all those to doe that beare affecting mindes . yet sith his steede did him vnwilling force , i thank not him , but god a-mercy horse . epi. . francisco vants he gaue his wife the horn . she frouns , she frets , & takes the news in scorn . and thogh you did ( quoth she ) yet you , indeed , must weare the horne , because you are the head. de caluo . epi. . caluus protests , for foes he doth not care : for why ? they cānot take from him one hair . in purum . epi. . pvrus doth sermons write , & scripture quote ; and therfore may be tearm'd a man of note . in causidicum . epi. . causidicus wears patched cloathes , some bruit ; and must doe so : for he has nere a suite . de fabro lignario . epi. . tom ioyner sold his tooles , and cloaths of 's britch , to cure the scab ; and yet he has an itch. epi. . a cuckold is a dangerous beast . why so ? nam cornu ferit ille : caueto . de vinoso . epi. . vinosus is a verbe , his persons good , and must be form'd in the potentiall mood : in which sole mood , we find each drunken man. for , commonly , they 're known by the sign , can. epi. . women by nature doe a nazzard spight , because he 's a light-horseman & wants weight . epi. . iack-cut-purse is , & hath been patient long . for , he 's content to pocket vp much wrong . epi. . tom vow'd to beat his boy against the wall : and as he strook , he forthwith caught a fall . the boy , deriding , said i will auerre , y' haue done a thing , you cannot stand to , sir. epi. . in an outlandish port , where there were store of bloudy pyrats taken on the shore , the magistrate did build ( of squared stone ) a payre of gallowes , for to hang them on . and being askt , why they so strong were made , replied ; that woodden gallowes soone decaid , they would not last one age ; but now his care , had built strong gallowes for himselfe , and 's heire de balliu● . epi. . how dare ye with a baliue squabble , broile . disturbe the streetes with vproares , endlesse coil ? though he be poore , yet offer no disgrace : baliues are men of-calling in their place . epi. . bell , though thou die decrepit , lame , forlorne , thou wast a man of metall , i 'l be sworne . crooktbacks payment . epi. . crookt-back , to pay old scores , wil sell his state : and though he do , he 'l neuer make all strait . in gallam . epi. . galla , 't is said of late , is brought to bed : and yet in hymens rites she nere was wed . which makes the vulgar iudge , & censure on her , that she betimes begun to take vpon her . tims wound . epi. . at quarter blowes , tim did of late receiue a bruise vpō his head , that doth him grieue : vvhich , hauing issue , makes friends tax his deed , and iesting say ; tim has a running head . epi. . phantastes chaf't t' expresse his raging wit , because his stockins did not neately sit ; and strictly askt his man , what as he thought concerning's stockin he had lately bought vvho said , i think though 't seeme too straight by half , twod fit ; but that you are too great i th' calfe . de conspicilio . epi. . an aged man , which spectacles did vse , hauing them filcht , begun one time to muse , fearing the thiefe would not his sights restore ; but rather plot how to deceiue him more . feare not said one , the matter is but light ; and ten to one , but they will come to sight . de chirotheca . epi. . a friend protested he was strangely crost , because ( forsooth ) his wedding gloues were lost but on your gloues , i said , sir do not stand ; i warrant you , ere long they ' l come to hand . trim's care. epi. . neat barber , trim , i must commend thy care , which doest all things exactly , to a hayre . epi. . tom chamberlayne doth from his guests conuey ▪ the fired logs which they accompt for pay : now tom may sweare , and therein be no lyer , that all he has , is gotten out o th' fire . idle words . epi. . of idle-words , no capitall delict , one was arraigned ; by the lawes conuict ; adiudg'd to lose his eares : which he denide ; complotting to escape , but one replide , the pillory t' escape spend not your wit : when all is done , you must giue-eare to it . de thaide . epi. . thais , her vrine to a doctour bore : who askt her , if she were a maide . she swore ●twas so . my wench ( quoth he ) thou art beguild ; my art descries that thou hast had a childe : what kind of maide art then ? she blushing said , ●nd't like your worship , sir , a chamber-maide . in lesbiam . epi. . the sanguine dy of lesbia's painted face , is often argued for a doubtfull case . ●he color's hers , she swears : not so some thought it . ●nd true she swears : for i know where she bought it . de gallo . epi. . kinde cock is not a cock o th' kind , i feare . his hen wud bring forth chickins , if he were : ●et she hath none . then surely , gentle reader , he is no cock ; onely a capon-treader . de cornuto . epi. . cornutus did receiue a hurt on 's thigh : of which , i am perswaded , he ' l not die . the wound 's not mortall thogh it inward ble● ▪ because the signe rules most in cornute's head . epi. . vvomen are saints : yet was not she a sp●● ▪ that almost slew her husband with 〈◊〉 the case is altred . epi. . tom case ( some do report ) was lately halte● ▪ if this be true , why then the case is alter● ad caecum . epi. . caecus , i pray respect your honest name , auoide the scandall of succeeding shame . y' haue an ill eye , so some do often chat : 'mongst other faults , pray haue an ey to that in superbum . epi. . svperbus swaggers with a ring in 's eare ; and likewise , as the custome is , doth weare about his neck a ribbin and a ring : vvhich makes men think , that he 's proud of a string . tospots reckonings . epi. . tospot is chosen steward of the house , to sum their commons ; as eld seruants vse . i thinke he ' l reckonings more compleatly cast , then any steward that this place has past . for certaine , after drinkings , or a feast , he casts-vp recknings once a weeke at least . epi. . will squabled in a tauern very sore , because one brought a gill of wine ; no more . fill me a quart ( quoth he ) i 'me called will : the prouerbe is , each iack will haue his - gill. tom's valour . epi. . one hundreth grosse of points tom tooke in pay , of bankrupt mercers which were in decay , whence som report , that knew his fearful ioints , that tom's grown stout , & stands vpō his points . epi. . gvido doth rage , because one iesting said , that he of late had got a goodly head . vvhat man dare giue me hornes ( quoth ) he for'● life ▪ no man , said one : if any , 't is your wife . vvhiles men you tax , the halfe man you exclude ▪ and she , the whole man doth with horns delud ▪ de milone . epi. . milo doth vant he 's strong , and yet contend ▪ to take the wall of open foes , and frend ▪ then sure he 's weake , which will in discord fall ▪ for it ; sith none but weakest go to th' wall . epigrams . epi. . a proctour was t' examine in the court a wench . and he , disposed to make sport , did aske the maid , what he should call her name . why , maid ( quoth she ) or else it were great shame . pray , speake aduised , quoth this gibing clearke ; you must take oath of it , and therefore marke . the wench , selfe-guilty , to him blushing said , pray stile me single woman , leaue out maid . to his inconstant mistrisse . epi. . faine would i prayse , yet dare not write my minde , lest thou sholdst vary like th' vncertain wind . ep. . a felon , iudg'd to dy for filching ware , at his confessing did himselfe compare , in metaphors , vnto the world ; wherein contayned is the sentinell of sin . the hang-man , hearing this , whē they had praid , began to scoffe , and thus deriding said ; i may attempt what i desire , were 't land : for why ? i haue the world now in a band. de crepidario . epi. . shoo-makers are the men ( without all doubt ) be 't good or bad , that set all things on foot . de vitriario . epi. . a glazier which endeauours to reape gaines , endureth toyle , is troubled much with panes . epi. . miller , such artists as thy pulses feeles , affirme , thy gadding head doth runne on wheeles . epi. . fat-back , you are too blame which friends wil crosse . go too : you shew your selfe a knaue in grosse . epi. . taylors worke much , beleeue 't , & take great paine : yet , masons worke far harder i 'l maintain . epi. . doth iane demerit well ? i pray , why so ? for her good carriage , which all men know . epi. . pray , pardon praeco's compotations : his head is full of proclamations . in gulam . epi. . base gula , with his teeth , & nailes doth teare the commons which he eateth any where : now , we may say , what gula doth assayle , he will accomplish it with tooth-and-naile . epilogus . what satyres write , or cabalists do iudge , i weigh but small ; sith they beare all men grudg . what momists censure , or the roring sect ; be what it will , t is but their dialect : and such applause , like to their thred-bare coate , would but pollute me with some euill note . i doe referre my muse , vnto such eyes , which truely can their iudgements equalize ▪ such , will be meanes , to saue her from the fire ▪ and if neede stand , to draw dun out i th' mire . h. h. d. ixions vvheele . fortune empaling ioue with honors crowne , making him victor in the titans fight : mars hauing trod perforce proud saturne down , depriuing titan of 's vsurped right : these cosupremes , which ouer-rule the fate , enthronize him in saturn's regall state . which gratefull god , in honor of his name , to mars did dedicate the crownes of bay ; and in olympus did a feast ordayne , to solemnize the glory of this day . each sacred deity , had free accesse to be partaker of such happinesse . hermes did trudge , a iolly foote-mans pase , t' inuite the rectors of the spheres sublime . he nimbly trips the sun-gods circled race , commands each power , of the olympick clime , to celebrate this festiuall , in lieu of all the triumphs , which to mars were due . which thankefull guests , their ioynt consents all to gratulate their kinde affecting host ; and , of the store which they in promptu haue gaue , ( as a requitall of his profuse cost ) do , plena manu , regall bounties send , whiles to exceede in giuing they contend . pan did the first fruites of his fold present . neptune sent quailes ; and bacchus foming vines . ceres did immolate , with like intent , autumn's rich prime , and terra's golden mines . no god there was but sent , for loue or feare , condigne presents to augment their cheere . at length , in vestures nitid , and faccte , to ioues high court , heauens synod did repaire : whose braines were busied how to be compleat to place themselues in method , formall , square , whiles maior powers , affect new forged shapes , the minors aemulate like . aesops apes . warres austere god , with stout achilles lance , and wrinkled browes , doth thrasouize it , rage : cornuted phoebe , in her coach , doth prance : bacchus , with grapes , doth stretch it on the stage , whiles this cup-saint , too lauish and profuse , embrew's his temples in their liquid iuice . apollo , venus , cupid god of loue , and chast aurora goddesse of the morne , with all the remnant of the powers aboue , in royall vestures did their corps adorne . thus they contend ( if eminent in place ) t' exceede in gesture , vesture , decent grace . vulcan except , who from his anuile hies , lymping vnto the trough , to scoure his face , and col●y fists ; then , with his apron dries the same , thinking them fit for such a place : he , hating pride , vaine-glory , did not striue , or acmulate , to be superlatiue . the smith of lemnos , malecontent , did grudge that dis should loyter for his shackling chaines : yet , being iealous , he 's constrain'd to trudge , lest , whiles he toyle , some other reape the gains . curling his locks , he therefore , halfe a mort , doth halting vsher venus to the court. swift winged hermes , did ixion cite , the last , to dance attendance at this feast : who , swolne with pride of his puissance , might , sate with the gods as a coequal guest : and though vnworthy to assume such place , yet did his thoughts aspire for greater grace . earths mortall , with immortalls being plac't , tooke dedall , flight ; with icarus would climbe ; with phaeton the deities disgrac't , deposing him , for his vndecent crime . princes , in pride , attempt those vaine designes , vvhich often times their vmpires vndermines . while mighty ioue , with orpheus sweetest hymns , aptly concording to arions lute , with boauls of nectar , crowned to the brims , his noble guests doth gratulate , salute , this lusting king endeauours in despite to wrong his host , to casheer hymen's right . bacchus moyst vapours , which doe sursum fume , ixions braine so much intoxicate , that in his cup he did ( too rash ) presume t' attempt the act : which he repents too late . so potent are don bacchus nociue charmes , that they intrude into apparent harmes . rapt with queene iunoes loue , whiles he did fix so princely obiect in an abiect eye , his ioyes with sorrowes he doth intermix : for , sanctum sinnes doe often soare too hie . vvhich grand default , few amorists can finde ; because the naked god of loue is blinde . he languisht long , abhorring to reueale , t' expresse his dolours in externall shew : yet they , more vrgent whiles he would conceale , like hydra's heads , did pullulate , renew . for , shrowded embers , which cannot aspire , assuming force , become the greatest fire . with chast adonis blush , at length in art he did vncase those griefs which were represt , and did the tenor of his cares impart : for words yeeld solace to distempred brests , asswage the deluge of eternall woe , which ( sea-like ) alternatim , ebbe and flowe . the prime allurement , which ixion vs'd to rob this matron of her prizelesse fame , were mamons gifts ; which women seld refuse , although in obloquie they drowne their name . for fates decreed , each ●●●mans weaker power should not resist faire danae's golden showre . his crowne of thessalie , with tagus sand , and mineralls of ganges golden shore , he gratis did preferre into her hand , wishing such oratours might loue implore . t' enioy base lust he would his life condemne , hazard his state , and princely diadem . the modest queen ( which waxed red with same ) like one that 's planet-strooke , remayned mute : collecting strength ( t' auoid succeeding fame ) she did repell his base , immodest sute : yet , more importunate , though she despise , he non-plust once , againe will rethorize . lady ( quoth he ) behold my harmelesse heart , which doth , captiu'd , in sibyls durance liue . like to achilles lance , my endlesse smart you must recure , which did the anguish giue : or i , poore tymon , must my date expire , whiles furies torture me in cupid's fire . sometimes , in the abysse of loue i freeze , like frigid places of the artick clime : againe , excessiue heate those stormes appease , scorching like phoebus in her fiery prime thus i , whom titan fram'd of ●ritt●e mold , both at one instant , burn , and am key-cold . my passiue humors , and distemperd thoughts , do stimulate proud silla●s lre : debates vaine-hopes , which hote desires doe bring to nought , fiercely pursues with theoninus hates ; waging such warre within my soule diuine , that troian fraies , were plays , cōpar'd with mine . no artists skill , nor deity aboue , can mee restore to my desired blisse . the energia sole is fixt in loue , which may recure my cares remedilesse . at loue i ayme ; yet haue no crosser foe : whose peruerse wrath , my state would ouerthrow thus doth he syllogize , halfe malecontent , with fallacies sophisticating teares ; and thus discourse , vnkindnesse to preuent , whilst sighs vnrip his melancholy feares : yet vaine the king pursues a bootelesse chase , his deere doth tappasse in a priuate place . whiles he acutely argu'd this hard text , vvith writs of errour trauers●ng his sute ; ioues constant daphne , timorous , perplext , his f●call arguments doth still confute : yet forward loue , which in extreames will erre , vniting force , doth wage a second warre . now by authentick reasons he doth pleade , vrging examples to confirm his case ; corroborating his vndecent deede , with corinth's strumpets , which their sex debase ▪ a subtle shist to curry-fauour's truce : for , old examples women most seduce . the nymphs , to vesta consecrated pure , vvhich did ( quoth he ) their youthfull daies confine , like ancors in a caue , to liue secure , only deuoted to the vestall shrine : these trode their shooes awry , & did transgresse , reputing it a frailty of the flesh . the sun-god phoebus , subiect , bow'd to loue ; though he were crowned with a willow-with . faire cytherea had ( as records proue ) a leash of loues , beside black lemnos smith . and vulcan spi'd false carding . what of it ? he was adiudg'd but iealous , wanting wit. sole monarch of the sky , whom cupid's charms , ●nd fatall quiuer , did incite to lust , 〈◊〉 louely arethusa's azure armes ●id oft repose ; although it were vniust . latmus can witnesse , and parnassus plaine , she plaid the wanton with a shepheards-swaine . examine hermes , if he lou'd , or no , vvhiles he with herse priuate did conferre , hee 'l not disclaime his wenching acts , i trowe , ●r that with venus he did wilfull erre . thus lou'd the churlish starres . then why shold i ●oore saturnist , a distract louer die . ●or wert thou chast , great ioue : the wedlock band ●n hebe's , and alemena's armes thou broke : ●indar's proud bride thou vsed at command ; captiu'd calisto in a lustfull yoke ; and with these paramours hast led thy life , wronging the pleasures of a iealous wife . what if great iupiter , with lynx his eyes , should censure , that chast hera were too kinde with hermes spells , i would coniure his spies , till i enioy'd the solace of my minde . admit , you should disclose in outward shew apparent loue , it were but quid pro quo . suppose , that earth impanneld a grand quest , and that the barre of law should rack this act : it would be thought a quaere at the best ; sith affi-dauit of our conceal'd fact could not be made ; whiles of each gods know sham● a sempiternall probate shall remaine . hee vrg'd the queene too farre : yet she excus'● fearing malignant times the fame would broach and doth obiect , that beautie 's oft abus'd , oft scandaliz'd with vulgar tongues reproach . for , slander set on foote , though false , will run , and currant passe , in eu'ry momists tongue . beautie 's a common marke , apt to offence ( quoth she ) when roysters roue , or court vnwi●● bad fame will blab , & forge some lewd pretence be amours nere so secret , or precise : no fond suspect her iealous eare can scape , for , she will colour 't in a liuely shape . should i , vpon such tearmes , ere condiscend , i double , treble , should mine honour staine . what essence then my error durst defend , if true accusers should my vice arraigne ? in vaine it were to fly from argus watch , if in the net , ioue , mars with venus catch . the vnchast king , now silent , all a mort , abruptly interrupts her subtile speech ; and , vi & armis , must enioy his sport , moue her perforce to cuckoldry , spouse-breach . he begd before ; but now commands his lust : and she consents , lest ioue their talke mistrust . who whilest they , pro & contra , argued thus , suspected misdemeanor in his guest ; yet did conceale , because he sate non plus , drowning despaire in his disquiet brest . ioue feared guile ( mendozas well can gloze ) and therefore vrged iuno to disclose . who , putting finger in the eye , declares this large discourse ; which ioue vnkindely takes the lust seem'd vile , such impudence was rare : which to defraude , he of a cloude did make chast iunoes like ; a formall shape inuents , which , graphice , her stature represent . apollo's wagon , hauing left his sphere , drawing the st●rry curtaine of the night , this false idea did in state appeare , to pay lusts king his long desir'd delight : whom he embrac't ( yet was deceiud god wot ) and of a cloude the massy centaures got . obtained lust his brest could not containe : in ●hrasoe's tearmes he vants this act obscene , falsely accusing hera in disdaine , making lusts queane , corriuall with the queene . such are mens faults ; they cannot onely horne , but must divulge , & laugh the wrongd to scorne . the irefull god , which was supposed , wrong , to weare a cuckolds badge , an armed head , all court affaires adiourneth , doth prolong , and coram nobis , scans this shamefull deede . lest by delay truth should be staind , forgot , he wisely strikes now whilst the iron 's hot ; and of high treason doth the king indite ( for faults are great which touch a mighty foe ) vvho by a quest of quaere which iudge right ( too strictly sentenc't to eternall woe ) was , by that synod in olympus held , condemn'd , contemn'd , and from his throne expeld . to pleade , or to recant , it was too late : th' arraigned king condemned stands , conuict ; whom the three lusticers of limbos state , with new deuised penalties inflict . hell's fatall iudgement , is a iust reward , for such as hymenaeus rites discard . fixt to the rigour of a tumbling wheele , which furies moue , and euer restlesse turnes , this type of lust , hells terrour amply feeles , whiles serpents sting , and hecats furnace burnes . thus , by iust doome , to styx his soule did di●● being enrold amongst the damned fiue . great mirth did dis , and preserpina keepe , to giue a welcome to this leane-chapt ghost . the triple-headed cur awoke from sleepe . caron , in hast , his flaming ferry crost ; who with the furies , which then leasure found ▪ salutes this guest , and hopt a merry round . tantal had lap enough : each ayry sprite , and starued ghost , had plenty of good-cheere . alecto skipt , with bacchus being light , and plaid the diuell , voide of loue or feare ; whiles grim megaera tore th' inuectiue scroles , chasing the fiends with euer-burning coles . a greater racket was not kept in hell , when hecat got the diuells leaue to play . so far this chaos doth the wont excell , that former tortures are a ciuill day . stones , tubs , & wheeles , do tumble vp & down , so that no ghost escap't a broken crowne . and all this time , ixion , in a maze , spectator like , beheld the furies sport ; at length , asham'd to stand still mute at gaze , doth spend his mouth , and reuell in like sort ; till leuell coyle , which issued from the pot , made hell , still hell , their quarrels were so hot . 〈◊〉 was shreudly 〈◊〉 because the ghosts d●●●rb'd the gods their their 〈…〉 coile ▪ which quorum iustice 〈…〉 to chaine each furie to his former 〈◊〉 : and 〈◊〉 the stranger which in 〈◊〉 did lurke . by strict command ; 〈◊〉 vnto his worke ▪ whose restlesse paines my poore 〈…〉 , with agamemnon's vaile , must rudely maske . by herc'les 〈…〉 and from th● 〈◊〉 , the ro●all of his ●aske ▪ 〈◊〉 by ●ust in limb o● 〈◊〉 he dwell : lust 〈…〉 , his death , both heauen , & hell ▪ henry hutton . dune●●ensis ex otio negotium. or, martiall his epigrams translated. with sundry poems and fancies, / by r. fletcher. epigrammata. english martial. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing m thomason e _ estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; :e [ ]) ex otio negotium. or, martiall his epigrams translated. with sundry poems and fancies, / by r. fletcher. epigrammata. english martial. fletcher, r. vaughan, robert, engraver. [ ], , [ ], , [ ] p., plate : port. printed by t. mabb, for william shears, and are to be sold at the bible in bedford street in covent-garden, london, : . translated and with additional original poems by fletcher. in verse. title page in red and black. the frontispiece is signed: ro: vaughan sculpsit. "momus elencticus" (caption title) begins new pagination on * r. annotation on thomason copy: "august. ". reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion ex otio negotium . or , martiall his epigrams translated . with sundry poems and fancies , by r. fletcher . — vivere chartae incipiant , cineri gloria sera venit . mar. lib. . epig. . london , printed by t. mabb , for william shears ▪ and are to be sold at the bible in bedford street in covent-garden , . m. valerius marshal . anno aetatis suae . ro ▪ vaughan sculpsit to the reader . courteous reader i here present thee with the scatterd papers of my youth : which if they want that seriousness and solemn thoughts which become the ticklish stage of so catching a world , let me beseech thy pardon : had i sacrificed to thy view a volume beyond exception : it had anticipated thy clemency , and left thee no occasion to have exercised thy goodnesse . but i am not of that number that dares challenge the sharpe-sighted censure of the times ; and conceive their papers as their persons beyond fault or defection . if i have not rendred the accute fancy of my most ingenious author in its pure & genuine dress , as his own pen hath deliverd him in ; ascribe the faile to my weakness , not my will. and for those abortive births slippd from my brain which can carry neither worth nor weight in the scale of this pregnant age , so fraught and furnish'd with variety of gallant pieces and performances of the choicest of writers , give me leave to flurn at them , as the poor excrescencies of nature , which rather blemish than adorn the structure of a well-composed body . but least i tire thy patience with a tedious apolligie , like the pulpit-cuffers of the age , which breath their audience at every accent either a sleep or out of doors ; i will no longer detain thee in the porch and preface of the work : if my looser minutes shall either please or profit thee , i have my end : if not , i have my desire , may i be thought worthy to be acknowledged thy friend and servant r. fletcher . a table of the poems and fancies in this book . the publipue faith page . a lent on lettany composed for a confiding brother for the benefit and edification of the faithfull ones . p. the second part p. a hue and cry after the reformation p. a committee p. on the happy memmory of alderman hoyl that hang'd himself p. on clarinda praying p. on clarinda singing p. platonick love p. a sigh p. love's farewell p. christmass day ; or the shuttle of an inspyred weaver , bolted against the order of the church for its solemnitie p. good fryday p. easter day p. holy thursday p. whitesunday p. a short ejaculation upon that truly worthy patron of the law , sr john bridgman p. obsequies on that right reverend father in god john prideaux late bishop of worcester p. on the death of his royall majesty charls late king of england p. an epitaph on the same p. a survey of the world p. an old man courting a young girle p. an epitaph on his deceased friend p. mount ida , or beautie's contest p. vpon a fly that flew into a ladies eye , and there lay buried in a tear. p. . obsequies to the memory of the truly noble right valiant and right honourable spencer earl of northampton , slain at hopton field in staffordshire in the beginning of this civill war p. the london lady p. the times p. the modell of the new religion p. content p. may-day p. an epigram to doulas p. an epigram on the people of england p. an elegie upon my dear little friend mr. i. f. who dyed the same morning he was born decm . the . . p. a short reflection on the creation of the world p. . my kingdom is not of this world p. come unto me all yee that labour and are heavy laden p. a sing-song on clarinda's wedding p. on the much to be lamented death of that gallant antiquarie , and great master both of law and learning , john selden esquire p. vpon the death of john selden esquire p. vpon the incomparable learned john selden p. vpon the death of john selden p. degenerate love and choice p. a dialogue between two water nymphs thamesis and sabrina p. to my honoured friend mr. t. c. that asked m● how i liked his mistris being an old widdow p. the engagement stated p. martiall : lib. i. epig. ad catonem . when thou didst know the merry feast of jocund flora was at best , our solemn sports ▪ how loosely free , and debonair e the vulgar be , strict cato , why didst thou intrude into the seated multitude ? was it thy frolick here alone only to enter and be gone ? ad lectorem epig. . this whom thou readst is he by thee required , martiall , through all the world fam'd and desired , for sharpest books of epigrams , on whom ( ingenious reader ) living , without tombe , thou hast bestow'd that high and glorious wreath , which seldome poets after death receive . ad librum suum , epig. . among the stationers th'hadst rather be ( my litle book ) though my shelf's void for thee , alas ! thou knowst not rome's disdain , great mars his sons are of a pregnant brain , gybes no where are more free : young men and old , and boyes their nose up in derision hold , whiles thou shalt hear thy praise , and kisses have , thou shalt be toss'd from th' bosome to the grave . but thou for fear thou feel'st thy masters hand , and thy loose sports should by his reed be scann'd , ( lascivious book ) thou seek'st to mount abroad , go , fly , but home were yet thy safer road . ad caesarem , epig. . if by chance ( caesar ) thou take up my books , lord of the world put by thy morning looks : thy greatest tryumphs have admitted mirth , nor need'st thou blush to give my fancy birth , with what aspect thou smilest on thymele , or mimicall latinus , read thou mee . innocent sports , strict censure may peruse , my life is modest though my lines be loose . ad decianum epig. . because thou follow'st so in thy intents great ●hrasea's , and brave cato's presidents , that thou maist be secure : nor runn'st thybrest naked on drawn swords in a frantick jest , ( decian ) thou dost what i would have thee do : i like not him , who to redeem , or wo an empty fame by 's easie blood is rais'd , give me the man that lives and yet is prais'd . de gemello & maronilla . epig. . gemellus seeks old maronill to wed , desires it much , is instant , prayes , and fees , is she so fair ? nought's more ill favoured : what then provokes ? o she doth cough and wheeze . de arria & paeto . epig. . when arria to her paeto gave the sword , which she in her own bowels first had gor'd , trust me quoth she , that wound i made , do'nt grieve . but that doth paetus which thou meanest to give . ad julium . . epig. o thou to mee ' mongst my chiefe friends in mind . ( julius ) if antient faith , and tyes ought bind , the sixtith consull present is to thee , and yet thy life knowes small felicitie . thou dost not well defer thus to denye , and call that only thine that is past by : cares , and chainpd toyles expect thee , joys nere stay , but fleeting take their leave , and flie away ; these with spread armes and with eaeh hand embrace , they oft slide from our bosomes secret'st place . credit me t' is not wise , i 'le live to stay to morrow's lif 's too late , live thou to day . in aeliam . epig. . aelia just four teeth had , if i told right , one cough ejected two , another two : now she may cough securely day and night there 's nothing left for the third cough to doe . de porsena & mucio scaevola . epig. . when the right hand mistaken in the guard seeking t' assault the king ; in fell reward threw it self in the holy flames to dye , such cruell wonders the good enemie could not sustain , but by command anon snatchd from the flames injoyns him to be gon ; that hand which mucius in contempt was bold to burn , king porsena could not behold : the failing hand the greater glory found , had it not err'd , it had been lesse renown'd . ad cottam epig. . cotta th'invitest none , but such with thee are bath'd , and baths provide thee companie : i wondred long how i escaped thy call : but now i see my naked truth spoil'd all . ad sabidum epig. . i do not love the ( sabidus ) , nor can i tell thee why : only my humour happens thus , i doe not fancy thee . de gellia , epig. . gellia nere mourns her fathers losse whiles no one 's by to see , but yet her soon commanded tears flow in societie : 'to weep for praise is but a feigned moan , ' he grieves most truly that does grieve alone ▪ ad lesbiam , epig. . lesbia thou sin'st still with an unpimp'd door , and open , and nere cloak'st thy pleasure ore , thy peepers more than active friends delight , nor are thy joys in kind if out of sight : but yet the common wench with veil and key strives to expell the witnesse far away ▪ no chinck doth in a brothel-house appear , of vulgar strumpets learn this modest care , stews hide this filthinesse : but lesbia see if this my censure seem too hard to be ? i do'nt forbid thee to imploy thy prime , but to be taken lesbia , there 's the crime . ad fidentinum , epig. . that book thou read'st is ours , my fidentine , but now thou readst so ill , 't is surely thine . ad lividum , epig. . thou that look'st sowre , & readst unwillingly , mayst th' envy all men ! no man envy thee ! de porcia epig. . when porcia heard her husband brutus fate , and grief pursued substracted armes to take , know ye not yet death cannot be denyed ? quoth she , this proof enough my father tried this sayd , she drank the burning coals in ire , go now vexatious crowd your sword retyre . ad hedylam epig. . when thou sayst i hasten to 't , doe it if thou meanst to do 't ; hedyla , delayd desire soon languishes and doth expire . command me to expect , then i withheld shall run more speedily , but hedyla if thou dost hast , tell me that i not come too fast . ad fuscum epig. . if any room ( my fuscus ) yet there be voyd in thy love ; for here and there we see thy freinds abound , one place i doe implore , nor me reject because unknown before , thy antientest familiars were as new , when first thy parts their apt affection drew , o let my later love this boon obtain , to be embraced in the elder strain . ad frontonem , epig. . wouldst know thy marcus wish here in a word ? ( fronto ) thou great renown of gown and sword , t is to be master of a little field , his own , course pleasures him such pleasures yeeld . every man courts the walks of spartan stone , and wearies his how dey ' simply till noone : he that enjoyes his happy grove and land , before whose fire the loaded nets spread stand , and leaping fish hangs with a trembling line , drawing sweet hony from red casks for wine ? whose fat made spreads his table with three legs , and whose unpurchased embers roast his egs , may he hate me that hates this life or this , and live imployd in city offices . ad flaccum , epig. my flaccus , if thou needs wouldest crave what wench i would , and would not have ? i loath the too too easy field a like with her that nere will yield . a moderation i embrace , and most approve the middle place , i fancy none that wring my gutts , nor her that in enjoying gluts . de laevina epig. . laevina chast as sabines were of old whose face look'd stricter than her husbands , could , whiles she permits her selfe refresh'd to be oft in the baths held in communit ie , she fell on fire , embraced a lad , and burn'd , chast she came there , but too much chasd return'd . ad somnum epig. . naevia six cupps justina seaven comprize , lycas five , lyde four ▪ and ida three , each man his love by healths arithmatize , if none appeare , then sleep come thou to me ad fidentinum epig. . fidentine dost thou think and seek to be a poet by my verse in thievery ? so aegle with her bought and indian bone may seem to have a sound mouth of her own . so painted-faced lycoris may seem white , though black as moores veild in a nat ' rall night . for that same cause that thou art poet call'd , thou mayst be said bush-haird when thou art bald . ad caecilianum epig. . scarce on in all the citty would embrace thy proffer'd wife ( caecilian ) free to have : but now she guarded , and lock'd up : apace thy custom comes . o th' art a witty knave ! ad flaccum epig. . flaccus thou greatest of my cares to me , the heire of old antenors familie ! out with these muses songs , and companie , no girle among them will bring ought to thee . what seekst of phaebus ? t is minerva's chest is full , shee 's wise and hoards up all the rest . what can poor bacchus wreaths give ? pallas tree weighs down her boughs with superfluitie . helicon has no more but springs , and bays , the harps of goddesses and empty praise . with th' sacred fountains what hast thou to doe ? the roman courts more rich , and nearer too . there the chink gingles , but about our chayr and pulpits , kisses only fill the ayre . de manneia's epig. . a puppie licks manneia's lipps , the sense i grant , a dog may kis . — sir reverence . de quicinali epig. . sly quicinalis cares not much to wed , yet would partake the off-spring of the bed , but yet what trick ? what custom is 't he uses ? most certain he his chamber-maids abuses . so stocks his house and feilds : how truly he is calld the father of his familie ? de novio microspico epig. . novius my neighbour is , and he from out my windows reacht may be , who will not envy me ? and say i 'm happy all howers of the day ? who may , enjoy a freind so near ? but he 's as farr from me , as where terentian guards syene's wall , nor can i feast with him at all , nor is it granted once to me to hear him , or at least to see , nor in this city one throughout lives me more near , or more remote . well he or i must further move , who so would novius neighbour prove : and verily his inmate be , must never novius mean to see . ad bassam tribadem epig. . cause amongst males thou nere was seen to be nor as unchast no fable feigned thee , but all thy offices discharged were by thy own sex , no man intruding there , i grant thou seem'dst lucretia to our eye , but ( o mistake ! ) bassa th' art out on t , fie . two twatts commit the fact , and dare it can , whiles a prodigious lust supplies the man , th' hast made a riddle worth the thebane guile , where no man is , adultery bred the while . ad naevolum causidicum epig. . still in a crowd of noise thy voyce is heard , and thinkst thy self a lawyer for thy table , on this account each man that wears a beard may be as wise : lo all men peace ! now pratle . ad calenum avarum epig. . thou scarce hadst twenty sesterties in all , yet wast so bountifull , and liberall , so richly neat ( calenus ) that all wee thy friends did wish thee much more great to be , jove heard our prayers , and what we then desired , and ere seaven months ( i think ) were full expired foure funerals bequeathd thee such a summ : but , thou as if no legacies had come , but rather hadst bin robd , grewst so in care , so basely hard , that our more sumptuous fare that in a year thou dost provide one time costs thee no more then th' offal of thy coyn : and we thy seaven old friends are by thee thought worth but a lead half pound if to be bought , what mischief shall we wish that 's worthy thee ? even a thousand times more rich to bee ! if this shall happen which we pray it might , wretched calenus thou wilt starve out-right . ad scoevolam epig. . scaevola not as yet dubbd knight he prays for one ten thousand pounds his stock to raise , how largely would he live ! how happilie ! the easie gods smil'd and vouchsaf'd it free . upon this b●on his coat was much more bare ▪ his cloak far worse , his shoos thrice clouted are , his olives were of seaven years vintage standding , one table serves two meales by his commanding : the course dreggs ofred wine are his chiefe drink , his pease and wench scarce cost one doit i think , let us appeale to law , thou cheating bore , live , or else to the gods their goods restore . ad lucium julium epig. . most famous julius thou sayst oft to mee , th' art idle , write things for eternitie : give me such boons i cry , such as of old horace and virgil from their patron hold , i le strive to raise my cares beyond times date , and snatch my name from fire's consuming hate , the oxe on barren fields his yoke wiln't beare , a fast soyle tyres , but yet the labour 's dear . ad velocem epig. . velox complaines my epigrams are long , whiles he writes none : he fings a shorter song lib. . epig. . sextus ows nought , nor fears his quarter day , 't is true : he ows most truly that can pay . ad decianum , epig. . let me not live ( my decian ) if the day and the whole night i would not with thee stay , but there are two miles that divide our home , which are made foure to me when i back come . th' art oft abroad : when not , th' art oft denied , or with thy causes , or thy self imploy'd . but yet to see thee two miles i will go ; but not to see thee , foure don't please me so . de selio , epig. . ( rufus ) if an inquiry 's made why selius walks so late and sad ? why his dull looks seem to imploy some dismal chance and malady ? why his foule nose hangs ore his chest ? and pulls his hair , and beats his brest . he moans no losse of friend , or brother , his one son 's well , and so 's the other , and may they live ! his wife 's in health , his servants safe , and bags of wealth , his husband-man and bailiffe too , have neer purloyn'd ought of his due , what then 's the cause that thus he blubberd ? why selius sups at his own cup-board . in posthumum , epig. . what 's this that myrrh doth still smel in thy kisse's , and that with thee no other odour is ? t is doubt ( my posthumus ) he that doth smel so sweetly alwayes , smels not very well . in hermum , epig. . hermus because thou givest thy cup to none : it i● not proudly , but humanely done . de paulo , epig. . paulus buyes verse , recites , and owns them all , for what thou buy'st , thou mayst thine truly call . in posthumum , epig. . posthumus kisses some must have , and some salute his fist : thy hand good posthumus i crave , if i may choose my list . de eodem , epig. ▪ o phoebus and ye sisters nine , what shall i do with you ? behold that merry muse of mine her poet will undoe . posthumus late was wont to kisse with half lips , which i loath , but now my plague redoubled is , he kisses me with both . in candidum , epig. . if thy crosse fortune send thee some sad fate , i must persist thy pale and squallid mate . if from thy country thou must banish'd be . through seas and rocks i still must follow thee . if riches come , will they be free to many ? wilt thou give part ? t is much ; wilt thou give any ? t is crosses makes thee mine : when they are gone , candidus will be happy then alone . ad gallam , epig. . galla dares promise , but makes good no ty , if thou still failest ? i prethee once deny . ad bithynicum , epig. . cause nevia coughs , and grieves , breaths thick and short , and drops her spittle on her brest in sport : do'st think thy self her heire made presently ? th' art out , thy naevia flatters , will not dye . in cajum epig. . twice twenty sesterties i once besought , which were they given could not much be thought , cause 't was my happy and my antient friend i askd , whose cofferd treasures knew no end ? he answered : follow suits , thou mayst buy land : i ask no counsel cajus , crosse my hand . in caecilianum epig. . what 's here and there thou dost purloyn , a pregnat sow's papps , a hoggs chine , a woodcock , commons for two men , a whole jack , half a barble , then a lamprey's side , a pullet's thigh , a stock-dove boyld in pottage by : when these are hid in greasy clout , and to thy boy deliverd out to be brought to thy home : we sit an idle crowd without a bit . restore the feast if any shame there bee , to morrow i have not invited thee . in linum epig. . linus dost ask what my field yeilds to mee ? even this profit , that i nere see thee . de eodem linus gives purple and rich scarlet gowns to his notorious and adult'rous woman : if thou wouldst give what her degree becoms ? a loose coat would more fitly stock her common . in candidum epig. . these are thy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these are they ( candidus ) which thou soundst out night and day . thy gown is washd in the calabrian spring , or of those flocks their fleece to parma bring . but mine as one that passed the bulls hornes , stares , or which would scarce be owned by the first haires , agenor's son's ●●●et countrey sends thee coats , thou canst not sell my scarlet for three groats . thou hangst with indian teeth thy libian rings , my beechen table 's propd with earthen things thy gold-tipd plates rich barbles do bedight my dish is red with self-look'd aconite . thy boyes may with the ilian lad compare , my hands my ganymedes most duly are . of this thy wealth thou nought bestowest on us thy friends : yet cry'st out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 candidus . in sextum epig. . whether i 've bought a freeze coat or a boy , for three or four times double the pound troy , forthwith the us're● sextus , which ye know to be my antient neighbour-friend in show , in care , least i should borrow of him , fears and whispers to himself , but by my eares , i to secundus owe seaven thousand pounds , to phaebus four , eleven philetus sounds ; whiles i have not one farthing in my chest : o my conceited friend's ingenious jest ! sextus 't is hard to give a flat denyal , when thou art askd : much more before the tryal . in maximum 〈◊〉 maximus wouldst be free ? t is false , thou 'lt not , but if thou wouldst indeed , hence take the plot ; thou shalt : if thou can'st choose to sup abroad : or if small wine thy thirst can quench or load : if thou can'st scorne poore cinna's bravery , and with our homely gown contented bee , if thy lust may be calmd for half a sowse , and entring can'st stoop to thy low-roofd house : if thou this power of self and minde canst bring , thou shalt live freer then the parthian king . ad gallum de ejus uxore epig. . in lybia thy wife they stigmatize with the foule crime of too much avarice . but they are lyes they tell : she is not wont to take , but give for scouring of her — . in zoilum epig. . zoilus well cloathd , derides my thred-bare gowne , t is true t is thred-bare zoilus , but my owne . in taurum epig. . while now thou'lt lawyer be , now rhetorician , and knowst not to make forth thy wishd condition , peleus , and nestor's age slips by , and it was grown too late for thee to try ; begin : three rhetoricians dyed one yeare ! ifthou hast any skill or stomack here ? if schools dislike ? courts swarm with the old trade , and marsya's self a lawyer may be made . fie , out with this delay : how long shall wee expect ? whiles doubting , nothing thou wilt bee . in saletanum epig. . why doe we see old saletan so sad ? is the cause light ? thou sayst his wife is dead . o the grand crime of fate ! ô the sad chance ! is secundilla dead ? that did advance a thousand sesterties in dowry to thee ? o would this hap had neer came to undoe thee ! de fannio epig. . when fannius should have scaped his foe , his own hands stopt his breath : and was 't not madness i would know , by dying to ' scape death ; in mamercum epig. . thou nought recit'st , and yet wouldst bee thought poet on that score : be what thou wilt mamercus free , so thou wilt speak no more . ad quinctilianum epig. . o thou great master of the youth of rome quinctilian , the glory of the gowne ! pardon though poor , nor struck in yeares , i hast to live , since no man strives to live too fast : let him delay that 's fathers rents would raise , and fill his house with shapes of antient days , me fire , and houses please smoakd with their steame , a native sallet , and a living stream , a bond-man serves my turne , an unlearnd wife , a night with sleep , a day without all strife . lib. . epig. . cinna writes verses against me t is said , he writes not , whose bad verse no man doth read . in candidum epig. . candidus has alone fine farmes , gold , coyne , myrrh , and drinks caecuba and massick wine ▪ has the sole wisdom , and the only wit , enjoyes the world alone and all in it . but has he all alone ? that i deny : his wife with ours is in community , ad gargilianum epig. . no money 's payd , yet gratis eat'st my cheare , but when at rome ( gargilian ) what dost there ? whence hast thou house-rent ? or whence a coat ? how canst thou pay thy wench ? whence hast a groat ? though with much reason thou art said to live , yet how thou dost it none can reason give . ad rufinum epig. . i grant thy large spread fields yeild much to thee and to thy citty houses great farmes bee , the debtors to thy chest are numerous , and golden tables furnish out thy house : yet doe not scorn , such as inferiour bee ; since other men have greater wealth then thee . in matriniam epig. . matrinia asks if i can love a woman that is old : and such a one i doe approve , but thou art dead and cold . i can embrace old hecub's itch , or niobe all one ; but not till she 's turnd to a bitch , the other to a stone . qualem puellam velit epig. . i 'de rather have the gentile lass , but if she be denyd ? the libertine shall freely pass , and with my fancy side . the hand-maid which excels them both , comes in the latest place : if that she have in very troth , but an ingenious face ? in pollam epig. . cause polla thou dost strive so fine with paint to smooth thy wrinckled groin , thou daubst thy belly , not thy lips to mee , and peradventure in simplicitie the smaller fault lyes open freely still , that which is hid is thought the greater ill . in lentinum epig. . lentinus counterfeits his youth with periwigs i trow , but art thou changd so soon in truth , from a swan to a crow ? thou canst not all the world deceive , proserpine knows thee gray : and shee 'le make bold without your leave , to take your cap away . ad ligurinum epig. . whether sacred phaebus fled ( my ligurine ) thyestes feast ? i know not ; we fly thine : though that thy table 's rich and nobly spread , yet thy sole talke knocks all th' enjoyment dead . i care not for thy barbles , turbots , plase , thy oysters , nor thy mushrooms , hold thy peace . ad tongilianum epig. . thy house two hundred pounds ( tongilian ) cost , which by a frequent chance of fire was lost : thy brief rose ten times more : let me require was 't not thy plot to set thy house on fire ? ad chloën epig. . i could not freely want thine eyes , thy praised neck , and hands , and thighs , thy paps , thy giblets , and thy hips , and least i should quite tyre my lips thy several parts to minde to call chloë in short i 'de want thee all . in gelliam epig. . where ere thou comm'st we think cosmus goes by , as from crackd viols spices cast their smel : i care not for thy forreign frippery , for at this charge my dog shall smell as well . in cinnam epig. . what ere thou askdst ( cinna ) t is nought said by thee : if it be nothing ? nothing i deny thee . in cotilum . epig. . cotilus thou art calld a pretty man , i hear , but tell , what is that pretty than ? hee 's pretty , that in order curles his haire , or smells all baulm or cinnamon most rare . that nile's loose songs , or gaditane doth sing , and into various modes his arms doth swing . hee that in crowds of females wasts the day , and in their ears has somewhat still to say , that reades ; then writes new letters here and there , and nicely leanes not on his neighbor's chair : that knowes whom each man loves , that runs through feasts , blazons nirpinus great grand-fathers crests . what sayst ? is this thy pretty man ? this tool ? he then that 's pretty's but a fribling fool . ad lauferam . epig. . thou darest be nought , yet wilt not bathe wtih mee , i know no guilt to ground thy jealousie . either thy ragged brests hang ugly down , or being naked , fearst to shew thy own , else thy torn groin , gapes with a monstrous slit , or fome prodigious thing hangs over it ; if none of these ? thou art a beauteous tool , if true ? thou hast a worse fault , th' art a fool . in lupercum epig. . lupercus now thy — has left to stand , yet thou striv'st madly him up to command . but scallions and lose rochets nought prevail , and heightning meats in operation fayl ; thy wealth begins thy pure cheeks to defile , so venery provok'd lives but awhile . who can admire enough , the wonder 's such , that thy not standing stands thee in so much ? ad apicium epig. . apicius nere complains , does no man wrong , yet the voyce goes , he has a filthy tongue . in tongilionem epig. . what does thy strumpet say tongilion ? i doe not mean thy wench , what then ? thy tongue . de galla epig. . my galla will , and will not buss , my fancy never could ; by willing and not willing thus , suppose what galla would . in vetustillam epig. . thou vetustill hast liv'd three hundred years , hast but four teeth in all , and but three hairs , a grashoper's thin waist , an emet's thigh , a brow more wrinkled then old wives gowns bee , dugs like the webs of spiders , and if nile should with thy chops compare her crocodile , his jawes would seem but streight : the frogs that bee bred at ravenna croke better then thee , the adrian gnats sing sweeter , birds of night blinded in morning beames equall thy sight , thou smellst all hee-goat , hast a rump as fine as the extream end , of a lean duck's chine : the bony tout out-vyes th' old cinnick quite , when she the bath-man with extinguish'd light admits among the bustuary sluts , when august brings a winter to thy guts , nor yet can thaw thee with a pestilence , after two hundred deaths , darest thou commence bride still ? and seek a husband in thy dust to raise an itch ? what though he harrow must a stone ? who 'le call thee wife , or ought that 's so ? whom thy last mate , call'd grandam long ago : and if thou askst thy carkase scratchd to bee , lame coricles shall make thy bed for thee ; he that alone becomes thy bridal cheare , the burner of dead bodies best can beare a taper at thy nuptials , torches can best enter at the salli-port of man. in naevolum epig. . naevolus nere salutes first , but replies , which the taught crow , himself seldome denies . why dost expect this from mee naevolus ? since thou art not more great nor good then us ? both caesars have rewarded my due praise , and me to th' priv'ledg of three sons did raise , i 'me read by every mouth , known through the town , and before death receive my quick renown , and this is worth your note i 'me tribune too , and sit where that oceanus caps you ; how many by great caesar's grant are made free denizons because by me t was prayd ? the number far exceeds thy family , but thou art buggred naevolus , feedst high , now now thou over-comst me sheere , thus , thus , thou art my betters , salve naevolus . ad cerdonem epig. . why art offended ( cerdo ) with my book ? thy life , and not thy person 's by me strook , then suffer harmless-wit , why is 't not due for me to sport ? when stabbing's free to you ? lib. . de natali domitiani epig. . this is great caesar's day , and far above that wherein ide produced mighty jove . mayst thou come long ! and and nestor's years fullfill , and with this , or a better face , shine still . may he adore his sea-god in rich gold , and let his hands great jove's tree still infold ! may he enjoy the serpent-ages long , such as terentus consecrates in song ! t is much we ask , ye gods , but to us due , and since t is caesar , what is much to you ? ad faustinum epig. . whiles that thy book is new and rough , and feares to have its undryed page took by the ears , goe boy , present this small gift to my friend ▪ he that deserves my toys at the first end : run , but yet let the sponge accompanie the book , for it becomes each gift from mee . faustinus t is not many blots we say , can mend my merry flashes , one blot may . in thaidem epig. . thais denyes no man : if no shame thence spring ? yet let this shame thee , to deny no-thing . de nuptiis pudentis & claudiae epig. . strange , claudia's married to a friend of mine , o hymen be thou ready with thy pine ! thus the rare cinnamons with the spicknard joyne : and the thesean sweets , with massick wine . nor bettor doe the elm and vine embra ce , nor the lote tree affect the fenny place . nor yet the myrtles more love and desire the shore . let a perpetual peace surround thy bed , and may their loves with equall fire be fed ! may she so love him old , that to him shee , though old indeed , may not seem so to bee . de selio epig. . selius affirnes there are no gods , and that the heavens are voyd : and well he proves what he avers , whiles he lives undestroyd . de cleopatra epig. . the virgin danger pass'd , the bride enraged , sweet cleopatra to be disengaged and , scarce mine armes dives in the baths most cleare : but the kind waters soon betrayd her there , for though thus hid her glories did appeare , like to soft lillies in a christal grave , or roses closed in gemms no cover have ; with that i div'd , and cropd the strugling kisses , ye glittering streames forbad the other blisses . ad fabianum epig. . lycoris kills up all his wives apace , i would he had my wife in the same chace ! ad hyppodamum , epig. . cause thou desirest to be read and named so in my books , as by it to be famed , let me not live the thing much pleases mee , and in my lines i would insert thee free , but that thy name is so averse to all the muses , which thy mother did thee call , which nor melpom'ne , nor poly'mnia may nor sweet calliope with phaebus say . adopt thee then some grateful name to us , how wretchedly this sounds ? hyppodamus ? de ape electro inclusa , epig. . shining and yet shut up in th' amber drop , the bee as clos'd in its own waxe did lye , of all her labours reaping this the crop : it 's credible she fancied thus to dye . ad gallum , epig. . galla deny : love 's glutted if the joy at first doe not seem coy : but galla yet take care least you deny too long , and fancy dy . ad colinum , epig. . o thou to whom t is free to wear jov's tree , and with his first leaves honoured to bee , if thou art wise , enjoy thy days repast , colinus think the present still the last : the fatal sisters grant no wish'd delay to any , but observe the destin'd day . wert ▪ thou more rich than crispus , constanter then ●hrasea's self , more free than melior , lachesis adds no tow , the spindles be unwound , the thred 's cut by one of three . in gargillianum , epig. . cause thou bestow'st vast gifts on aged men , and widdows struck in years , gargilian , wouldst have me call thee bountiful for this ? nothing 's more base than thou , nought more vile is . which mayst thy gifts thine ambuscadoes call , so the false hooks indulge the fishes fall , so the sly bayt traps silly beasts and all , knowst thou not how to give ? how to be free ? i 'le teach thee then gargilian : give to mee . de vipera electro inclusa , epig. . whiles up the viper climbes the weeping boughs , the amber drop the strugling beast ore flowes , wondring to see himself in rich dew found , the freezing gemm inclosed him quickly round . boast not then cleopatra of thy tombe since a snake lyes in a more noble room . de curiatio , epig. . ardea in the solstice we desire , and baths the cleonaean star doth heat , bur curiatius death condemns their sweat , since in those praised streames he did expire , ' no place excludes the fates : when death shall come , ' sardinia is in the midst of rome . ad quinctum , epig. . quinctus requires i should give him my books : i have them not , at tryphon's he may speed : shall i buy toys ( quoth he ) with sober looks ? and verse ? l'me not so mad : nor i indeed . in zoilum invidum , epig. . i never askd the gods for gold , content with mean things , and my own , now povety let me be bold i ask thee pardon to be gone . but what is the cause of this vote for pelf ; i would see zoilus hanging of himself . in varum , epig. . varus did lately me to supper call , the furniture was rich , the feast but small : the table 's spread with plate , not meat : they put much to accost the eyes , nought for the gut . we came to feast our bellies , not our eyes : pray take away your gold , give us some pyes . in afrum , epig. . now that the sixtieth harvest thou hast known , and that thy face with snow is over-grown thou runn'st through all the citty , every seat , and bringst thine ave in a toylsome sweat , nor can a man salute a tribune free , there 's never a consul can be rid of thee . to caesar's house thou walkst ten times a day ▪ and talkst of nothing less than courtiers gay , ( afer ) t is bad in boyes that go to school , nought's more absurd than an old medling fool . de bassa , epig. . thy bassa's used to place a childe up by her , and calls it her delight her pretty pinck : yet loves no childe , which thou mayst more admire , what then 's the cause ? why , bassa's wont to stinck . lib. . ad lectores . epig. . ye matrons , boyes , and vigins neat , to you my page i dedicate , thou whom more shameless sports delight , and naked pleasant wit , invite . thy fancy to my foure first books : this fifth shall sport with caesar's looks . which great domitian may be bold , before his goddess to unfold . ad vulcanum . epig. . as ruines renovate th' assyrian nests , when twice five ages the sols bird hath spent : so rome her old decrepitness digests , dress'd in the visage of her president . now ( vulcan , ) i beseech forget and spare our greife , w' are mars and venus progenie : so thy loose wife shall passe the lemnian snare , and in chast love affect thee patiently . ad regulum de fama poetarum . epig. . what 's this ? that fame to living men's denyd . and readers their own lines seldom affect ? ( regulus ) these are tricks of envious pride , the present still for old things to reject . so most ingrate wee seek old pompey's shades , and praise the tottered fane of catulus . while maro liv'd , ennius whole rome invades and homer's age laughd him rediculous . crowned menander seldom heard a shout , corinna her owne naso knew alone , o my small books nere hasten to goe out , if praise come after death i 'le not go on . in calistratum . epig. . calistratus i doe confesse i have been poor , and am no lesse , but not obscurely base as yet , nor a knight of the lowest seat . but through the world i 'me freely read , and as i passe here 's he t is said , what dust and ashes give to some , my life affords without a tombe . but thy house leans on stately props , thy chests inclose great silver crops , rich aegypts glebes thy houshold keep , and parma sheare thy numerous sheep . thus what we are we both may see , but what i am thou canst not be , what thou art each plebeian may with thy estate be any day . in gelliam , epig. . whiles gellia cryd up her fore-fathers house , and our low knight-hood valued not a lowse , while 's she denied all under the broad key , a basket-bearer swept her quite away . de crispo , epig. . crispus by will no doit of all his pelf gave to his wife : whom then ? even to himself . in caussidicum , epig. . a lawyer 's said unknown my book to flout , but wo be to thee , if i finde thee out . de erotio , epig. . ye parents fronto and flaccilla here to you i doe commend my girle , my deare , least pale erotion tremble at the shades , and the fowl dog of hell's prodigious heads , her age fullfilling just six winters was , had she but known so many dayes to pass . ' mongst you old patrons may she sport and play , and with her lisping tongue my name oft say . may the smooth turf her soft bones hide , and bee o earth as light to her as she to thee ! quod datur non perire , epig. . a thief may break thy chests , and steal thy gold , a fire consume thy fathers house of old , debtors detain thy use and principal , thy sown seed bring thee no increase at all : a crafty harlot may thy steward plunder , thy ships and goods the rageing seas sinck under : ' what 's on thy friends bestow'd is above fate : ' thy gifts thou still shalt have inviolate . de thaide & lecania . epig. . thais her teeth are black and nought , lecania's white are grown , but what 's the reason ; these are bought , the other wears her own . de philone , epig. . philo nere sups at home he swears : t is true , for not invited crib must want his due . ad labienum , epig. . when ( labiene ) by chance i thee did see sitting alone , i thought thou hadst bin three . the number of thy baldnesse me deceivd , for here and there thy haires i then retreivd ▪ which a boy's head will hardly well become , upon thy crown lyes a large vacant room , a floor wherein no hair 's observ'd to bee . yet this december's error yeilds to thee , that when the emp'ror keeps his solemn day , thou carry'st three shares of his almes away . geryon i suppose was such a one , but when thou seest phillippus porch , begon ▪ if hercules shall spy thee th' art undone . in posthumum , epig. . what thou conferr'st on me i do remember , and shall think on too . why therefore doe i hold my tongue ? cause ( posthumus ) thou nere hast done . as often as i go to treat of these thy gifts to them i meet , t is presently replyd , forbear , he whisperd it into my eare . two men some things cannot doe well , one person may suffice to tell , and doe this work : if it may please that i shall speak , then hold thy peace . for prethee posthumus believe though that thy gifts are great to give , ' all thanks must perish , and are lost ' when authors their own actions boast . ad bassum , epig. . my bassus why ? why dost thou write thyestes feast ? medea's flight ? what hast to doe with niobe ? or troys remains andromache ? deucalion's feat's a theam more fit , or phaethon's to share thy wit. ad lupum , epig. . lupus is careful , and of me doth crave to know what master for his son to have ? i give thee warning all grammarians shun , and rhetoricians too : then out upon tullie's and virgill's barren books and name , leave old tutilius to enjoy his fame . if he makes verse ? expell the poet streight , but if he fancy arts of richer weight , let him turn fidler , or a minstrel bee , but if he 's dull of ingenuitie ? make him a noble publique citty cryer , or famous architect that works by squire . ad posthumum epig. . to morrow posthumus , to morrow still thou sayst thou 'lt live : but posthumus when will that morrow come ? how far ? where to be found ? is 't in the parthian , or armenian ground ? or can that morrow priam's age out-boast ? or nestor's ? tell what will that morrow cost ? thou 'lt live to morrow ? this days life 's too late , hee 's wise that liv'd before the present date . ad detractorem , epig. . though thou dost bark against me still with bitter yelpings of ill will , that fame shall sure thee be denyed in my books to be notified , though t is desired of old by thee through the world to be read with mee . for why should men know thou hast bin ? obscurely perish in thy sin . yet peradventure there may bee in this great citty two or three a dogs skin that would dain to gnaw , that scab my nails shall never claw . in marianum , epig. . who is that crispulus ? ( my marian ) that sticks so to thy wife ? what is he man ? i know not what that prattles in her eare ? and leans with his right elboe on her chaire ? through all whose fingers her light ring doe● run ? whose smoother legs no rough haire growes upon ? reply'st thou not ? he 's one thou dost confesse that doth solicite thy wife's businesse . a sharp observant lad , that wears the proctor lock'd in his looks , more strict than an old doctor ? how worthy thou deserv'st stage buffets thus ? or to succeed old blind panniclus ? crispulus doe thy wife's work ? he does none ; t is not thy wife 's he does , but 't is thy own . ad suos ministros , epig. . callistus fill four cups of muscadine , and in coole snow my boy dissolve the wine . let my moyst hair grow rich with perfume sweats , and tyre my brows with rose-bud coronets . the royal tombes commands us live : since they teach that the very gods themselves decay . id pontilianum , epig. . pontilian nere salutes till after mee : so his farwel will everlasting bee . de origine bacchi , . he that affirmes jove , bacchus mother , may prove semele his father the same way . ad theodorem , epig. . why i nere give my books to thee desiring , and beseeching mee , dost wonder theodore ? the cause is cleare , that thine to me may not appeare . de pompeio , epig. . great pompey's sons europe and asia both interr , lybia himselfe , if any doth ? what wonder through the world to see him slain ; so great a fall one field could not contain . ad quinctum , epig. . ( quinctus ) why laelia married is to thee ? t is only once legitimate to bee . ad cinnam , epig. . oft drinking poyson prepared mithridate , no venom could his brains intoxicate : so cinna by bad meales so fixd doth grow , hunger cannot prevail to starve him now . ad aemilianum , epig. . if thou art poor aemilian ? thou shalt be ever so . for no man now their presents can but on the rich bestow . lib. . adulatorium caesarem , epig. . most mighty caesar , king of kings , to whom rome owes so many tryumphs yet to come , so many temples growing and restored , so many spectacles , gods , cities : lord she yet in debt to thee doth more remain , that she by thee is once made chast again . de thelesina , epig. . ( faustinus ) from the hour the julian law revived , and chastity began to draw by publique edict into every house , scarce thirty days have pass'd , since thelesine was askd , and ten times over hath bin made a spouse . she that doth wed so oft , weds not at all : but rather her we may more truly call a meer legitimate adulteresse : a simple arrant wench offends me lesse de fabulla , epig. . fabulla sweares those new bought hairs paulus now by her worne , are all her own , most truly shown ; prethee is she for sworn ? if thou deny , so cannot i. ad priscum de salonino , epig. . salonine lyes interr'd in spanish ground , a sweeter shade nere pass'd the stygian sound . but it 's a sin to mourn for him . for since ( my priscus ) thou surviving art , he lives yet in his more beloved part . ad posthumum causidicum , epig. . no action of battery , of murder , or of poyson , i pursue : but of three kids bereft i doe accuse my neighbour's theft . the judge requires how i it know : thou tell'st th' apulian overthrow , the pontick war , and perjury of h●●nibal's rash cruelty , scylla and marius , mutius wrath , with open mouth , and spead armes both . now posthumus i prethee tell at last where i my kids may smell . in proculinam , epig. . because thou joynst ( my proculine ) in marriage with thy concubine , one that most palpably before did only love thee as a whore , least that the law thee should distresse , thou dost not marry but confesse . in lesbiam , epig. . lesbia thou seemst my thomas to command , as 't were a finger at thy will to stand : which though thou temp'st with flatt'ring hands and voice , thy crosse grain'd face still countermands thy choice . epitaphium glauciae , epig. . the free born boy of melior which being dead , whole rome mournd for , his dearest patron 's short delight , ( glaucias ) interr'd in endlesse night under this marble tombe doth ly , the great flaminian road hard by , of modest life , and purely chast accutely witty , and sweet faced , just twice six harvests he passd by scarcely disroab'd of infancy , o traveller that these dost moan mayst thou nere weep such of thine own ! de eodem , epig. . no slave of a plebeian house or kind , but a lad worthy his lord's love to finde , glaucia my meliar's manumitted boy scarce capable his gifts yet to enjoy , this boon with life and form he did partake , none look'd more lovely , none more sweetly spake . ' things too much doted on live short : and such thouwouldst love long , let them not please too much . in paetum , epig. . if thou hadst sent mee presentlie six sesterties , when first to mee thou saydst ( my paetus ) take , i give , i de ow'd there ten score as i live . but now to doe 't with this delay when seaven or nine months slipd away , wouldst have me tell thee what i think ? paetus th' hast clearly lost thy chinck . de morte , othonis , epig. . whiles yet bellona doubts the warlike doom , and softer otho might have overcome , he stops the costly charge of blood in war , and by his sword fals his own murderer . he liv'd a cato , more than caesar too , yet dying , how like otho he did doe ? ad diadumenum , epig. . seale me squeez'd kisses ( diadumene ) how many ? count the billows of the sea , or spread cockles on th' aegaean shore , or wandring bees in the cecropian store , or th' hands and voices in the theatre when rome salutes her suddain emperor : i slight how many courted lesbia gave catullus : he that numbers , few would have . in carinum , epig. . medall so fine , short breech'd ( carine ) no vain superfluous reliques hast , yet itchest from the head to th' wast ! o wretch what pain dost thou sustain ? i'have no place for 't , yet love the sport ? in lygdum & lectoriam , epig. . y'have playd , enough , lascivious cronies wed , no lust is lawfull but in marriage bed , is this love chast ? lygdus and lectore joyn ? shee 'le prove a worse wife , than a concubine . in pomponiam , epig. . cause the long robe applaudes thine eloquence , t is not thy self , thy supper strikes the sence . de thelesino , epig. whiles thelesine embraced his chast friends stil . his gown was short and thred-bare , cold and mean , but since he serv'd foul gamesters and obscaene now he buyes fields , plate , tables at his will. wouldst thou grow rich bithinicus ? live vain : pure kisses will yield none , or little gain . ad luperlum , epig. . cause thou dost feast so often without mee luperlus , i have found a plague for thee . though thou dost importune , and send , and call , i 'le shew a seeming anger over all . and when thou sayst , what wilt thou ? doe in summ what will i doe ? i am resolv'd to come . epitaphium pant●gathi , epig. . here lyes interrd cropt in his youthful years pantagathus , his masters joy , and tears . learnd with a flying touch to trim loose hairs . and shave the brisly cheek that roughly stares , o earth lye pleasing ! and light on him stand , thou canst not be more light then was his hand . in phaebum , epig. . phaebus belyes with oyle his fained haires , and ore his scalp a painted border wears : thou needst no barber to corect thy pate , phaebus a spung would better doe the feat . in invidum , epig. . rome praises , loves , and sings my merry leaves , me every bosom , every hand receives . one blushes , one growes pale , and one disdains , one stands amazd , one hates me for my pains : this was my great desire , my wishd increas , now now my verses , now my verses please . ad marianum , epig. . thou knowst thy self entrapd , and art aware how coveteous he was that layd the snare . and ( marian ) needs must know his second care ; yet notwithstanding dost make him thine heir , and headily wouldst have him to succeed thee in thy goods and lands by thy last deed. t is true he sent rich gifts , but layd in wire , and can the fish their murderer desire ? or will he ( marian ) truly weep for thee ? to have true tears , reverse thy legac●e . de praecone pu●llam vendente , epig. . gaellian the cryer brought a lass to market , of smale fame to pass , such as in baudy-houses sate : whiles she stood long at a smale rate , he to approve her sound and good drew her near to him as she stood , and kissd her three or four times ore but wouldst thou know what fruit these bore ? why he that bad six hundred pieces for her upon this score did utterly abhor her . ad pannicum de gellia uxore , epig. . pannicus dost desire to know why thy gellia keeps i trow eunuches only with her still ? t is thy cunning gellia's will , to have the secret active sport , yet feel no throws nor anguish for 't . ad martianum , epig. . cotta has livd full sixty years and more , and yet ( my martian ) never felt the sore affliction of a feaver one short 'bout ; thence though unchastly holds his finger out against alcontis , dacus , symmachus , but if our years were well computed thus , and what sharp feavers have took from us , what languishing grief , and sicknesse , we are not less then divided from the happier day , we are but boys in years and yet seem gray . he that conceives ( my priam's age , or nestor's to be long on the worlds stage , is much deceived , much out : for i thee tell to be , is not call'd life , but to be well ▪ de cilice fure , epig. . cilix a knave of noted theft , resolv'd to rob a garden by : but there was nought ( fabullus ) left but a huge marble-dyetie . yet least his empty hand should miss its prey , cilix presumed to steal the god away . ad lupum , epig. . how ? sad and rich ? beware least fortune catch thee lupus , then she 'le call thee thanklesse wretch . in mortem rufi camonii epig. . in th' absence ( rufus ) my sixth booke is out , but thou her reader she doth sadly doubt , base capadocia by a fate unjust gives to thy friends thy bones , to thee thy dust . widdowd bononia bathe friend in tears , while that aemilia thy griefs eccho beares , how pious ? but how short lived did he fall ? five bare olimpiads he had seen in all . rufus thou that wast wont to bear in minde out sports , and them in memory to finde accept this sad verse which i send , as the sweet incense of thy absent friend . de thaide , epig. . thais smells as ill as doth a fullers vate that long hath steepd , broke in the street of late : the tyred goats not more ranck , the breath and breech of lyons , nor stripd dogs-skins in a ditch ; nor adle egg that putrifying lyes , nor pot of rotten fish that stinking dyes . that she may change this plague for some sweet scent , naked and oft she doth the baths frequent , and shines with oyle , lyes in sharp fennell hid , or in bean meale twice or thrice covered . when safe by thousand slights her self she thinks , when all 's done , thais still all thais stinks . lib. . de reditu domitiani , epig. . now sport , if ere , ye muses with my vein , from the north world the god returnes again . december first brings forth the peoples vote , t is just we cry , he comes , with open throat . blest in thy chance , from janus share the day since what he 'd give , thou givest to us , our joy . let the crownd souldier play his solemn sport , while he attends the bayes invested court t is right ( great caesar ) our light jokes to heare , since that thy tryumph them doth love and beare . de casselio , epig. . when sixty years casselius has liv'd meet , he 's witty : when will he be cald discreet ? ad faustinum , epig. . ( faustinus ) to let caesar read my booke with that same face he on my spots doth look . as my page hurts no one it justly hates , i like no glory gain'd at blushrng rates . what does it profit me ? if others whet their spleen in my stile ? and jambiques sweat ? and in my name their viprous poyson vent ? which cannot brook the day ? or orient ? we blameless sport . thou know'st it well , i swear by helicon , and every genius there ; and by thy ears as dieties to mee , reader , i 'me from inhumane envy free . ad regulum , epig. . i have no money ( regulus ) at home , only thy gifts to sell , wilt thou buy some ? in gallum , epig. . when th' hast a face of which no woman may and body without blur , have ought to say , why suitors thee so seldom doe repeat and seek , dost wonder galla ? the fault 's great , as oft as thou and i in the worke joynd , thy lips were silent , but thou prat'st behinde . heavens grant that thou wouldst speak , but bridle that , i 'me angry with thy tatling twit com twat . i 'de rather hear thee fart : for symmachus says that 's a means of laughter unto us . but who can smile to hear the foolish smack of thy loose toul ? and when it gives a crack whose minde and mettle will not fall ? at least speak somthing that may usher in a jest of thy c — 's noise : but if thou art so mute , articulately learn thence to dispute . de natali lucani , ad pollam , epig. this is the day known by its mighty birth which lucane gave to thee , and to the earth o cruel prince ! more cursd in no decree , this at least was not lawfull unto thee . in malum poetam . epig. . when thou dost write sweet epigrams alway , which look more smooth than painted features may , without one grane of salt , or dropp of gall , omad man wouldst thou have them read at al ? meat does not please without it's vinegar , nor faces which in mirth nere wrinckled are , give luscious figs and pomes to boyes : but mine that please , are figs that rellish salt and wine . in caeliam , epig. . to parthians , germans , dacians thou art spread , in cappidocians and cilicians bed . from memphis comes a whipster unto thee , and a black indian from the red sea ; nor dost thou fly the circumcised jew , nor can the muscovite once passe by you ; why being a roman lasse dost do thus ? tell , is 't cause no roman-knack can please so well ? de caelio , epig. . when various walks , and dayes in wandring on , and pride , and great mens salutation , caelius could not endure , and bear about , he feign'd himself tormented with the gout , which while he strove to personate too much , in a laborious gate upon his crutch , binding , and ' noynting his sound feet : o see how much the care and curiositie , and art of feigned grief , did work and please ! caelius has left dissembling his disease . ad licinium suram , epig. . licinius ! thou crown of learned men ! whose tongue brought back our grand-fathers agen , thou art restored , but with how great a fate ? returnd almost from the eternal gate , our wishes now had loss'd their fear : secure our tears did weep thy losse as pass'd all cure . but yet the king of death could not sustain our grief , and sent the fates their threds again . thou knowst what moan thy false death moved for thee , enjoy thy self in thy posteritie . live as thine own surviver , hug thy joy : a life returnd will never loose a day . de annio , epig. . annius two hundred tables has i think , and for those tables boyes to fill him drink . the platters fly , and charges run about most fluently . rich men take to your selves these feasts and stir , i care not for your walking supper sir. in umbrem , epig. . the five dayes presents which were given to thee in the saturnal feasts thou sendst to mee . twelve threefoot tables , and seven tooth pickers , a sponge , a napkin , and a cup with ears , two pecks of beans , of olives one smal twig , a bottle of course spanish wine to swig . smal syrian figs with musty damsins came , and a huge cask of lybian figs o' th same : thy gifts were worth scarce five shillings in all , which to me saild on thy eight syrians tall . with how much ease mightst thou have sent in short me five pounds by thy boy and nere sweat for t . de caecilianum , epig. . without a bore caecilan neere doth feast , ( titus ) caecilan has a pretty guest . in cinnamum , epig. . thou wast a barber through the citty known , though by thy mistris raised to the gown , of knight-hood ( cinnamus ) when thou shalt fly the judgment of the court to sicily , what art shall then sustain thy uselesse age ? how will thy fugitive rest foot the stage ? thou canst not be grammarian , rhetorician , fencer , nor cinick on any condition ▪ nor yet a stoick , nor canst sell thy tongue or thy applause in the sicilian throng : what then ( my cinnamus ) doth yet remain ? why thou must e'en turn shaver once again . in gargilanum , epig. . full twenty years ( gargilian ) thou hast lost in one suit in three courts to thy great cost . o mad and wretched ! that in strifes dost run through twenty years , and mayst be overcome ? de labieno , epig. . fabius left labian heir to all his store : yet labian sayes that he deserved more . ad maximum , epig. . thou hast a house on the aventine hill , another where dianan's worshipped still , in the patrician street more of them stand , hence thou beholdst within thine eyes command the widdowed cybells , thence vesta with all , there either jove earth'd in the capitall . where shall i meet thee ? tell , where wilt appear . ' he dwels just no where , that dwels every where . in anum deformem , epig. . wouldst thou be wimbled gratis when thou art a wrinkled wretch deformd in every part ? o t is a thing more than ridiculous : to take a man's full sum , and not pay use ? ad philomusum , . epig. cause great ones carry thee themselves to please to feasts , to galleries , and spectacles , and coach thee up and down , and bathe with thee as oft as thou jump'st in their company : nere hug thy self for this , or look proud for 't , th' art not beloved , but onely makest them sport . in tuccam , epig. . tucca most earnestly doth look , i should present him with my book : but that i will not : for i smell my book he will not read , but sell . ad lausam , epig. . ( lausus ) just thirty epigrams in all , my volume thou most truly bad mayst call : but if beside so many good there be , the book is good enough then credit me . de eutrapelo , epig. . while that the barber went to trim and shave lupercus chops and chin , he was so tedious on the face another beard grew in the place . ad sabellum , epig. . cause thou dost pen tetrasticks clean and sweet and some few pretty disticks with smooth feet , i praise but not admire : t is easie to acquire short modest epigrams that pretty look , but it is hard and tough ▪ to write a book . in sextum , epig. . sextus was wont me to his feasts to call , when i was scarce made known to him at a●● what have i done so late ? so sudenly ? that i his old companion am pass'd by ? after so many pledges , many years ? but i perceive the cause : no gift appea● of beaten silver from me , no light coat no cloak , fee , or negotiating groat . sextus invites his gifts , but not his friends ▪ then cryes his servants bones shall make amends . epitaphium vrbici pueri , epig. . my parents grief i here lye in this tombe , who had my birth and name from mighty rome : six months i wanted of three years to mee , when my life's thred was cut by destinie . what favour shall age , tongue , or beauty have ? thou that readst this shed some teares on my grave . so he that thou wouldst have thy self survive , shall longer then decrepit nestor live . de milone , epig. . milo is not at home , but travell'd out , his fields ly barren , but his wife doth sprout : but why 's his land so bare ? his wife so full ? his land has none , his wife has many a pull . lib. . ad librum suum , epig. . thou that art entring the tryumphant court , learn with a blushing grace more chast to sport . strip'd venus hence : this is not thy book , great caesar's goddess come , and on me look . ad caesarem domitianum , epig. . how great a concourse of the world doth bring their i ô ? and make prayers for their king ? but this is not alone a humane joy , caesar , the gods themselves keep holy-day . in cinnam , epig. . cinna is this to plead ? and wisely say only nine words in ten hours of the day ? but with a mighty voyce thou cravest for thee the hour-glass twice two times revers'd to bee , cinna , how great 's thy taciturnitie ! ad quinctum , epig. . nine ounces blear-ey'd hylas would have payd now dusk he tenders half thy debt delayd : take his next offer : gain's occasion's short , if he prove blinde , thou wilt have nothing for 't . de basso , epig. . bassus bought cloaks of the best tyrian dy , forbear ten thousand pieces , gaind thereby : but was his bargain so good cheap you 'le say ? he took it upon trust , or stole't away . ad priscum , epig. . dost ask why i 'de not marry a rich wife ? i 'le not be subject in that double strife . let matrons to their heads inferior be else man and wife have no equalitie . de cinna , epig. . cinna would seem to need , and so he does indeed . ad luciferum , epig. . phosphor produce the day : why dost delay our joys ? lo , caesar comes , produce the day . rome begs it . what slow chariot carryes thee ? what signe ? that thy sweet rayes retarded bee ? take cyllaron from the ledaean star , castor himself will lend his horse for war , why dost rein in the forward eager sun ? apollo's courser with their harness on , aurora waites : but yet the spangled night will not give room to the more glorious light , diana longs to see the ausonian king , come caesar , though in night , thy presence bring : for though the stars their revolution stay , thee coming we shall never want a day . ad caesarem domitianum , epig. . if i in fear chance to petition thee , if i 'me not impudent , vouchsafe it mee . if thou 'lt not grant , daign to be askd in love , incense and prayers ne're offended jove . ' he that an image frames in gold or stone , ' makes not a god , he that kneels , makes it one . in oppianum , epig. . oppiane thou only once didst come to see me very sick : i 'le oftner visit thee . ad gaurum , epig. . gaurus he that doth gifts bestow on thee both rich and old , if thou art wise thou needs must know hee 'd have thee dead and cold . in pessimos conjuges , epig. . when that yee are so like in life an extream wicked man and wife , i wonder how you live in strife . ad priapum , epig. . no guardian of a garden , or vine bud , but ( my priapus ) of a mighty wood , from whence th' art born , and again born mayst bee , i charge thee keep all thievish hands from me . preserve thy masters grove for firing too , for if that faile , we shall finde wood in you . ad faustinum , epig. . sad athenagoras us no presents sent which in the winter he did still present : i 'le see ( faustinus ) if he be so sad , i 'm sure he me hath truly sorry made . ad cestum puerum , epig. . how sweet's thy vertue , and thy shape to us ? cestus my boy , chast as hippolitus ! diana's self may teach , and swim with thee , more wish'd then phrygus by old cybele . thou mayst succeed ganymede in his place , and unsuspected smug the thund'rer's face . o happy she shall climbe thy tender bed ! and make thee man first for a maiden head ! in variè se tondentem , epig. . part of thy hair is shorn , part shaved to thee , part pull'd : who 'le think it but one head to be . de aspro , epig. . blinde asper loves a lass that beauteous is , yet as it seems he loves more than he sees . ad caesarem domitianum , epig. . though thou givest great boons oft , and wilt give more o king of kings , and thy self's conquerour ! the people love thee not cause they partake thy blessings : but thy blessings for thy sake . ad flaccum , epig. . when to our age times may subscribe of yore , and rome's encreased great with her emperour , dost wonder maro's fancy wanting is ? and none sound wars like that brave trump of his ? let patrons ( flaccus ) poets soon will bee , thy country shall yield virgil unto thee . when near cremona tytirus did weep his wretched acres , and loss'd flock of sheep the royal tuscan smiled : fell poverty repuls'd , and by command away to fly : bad him be rich , and best of poets bee , and cryed my sweet alexis love with mee . he that most amiable did waiting stand filling black falerne wine with snowy hand , and tasted cups gave to his rosie lip , which might solicite jove himselfe to sip . course galatea from the poet drops , and sun-burnt thestilis in harvest crops . forthwith he fancied rome , arms , and the prince : which the poor gnat mournd but a moment since . what should i quote the vari ? marsi ? and the glorious names of poets rich in land ? which to recfunt would be a tedious pain ? shall i then be thy virgil , if again thou wilt maecenas bounty shew to mee ? i 'le not thy virgil , but thy marsus bee . de picente , epig. . old picens had three teeth which from him come as he sat coughing hard over his tombe : which fragments he tooke up into his brest dropd from his mouth : then laid his bones to rest . least that his heire should not them safely s●e interr'd : he did himself the curtesie . ad entellum , epig. . oh that the famed alcinous garden sees may well prefer ( entellus ) thine to his . least nipping winter peirce the purpl● grapes , and on the vines smart frosts commit their rapes . thy vintage in a gem inclosed lyes , and the grape cover'd , not hid from our eyes . so female shapes shine through their tifanie , and pibbles in the waters numbred bee , what would not nature free , to wit , impart ? when winter's made an autumn by thy art . in vacerram , epig. . thou only dost admire old poets past , and praisest none but such have writ their last : hence i beseech ( vacerra ) pardon mee , t is not worth perishing to humor thee . ad liberum amicum , epig. . ( liber ) thy friends sweet care ! worthy to bee crownd with rose-buds to all eternitie ! art wise ? still let thy hair with unguents flow ! while flowry garlands compasse in thy brow ! may thy clear glass with falerne wine black prove ! and thy soft bed growe warme with softer love ! a life thus led , though in its youth resign'd , is made much longer than it was design'd . in fabullum , epig. . when wrinckled beldames thy familiars bee , or filthy bauds , or worse if ought you see , when these compagnions thou dost leade along through every feast with thee , and walke , and throng , ( fabulla ) thus compared we needs must say th' art handsome and dost bear the bell away . lib. . ad domitianum , epig. . if thou shouldst challenge what is due to thee from heaven , and its creditor wouldst bee ; if publique sale should be cryed through the sphaeres , and th' gods sell all to satisfy arrears , atlas will banq'rrupt prove , nor one ounce bee reserved for jupiter to treat with thee . what canst thou for the capitol receive ? or for the honour of the laurel-wreath ? or what will juno give thee for her shrine ? pallas i pass , she waits on thee and thine . alcides , phaebus , pollux i slip by and flavia's temple neighb'ring on the sky . caesar thou must forbear , and trust the heaven : jove's chest has not enough to make all even . in aeschylum , epig. . when for two guilders galla thou might'st swive , and more then so if thou it double give : aeschylus why did she take ten of thee ? the feate's not worth it : what ? the secresie . in paullam , epig. . paulla thou very fain wouldst priscus wed , i wonder not , t is witty so to doe : but priscus will not medle with thy bed , and therein he is full as witty too . in amicum caenipetam , epig. . dost think this man whom thy feast makes thy freind a heart of faithfull friendship can pretend ? he loves thy brawn thy oysters , but not thee , let me sup so , he shall be friend to mee . in afrum , epig. . as oft as we thy hyllus doe behold filling thy wine , thy browes doe seem to scold , what crime is 't , i would know to view thy boy ? we look upon the gods , the stars , the day , shall i fling back as when a gorgon lyes steep'd in the cup ? and hide my face and eyes ? great hercules was feirce in crueltie yet we might see his pretty hylas free : nor would great jove have ought in wrath to say if mercury with ganimede did play . ( afer ) if then we must not view thy loose soft ministers that serve thee in thy house , invite such men as phineas to bee thy guests or oedipus that nere could see . epitaphium latini , epig. . the stage his sweet renown , the fame of playes , latinus known by name , i here lye seiz'd in deaths cold night , thy great applause , thy delight . i that could make strict cato be my joy'd spectator , and at mee the curii and fabricii smile and loose their gravity the while . but yet my life nere bore away ▪ ought from the theatre or play , i only there did act my part not out of nature , but by art . nor could i to great caesar bee grateful without my vanitie . yet deifi'd domitian might see that my inward parts were right . but ye may call me at your will a parasite of phoebus still , while rome may know me rais'd above into the family of jove . qualem velit amicam , epig. . i love a lasse that 's apt , and plain doth goe , and with my boy hath had a bout or t●o . and her that two-pence makes her mine all ore , and being one can tugg with ▪ half a score , shee that asks pay , and in bigg straines doth ball , let her bee drudg to thickskinn'd burdigal . in ponticum . epig. . ( ponticus ) cause thou ne're doth swive , but some by-lusts contentment give , and thy more conscious hands supply the service of thy venery : dost think that this is no offence ? ( believe it ) it's damn'd excellence is of so foule and high a weight thou can'st not reach it in conceipt . horace but once did doe the feat that he three glorious twins might get , mars and chast ilia once did joyn that rome's great founders they might coyn . all had been loss'd , had either's list , spent his foule pleasure in his fist . when thus then thou shalt tempted bee think that dame nature cryes to thee , that which thy fingers doe destroy o ponticus it is a boy . in gaurum . epig. . gaurus approves my wit but slenderly , cause i write verse that please for brevity . but he in twenty volumes drives a trade of priam's warrs . o hee 's a mighty blade ! we give an elegant young pregnant birth , he makes a dirty gyant all of earth . in mamurram . epig. . mamurra , long and much stalk'd up and down the stalls , where all the goods are sold in rome , beholds the boyes , and with them feeds his eyes , nere prostitute from their first cottages , such whom the cages kept in secresie , close from my cronies and the peoples eye , thence ful , he calls for the round tables down , and t' have the high placed ivory open showne , and measuring the tortoise beds thrice ore , as too small for his cypress groaned sore . then smells if purely corinth the brass scent , and delian statues give him no content . complains the crystalls mix'd with courser glass . marks myrrhine cupps , and ten aside doth place , cheapens old baskets and if any were wrought cups by noble mentur's cunning there , and numbers the green em'ralds layd in gold , or any from the eares that take their hold , then seeks true gems in table boards most nice . and of rich pretious jaspers asks the price . tyred and departing when the eleventh houre come , he bought two farthing cupps , and carr'd them home . in aeschylum , epig. . i enjoyd a buxsom lass all night with mee , which none could overcome in venerie . thousand wayes tyred , i askd that childish thing , which she did grant at the first motioning , blushing and laughing i a worse besought , which she most loose vouchsafed as quick as thought . yet she was pure , but if she deale with you shee 'l not be so , and thou shalt pay dear too . in caecilianum , epig. . o times ! ô manners ! tully cry'd of old when cat●line his curs'd plot did unfold , when caesar and great pompey took the field , and civill war with blood the ground did guild . why dost thou cry ô times , ô manners now ? what doth displease ( caecilian ) what cramps you ? there 's not contest of princes , no swords rage ▪ but peace and gladness all the world asswage ▪ 't is not our guilt makes the times bad to thee , ' thy own ( caecilian ) force them such to bee . in sutorem , epig. . o thou whose teeth were wont to reach old hides , and gnaw base rotten soles with dirty sides , thou hast thy patron 's lands now in th● grave , in which i vexe that thou a crib shouldst have , and drunk dost break the christals with burn wine , and frigst thy late lord's boy as he were th●ne . with letters my sad parents fooled mee , o learning , what have i to doe with thee ? thalia burn thy books , and thy quills too ▪ if coblers get such boons from an old shooe . de effigie camoni , epig. . this which you see is my camonus face , such his young looks , such his first beauty was ▪ thy countenance grew stronger twice ten years till a beard cream'd his cheeks with downy haires . the offer'd purple once his shoulders spread , but one of the three sisters wish'd him dead , and thence his hast'ned thred of life did cut , which to his father in a sad urne put came from his absent pile : but least alone this picture should present his beauty gone , his image yet more sweetly drawn shall be in never dying papers writ by mee . de gellia , epig. . an old rich wife starv'd gellius bare and poore d●d wed : so she cramm'd him and he cram'd her . ad auctum , epig. . my readers and my hearers like my books , but a quaint poet sayes th' are not done cleare : i care not much for pleasing of the cooks , if that my guests affect my slender cheare . in munnam , epig. . th' astrologer fore-told of thee , that thou shouldst perish suddenlie ; nor ( munna ) doe i think he told a lye ; for thou for fear least there should bee ought left for thy posteritie , hast wasted all thy wealth in luxurie , thy brace of millions in one year was spent , was not this perishing incontinent ? ad rufum , epig. . while thou didst seek mylove , thou senst mee some presents , but now thou hast it no gifts come . that thou mayst hold mee ( rufus ) still bee free least th' ill fed bore break from his fra●●● and flie . domitiano adulatorium , epig. . if that a diverse invitation came at once in jove's and in great caesar's name , though that the stars were near , rome more remote , the gods in answer should have this my vote , go seek an other that jove's guest would bee , my jupiter on earth hath fett'red mee . lib. . liber ad lectorem , epig. . if i seem of a tedious length to thee , read but a few , i will a manual be , m● page in three or four short lines shall cease , 〈…〉 mee as brief as may thy fancy please . ad eundem , epig. . my tenth book 's care once hast'ned from my hand is now revok'd againe to be new scann'd , part hath been publick , but they new smooth'd are , o favour both , the last's the greater share . reader , these riches when rome gave to mee , shee said no greater we can give to thee . by these thou shalt escape oblivion , and live in thy best part when thou art gone . the fig-tree may messala's marble weare , and base mule-drivers crispus statues jeare , no theft can papers hurt , no age thrust by , these monuments alone can never dye . in maledicum poetam , epig. . who so by impious verse in all the towne scandals the senators or matrons gown , which rather ought be worshipp'd : let him bee bannish'd through all the seats of beggerie . and let him from the dogs bespeak their meat ▪ be his december long , his winter wet , let his shut vault prolong the frost most sad , and let him cry such happy that are dead on hellish-bedsteads carried to their grave , and when his last threds their fulfilling have , and the slow day shall come , ô let him see himself the strife of dogs , and his limbes bee the prey of ravenous birds , nor let his pains end in the simple crack of his heart's veins , but feeling the strict doom of aeacus , one while let him relieve old sisyphus , then scortch in tantalus his dry desire , and all the fables of the poets tyre , and when the truth the furies shall demand , may his false conscience cry this was the hand . de paulla , epig. . paulla thou needs would'st marry mee when thou art old and tough : i cannot : yet i 'de venture thee wert thou but old enough . in calliodorem , epig. . ( calliodore ) there 's no other talk with thee but theseus and perithous : and would'st bee conceiv'd like pylades . but let mee dye if thou deserv'st to hold a mallet by to pylades , or feed perithous swine , yet thou sayst thou hast serv'd some friends of thine with twice five millions , and a coat thrice wore , what ? as if sweet orestes gave no more at any time to his dear friend ? why hee that giveth much , not all , doth more denie . ad crispum , epig. . crispus thou say'st thou art best friend to mee , but how you 'le make it good i ask let 's see ? when i desired ten pieces , 't was denyed , though that thy chest could not thy coyne bestride , when didst thou send me one peck of bean meale ? when thou didst reap thy fields by fruitfull nile ? in winter frosts when did a short coat come ? or one half pound of silver in a sum ? i see not how thou my familiar art , but that before me thou art wont to fart . in cajum ▪ epig. . ( cajus ) if promises be all thy gifts , i 'le overcome thee in thy bounteous shifts . take all th' sturian digs in spanish fields , and all the ore that golden tagus yields , what ere the indian finds in the sea weed , and what the phaenix in her nest hath hid , take all great tyros cloath of richest dy , take all men have : o how thy gifts doe fly ! de m. antonio , epig. . happy antonius in a pleasant age hath seen fifteen olympiads on earth's stage : looks back on his pass'd dayes and safer years with joy , nor at his near grave shrinks or fears . no day's ingrate or sad to think upon , nor doth he blush to mention any gone , a good man doubles his life's date : for hee lives twice , that can his age with comfort see . in calliodorum , epig. . thou for three hund'red pence thy man didst sell , ( callidore ) that thou might'st but once sup well . nor didst that neither : for afour pound fish was the crown of thy feast , and thy chief dish , pase wretch this is not fish we justly can exclaim , t is man , thou dost devoure a man. de imagine m. antonio ad caeditianum , epig. . this draught adorn'd with rose-buds which you see , whose picture is 't ( caeditian ) ask'st thou mee ? such was mark antoni in his prime years , when old such was his unchanged look and hairs , o would that art his minde and parts could draw , a fairer portraicture earth never saw ! in lesbiam , epig. . lesbia why dost thou swear that thou wast born that year when brutus was made consull ? t is a lye . thy mother brought thee forth her womb when numa reigned first in rome , and so again thou dost the truth deny . for thy long dated ages seem to say thou wast produced from prometheus clay . ad philerotem , epig. . thy seaventh wife now lyes buried in the field , thy ground more gain than any mans doth yield . ad julium martialem , epig. . most pleasant martial these are they that make the happyer life and day , means not sweat for , but resign'd , fire without end , fields still in kinde , no strife , no office , inward peace , free strength , a body sans disease , a prudent plainesse , equal friends , cheap cates , not scraped from the world's ends , a night not drown'd , but free from care , sheets never sad , and yet chast are , sleep that makes short the shades of night , art such thou would'st be , if there might a choice be offer'd , nor dost fear nor wish thy last dayes exit here . epitaphium nobilis matronae , epig. . behold these little marble stones which veile not to those mighty ones of caesar , nor the carian pride : terentus twice my life hath try'd , and t was sincere to my last end . five boyes great juno did me sen d , and just as many girles as those whose hands my dying eyes did close . and this rare glory happ'ned more to mee , one prick was privy to my chastitie . epitaphium vetulae . epig. . here pyrrha's daughter , nestor's mother in law , whom youthful noibe in gray hairs saw , whom old laertes did his beldame name , great priam's nurse , thyestes wive's grandam , surviver to all nine lived dawes are gone , old ●lotia with her bald melanthion lyes itching here at last under this stone . de phillide , epig. . two men betimes came phillida to swive , and strove which of them first the feat should doe , she promised both , to both her self to give , did it , one stole her gown , th' other her shooe . ad caecilianum , epig. . dost wonder afer cannot sleep ? dost see what a sweet faced companion hath hee ? in ligellam , epig. . why dost thou reach thy merkin now half dust ? why dost provoke the ashes of thy lust ? girles such lasciviousnesse doth best beseem , for thou art pass'd old woman in esteem . that trick ( ligella ) suites not , credit mee , with hecuba , but young andromache . thou err'st , if this a c — thou dar'st to call to which no prick doth now belong at all , if thou cann'st blush ligella , be afear'd to pull a deceas'd lyon by the beard . de numa , epig. . while they the funeral charge prepare which in the paper piles placed are , and numa's weeping wife now buyes sweet perfumes for his obsequies , his grave and beere being ready made , and one to wash his body dead , and me left heire by his own pen , pox on him ! he grew well agen . lib. . ad lectores , epig. . sad looks , and rigid cato's stricter brow , and course fabricius daughter from the plough , disguised pride , manners by rule put on , and what we are not in the dark , begon . my verses iô saturnalia cry , and ( nerva ) under thee 't is liberty . de suis libellis , epig. . my lines are not alone delighted here , nor doe i spend them on the idle eare , but by the sowre centurion they are lost under his ensignes in the getick frost . and brittain's said my verse to sing : but what can thence accrew ? my purse ne're hears of that . what never dying papers could i write ? and glorious wars in a rich strain indite ! should heaven augustus once again revive , and rome to me a sweet maecenas give ! ad romam , epig. . in sythe-crown'd saturn's feasts , wherein the box of dice doth reign as king , all-cover'd rome thou dost permit me now to sport my fluent wit , so i suppose , for thou did'st smile , thence we are not forbid the while . ye pallid cares far hence begon , i 'le speak what ere i think upon , sans any studied delay , so fill me out three cups my boy , such as pithagoras did give to nero when he here did live , but ( dindymus ) fill faster too , for sober i can nothing doe . when i am drunck up to the height full fifteen poets seize me streight . now give me kisses , such as were catullus his and if they are so numerous as his are said to bee , i will catullus sparrow give to thee . epitaphium paridis , epig. . thou that beat'st the flaminian way passe not this noble tombe but stay , here rome's delight , and nile's salt treasure , art , graces , sport , and sweetest pleasure , the grief and glory of the stage , and all the cupids of the age , and all the venusses lye here interr'd in paris sepulcher . de libro suo , epig. . i have such papers that grim cato's wife may read , and strictest sabines in their life . i will this book should laugh throughout and jest , and be more wicked than are all the rest , and sweat with wine , and with rich unguents flow , and sport with boyes , and with the wenches too ; nor by periphrasis describe that thing that common parent whence we all doe spring ; which sacred numa once a prick did call . yet still suppose these verses saturnal . ( o my apollinaris ) this my book has no dissembled manners , no feign'd look . ad lupum , epig. . ( lupus ) thou gavest a farm in rome to mee , a larger through my loop-hole i can see , but canst thou this a living call or prove ? which one poor sprig of rue shades like a grove ? which one sly grashopper's wing hides all ore ? and which an ant can in a day devoure ? which with a rose-leaf may be crown'd , in which a larger herb cannot be found than a small pepper-blade that 's newly sprung ? in which a cucumer can't lye along ? nor serpent safely dwell unlesse half seen ? the garden scarce a cancker-worm can dine , the wood consumed it starves a single moth , a mole 's my laborer and plough-man both , a mushroom cannot blow in 't , nor a rush smile , nor sweet violets their heads forth push . a mouse layes wast the bounds by the farmer more is fear'd than was the caladonia● bore . the herbage in a swallow's foot at best is carryed at a burden to her nest . nor can priapus when hee 's but half man'd without a prick or sickle in it stand . the gathered crop will scarce a snails house fill , the vintage may be housed in a nut-shell . ( lupus ) thou err'dst but in a * single letter , for when thou gavest mee this thou hadst done better to have invited mee — to dine with thee . in gallam , epig. . galla dost ask why thee i will not take in marriage bonds to joyn with mee ? thou art too eloquent i see . my prick doth oft a solaecisme make . in paediconem masturbantem , epig. . cause thou dost kisse thy boyes soft lips with thy rough chin , and with strip'd ganimede dost lye , who does deny thee this ? t is well . at least frig not thy self with thy lascivious fist , this in light toyes more than the prick offends , their fingers hasten and the man up sends , hence goatish rancknesse , suddain hairs , a beard springs forth to wondring mothers much admired . nor doe they please by day when in the bath they wash their skins . nature divided hath the males : half to the girles born to be shown , the other half to men : use then thy own . in silam , epig. . sila's prepared to marry mee on any score what ere it bee . but i shall put by sila still ; be the condition what it will. yet when she needs would fasten hold give me cryd i in ready gold ten hundred thousand sesterties in dowry : for what can be less ? nor will i swive thee though it bee our very first nights jollitie . nor shall my couch or pallat lye in common both to thee and i. and when my hand-maid i embrace thou shalt not dare to make a face . but if thine too i doe command she shall be sent me out of hand . my wanton boy my lips most sweet shall smack though thou art by to see 't . it makes no matters whether he my boy or else thy eunuch bee . and when thou dost to supper come thou shall sit in a distant room : that my mantle take no smutch from thy courser garments touch . and when thy kisses i receive it shall be seldom and with leave . not as a wife , but cold as shee that may my rivel'd grandame bee . if thou canst bear such things as these , and nought refuse that i shall please ; sila thou suddainly shalt finde a man to satisfy thy minde . ad phillidem , epig. . when thou beginst to raise by thy old hand and wayes my languishing desire to force it come phillis i 'me tortured with thy active thumb . for when thou call'st me thy dear life , thy pretty eye , me thinks i scarcely am wound up by thee in ten houres to the height of venerie . thou knowst not the true flatterie : say but once thou wilt give to mee a hundred thousand sesterties in hand , so many acres of campanian land , a house , and boyes , and wine that 's old , tables , and cups border'd with gold : no fingers then will needful be to thee , thus phillis rub me up , thus tickle mee . in nestorem , epig. . when thou hast neither coat , nor fire , nor bed that 's eat with wormes , nor mat with sedg patch'd up , nor boy , nor man , nor maid , nor infant head , nor lock with thee , nor key , nor dog , nor cup. yet thou affectest to be call'd and seem poor , and to have a popular esteem . thou lyest : thou soothst thy self with vanity , ( nester ) this is not want , but beggery . ad fabullam , epig. . fabullus when thou dost invite three hundred strangers to my sight , dost wonder ? and complain ? and chide ? when thus unknown accompanied ? though call'd i doe not forthwith wait on thee ? me thinks i sup alone , and am not free . in vxorem , epig. . caught with my boyes , at me my wife the froe scolds , and cryes out she hath an ars-hole too . how oft hath juno thus reprov'd loose jove ? yet he with ganimede doth act his love . hercules bent his boy , layd-by his bow , though megara had hanches too we know . phaebus was tortured by the flying wench , yet the oebalian lad those flames did quench . though much denyed briseis from him lay achilles with patroclus yet did play . give not male names then to such things as thine , but think thou hast two twats ô wife of mine . ad senem orbum , epig. . th' art blinde , and rich and under brutus bore , and dost thou think true friendship now to have ? t is true : but such thou hadst when young and poor , he that comes now , desires thee in thy grave . in phillida , epig. . there 's not an houre thou dost not plunder mee when thou perceiv'st me mad with love of thee , phillis thou thiev'st with such calliditie . one while thy cheating maid weeps for the loss of some rich gem , earing , or looking-glasse , which from her hand or eare did slip or passe . then the silk-gowns are stolen away shee 'le fain . to be recovered at my charge and pain , or else some sweet-box must be fill'd again . another while there is an appetite to a rich jug of falerne wine that 's right to expiate the terrors of the night ▪ another while a great jack i must buy , or else a two pound barble : some sweet shee bespeaks a supper at thy cost with thee . blush then at last , and phillis let there bee a just respect of truth and equitie , i grudg thee nothing : nought deny to mee . in cheraemonem , epig. . stoick cheraemon cause that thou canst cry up death i know not how thou would'st have me this thy fortitude admire : some broken pitcher bred in thee this seeming piece of gallantrie , or else some frozen chimney without fire ; a noysom worm , or coverlid , or side-piece of thy naked bed , or a short coat worn by thee day and night , o what a mighty man thou 'lt seem that canst the dregs of sower red wine , and thatch , and poor course black bread dare to slight ! but yet suppose thy couch should bee stuft with leuconick wooll for thee , and purple vallions should thy bed attire , and that thy boy with thee should sleep , which fill'd rich wine with rosy lip and set thy love-inflamed guests on fire ? o how wouldst thou then wish to see thrice nestor's years fullfill'd in thee ? and not a minute of a day loss'd have ? to slight a life in miserie is nothing : but he that can bee contentedly distress'd is truly brave . de lesbia , epig. . lesbia swears she doth never gratis sport , t is true : for when shee 's swived she payes well for 't . in vacerram , epig. . th' art both a pick-thank , and detractor , a cunning cheater , and a factor , a lick-twat , and a fencer too , i wonder much ( vacerra ) how now ? with all these trades thou canst want mony in maronem , epig. . maro you 'le give mee nothing while you live but after death you cry then then you 'le give : if thou art not indeed turn'd arrant ass , thou know'st what i desire to come to pass . de laeda , epig. . laeda complain'd to her old man that shee was choak'd up in her womb , and swived must bee . but weeps and whines her health 's not so much worth , and rather choose to dye than thus hold forth . the poor man begs her live , her youth run on ▪ and what he could not suffers to be done . hence male phisitians come , and female fly , up goes her heels : o mighty remedy ! ad paetum , epig. . paetus thou took'st ten sesterties from mee cause bucco loos'd two hundred due to thee , may others crimes i pray nere hurt me ! when two hundred thou canst loose , why not my ten ? ad paetum , epig. . by ten of clock cause we came but a mile we are accused of tedious sloth the while : t is not the way 's , nor mine , the fault 's in thee paetus , that sent'st thy drowsy mules for mee . de spadone & sene , epig. . an eunuch and an old man strove to lye with aegle , but twixt both she still lay dry , one wanted meanes the other strength to frig , so either's labor itbh'd without a jig . to venus then for them and her shee groans , to give the one his youth , th' other his stones . ad sosibianum , epig. . sosibian no man dwells with thee under thy roofe gratis or free , unlesse hee 's rich or in an orphans state , no house is let out at a dearer rate . in parthenopaeum , epig. . that thy doctor may asswage thy jawes whose cough doth seem to rage daily ( parthenopaeus ) hee commands that they shall give to thee life-honny , kernels , and sweet cakes , that every boy unbidden takes . but day by day thy cough growes more on thee , this is no cough ( i fear ) t is gluttonie . epitaphium canaces , epig. . sweet canace lyes buryed in this tombe , on whom the seaventh winter just hath come . o mischief ! traveler why dost hast to weep ? we must not mourn life shortness now a sleep this kinde of death was worse than death : her face the pox consumed , and spoyl'd its tender grace , those cruel plagues her kisses eate and have , nor were her lips brought whole to the black grave . if the hard fates could not admit of stay , me thinks they might have come some milder way , but death made hast her pretty tongue to seize , least her sweet wo●ds should meet the destinies . in zoilum , epig. . zoilus he lyed that call'd thee vicious elf , thou art not vicious , but vice it self . de theodoro , epig. . a fire consumed the poet's trump●rie : apollo can this please the nine and thee ? o the great crime of heaven ! ô sad disaster ! because the house was burnt and not the master ! in thelesillam , epig. . i can swive four times in a night : but thee once in four years i cannot occupie . ad flaccum , epig. flaccus i would not have a wench so thin whose armes my litle rings can compass in . whose buttock bones would shave , and knee prick harsh , that wears th' saws in her loyns , spears in her arss . nor would i one that 's of a thousand weight , i 'de have some flesh but not all glory fat , in lydiam , epig. . lydia he lyed not that reported has thou hast a handsom skin but not a face , t is so whiles silent , and whiles mute you lye , like pictures wrought in wax or tapestry . but when thou speakst thy skin its grace doth loose , and no tongue more than thine doth thee abuse . beware least th' officer thee hear and take , t is monstrous when an image goes to speak . ad sophronium , epig. . th' hast so much shamefastness and honestie i wonder how a father thou couldst bee . in vxorem , epig. . sweet heart begon : or use our wayes with us , i am no curius , numa , tatius . nights spent in pleasant cups best please my sense , thou to drink water cann'st rise and dispence . thou joy'st in darkness , i by light to sport , or else by day to loose my breeches for 't . swathes or coats cover thee , or obscure stuff , no wench to me can lye displayd enough . such kisses please like doves that are a billing , thou smackst me like thy grandam so unwilling , nor towards the work dost voyce or motion bring , nor hand : but makest it as some offering . the phrygian boyes in secret spent their seed as oft as hector's wife rid on his steed , whiles her sire slept , penelope though chast was wont to play her hand below her wast . thou 'lt not be buggerd : although gracchus wife pompey's and others did it without strife . and when the boy not present was t is said to fill wine : juno was jove's ganimede . if gravity by day doth thee delight , lucretia be : i 'le have thee lais by night . ad lectorem , epig. . though thou mayst justly vex at this long book , yet for some further distichs thou dost look , but lupus for his use doth call , and school-boyes for their dinner ball , then let me goe : thou holdst thy peace : but tell ( reader ) dost thou dissemble too ? farwel . lib. . de ligeia , epig. . if by thy hairs thy age be to be told , ligeia by thy crown th' art three years old . de africano , epig. . african has a thousand pound in store , yet he desires , and hunts , and rakes for more : fortune hath overmuch bestow'd on some ; but plenary content to none doth come . in posthumum epig. . whiles in loose cups thou top'st the night away , then thou wilt promise any thing to doe , but nothing wilt performe on the next day , pray ( posthumus ) drink in the morning too . ad auctum , epig. . anger 's a kinde of gain that rich men know : it costs them less to hate then to bestow . adulatorium caesari , epig. . whatever shined in the parrhasian hall is to our eyes and to our gods given all , jupiter stands and wonders to behold himself in scythian flames of sparckling gold ; great caesar's pleasant pride , and vast expence . these cups may suit with jove's magnificence , such as may well become the phrygian boy , now all with jove are rich and clad with joy . it shames it shames me to confess of yore how all of us with jove were very poor . in lentinum , epig. . lentinus why dost thou complain and groan that all this while thine ague is not gone ? hee 's carried in a chair , and bath'd with thee , eates mushrooms , oysters , sow's paps , and brawn free , oft fox'd with setine , oft with falerne wine , nor caecube drinks without its snow to joyn , lyes compass'd in with rose-buds , black with sweets , in a rich purple bed , soft down , fine sheets . when he doth live so well so brave with thee , wouldst have thy ague to poor dama flie ? in thelesinum , epig. . when money without pledg i ask of thee , i have it not thou soon replyst to mee . yet thou the same man if my field or land will but pass for me , hast it out of hand . when to thy friend thou wilt not credit give , thou cann'st my little hils and trees believe . lo , thou art to be banish'd : come field prethee , wouldst have me now ? no , let my field go with thee . ad julium martialem , epig. . julius 't was foure and thirty year , that thou and i together were . sweeter dayes were mix'd with soure , but yet the pleasanter were more . and if we should divide the time with a diverse coloured line , the white would over-vie the black . if thou wouldst shun the bitter smack , and stinging tortures of the mind , no man to thee too much bind , or too much in thy friend believe : thou shalt joy less , and lesse shalt grieve . in pontilianum , epig. . when thou dost lye , i seemingly believe , when thou repeatst bad verse , my praise i give , when thou dost sing ( pontilian ) i sing out , and when thou dost carouse , i drink about , when thou dost fart , i grunt too in conceipt , and when thou playst at chesse , i am still beat . yet thou dost give nothing : dead , you cry i shall be heir : i care not , prethee dye . in tuccam , epig. . t is not sufficient that thou drunk hast been , but thou desirest so to be call'd and seen . ad ●haebum , epig. . thou that with leather cap hast covered the naked temples of thy hair st●ippd head , how elegantly did he sport and plod , ( phaebus ) that verified thy head was shod . in habentem varios mores , epig. . thou the same man hard , soft , sweet , bitter art , nor can i live with thee , nor yet apart . in lautum invitatorem , epig. . if brawn and mushrooms thou servst up as vile , as though i wish'd them not , know t is my will. if thou conceiv'st me wealthy , and wouldst bee my heir for five bare oysters , farwel thee . but yet thy supper 's rich , most rich , yet there to day , to morrow , streight nought will appeare , that thy unhappy maide's base broom know may , or dog , or house of office by the way . of ba●bles , hares , and sow's paps this the end , a pale sulpherous look , and gowty friend . domitian's feast 's not so much worth to me , nor jove's , nor can the high priest's junckets bee . upon this score should jove bring nectar here , it were as dead wine , or crab-vineger . some other guests go seek sir to your meat , whom the vast kingdoms of thy chear may cheat . my friend to some short steaks may me invite , i like that supper which i can requite . in habentem amaenas aedes , epig. . thou hast bay groves , plain , and high cypress trees , and baths for more than one man's privacies . thy lofty porch on hundred pillars joynes , and the spurn'd onix under thy feet shines . the flying hoofs the dusty race rejoyce , and falls of water each where make a noyse , thy courts stretch wide : but yet no place we smell to sup , or sleep . how well thou dost not dwell ! de fabullo , epig. . why ( aullus ) dost thou wonder that fabullus is so oft snapt by deceipt ? i 'le give thee satisfaction streight , a good man 's still an undergraduate . ad semproniam , epig. . he that his brows deck'd with the muses crowne whose voyce to guilty men no less was known sempronia here thy rufus , here is layd . whose dust even with thy love still drives a trade , ' mongst the blest shades thy story he doth bear , and helen's self thy rape admires to hear , thou better from thy spoyler didst returne , she though redeem'd did after troy still burn . menalaus laughs and hears the ilian loves , thy rape old paris guilt forgives , removes . and when thee those blessed mansions shall re ceive , no shade greater acquaintance there shall have . proserpine loves although she cannot see such rapes , that love shall make her kinde to thee . in avarum , epig. . when thou hast so much coyn and wealth with thee that seldom cittizens or fathers see . yet are not liberal , but thy heaps hangst ore like the great dragon , whom the bards of yore feign'd to be keeper of the scythian grove , but the base cause of this thy muck-worm love , thou brag'st and dost pretend thy son to bee : why dost delude us with this foolerie as though we blocks or idiots had bin ? thou wast a father ever to this sin . in zoilum , epig. . red haird , black faced , club-footed , and blear-eyed , zoilus t is much if thou art good beside . in polycarmum , epig. thou ten times in a year art sick or more . this is not thine ( my friend ) but t is our sore . no sooner well but for thy gifts dost call . blush : prethee once be sick for good and all . ad suum natalem , epig. . dear son of mars , wherein i first did see great phaebus rosie-glittering dietie . if countrey worship , and green altars may displease , cause i at rome observ'd thy day ? pardon , if there thy calends slighted bee , and on my birth-day if i would live free . de ligurra , epig. . ligurra thou dost fear that i verses , and quick sharp poetry would spend upon thee , and desirest to bee thought worthy of that fear conceiv'd on mee , but thou in vain dost tremble and desire , on bulls the lybian lyons their strength tyre , but are not troublesom to butter flies : seek then , if thou dost wish thy name should rise , some poor pot-poet of the sooty vault , that with a course coale , or some putrid chaulk writes verses , which are read upon close-stooles , thy head shall nere be raised with my tools . de phillede , epig. . when beauteous phillis to me all the night , had gave her ●elf in all garbes of delight , and in the morning i began to sound what gift were best , of cosmus sweets a pound , or niceros his unguents , or of fine rich spanish wooll eight pound , or caesar's coyn ten yellow boyes : my neck embraced shee , and with as long a kisse alluring mee as marriages of doves are making up , phillis desired nought else but a merry cup. ad clientes , epig. . thou early client that didst cause mee fly the citty , some ambitious courts imply , i am no lawyer , nor ordaind for strife , but slow , and old , and of a quiet life . rest , and sweet sleep delight me : which great rome denyed : if i must watch here too , i 'le come ▪ ad cautullum , epig. . i am thy heir cautullus , thou hast said it , but i will not believe it till i read it . de callistrato , epig. . least that callistratus should not praise worthy men , he praises all : he that thinks no one hath a blot , whom can he then a good man call ? de vmbro , epig. . in winter time and saturn's holy dayes vmber when poor did me present alwayes with finest wheat : but now with courser grain , for now hee 's rich , and made a man of gain . ad charinum , epig. . charinus cause thou bind'st thy head with wooll , t is not thy ears that grieve : t is thy ball'd skull . de marone , epig. . maro a vow did make but somthing lowd for an old friend , by a feirce a gue bow'd ; that if this sickness spared him from the grave , great jove a grateful sacrifice should have . the doctors promised certain health : o now maro makes vowes to scape the former vow . ad priscum , epig. . priscus thou oft dost ask what i would bee if i were rich and rais'd to potencie . can any man his future soule declare ? suppose thou wert a lyon : how wouldst stare ? in tuccam , epig. . i penn'd an epod : thou beganst to write ? therefore i ceas'd , least thine with mine unite . my muse to tragick fancies soard her strain , thou strov'st to fit the buskin to thy brain . thence then i touch'd the harp with learned skill , with new ambition thou pursu'dst mee stil . i satyrs dared : thou more exact wouldst bee , i playd light elegee's , thou ecchod'st mee ; what could be less ? i epigrams did frame : and here thou soughtst to rob me of my fame . say what thou wilt not : blush all things to bee : and what thou wilt not , tucca leave to mee . in bassum , epig. . when thou a wife so youthful hast , so rich , so noble , wise , and chast , that the most wicked goat that is a better cannot wish for his . thou spendst thy strength with boyes ( we see ) which thy wife's dowry bought for thee , so to his mistris thy prick comes tyred , thus redeemed with mighty summs . nor will he stand though tempted by the voyce's or thumbs flattery . blush then , or let the law unfold it , ( bassus ) this is not thine , th' hast sold it . ad mattum , epig. . he that denyes himself at home when thou dost knock to see , dost thou not know his meaning in 't ? he is a sleep to thee . ad milonem , epig. . th' art wont to sell clothes , incense , pretious stone , cloaks , pepper , silver , bought away th' are gone : thy wife 's a better chaffer : though oft sold she never doth forsake thee , or loose hold . libell . spect. epig. . in silence nile thy miracles conceale nor let great babylon her cost reveale , may the soft gloryes of diana's fane sinck with the cuckold-god that hornd jove's name . nor let the carian people boast so high their hanging monuments twixt earth and sky . whiles caesar's single piece confines alone fame and the world to one encomion . in opera publica caesaris , spect. epig. . here where that high coloss the stars surveys , and lofty engines swell up in the wayes the envied courts of nero shined : and one one only house this citty filld alone . here where the amphitheatres vast pile is now erected were his pools ere while . where we admire the baths that running gift the proud field from poor men their dwellings shrift . where claudia's walk extends its ample shade was the extream part of his pallace made . rome's to it self returnd , and by thee they though once thine caesar , are the peoples joy . de gentium confluxu & congratulatione , epig. . what nation 's so remote or barbarous that has not some spectator here with us ? the thracian high-shooe from mount haemus comes , and russians that in bloud pick up their crums , he that sips the first streams of suddain nile and he that in the utmost sea doth toyle . th' arabian and sabaeans hither beat , and moist cilicians in their unguents sweat . the germans with their hair curld in a ring and th' otherwise crisp'd moores their presence bring . the voyce sounds divers , but the votes agree when rome's true father thou art said to bee . ad caesarem quod expulerit delatores , epig. . an envious crue to pleasant rest and peace which wretched wealth still studyed to in●●●ase are to the getes exil'd : nor could the sand receive the guilty vagabonds on land . so now the teazers have that bannishment they gave . the pick-thank's bannish'd the ausonian gate , the life 's of princes from their gifts take date . de daedalo , epig. . now daedalus thou thus art torne by the lucanian bear , how dost thou with thy waxen wings again to cut the ayre ? de sue quae ex vulnere peperit , epig. . peir●d with a deadly dart the wounded mother at one time loos'd one life and gave another . how sure the levell'd steel the right hand throwes ! this was lucin●'s arme i doe suppose . diana's double power she did sustain , when th' parents was deliverd and yet slain . de orpheo , epig. . what thrace on orpheus stage was said to see caesar the sand exhibits here to thee . the rocks have crept , and the strange wood did move , such as was once believd th' hisperian grove . a mingled troop of all wilde beasts were there , and ore the bard a cloud of birds in th' aire . but he lay torn by the ungrateful bear as it came feigned thence so t was true here . de prisco & vero gladiatoribus , epig. . when priscus and verus did enter the field and their valour proved equall and neither would yield , the people besought that they parted might bee but caesar the law of armes would satisfie . the law was to cuff it out at fingers end , thence cherishing cups and gifts he oft did send , a conclusion at last this equal strife found , they both box'd alike , and both fell to the ground . caesar to both gave rods , both did reward such guerdons their vertue found that fought so hard this thing hath happ'd ( caesar ) to no prince but thee , when two men contended both victors should be . the publique faith. stand off my masters : t is your pence a piece , jason , medea , and the golden fleece ; what side the line good sir ? tigris ? or po ? lybia ? japan ? whisk ? or tradinktido ? st. kits ? st. omer ? or st. margaret 's bay ? presto begon ? or come aloft ? what way ? doublets ? or knap ? the cog ? low dice ? or high ? by all the hard names in the letany , bell , book and candle , and the pope's great toe i conjuṙe thy account : devil say no. nay since i must untruss , gallants look to 't keep ●our prodigious distance , forty foot , this is that beast of eyes in th' revelations , the basilisk has twisted up three nations . ponteus hixius doxius , full of tricks , the lottery of the vulgar lunaticks . the knapsack of the state , the thing you wish , magog and gog stewd in a chaffendish . a bag of spoons and whistles , wherein men may whistle when they see their plate agen . thus far his infancy : his riper age requires a more misterious folio page . now that time speaks him perfect , and t is pitie to dandle him longer in a close committee , the elf dares peep abroad , the pretty foole can wag without a truckling standing-stoole ; revenge his mother 's in famy , and swear hee 's the fair off-spring of one half-score year ; the heir of the house and hopes , the cry and wonder of the people's misery . t is true , while as a puppie it could play for thimbles , any thing to passe the day . but now the cub can count , arithmatize , clinck masenello with the duke of guise ; sign● for an irish purchase , and traduce the synod from their doctrine to their use . give its dam suck , and by a hidden way drink up arreares a tergo mantica . an everlasting bale , hell in trunk-hose , uncased , the divel's don quixot in prose . the beast and the false prophet twined together , the squint-eyed emblem of all sorts of weather . the refuse of that chaos of the earth able to give the world a second birth . affrick avaunt : thy trifling monsters glance but sheeps ▪ eyed to this penal ignorance . that all the prodigies brought forth before are but dame natures blush left on the score . this strings the bakers dozen , christens all the cross-legd hours of time since adam's fall . the publipue faith ? why t is a word of kin . a nephew that dares cozen any sin . a term of art , great behemoth's younger brother , old machiavel , and half a thousand other . which when subscribed writes legion , names on truss , abaddon , belzebub , and incubus . all the vice royes of darkness , every spell and fiend wrap'd in a short trissillable . but i fore-stall the show . enter and see , salute the door , your exit shall be free . in brief t is calld religions ease , or loss , for no one 's sufferd here to beare his cross . a lenten letany . composed for a confiding brother , for the benefit and edification of the faithful ones . from villany dress'd in the doublet of zeal , fom three kingdoms bak'd in one commonweale , from a gleek of lord keepers of one poor seal libera nos , &c. from a chancery-writ , and a whip and a bell , from a justice of peace that never could spell , from colonel p. thevicar of hell libera nos , &c. from neat's feet without socks and three-penny pyes , from a new sprung light that will put out ones eyes , from goldsmiths hall , the devil and excize libera nos , &c. from two hours talk without one word of sense , from liberty still in the future tense , from a parliament long-wasted conscience , libera nos , &c. from a coppid crown-tenent prickd up by a brother , from damnable members and fits of the mother , from eares like oysters that grin at each other , libera nos , &c. from a preacher in buff , and a quarter-staff steeple , from th' unlimited soveraign power of the people , from a kingdom that crawls on its knees like a creeple , libera nos , &c. from a vinegar priest on a crab-tree stock , from a foddering of prayer four hours by the clock , from a holy sister with a pittiful smock . libera nos , &c. from a hunger-starv'd sequestrators maw , from revelations and visions that never man saw , from religion without either gospel or law , libera nos , &c. from the nick and froth of a penny pot-house , from the fidle and cross , and a great scotch-louse , from committees that chop up a man like a mouse . libera nos , &c. from broken shins and the bloud of a martyr ▪ from the titles of lords and knights of the garrer , from the teeth of mad-dogs and a country-mans quarter . libera nos , &c. from the publique faith and an egg & butter , from the irish purchases and all their clutter , from mega's nose when he fettles to sputter , libera nos , &c. from the zeale of old harry lock'd up with a whore from waiting with plaints at the parliament dore , from the death of a king without why or wherefore , libera nos , &c. from the french disease and the puritane fry , from such as nere swear but devoutly can lye , from cutting of capers full three story high , libera nos , &c. from painted glass and idolatrous cringes , from a presbyters oath that turnes upon hinges , from westminster jews with levitical fringes , libera nos &c. from all that is said , and a thousand times more , from a saint and his charity to the poor , from the plagues that are kept for a rebel in store . libera nos , &c. the second part . that if it may please thee to assist our agitators and heir list , and hemp them with a gentle twist ▪ quaesumus te , &c. that it may please thee to suppose our actions are as good as those that gull the people through the nose , quaesumus te , &c. that it my please thee here to enter and fix the rumbling of our center , for we live all at peradventure , quaesumus te , &c. that it may please thee to unite the flesh and bones unto the sprite , else faith and literature good night . quaesumus te , &c. that it may please thee ô that wee may each man know his pedigree , and save that plague of heraldrie , quaesumus te , &c. that it may please thee in each shire , citties of refuge lord to reare that failing brethren may know where , quaesumus te , &c. that it may please thee to abhor us , or any such dear favour for us that thus have wrought thy peoples sorrows , quaesumus te , &c. that it may please thee to embrace our dayes of thanks and fasting face , for robing of thy holy place . quaesumus te , &c. that it may please thee to adjourn the day of judgment ▪ least we burn , for lo it is not for our turn , quaesumus te , &c. that it may please thee to admit a close commitee there to sit , no devil to a humane wit , quaesumus te , &c. that it may please thee to dispence a litle for convenience , or let us play upon the sense , quaesumus te , &c. that it may please thee to embalm the saints in robin wis●om's psalm , and make them musical and calm . quaesumus te , &c. that it may please thee since t is doubt satan cannot throw satan out , unite us and the highland ●out . quaesumus te , &c. a hue and cry after the reformation . when temples lye like batter'd quarrs , rich in their ruin'd sepulchers , when saints forsake their painted glass to meet their worship as they pass , when altars grow luxurious with the dye of humane bloud , is this the floud of christianity ? when kings are cup-boarded likc cheese , sights to be seen for pence a piece , when dyadems like brokers tyre are custom'd reliques set to hire when soverainty and scepters loose their names stream'd into words carv'd out by swords are these refining flames ? when subjects and religion stir like meteors in the metaphor , when zealous hinting and the yawn excize our miniver and lawn ▪ when blue digressions fill the troubled ayre and th' pulpit's let to every set that will usurp the chair ? call yee me this the night's farewel when our noon day 's as darke as hell ? how can we less than term such lights ecclesiastick heteroclites ? bold sons of adam when in fire you crawle thus high to bee perch'd on the tree remember but the fall . was it the glory of a king to make him great by suffering ? was there no way to build god's house but rendring of it infamous ? if this be then the merry ghostly trade ? to work in gall ? pray take it all good brother of the blade . call it no more the reformation according to the new translation , why will you wrack the common brain with words of an unwonted strain ? as plunder ? or a phrase in senses cleft ? when things more nigh may well supply and call it down right theft . here all the school-men and divines consent , and swear the naked lines want no expounding or contest , or bellarmine to breake a jest . since then the heroes of the pen with mee nere scrue the sense with difference , we all agree agree . a committee . cast knaves my masters , fortune guide the chance , no packing i beseech you , no by-glance to mingle pairs , but fairly shake the bag , cheats in their sphaeres like subtle spirits wag . or if you please the cards run as they will , there is no choice in sin and doing ill . then happy man by 's dole , luck makes the ods , he acts most high that best out-dares the gods . these are that raw-bon'd herd of pharoahs kine which eat up all your fatlings , yet look lean . these are the after-claps of bloudy showres which like the scots come for your gude and yours the gleaners of the field , where , if a man escape the sword that milder frying-pan , he leaps into the fire , cramping clawes of such can speak no english but the cause . under that foggy term , that inquisition , y' are wrack'd at all adventures on suspition . no matter what 's the crime , a good estate 's dilinquency enough to ground their hate . nor shall calm innocence so scape , as not to be made guilty , or at least so thought . and if the spirit once inform , beware , the flesh and world but renegadoes are . thus once concluded , out the teazers run all in full cry and speed till wat's undone . so that a poor dilinqu●nt fleec'd and torn seems like a man that 's creeping through a horn . findes a smooth entrance , wide and fit , but when hee 's squeez'd and forc'd up through the smaler end , hee looks as gaunt and prin , as he that spent a tedious twelve years in an eager lent. or bodyes at the resurection are on wing , just rarifying into ayre . the emblem of a man , the pitied case and shape of some sad being once that was . the type of flesh and bloud , the skeleton and superficies of a thing that 's gone . the winter quarter of a life , the tinder and body of a corps squeez'd to a cinder when no more tortures can be thought upon mercy shall flow into oblivion . mercyful hell ! thy judges are but three , ours multiform , and in pluralitie . thy calmer censures flow without recal , and in one doom soules see their final all . we travel with expectance : suffrings here are but the earnests of a second fear . thy pains and plagues are infinite , t is true ours are not only infinite but new . so that the dread of what 's to come exceeds the anguish of that part already bleeds . this only difference swells twixt us and you , hell has the kinder devils of the two . on the happy memory of alderman hoyle that hang'd himself . all ●aile fair fruit ! may every crab-tre● bear such blosoms , and so lovely every year ! call yee me this the slip ? marry 't is well , zacheus slip'd to heaven , the thief to hell , but if the saints thus give 's the slip , t is need to look about us to preserve the breed . th' are of the running game , and thus to post in nooses blancks the reckning with their host . here 's more than trussum cordum i suppose that knit this knot , guilt seldom singly goes . a wounded soule close coupled with the sense of sin payes home its proper recompence . but hark you sir , if hast can grant the time ? see you the danger yet what t is to climbe ●n kings prerogatives ? things beyond just when law seems bribed to doom them must be truss'd . but ô i smell your plot strong through your hose , t was but to cheat the hang - man of your cloaths , else your more active hands had fairly stay'd the leasure of a psalm : judas has pray'd . but later crimes cannot admit the pause , they run upon effects more than the cause . yet let me ask one question , why alone ? one member of a corporation ? t is clear amongst divines , bodys and souls as jointly active , so their judgment rowles concordant in the sentence ; why not so in earthly suffrings ? states attended goe . but i perceive the knack : old women say and bee 't approv'd , each dog should have his day . hence sweep the almanack : lilly make room , and blanks enough for the new saints to come , all in red letters : as their faults have bin scarlet , so limbe their anniverse of sin . and to their childrens credits and their wives be it still said they leap fair for their lives . on clarinda praying . as when the early lark , wak'd by th● tears of sweet aurora blushing through the sphaers mounts on her silver wings , and towres the skies to offer up her morning sacrifice to her great diety the sun : and sings the anthems of her joy to court the springs : so here clarinda rescued from the night of soul-contracting slumber , takes her flight into the azure heavens , and prevents the vulgar sullying of the elements by a most holy hast , and stoops to fly to the great master of requests on high . no sooner was she bended on her knees but lo a cloud of angels simpathize , and strive to catch her prayers and convey her sacred breathings ore the milky-way . pardon me ( reader ) if i here aver that holy contestation bred by her amongst those hierarchies caelestial almost engaged them to a second fall. but such was the sweet plenty , such the floud of her rich soul , each angel had his load : some charged with a sigh , some with a tear , each one was busied though not burd'ned there . yet blessed saint why why such streams of brine ? sure 't was for others , for no sin of thine ? those christal beads perhaps dropt for my or else in pious charity for the times ? those sacred gales of grief sufficient bee crimes , to waft whole worlds into eternitie . no need of sailes or pilot there was here , they knew the channel to the heavenly eare , only the officious seraphims to woo a greater glory would be medling too o had but sodom found in her sad state so dear ! so prevalent an advocate ! the brimstone of her judgments had not burn'd , but all her fire had into incense turn'd . or had these noah's drunken world forerun , the ark had kept the woods , nor had the sun bin shut up : but the floud-gates of the deep had lull'd themselves in a perpetual sleep . smell't you the phaenix when she dying lyes raising her issue from her obsequies ? embalm'd in her own ashes ? so divine so pretious was the perfume of each line sayl'd through the rubie portal of her lips , and now ore the caelestial ocean trips . saw you a pearl clos'd in an amber womb ? glowing and sparkling through its courser tombe ? so radiantly transparent shin'd her soul , which she in holy blasphemy term'd foul , and therefore challeng'd tears to wash that hue and stain of owned guilt she never knew . o adam hadst thou liv'd thus long to bee made happy in thy late posteritie ? thou mightst have seen that innocence again which thy too slippery hands could not retain ! thus thus she clasp'd her god with pious zeal , with melting rhetorick , till he vow'd to heal the wounds in sion : for in her there were no objects for the balm of one poor tear . but least the general works of providence should ravish'd stop their courses in suspence : in pitty to the whole creation , shee grew silent , least their destiny should bee scored on her harmless piety . o so though yet with much regret she let him goe . on clarinda singing . as when the swan , that warbling prophetess of her approaching death , begins to ghess the fatal minute near , summons up all the raptures of her soul to guild her fall , wracking her throat into variety of different diapazon● sweet as hie , then sings her fpicedium to that night of darkness whence she never more takes flight . so my clarinda sporting with her rare harmonious organs fill'd the ravish'd ayre with soul-transporting notes , as though she meant to breathe the world into astonishment . had the bright lady of the flouds bin by she had bin silently content to dy , finding her self so rivall'd in each strain , but that clarinda lives to sing again . if ever artist wrought so high a key to steal a man even from himself a way , and winde him up to heaven in a dream not knowing how , or when , or whence he came ? so slipp'd my soul : but thanks dear soveraign thou pull'dst me safely down to thee again . had thracian orpheus with his feather'd quire , and rendezvouz of brute bin present here the wondring bard had suffer'd with the rest , winged amazement , or at least turn'd beast . so winningly did she dissolve the sense in thousand labyrinths of joy , from whence the captiv'd soul could no more hope to see releasment than time in eternitie . but that that voyce exhaled it from its earth proved merciful , and gave it second birth . with holy reverence let me dare to say angels thus cloathe their halelujah . thus mercury to reach jove's mayden prize charm'd all the guards and rounds of argus eyes . thus philomel to drown the chirping wood , melts all her sugard forces to a floud . thus heaven's high consort bless'd the breaking day when the sweet baby in a manger lay . the wisemen , had they heard this sacred strain , had ventur'd to have offer'd once again , though neither spice nor myrrh : what then i pray ? even moping gravely to have loss'd their way . for that great constellation of her light had sunck their lanthorn star in endless night . but yet how sweetly had they stray'd ? when shee makes it no less than heaven where ere she be ? o had you seen how the small birds did creep , and dance from bough to bough ! then stand and peep through the green lattice of the trees , to see the instrument of that rich harmonie ! and how the active grass there carpeted contended which should first thrust up its head , and wake th' enammel'd circle of the bower to hasten forth each pretty drooping flower , that in a radiant coronet they might meet to weave gay buskins for clarinda's feet ! t' would puzle a strong fancy here to prove which did exceed their envy or their love . but i shall range no further in dispute , the way to speak her worth is to be mute . for when that voyce clos'd her angelick song , to paraphrase would prove a double wrong . platonique love. begon fantastick whimsey , hence begon . i slight thy dreams , i 'me no camelion . nor can i feed on ayry smoaky blisses , or bayt my strong desire with smiles and kisses , old tantalus as well may surfet on the flying streames by contemplation . give me a minute's heaven with my love , where i may roule in pleasures far above the idle fancy of the soul's embrace , where my swift hand may ravish all the grace of beauties wardrop , where the longing bride may feast her fill , yet nere be satisfied . blaspheme not love with any other name than an enjoyment kindled from the flame of panting brests , mix'd in a sweet desire of somthing more than barely to admire . ' though sighs and signes may make the pulses beate , ' action 's the bellowes that preserve the heat . if all content were placed in the eye , and thoughts compriz'd the whole felicity ? pictures might court each other , & exchange their white-lime looks , wo hard , and yet seem strange , ' no , love requires a quick and home embrace . ' nor can it dwell for ever on the face . ' what ever glories nature's tender care ' compiles to make a piece divinely rare , ' th' are but the sweet allurements of the eye ' fix'd on a stage to catch the standers by . ' or like rich signes exposed to open sight 'to tempt the traveller to stay all night . yield then ( my chast clarinda ) once to see the sweet maeander of love's libertie . and seale thy thoughts a grant to understand the welcome pleasures of a wife well mann'd . for all the sweets mistaken in a kiss are but the empty circumstance of this . so shall a full content wipe out the score of all our sorrows that have pas●'d before . not a sad sigh shall scape unsatisfied which in its master's passion wept and dyed . but like a sea made subject to our oares wee 'le hoise up saile and touch the wished shoares . a sigh . fly thou pretty active part to the mistris of my heart , shew her how the tedious night sadly wastes without delight , how my waking soule devides the silent day twixt ebbs and tides of hope and feare : how love in mee knows no measure or degree . tell her all my feigned dreames of her enjoyment , which in gleames of wished bliss i seem'd to see but waking prov'd a fallacie ; contriv'd by death to kill a swain more than half already slain . tell her all my secret fears , what a length's in seaven years , and that my grief well understood is worse by far than widdow-hood . how to see and not partake is but dying for her sake . tell her more than i dare say , yet can think as well as they that feel the freedom of that heat which i in contemplation beat . and let her know love more delights in action than in appetites . tell her burial and a wife untouched , are both things without life . and that too many heats and cold will make the best complexion old . and when poor beauty 's past its prime the rest is but asleeping time . tell her all those heights and graces which are built in female faces like the orbes without their motions are but glorious pittyed notions . and in short without deceit love cannot for ever wait . pray her , pray her quickly yield , venus joy's to loose the field , and in fetter'd twines to lie working through love's misterie . where in thousand winding wayes she can twist the lover's maze . where with pleasing losse and pain ladyes clip and to 't again , mixing fresh with flames half gone , joyes first felt then thought upon . tell her if she this deny love only fed with ayre must dy . ask her whether groans and charms mid-night walks and folded armes be all she meant when first she slew my silly heart at second view ? and if a life be spent in wooing where 's the time reserv'd for doing ? now little sigh if she at last chide and check thee with a cast of angry looks , like one that comes to kindle love in sullen tombes ? return to me my pretty dear , and i will hide thee in a tear . love's farewell . fond love adiew , i loath thy tyranny . strive now no more to kill me with an eye , or that we call thy pastime , but our thrall . i see thy cruelty , and moan the dayes my fetter'd heart lay doting on thy praise . if an unconstant look be all the grace attends the pleasure of thy wanton chase ? i 'me none of thine nor will adore thy shrine . i prize the freedom of a single hour more than the sugar'd tortures of thy power . if floods of brinish tears be all thy drink ? and the whol man confined to gaze & think ? if groans and sighs be still thy sacrifice ? i 'le rather quench the flames of my desire , then at thine altar languish and expire . no , i suppos'd thy guilded baytes to bee as reall blisses as they seem'd to mee ▪ but now i finde they captivate the minde , and slave the soul to endlesse proofs of joy , which in the end are pills but to destroy . wound me no more : i 'me tyred with daily dying , refrain thy dull delayes and bitter trying of my sad heart slain by th● dart if this be all my crop of hopes and fears ? my love my god shall have , my sins my tears . free me this once , and when i come to bee the pris'ner of a second miserie . bring all thy chains and wracks of horrid pains , i 'le willingly embrace the dreadful chance , and court my death as a deliverance . whisper no more there 's faith in womankinde , or any fixed thought to strike me blinde . when each new face their fickle vows unlace . and each strange object that attempts their eye , bribes all their sense into variety . give me a heart of such a sollid frame breathes above changes , and is still the same . i like no wits that flow by antique fits . nor such a whiffling love whos wandring fire is guided by a weather-cock desire . give me a mistris whose diviner minde speaks her descended of the heavenly kinde , whose gloryes are no borrow'd tinsel ware , let her be yce to all the world , but such as waxe to me that melts upon the touch . call not that chastity that 's proud disdain , nor plead them honest that in shew refrain , lust has that trick , and stews such rhetorick , only to raise the standard of their price , and steal a verteous paint by seeming nice . no , i abhor those poor religious blindes , which aime to sequester our eyes & mindes , love has no mask , nor can it frown or ask , but in a sweet consent moves every way with its dear object like the sun and day . no , either love me still or not at all , i like no passions that can rise and fall , no humours please in this conceal'd disease , but if my mistris strive to catch my will , the lawrel is attain'd by standing still . once more i tempt thy pitty ( dearest love ) and if these tears can no compassion move , i 'le scorn thee more than i have lov'd before . and stanck up the salt conducts of mine eyes to watch thy shame , & weep mine obsequies . christmas day ; or the shutle of an inspired weaver bolted against the order of the church for its solemnity . christ-mass ? give me my beads : the word implies a plot , by its ingredients beef and pyes . a feast apocryphal , a popish rite kneaded in dough ( beloved ) in the night . the night ( beloved ) that 's as much to say ( by late translations ) not in the day . an annual dark-lanthorn jubile , catesby and vaulx baked in conspiracie , the hierarchie of rome , the triple crown confess'd in triangles , then swallow'd down , with spanish sack ? the eighty eight armado newly presented in an ovenado . o calvin ! now my cause upon thee fixes , were ere such dregs mix'd with genevae sixes ? the cloyster'd steaks with salt and pepper lye like nunnes with patches in a monastrie . prophaneness in a conclave ? nay much more idolatrie in crust ! babylon's whore raked from the grave , and baked by hanches , then serv'd up in coffins to unholy men defiled with superstition , like the gentiles of old , that worship'd onions ▪ roots and lentiles ! did ever john of leyden prophecy of such an antichrist as pudding-pye ? beloved t is a thing when it appears enough to set the saints all by the ears in solving of the text , a doubtfull sin reformed churches nere consented in . but hold ( my brethren ) while i preach and pray me thinks the manna melts and wasts away , i am a man as all you are , have read of peter's sheet , how he devoutly fed without exception , therefore to dispence a little with the worm of conscience . and bend unto the creature , i profess , zeal and a pye may joyn both in a mess . the dearest sons may erre , then why a sinner may i not eat ? since hvgh eat three to dinner ? good fryday . what sable cypress maskes the glorious sun ? rivalls the world ? and robs us of our noon ? what ague cramps the earth ? whereas time fled ? why groan the graves ? is nature vanished ? or must y shrivell'd heavens in one dread fire rowle up in flames ? then languish and expire ? some horrid change approaches , some sad guise , nature , or else the god of nature dyes ? here 's more than man in this , more than mankinde , death 's in pursuance , or the world resign'd , no common passion strikes mine eye , no fate less than the whole's extinction , or debate . angels stand trembling and amaz'd , the sphears cease their bless'd harmony , and turn all tears wrapp'd in a dreadful hush ! so highly more is man's redemption than his birth before ! to raise a world from nothing , and divide dull bodies from the thin and rarified speaks god in every close : but to renew those ruin'd attomes when confusion threw the whole into a lumpish mass again , this makes the lovely wonder soveraign . to mould a man in clay , then quicken that dead body with a soule cooperate , argues a reall presence : but when sin has soyl'd that heavenly stamp , and chain'd it in the fetters of damnation , to restore that life in death transcends the love before . o then behold and see if ever pain or anguish match'd that sorrow ! when the slain of god bleeds on the cross ? when heaven descends in bloud , to make man & the heavens friends ? nay more , when man lay doom'd eternally , to answer his own wrath , even god could dye ! and smile upon those wounds , that spear , that grave , which our rebellions merited and gave ! this love exceeds all height : yet i confess 't was god that did it , how could it be less ? easter day . how all the guard reliev'd ? the romans fled ? those basilisks that seeing conquered ? heaven back my faith ! what glorious ap●arition shines in the vault ? what angel like condition of souldiers doe i see ? surely my fear trebles the object , t is the gardiner . flow out my tears : th' have stollen the lord away , come view the place whereas his body lay ▪ but yet behold the napkin , and the cloathes wrapp'd by themselves ! in vain you take your oaths hard hearted jews . for ô hee 's risen and gone why stand you gazing ? what d' yee dote upon ? peace be unto you . o now i hear his voyce , run peter that thy spirit may rejoyce . a greater star than that out of the east which led the wise-men rises in my brest . see where he rides in tryumph ! hell & death dragg'd at his chariot wheells , the powers beneath made groveling captives , all their trophies bring slaves to the lawrels of the glorious king. nay sin and the dull grave make up the crowd though base , yet all pris'ners at war allowd . ride on brave prince of souls , enlarge thy t is thy own work alone to kill & raise , dying to vanquish death and by thy fall bayes to be the resurrection of us all . flow hither all believers , yee that sow in tears , and in a veile but darkly know , stretch hither the distrustfull hand and feel th' impressions of the nails and barbed steel . but yet forbear , his word must be attended touch me not , for i am not yet ascended . however feast your eyes , behold the star of israel's deliverer . this boon to begging moses hee 'd not give , but now frail man may see his god and live . here 's extasie of joy enough , that when our sins conspired with ungodly men to crucifie the lord of life , and kill his innocency by our doing ill , he yet survives the gall of bitterness , nor was his soul forsaken in distress , but having led captivitie in chains he burst the bonds of death , and lives , and reigns , and this revives our souls there 's yet agen a monarchy beyond the reach of men . holy thursday . as when the glorious sun veil'd and disguis'd ( as by the shaddowes of the night surpris'd ) disrobes his sable dress , and reasumes the beauty of its splendor from the tombes and vaults of darkness , mounts the dapled skyes and guilds the heavenly wardrop as he flyes : so here the majesty of god conceal'd under a mortal mantle , unreveal'd till the predestin'd day of its disclose , sublim'd its earth , and in full lustre rose , joy'd with the shouts of angels , and the quire of cherubims made happyer to admire . me thinks i hear the arched sphears resound the paeans of the saints , and give them round the tyres of heaven , like claps of thunder rowl'd from pole to pole , and doubled as they fould . such a diffusive glory , that we see each saint triumphant in his victorie . but is he gone for ever from our eyes ? will he no more return ? shall we not rise ? or must that cloud that closed him from our sight stand a partition wal between the light of his eternal day and our dull shades ? o that 's a horror kills as it invades ! no : there 's a hope yet left , a sure record of mercy undenyable , his word . nay more ▪ his faithful promise : i 'le not leave you comfortless . and can the lord deceive ? see there his hand and seal : and if you please t●admit the voyce of angels to encrease an infant faith ? as you have seen him goe so he shall come again : believe it so . rejoyce then ( ô my soul ) that as thou art rescued from death , and glorified in part , so thy redeemer lives , and that hee 's gone hence to prepare thy heavenly mansion . and when the trembling hearts of them that slew and peirct his pretious body quake to view the terror of his glorious return , when time shall be no more , the heavens burn , earth crumble into ashes , and the dead wak'd by th' archangles voice dissepulcred , and catchd up in the clouds , thy greater bliss shall meet thy sweet redeemer with a kiss , and with their eyes his glittering court survey in all the garb of that tryumphant day . yet so demean thy self in this his dear and pittied absence as if present here . that at his second comming , sans all grudg he may return thy saviour as thy judge . whitsunday . what strange noise strikes mine eare ? what suddain sound ? as though the rowling windes were all unbound and met at once , by one joynt fury hurld to overturn the hinges of the world ? this scaene fore ▪ runs some dreadfull act to come , some greater wonder issuing from the womb of providence than what has pass'd our eye ? sure there 's no second son of god to dye ? nor summons to the dead once more to rise and scare the bloudy city's sacrifice ? nor does the chearfull sun dance through the sphears as though he meant to fetch his last carrears ? time 's not so near its exit ? nor the fall and conflagration of this circled ball ? but yet behold a fire ! most contrary to its own nature posting from on high ! kindling a sad suspition , cleft in rayes as though design'd to catch all sorts of waies ! sure t is no wanton flame , such whifling lights quench with the night-mark of tempestuous nights , not daring to attempt the daye 's bright eye to judge their non-existent frippery . no , this descends more stayd , reach'd from above , ' o 't is the very god of peace and love ! but how so strange devided ? can there bee twelve parts like tribes couch'd in the dietie ? that it appears multipartite ? in th' dress of cloven tongues ? what tongue can this express ? yet though it seems in sections to appear most like the soul 't is wholly every where . the spirit 's omnipresent , nor can bee confin'd to number , measure , or degree . but why in fire ? and such myrac'lous flame ? fix'd on a stay , yet not consume the same ? are men like moses bush ? can bodyes burn insensible ? and not to ashes turn ? the wonder 's great ! but not so deep as high . ' nature must needs leave work , when god stands by . descend on me great god! but in such fire may not consume , but kindle my desire . descend on me in flames ! but such as move winged by th' inspiration of the dove . descend in cloven tongues ! such as dispence no double meanings in a single sense . hence all you wilde pretenders , you that blaze like meteors lapp'd in zeal , and dance the maze of non-conformity in antique fits , yea even from your selves curss'd hereticks ; light not your frighted censors here : no quaker , frisker , baboon , or antinomian shaker must fire his brand from hence , the spirit claims no holder-forth that dwells on second aimes ; but comes t' reprove the worlds judaick press of sin , of judgment , and of righteousness . no strange fanatick spark that gaping flyes and leaves its audience skared with extasies . no skipper in divinity , no hinter , no radled cardinal , no dreaming minter of words and faces , no quire of the brisle , no squib , no squeaker of the puny grisle approach this glory : for the beauteous sun admits no maskers till the day be done . no chymical st. martins pass the test till the pure oare's exild , or gone to rest . shine out bright god , dispel these smoaky foggs of schisme and heresie that smears and clogs the chariot of thy gospell , that truth may break forth in its own glosse and proper ray . that the blue-apron'd crackers of the times . those wilde-fire rockets , whose ambition climbes to wound the world with broils , set all on fire , and sink a glorious church through base desire , may dwindle to their bulks , and there indite long small-drink anthems of the saints good night . while it contents the boyes to nod at last november and my ld. mayors day are past . a short ejaculation vpon that truly worthy patron of the law sr. john bridgman kt. and lord chief justice of chester and the marshes of wales deceased . shall all the tribes of israel thirty dayes mourn for the death of moses ? and so raise their doubled cryes to heaven , and bemoan the light of jacob in a tomb unknown . and bridgman set obscurely ? can the sun withdraw its radiant splendor at high noon , and the whole world not stand amaz'd to see their glory swallow'd in eternitie ? can the bright soul of justice mount the skyes and we not fear a deluge from our eyes ? such was thy sad departure , such thy flight into the spangled heavens , that the night of a more sad dispaire hath seiz'd our beams , and left us nothing but our brackish streams to offer at thy shrine : and in those showers we state the day , and steep the slow-pac'd hours . hence let the law be canoniz'd no better than a meer corps of words , a bare dead letter , in thee the life departed : in thy dust lies raked the hand & sense of right and just . what yet survives , or rather what presents it's seeming face cloath'd in thine ornaments , 't is but elias mantle ( though unknown ) dropt to work wonder , but the prophet's gon . piae memoriae doctiss . reveren dissimique in christo patris , johannis prideaux quam novissimè wigoriae episcopi , harumque tristissimè lacrymarum patroni nec nòn defuncti . bvsta struant alii , lacrymisque altare refundant , quorum tristitiâ fata pianda cadunt . talia praecurant cineres monumenta pusilli , queis melos & tumulum fama gemenda petit . hîc neque pyramidum , nec inertis monstra colossi poscuntur , subito corruitura die . gloria securi confidentissima caeli non vocat haec stellis astra minora suis . sic tuus ascendit currus , dign●ssime praesul , terreni miserans futile honoris onus . sed vae zodiaco nostro , vae ( phaebe ) trementi , ortus enim patriae lux tenebraeque fuit . in te floruimus , tecum decerpimur omnes et pater & gnati : mollitèr ossa cubent . parva tegaṅt tenues & aperti funera fletus , tanta ruunt superis damna silenda metu . obsequies on that right reverend father in god john prideaux late bishop of worcester deceased . if by the fall of luminaries wee may safely ghuess the world's catastrophe ? the signes are all fulfill'd , the tokens flown , ( that scarce a man has any of his own ) only the jewes conversion some doubt bred , but that 's confuted now the doctor 's dead . great atlas of religion ! since thy fate proclaims our loss too soon , our tears too late , where shall the bleeding church a champion to grasp with heresie ? or to maintain her conflict with the devil ? for the ods gain runs bias'd six to four against the gods. hell lists amain , nay and th' engagement flies with wing'd zeal through all the sectaries , that should she soundly into question fall , we were within a vote of none at all . but can this hap upon a single death ? yes : for thou wert the treasure of our breath . that pious arch whereon the building stood which broke , the whole's devolv'd into a floud an inundation that ore-bears the banks and bounds of all religion : if some stancks shew their emergent heads ? like set●'s famed stone th' are monuments of thy devotion gone ! no wonder then the rambling spirits stray in thee the body fell , and slipp'd away . hence ' ●is the pulpit swells with exhalations . intricate nonsense travel'd from all nations , notions refined to doubts , & maxims squeez'd with tedious hick-ups till the sense growes freez'd . if ought shall chance to drop we may call good , t is thy distinction makes it understood . thy glorious sun made ours a perfect day , our influence took its being from thy ray . thine was that gedeon's fleece ▪ when all stood dry , pearl'd with caelestial dew showr'd from on high . but now thy night is come our shades are spread , and living here we move among the dead . perhaps an ignis fatuus now and then starts up in holes , stincks and goes out agen . such kicksee winsee flames shew but how dear thy great ligh●'s resurrection would be here . a brother with five loaves and two smal fishes , a table-book of sighs , and looks , and wishes , sta●tles religion more at one strong doubt , than what they mean when as the candle 's but i profane thy ashes ( gratious soul ) thy spirit flew too high to truss these foul out . gnostick opinions . thou desired'st to meet , such tenents that dust stand upon their feet , and beard the truth with as intens'd a zeal as saints upon a fast night quilt a meal . rome never trembled till thy peircing eye darted her through , and crush'd the mysterie . thy revelations made john's compleat , babylon fell indeed , but 't was thy sweat and oyle perform'd the work : to what we see foretold in misty types , broke forth in thee . some shallow lines were drawn , and sconces made by smatterers in the arts , to drive a trade of words between us , but that proved no more than threats in cowing feathers to give ore . thy fancy laid the siedg that wrought her fall , thy batteries commanded round the wall : not a poor loop-hole error could sneak by , no not the abbess to the friery , though her disguise as close and subtly good as when she wore the monk's hose for a hood . and if perhaps their french or spanish wine had fill'd them full of beads and bellarmine , that they durst salley , or attempt a guard , o! how thy busy brain would beat & ward ? rally ? and reinforce ? rout ? and relieve ? double reserves ? and then an onset give like marshall'd thunder back'd with flames of fire ? storms mixt with storms ? passion with globes of ire ? yet so well disciplin'd that judgment still sway'd , and not rash commissionated will. no , words in thee knew order , time , & place , the instant of a charge , or when to face ; when to pursue advantage , where to halt , when to draw off , and where to re-assault . such sure commands stream'd from thee , that 't was one with thee to vanquish as to look upon . so that thy ruin'd foes groveling confesse thy conquests were their fate and happinesse . nor was it all thy business here to war with forreign forces : but thy active star could course a home-bred mist , a native sin , and shew its guilt's degrees how , & wherein ; then sentence and expel it : thus thy sun an everlastingstage in labour run ; so that its motion to the eye of man waved still in a compleat meridian . but these a●e but fair comments of our loss , the glory of a chruch now on the cross : the transcript of that beauty once we had whiles with the lustre of thy presence clad . but thou art gone ( brave soul ) & with thee all the gallantry of arts polemical . nothing remains as ●r●mitive but talk , and that our priests again in leather walk . a flying ministerie of horse and foot , things that can start a text but nere come to 't . teazers of doctrines , which in long-fleev'd prose run down a sermon all upon the nose . these like dull glow-worms twinckle in the night , the frighted land-skips of an absent light . but thy rich flame 's withdrawn , heaven caught thee hence , thy glories were grown ripe for recompence : and therefore to prevent our weak essaies th' art crown'd an angel with caelesti●l bayes . and there thy ravish'd soul meets field and fire , beauties enough to fill its strong desire . the contemplation of a present god , perfections in the womb , the very road and essensies of vertues as they bee streming and mixing in eternitie . whiles we possess our souls ●ut in a veyle , live earth confined , catch heaven by retaile , such a dark-lanthorn age , such jealous dayes , men tread on snakes , sleep in bataliaes , walk like confessors , hear , but must not say what ● bold world dares act , and what it may . yet here all votes , commons and lords agree , the crosier fell in laud , the church in thee . on the death of his royall majesty charles late king of england &c. what went you out to see ? a dying king ? nay more , i fear an angel suffering . but what went you to see ? a prophet slain ? nay that and more , a martyrd soveraign . peace to that sacred dust ! great sir our fears have left us nothing but obedient tears to court your hearse ; & in those pious flouds we live , the poor remainder of our goods . accept us in these later obsequies the unplundred riches of our hearts and eyes , for in these faithful streams and emanations w' are subjects still beyond all sequestrations . here we cry more than conquerours : malice murder estates , but hearts will still obey . these as your glory 's yet above the reach may of such whose purple lines confusion preach . and now ( dear sir ) vouchsafe us to admire with envey your arrival , and that quire of cherubims and angels that supply'd our duties at your tryumphs : where you ride with full caelestial iôes , and ovations rich as the conquest of three ruin'd nations . but 't was the heavenly plot that snath d you hence , to crown your soul with that magnificence and bounden rights of honor , that poor earth could only wish and strangle in the birth . such pitied emulation stop'd the blush of our ambitious shame , non-suited us . for where souls act beyond mortallity heaven only can performe that jubilee . we wrastle then no more , but bless your day and mourn the anguish of our sad delay : that since we cannot add , we yet stay here fettred in clay : yet longing to appear spectators of your bliss , that being shown once more , you may embrace us as your own . where never envy shall devide us more , nor citty tumults , nor the worlds uproar . but an eternal hush , a quiet peace as without end , so still in the increase shall lull humanity a sleep , and bring us equal subjects to the heavenly king. till when i 'le turn recusant , and forswear all calvin , for there 's purgatory here . an epitaph . stay passenger : behold and see the widdowed grave of majestie . why tremblest thou ? here 's that will make al● but our stupid souls to shake . here lies entomb'd the sacred dust of peace and piety , right and just . the bloud ( o startest not thou to hear ? ) of a king , 'twixt hope and fear shedd , and hurried hence to bee the miracle of miserie . add the ills that rome can boast . shrift the world in every coast , mix the fire of earth and seas with humane spleen and practises , to puny the records of time , by one grand gygantick crime , then swell it bigger till it squeeze the globe to crooked hams and knees , here 's that shall make it seem to bee but modest christianitie . the lawgiver , amongst his own ▪ sentenc'd by a law unknown . voted monarchy to death by the course plebeian breath . the soveraign of all command suff'ring by a common hand . a prince to make the o●ium more offer'd at his very door . the head cut off , ô death to see 't ! in obedience to the feet . and that by justice you must know , if you have faith to think it so . wee 'le stir no further then this sacred clay , but let it slumber till the judgment day . of all the kings on earth , 't is not denyed , here lies the first that for religion died . a survey of the world. the world 's a guilded trifle , and the state of sublunary bliss adulterate . fame but an empty sound ▪ a painted noise , a wonder that nere looks beyond nine dayes . honour the tennis-ball of fortune : though men wade to it in bloud and overthrow ; which like a box of dice uneven dance sometimes 't is one 's , somtimes another's chance . wealth but the hugg'd consumption of that heart that travailes sea & land for his own smart . pleasure a courtly madness , a conceipt that smiles and tickles without worth or weight whose scatter'd reck'ning when 't is to be paid is but repentance lavishly in-layd . the world , fame , honour , wealth , & pleasure then are the fair wrack and gemonies of men . ask but thy carnall heart if thou shouldst bee sole monarch of the worlds great familie , if with the macedonian youth there would not be a corner still reserv'd that could another earth contain ? if so ? what is that poor insatiate thing she may call bliss ? question the loaden gallantry asleep what profit now their lawrels in the deep of death's oblivion ? what their triumph was more than the moment it did prance & pass ? if then applause move by the vulgar crye , fame 's but a glorious uncertainty . awake sejanus , strafford , buckingham , charge the fond favourites of greatest name , what faith is in a prince's smile , what joy in th' high & grand concilio le roy ? nay caesar's self , that march'd his honour ▪ s through the bowels of all kingdoms , made them bow low to the stirrop of his will and vote , what safety to their master's life they brought ? when in the senate in his highest pride by two and thirty wounds he fell and dyed ? if height be then most subjected to fate ? honour 's the day-spring of a greater hate . now ask the grov'ling soul that makes his gold his idol , his diana , what a cold account of happiness can here arise from that ingluvious surfet of his eys ? how the whole man 's inslaved to a lean dearth of all enjoyment for a little earth ? how like prometheus he doth still repair his growing heart to feed the vultur care . or like a spider's envious designes drawing the threds of death from her own loines . tort'ring his entrails with thoughts of to morrow , to keep that masse with grief he gain'd with sorrow . if to the clincking pastime in his ears he add the orphanes cries and widdows tears the musick 's far from sweet , and if you sound him truly , they leave him sadder than they found him . now touch the dallying gallant , he that lyes angling for babies in his mistris eyes , thinks there 's no heaven like a bale of dyce six horses and a coach with a device . a cast of lacquyes , and a lady-bird , an oath in fashion , and a guilded sword , can smoak tobacco with a face in frame , and speak perhaps a line of sense to th' same , can sleep a sabboath over in his bed , or if his play book 's there will stoop to read , can kiss its hand , and congey a la mode , and when the night's approaching bolt abroad , unless his honour's worship's rent's not come ; so he fals sick , and swears the carrier home . else if his rare devotion swell so high to waste an hour-glasse on divinity , t is but to make the church his stage , thereby to blaze the taylor in his ribaldry . ask but the jay when his distress shall fall like an arm'd man upon him , where are all the rose-buds of his youth ? those atick toyes wherein hee sported out his pretious dayes ? what comfort he collects from hawk or hound ? or if amongst his looser hours , he found one of a thousand to redeem that time perish'd and lost for ever in his prime ? or if he dream'd of an eternal bliss ? hee 'le swear god damne him he nere thought of this . but like the epicure ador'd the day that shin'd , rose up to eat , and drink , and play . knows that his body was but dust , and dye it once must , so have mercy , and god b'wy . thus having traverss'd the fond world in brief , the lust of th' eyes , the flesh , and pride of life , unbiass'd and impartially , we see t is lighter in the scale than vanitie . what then remains ? but that we stil should strive not to be born to dye , but dye to live . an old man courting a young girle . come beauteous nymph , canst thou embrace an aged , wise , majestick grace to mingle with thy youthfull flames ? and make thy glories stayd ? the dames of looser gesture blush to see thy lillies cloth'd with gravitie ? thy happier choice ? thy gentle vine with a sober elm entwine ? seal fair nymph that lovely tye shall speak thy honour loud and high . nym : cease grandsire lover , and forbear to court me with thy sepulcher , thy chill december and my may , thy evening and my break of day can brook no mixture , no condition , but stand in perfect opposition . nor can my active heart embrace a shivering ague in love's chase . only perhaps the luky tye may make thy forked fortune high . man : if fretted roofs , and beds of down , and the wonder of the town , bended knees , and costly fare , richest dainties without care , may temptatious motives bee here they all attend on thee , and to raise thy blisse the more , swell thy truncks with pretious o●e , the glittering entrailes of the east to varnish and perfume thy nest . nym. i question not sage sir but shee that weds your grave obliquitie , your tizick , rhewms , and soldans face shall meet with fretted roofs apace , i fancy not your bended knees least bowing you can sprightly rise , your gold too when you leave to woo will quickly become pretious too . and dainty cates without delight , may glut the day but starve the night . for when thou boasts the beds of bliss , the man , the man still wanting is . man. nay gentle nymph think not my fire so quench'd , but that the strong desire of love can wake it , and create new action to cooperate . the sparks of youth are not so gone , but i — ay marry that i can . come smack mee then me pretty dear , tast what a lively change is here . why fly'st thou me ? — nym. — yce yce begon , clasp me not with thy frozen zone . that pale aspect would best become the sad complexion of a tombe . think not thy church-yard look shall moove my spring to be thy winter's stove if at the resurrection wee shall chance to marry , call on mee by that time i perhaps may ghuess how to bathe and how to dress thy weeping legs and simpathise with perish'd lungs and wopper eyes ; and think thy touchy passion wit , love disdain and flatter it ; and ' midst this costive punishment raise a politick content . but whiles the solstice of my years glories in its highest sphears , deem not , i will daign to be the vassal of infirmitie . the skreen of flegmatick old age , decay'd methusalem his page . no , give me lively pleasures , such melt the fancy in the touch ; raise the appetite , and more , satisfie it ore and ore . then from the ashes of those fires kindle fresh and new desires . so cyprus be the scaene : above venus and the god of love , knitting true-love-knots in one merry happy union . whiles their feath'red team appears doves and sparrows in their gears flutt'ring ore the jovial-frie sporting in love's comaedie . man. hold hasty soul , beauty 's a flower that may perish in an hour , no disease but can disgrace the trifling blossoms of a face , and nip the heights of those fond toyes that now are doted on with praise . the noon-glory of the sun to the shades of night must come . may , for all her guilded prime has its weak and withering time . not a bud that owes its birth from the teeming-mother earth but excells the fading dress of a womans loveliness . for when flowers vanish here they may spring another year . but frail beauty when 't is gone findes no resurrection . scorn me then coy nymph no more , fly no higher , doe not soare , those pretty rubies of thy lips once must know a pale eclipse . and that plump alluring skin will be furrow'd deeply in . and those curled locks so bright time will all besnow with white . not a glory , not a glance , but must suffer change and chance . then , though now you 'l not contact with me in the marriage act , yet perforce chuse , chuse you whether you and i shall lye together . an epitaph on his deceased friend . here lies the ruin'd cabinet of a rich soul more highly set . the drosse and refuse of a minde too glorious to be here confin'd . earth for a while bespake his stay only to bait and so away : so that what here he doted on was meerly accommodation . not that his active soul could bee at home , but in eternitie . yet while he blest us with the rayes of his short continued daies , each minute had its weight of worth , each pregnant hour some star brought forth . so whiles he travell'd here beneath he liv'd , when others only breathe . for not a sand of time slip'd by without its action sweet as high . so good , so peacable , so blest , angels alone can speak the rest . mount ida , or , beauties contest . three regent goddesses they fell at odds , as they sat close in councel with the gods , whose beauty did excel ? and thence they crave a moderator of the strife to have , but least the partiall heavens could not decide the grudg , they stoop to mortals to be try'd . mantled in clouds then gently down they fall upon mount ida to appease the brall , where priam's lovely boy sporting did keep his fathers lambes and snowy flocks of sheep , his lilly hand was soon ordain'd to bee the harmless vmpire of the fond decree . to him , to him they gave the golden ball , o happy goddess upon whom it fall ! but more unhappy shepeard , was 't not pittv thou didst not send it at a close committee ? there , there thou hadst surpass'd what did befall , thou might'st have crowned one , yet pleased all. first then imperious juno did display her coronet of glories to the boy , and rang'd her stars up in an arched ring of height and majesty most flourishing , then wealth and honour at his foot did lay to be esteem'd the lady of the day . next pallas that brave heroina came , the thund'ring queen of action , war & fame , dress'd in her glittering armes , wherewith she layes worlds wast , & new ones from their dust can raise , these , these she tenders him , advanc'd to bee , with all the wreaths of wit and gall antrie . last venus breaks forth of her golden raies , with thousand cupids crown'd , ten thousand boyes , sparkling through every quadrant of her eyes , which made her beauty in full glory rise : then smiling vow'd so to sublime his parts to make him the great conquerour of hearts . thus poor distracted par●s all on fire stood trembling deep in doubt what to desire , the sweet temptations pleaded hard for all , each theatre of beauty seem'd to call for the bright prize : but he amazed hee could not determine which , which , which was shee at last the cyprian girle so strook him bli●de in all the faculties of soul and minde , that he poor captiv'd wretch without delay could not forbear his frailty to betray , but maugre honour , wisdom , all above ▪ he ran & kiss'd & crown'd the queen of love. pallas and juno then in high disdain took snuff and posted up to heaven again ▪ as to a high court of appeal , to bee reveng'd on men for this indignitie . ' hence then it happens that the ball was lost ' 't is two to one but love is alwaies crost . vpon a flye that flew into a lady's eye , and there lay buried in a tear . poor envious soul ! what couldst thou see ●n that bright orb of puritie ? that active globe ? that twinkling sphear of beauty to be medling there ? or didst thou foolishly mistake the glowing morn in that day-break ? or was 't thy pride to mount so high only to kisse the sun and dye ? or didst thou think to rival all don phaethon and his great fall ? and in a richer sea of brine drown icarus again in thine ? t was bravely aim'd , and which is more th' hast sunck the fable ore and ore . for in this single death of thee th' hast banqurrupt all antiquitie . o had the fair aegiptian queen thy glorious monument out seen , how had she spared what time forbids the needlesse tott'ring pyramids ! and in an emulative chafe have begg'd thy shrine her epitaph ? where , when her aged marble must resigne her honour to the dust , thou mightst have canonized her deceased time's executor ? to ripp up all the western bed of spices where sol layes his head , to squeeze the phaenix and her nest in one perfume that may write best , then blend the gall'rie of the skyes with her seraglio of eyes , t' embalm a name , and raise a tombe the miracle of all to come , then , then compare it : here 's a gemm a pearl must shame and pitty them . an amber drop , distlled by the sparkling limbeck of an eye , shall dazle all the short essaies of rubbish worth , and shallow praise . we strive not then to prize that tear since we have nought to poise it here . the world 's too light . hence , hence we cry the world , the world 's not worth a fly. obsequies to the memory of the truly noble , right valiant and right honourable spencer earle of northampton slain at hopton field in saffordshire in the beginning of this civill war. vvhat ? the whole world in silence ? not a tear in tune through all the speechless hemisphaere ? has grief so seiz'd and sear'd man-kinde in all the convoyes of intellegence ? no fall but those of waters heard ? no elegies but such as whine through th' organs of our eyes ? can pompey fall again ? and no pen say here lies the romane liberty in clay ? or can his bloud boe-die th' egiptian sand , and the black crime doe less than ●ann the land ? and make the region instead of a verse and tombe his sable epitaph and hearse ? so here northampton that brave heroe fell tryumphant roman thy pure paralell , the blush and glory of his age : who dyed in all points happy , but the weak●● side . only to forreign parts he did not roam , the kinde egiptians met him nearer home . both , and such , causes , that the world confess there 's nought to plead against them but success . malignant loyalty ! a glorious fame and sin , for which god never found a name . which had it scaped the rubrick of these times had still continued among holy crimes . a text on which we finde no gloss at all but in the alcorn of gold-smiths hall ! now ( great adolphus ) give me leave to stir the ashes of thy urne , and sepulcher ; and branch the flowers of the sweadish glory as rivall'd to the life in our sad story : yet not impaire thy plumes , by adding more to suit that splendor from a neighbour shore● nor deem thy honor less thus match'd to bee , if compton dyed to grasping victorie . an active soul in gallant fury hurl'd to club with all the worthies of the world . blinde , envious , piping fortune ! what could bee the tottering ground of this thy trecherie ? to stop the ballance of that brave carrear was both at once thy miracle and fear ? was 't not a pannick dread surpriz'd thy soul of being made servile to his high controul ? blush and confess poor caitiff-godess ! so wee 'le quit his in thy ●eall over-throw . and de●th , thou worm ! thou pale assassinate ! thou sneaking hireling of revenge and hate , didst not thou feel an earth-quake in thy bones ? such as rends rocks and their foundations ? no tirtian shivering , but an ague fit which with a burning feaver shall commit the world to ashes ? when thou stolest creptst under that helmet which durst dare jove and his thunder but since the bays he reacht at grew not here , like a wise souldier , and a cavalier , he left his coveteous enemie at bay , rifling the carriage of his flesh and clay : while his rich soul pursued the greater game of honour to the skies , there fix'd his name . i shall not therefore vex the orbs to trace thy sacred foot-steps in that hallow'd place . nor start a feigned star , and swear it thine , then stretch the constellation to thy line . like a welch gentleman that tacks his kin to all coats in the countrey he lives in . nor yet , to raise thy flaming crest , shall i knock for the wandring planets in the sky : perhaps some broken beauty of stale doubt , to comment on her face has hir'd them out ▪ let fame , & thy brave race thy statue live , the world can never such another give . whiles each soul sighes at the sad thought of thee there fell a province of nobilitie . a fall , had zeal but husbanded its throat , that sunck the house of lords , and saved the vote . they only state mute titles in their gears , he singly represented all the peeres . one , had the enemy imployd their smeck , those ring-worms of the church , to beg a neck with claudius , to metropolize all worth , rome , & what ere the suburbe world brought forth , in him the sword did glut its ravening eye , the rest that kick'd up were the smaler frye . sparks only of that fire in him deceas'd , nyfles that crack'd and vanish'd north & west . he lead the royal war in such a dye , in that dire entrance of the tragedy , the sense ( great charles ) no longer to prorogue , none but thy self could speak the epilogue . the london lady . gently my muse ! 't is but a tender piece , a paradox of fumes and ambergreece . a cobweb-tinder at a touch takes fire , the tumbling wherligig of blinde desire . vulcan's pandora in a christal shrine , or th' old inn faced with a new painted signe . the spotted voyder of the term : in short chymical nature phisick'd into art. but hold rude satyr , here 's a hector comes , a cod-pe●ce captain that with her shares sums , one claims a joynture in her sins , the foile that puts her off , like the old man ere while that with a dagger cloak , and ho-boy gapes and squeeks for company for the jack an apes . this is the feirce st. george , fo●e runs the waggon , and , if occasion be , shall kill the dragon . don mars the great assendant on the road when thomass's teem begins to jog abroad . the hinter at each turn of coven garden , the club pickearer , the robust church warden of lincolne's inn back corner , where he angles for cloaks and hats , and the smale gam eentangles this is the citty vsher straid to enter the small drink countrey squires of the first venter , and dubs them bach'lor-knight of the black jugg , mans them into an oath , and the french shrugg , makes them fine graduates in smock impudence , and gelds them of their puny mothers sense . so that when two terms more , and forty pound reads them acquainted all gomorrha round , down to their wondring friends at last they range , with breeding just enough to speak them strange , and drown a younger brother in a look kick a poor lacquey , and berogue the cook , top a small cry of tennants that dare stir in no phrase now , but save your worship sir. but to return : by this my lady 's up , has swom the ocean of the cawdle cup , convers'd with every washing , every ground , and fucus in the cabinet's to be found , has laid the fix'd complexion for the day , her breech rings high change and she must away . now down the channel towards the strand she glides , flinging her nimble glances on both sides , like the death-darting cockatrice that slye close enginere that murders through the eye . the first that 's tickled with her rumbling wheels is the old statesman , that in slippers reels , he wire-drawes up his jawes , and snufs and grins , and sighing smacks , but for my aged shins , my conclave of diseases , i would boord your lofty galley : thus i serv'd my lord — . but mum for that , his strength will scarce supply his back to the belcone , so god b'wy . by this she has survey'd the golden globe , and finding no temptation to disrobe , to durham new old stable on she packs , where having wine'd and breath'd the what d' yee lacks , rusled and bounced a turn or two in ire , she mounts the coach like phaethon all on fire , fit for th' impressions of all sorts of evill , and whirles up tow'●ds the lawyers and the devill . there ployden in his laced ruff starch'd on edg peeps like an adder through a quickset hedg , and brings his stale demur to stop the course of her proceedings with her yoak of horse ; then fals to handling of the case , and so shews her the posture of her over-throw , but yet for all his law and double fees shee 'le bring him to joyn issue on his knees : and make him pay for expedition too , thus the gray fox acts his green sins anew . and well he scapes if all his norman sense can save the burning of his evidence . but out at last shee 's hudled in the dark , man'd like a lady client by the clerk. and so the nimble youngster at the parting extorts a smack perhaps before the carting . down fleet-street next she rowls with powderd crest , to spring clip'd-half-crowns in the cuekow's nest for now the heroes of the yard have shut their shops , and loll upon their bulks to put the ladyes to the squeek , if so perhaps their mistris can spare them from their laps . not far she waves and sailes before she clings with the young tribe for pendents , lace and rings , but there poor totterd madam , though to late , she meets the topsi-turvey of her state , for the calm'd boyes ▪ ●aving ●ought left to pay , a●● forced ●o pawn her , & so run away . on this the dreadful drawer soon appears , like her ill g●●●us about her ears , with a long bill of items that affright worse than a skull of halberds in the night . for now the jay's compell'd to untruss all the tackling upon tick from every stall , each sharing broker of her borrow'd dress seems to doe pennance in her nakedness . for not a lady of the noble game but is composed at least of all long-lane : an animal together blow'd and made , and up'd of all the shreds of every trade . thus purely now her self , homewards she packs , exciz'd in all the dialects of her knacks : squeez'd to the utmost thred , and latest grain , like meteors toss'd to their first grit again . a lane , a lane , she comes , summ'd down to nought , but shame and a thin under petticoat . but least i should pursue her to the quick , i pass : the chase lies now too near the nick in pitty satyr then thy lash let fall : he knowes her best that scans her not at all . and though thou seemst discourteous not to save her , no matter , when thou leav'st there 's one will have her . the times . to speak in wet-shod eyes , and drowned looks , sad broken accents , and a vein that brooks no spirit , life , or vigour , were to own the crush and tryumph of affliction ; and creeping with themistocles to bee the pale-faced pensioners of our enemie . no , 't is the glory of the soul to rise by fals , and at re-bound to peirce the skies . like a brave courser standing on the sand of some high-working fretum , views a land smiling with sweets upon the distant side , garnish'd in all her gay imbroidred pride , woods , larded with springs , and fring'd with curled impatient , bounces , in the capring flouds , big with a nobler fury than that stream a way of shallow violence he meets in them ; thence arm'd with scorn & courage ploughs through the impostum'd billows of the sea ; and makes the grumbling surges slaves to oar and waft him safely to the further shoar : where landed , in a soveraign disdain he turns back , and surveys the foaming main , whiles the subjected waters flowing reel ambitious yet to wash the victor's heel . in such a noble equipage should wee embrace th' encounter of our miserie . not like a field of corn , that hangs the head for every tempest , every petty dread ▪ crosses were the best christians armes : and wee that hope a wished canaan once to see must not expect a carpet way alone without a red-sea of affliction . then cast the dice : let 's foord old rubicon , caesar 't is thine , man is but once undone . tread softly though , least scylla's ghost awake , and us in the roll of his proscriptions take . rome is revived , and the triumvirate in the black island are once more a state ; the citty tre mbles : there 's no third to shield if once augustus to antonius yield law shall not shelter cicero , the robe the senate : proud success admits no probe of justice to correct or quare the fate that bears down all as illegitimate ; for whatsoere it lists to over-throw , it either findes it , or else makes it so . thus tyranny's a stately palace , where ambition sweats to climbe and nustle there ; but when 't is enterd , what hopes then remain ? there is no salliport to come out again . for mischief must rowl on , and gliding grow like little rivulets that gently flow from their first bubling springs , but still increase and swell their channel as they mend their pace ; till in a glorious tide of villany they over-run the bancks , and posting fly like th' bellowing waves in tumults , till they can display themselves in a full ocean . and if blinde rage shall chance to miss its way brings stock enough alone to make a sea. thus treble treasons are secur'd & drownd by lowder crimes of deeper mouth and sound . and high attempts swallow a puny plot as canons over-whelme the smaler shot . whiles the deaf senseless world inur'd a while ( like the catadupi at the fall of nile ) to the feirce tumbling wonder , think it none thus custom hallows irreligion . and stroaks the patient beast till he admit the now-grown-light and necessary bitt . but whether doe i ramble ? gauled times cannot endure a smart hand ore their crimes . distracted age ? what dialect or fashion shall i assume ? to passe the approbation of thy censorious synod ; which now sit high areopagites to destroy all wit ? i cannot say i say that i am one of th' church of ely-house , or abington , nor of those pretious spirits that can deal the pomgranets of grace at every meal . no zealous hemp-dresser yet dipp'd me in the laver of adoption from my sin . but yet if inspiration , or a tale of a long-wasted six hours length prevail ▪ a smooth certificate from the sister-hood , or to be termed holy before good , religious malice , or a faith ' thout works other then may proclaim us jews or turks . if these , these hint at any thing ? then , then whoop my dispairing hope come back agen . for since the inundation of grace , all honesty's under water , or in chase . but 't is the old worlds dot age ▪ thereupon we feed on dreams , imagination , humours , and cross-graind passions which now reign in the decaying elements of the brain . t is hard to coin new fancies , when there bee so few that launch out in discoverie . nay arts are so far from being cherished ▪ there 's scarce a colledg but has lost its head , and almost all its members : o sad wound ! where never an arterie could be judged sound ! to what a hight is vice now towred ? when we dare not miscall it an obliquitie ? so confident , and carrying such an awe , that it subscribes it self no less than law ? if this be reformation then ? the great account pursued with so much bloud & sweat ? in what black lines shall our sad story bee deliver'd over to posteritie ? with what a dash and scar shall we be read ? how has dame nature in us suffered ? who of all centuries the first age are that sunck the world for want of due repair ? when first we issued out in cries and tears , ( those salt presages of our future years ) he ad-long we dropt into a quiet calme , times crownd with rosie garlands , spice and balme ; where first a glorious church & mother came , embrac'd us in her armes , gave us a name by which we live , and an indulgent brest flowing with stream to an eternal rest . thus ravish'd the poor soul could not ghuesse even which was more kinde to her yet , earth , or heaven . o● rather wrapp'd in a pious doubt of ●eaven , whether she were in or out . n●xt the great father of our countrey brings his blessing too , ( even the best of kings ) safe and well grownded lawes to guard our peace , and nurse our vertues in their just increase ; like a pure spring from whom all graces come , whose bounty made it double christendom . such and so sweet were those halcyon dayes that rose upon us in our infant rayes ; such a composed state we breathed under , we only heard of jove , nere felt his thunder ▪ terrours were then as strange , as love now grown , wrong and revenge lived quietly at home . the sole contention that we understood was a rare strife and war in doing good . now let 's reflect upon our gratfulness , how we have added , or ( ô ) made it less , what are th' improvements ? what our progresse , where those handsom acts that say that some men were ? he that to antient wreaths can bring no more from his own worth , dyes banq'rupt , on the score . for father's crests are crowned in the son , and glory spreads by propagation . now vertue shield me ! where shall i begin ? to what a labyrinth am i now slipp'd in ? what shall we answer them ? or what deny ? what prove ? or rather whether shall we fly ? when the poor widdow'd church shall ask us where are all her honours ? & that filial care we owed so sweet a parent as the spouse of christ , which here vouchsafed to own a house ? where are her boanerges ? & those rare brave sons of consolation ? which did bear the ark before our israel , and dispence the heavenly manna with such diligence ? in them the prim'tive motto's come to passe , aut mortui sunt , aut docent literas . bless'd virgin we can only say we have thy prophets tombes among us , and their grave . and here and there a man in colours paint that by thy ruines grew a mighty saint . next caesar some accounts are due to thee , but those in bloud already written bee . so lowd & lasting , in such monstruous shapes , so wide the never to be clos'd wound gapes ; all ages yet to come with shivering shall recite the fearful pres'dent of thy fall . hence we confute thy tenent solomon , vnder the sun a new thing hath been done , a thing before all pattern , all pretence of rule or coppy : such a strange offence , of such original extract , that it bears date only from the eden of our years . laconian agis ! we have read thy fate , the violence of the spartan love and hate . how pagans trembled at the thought of thee , and fled the horror of thy tragedie . thyestes cruel feast , and how the sun shrunk in his golden beams that sight to shun . the bosoms of all kingdoms open lye , plain and emergent to th' inquiring eye . but when we glance upon our native home , as the black center to whom all points come , we rest amazed , and silently admire how far beyond all spleen ours did aspire . all that we dare assert is but a cry of an exchanged peace for liberty . a secret term by inspiration known , a mist that brooks no demonstration , unless we dive into our purses , where we quickly finde our freedom purely dear . but why exclaim you thus ? may some men say , against the times ? when equal night and day keep their just course ? the seasons still the same ? as sweet as when from the first hand they came ? the influence of the stars benigne and free , as at first peep up in their infancie ? t is not those standing motions that devide the space of years , nor the swift hours that glide those little particles of age , that come in thronging items that make up the summ , that 's here intended : but our crying crimes ▪ our monsters that abominate the times . t is we that make the metonymie good by being bad . which like a troubled floud nothing produce but slimy mire and dirt , and impudence that makes shame malepert . to travel further in these wounds that lye rankling , though seeming closed , were to deny rest to an ore-watch'd world , and force fresh tears from stench'd eyes , new alarum'd by old fears . which if they thus shall heal & stop , they bee the first that ere were cur'd by lethargie . this only axiom from ill times increase i gather , there 's a time to hold ones peace . the model of the new religion . whoop ! mr. vickar in your flying frock ! what news at babel now ? how stands the cock ? when wags the floud ? no ephimerides ? nought but conf●unding of the languages ? no more of th' saints arrival ? or the chance of three pipes two pence and an ordinance ? how many queere-religiōs ? clear your throat , may a man have a peny-worth ? four a groat ? or doe the iuncto leap at truss a fayle ? three tenents clap while five hang on the tayle ? no querpo model ? never a knack or wile ? to preach for spoons & whistles ? cross or pile ? no hints of truth on foot ? no sparks of grace ? no late sprung light ? to dance the wild-goose chase ? no spiritual dragoons that take their flames from th' inspiration of the citty dames ? no crums of comfort to relieve our cry ? no new dealt mince-meat of divinity ? come let 's project : by the great late ecclipse we justly fear a famine of the lips . for sprats are rose an omer for a sowse , which gripes the cōclave of the lower house . let 's therefore vote a close humiliation for opening the seal'd eyes of this blinde nation , that they may see confessingly and swear they have not seen at all this fourteen year . and for the splints and spavins too , t is said all the joints have the riffcage , since the head swelld so prodigious and exciz'd the parts from all allegiance , but in tears and hearts . but zealous sr. what say to a touch at praier ? how quops the spirit ? in what garb or ayre ? with souse erect , or pendent , winks , or haws ? sniveling ? or the extention of the jaws ? devotion has its mode : dear sir hold forth , learning 's a venture of the second worth . for since the people's rise and its sad fall we are inspir'd from much to none at all . brother adiue ! i see y' are closely girt , a costive dover gives the saints the squirt . hence ( reader ) all our flying news contracts like the state 's fleet from the seas into acts . but where 's the model all this while you 'le say ? 't is like the reformation run away . on brittanicus his leap three story high , and his escape from london . paul from damascus in a basket slides craned by the faithfull brethren down the sides of their embattel'd walls : britanicus as loath to trust the brethrens god with us . slides too , but yet more desp'rate , and yet thrives in his descent , needs must the devil drives . their cause was both the same , & herein meet , only their fall was not with equal feet , which makes the case iambick : thus we see how much news falls short of divinitie . truth was their crying crime : one takes the night , th' other th' advantage of the new sprung light mo mantle his escape : how different be the pristin and the modern policie ? have ages their antipodes ? yet still close in the propagation of ill ? hence flowes this use and doctrine from the thump i last sustain'd ( belov'd ) good wits may jump . content . fair stranger ! winged maid , where dost thou rest thy snowy locks at noon ? or on what brest of spices slumber ore the sullen night ? or waking whether dost thou take thy flight ? shall i goe seek some melanchollick grove ? the silent theatre of dispair and love ? there court the bitterne and the pelican those aiery antipodes to the tents of man ? or sitting by some pretty pratling spring hear hoarse nyctimene her dirges sing ? whiles the rough satyres dance corantoes too the chattring sembriefs of her woo hoo , hoo ? or shall i trace some ice-bound wildernesse among the caverns of abstruse recess ? where never prying sun , nor blushing day could steal a glimps , or intersqueeze a ray ? if not within this solitary cell , o whether must i post ? where dost thou dwel ? shall i let loose the reins of blinde desire ? and surfet every ravening sense ? give fire to any train ? and tyre voluptuousnesse in all her soft varieties of excess ? and make each day a history of sin ? drink the a la mort sun down and up agen ? improve my crimes to such a roaring score , that when i dye , where others goe before in whining venial streams , and quarto pages , my flouds may rise in folio , sinck all ages ? or shall i bathe my selfe in widdows tears ? and build my name in th' curse of them and theirs ? ship-wrack whole nature to craw out a purse with th' molten cinders of the universe ? belch nought but ruine ? and the horrid cryes of fire and sword ? & swim in drowned eyes ? make lanes to crowns & scepters through th' heart's veins of justice , law , right , church and soveraigns ? no , no , i trace thee not in this dark way of death , this scarlet streak'd aceldama . shall i then to the house of mourning goe ? where the salt-peeter vuates over-flow with fresh supplies of grief ? fresh tides of brine ? or traverse the wide world in every line ? walk through the bowels of each realm and state simpling for rules of policy to create strang forms of government of new molds & wasts like a french kickshaw of a thousand tasts ? or shall i dive into the secrecy of nature ? where the most retir'd doth lye ? o● shall i waste the taper of my soul in scrutinies , where neither northern-pole nor southern-constellation darts a light to constitute a latitude or height ? or shall i float into the watry pale wan kingdom of the moon ? and there set sail for all the orbs ? and keep high holiday with th' nectar-tipling-gods in th'milky-way ? swell bacchus tripes with a tun of lusty sack ? and lay the plump squire flat upon his back ? o no , these revels are too short , too soure , too sad , hugg'd and repented in an hour . shal i then plough the seas to forreign soils ? and rake the pregnant indies for hid spoyls ? or with the anchorite abhor the eye of heaven , and banish all society . live in , and out the world ? and pass my dayes in treading out some strang misterious maze ? tast every humane sweet ? lilly and rose ? with all the sharp guard that about them grows ? climb wher dispair would tremble to set foot ? spring new impossibles and force way to 't ? make the whole globe a shop of chymistry to melt down all her attomes , and descry that small iota , that last pittied grain which the gull'd sons of men pursue in vain ? or shal i grasp those meteors , fame , & praise ? which breath by th'charity of the vulgar voice ? pile honour upon honour till it crack the atlas of my pride , and break its back ? hold fancy , hold ! for whether wilt thou bear my sun-burnt hope to loss ? 't is , 't is not here . soar then ( my soul ) above the arched round of these poor spangled blisses : here 's no ground to fix the sacred foot of pure content , her mansion's in a higher element . hast thou perceiv'd the sweetness of a groan ? or tried the wings of contemplation ? or hast thou found the balm of tears that press like amber in the dregs of bitterness ? or hast thou felt that secret joy that flowes against the tide of common over-throws ? or hast thou known the dawnings of a god upon thee , when his love is shed abroad ? or hast thou heard the sacred harmonie of a calm conscience ecchoing in thee ▪ a requiem from above ? a sealed peace beyond the power of hell , sin , or decease ? or hast thou tasted that communion between a reconciled god and man ? that holy intercourse ? those pretious smiles dissolv'd in holy whisprings between whiles ? here , here 's the steps lead to her bless'd abode ; her chair of state is in the throne of god. may day . come gallants , why so dull ? what muddy cloud dwells on the eye-brows of the day ? why shroud ye up your selves in the furl'd sayles of night , and tossing lye at hull ? hark how delight knocks with her silver wings at every sense ? and great apollo laureal doth commence ? up 't is the golden jubilee of the year , the stars are all withdrawn from each glad sphear within the tyring-rooms of heaven , unlesse some few that peep to spy our happinesse whiles phaebus tugging up olympus craw smoaks his bright teem along on the gram paw heark how the songsters of the shady plain close up their anthems in a melting strain ! see where the glittring nimphs whirl it away in checkling caravans as blyth as may ; and th' christal sweating flowers droop their heads in blushing shame to call you slug-a beds . waste but a glance upon hide-park , and swear all argus eyes are falln , and fixed there . the dapled lawns with ladies shine & glow , whiles bubling mounts with springs of nectar flow ; and each kinde turtle sits and bills his dove dike venus and adonis lapp'd in love . heark how amyntas in melodious loud shrill raptures tunes his horn-pipe ! whiles a crowd of snow-white milk-maids crownd with garlands gay trip it to the soft measure of his lay. and fields with curds and cream like green-cheese lye , this now or never is the gallaxie . if the facetious gods ere taken were with mortal beauties and disguis'd , 't is here . see how they mix societies , and tosse the tumbling ball into a willing losse , that th' twining ladyes on their necks might take the doubled kisses which they first did stake . those pretty earnests of a maiden-head those sugred seals of love , types of the bed , which to confirm the sweet conveiance more they throng in thousand times ten thousand score such heavenly surfets , as they sporting lye , thus catch they from each others lipp & eye . the game at best , the girls may rould must bee , where croyden and mopsa , he and shee each happy pair make one hermophrodite , and tumbling bounce together , black & white , where had you seen the chance , you had not known whose shew had lovelier bin madam's or joan. then crown the bowle let every conduit run canary , till we lodg the reeling sun. tap every joy , let not a pearl be spilt , till we have set the ringing world a tilt . and sacrifice arabia faelix in one bone fire , one incense offering . t is sack , t is sack that drowns the thorny cares which hedg the pillow , and abridg our years , the quickning anima mundi that creates life in dejection , and out dares the fates , makes man look big on danger , and out swell the fury of that thrall that threatens hell. chirp round my boyes : let each soul take its sipp , who knows what fals between the cup and lip ? what can a voluntary pale look bring or a deep sigh to lessen suffering ? has mischief any piety or regard ? the foyl of misery is a brest prepar'd . hence then with folded armes , ecclipsed eyes , and low imprison'd groans , meek cowardise . urge not with oars death that in full saile comes , nor walk in forestal'd blacks to that dark tombs . but rather then th' eternal jaws shall gape , gallop with curtius down the gallant hap . mean time here 's that shall make our shackles light , and charm the dismal terrors walk by night , t is this that chears the drooping soul ▪ revives the benum'd captive c●āp'd in his cold gyves . kingdoms and cottages , the mill and throne sack the grand leveller commands alone . t is sack that rocks the boyling brain to rest , confirms the aged hams , and warms the brest of gallantry to action , runs half share and mettal with the buff-fac'd sons of war. t is wit , ' is art , 't is strength , 't is all and more ; then looss the floud gates georg , wee 'le pay or score . an epig. to doulus . doulus advanced upon a goodly steed , came mounting ore the plain in very deed , wherat the people cring'd & bow'd the knee , in honour of my lord 's rich liverie . hence swell not doulus , nor erect thy crest , t was for the goddess sake we capp'd the beast . an epig. on the people of england . sweating and chafing hot ardelio cryes a boat a boat , else farwel all the prize . but having once set foot upon the deep hotspur ardelio fell fast a sleep . so we , on fire with zealous discontent , call'd out a parliament , a parliament . which being obtain'd at last , what did they doe ? even squeez the wool-packs , & lye snorting too . another . erittain a lovely orchard seem'd to be furnish'd with nature's choise varietie , temptatious golden fruit of every sort , th' hesperian garden fann'd from fein'd report , great boyes and smal together in we brake , no matter what disdain'd priapus spake , up , up we lift the great boyes in the trees , hoping a common share to sympathize : but they no sooner there neglected streight the shoulders that so rais'd them to this height ; and fell to stuffing of their own bags first , and as their treasure grew , so did their thirst . whiles we in lean expectance gaping stand for one shake from their charitable hand . but all in vain the dropsie of desire so scortch'd them , three realms could not quench the fire . be wise then in ynur ale bold youths : for fear the gardner catch us as moss caught his mare . an elegie vpon my dear little friend m. i : f. who dyed the same morning he was born . decem. . . come all yee widdowed muses , & put on your veils , and mourn in a full helicon . press every doleful string to bear a part in the sad harmonie of a broken heart . bring all your sacred springs as sweet supplies to feed the swelling ocean of mine eyes . be dumb yee sons of mirth , let not a joy pry through the smalest crannie of the day : but let an awful silence seize the soul of universal motion , whiles wee towl love's passing bell , and ring a loud to all little adonis and his mighty fall . malignant heaven ! can there be envy there where never gall nor sequestration were ? is 't possible that in so pure a shrine so consecrate , so holy , so divine as thy bless'd mansions , there can dwel a grain or attome of black malice or disdain ? that for to boast thy riches to poor men could'st drop a pearl and snatch it up agen ? first scrue us to an extasie of blisse then dash us by an antipe'ristasis ? punnish a moment's ravishing happiness with such a furious glut of sharp distress ? could light & darkness be so twin'd together in such close webs of bitter chang of weather , just parted by a single subtile thred no sooner to be judg'd a live but dead ? could wit and fate no less a torment finde ? would th' hadst not bin so cruel , or so kinde ! bless'd babe ! why could not thy friends many tears invite thine innocent stay for a few years ? or at the least why didst thou them bereave of the short comfort of a longer leave ? how can that drown the anguish of thy birth for joy a man was born upon the earth ? when th' midwife only could arrive to this to reach thee to thy first and latest kiss ? how loaded with ingratitude didst thou part from thy twice travelling mother in one smart ? first pain'd for thy remiss and slow delay , now thrown for thy abortive hast away ? but yet i wrangle not with heavens decree ▪ th' hast only posted ore that miserie , through which we beat the hoof sad seventy years to the last act of life , in hopes and fears , midst a perverse world , and a shipwrack'd-age of truth and worth , & draw late off the stage . to lay more weight or pressure upon thee t were envy to thy suddain victorie . thou only wak'dst into the world , and then shut'st up in holy discontent agen . thy chast unspoted soul just lighted on the floor and perch of our low horison , but quickly finding the mistake , that here was not her center , nor her hemisphaere , she made a point , and darted back most nice like lightening to her element in a trice . the thracian dranst which with joy interr their dead , and sport about their sepulchre , but mourn still at their birth , to think upon those choaking cares of earth are coming on , may here preach rules of piety to my grief , in bad times doubting what 's best death or life crown'd saint indeed thou might'st have staid . a mournfull student in our historie , have read a world of sad looks in each page to bee and passage of a sore distracted age , and then discuss'd the causes how and why , which to repeat renews th' extremity ; so have entail'd thy guiltless tears to ours now swel'd to flouds by long continued showers . but thou hast wrought that haven in a breath , for which we sweat & tug our selves to death ▪ thou met'st no tempest of assault to stay thy fleeting bark in full sail all the way . wee 're clogd with thousand remoraes , men of war that cross the rode , through which with many a scar and foil we militant christians doe cōmence , and at the last take heaven by violence . such was thy suddain how-dee & farewell , such thy return the angels scarce could tell thy miss , but that thy feast was drawing on of th' son of god's high genethliacon , where all the holy hosts appear to sing solemn deum's to the glorious king. hence flowes thy sweet excuse of hast : then since our loss was thy enjoyment of thy prince , the annual attendance on his day to fill the heavens with haleluiah . yet grant us so much of the court , to bee envious a while at thy felicitie , that thou so young a favourite shouldst pertake those smiles for which we so much cringing make . and reach that height of honour in a glance , for which we toil through law & ordinance . i chide thee then no longer happy soul , farewel , farewel ! since man cannot controule the hand of providence . may thine ashes lye soft , till i meet thee in eternity ! where we shal part no more , nor death devide my griefs and their sweet object , but a tide of endlesse joy shall satisfaction make for this poor stream of brine shed for thy sake . a short reflection on the creation of the world. when as this circling globe of seas and earth snugg'd in her night-clothes , and had neither birth nor motion , but a lumpish caos stood , an immaterial mass of slimy mud , a confus'd pre - existent nothing , where t is blasphemy to say as yet things were . the great eternal being thought it good his spirit here should move upon the floud . hence bloom'd the early and the infant light from out the swathe-bands of eternal night , which now furl'd up in sooty curls gives back and place to time to date its almanack . whiles midwife-nature fits the vacuum for the conceal'd impressions yet to come . this glimmering splendor in its course begun christ'ned three dayes before there was a sun. thus things with things in miz'd confusion hurl'd lift up their eye-lids , & thus wak'd the world. nor was it yet broad day to any sight , for time walk'd as it were by candle-light . the east had not yet guilded bin by those bright sparks by which she now most orient growes . when as the mutt'ring elements took their place and centers as their several nature was , the active fire first clipp'd the azure round , to which the grosser ayre became a bound , each in his proper orbe was stay'd and pent floud environ'd bv a solid firmament . this was the time when th' rendevouzing disbodying from the earth upon heaps stood , and n●ptune ore that raging bulk of brine advanc'd his mace and ●cepter tridentine . whiles the dry land peepp'd up out of the froth like a short common● in a sea of brotn ; spangled with f●uits & flowers , herbs & grass , and this the teeming world's first up-rise was . not long this beauty had in twilight lay but god made lights to sunder night and day ; and deck the checkred palace of the skyes with thousand coronets of twinkling eyes which by their rule & aspects in their spears , should be for signes and seasons , month s and and now if ever there was harmony years . amongst those blessed motions up on high , t was in this instant , when in joynt consent they danc'd this mask about the firmament , and plac'd that heavenly round which ore & ore must be renew'd till time shall be no more . next those rich bodyes of the sun and moon , like the high constables of the watch , for noon and night , drew forth in glory , whēce created t is much more safe admired than debated . thus the surveyors of the world took birth , and this was the good morrow of the earth . there wanted nothing now , trees , herbs , nor plants , nor sweets , but a few wilde inhabitants , fish and the reptile creature ; winged quires of downy organists for to tune their lyres , and fill the breaking ayre with rapsodies of chirping emulation to the skies . thus the self generative streams brought forth th' amphibious brood of water and of earth . the shady woods now range with ecchoing straines of shrill melodious notes ; whose pretty chains tye up the ears of things in silent love as 't were a glimpse of heaven dropt from above . next came the silver harnass'd scaley fry capring upon the deep , to give supply to every pretty winding brook , which now with tatling springs and living plenty flow . thus nature peep'd out in her morning dresse though not arrived to a full readinesse . and now the sixth day of god's labour dawnes , whenas the blowing meads and tufted lawns are stock'd with lowing beasts of every kinde , the bleating snowy sheep , & fruitful hinde , all creatures of all sorts for game and food , which by the vote of heaven were very good . the little world and complement of all was only absent , for whose sake they call the grand consilio of the gods to make man , which of earth and heaven should pertake god's image and the globe's epitome must in one structure both united bee . hence then the low and lofty steward came to head the collonies , and gave things a name even adam that prime moving dust , that small and great vicegerent of the god of all . thus the world walk'd abroad rich as the sun , and god's work ended where man's work begun . now that we have survey'd this tumbling ball how & whence made , take a short touch on al. and first of that great mercy , that prime cause from which all causes spring and take their laws t was meerly the eternal will & love of god reveal'd in time that did him move to raise an universe of beauty , where was neither forme nor mediate matter there . and thence he fram'd not man first as the summ and supream piece of all that was to come , but brought him to a furnish'd world , compleat in all proportions , bad him take and eate , subdue and have dominion , raign , command , and supervize the wonders of his hand . the only homage he sought on his part was but the service of an upright heart , a pure obedience and a station in that innocency which yet had known no sin . but why in just six dayes god and no more compleated up this building and this store may some men ask ? was it a type of the fix'd crisis of the world's catastrophe ? which the old rabbins of the jews suppose after six thousand years shall have its close ? when all flesh shall an endless sabbath keep while sin and time & death are lull'd a sleep ? i dare not fathom these deep misteries conceal'd even from the very angells eyes . as the beginning of all things hid lay in the almighty bosom , where no ray could pry into its purpose : so we now may gh●ess the end as undiscover'd , how or when , lies lapp'd up in th' obscure decree and secret cabinet of the dietie . this only we dare say we know , as light began , so fire shall be the world 's good night . thus having through this glorious week's work prest where god left labour i presume to rest . john chap. . ver . . my kingdom is not of this world. true blessed saviour , true ! thy kingdom 's not of this world . for we cannot finde a spot of thy crown land , where geometrie may stay her reeling compass to move any way in demonstration of that circling round that may define th' inclosure holy ground : but since thy church grew stately & fell down , the lands are all confiscate from the crown . conntrey freez elders have thy flesh hooks bin to shrive the levites pot and all within . and never conscious of thy pious rule leave poor elias to th' charity of the foul . or like the indian astomi , to smell his way to life , or live by miracle . thus sion's wasted , and thy prophets slain : and godlinesse hath proov'd the only gain . math. chap. ver . . come unto me all yee that labour and are heavy laden &c. most great and glorious god! how sweet , how free is thy kinde invitation ! but ay mee the clogs of sin so rein me in and black shame mix'd with guilt restrains my will from all designes but doing ill , so that i tremble to approach thy throne , and tread the courts of the most holy one. but yet thy call's so powerfully good , so pressing , that 't is death if once withstood . nor is it less to tempt thy holiness . in this extream this streight what shall i doe ? i 'de come , but bee accepted too : but ô my loud-tongu'd sins so fill the ayre they 'le bar up heaven against my cry & prayer . yet wherfore should i doubt ? 't is not the call of cherubims , or ought angelical ; t is he , t is hee that in that extasie of fear to sincking peter reach'd his hand and snatch'd him from the grave to land ; jehovah , he that tryes the reines , and sees our wounds and moanes , our deep infirmities . shall i then with poor adam strive to hide my nakedness with leavs ? or slip a side ? o no , he spyes my way by night as by noon day : darkness cannot exclude him , nor the shade of hell from what his hands have made ; he knows our thoughts evē long before they were , and when those lips bid come , can there be fear ? but ô 't is said hee 's a consuming fire ! but ô 't is sure he now layes by his ire : he thunders out with trumpets shout no judgment from mount sinai : but a still soft voice of love and free good will. he that appear'd then in a warlike dress , seeks now the stray sheep in the wilderness . put off thy terrors then great god , and i shall humbly prostrate at thy foot-stool lye ; and there bemoan with many a groan and bitter tear my sinful sins to thee , to thee alone canst pardon mee . o shut not up thy mercy in disdain , nor yet remember my old sins again ! impute not my youth's guilt unto my charge ? but thou that offer'st rest , set me at large even from this death , and hell beneath that gapes with open jaws to swallow all that on thee doe neglect to call ; and hardned in their sins thy spirit grieve by a contempt and wilful hate to live . but ere thou cōm'st bless'd god to pass me by first hide me from thy sin-abhorring eye , that i may stand like moses cover'd with thy hand close in the cilft of christ's wounds , in the dress and garment of his righteousnesse , and on me through his satisfaction look , that on his score my sad transgressions took . receive me then , but with that kinde regret the good old man his prodigal childe met , who as 't appears devided betwixt joy and tears ran and embrac'd , & kiss'd his drooping son , in all points now undone , but that rich treasure of a father's love which nere could be exhausted , nor remove . such bowels of compassion lord put on ! such pregnant yernings of affection ! then hear my cry , and heal my malady . though i have sinn'd yet christ hath satisfied . o judg not , for 't is he that dyed . but hear the voice of his still streaming gore which calls to thee for mercy more & more . prevent not then thy angels joy in mee to see a sinner reconcil'd to thee ! nor let thy love so barren prove , or loose its end for which thou sent'st it here , even my salvation now so neer . what pleasure in my bloud lord cā there be ? or will the chambers of death honour thee ? thy call is not a summons to the bar of justice , but a throne where mercies are like flowing balm to mitigate and calm the tumult of a rageing conscience ; whose pricking bitter ecchoing sense holds out a flag of death , whose motto runs no hope , no peace , no such rebellious sons . but lord thy sweeter promise is the ground we lean & build upon ; canst thou be found lesse than thy self ? a ship-destroying shelf ? no , though an angel from thine altar swear my sins unpardonable are , my crimes so great cannot forgiven bee , yet lord i come , yet lord i trust in thee . o then accept my heavy laden soul crush'd with the burden of her sins , so foul she dares not brook once up to look ; but drown'd in tears presumes to come on board , and for this once to take thy word ; if i at last prove ship-wrack'd for my pain i 'le never venture soul more so again . a sing-song on clarinda's wedding now that love's holiday is come , and madg the maid hath swept the room and trimm'd her spit and pot , a wake my merry muse , and sing the revells , and that other thing that must not be forgot . as the gray morning dawn'd , t is sed clarinda broke out of her bed like cynthia in her pride : where all the maiden lights that were compriz'd w ithin our hemisphaere attended at her side . but wot you then with much a doe they dress'd the bride from top to toe and brought her from her chamber . deck'd in her robes and garments gay more sumptuous than the live-long-day or stars enshrin'd in amber . the sparkling bullose of her eyes like two ecclipsed suns did rise beneath her christal brow . to shew like those strange accidents some suddain changable events were like to hap below . her cheeks bestreak'd with white and red like pretty tell-tales of the bed presag'd the blustring night with his encricling armes and shade resolv'd to swallow and invade and skreen her virgin light . her lips those threds of scarlet dye , wherein love's charmes and quiver lye , legions of sweets did crown ; which smilingly did seem to say o crop me , crop me whiles you may , a non th' are not mine own . her breasts those melting alps of snow on whose fair hills in open shew the god of love lay napping ; like swelling buts of lively wine upon their ivory stells did shine to wait the lucky tapping . her waste that slender type of man was but a small and single span ▪ yet i dare safely swear he that whole thousands has in fee would forfeit all , so he might bee lord of the mannor there . but now before i passe the line pray reader give me leave to dine , and pause here in the midle ; the bridegroom and the parson knock , with all the hymeneall flock , the plum-cake and the fidle . when as the priest clarinda sees , he stared as 't had bin half his fees to gaze upon her face : and if the spirit did not move his continence was far above each sinner in the place . with mickle stir he joyn'd their hands , and hamp'red them in marriage bands as fast as fast might bee , where still me thinks , me thinks i hear that secret sigh in every eare , once love remember mee ! which done the cook he knock'd amain and up the dishes in a train come smoaking two and two ▪ with that they wip'd their mouths and sate , some fell to quaffing , some to prate , ay marry and welcome too in pay'●s they thus impal'd the meat roger and marget , and thomas and kate , rafe and bess , andrew and maudlin , and valentine eke with sybell so sweet , whose cheeks on each side of her snuffers did meet as round and as plump as a codling . when at the last they had fetched their freez , and mired their stomacks quite up to y● knees in claret for and good chear , then , then began the merry din , for as it was thought they were all on the pin , o what kissing and clipping was there ! but as luck would have it the parson said grace , and to frisking & dancing they shuffled apace , each lad took his lass by the fist , and when he had squeez'd her , and gaum'd , her untill the fat of her face ran down like a mill he toll'd for the rest of the grist . in sweat and in dust having wasted the day , they enter'd upon the last act of the play , the bride to her bed was convey'd , where knee deep each hand fell downe to the ground and in seeking the garter much pleasure was found , 't would have made a man's arm have stray'd this clutter ore clarinda lay half bedded , like the peeping day behind olimpus cap ; whiles at her head each twittring girle the fatal stocking quick did whirle to know the lucky hap . the bridegroom in at last did rustle , all dissap-pointed in the bustle the maidens had shav'd his breeches ; but let him not complain , t is well in such a storm , i can you tell he save'd his other stitches . and now he bounc'd into the bed , even just as if a man had said fair lady have at all ; where twisted , at the hug they lay , like venus and the sprightly boy , o who would fear the fall ? thus both with love's sweet tapers fired , and thousand balmy kisses tyred , they could nor wait the rest , but out the folk and candles fled , and to 't they went ; but what they did there lyes the cream of the jest . on the much to be lamented death of that gallant antiquary and great master both of law and learning , john selden esquire . epicedium elegiacum . thus sets th' olimpian regent of the day laden with honour ; after a full survey of the deep works of nature , to return with greater lustre from his watery urne . thus leans the aged cedar to the rage of tempests , which the grove for many an age hath grac'd , yet yields to be trāspālted thence t' adorn the nobler palace of his prince . thus droops the world , after a smiling may and june of pride into a withering day , and hoary winter season , to appear more lovely in the buds of a fresh year . then boast not time in the eclipsed light of selden's lower orbes , whiles the high flight of his enthroned soul looks down on thee with scorn , as an ungrateful enemie . for in his death thou sport'st with thy own dust , whiles with his ashes thy poor glories rust . mention no more thy acts of old , nor those grand ruines rich in thy proud overthrowes ; in him th' hast lost thy titles and thy name , who dyed the register of time and fame . he was that brave recorder of the world , when age & mischief had conspir'd & hurl'd vast kingdōs into shatter'd heaps ; who could redeem them from their vaults of dust and mould . then raise a monument of honour to that restor'd life , which death could nere undoe . such was the fal of this tenth worthy then , this magazine of earth and heaven , and men , he , whereas others to their ashes creep , ( those common elements of all that sleep ; ) dissolv'd like some huge vatican from on high whose every limbe became a library . as therefore in the works of nature they which are most ripe are neerest to decay : so here this neighbouring pyramid on th' sky drew neerest heaven when furthest from the eye . and now thy clausum's true indeed , the rode's block'd up to th' many reined steed , which to each point of the world's compasse reels , and tacks her glad discoveries to her keels . let then the travelling mariner in the deep of the reserves of reason goe to sleep ; since the grave pole-star of the groaping sky has suffer'd ship-wrack in mortallity . he that would praise thee well through all thy parts must ransack all the languages and arts ▪ drain nature to th' last scruple to discry how far thou went'st in her anatomy . then climbe from orbe to orbe , & gather there the pure elixar of each star and sphear , which in thy life did club their influence with thy rich flames as one intelligence ; then raise a blazing comet to thy name , as a devoted taper to thy fame , to live the pitied shadow of that day and glorious noon which with thee drew away . when common people dye , 't is but a sight whose grief and dole's digested in a night . but when such brawny sinews of a state as thee break loose ; 't is like a clock whose weight being slipp'd a side all motion 's at a stand : such sorrows doe not wet but drown a land . could we with that brave macedonian spark offer whole towns and kingdoms to the ark of a lost friend now floating in our eyes , and make more worlds in this grief sympathize , t' were but due thanks for that high soveraignty ore many nations we enjoy'd in thee to languish any longer at thy shrine , melting the sacred sisters into brine in a salt hecatomb of tears , 't would bee but a weak , faint and pale discoverie of those few artires of life they have since the last mortal stab giv'n in thy grave . such was the publick universal wound that the whole bod ' of law & learning found in thy preposterous and most sad decease , there 's none can probe the grief , or state that case . in short , we lost so many tongues in thee there 's scarce one left to mourn thine obsequie . those shallow issues which now from us rise steal through the speechless conduits of our eyes , which turning water poets tumble forth insilent eloquence to bemoan thy worth . such deep impressions has thy farewel left in every bosom , every secret cleft of each particular soul , instead of verse we live thy doleful epitaph and hearse . and what the mournful prophet sigh'd of old seems now broke forth , as of these times foretold . each face shall gather blackness , for in thee thus gone , w' are shut up in obscuritie . such borrowed dependance had our light upon thy sun , thy evening was our night . but since there 's no perfection here , thy glass to become gold indeed translated was . thy furnish'd soul being fill'd with all that could be here extracted from the grosser mould of earth's idea , in a brave disdain drew to its proper center , that vast main of truth and knowledg ▪ great jehovah , hee that 's all in all to all eternitie . where now i leave thee ' midst a glorious throng of saints ; but hope to see thee ere 't be long . vpon the death of john selden esquire . now thou art dead , vnequall'd sir , thy fall confounds no less than england's funerall ; for when the soul departs that gave her breath , we are but loathed carkases in thy death . thus pompey's trunck found on the egyptian sand rome streight pronounc'd her time was at a stand . so whē a fair ag'd oak doth downward move we count not one tree's loss , but the whole grove . as ayre and water when once useless grown one by too much drouth , one b ▪ infection , the citty and kingdom both deplore that loss : and we entitle 't one man's private cross . o that pythagoras doctrine might obtain , ( old souls to inform new bodyes hast again ) th●n would the world less sense of sorrow have , nought but to life a back-door were thy grave ! and like the phoenix dy'dst in balmy spice , that thēce thou might'st into new glories rise . but this we hope not for , & 't is thy praise alone & salomon 's , ( none such in your dayes . ) learned maimonides hence improv'd his fame , that none since moses , such a moses came . joseph's perfections had out-shin'd far more , if julius scaliger had not writ before . thou like melchizedeck knewst no peer nor rich only with thy own true estimate . witness those matchless volumes that can tell mate , the world how vast a soul did in thee dwell . so fraught with such a mine of knowledg , we might think thee well a living librarie . not like our time-enthusiasts , who disclose in scurrile pens , that they can rave in prose , and in such narrow hoops the conscience pent , as man nere durst , nor god for laws ere meant . nay souls of men with such high reins keep in , that to be reasonable is counted sin . no , in such season'd judgment flowd thy pen , we thence might learn what temper became men . thou nor to sects , nor to parties writt'st ( & t is but just to point thee singular in this . ) but wiht unwearied pain dispenc'd thy store , what all past ages thought and said before . arabians , persians , hebrews , greeks and all the sun in'ts circuit dines or sups withall thee in their several idioms court , and bring their common-wealths of learning to their king as tribute . selden hadst thou flourished than when jew and greek , creet and arabian what each in varied dialects said , could tell , thy acquir'd pains had lam'd the miracle . thy fruitful tongues might far as day have run , to language countreis to the posting sun : the western climes might have bin told by thee all that the indian voic'd , antiquitie . nor is that all , for numerous speech affords , without good conduct , but a mart of words . a bunch of keyes men prize not wealth , but letts , where skill comes short t' unlock the cabinets . a magazine of sounds in most we see serve but to stuss and perfect pedantrie . thy copiousness of tongues findes matter hence , it lets in matter that conveyes new sense . and rat'st thy painted words embroideries , but as they usher strange discoveries . that east idolatry yet had lurk'd 't is ods but for thy subject of the syrian gods . the world had still in ignorance bin held how great she was , had selden not reveal'd those pompous attributes , titles of renown which king , prince , emperor challeng'd as their own . earles & marquesses , dukes & all degrees hence found them boundes fix'd for precedencies . a structure so elaborate it would ask europe's joynt labour to out-goe the task . the law of nations ' mongst the hebrews taught , and nature's dictates where could we have sought but from that labour'd piece is publish'd forth to leave the world a legacy of thy worth . i name not others thy choice rarities , the hebrew priests , defence of british seas , arundles marbles , and the hebrew wife , thy sanhedrims tripartite , edmer's life , with other choice which i not reckon here , least so the hidden embers i should stir of rancor gone in some , who measure test not by their judgment , but their interst . such as wit-bound themselves can faintly spare to stab with censures , other choicest care . such suburb-wits their shackled judgments binde to reach the bark , and dwell upon the rinde . when 't was thy excellence to pursue the chase , till there was left to scruple no more place . so long alcides thought his work unsped , as he to hydra left or tayle or head . thy plummet sinks into the depe stsound , still plunging onward till it finde the ground . what worn inscriptions didst from dust relieve ? and from time's shipwrack didst restore to live ? custom , or manners , ensigne , form , or rite ▪ what is 't thy teeming brain not brought to light ? now thou hast travell'd through the world 's wide coast , and left no creek , nor path , nor seas uncrost , and nature's utmost boundaries hast known , t was time thou tookst the period of ●hine own . that so thy wakeful soul dismantled hence might meet fresh objects for intelligence the grecian heroe thus when he went through as far as bounds , wish'd he had more to doe . so through feirce seas the angry keel is hurl'd to look out passage to another world . j. v. m. a. j. c. oxon. vpon the incomparable learned john selden . t were wrong to thy great name on thee to write , who like the sun shines best with thy own light . clocks that are made to imitate the sun seldom run right and true in motion ▪ with heaven's great torch ; whose course is regular ▪ and tells us our best acts erroneous are . our praise , when best impov'd , is at this stay as our faint twilight's to the bright mid-day . all we can speak comes so far short of thee as doth of nature our philosophie . in thine own sphear thrice glorious star then shine ; s●nce all our light is but a beam from thine . the spotless ray originally springs from the great mass of light , more splendor brings ▪ than when through ayre 's dark medium it reflects , where not so pure a beam the sun projects . so the first shade some glasses doe present more vigor hath than to the next is lent . thus pictures from their excellence doe fal the further off from their originall . vpon the death of john selden . praise that is worthy thee who would rehearse must dare beyond the skill of art , or verse . t were sawciness here least flattery for to use , where to the nine the ayd of a tenth muse is all too little to proclaime thy worth , who art no comet blazing seldom forth , but a new star , us mortals for to tell thou wert from heaven sent a miracle . since then none may presume to reach thy fire , we may be thought no trespassers to admire . thus when we view stars that are far above t is no crime such ( if not to catch ) to love . let others speak thy richness by whole sale twill us suffice to mention by retayle . t was but the least among thy lasting pains to purge our laws from errors , & the stains that long had dwelt on them to wash away , by duried fleta's resurrection day . time's ruind monuments , records out of date and rolls which ages past expos'd to fate , thou with such wondrous artifice didst revive ; t was not recovery , but new life didst give . as if those caracters year'd to dust and death hadst re-instated with new soul and breath . and though on living men t is seldom seen that men contemporarie pass a due esteem ▪ but when the carkass is dissolv'd to dust envy gives then what to the dead is just ▪ yet was it said of selden , none beside , that he was stamp'd authentick ere he dy'd ▪ for t is truth 's voice , at bar when thou stoods● thy self was cited for authority . i want both pen and utterance to declare by how great a master shin'st , how singular in the deep insight of the common laws , there 's n'one make scruple to give thee the bayes . and when ' midst throng of business did a rise some sturdy doubts , unfathom'd misteri●s . unto the hive statists would soon repair , who best of statists didst deserve the chair . laws that were forreign were so much thy own , they were not more unto their natives known . civil and canon knew'st all kingdoms ore , yea all that ages past did know before . as if the sun and thou tri'd masterie , whether more countries did , or kingdoms see ; joynt tenants of the world , for both have gone thy daily circle , both annual have run , phaebus aim'd not more secrecies to know than our great selden made his title to . more i could say the grandiure of your praise swels like a torrent on , nor can i raise a mound against it . let this eulogie serve for inscription then , that were each eye turn'd to a sun the round world to survey we should despair to finde , selden like thee ; like caesar's amphitheatre never was is an hyperbole that poets pass . but we shall keep on modest bounds of fame , to say like thee nere sprung there such a frame . degenerate love and choyce . mad heretick forbear to say or swear that there is such a meteor as love here . t is true ; when adam in that perf●ct state of life , first went on wooing for a mate , t was pure affection that his soul did catch and love conjoin'd with god made the best match . vertue , not portion was the aim he sought , for eve had scarce a smock t' her back t is thought . but when once love and adam were exil'd eden , love soard to heaven , and man grew wilde . and as his knowledg and that nobler light he first received , were musled up in night , then avarice and ambition seiz'd the heart and faculties depraved in every part ▪ hence 't was he tugg'd and travell'd to restore that bless'd eternity he lost before . as though when he fell mortal , god had hid the tree of life in earth , which he forbid . hence , hence he grip'd at lands , and moths , & and a large name deep written in that dust . thus the blinde sons of men , as real heirs rust , of his corruptions , drew their father's cares and guilt in with their first breath , which sublime and are intens'd in the decayes of time . thus matches took the high cross , and of old that golden age became an age of gold . hagling relations did their issues joyn , not to make good , but to exalt the line ; and horse-course of their children at a rate ordain'd by them , not by the hands of fate . and therefore phillip's asse laden with oar shallsooner take olynthe , than of yore those royal macedonians , whose high parts lost their esteem against such sordid hearts . if the fine thing with fancies ribboned , and the gay tuft of feathers on his head , ( that perfect emblem of its empty brain ) come rumbling with a coach & dagled train of snaphāce-vouchers ; can just smack its hād , and call to read the catalogue of his land ; run , hold & keep : for this , this , this is hee , that storms , & takes & routs where ere he be . to this diana streight the ephesians bow : or ; squeez the wax ; no matter where , nor how ▪ so the revenue & the joynture's great ; t is never queston'd whether by escheat , theft , or disseisin , or the orphan's tears it were extorted and grew basely theirs . but like the israelites in the devil's behalf . forsake god to adore the goodly calf . then for that pretty trifle , that sweet fool , just wean'd from 's bread & butter & the school ; cracknuts & hobbihorse , & the quaint jackdaw , to wear a thing with a plush scabberd — law ; whose father 's low-roof'd late-hatch'd scutcheon can scarce speak him saped into a gentlemam . though at his great expence his armes took last circuit from y● herauld's poor estate . like a feirce countrey ale-house that renues date his licence every sessions , and so brewes . but this swayes not the ballance : he has it that 's vertue , gallantry , & worth , and wit , all truss'd up in a bag , and more yet to 't , for he that buye● him has the pigg to boot . and though he cannot speak sense , let it goe , he offers at it , or else means it so . his worship's will was good . if he incline to any vice , as swearing , whores , or wine ; t is courage , youth's fling , or a merry cup , such imperfections soon are sodred up . if otherwise a clown ; t is modestie . or simply lavish , t is good nature . wee have vizards of all sizes , small or large , if 's greatness please but to be at the charge ▪ thus riches which were made man's slave to bee , have robb'd him of his native soveraigntie . and captive beauties , like fair barks long lost , are put to sale by th' candle , who gives most . whiles love and honour languish at the door , most glorious pittied fancies , prais'd and poor . but here yee groveling muck-worms , yee that build like ants in mole-hills ; & tye field to field ; which varying god's decree , by joyning hands , instead of marrying children , wed your lands . t is true , you may pretend a busied care in the advance and tilting of an heir : and plausibly too ; were the structure layd upon a noble bottom ; humble , stayd , religious grace and worth met & combin'd with th' active vigour of a gallant minde ; this were a pure cōnexion , sweet with good , a heightning and refining of the bloud . but the hog-trough wordlings from these measures flirt , they love a great name though it 's made of dirt ; to which the children are th' forc'd seals and signes of ship-wrack'd free-will in their fathers loins . the liberty of choice is quite flung by with a proviso of new property . that primitive capacity of love which the all-seeing diety from a bove had plac'd in the sweet cabinet of the brest is now expuls'd by man , and dispossest . upon which breach lust made an enterance there which spreads its wide infection every where . come worlding let me undeceive thee now . if man's grand welfare hangs upon the plough ; or if there be eternity in pelf and earth , that is as mortal as thy self ; then thou hast grasp'd to purpose . but if not , the end of wealth 's mistaken in thy plot . where much is given , much required shal bee . not what was left to thy posterity ; or the by-issues of thy younger years ; but how & when thou stop'dst the widdowes tears with timely charity ; and reliev'dst the poor with ready morsels frost-bound at thy door . these are the works & friends shall follow thee , the ●est shall live thy shame or infamie . nor would i have thy off-spring cast away upon each roving wit , that shall essay thy hopeful lovely viands , with pretence of some blinde far-hence-travell'd eminence . nor that unrighteous mammon swels thy chest and thee , let looss on every stragling guest . but there 's a mean in judgment , a mid course , a difference betwixt a man and 's horse . a fair distinction , were not we too nice , to moderate disdain and market price . forestal not then the world , but let all live ▪ some come to sell by weight , & some to give , love never measur'd by the acre stood , if we ●oll fairly , then the bargain 's good . a dialogue between two water nymphs thamesis and sabrina . tha . ho! all yee sister-streams that govern'd be . by great diana's watry diety . yee silver nymphs that gliding sport and play , and kis your flowry bancks , and flowing stray in lofty murmurs , ô come sit you here , and lend my swelling grief a voice or tear . sab. what poor afflicted soul with mournful cries and sobs awakes my long benighted eyes ? what hapless maid of her first love bereav'd bemoans her friend in death's black armes received ? perhaps some pining votress in the dark bedews a lover's tombe with tears ; hark ! hark ! tha. ah me forlorn ! ah me forsaken maid ! where is my lovelines and honour strayd ? those glories dwelt upon me ? & those swans that sung my name beyond proud ganges sands , and fill'd both indies with the wide renown of my spread fame ? now tost now tumbled down ? sab. i thought my crimson streams had buried all the bitter land-flouds of a kingdoms thrall . but lo ! a louder eccho living is , a floud of yet continued miseries . a tide of wo at last has found a tongue to bear a sad part in my doleful song : speak wretched maid , whence art ? — tha. — t is i , t is i , poor thamesis out of my ruines cry , gravell'd with sorrow and scortch'd up with heat of war , struck deaf with drums , who was the seat of peace and plenty , now the rouling map of violence and tyranous mishap . sab. alas fair princess ! were there left in mee a creek reserv'd from grief to pitty thee , with what swift hast should i divert the course of my salt waves to mixt their scatter'd force with that vast body of thy tears ? and close my springs with thine to make a sea of woes ? tha. can there be such a monster that dares own it's small undoing when my mischief 's shown ? o can there be proportion 'twixt the drops of private ills , and the full plenteous crops and buckets of mine anguish ? o forbear ! i drank those showers whereof thy storms skirts were . sab. we grant ( great lady of the isles ) that thy tumultuous tumours were that pluresie that caus'd the opening of our veins . thy head distemper'd , we grew soon imbodied in the same gulf and ocean of thy pain , languishing rivulets of thee the maine . but if the surges of thy bosom have digg'd for thy beauty an untimely grave : if thy rash waters have so run thee in the winding gyres and streights of suffering ; thank thy augean filthiness for these , thy hydra which hath slain thy hercules . tha. t is true sabrina i have acted right the fable of that horse ; who needs would fight the hart : but finding streight himself to bee too weak for his pallizadoed enemie ; he begs the man to ride him , and became his slave , to gain an empty victor's name . sab. no , rather i suppose th' hast verefi'd the story of the frogs , that to jove cry'd to have a king. he heard their praiers t is said and flung them down a beam to be their head . but they dislik'd with peace , again did call , on which he sent a stork that eat them all . so thou that kick'st at quiet kings , hast gain'd a conquest , which now rides thee double rein'd . thou , thou that shrunk'st at puny subsidies art eas'd at length with taxes and excize ; hast only chang'd the names of things ▪ y● hague for amsterdam , the meazles for the plague . tha. crush not sabrina now my smarting sores , but let the offring of my crumbled towers , and rubbish palaces appease thy feirce censure : for lo i speak but in my hearse . this issue of my breath 's a parting groan : add not affliction to affliction . sab. nor has that burden lighted all on thee alone sweet nymph , but humber , trent & dee , medway , and my poor channel had their share in th' crimson streams of a most bloudy war. if by the shore the publick father dy'd t was not long since the son here slipp'd a side ? sav'd by a miracle of providence , the finger of the gods , that caught him hence from out the jaws of death , to make him more than that fight gain'd could seal him conquerour . but least i lessen thy deserts , ô take the glory of our ruine for thy sake . tha. t was i indeed was that main spring of all that set the judgments moving , which did fall , and in each quarter of the land did roam , but now again are justly travell'd home through my own bowels . o my pride and purse were both at once the countrie 's & my curse . fulness of bread , & wantoness , that brat of sweet abused peace , in me begat a nicety of palate , a desire of novelties , and set●ing all on fire , which flame once kindled , i was forc'd to be and well the fuel of my own calamitie . sab. and rightly , since thou wast the wombe from whence those spirits rose , to be their hell. the high throne of that many headed beast popular soveraignty : a snaky nest and synagogue of asps , which share the sweat of three tame nations tyed up from their meat . tha. what thē sabrina rests yet to be done ? but that we shun with shame and fly the sun , suffring a willing winter to congeal our drops to christal , which wee 'le mildly deal in softer showers of pious tears again till we have purg'd a scarlet kingdoms stain . the myrtle grove . just as the reeling sun came sliding down among the moors and tethys in a gown of sea-green watcher fettled to embrace her great apollo from his circled race , and the streak'd heavens did themselves digest into a larger iris , to invest and cano pie th' illustrious lovely pair in a diaphanous robe of costly ayre : clarinda rose amidst the myrtle grove , like the queen-mother of the stars above . but that clarinda's was no borrow'd light , nor could it , where she was be deemd a night . such was the natural glories she put on they ow'd no being to reflection . whiles the inspir'd musicians of the wood , ravish'd at the new day , powr'd out a floud of quavering melody in honied strains to court the glittering diety of the plains . those pretty flow'ry beds of sweets that now had clos'd their heads up in an amber dew of tears , to mourn the drowsy sun 's good night , warm'd with a nobler ardor sprung up right ▪ and threw the mantles of dull sleep aside in a displaid and meritorious pride , to strew with rich perfumes her balmy way , which grew more fragrant by her active ray . thus sweetly woo'd clarinda laid her down on a cur●'d quilt of roses , fondly grown proud of their own oppression , whiles they may kiss the dear burden which upon them lay . then skreen'd with harmony , she stretch'd a long upon her damask couch , where a bright throng of graces hover'd ore the firmament of her pure orbs drawn to a full extent . whiles a soft gale of wanton wind that blew did sport her willing glories into view . but i poor dazled i , not daring here t' attempt the splendor of each naked sphear , stood peeping through the opticks of the shade , which to my sight a kind reflection made . her eyes half shut up in their christal case stood twinckling centinels upon her face ; or else to take the prospect of those fields of beauty which that flowing tempe yields . her coral lips ten thousand smiles enthron'd , like clustred grapes which for a vintage groan'd . the ivory palace of her stately neck cloth'd with majestick aw , did seem to check the looser pastime of her gamesome hair , which in wilde rings ran trick about the ayre . her amorous brests swell'd to a lovely rise of dripping plenty a twinn'd paradise of milk and honey , exhal'd my roving eye into a soul-ensnaring extasie . and had i not recoil'd without delay i there had wandred in the milky way ▪ her belly like the ace of clubs , so white , so black , the struting pillow of delight , so fired the catching tinder of my s●nse , that i no longer student could commence , but streight weigh'd anchor & tack'd up the sail to the main yard , waiting a stiffer gale to pass me through those ticklish streights of man into the full mediterranean . at last i plung'd into th' elysian charms , fast claspp'd b● th' arched zodiack of her arms those closer clings of love , where i pertaked strong hopes of bliss ; but so , ô so i waked ! to my honoured friend mr. t. c. that ask'd mee how i liked his mistris being an old widdow . but prethee first how long hast bin lost in this sad estate of sin ? that the milde gout , or pox , or worse serves not to expiate thy curse ? some pestilence else may be thou ght upon , and not such absolute damnation . are rocks and halters grown so dear that there 's no perishing but here ? doe no committee yet survive those cheaper gregories of men alive ? if thou wilt needs to sea , ô must it bee in an old gall●asse of sixty three ? a snail-crawl'd botom ? a gray bark that stood at font for noah's ark ? whose wrinkled poop in figures furl'd describes he● travels round the world ? a nut , which whē th' hast crack'd & fumbled ore thou 'lt finde the squiril has bin there before ? then raise the siedge from falling on ▪ that old dismantled garrison . rash lover speak what pleasure hath thy spring in such an aftermath ? who , were she to the best advantage spread , is but the dull husk of a maiden head . how canst thou then delight the sense in beautie's preterperfectense ? and dote upon that free-stone face which wears but the records of grace ? whose antick monast'ry brags but a chest of venerable reliques at the best ? o can there such a famine bee of piping hot virginitie , that thou art forc'd to slur and cheat thy stomack with the broken meat ? why he that wooes a widdow does no more then court that quagmire where one sunk before . fie ▪ prize not then those arras looks sullied and thumb'd like town-hall books ! i like thy fancy well to have its misery so near its grave . and t is a general shrift that most men use , but yet t is tedious waiting dead mens shoes . if 't were thy plot i do confess for to make mummee of her grease , or swop her to the paper mill , this were extracting good from ill . but if thou wed'st on any worse condition , thou 'lt prove delinquent for thy superstition . but prethee hold , let me advise , perhaps shee 's rich and seems a prize , new chalk'd ▪ new rigg'd , a stately friggot , but yet she 's tapp'd at lower spiggot . yet if no med'cine for thy grief be found , there 's smal ods tom 'twixt being hang'd or drown'd . the engagement stated . begon expositor : the text is plain no church , no lord , no law , no soveraign . away with mental reservations , and senses of oaths in files out-vy the strand . here 's hell truss'd in a thimble , in a brea●h , dares face the hazard of the second death . the saints are grown laconians , and can twist perjury up in pils like leyden grist , but hold precize deponents : though the heat of zeal in cataracts digests such meat , my cold concoction shrinks , and my advance drives slowly to approach your ordinance . the signe 's in cancer , and the zodiack turns leonick , rowl'd in curls while terra burns . what though your fancies are sublim'd to reach those fatal reins ? success and will can teach but rash divinity . a sad renown where one man fell to see a million drown . when neither arts nor arms can serve to fight and rest a title from its law and right , must malice piece the trangum ? & make clear the scruple ? else we will resolve to swear ? nay out swear all that we have sworn before and make good lesser crimes by acting more , and more sublime ? this , this extends the line and shames the puny soul of cataline . on this account all those whose fortune 's crost , and want estates , may turn knights of the post . vaulx we out vy'd thee , since thy plot fell lame , we found a closer cellar for the same , piling the fatall powder in our mouths which in an oath discharg'd blew up the house . maugre mounteagle , asps not throughly slain their poison in an age may live again . good demas cuff your bear , then let us see the mistery of your iniquitie . may a man course a cur ? and freely box the question ? or the formal paradox ? but as in phisick so in this device this querk of policy the point is nice . for he that in this model means to thrive , must first subscribe to the preparative . like witches compacts counter-march his faith , and soak up all what ere the spirit saith : then seal and sign . scylla threw three bars short , he had a sword indeed , but no text for 't . old rome lament thy infancy in sin , we perfect what thou trembled'st to begin blush then to see thy self out done . but all the world may grieve t is epidemical . heaven frownes indeed . but what makes hell enraged ? sweet pluto be at peace , we have engaged . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e * praedium , prandium . the most elegant and witty epigrams of sir iohn harrington, knight digested into foure bookes: three vvhereof neuer before published. harington, john, sir, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the most elegant and witty epigrams of sir iohn harrington, knight digested into foure bookes: three vvhereof neuer before published. harington, john, sir, - . [ ] p. : port. printed by g[eorge] p[urslowe] for iohn budge: and are to be sold at his shop in paules church-yard at the signe of the greene dragon, london : . printer's name from stc. signatures: a⁴ b-m n¹. running title reads: sir iohn harringtons epigrams. reproduction of the original in the harvard university. library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams, english. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - olivia bottum sampled and proofread - olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the most elegant and witty epigrams of sir iohn harrington , knight , digested into fovre bookes : three vvhereof neuer before published . fama bonum quo non foelicius vllum . london printed by g. p. for iohn budge : and are to be sold at his shop in paules church-yard at the signe of the greene dragon . . the epistle to all readers , that epigrams must bee read attentiuely , that legere & non intellegere , est negligere . when in your hand you had this pamphlet caught , your purpose was to post it ouer speedie , but change your minde , and feede not ouer-greedy : till in what sort , to feede you first be taught . suppose both first and second course be done , no goose , porke , capon , snites , nor such as these , but looke for fruit , as nuts , and parma-cheese , and comfets , conserues , raisons of the sunne . then taste but few at once , feede not too fickle , so shall you finde some coole , some warme , some biting , some sweet in taste , some sharpe , all so delighting , as may your inward taste , and fancie tickle . but though i wish readers , with stomacks full , yet fast nor come not , if your wits be dull . for i had liefe you did sit downe and whistle , as reading , not to reede . so ends th' epistle . to the right honorable , george marques buckingham , viscount villeirs , baron of whaddon , iustice in eyre of all his maiesties forrests , parks , and chases beyond trent , master of the horse to his maiestie , and one of the gentlemen of his maiesties bedchamber , knight of the most noble order of the garter , and one of his maiesties most honourable priuie councell of england and scotland . most honoured lord , this posthume book is furnished vvith worth , but it wanteth a patron . a worthier thē your ●elfe the booke could not find , nor your lordship a more patheticall poet to patronize . if in poetry , heraldry were admitted , he would be found in happinesse of wit neere allied to the great sydney : yet but neere ; for the apix of the coelum empyrium is not more inaccessable then is the height of sydneys poesy , which by imagination we may approch , by imitation neuer attaine to . to great men our very syllables should be short , and therfore i make my conclusion a petition ; that your lordshippes acceptation may shew how much you fauor the noble name , and nature of the poet , and booke . vvhich deigned by your lordshippe , i shall thinke my paines in collecting , and disposing of these epigrams well placed , and euer rest . your lordships most bounden seruant , i. b. sir iohn harringtons epigrams , the first booke . against momvs . that his poetrie shall be no fictions , but meere truths . scant wrate i sixteene lines , but i had newes , momus had found one fault , past all excuse , that of epistle i the name abuse . no , gentle momus , that is none abuse , without i call that gospel that ensues . but read to carpe , as still hath been thine vse : fret out thine heart to search , seeke , sift and pry , thy heart shall hardly giue my pen the ly . against sextus , a scorner of writers . of writers , sextus known a true despiser , affirmes , that on our writings oft he lookes , and confesseth he growes ne're the wiser . but sextus , where 's the fault ? not in our bookes . no sure , t is in your selfe ( i le tell you wherefore ) bookes giue not wisedome where was none before . but where some is , there reading makes it more . against lesbia , both for her patience and impatience . lesbia , i heard , how ere it came to passe , that when old p●leus call'd thy lord an asse , you did but smile ; but when he cald him oxe , straight-waies you curst him with all plagues & pox . there is some secret cause why you allow a man to scorne his braine , but not his brow . of a poynted diamond giuen by the author to his wife , at the birth of his eldest sonne . deare , i to thee this diamond commend , in which , a modell of thy selfe i send , how lust vnto thy ioynts this circlet sitteth , so iust thy face and shape my fancies fitteth . the touch will try this ring of purest gold , my touch tries thee as pure , though softer mold . that metall precious is , the stone is true as true , as then how much more precious you ? the gem is cleare , and hath nor needes no foyle , thy face , nay more , thy fame is free from soile . ●oule deem this deare , because from me you haue it , ● deem your faith more deer , because you gaue it . this pointed diamond cuts glasse and steele , your loues like force in my firme heart i feele . but this , as all things else , time wasts with wearing , where you , my iewels multiply with bearing . against writers that carpe at other mens bookes . the readers , and the hearers like my bookes , but yet some writers cannot them digest . but what care i ? for when i make a feast , i would my guests should praise it , not the cookes . of a young gallant . you boast , that noble men still take you vp , that whē they bowle or shoot , or hawke or hunt , in coach , or barge , on horse thou still art wont , to runne , ride , row with them , to dine or s●p : this makes you scorne those of the meaner sort , and thinke your credit doth so farre surmount ; whereas indeed , of you they make no count , but as they doe of hawkes and dogges , for sport . then vaunt not thus of this your vaine renowne , lest we both take you vp , and take you downe . to my lady rogers , the authors wiues mother , how doctor sherehood comm●nded her house in bathe ▪ i newly had your little house erected , in which i thought i had made good conueiance , to vse each ease , and to shunne all annoyance , and prayd a friend of iudgement not neglected , to view the roomes , and let me know the faults . he hauing view'd the lodgings , staires , and vaults , said all was excellent well , saue here and there . you thinke he praysd your house . no , i doe sweare , he hath disgrac'd it cleane , the case is cleere , for euery roome is either there , or here . of lesbia , a great lady . lesbia doth laugh to heare sellers and buyers cald by this name , substantiall occupyers : lesbia , the word was good while good folke vsd it , you mard it that with chawcers iest abusd it : but good or bad , how ere the word be made , lesbia is loth perhaps to leaue the trade . of one that begd nothing , and had his sute granted . when thou dost beg , as none begs more importunate , and art deny'd , as none speeds more infortunate , with one quaint phrase thou doost inforce thy begging , ●y mind vnto thy suite in this sort egging . ●las , sir this ? t is nothing , once deny me not . ●ell then , for once content , henceforth bely me not . your words so wisely plaste , doe so inchaunt me , sith you doe nothing aske , i nothing graunt yee . another of asking nothing . some thinke thee lynus of a fryer begotten , for still you beg where nothing can be gotten ; yet oft you say , for so you haue been taught , ●ir , grant me this , t is but a thing of nought . and when indeed you say so , i belieue it , as nought , vnto a thing of nought i giue it . thus with your begging , you but get a mock , and yet with begging little , mend your stock . leaue begging lynus for such poore rewards , else some will begge thee in the court of wards . of liberality in giuing nothing . i heare some say , and some belieue it too , that craft is found eu'n in the clouted shoo ▪ sure i haue found it with the losse of pence , my tenants haue both craft and eloquence . for when one hath a suite before he aske it . his orator pleades for him in a basket . well tenant well , he was your friend that taught you ▪ this learn'd exordium , master , here cha brought you . for with one courtesie and two capons giuing , thou sauest ten pounds in buying of thy liuing . which makes me say , that haue obseru'd this quality in poore men not to giue , is niggerality . of learning nothing at a lecture , vpon occasion of d● reynolds at oxford , afore my lord of essex , and diuers ladies and courtiers , at the queenes last beeing there , on these words : i do him nihil est , an idol is nothing . while i at oxford stay'd , some few months since , to see , and serue our deare & soueraigne prince ▪ where graciously her grace did see and show the choisest fruits that learning could bestow , i went one day to heare a learned lecture read ( as some said ) by bellarmines correcter , and sundry courtiers more then present were , that vnderstood it well saue here and there : among the rest , one whom it least concerned , askt me what i had at the lecture learned ? i that his ignorance might soone be guile ▪ did say , i learned nothing all the while . yet did the reader teach with much facilitie , and i was wont to learne with some docilitie . what learn'd you , sir , ( quoth he ) in swearing moode ? i nothing learn'd , for nought i vnderstood , i thanke my parents , they , when i was yong , barr'd me to learne this popish romane tong , and yet it seemes to me , if you say true , ● without learning learn'd the same that you , most true , said i , yet few dare call vs fooles , that this day learned nothing at the schooles . a paradox of doomes day . some doctors deeme the day of doome drawes neere : but i can proue the contrary most cleere , for at that day our lord and sauiour saith , that he on earth shall scant finde any faith , but in these daies it cannot be denyde , all boast of onely faith and nought beside : but if you seeke the fruit thereof by workes , you shall finde many better with the turkes . against a foolish satyrist called lynus . helpe , friends , i feele my credit lyes a bleeding , for lynus , who to me beares hate exceeding , i heare against me is eu'n now a breeding , a bitter satyr all of gall proceeding : now sweet apollos iudge , to be his speeding , for what he writes , i take no care nor heeding . for none of worth wil think them worth the reeding . so my friend paulus censures them who sweares , that lynus verse fuits best with mydas eares , of a faire woman ; translated out of casaneus his catalogus gloriae mundi . these thirty things that hellens fame did raise , a dame should haue that seeks for beuties praise ▪ three bright , three blacke , three red , . short , . tall , three thick , three thin , three close , . wide , . small : her skin , and teeth , must be cleare , bright , and neat , her browes , eyes , priuy parts , as blacke as ieat : her cheekes , lips , nayles , must haue vermillian hiew , her hāds , hayre , height , must haue ful length to view . her teeth , foote , eares , all short , no length allowes , large brests , large hips , large space betweene the browes , a narrow mouth , small waste , streight ( ) her fingers , hayre , and lips , but thin and slender : thighs , belly , neck , should be full smooth and round , nose , head and teats , the least that can be found . sith few , or none , perfection such attaine , but few or none are fayre , the case is plaine . of a hous-hold fray friendly ended . a man & wife stroue earst who should be master , and hauing chang'd between thē hous-hold speeches , the mā in wrath broght forth a pair of wasters , & swore those . shuld proue who ware the breeches . she that could break his head , yet giue him plasters , accepts the challenge , yet withall beseeches , ●●at she ( as weakest ) then might strike the first , ●nd let him ward , and after doe his worst . ●e swore that should be so , as god should blesse him , ●nd close he lay him to the sured locke . ●e flourishing as though she would not misse him , ●●id downe her cudgell , and with witty mocke , ●he told him for his kindnes , she would kisse him , ●hat now was sworne to giue her neuer knocke . ●ou sware , said she , i should the first blow giue . ●nd i sweare i 'le neuer strike you while i liue . ●n flattring slut , said he , thou dar'st not fight . ● am no larke , quoth she , man , doe not dare me , ●et me point time and place , as 't is my right by law of challenge , and then neuer spare me . agreed , said he . then rest ( quoth she ) to night , to morrow at cuckolds hauen , i 'le prepare me . peace , wife , said he , wee 'le cease all rage and rancor , ere in that harbor i will ride at ancor . of blessing without a crosse . a priest that earst was riding on the way , not knowing better how to passe the day , was singing with himselfe geneua psalmes . a blind man hearing him , straight beg'd an almes . man , said the priest , from coyne i cannot part , but i pray god blesse thee , with all my heart . o , said the man , the poore may liue with losse , now priests haue learn'd to blesse without a crosse . of writing with a double meaning . a certaine man was to a iudge complaining , how one had written with a double meaning ▪ foole , said the iudge , no man deserueth trouble , for double meaning , so he deale not double . against cosmus a great briber . this wicked age of ours complaines of bribing , the want of iustice most to that ascribing : when iudges , who should heare both with equalitie by one side brib'd , to that shew partialitie . but cosmus in this case doth well prouide , for euer he takes bribes , of euery side : wherefore on him complaine can no man rightly , but that he still may sentence giue vprightly . i first would chuse one that all bribes doth loath , i next could vse him that takes bribes of both . of a precise tayler . a tayler a man of an vpright dealing , true , but for lying , honest , but for stealing , did fall one day extremely sicke by chance , and on the sudden was in wondrous trance . the friends of hell mustring in fearfull manner , of sundry coloured silke display'd a banner , ●hich he had stolne , and wish't as they did tell , ●●at one day he might finde it all in hell . ●he man affrighted at this apparision , ●pon recouerie grew a great precision . ●●e bought a bible of the new translation , ●nd in his life , he shew'd great reformation : ●e walked mannerly , and talked meekely ; ●e heard three lectures , and two sermons weekely ; ●e vowed to shunne all companies vnruly , ●nd in his speech he vsde none oath , but truely : ●nd zealously to keepe the sabboths rest , his meate for that day , on the e'ue was drest . and lest the custome , that hee had to steale , might cause him sometime to forget his zeale , he giues his iournymen a speciall charge . that if the stuffes allowance being large , he found his fingers were to filch inclin'd , bid him but haue the banner in his minde . this done , i scant can tell the rest for laughter , a captaine of a ship came three daies after , and brought three yards of veluet , & three quarters to make venetians downe below the garters . he that precisely knew what was enuffe , soone slipt away three quarters of the stuffe . his man espying it , said in derision , remember , master , how you saw the vision . peace ( knaue ) quoth he , i did not see one ragge of such a colour'd silke in all the flagge . of one paulus a great man that expected to be followed . proud paulus late aduanc't to high degree , expects that i should now his follower be . glad i would be to follow ones direction , by whom my honest suits might haue protection . but i sue don fernandos heyre for land , against so great a peere he dare not stand . a bishop sues me for my tithes , that 's worse , he dares not venter on a bishops curse . sergeant erifilus beares me old grudges , yea but , saith paulus , sergeants may be iudges . pure cinna o're my head would begge my lease , who my lord. — man , o hold your peace . rich widdow lesbia for a slander sues me . tush for a womans cause , he must refuse me . then farewell frost : paulus , henceforth excuse me . for you that are your selfe thrall'd to so many , shall neuer be my good lord , if i haue any . of a terrible temporall non-resident . old cosmus hath of late got one lewd qualitie , to rayle at some that haue the cure of soules , and his pure sprite their auarice controules , that in their liuings is such inequalitie , that they that can keepe , no good hospitalitie , and some that would , whose fortune he condoles , ●ant meanes : which comes , he sayes , in generalitie , ●ecause of these same to●●●●ts , and pluralitie ; affirming as a sentence full discust , one clergie man haue but one liuing must . ●ut he , besides his sundry ciuill offices , ●ath brought in fee , fiue fat impropriations , ●welue patronages rights , or presentations , ●ll which he keepes , yet preaches not nor prophesies . ●el cosmus hold thy tong , else some wil scoffe at this . thou d'st haue vs thinke a priest should haue but one , wee 'le thinke , nay say , nay sweare thou shouldst haue none . ●l sutes it thee to blame , then for non residents , that giuest thereof such foule and shamefull presiden●● . a tale of a rosted horse . one lord , . knights , . squires , . dames at least , my kind friend marcus bade vnto his feast , where were both fish and flesh , and all acates , that men are wont to haue that feast great states . to pay for which , next day he sold a nagge , of whose pace , colour , raine , he vs'd to bragge . well , i le ne're care for red , or fallow deere , and if a horse thus cookt can make such cheere . of madam dondrages with her faire brest . a fauorite of charles late king of france , disporting with the king one day by chance , madam dondrages came among the rest , all bare , as still she vsed 〈◊〉 her brest . the king would needs haue notice of his minion ; of this free dame what was his franke opinion ? i say , and dare affirme , my liege , quoth he , that if the crupper like the pertrell be , a king a loue i worthy can account , vpon so braue a trapped beast to mount . the author to his wife , of a womans eloquence . my mall , i mark that whē you mean to proue me to buy a veluet gowne , or some rich border , thou calst me good sweet heart , thou swearst to loue me , thy locks , thy lips , thy looks , speak all in order , thou think'st , and right thou think'st , that these doe moue me that all these seuerally thy sute do further : but shall i tell thee what most thy suit aduances ? thy faire smoothe words ? no , no , thy faire smoothe banches . of peleus ill-fortune in burying his friends . old peleus plaines his fortune and ill chaunce , that still he brings his friends vnto the graue . god peleus , i would thou hadst led the daunce , and i had pointed thee what friends to haue . to my lady rogers , of breaking her bitches legge . ●ast night you laid it ( madam ) in our dish , how that a mayd of ours , whom we must check , ●●d broke your bitches legge , i straight did wish ●●e baggage rather broken had her neck : 〈◊〉 tooke my answer well , and all was whish . but take me right , i meant in that i said , your baggage bitch , and not my baggage mayd . of paying . a captaine late arriu'd from losse of sluce , hearing some friend of mine did him abuse , ●ow'd he would pay him when he met him next . ●y friend with these great threats nothing perplext , prayd that the promise faild not of fulfilling , for three yeeres past he lent him fortie shilling . the author , of his owne fortune . take fortune as it falles , as one aduiseth : yet heywood bids me take it as it riseth : ●nd while i think to doe as both doe teach , 〈◊〉 falles and riseth quite beside my reach . of the cause of dearth . i heare our country neighbors oft complaine , their fruits are still destroyd with too much rai● some gesse by skill of starres , and science vaine , some watry planet in the heauens doth raigne : no , sinne doth raigne on earth , the case is plaine which if we would repent , and then refraine , the skyes would quickly keepe their course againe . now that with lewdnesse we be luld asleepe , the heauens , to see our wickednesse , doe weepe . to sir hugh portman , in supping alone in too much company . when you bade forty guests , to me vnknowne , i came not , though you twice for me did send , for which you blame me as a sullen friend . sir , pardon me , i list not suppe alone . of sextus , a bad husband . had i , good sextus , well considered first , and better thought on phrases of ciuilitie , when i said , you of husbands were the worst , i should haue said , excepting the nobilitie . well , none , to speak more mannerly and true , the nobles , and great states-men , all foreprised , ●n husband worse then you , i neuer knew . ●hen mend , yet thus in mending be aduised : be no good husband , for as some haue thought , husbands that will be good , make huswifes nought . of writing with double pointing . it is said , that king edward of carnaruan lying at berkly castle prisoner , a cardinall wrote to his keeper , edwardum occidere noli , timere bonum est , which being read with the point at timere , it cost the king his life . here ensues as doubtfull a point , but i trust , not so dangerous . dames are indude with vertues excellent ? what man is he can proue that they offend ? daily they serue the lord with good intent : seld they displease their husbands : to their end alwaies to please them well they doe intend : neuer in them one shall finde shrewdnes much . such are their humors , and their grace is such . to my lady rogers . good madame , in this verse obserue one point , that it seemes the writer did appoint with smoothest oyle of praise your eares to noynt ; yet one his purpose soone may disappoint . for in this verse disparting but a point . will put this verse so clearely out of ioynt , that all this praise will scant be worth a point . to her daughter , vpon the same point , reading the same verse with another point . dames are indude with vertues excellent ? what man is he can proue that ? they offend daily : they serue the lord with good intent seld : they displease their husbands to their end alwaies : to please them well they doe intend neuer : in them one shall find shrewdnesse much . such are their humors , and their graces such . my mall , the former verses this may teach you , that som deceiue , some are deceiu'd by showes . for this verse in your praise , so smooth that goes , with one false point and stop , did ouer-reach you , and turne the praise to scorne , the rimes to prose , by which you may be slanderd all as shrowes : and some , perhaps , may say , and speake no treason , the verses had more rime , the prose more reason . comparison of the sonnet , and the epigram . once , by mishap , two poets fell a-squaring , the sonnet , and our epigram comparing ; and faustus , hauing long demurd vpon it , yet , at the last , gaue sentence for the sonnet , now , for such censure , this his chiefe defence is , their sugred taste best likes his likresse senses . well , though i grant sugar may please the taste , yet let my verse haue salt to make it last . of an accident of saying grace at the lady rogers , who vsed to dine exceeding late . written to his wife . my mall , in your short absence from this place , my selfe here dining at your mothers bord , your little sonne did thus begin his grace ; the eyes of all things looke on thee , ô lord , and thou their foode doost giue them in due season . peace boy , quoth i , not more of this a word , for in this place , this grace hath little reason : when as we speake to god , we must speake true . and though the meat be good in taste and season , this season for a dinner is not due : then peace , i say , to lie to god is treason . say on , my boy , saith shee , your father mocks , clownes , and not courtiers , vse to goe by clocks . courtiers by clocks , said i , and clownes by cocks . now , if your mother chide with me for this , then you must reconcile vs with a kisse . of don pedro and his poetry . sir , i shall tell you newes , except you know it , our noble friend don pedro , is a poet. his verses all abroad are read and showne , and he himselfe doth sweare they are his owne . his owne ? t is true , for he for them hath paid two crownes a sonnet , as i heard it said . so ellen hath faire teeth , that in her purse she keepes all night , and yet sleepes ne're the worse . so widdow lesbia , with her painted hide , seem'd , for the time , to make a handsome bride . if pedro be for this a poet cald , so you may call one hairie that is bald . a comfort for poore poets . poets , hereafter , for pensions need not care , who call you beggers , you may call them lyers , verses are growne such merchantable ware , that now for sonnets , sellers are , and buyers . against a foolish satyrist . i read that satyre thou intitlest first , and layd aside the rest , and ouer-past , and sware , i thought , that th' author was accurst , that that first satyre had not been his last . an epitaph in commendation of george turberuill , a learned gentleman . when rimes were yet but rude , thy pen ende●uore● to pollish barbarisme with purer stile : ●hē times were grown most old , thy heart perseuered ●incere & iust , vnstaind with gifts or guile . ●ow liues thy soule , though frō thy corps disseuered , ●here high in blisse , here cleare in fame the while ; to which i pay this debt of due thanks-giuing , my pen doth praise thee dead , thine grac'd me liuing ● to the queenes maiestie , when shee found fault with some particular matters in misacmos metamorphosis . o read soueraign , take this true , though poore excuse , of all the errors of misacmos muse , 〈◊〉 hound that of a whelpe my selfe hath bred , ●nd at my hand and table taught and fed , when other curres did fawne and flatter coldly , ●id spring and leape , and play with me too boldly : for which , although my pages check and rate him , yet stil my self doth much more loue thē hate him . ● to the ladies of the queenes priuy-chamber , at the making of their perfumed priuy at richmond , the booke hanged in chaines saith thus : faire dames , if any tooke in scorne , and spite me , that misacmos muse in mi●th did write , 〈◊〉 satisfie the sinne , loe , h●re in chaines , ●or aye to hang , my master he ordaines . ●et deeme the deed to him no derogation , but doome to this deuice new commendation , sith here you see , feele , smell that his conueyance hath freed this noysome place from all annoyance . now iudge you , that the work mock , enuie , taunt , whose seruice in this place may make most vaunt : if vs , or you , to praise it , were most meet , you , that made sowre , or vs , that make it sweet ? to master cooke , the queenes atturney , that wa● incited to call misacmos into the starre-chamber , but refused it ; saying , he that could giue another a ven●e , had a sure ward for himselfe . those that of dainty fare make deare prouision , if some bad cookes marre it with dressing euill , are wont to say in iest , but iust derision , the meat from god , the cookes came frō the diuell . but , if this dish , though draffe in apparision , were made thus sawst , a seruice not vnciuill , say ye that taste , and not digest the booke , the dee'le go with the meat , god with the cooke . against lynus , a wryter , that found fault with the metamorphosis . lynus , to giue to me a spightfull frumpe , said that my writings sauourd of the pumpe , and that my muse , for want of matter , takes an argument to write of from the iakes . well , lynus , speake each reader as he thinks , though thou of scepters wrat'st , and i of sinks , yet some will say , comparing both together , my wit brings matter thence , thine matter thither . of garlick to my lady rogers . ●f leckes you like , and doe the smell disleeke , eate onions , and you shall not smell the leeke : 〈◊〉 you of onions would the sent expell , ●ate garlick , that will drowne th'onyons smell . but sure , gainst garlicks sauour , at one word , i know but one receit , what 's that ? ( go looke . ) a dish of dainties for the diuell . a godly father , sitting on a draught , to doe as need , & nature hath vs taught , ●umbled , as was his manner , certaine prayers : ●nd vnto him , the diuell straight repaires , ●nd boldly to reuile him he begins , ●lleaging , that such prayers are deadly sinnes ; ●nd that it prou'd he was deuoyd of grace , ●o speake to god in so vnfit a place . ●he reuerend man , though at the first dismayd , ●et strong in faith , thus to the diuell said ; ●hou damned spirit , wicked , false , and lying , ●espayring thine owne good , and ours enuying : ●ach take his due , and me thou canst not hurt , ●o god my prayer i meant , to thee the durt . pure prayer ascends to him that high doth fit . downe falls the filth , for fiends of hell more fit . of don pedro his sweet breath . how i st , don pedros breath is still perf●m'd , and that he neuer like himselfe doth smell ? i like it not , for still it is presum'd ; who smelleth euer well , smells neuer well . misacmos against his booke . the writer and the matter well might meet , were he as eloquent , as it is sweet . of cloacina and sterquitius . the romanes euer counted superstitious adored with high titles of diuinitie , dame cloacina , and the lord sterquitius , two persons in their state of great affinitie . but we , that scorne opinions so pernitious , are taught by truth well try'd , t' adore the trinitie . and , who-so care of true religion takes , wil think such saints wel shrined in aiax . to the queene when she was pacified , and had sent misacmos thankes for the inuention . a poet once of traian begd a lease , ( traian , terror of warre , mirror of peace ) ●●d doubting how his writings were accepted , ●●inst which he heard some courtiers had excepted ; ●● came to him , and with all due submission , ●●liuered this short verse , with this petition : ●●are soueraigne , if you like not of my writings , 〈◊〉 this sweet cordiall to a spirit daunted . 〈◊〉 if you reade , and like my poore enditings , 〈◊〉 for reward let this small sute be granted . of which short verse , i finde insu'd such fruit , the poet , of the prince obtain'd his sute . a poets priuiledge . painters and poets claime by old enroulement , a charter , to dare all without controulement . to faustus . faustus findes fault , my epigrams are short , because to reade them , he doth make some sport : i thanke thee , faustus , though thou iudgest wrong , ere long i 'le make thee sweare they be too long . against faustus . what is the cause , faustus , that in dislike proud paulus still doth touch thee with a pike ? 〈◊〉 breedeth in my minde a great confusion , ●o thinke what he should meane by such elusion . trowst thou hee meanes , that thou mightst make a pikemā ? that cānot be , for that thou art no like man. thy crazed bones cannot endure the shocke , besides , his manner is to speake in mocke . or i st , because the pike's a greedy fish , deuoures as thou dost many a dainty dish ? and in another sort , and more vnkinde , wilt bite , and spoile those of thy proper kinde ? or doth he meane thou art a quarrell-piker , that amongst men , wert neuer thought a striker ? in this he sayes , thou art a christian brother , that stricken on one eare , thou turnest the other . or doth he meane that thou would'st picke a thanke ? no sure , for of that fault i count thee franke . how can thy tale to any man be gratefull , whose person , manners , face and all 's so hatefull ? then , faustus , i suspect yet one thing worse , thou hast pickt somwhat else . what 's that ? a purse ? of mis-conceiuing . ladies , you blame my verses of scurrilitie , while with the double sense you were deceiu'd . now you confesse them free from inciuilitie . take heede henceforth you be not misconceiu'd . . how the bathe is like purgatory . whether it be a fable , or a story , that beda and others write of purgatory : ● know no place that more resemblance hath with that same purgatory , then the bathe . men there with paines , doe purge their passed sinnes , many with paines , purge here their parched skins : ●rying and freezing are the paines there told , here the chiefe paine , consists in heate and cold . confused cryes , vapour and smoke and stinke , ●re certaine here : that there they are , some thinke there fire burnes lords and lowts without respect , our water for his force workes like effect : thence none can be deliuered without praying , hence no man is deliuered without paying . but once escaped thence , hath sure saluation , but those goe hence , still feare recidiuation . of going to bathe . a common phrase long vsed here hath beene , and by prescription now some credit hath : that diuers ladies comming to the bathe , come chiefely but to see , and to be seene . but if i should declare my conscience briefely , ● cannot thinke that is their arrant chiefely . for as i heare that most of them haue dealt , they chiefely came to feele , and to be felt . of plaine dealing . my writings oft displease you : what 's the matter you loue not to heare truth , nor i to flatter . against paulus . because in these so male contented times , i please my selfe with priuate recreation ; in reading or in sweetest contemplation , or writing sometime prose , oft pleasant rimes : paulus , whom i haue thought my friend sometimes , seekes all he may to taint my reputation : not with complaints , nor any haynous crimes , but onely saying in his scoffing fashion , these writers that still sauour of the schooles , frame to themselues a paradice of fooles . but while he scornes our mirth and plaine simplicitie , himselfe doth sayle to affricke and ind. and seekes with hellish paines , yet doth not finde that blisse , in which he frames his wise felicitie . now which of twaine is best , some wise men tell , our paradice , or else wise paulus hell . of caius hurts in the warre . caius of late return'd from flemmish warres , of certaine little scratches beares the skarres , and for that most of them are in his face , with tant plus beau hee showes them for his grace . ●et came they not by dint of pike , or dart , ●ut with a pot , a pint , or else a quart . but he ne're makes his boast , how , and by whom , he hath receiu'd a greater blow at home . of two welsh gentlemen . i heard among some other pretty tales , how once there were two gentlemen of wales , of noble bloud , discended of his house , that from our ladies gowne did take a louse . these two ( thus goes the tale ) vpon a day , did hap to trauell vpon london way : ●nd for 't was cumbersome to weare a boote , ●or their more ease , they needs would walke afoote . their fare was dainty , and of no small cost , ●or euery meale they call'd for bak't and rost . ●nd lest they should their best apparell lacke , each of them bore his wardrobe at his backe . their arrant was , but sore against their wils , ●o westminster to speake with master milles. ●o maruell men of such a sumptuous dyet , were brought into the star-chamber for a ryot . these squires one night arriued at a towne , to looke their lodgings , when the sun was downe . and for the inne-keeper his gates had locked , ●n haste , like men of some account they knocked . the drowsie chamberlaine doth aske who 's there . they told that gentlemen of wales they were . how many , quoth the man , is there of you ? quoth they , here is iohn ap rice , ap iones , ap hue ; and nicholas ap steuen , ap giles , ap dauy. then gentlemen , adue , quoth he , god saue ye . your worships might haue had a bed or twaine , but how can that suffice so great a traine ? to master maior of bathe , that bathe is like paradice . sir , if you either angry were or sory , that i haue lik'ned bathe to purgatory : loe , to re-gaine your fauour in a trice , i 'le proue it much more like to paradice . man was at first in paradice created , many men still in bathe are procreated . man liu'd there in state of innocence , here many liue in wit , like innocents . there sprang the heads of foure most noble streames from hence flow springs , not matcht in any realme● those springs & fruits , brought helpe for each disease these vnto many maladies bring ease . man , there was monylesse , naked and poore . many goe begging here from dore to dore . man there did taste the tree he was forbidden . here many men taste fruits , makes them be chidden angels dwell there in pure and shining habit . angels like faces , some this place inhabit . angels let in all are admitted thither , angels keepe in all are admitted hither . many are said to goe to heauen from thence , many are sent to heauen , or hell , from hence . but in this one thing likenesse most is fram'd , that men in bathe goe naked , not asham'd . of don pedro's debts . don pedro's out of debt , be bold to say it , for they are said to owe , that meane to pay it . of one that vow'd to dis-inherit his sonne , and giue his goods to the poore . a citizen that dwelt neere temple-barre , by hap one day fell with his sonne at iarre ; whom for his euill life , and lewd demerit , he oft affirm'd , he would quite dis-inherit , and vow'd his goods , and lands , all to the poore , his sonne what with his play , what with his whore , was so consum'd at last , as he did lacke meate for his mouth , and clothing for his backe . o craftie pouerty ! his father now , may giue him all he hath , yet keepe his vow . of a precise cobler , and an ignorant curat . a cobler , and a curat , once disputed afore a iudge , about the queenes iniunctions , and sith that still the curat was confuted , one said 't was fit that they two changed functions . nay , said the iudge , that motion much i lothe , but if you will , wee 'le make them coblers both . of lynus poetrie . when lynus thinkes that he and i are friends , then all his poems vnto me he sends : his disticks , satyrs , sonnets , and exameters , his epigrams , his lyricks , his pentameters . then i must censure them , i must correct them , then onely i must order , and direct them . i read some three or foure , and passe the rest , and when for answere , i by him am prest , i say , that all of them , some praise deserue , for certaine vses i could make them serue . but yet his rime is harsh , vneu'n his number , the manner much , the matter both doth cumber . his words too strange , his meanings are too mistic● but at one word , i best indure his disticke : and yet , might i perswade him in mine humor , not to affect vaine praise of common rumor , then should he write of nothing : for indeede , gladly of nothing i his verse would reade . of one that seekes to be stellified being no pithagorian . an vse there was among some pithagorians , if we giue credit to the best historians : how they that would obserue the course of starres , to purge the vapors , that our cleere sight tarres , and bring the braine vnto a settled quiet , did keepe a wondrous strict and sparing dyet , drinke water from the purest heads of springs , eate hearbs and flowers , not taste of liuing things : and then to this scant fare , their bookes applying , they call'd this sparing dyet , stellifying . then thinkest thou , professed epicure , that neuer couldest vertuous paines endure , that eat'st fat venson , bowzest claret wine , ●o'st play till twelue , and sleepe till after nine , and in a coach like vulcans sonne dost ride , that thou art worthy to be stellified ? against momus . lewd momus loues , mens liues and lines to skan , yet said ( by chance ) i was an honest man. ●ut yet one fault of mine , he strait rehearses , which is , i am so full of toyes and verses . true , momus , true , that is my fault , i grant . ●et when thou shalt thy chiefest vertue vaunt , i know some worthy sprites one might entice , to leaue that greatest vertue , for this vice. of galla , and her tawny fanne . when galla and my selfe doe talke together , her face she shroudes with fanne of tawny fether , and while my thought somewhat thereof deuiseth , a double doubt within my minde ariseth : as first , her skin or fanne which looketh brighter , and second whether those her looks be lighter , thē that same plume wherwith her looks were hidden , but if i cleer'd these doubts , i should be chidden . to his wife for striking her dogge . your little dogge that barkt as i came by , i strake by hap so hard , i made him cry , and straight you put your finger in your eye , and lowring sate , and askt the reason why . loue me , and loue my dogge , thou didst reply : loue as both should be lou'd . i will , said i , and seald it with a kisse . then by and by , cleer'd were the clouds of thy faire frowning sky . thus small euents , great masteries may try . for i by this , doe at their meaning ghesse , that beate a whelpe afore a lyonesse . against a wittall broker that set his wife to sale . i see thee sell swords , pistols , clokes , and gowns , with dublets , slops , & they that pay thee crowns ; doe , as 't is reason , beare away the ware , which to supply , is thy continuall care . but thy wiues ware , farre better rate doth hold , which vnto sundry chapmen's dayly sold. her fayre lasts all the yeere , and doth not finish , nor doth her ware ought lessen , or diminish . of his translation of ariosta . i spent some yeeres , & months , & weeks , and dayes , in englishing the italian ariost. and straight some offered epigrams in praise of that my thankelesse paines , and fruitlesse cost . but while this offer did my spirits raise , and that i told my friend thereof in post : he disapprou'd the purpose many wayes , and with this prouerbe prou'd it labour lost : good ale doth need no signe , good wine no bush , good verse of praisers , needs not passe a rush . of cinna's election . pvre cinna makes no question he 's elect , yet lewdly liues : i might beleeue him better , if he would change his life , or change one letter , and say that he is sure he is eiect . an holy , true , and long preserued purity , may hap , and bu● perhap breede such securitie . the author to a daughter of nine yeere olde . though pride in damsels is a hatefull vice , yet could i like a noble-minded girle , that would demand me things of costly price , rich veluet gownes , pendents , and chaines of pearle carknets of aggats , cut with rare deuice , not that hereby she should my minde entice to buy such things against both wit and profit , but i like well she should be worthy of it . to the earle of essex , of one enuious of ariosto translated . my noble lord , some men haue thought me prou● because my furioso is so spred , and that your lordship hath it seene and read , and haue my veine , and paine therein alowd . no sure , i say , and long time since haue vowd , my fancies shall not with such baits be fed , nor am i fram'd so light in foote or head , that i should daunce at sound of praises crow'd : yes i 'le confesse this pleas'd me when i heard it , how one that euer carpes at others writings , yet seldome any showes of his enditings : with much adoe gaue vp this hungry verdit , 't was well he said , but 't was but a translation . is 't not a ramme that buts of such a fashion ? of a speechlesse woman . to his wife . a curst wife , of her husbands dealings doubting , at his home comming silent was and mute , ●nd when with kindnesse he did her salute , ●he held her peace , and lowring sate and pouring , which humor that he thought to check with flouting : he caus'd one secretly to raise a brute that she lay speechlesse : straight the bell doth toule , ●nd men deuoutly giuen , pray'd for her soule . then some kinde gossips made a speciall sute ●o visit her , her hard case to condole : ●he wondred at the cause : but when she knew it , ●rom that time forward , so her tongue did role , ●hat her good man did wish he had been breechlesse , when first he gaue it forth , that she was speechlesse . well then , my moll , lest my mis-hap be such , be neuer dumbe , yet neuer speake too much . of a dumbe horse . when you and i , paulus once hackneys hired , rode late to rochester , my hackney tired : you that will lose a friend , to coine a iest , play'd thus on me , and my poore tyred beast . marke , in misacmos horse , a wondrous change , a sudden metamorphosis most strange . his horseway lay at rising of the sunne , and now you plaine may see his horse is downe . well , paulus , thus with me , you please to sport , but thus againe , your scoffe i can retort . your haire was blacke , and therein was your glory : but in two yeeres , it grew all gray and hoary . now like my hackney worne with too much trauell , mired in the clay , or tired in the grauell . while two yeere more ouer your head are runne , your haire is neither blacke , nor gray , 't is dunne . of leda that plaid at tables with her husband . if tales are told of leda be not fables , thou with thy husband do'st play false at tables . first , thou so cunningly a die canst slurre , to strike an ace so dead , it cannot sturre . then play thou for a pound , or for a pin , high men are low men , still are foysted in . thirdly through , for free entrance is no fearing , yet thou dost ouerreach him still at bearing : if poore almes-ace , or sincts , haue beene the cast , thou bear'st too many men , thou bear'st too fast . well , leda , heare my counsell , vse it not , else your faire game may haue so foule a blot , that he to lose , or leaue , will first aduenture , then in so shamefull open points to enter . of soothsaying , to the queene of england . might queenes shun future mischiefe by foretelling , thē among soothsayers 't were excellent dwelling : ●ut if there be no means , such harms expelling , the knowledge makes the grief , the more excelling . well , yet deare liege , my soule this comfort doth , that of these soothsayers very few say sooth . how an asse may proue an elephant . ●t hath beene said , to giue good spirits hope , a knight may proue a king , a clarke , a pope ▪ ●ut our yong spirits disdaining all old rules , compar'd by holy writ , to horse and mules : t is vaine with ancient prouerbs , to prouoke ●o vertuous course , with these such beare no stroke . then their old pride , let my new prouerb dant , an asse may one day proue an elephant . of a precise lawyer . a lawyer call'd vnto the barre but lately , yet one that lofty bare his lookes , and stately , and how so e're his minde was in sinceritie , his speech and manners shew'd a great austeritie . this lawyer hop'd to be a bidden ghest , with diuers others to a gossips feast . where though that many did by entercourse , exchange sometimes from this , to that discourse : yet one bent brow , and frowne of him was able , to gouerne all the talke was at the table . his manner was , perhaps to helpe digestion , still to diuinitie to draw each question : in which his tongue extrauagant would range , and he pronounced maxims very strange . first , he affirmd , it was a passing folly , to thinke one day more then another holy . if one said michaelmas , straight he would chide , and tell them they must call it michaels tide . if one had sneezde to say ( as is the fashion ) christ helpe , 't was witchcraft , & deseru'd damnation ▪ now when he talked thus , you must suppose , the gossips cup came often from his nose . and were it the warme spice , or the warme wether , at least he sneezed twice or thrice together . a pleasant ghest , that kept his words in minde , and heard him sneeze , in scorne said , keepe behinde at which the lawyer taking great offence , said , sir , you might haue vs'd saue reuerence . i would quoth th' other , saue i fear'd you would then haue cal'd saue reuerence witchcraft too . a prophesie when asses shall grow elephants . when making harmful gunnes , vnfruitfull glasses , shall quite consume our stately oakes to ashes : when law fils all the land with blots and dashes , when land long quiet , held concealed , passes . when warre and truce playes passes and repasses , when monopolies are giu'n of toyes and trashes : when courtiers mar good clothes , with cuts & slashes , whe lads shal think it free to ly with lasses , whē clergy romes to buy , sell , none abashes , whē fowle skins are made fair with new found washes , whē prints are set on work , with greens & nashes , when lechers learn to stir vp lust with lashes , when plainnesse vanishes , vainenesse surpasses , some shal grow elephants , were knowne but asses . to my lady rogers of her seruant paine . your seruant payne , for legacies hath sued seuen yeeres . i askt him how his matter passes . he tels how his testator left not assets . by which plea him th'executor would allude . ● in this lawyers french both dull and rude , replide , the plea my learning farre surpasses . yet when reports of both sides i had view'd in forma paper , this i did conclude ; he was left pauper , and all his counsell asses : yet you would giue a hundred crownes or twaine , that you could cleare discharge your seruant paine . of one that is vnwilling to lend money . when i but buy two suites of rich apparrell , or some faire ready horse against the running , rich quintus , that same miser , slye and cunning , yet my great friend , begins to pick a quarrell , to tell me how his credit is in perill ; how some great lord ( whose name may not be spoken , with him for twenty thousand crownes hath broken . then , with a fained sigh , and signe of sorrow , swearing he thinks these lords will quite vndoe him , he cals his seruant oliuer vnto him , and sends to the exchange , to take on vse one thousand poūds , must needs be paid to morrow . thus would he blind mine eyes with this abuse , and thinks , though he was sure i came to borrow , that now i needs must shut my mouth for shame . fie , quintus , fie , then when i speak deny me . but to deny me thus , before i try thee , blush and confesse that you be too too blame . against promoters . base spies , disturbers of the publike rest , with forged wrongs , the true mans right that wrest : ●acke hence exil'd to desart lands , and waste . and drinke the cup that you made others taste . but yet the prince to you doth bounty show , that doth your very liues on you bestow . against too much trust . ●f you will shrowde you safe from all mis-haps , and shunne the cause of many after-claps : put not in any one , too much beliefe : your ioy will be the lesse , so will your griefe . of dangerous reconciling . dicke said , beware a reconciled foe , for , though he sooth your words , he seekes your woe : ●ut i would haue my friend late reconciled , ●eware then dicke , lest he be worst beguiled . of leda that saies she is sure to be saued . since leda knew that sure she was elected , she buyes rich clothes , fares well , and makes her boast : her corps , the temple of the holy ghost , must be more cherrished , and more respected : but leda liueth still to sinne subiected . tell leda , that her friend misacmos feares , that till she get a mind of more submission , and purge that corps with hysope of contrition , and wash that sinful soule with saltish tears , though quailes she eates , though gold & pearle she weares , yet sure she doth with damned core & dathan , but feed and clad a synagogue of sathan . to the lady rogers , of her vnprofitable sparing . when i to you sometimes make friendly motion , to spend vp your superfluous prouision , or sell the same for coyne , or for deuotion , to make thereof among the poore diuision ; straight you answere me , halfe in derision , and bid me speake against your course no more : for plenty you doe loue , store is no sore . but ah , such store is enemy to plenty , you waste for feare to want , i dare assume it : for , while to sell , spend , giue , you make such dainty , keepe corne and cloth , till rat and rot consume it , let meat so mould , till muske cannot perfume it , and by such sparing , seeke to mend such store , sore is such store , and god offending sore . against church-robbers , vpon a picture that hangs where it is worthy . the germans haue a by-word at this houre , by luther taught , by painters skill exprest , how sathan daily fryers doth deuoure , whom in short space he doth so well disgest , that passing downe through his posterior parts , tall souldiers thence he to the world deliuers , and out they flie , all arm'd with pikes and darts , with halberts , & with muskets and caliuers . according to this lutheran opinions , they that deuoure whole churches and their rents , i meane our fauourites and courtly minions , void forts and castles , in their excrements . a tale of a bayliffe distraining for rent . to my ladie rogers . i heard a pleasant tale at cammington , there where my lady dwelt , cald the faire nun , how one that by his office was deceiuer , my tongue oft trips ) i should haue said receiuer , or to speake plaine and true , an arrant baylie , such as about the country trauell daily , that when the quarter day was two daies past , went presently to gather rents in hast . and if , as oft it hapt , he brake good manner , he straight would plead the custome of the mannor , swearing he might distraine all goods and chattell , were it in moueables , or else quick cattell . this bayliffe , comming to a tenement , in the tenants absence , straynd his wife for rent ; in which the beast so pliable he found , he neuer needes to driue her to the pound . the tenant , by intelligence , did ghesse , the bayliffe taken had a wrong distresse : and to the bayliffes wife he went complaining , of this her husbands vsage in distraining ; requesting her like curtesies to render , and to accept such rent as he would tender . she , whether moued with some strange compassion , or that his tale did put her in new passion , accepts his payment like a gentle wench ; all coyne was currant , english , spanish , french : and when she taken had his sorrie pittance , i thinke , that with a kisse she seal'd the quittance . whē next these husbands met , they chaft , they curst ▪ happy was he that could cry cuckold furst . from spightfull words , they fell to daggers drawing ▪ and after , each to other threatned lawing . each party seekes to make him strong by faction , in seuerall courts they enter seuerall action , actions of battery , actions in the case , with riots , routes , disturbed all the place . much bloud , much money had been spilt and spent , about this foolish straining for the rent ; saue that a gentle iustice of the peace , willing to cause such foolish quarrels cease , preuail'd so with the parties by entreatie , of concord both agreed to haue a treatie : and both refer'd the matter to the iustice , who hauing well obseru'd what a iest is : to thinke two cuckolds were so fairely parted , each hauing tane the blow , that neuer smarted , he charged each of them shake hands together , and when they meet , to say , good morrow , brother . thus each quit other all old debts and dribblets , and set the hares head , 'gainst the gooses giblets . of casting out spirits with fasting , without prayer . a vertuous dame that for her state and qualitie , did euer loue to keepe great hospitalitie , ●er name i must not name in plaine reciting , ●ut thus the chiefest instrument in writing , was , by duke humfreys ghests so boldly haunted , ●hat her good minde thereby was shrewdly daunted . ●he sighing said one day to a carelesse iester , ●hese ill bred ghests my boord and house so pester , ●hat i pray god oft times with all my heart , ●hat they would leaue this haunt , and hence depart : ●e that by his owne humor hap'ly ghest , what manner sprite these smel-feasts had possest , told him , the surest way such spirits out-casting , was , to leaue prayer awhile , & fall to fasting . against itis a poet. itis with leaden sword doth wound my muse , itis whose muse in vncouth termes doth swagger ▪ for should i wish itis for this abuse , but to his leaden sword , a woodden dagger : of wittoll . cayus , none reckned of thy wife a poynt , while each man might , without all let or cūbe● but since a watch o're her thou didst appoint , of customers she hath no little number . well , let them laugh hereat that list , and scoffe it , but thou do'st find what makes most for thy profi● the end of the first booke . sir iohn harringtons epigrams , the second booke . to the lady rogers , th' authors wiues mother . ●f i but speake words of a pleasing sound : yea though the same be but in sport and play , ●ou bid me peace , or else a thousand pound , ●uch words shall worke out of my childrens way . when you say thus , i haue no word to say . ●hus without obligation , i stand bound , ●hus , wealth makes you command , hope me obay . ●ut let me finde this true another day : ●lse when your body shall be brought to ground , your soule to blessed abrahams bosome , i. may with good manners giue your soule the lye . of the bishopricke of landaffe . a learned prelate late dispos'd to laffe , hearing me name the bishop of landaffe : you should say , he aduising well hereon , call him lord aff : for all the land is gone . of don pedro's dyet drinke . don pedro drinkes to no man at the boord , nor once a taste doth of his cup affoord . some thinke it pride in him : but see their blindnesse i know therein , his lordship doth vs kindnesse . of leda and balbus . leda was balbus queane , yet might shee haue denide it . she weds him , now what meanes hath leda left to hide it ? of cinna his gossip cup. when i with thee , cinna , doe dine or sup , thou still do'st offer me thy gossips cup : and though it sauour well , and be well spiced , yet i to taste therof am not enticed . now sith you needs will haue me cause alledge , while i straine curt'sie in that cup to pledge : one said , thou mad'st that cup so hote of spice , that it had made thee now a widdower twice . i will not say 't is so , nor that i thinke it : but good sir , pardon me , i cannot drinke it . of leda's religion . my louely leda , some at thee repining , askt me vnto what sect thou art inclining ? which doubts shall i resolue among so many , whether to none , to one , to all , to any ? surely one should be deem'd a false accusant , that would appeach leda for a recusant . her fault according to her former vsing , was noted more in taking , then refusing . for lent , or fasts , she hath no superstition , for if she haue not chang'd her old condition : be it by night in bed , in day in dish , flesh vnto her more welcome is then fish. thou art no protestant , thy fals-hood saith , thou canst not hope to saue thy selfe by faith . well , leda , yet to shew my good affection , i le say thy sect is of a double section . a brownist louely browne , thy face and brest , the families of loue , in all the rest . that fauorites helpe the church . of late i wrote after my wanton fashion , that fauourites consume the churches rents : but mou'd in conscience with retraction , i le shew how sore that rashnes me repents . for noting in my priuate obseruation , what rents and schismes among vs dayly grow : no hope appeares of reconciliation , by helpe of such as can , or such as know . my muse must sing , although my soule laments , that fauorites increase the churches rents . of cinna his courage . pvre cinna saith , and proudly doth professe , that if the quarrell he maintaines be good : no man more valiant is to spend his bloud , no man can dread of death , of danger lesse . but if the cause be bad , he doth confesse , his heart is cold , and cowardly his moode . well , cinna , yet this cannot be withstood , thou hast but euill lucke , i shrewdly gesse , that biding whereas brawles are bred most rife , thou neuer hadst good quarrell all thy life . of a lawyer that deseru'd his fee. sextus retain'd a sergeant at the lawes , with one good fee in an ill-fauor'd cause . the matter bad , no iudge nor iury plyent , the verdit clearely past against the clyent . with which he chaft , and swore he was betray'd , because for him the sergeant little said : and of the fee , he would haue barr'd him halfe . whereat the sergeant wroth , said , dizzard calfe , thou would'st , if thou hadst wit , or sence to see , confesse i had deseru'd a double fee , that stood and blushed there in thy behalfe . of don pedro. a slaue thou wert by birth , of this i gather , for euer more thou sai'st , my lord , my father . against lynus a writer . i heare that lynus growes in wondrous choller , because i said , he wrote but like a scholler . if i haue said so , linus , i must grant it , what ere i speake thy scholler-ship concerning , i neuer thought , or meant , that thou hast learning : but that hereof may grow some more recitall , i 'le teach thee how to make mee full requitall . say thou to breed me equall spight and choller , misacmos neuer writes , but like a scholler . of don pedros bonds . don pedro cares not in what bonds he enter . then i to trust don pedro soone will venter . for no man can of bonds stand more secure , then he that meanes to keepe his paiment sure . against cayus that scorn'd his metamorphosis . last day thy mistris , cayus , being present , one hapt to name , to purpose not vnpleasant , the title of my mis-conceiued booke : at which you spit , as though you could not brooke so grosse a word : but shall i tell the matter why ? if one names a iax , your lips doe water . there was the place of your first loue and meeting , there first you gaue your mistris such a greeting , as bred her scorne , your shame , and others lafter , and made her feele it twenty fortnights after : then thanke their wit , that make the place so sweet , that for your hymen you thought place so meet . but meet not maids at madam cloacina , lest they cry nine moneths after , helpe lucina . against an atheist . that heau'ns are voide , & that no gods there are , rich paulus saith , and all his proofe is this : that while such blasphemies pronounce he dare , he liueth here in ease , and earthly blisse . of cosmus heyre . when all men thought old cosmus was a dying , and had by will giu'n thee much goods & lands , oh , how the little cosmus fell a crying ▪ oh , how he beates his brests , and wring his hands ! how feruently for cosmus health he pray'd ! what worthy almes he vow'd , on that condition : but when his pangs a little were allayd , ●nd health seem'd hoped , by the learn'd physicion , then though his lips , all loue , and kindnesse vanted , his heart did pray , his prayer might not be granted . of faustus , a stealer of verses . i heard that faustus oftentimes reherses , to his chaste mistris , certaine of my verses : ●n which with vse , so perfect he is growne , ●hat she poore foole , now thinkes they are his owne . ● would esteeme it ( trust me ) grace , not shame , ●f dauis , or if daniel did the same . ●or would i thanke , or would i quarrell pike , ● when i list , could doe to them the like . ●ut who can wish a man a fowler spight , ●hen haue a blinde man take away his light ? a begging theefe , is dangerous to my purse : a baggage poet to my verse is worse . misacmos of himselfe . mvse you , misacmos failes in some endeuour . alas , an honest man 's a nouice euer . fie , but a man 's disgrac'd , noted a nouice . yea , but a man 's more grac'd , noted of no vice . of the corne that rained . i handled , tasted , saw it with mine eyes , the graine that lately fell downe from the skies : yet what it tok'ned could i not deuise , and many doubts did in my minde arise . at last , i thus resolu'd , it signifies that this is our sole meane , to mend this dearth , to aske from heau'n , that we doe lacke on earth . to his wife , at the birth of his sixt child . the poet martiall made a speciall sute vnto his prince , to grant him vnder seale , right of three children , which they did impute a kinde of honour , in their common-weale . but for such sute , my selfe i need not trouble , for thou do'st seale to me this patent double . against feasting . kinde marcus , me to supper lately bad , and to declare how well to vs he wishes , the roome was strow'd with roses and with rushes , and all the cheere was got , that could be had . now in the midst of all our dainty dishes , me thinke , said he to me , you looke but sad , alas ( said i ) 't is to see thee so mad , to spoile the skies of fowles , the seas of fishes , the land of beasts , and be at so much cost , for that which in one houre will all be lost . that entertainment that makes me most glad , is not the store of stew'd , boyl'd , bak't and rost . but sweet discourse , meane fare ; & then beleeue me , to make to thee like cheere , shall neuer grieue me . against cosmus couetousnesse . cosmus , when i among thine other vices , that are in nature foule , in number many , aske thee what is the reason thee entices , to be so basely pinching for thy penny ? do'st thou not call vpon thy selfe a curse , not to enioy the wealth that thou hast wonne : but saue , as if thy soule were in thy purse ? thou straight reply'st , i saue all for my sonne . alas , this re-confirmes what i said rather : cosmus hath euer beene a penny-●ather . against vintners in bathe . if men ought those in dutie to commend , that questions of religion seeke to end , then i to praise our vintners doe intend . for question is twixt writer old and latter , if wine alone , or if wine mixt with water , should of the blessed sacrament be matter ? some ancient writers wish it should be mingled , but latter men , with much more zeale in kindled , will haue wine quite and cleane from water singled . our zealous vintners here , growne great diuines , to finde which way antiquitie enclines , for pure zeale mix with water all our wines . well , plainly to tell truth , and not to flatter , i find our wines are much the worse for water . to bassifie , his wiues mother , when shee was angry . madam , i read to you a little since , the story of a knight that had incurd the deep displeasure of a mighty prince : for feare of which , long time he neuer sturd , till watching once the king that came frō chappel , his little sonne fast by him , with his gardon , entic'd the infant to him with an apple ; so caught him in his armes , and su'd for pardon : then you shall turne your angry frown from lafter , as oft as in mine armes you see your daughter . to his wife , of poppea sabynas faire heyre . mall once i did , but doe not now enuy fierce neroe's blisse , of faire poppeas rayes , ●hat in his lap , koming her locks would lye , ●ech hayre of hers , a verse of his did praise , ●ut that prais'd beauty , fruitlesse spent her daies . ●o yong augustus euer cal'd him dad. ●o small poppeas with their prettie playes , ●id melt their hearts , and melting make them glad : ●ut thou in this , do'st passe his faire sabyna , ●hat hast seuen times beene succor'd by lucina . ●hy wombe in branches seau'n , it selfe displayes . then leaue i nero , with poppeas heyres : to ioy , and to inioy thee , and thine heyres . against lalus an ill preacher . yong lalus tooke a text of excellent matter , and did the same expound , but m●rre the latter , ●is tongue so vainely did and idly chatter , ●he people nought but hem , & cough and spatter . then said a knight not vs'd to lye or flatter : such ministers doe bring the diuels blessing . that marre vs so good meate , with so ill dressing . against paulus an atheist . lewd lalus , led by sadduces infection , doth not beleeue the bodies resurrection : and holds them all in scorne , and deepe derision , that tell of saints or angels apparision ; and sweares , such things are fables all , and fancies of lunatiques or fooles , possest with franzies . i haue ( said he ) trauail'd both neere and farre , by sea , by land , in time of peace and warre . yet neuer met i sprite , or ghost , or elfe , or ought ( as is the phrase ) worse then my selfe . well , paulus , this , i now beleeue indeede , for who in all , or part , denies his creede ; went he to sea , land , hell , i would agree , a fiend worse then himselfe , shall neuer see . to galla going to the bathe . when galla for her health goeth to the bathe , she carefully doth hide , as is most meete , with aprons of fine linnen , or a sheete , those parts , that modesty concealed hath : nor onely those , but eu'n the brest and necke , that might be seene , or showne , without all check● but yet one foule , and vnbeseeming place , she leaues vncouered still : what 's that ? her fac● to one that had meate ill drest . king mithridate to poysons so inur'd him , as deadly poysons , damage none procur'd him . so you to stale vnsauorie foode and durtie , are so inur'd , as famine ne're can hurt yee . of giuing much credit . of all the towne old codros giues most credit : who he , poore soule ! alas that ere you sed it . how can he credit much , and is so poore ? hee 's blinde : yet makes he loue to euery whore . of honest theft . to my good friend master samuel daniel . proud paulus late my secrecies reuealing , hath told i got some good conceits by stealing . but where got he those double pistolets , with which good clothes , good fare , good land he gets ▪ tush , those , he saith , came by a man of warre . that brought a prize of price , from countries farre . then , fellow thiefe , let 's shake together hands , ●ith both our wares are filcht from forren lands . you 'le spoile the spaniards , by your writ of mart : and i the romanes rob , by wit , and art. against faustus . in skorne of writers , faustus still doth hold , nought is now said , but hath beene said of old : well , faustus , say my wits are grosse and dull , if for that word , i giue not thee a gull : thus then i proue that holds a false position , i say , thou art a man of fayre condition , a man true of thy word , tall of thy hands , of high disent , and left good store of lands , thou with false dice and cards hast neuer plaid , corrupted neuer widdow , wife , nor maid , and as for swearing none in all this reame , doth seldomer in speech curse or blaspheme . in fine , your vertues are so rare and ample , for all our sonnes thou maist be made a sample . this i dare sweare , none euer said before , this i may sweare , none euer will say more . of free will. i know a foolish fellow hath a fashion , to proue that all is by predestination , and teach's , nor man , nor spirit hath free will in dooing , no , nor thinking good or ill . i am no doctor at this disputation , nor are deepe questions fit for shallow skill : yet i 'le renounce , with learn'd men reputation , if i disproue not this by demonstration : he proue so plaine , as none can it resist , that in some things , three things do what they list : the wind , saith scripture , where it list doth blow , his tongue talkes what it lists , his speeches showe , my heart beleeues him as it list , i know . of a drunken paracelsian . when pilo other trades of thrift had mist , he then profest to be an alcumist , that 's all too much , chimist you might him call , and so i thinke t were true , and leaue out all : he takes vpon him , he can make a mixture , of which he can extract the true elixar , tinctur of pearle and currall he doth draw , and quintessence the best that ere you saw , he hath the cure , except aqua mirabilis , only he wants drammes auri potabilis , he doth of nature so the secret ferrit , that he of euery thing can draw the spirit : spirits of mynes , spirits of stones and herbes , whose names can scant be told with nownes and verbes , but of all spirits my spirit doth diuine , his spirit best doth loue the spirit of wine . of misacmos his successe in a suite . misacmos hath long time a suter beene , to serue in some neere place about the queene ●n which his friends to work his better speede , doe tell her highnesse , as t is true indeede , that hee 's a man well borne and better bred , in humane studyes seene , in stories read , adding vnto an industry not small , pleasant conceit and memory withall . and chiefely that he hath beene from his youth , a zealous searcher of eternall truth : now neuer wonder , he his suite doth misse : what i haue told you , that the reason is . a groome of the chambers religion in king henry the eights time . one of king henries fauorites beganne , to moue the king one day to take a man , whom of his chamber he might make a groome , soft , sayd the king , before i graunt that roome , it is a question not to be neglected , how he in his religion stands affected . for his religion , answered then the minion , i doe not certaine know what 's his opinion : but sure he may , talking with men of learning , conforme himselfe in lesse then ten days warning . to doctor haruey of cambridge . the prouerbe sayes , who fights with durty foes ▪ must needs be foyld , admit they winne or lose . then think it doth a doctors credit dash , to make himselfe antagonist to nash ? an infallible rule to rule a wife . to his wiues mother . concerning th' wiues hold this a certaine rule , that if at first , you let them haue the rule , your selfe at last , with them shall haue no rule , except you let them euer-more to rule . probatū est . why paulus takes so much tobacco . when our good irish neighbours make repaire , with lenton st●ffe vnto bridgewaters faire , at euery boothe , and alehouse that they come , they call for herring straight , they must haue some . hostis , i pre●dee hast ●ee any herring ? yea , sir : o passing mea● ! a happy her●ing . herring they aske , they praise , they eate , they buy ; no price of herring can be held too hie . but , when among them i● is closely mu●ter'd , those herring● that they bought , to sell are ●tter'd . then giue them herring , poh , away with these : pree d ee good hostis , giue 's some english cheese . hence i haue learn'd the cause , and see it clearely , why paulus takes tobacco , buyes it ●earely , at tippling-houses , where he eates and drinks , that euery roome straight of tobacco stinks , he swears t is salue for all diseases bred , it strengthens ones weake back , comforts the head , dulls much flesh-appetite , t is cordiall durable , it cures that ill , which some haue thought incurable ▪ thus while proud paulus hath tobacco praised , the price of eu'ry pound , a pound is raised . and why 's all this ? because he loues it well ? no : but because himselfe hath store to sell. but hauing sold all his ; he will pronounce the best in cane not worth a groat an ounce . of a formall minister . a minister , affecting singularitie , and preaching in the pulpit of his theame , borne with the current of the common streame , extolling faith and hope , forgetting charitie . for while he was most busie in his text , he spyde a woman talking with her next , and straight ●e crid to her , dame , leaue thy babbling wherewith the good poore woman shrewdly vext , could hold no longer , but fell flat to squabbling : beshrew thy naked heart , she doth reply . who babbled in this place more ? thou , or i ? of a lawfull wife . at end of three yeeres law , and sute , and strife , whē canon lawes , & cōmon both cōmand he● cys married thee ; now sue them for a slaunder , that dare deny she is thy lawfull wife . against feasting . last day , i was vnto your house inuited , and on the ●ord were forty diuers dishes , of sallets , and of flesh & fowles and fishes , with which ( god knowes ) i little am delighted . became , i came , i tooke that you did bid me , but now , i rather thinke , you did forbid me . against lynus , that said the nobility were decayed . you lynus , say , that most of our nobilitie are much decayd in valour and in wit : though some of them haue wealth , and good ability , yet very few for gouernment are fit . ●oole , seest thou not , that in our stately buildings , ●laine massy stones the substance doth sustaine , ●et colloms wreath'd & staid , set out with guildings , must in high ranke for ornament remaine : so men of noble birth , the state adorne , but by the wise , stout , learnd , the sway is borne . to itis , alias ioyner , an vncleanly token , conuayd in cleanly tearmes . torquato tasso , for one little fault , that did perhaps deserue some small rebuke , was by his sharp and most vngratefull duke , shut vp close prisoner in a loathsome vault ; where wanting pen and inke by princes order , his wit , that wals of adamant could pierce , found meanes to write his mind in excellent verse : for want of pen and inke , with pisse and ordure . but thy dull wit damn'd by apollos crew , to dungeon of disgrace , though free thy body , with pen , nay print , doth publish like a noddy . base taunts , that turn'd vpon thy selfe , are true , and wanting salt thy wallowish stile to season , and being of vncouth tearmes a senslesse coyner , thou call'st thy selfe vnproperly , a ioyner , whose verse hath quite disseuer'd rime and reason : deseruing for such rayling , and such bodging , for this , torquatos inke , for that , his lodging . to his wife . when i to thee my letters superscribe thus , to mine own ; leda therat doth iybe . and aske her why ? she saith , because i flatter . but let her thinke so still , it makes no matter : if i doe flatter , onely thou canst try , suffiseth me , thou think'st i doe not lye . for , let her husband write so , for my life , he flattereth himselfe more then his wife . sir iohn raynsfords confession . raynsford , a knight , fit to haue seru'd king arthu● , and in queene maries dayes a demy martyr : for though both then , before , and since he turn'd , ( yet sure , per ig●●●● hanc , he might be burn'd . ) this knight agreed with those of that profession , and went , as others did , to make confession : among some p●ccadilios , he confest , that same sweet sinne , that some but deeme a iest , and told , how by good help of bawdes and varlets , within . months he had sixe times twelue harlots ▪ the priest , that at the tale was halfe astonished , with graue & ghostly counsell him admonished to fast , and pray , to driue away that diuell , that was to him causer of so great euill , that the lewd spirit of lecherie , no question , stird vp his lust , with many a lewd suggestion : a filthy fiend , said he , most foule and odious , nam'd , as appeares , in holy writs , asmodius . thus , with some pennanto that was ne're performed , away went that same knight , smally reformed . soone after this , ensued religions change , that in the church bred alteration strange , and raynsford , with the rest , follow'd the streame . the priest went rouing round about the realme . this priest , in clothes disguis'd himselfe did hide , ●et raynsford , three yeers after him had spyde , and layd vnto his charge , and sorely prest him , to tell if'twere not he that had confest him . the priest , though this knights words did sore him daunt , yet what he could not wel deny , did grant , and prayd him not to punish , or controul● that he had done for safety of his soule . no , knaue , quoth he , i will no harme procure thee , vpon my worship here i doe assure thee : i onely needs must laugh at thy great folly , that would'st perswade with me to be so holy ; to chastise mine owne flesh , to fast , and pray , to driue the spirit of lechery away . ' sownds , foolish knaue , i fasted not , nor prayd , yet is that spirit quite gone from me , he said : if thou couldst helpe me to that spirit againe , thou shouldst a hundred pound haue for thy paine . that lustie lord of lecherie asmodius , that thou cal'st odious , i doe count commodious ▪ a pretty question of lazarus soule well answered . once on occasion two good friends of mine did meete at meate , a lawyer and diuine : both hauing eaten well to helpe digestion , to this diuine , the lawyer put this question : when lazarus in graue foure dayes did stay , where was his soule ? in heauen , or hell i pray ? was it in hell ? thence no redemption is . and if in heauen : would christ abate his blisse ? sir , said the preacher , for a short digression , first , answere me one point , in your profession : if so his heyres and he had falne to strife , whose was the land , if he came backe from life ? this latter question mou'd them all to lafter , and so they drunke one to another after . against long suits in law. in court of wards , kings bench , & common place thou follow'd hast one sute , this seu'n yeeres space . ah wretched man , in mothers wombe accurst , thou could'st not rather lose thy sute at furst . of an importunate prater , out of martiall . he that is hoarse , yet still to prate doth please , proues he can neither speake , nor hold his peace . against ielousie . to my friend . right terrible are windes on waters great , most horrible are tempests on the sea , fire mercilesse , that all consumes with heat , plagues monstrous are , that citties cleane decay : warre cruell is , and pinching famine curst : yet of all ills , the ielouse wife is worst . against quintus , that being poore and prodigall , became rich and miserable . scant was thy liuing , quintus , ten pound cleare , when thou didst keepe such fare , so good a table , that we thy friends praid god thou might'st be able , to spend , at least , an hundred pounds a yeare . behold , our boone god did benignly heare . thou go●st so much by fortune fauourable , and foure friends deaths to thee both kind and deare : but suddenly thou grew'st so miserable , we thy old friends to thee vnwelcome are , poore-●ohn , and apple-pyes are all our fare . no salmon , s●urgeon , oysters , crab , nor cunger . what should we wish thee now for such demerit ? i would thou might'st one thousand pounds inherit , thē , without question , thou wold'st starue for hunger . to my lady rogers . good madam , with kind speech & promise faire , that from my wife you would not giue a rag , but she should be exector sole , and heyre . i was ( the more foole i ) so proud and brag , i sent to you against s. iames his faire , a teerce of claret-wine , a great fat stagge . you straight to all your neighbors made a feast , each man i met hath filled vp his panch , with my red-deere , onely i was no ghest , nor euer since did ●aste of side or ●aunch . well , madam , you may bid me hope the best , that of your promise you be sound and staunch , else , i might doubt i should your land inherit , that of my stagge did not one morsell merit . of sextus mis-hap comming from a tauerne . now sextus twice hath supt at sarazens head , and both times , homewards , comming drunk to bed : ●e by the way his pantoffles hath lost , ●nd grieu'd both with the mocke , and with the cost , to saue such charges , and to shun such frumps , he goes now to the tauerne in his pumps . how sextus laid claime to an epigram . when sextus heard my rime of rainsford reeding , with laughter lowd he cries , and voice exceeding , ●hat epigram was mine , who euer made it . ● told him that conceit , from me , he had it . ●h barbarisme , the blinder still the bolder ! will sextus ne're grow wise ? growing older , when phidias framed had in marble pure , ●oues goodly statue , would a man endure ● pyoner to challenge halfe the praise , that from the quar● the ragged stone did raise : or should a carman boast of his desart , because he did vnload it from his cart : ● thinke that sextus selfe would neuer say 't , ●o in like manner , sextus , that conceit was like a rugged stone , dig'd from thy foolish head , now 't is a statue caru'd by vs , and polished . of an aborne rabbet . late comming from the palace of the best , ( the centre of the men of better sence ) my purse growne low , by ebbe of long expence : and going for supplyes into the west , my hoast to whom i was a welcome ghest , makes me great cheere , but when i parted thence , my trustie seruant william tooke offence : ( though now god wot , it was too late to spare ) that in the shot things too high prized are . and namely for two rabbets twenty pence . the tapster well enur'd to prate and face , told they were white , and yong , and fat , and sweet : new kill'd , and newly come from alborne chase : for that good fare , good paiment is most meete . i willing to make short their long debate , bade my man pay the reck'ning at his rate : adding , i know , a miser of his money , giues more then ten pence for an alborne coney . of hearing masse . men talking , as oft times it comes to passe , how dangerous 't is now to heare a masse ; a valiant knight swore for a thousand pound , he would not present at a masse be found . a noble lord stood by , and hearing it ▪ said , sir , i then should much condemne your wit. for were you found , and follow'd ne're so nearely , you gaine nine hundred pound & vpward clearely . of a preacher that sings placebo . a smooth-tong'd preacher that did much affect to be reputed of the purest sect . vnto these times great praises did afford , that brought , he said , the sunne-shine of the word . the sunne-shine of the word , this he extold , the sunne-shine of the word , this still he told . but i that well obseru'd what slender fruits haue growne of all their preaching and disputes , pray god they bring vs not , when all is done , out of gods blessing , into this warme sunne . for sure , as some of them haue vs'd the matter , their sunne-shine is but moone-shine in the water . of the naked image that was to stand in my lo : chamberlaines gallery . actaeon , guiltlesse vnawares espying naked diana , bathing in her bowre , was plagu'd with horns , his dogs did him deuoure . wherefore take heede , ye that are curious prying , with some such forked plague you be not smitten , and in your foreheads your faults be written . of the same to the ladies . her face vnmask't , i saw , her corps vnclad , no vaile , no couer , her and me betweene : no ornament was hid , that beauty had , i blusht that saw , she blusht not th●t was seene . with that i vow'd neuer to care a rush , for such a beauty , as doth neuer blush . of don pedroe's threats . don pedro thinkes i scorne him in my rime , and vowes , if he can proue i vse detraction , of the great scandall he will haue his action : i that desir'd to cleere me of the crime , when i was askt , said , no , my lord , i haue not . then sweare , said he , not so , my lord , i cannot . since that i neuer heard newes of this action : wherefore , i thinke , he hath his satisfaction . against brauery . when romane mutius had in countrey quarrell , the seruant killed , to the masters terror : what time his eye deceiu'd with rich apparell , did cause his hand commit that happy error : the king amaz'd at so rare resolution , both for his safety , and his reputation : remou'd the fire , and stay'd that execution : and for his sake , made peace with all his nation . perhaps it is from hence the custome springs , that oft in court kn●ues goe as well as kings . of leda's vnkindnesse . faire leda late to me is growne malicious , at all my workes in prose or ●erse repining : ●ecause my words , she saith ▪ makes men suspitious , ●hat she is to the purit●nes inclining . leda , what ere i said , i did suspect , thou wert not pure enough , in one respect . of an abbot that had beene a good f●llow . an abbot that had led a wanton life , and cited now , by deaths sharpe sumner , sicknesse , ●elt in his soule , great agony and strife , his sinnes appearing in most hideous likenesse . the monkes that saw their abbot so dismaid , ●nd knew no lesse his life had beene lasciuious : ●et for his finall comfort , thu● they said , ●hinke not , deare sir , we will be so obliuious , ●ut that with fasting , and with sacred ringing , ●nd prayer , we will for yo● such grace attaine , ●hat after requie●● and some di●ges singing , ●ou shall be freed from purgatories paine . ah , thankes my sonnes , said he , but all my feare is onely this , that i shall ne'r● come there . against cinna a brownist , that saith he is sure to be saued . if thou remaine so sure of thine election , as thou said'st , cinna , when we last disputed , that to thy soule , no sinne can be imputed : that thy strong faith , hath got so sure protection : that all thy faults are free from all correction . heare then my counsell , to thy state well suted , it comes from one , that beares thee kinde affection ▪ 't is so infallible , that no obiection there is , by which it may be well confuted . leaue , cinna , this base earth with sinne polluted . and to be free from wicked mens subiection , and that the saints may be by thee saluted , forsake wife , friends , lands , goods & worldly pelfe ▪ and get a halter quickly , and goe hang thy selfe . to master bastard , a minister that made a pleasant booke of english epigrams . though dusty wits of this vngratefull time , carpe at thy booke of epigrams , and scoffe it : yet wise men know , to mix the sweet with profit . is worthy praise , not onely void of crime . then let not enuy stop thy veine of rime : nor let thy function make thee shamed of it : a poet is one step vnto a prophet : and such a step , as 't is no shame to clime . you must in pulpit treat of matters serious : as best beseeme● the person , and the place , there preach of faith , repentance , hope and grace , of sacraments , and such high things mysterious . but they are too seuere , and too imperious , that vnto honest sports will grant no space : for these our minds refresh , when those weary vs , and spurre out doubled spirit to swifter pace . the wholesom'st meates that are , will breed sacietie , except we should admit of some varietie . ●n musike notes must be some high , some base . and this i note , your verses haue intendment , still kept within the lists of good sobrietie , to worke in mens ill manners , good amendment . wherefore if any thinke such verse vnseasonable : their stoicke mindes are foes to good societie , and men of reason may thinke them vnreasonable . ●t is an act of vertue and of pietie , to warne v● of our sinnes in any sort , in prose , in verse , in earnest , or in sport . of a kinde vnkinde husband . a rich old lord did wed a rich yong lady . of good complexion , and of goodly stature , and for he was of kinde and noble nature , he lou'd to see her goe as braue as may be . a pleasant knight one day was so presumptuous , to tell this lord in way of plaine simplicitie , 't is you , my lord , that haue this worlds felicitie : to haue a dame so yong , so sweet , so sumptuous . tush , said the lord , but these same costly gownes , with kirtle● ▪ c●rknets , plague me in such sort , that euery time i ●aste of venus spor● , i will be sworne , cost me one hundred crownes . now , fie sir , said his wife , where is your sence ; though 't is too true , yet say not so for shame , for i would wish to cleere me of the blame : that each time cost you but a hundred pence . of galla's goodly petiwigge . you see the goodly hayre that galla weares , 't is certain her own hair , who would haue 〈◊〉 she sweares it is her owne : and true she sweares : for hard by temple-barre last day she bought it . so faire a haire , vpon so foule a forehead , augments disgrace , and showes the grace is borrowed of master iohn dauies booke of dancing . to himselfe . while you the planets all doe set to dancing , beware such hap , as to the fryer was chancing ▪ who preaching in a pulpit old and rotten , among some notes , most fit to be forgotten ; vnto his auditory thus he vaunts , to make all saints after his pype to daunce : it speaking , which as he himselfe aduances , to act his speech with iestures , lo , it chances , downe fals the pulpit , sore the man is brused , neuer was fryer , and pulpit more abused . then beare with me , though yet to you a stranger , to warne you of the like , nay greater danger . for though none feare the falling of those sparkes , ●and when they fall , 't will be good catching larkes ) yet this may fall , that while you dance and skip with female planets , sore your foote may trip , that in your lofty caprioll and turne , their motion may make your dimension burne . to paulus . to loue you , paulus , i was well enclin'd : but euer since you honour did require , i honor'd you , because 't was your desire : but now to loue you , i doe neuer minde . of table-talke . i had this day carroust the thirteene cup , and was both slipper-tong'd , and idle-brain'd , ●nd said by chance , that you with me should sup . you thought hereby , a supper cleerely gain'd : ●nd in your tables you did quote it vp . ●n ciuill ghest , that hath beene so ill train'd ! worthy thou art hence supperlesse to walke , that tak'st aduantage of our table-talke . of the commodities that men haue by their marriage . a fine yong clerke , of kinne to fryer frappert , prompt of his tongue , of person neat and dappert ▪ not deepely read , yet were he put vnto it , one that could say his seruice , and would doe it . his markes & haire , show'd him of excellent carriage this man one day hap'ned to talke of marriage , and prou'd not onely , that 't is honorable , but that the ioyes thereof are admirable . he told the tale to me , and other friends , and straight i learn'd it at my fingers ends . which ioyes that you may better vnderstand , i 'le place on each finger of my hand . foure ioyes , he said , on married priests he casts , a wife , and friends , and coyne , and children last . and first the wife , see how at bed , at boord , what comfort , and what ioyes , she doth affoord . then for her friends , what ioy can be more deare , then louing friends , dwell they farre off or neare . a third ioy then it is , to haue the portion , well got , and void of strife , fraud or extortion . and fourthly , those sweet babes , that call on dad , oh , how they ioy the soule , and make it glad ! but now , sir , there remaines one obseruation , that well deserues your due consideration . marke then againe , i say , for so 't were meete , which of these ioyes are firme , and which doe fleet first , for the wife , sure no man can deny it , that for most part , she stickes most surely by it . but for thy friends , when they should most auaile you , by death , or fortunes change , oft times they faile you . then for the portion , without more forecast , whiles charge encreaseth , money failes as fast . and last the children , most of them out-liue you , but ill brought vp , they often liue to grieue you . now marke vpon the fingers , who remaine , the children and the wife , onely these twaine . to marcus that would borrow . you sent to me , marcus , for twenty marke : but to that sute , i would by no meanes harke : but straight next day , you sent your man in post , to tell me how a lord with you would host . and i must lend , to entertaine this state , some basons , ewres , and some such other plate . are you a foole ? or thinke you me a foole , that i should now be set againe to schoole ? were not my wisedome , worthy to be wondred , denying twenty markes , to lend one hundred ? to his wife after they had beene married foure yeere . two prētiships with thee i now haue been , mad times , sad times , glad times , our life hath seen , souls we haue wroght . payre since our first meeting of which , . soules , sweet soules , were to be fleeting , my workemanship so well doth please thee still , thou wouldst not graunt me freedome by thy will : and i le confesse such vsage i haue found , mine heart yet ne're desir'd to be vnbound . but though my selfe am thus thy prentice vow'd , my dearest mall , yet thereof be not proud , nor claime no rule thereby ; ther 's no such cause : for plowden , who was father of the lawes which yet are read and rul'd by his enditings , doth name himselfe a prentice in his writings , and i , if you should challenge vndue place , could learne of him to alter so the case : i plaine would proue , i still kept due priority , and that good wiues are still in their minority : but far from thee , my deare , be such audacitie : i doubt more thou dost blame my dul capacitie , that though i trauaile true in my vocation , i growe yet worse and worse at th' occupation . of a bequest without a legacy . in hope some lease or legacy to gaine , you gaue old titus yeerely ten pound pension . now he is dead , i heare thou dost complaine , that in his will of thee he made no mention . cease this complaint that shewes thy base intention . he left thee more , then some he lou'd more deerely , for he hath left thee ten pound pension yeerely . of one that lent money on sure band . when lynus little store of coyne is spent , and no supply of office or of rent , he comes to titus knowne a wary spender , a pleasant wit , but no great money-lender , and prest him very hard for twenty pound , for which small kindnesse he were greatly bound , and lest ( quoth he ) you deeme it might presumption , if i should offer you my bare assumption , i sweare all-hallows , i wil make repayment , yea though i pawne mine armour and my rayment , and for your more assurance , you shall haue what obligation you your selfe will craue , or bill or bond your payment to performe , recognizance , statute or any forme . now titus by report so well did know him , that he might scant trust him so far as throw him , and said he should haue so much at his hands , forthwith if he might poynt the forme and bands . agree'd , quoth lynus straight , and doth him thanke . but titus brings a foorme of foure inch-plancke , two of the gard might scantly well it lift , and ere that lynus well perceiu'd the drift , ●ast to that foorme he bindes him hands and feete : then brought the mony forth and let him see 't , and sware till , he his fashions did reforme , none other bands could serue nor other forme . of light merchandize . in rome a cryer had a wench to sell , such as in common stewes are wont to dwell , her name , nor his , i shall not neede to tell . but hauing held her long at little price , and thinking that some chapman to entice , he clipt her in his armes as nothing nice , and so he kist her more then once or twice . what might he gaine , thinke you , by this deuice ? one that before had offered fifty shilling , to giue one fift part , seemed now vnwilling . of father peleus stable . old peleus burn'd a stable to the ground , which now to build doth cost three hundred poūd that 's but one gennets price with him , no force , a stable ? no : he did but lose a horse . of a censurer of english writers . that englishmen haue small , or no inuention , old guillam saith , and all our workes are barren but for the stuffe , we get from authors forren . why , guillam , that same gold thou tak'st in pension , which mak's thee loue our realm more thē your ow● and follow still our english court , and campe . now that it hath our dearest soueraignes stampe , is english coine , though once 't were indian growne● except not then 'gainst english wits , i pray , you that accept so well of english pay . of titus boasting . a kinde companion titus all his daies , and till his last , a pleasant wit and tongue ; ●f he had heard a man his owne strength praise , would tell what he would doe when he was yong . and hauing , with oathes , his speeches bound : thus would he speak : i would at twelue score pricks , haue shot all day an arrow of a pound , haue shot the flight full fortie score and sixe , ● would haue ouer-lifted all the gard , out-throwne them at the barre , the sledge , the stone , and he that is in wrestling held most hard , ● would in open plaine haue ouerthrowne . now , say some by , was titus e're so strong ? who he ? the weakest man a hundred among . why tels he then such lyes in serious sort , what he could do ? nay , sure 't was true , though sport . he said not he could doe . that were a fable . he said , he would haue done , had he beene able . to doctor sherhood , how sack makes one leane . ● marueld much last day , what you did meane , to say that drinking sack , will make one leane : but now i see , and then mistooke you cleane : for my good neighbour marcus , who i tro , feares fatnesse much , this drinke hath plyde him so , that now except he leane , he cannot goe . ha , gentle doctor , now i see your meaning , sacke will not leaue one leane , 't will leaue him leaning . of swearing first betweene the wife and the husband . cis , by that candle , in my sleepe , i thought , one told me of thy body thou wert nought : good husband , he that told you , lyde , she sed , and swearing laid her hand vpon the bread . then eate the bread ( quoth he ) that i may deeme that fancie false , that true to me did seeme . nay sir , said she , the matter well to handle , sith you swore first , you first must eate the candle . to his wife . because i once in verse did hap to call thee by this louing name , my dearest mall , thou think'st thy selfe assured by the same , in future ages , i haue giu'n thee fame . but if thou merit not such name in veritie . i meane not so to mis-informe posteritie . for i can thus interpret if i will , my dearest mall , that is , my costliest ill . to a prattling epicure . ●f thou loue dainty fare at others tables , thou must their humor and their houres endure : leaue arg'ments , contouling thwarts and brables . such freedome sutes not with an epicure . of don pedro. the wise vlisses loathing forraine iarres , fain'd himselfe mad , to keep him from the wars : but our don pedro seekes our martiall schooles , prefers before wise cowards martiall fooles . and fearing faining mad will not suffice , to stay him from the warres , faines himselfe wise . to master bastard , taxing him of flattery . it was a saying vs'd a great while since , the subiects euer imitate the prince , a vertuous master , makes a good disciple , religious prelates breede a godly people . and euermore the rulers inclination , workes in the time the workes and alteration . then what 's the reason , bastard , why thy rimes magnifie magistrates , yet taunt the times ? i thinke that he to taunt the time that spares not , would touch the magistrate , saue that he dares not . ouids confession translated into english for generall norreys . . to liue in lust i make not my profession , nor in my verse , my vices to defend : but rather by a true and plaine confession , to make men know my meaning is to mend . i hate , and am my selfe that most i hate , i load my selfe , yet striue to be discharged , like sterelesse ship vnstai'd , runnes my estate , bound by my selfe , i sue to be enlarged . no certaine shape , my fancies doth enflame : a hundred causes kindle my affection , if sober looke doe show a modest shame , straight to those eyes my soule is in subiection . a wanton looke , no lesse my heart doth pierce , because it showes a pleasant inclination . if she be coy like sabines sharpe and fierce , i thinke such coynesse , deepe dissimulation . if she be learn'd , i honour gifts so rare , if ignorant , i loue a milde simplicitie . if she doe praise my writings , and compare them with the best , in her i take felicitie . if she dispraise my verses , and their maker , to win her liking , i my loue would lend her . goes she well grac't ? her gate would make me take her ▪ if ill , perhaps to touch a man , would mend her . is shee well tun'd in voice , a cunning singer ? to snatch a kisse , eu'n thus i feele a will. ●layes she on lute with sweete and learned finger ? what heart can hate a hand so full of skill ? but if she know with heart her armes to moue , and dance carantoes with a comely grace , t'omit my selfe that quickly fall in loue , hippolitus would haue priapus place , like th' ancient heroyes i count thee tall , me thinkes they fill a braue roome in the bed : yet comlier sports are found in statures small , thus long and short haue aye my liking bred . if she goe plaine , then what a piece were this ? were she attyr'd , if braue , i loue her brauery , fayre , nut-browne , sallow , none doth looke amisse , my wanton lust is thrald in so great slauery . if hayre like iet , her neck like iuory couer , ledas was blacke , and that was ledas glory . with yellow lockes , aurora pleas'd her louer . loe thus my fancie sutes to euery story : the matron graue , the greene yong girle and pritty , ● like for age , for manners vnsuspicious , in fine , ●o all in country , court and city , my loue doth presse to proue it selfe ambitious . . a witty speech of heywood to the queene . when old queen mary with much pain & languish , did on deaths bed in lingring sicknesse languish : old pleasant heywood came her grace to vis●●e : for mirth ●o such doth oft more good then phisicke , whom , when the sickly princesse had espyde , ah , heywood ! here they kill me vp , she cryde : for , being smotherd quite with too much heate , yet my physicians proue to make me sweat ; but it doth proue so painefull to procure it , that first i le die before i will endure it . heywood , with cheerefull face , but cheerelesse soule , thus her bad resolution did controule . sweet lady , you must sweat , or else , i sweare it , we shall all sweat for it , if you forbeare it . to my wife , from chester . when i from thee , my deere , last day departed , summond by honor to this irish action , thy tender eyes shed teares : but i , hard-harted , tooke from those teares a ioy , and satisfaction . such for her spouse ( thought i ) was lucrece sadnes , whom to his ruine tyrant tarquin tempted . so mourned she , whose husband feined madnes , thereby from troian warres to stand exempted . thus then i doe reioyce in that thou greeuest , and yet , sweet foole , i loue thee , thou beleeuest . against lying lynus . i wonder lynus , what thy tongue doth ayle , that though i flatter thee , thou still doost raile ? ●hou think'st , i ly , perhaps thou think'st most true : ●et to so gentle lyes , pardon is due . ● lie , wel told to some , tastes ill restoritie ; ●esides , we poets lie by good authoritie . but were all lying poetry , i know it , lynus would quickly proue a passing poet. of lending our pri●y-seales . a friend of mine , to me made mickle mone about some moneyes lending in the lone ; ●lleaging , that to lend , were little griefe , 〈◊〉 of repayment men haue firme beleefe . ●ut other mens examples make vs dread , ●o speed as some in other times haue sped . ●or if one faile , who then will care for vs ? ●ow i , to comfort them , replyed thus , while god preserues the prince , ne're be dismayd , but , if she faile , be sure we shall be payd . in defence of lent. ovr belly-gods dispraise the lenton fast , and blame the lingring daies , and tedious time , ●nd sweare this abstinence too long doth last . ●hose folly i refute in this my rime , ●ethusalem , nine hundred yeares was fed ●ith nought but herbes , and berries of the field ; iohn baptist thirty yeeres his life had led with locusts and wild honey woods did yeeld . he that the israelites from egypt brought , where they in slauish thraldome long did dwell , he home to heau'n the firie chariot rought ; yea , christ himselfe , that saues vs all from hell : these three , as holy scripture doth repeate , in forty daies did neither drinke , nor eate . why then should we against this law repine , that are permitted euery kind of fish ? are not forbid the tastes of costly wine , are not debard of many a daintie dish : both sugar , ginger , pepper , cloues , and mace , and sinnamon , and spice of euery kind , and reysons , figs , and almonds in like case , to please the taste , and satisfie the mind : and yet forsooth , we thinke we should be mard , if we from flesh but forty dayes be bard . mal●m bene positum ne moueas . a iudge , to one well studied in the lawes , that was too earnest in his clyents cause , said , stir't no more ; for as the cause doth sinke into my sense , it seemeth like a stinke . to king dauid . thou princes prophet , and of prophets king , growne from poore pastoralls , and shepheards fold , to change the sheephooke to a mace of gold , subduing sword and speare , with staffe and sling : thou that didst quell the beare and dreadful lyon , with courage vnappald , and actiue lymmes ; thou that didst praise in it , induring himms with poetry diuine the god of syon ; thou sonne in law to king & prince appointed : yet , when that king by wrong did seek thy harme , didst helpe him with thy harp , and sacred charme : and taught , no not to touch the lords anointed . thou , thou great prince , with so rare gifts replenished could'st not eschew blind buzzard cupids hookes , ● apt in the bayt of bersabees sweet lookes : with which one fault , thy faultles life was blemished . yet hence we learne a document most ample , our flesh then strongest is , when weak'st our faith . and that the sinne forgiuen , the penance staieth ; of grace and iustice both a sweet example . ●et no man then himselfe in sinne imbolden by thee , but thy sharpe penance , bitter teares , may strike into our harts such godly feares , as we may be thereby from sin with-holden . sith we , for ours , no iust excuse can bring , thou hadst one great excuse , thou wert a king. of monsters . to my lady rogers . strange-headed monsters , painters haue described ▪ to which the poets strange parts haue ascribed , as ianus first two faces had assign'd him , of which , one look't before , tother behind him : so men , may it be found in many places , that vnderneath one hood can beare two faces . three-headed cerberus , porter of hell , is faind with pluto , god of wealth to dwell . so still with greatest states , and men of might , dogs dwell , that doe both fawne , and bark , & bite . like hydras heads , that multiply with wounds , is multitude , that mutinie confounds : on what seu'n-headed beast the strumpet sits , that weares the scarfe , sore troubleth many wits , whether seu'n sinnes be meant , or else seu'n hils , it is a question fit for higher skils . but then of these , if you can rightly conster , a headlesse woman is a greater monster . of a pleasant broker . a broker that was hyr'd to sell a farme , whose seat was very sound , fruitful and warm● thinking to grace the sales man with the tale , said thus : friends , marius sets this land to sale ; but thinke not this for debt or need to sell : for as for money he is stor'd so well , he hath at all times ready in his chest , and some beside , he hath at interest . then were the chapmen earnestly in hand , to question of the title of the land : why should one sell , say they , that lets to vse ? the broker driuen to seeke some new excuse , did study first , and smyling , thus replide , his worships beasts , and sheepe , and hindes there dyde ; since which , he neuer could the place abide . now though in this the foolish broker lyde , yet the report thereof did so much harme , that now , poore marius cannot sell his farme . to the l. ro. to praise my wife , your daughter ( so i gather ) your men say , she resembleth most her father . and i no lesse , to praise your sonne , her brother , affirme that he is too much like his mother . i know not if we iudge a ●ight , or erre : but let him be like you , so i like her . to his wife , in excuse he had call'd her foole in his writing . a man in show that scornes , in deede enuies thy feruent loue , and seeks the same to coole . findes fault , that in a verse i call'd thee foole : and that it could be kindly tane , denies . but thou didst kindly take it , then he lyes . well , therefore i wish him a wife most wise , noble descended from great de la poole : learn'd to set her husband still to schoole , so faire to draw to her all amorous eyes . let flattering tongues protest she doth deserue , that great commanders her should sue to serue : then let him walke and with acteons lucke , amid the herd , say , welcome , fellow bucke . meane while , my mall , thinke thou 't is honorable to be my foole , and i to be thy bable . of the growth of trees to sir h. port. at your rich orchard , you to me did show , how swift the trees were planted there , did grow namely , an elme , that in no long abode , did of a twigge , grow vp to be a loade . but you would quite condemne your trees of slout● compar'd to our trees admirable grouth . our planters haue found out such secret skils , with pipe and barrell-staues , and iron mils ; that okes , for which none ten yeeres since were wi●ling to giue ten groats , are growne worth thirty shilling at which i waxt so wood , i said in rage , that thirst of gold , makes this an iron age . against promoting lynus . thou , linus , that louest still to be promoting , because i sport , about king henries marriage : think'st this will proue a matter worth the carriage . but let it alone , lynus , it is no booting , while princes liue , who speakes , or writes & teaches ●gainst their faults , may pay for speech , and writing : ●ut being dead , dead men , they say , leaue biting : their eyes are seal'd , their armes haue little reaches . children they are , and fooles that are afeard , to pull , and play , with a dead lyons beard . the story of marcus life at primero . fond marcus euer at primero playes , long winter nights , and as long summer dayes : ●nd i heard once , to idle talke attending , ●he story of his times , and coines mis-spending . ●s first , he thought himselfe halfe way to heauen , 〈◊〉 in his hand he had but got a seu'n . ●is fathers death set him so high on slote , ●ll rests went vp vpon a seu'n , and coate . ●ut while he drawes for these gray coats & gownes , ●he gamesters from his purse drew all his crownes . ●nd he ne're ceast to venter all in prime , ●ll of his age , quite was consum'd the prime . ●hen he more warily , his rest regards , and sets with certainties vpon the cards , on sixe and thirtie , or on seu'n and nine , if any set his rest , and saith , and mine : but seeld with this , he either gaines or saues , for either faustus prime is with three knaues , or marcus neuer can encounter right , yet drew two ases , and for further spight , had colour for it with a hopefull draught , but not encountred , it auail'd him naught . well , sith encountring , he so faire doth misse , he sets not till he nine and fortie is . and thinking now his rest would sure be doubled , he lost it by the hand , with which sore troubled , he ioynes now all his stocke , vnto his stake , that of his fortune , he full proofe may make . at last both eldest hand and fiue and fifty , he thinketh now or neuer ( thriue vnthrifty . ) now for the greatest rest he hath the push : but crassus stopt a club , and so was flush : and thus what with the stop , and with the packe , poore marcus , and his rest goes still to wracke . now must he seeke new spoile to set his rest , for here his seeds turne weeds , his rest , vnrest . his land , his plate he pawnes , he sels his leases , to patch , to borrow ▪ and shift , he neuer ceases . till at the last , two catch-poles him encounter , and by arrest , they beate him to the counter . now marcus may set vp , all rests securely : for now he 's sure to be encountred surely . lesbias rule of praise . lesbia , whom some thought a louely creature , doth sometimes praise some other womans feature : yet this i do obserue , that none she praises , whom worthy fame , by beauties merits praises ▪ but onely of their seemely parts she tels , whom she doth sure beleeue , her selfe excels . so , linus praises churchyard in his censure , not sydney , daniel , constable , nor spencer . another of table-talke . among some table-talke of little weight , a friend of mine was askt by one great lady : what sonnes he had ? my wife ( saith he ) hath eight : ●ow fie , said she , 't is an ill vse as may be . 〈◊〉 would you men would leaue these fond conditions , 〈◊〉 enure on vertuous wiues such wrong suspitions . ●ush , said her lord , you giue a causelesse blame , ●he gentleman hath wisely spoke , and well : ●o reckon all his sonnes perhaps were shame , ●is wiues sonnes therefore he doth onely tell . behold , how much it stands a man in steede , to haue a friend answere in time of neede . of old haywoods sonnes . old haywoods sons did wax so wild & youthfull , it made their aged father sad and wrathfull . a friend one day , the elder did admonish with threats , as did his courage halfe astonish , how that except he would begin to thriue , his sire of all his goods would him depriue . for whom , quoth he ? eu'n for your yonger brother ▪ nay then , said he , no feare , if 't be none other . my brother's worse then i , and till he mends , i know , my father no such wrong intends , sith both are bad , to shew so partiall wrath , to giue his yonger vnthrift that hee hath . the end of the second booke . sir iohn harringtons epigrams , the third booke . yong haywoods answere to my lord of warwicke . one neere of kinne to heywood by his birth , and no lesse neere in name , and most in mir●h , was once for his religions sake committed , whose case a noble peere so lately pittied : he sent to know what things with him were scant , and offered frankely to supply his want . thankes to that lord , said he , that will me good , for i want all things sauing hay and wood . to the great ladies of the court. i haue beene told , most noble courtly dames , that ye commend some of my epigrams : ●ut yet i heare againe , which makes me pensiue , ●ome of them are , to some of you offensiue . those that you like , i 'le giue , and aske no guerdon , so that you grant those you mislike , you pardon . both are the fruitlesse fruits of idle houres , these for my pleasure reade , and those for yours . of a lady that giues the checke . is 't for a grace , or is 't for some disleeke , where other kisse with lip , you giue the cheeke ? some note that for a pride in your behauiour : but i should rather take it for a fauour . for i to show my kindnesse , and my loue , would leaue both lip and cheek , to kisse your gloue . now with the cause , to make you plain acquainted , your gloue's perfum'd , your lip & cheek are painted . of balbus a poet. balbus of writers reck'ning vp a rable , thinks their names are by him made honorable : and not vouchsafing me to name at all , he thinkes that he hath greeu'd me to the gall . i galled ? simple foole ! nor yet gulled , to thinke i may thee pray for such a dull head . those that are guilty of defect , and blame , doe neede such testimonials of their fame . learne then , vntaught , learn then you enuious elues . books are not praised , that do not praise themselues . to leda . in verse , for want of rime , i know not how , i cald our bathes the pilgrimage of saints , you leda much the praise do disallow , and thinke this touch your pure religion taints . good leda , be not angry , for god knowes , though i did write of saints , i meant of shrowes . to sextus , an ill reader . that epigram that last you did rehearse , was sharpe , and in the making , near and tearse , but thou doost read so harsh , point so peruerse , it seemed now neither witty nor verse . for shame poynt better , and pronounce it cleerer , or be no reader , sextus , be a hearer . of bathes cure vpon marcus. the fame of bathe is great , and still endures , that oft it worketh admirable cures . the barren by their vertue haue conceiu'd , the weake and sick , haue health & strength receiu'd : and many cripples that came thither carried , go sound frō thence , when they a while haue tarried . but yet one cure on marcus lately showne , my muse doth thinke most worthy to be known ; for , while he bathes with gascoyne wines & spanish , thereby old aches from his lymmes to banish , hunts after youthfull company , entycing them to the sports of bowling , carding , dycing : his wantonnesse breeds want , his want enforces marcus , by one and one sell all his horses . lo , how the bathe hath searcht his sicknes roote , he can , nay more , he must goe thence afoote . of a lady that sought remedy at the bathe . a lady that none name , nor blame none hath , came the last yeere with others to the bathe : her person comely was , good was her feature , in beauty , grace and speech , a louely creature . now as the lady in the water staid , a plaine man fell a talking with her maid , that lean'd vpon the rayle , and askt the reason , why that faire lady vs'd the bathe , that season ? whether 't were lamenesse , or defect in hearing , or some more inward euill , not appearing ? no , said the maid to him , beleeue it well , that my faire mistris sound is as a bell. but of her comming , this is true occasion , an old physician mou'd her by perswasion . these bathes haue power to strengthen that debility , that doth in man or woman breed sterrilitie . tush , said the man , with plaine & short discourse , your mistris might haue tane a better course . let her to oxford , to the vniuersitie , where yong phisicians are , and such diuersitie of toward spirits that in all acts proceede , much fitter then the bathe is for the deede . no , no , that will not serue , the maid replide , for her , that physike hath already tride . to sir morris barkly . your father gaue me once a dormant warrant : but sending at saint iames tide to the keeper , my men came backe as from a sleeuelesse arrant , and in a boxe , i laid my warrant sleeper . you noble sir , that are his heyre apparant , will giue henceforth , i hope , a waking warrant . of faustus the fault-finder . of all my verses , faustus still complaines , i writ them carelesly : and why forsooth ? because , he saith , they goe so plaine and smooth . it showes that i for them ne're beat my braines . i , that mens errors neuer loue to sooth , said , they that say so , may be thought but noddies . for sample marke , said i , your mistris bodies , that sit so square , and smooth down to her raines . that , that ●●ne waste , that wealth and wit doth waste . thinke you her taylor wrought it vp in haste ? no : aske him , and hee le say he tooke more paines then with old ellens double-welted frock , that sits like an old felt on a new block . who cannot write , ill iudge of writers vaines . the worke of taylers hands , and writers wits , was hardest wrought , when as it smoothest sits . of an ill physician for the body , that became a worse surgeon for the soule . a certaine mountebanke , or paltry leach , finding his physick furdred not his thrift , thought with himselfe to find some further drift . and though the skill were farre aboue his reach , he needs would proue a priest , and falls to preach . but patching sermons with a sorry shift , as needs they must that ere they learne will teach : at last , some foes so neerely doe him sift , and of such words and deeds did him appeach , as from his liuing quite they did him lift , and of the patron straight they begd the gift : and so the mountebanke did ouer-reach . who when he found he was pursu'd so swift , gaue place vnto so sharpe and fierce a breach : shutting vp all with this shrewd muttering speach , well , though , said he , my liuing i haue lost , yet many a good mans life this losse shall cost . a stander by , that would be thought officious , straight , as an heynous matter of complaint , doth with his speech the iustices acquaint : alleaging , as it seem'd , indeed suspicious , that to the state his meaning was pernitious . the leech thus touched with so shrewd a taint , yet in his looke nor answer did , nor faint ; protesting , that his mind was not malicious . but if the course that he must take be vicious , he flat affirmed it was curst constraint : ●or , of my liuing hauing lost possession , ● must , said he , turne to my first profession ; in which , i know too well , for want of skill , my medicines will many a man kill . of sir philip sydney . ●f that be true the latter prouerbe sayes , ● laudari à laudatis is most praise ; ●ydney , thy works in fames bookes are enrold , ●y princes pennes , that haue thy works extold , whereby thy name shall dure to endlesse dayes . ●ut now , if rules of contrary should hold , ●hen i , poore i , were drownd in deepe dispraise , whose works base writers haue so much debased , that lynus dares pronounce them all defaced . of impudent lynus . not any learning , lynus , no , god knowes , but thy brute boldnes made some to suppose , that thou might'st haue been bred in brazen-nose . a murren on thy pate , 't would doe thee grace , so were thine head so arm'd in euery place , a steele scull , copper nose , and brazen face . against an vnthrifty lynus . many men maruaile lynus doth not thriue , that had more trades then any man aliue ; as first , a broker , then a petty-fogger , a traueller , a gamster , and a cogger , a coyner , a promoter , and a bawde , a spy , a practicer in euery fraude : and missing thrift by these lewd trades and sinister , he takes the best , yet proues the worst , a minister . of faustus . i find in faustus such an alteration , he giues to paulus wondrous commendation : is paulus late to him waxt friendly ? no. but sure , poore faustus faine would haue it so . of a deuout vsurer . a merchant , hearing that great preacher , smith , preach against vsury , that art of byting , the sermon done , embrac'd the man forth-with , vnto his bord most friendly him inuiting . a friend of his , hoping some sweet aspersion of grace would moue him to some restitution , wist him , in token of his full conuersion , release some debters , held in execution . foole , said he , thinke you i le leaue my trade ? no : but i thinke this preacher learn'd and painefull , because the more from it he doth perswade , 't is like to proue to me more sweet and gainefull . was euer iew of malta , or of millain , then this most damned iew , more iewish villain ? of a reformed brother . in studying scriptures , hearing sermons oft , thy mind is growne so plyable and soft , that though none can attaine to true perfection , thy works come neere the words of their direction . thy counsell oft to fast , and euer pray , thou louest oft to feast , and euer play : ●ackcloth and cinders they aduise to vse , ●ack , cloues , and sugar , thou wouldst haue to chuse : ●hey wish our works , and life , should shine like light . thy workes and all thy life is passing light , they bid vs follow still the apostles lore , apostata's thou follow'st euermore . they bid refresh the poore with almes-deedes , thou rauish dost the poore with all misdeedes . they promist ioyes eternall neuer wasting , you merit noyes infernall euerlasting . of sheepe turned wolues . when hearts obdurate make of sin an habit● high frowning nemesis was wont to sen● beares , lions , wolues , and serpents , to this end , to spoyle the coasts whereso good folke inhabite . now since this age , in habite and in act , excels the sinnes of euery former age , no maruaile nemesis in her iust rage , doth like , or greater punishment exact . and for this cause , a cruell beast is sent , not only that deuoures and spoyles the people , but spares not house , nor village , church nor steepl● and makes poore widdowes mourn , orphants lamē● you muse ( perhaps ) what beasts they be that keep ▪ such beastly rule as seld was seene before ! t is neither beare , nor lyon , bull , nor bore : but beasts , then al these beasts , more harmeful she●● loe then , the mystery from whence the name of cotsold lyons first to england came . of lynus , borrowing . when lynus meets me , after salutations ; courtsies , and complements , and gratulations , he presseth me , euen to the third deniall . ●o lend him twenty shillings , or a royall : but of his purpose , of his curtsie fayling , he goes behind my backe , cursing and rayling . foole , thy kind speeches cost not thee a pen●y , and more foole i , if they should cost me any . of one master carelesse . where dwels mr. carelesse ? iesters haue no dwelling . where lies he ? in his tongue by most mens telling . where bords he ? there where feasts are foūd by smelling where bites he ? all behind , with all men yelling . where bides the man ? oh sir , i mist your spelling . ●ow i will read , yet well i doe not wot : ●ut if that i to him shall point his lot , in shot-ouer , at dogs-head in the pot . for in that signe his head oft ouer-shot . against momus , in praise of his dogge bungey . because a witty writer of this time , doth make some mention in a pleasant rime , of lepidus and of his famous dogge , thou momus , that dost loue to scoffe and cogge , prat'st amongst base companions and giue'st out , that vnto me herein , is meant aflout . hate makes thee blinde , momus , i dare be sworne , he meant to me his loue , to thee his scorne , put on thy enuious spectacles and see , whom doth he scorne therein , the dogge or mee : the dogge is grac't , compared with great bankes , both beasts right famous , for their pretty prankes , although in this , i grant , the dogge was worse , he onely fed my pleasure , not my purse : yet that same dogge , i may say this and boast it , he found my purse with gold when i haue lost it . now for my selfe , some fooles like thee may iudge , that at the name of lepidus i grudge , no sure : so farre i thinke it from disgrace , i wisht it cleare to me and to my race : lepus or lepos , i in both haue part , that in my name i beare , this in mine heart . but , momus , i perswade my selfe that no man , will deigne thee such a name , english or roman , i le wage a but of sack , the best in bristo , who calles me lepid , i will call him tristo . of faustus . now faustus saith , long epigrams are dull . lowt , larks are lothsom whē ones panch is ful● yet whom the short doe please , the long not weary , i wish them neuer weary , euer merry . of summum bonum . while i of summum bonum was disputing , propounding some positiōs , som confuting , ●ld sextus sayes that we were all deluded , ●nd that not one of vs aright concluded . ●nowledge , sayth he , is only true felicity , ●traightwayes a stranger askt me in simplicity , ● sextus learned ? no quoth i , by this light , ●hen without light , how iudgeth he so right ? he doth but ayme , as poore men vallew wealth , the feeble value strength ; the sicke man health . to mall , to comfort her for the losse of her children . ●hen at the window thou thy doues art feeding , then thinke i shortly my doue will be breeding , ●●ke will loue like , and so my liking like thee , 〈◊〉 i to doues in many things can like thee , ●oth of you loue your lodgings dry and warme , ●oth of you doe your neighbours little harme , ●oth loue to feede vpon the firmest graine , ●oth for your liuings take but little paine , both murmur kindly , both are often billing , yet both to venus sports will seeme vnwilling ; both doe delight to looke your selues in glasses , you both loue your own houses as it passes ; both fruitfull are , but yet the doue is wiser , for , though she haue no friend that can aduise her , she , patiently can take her young ones losse , thou , too impatiently doost beare such crosse . of the excuse of symony . clerus , i heare , doth some excuse alledge of his , and other fellowes sacriledge : as namely , that to some , against their wills , that men are bound to take the lesse of ills ; that they had rather , no man need to doubt , take liuings whole , then such as his without : and therefore we must lay this haynous crime , not vnto them forsooth , but to the time . alas ! a fault confest , were halfe amended , but sinne is doubled that is thus defended . i know , a right wise man sings and beleeues , where no receiuers are , there be no theeues . in commendation of master lewkeners sixt description of venice . dedicated to lady warwick . . lo , here 's describ'd , though but in little roome , faire venice , like a spouse in neptunes armes ; for freedome , emulous to ancient rome , famous for counsell much , and much for armes : whose stories earst written with tuscan quill , lay to our english wits , as halfe conceal'd , till lewkners learned trauaile and his skill , in well grac'd stile and phrase hath it reueald . venice , be proud , that thus augments thy fame ; england , be kind , enricht with such a booke , both giue due honor to that noble dame , for whom this taske the writer vnder-tooke . of one that gaue a benefice . a squire of good account , affirm'd he went , a learned man a liuing to present : but yet that squire , in this did breake no square , he purposed thereof to keepe a share ; ●o set two sonnes to schoole , to make them clarks , he doth reserue each yeere an hundred markes . ah , said the priest , this card is too too cooling , i set your sonnes ; nay , they set me to schooling ▪ of faustus fishing . with siluer hooke faustus for flesh was fishing , but that game byting not vnto his wishing , he said , he did ( being thus shrewdly matcht ) fish for a roach , but had a gudgen catcht . faustus , it seemes thy luck therein was great , for sure the gudgen is the better meat . now bayt againe , that game is set so sharpe , that to that gudgen , thou mayst catch a carpe . to his friend . of his booke of aiax . you muse to find in me such alteration , that i , that may denly to write was wont , would now set to a booke so desperate front , as i might scant defend by incitation . my muse that time did need a strong purgation , late hauing tane some bruse by lewd reports ; and whē the physick wrought , you know the fashi●● whereto a man in such a case resorts : and so my muse , with good decorum spent on that base titled booke , her excrement . of a seller of time. when of your lordship i a lease renew'd , you promis'd me before we did conclud● to giue me time , namely , twice twelue months day , for such a fine as i ●greed to pay . i bade a hundred pound , 't was worth no more ▪ your lordship set it higher by a score . now , since i haue by computation found , that two yeeres day cost me this twenty pound . sir , pardon me , to be thus plainely told it , your lordship gaue not two yeeres day , you sold it . of the earle of essex . great essex , now of late incurred hath his mistris indignation and her wrath : and that in him she chiefly dissalouth , ●he sent him north , he bent him to the south : then what shall essex do ? let him henceforth , bend all his wits , his power and courage north. of himselfe . because in this my selfe-contenting vaine , to write so many toyes i borrow leasure , ●riends sorrow , fearing i take too much paine , ●oes enuy , swearing , i take too much pleasure . i smile at both , and wish , to ease their griefes , that each with other would but change reliefes . to doctor sherwood , of bathe . because among some other idle glances , i , of the bathes say sometimes as it chances , that this an onely place is in this age , to which faire ladies come in pilgrimage , you feare such wanton gleekes , and ill report , may stop great states that thither would resort . no , neuer feare it , pray but for faire weather : such speech as this , will bring them faster thither . of marcus courtesie . when i some little purchase haue in hand , straight marcus kindly offers me his band . i tell him , and he takes it in great snuffe , his is a falling band , i weare a ruffe . but if you maruaile i his helpe refuse , and meane herein some meaner mans to vse : the cause is this , i meane , within a weeke , that he of me like courtesie will seeke . of one that had a blacke head , and a gray beard . though many search , yet few the cause can find● why thy beard gray , thy head continues black● ●ome thinke thy beard more subiect to the winde . ●ome think that thou dost vse that new-found knack , excusable to such as haire doe lacke : ● quaint gregorian to thy head to binde ▪ ●ome thinke that with a combe of drossie lead , ●hy siluer locks doe turne to colour darke : ●ome thinke 't is but the nature of thy head : ●ut we thinke most of these haue mist the marke . for this thinke we , that thinke we thinke aright , thy beard and yeeres are graue , thy head is light . against an old lecher . since thy third carriage of the french infection , priapus hath in thee found no erection : ●et eat'st thou ringoes , and potato rootes , ●nd caueare , but it little bootes . ●esides the beds-head a bottle lately found , of liquor that a quart cost twenty pound . ●or shame , if not more grace , yet shew more wit , ●urcease , now sinne leaues thee , to follow it . some smile , i sigh , to see thy madnesse such , that that withstands not , stands thee in so much . to his wiues mother , reprouing her vnconstancie . last yeere while at your house i hapt to tarry , of all your goods , you tooke an inuentory : your tapistry , your linnen , bedding , plate , your sheepe , your horse , your cattle you did rate : and yet one moueable you did forget , more moueable then this , therein to set . your wauering minde , i meane , which is so moueable ▪ that you for it , haue euer beene reproueable . of a cuckold that had a chaste wife . when those triumvers set that three mans song , which stablished in rome a hellish trinity , that all the towne , and all the world did wrong , killing their friends , and kinne of their affinity , by tripartite indenture , parting rome , as if the world for them had wanted roome , plotyna wife of one of that same hundred , whom anthony prescrib'd to lose their life , for beauty much , for loue to be more wondred , su'd for his spouse , and told she was his wife . the tyrant pleasant to see so faire a suter , doth kisse her , and imbrace her , and salute her . then makes , nay mocks , a loue too kinde , too cruell she must , to saue her husband from proscription , grant him one night , her husbands chiefest iewell : and what he meant , he shewd by lewd description : vowing , except he might his pleasure haue , no meanes would serue , her husbands life to saue . oh motion ! louing thoughts , no thoughts , but thorn● either he dies , whom she esteemes most dearely : or she her selfe subiect to thousand scornes . both feares doe touch a noble matron neerely . loe , yet an act , performed by this woman , worthy a woman , worthy more a romane : to show more then her selfe she lou'd her spouse , she yeelds her body to this execution . come , tyrant , come , performe thy damned vowes , her single heart hath doubled thy pollution . thou pollute her ? no , foole , thou art beguiled : she in thy filthy lap lies vndefiled . honour of matrons , of all wiues a mirror ! he sweare with thee , thy husband weares no horne : or if this act , conuince mine oath of error , t was a most precious one , an vnicorne . if ought i know by hearing or by reading , this act lucretias deed is farre exceeding . of the lady that lookt well to her borders . a lady of great birth , great reputation , clothed in seemely , & most sumptuous fashion : wearing a border of rich pearle and stone , esteemed at a thousand crownes alone , to see a certaine interlude , repaires , through a great prease , vp a darke paire of staires . her page did beare a torch that burnt but dimly . two cozening mates , seeing her deckt so trimly , did place themselues vpon the stayres to watch her , and thus they laid their plot to cunny-catch her : one should as 't were by chance strike out the light ; while th' other that should stand beneath her , might attempt , ( which modestie to suffer lothes ) rudely to thrust his hands vnder her clothes . that while her hands repeld such grosse disorders , his mate might quickly slip away the borders . now though this act to her was most displeasant , yet being wise ( as womens wits are present : ) straight on her borders both her hands she cast , and with all her force she held them fast . villaines , she cryde , you would my borders haue : but i 'le saue them tother it selfe can saue : thus , while the page had got more store of light , the coozening mates , for feare slipt out of sight . thus her good wit , their cunning ouer-matcht . were not these conycatchers conycatcht ? the hermaphrodite . when first my mother bore me in her wombe , she went to make inquirie of the gods , first of my birth , and after of my tombe . all answerd true , yet all their words had ods . phoebus affirm'd , a male childe should be borne : mars said it would be female , iuno neither : but i came forth , alas , to natures scorne , hermaphrodite , as much as both together . then for my death , iuno foretold the sword : phoebus assign'd me drowning for my fa●e : mars threatned hanging , each perform'd their word , as note how well prou'd true in seuerall rate . a tree fast by a brooke i needs would clime , my sword slipt out , and while no heede i tooke , my side fell on the point , and at that same time , my foote in boughs , my head hang'd in the brooke : that i thus borne a male , a female neither , dyde drown'd , & h●ng'd , & wounded all together . of a sicknesse grew with a tobacco pipe . vnto a gentle gentlewomans chamber ▪ her pedler came , her husband being thence , ●o sell fine linnen , lawnes and muske and amber . ●he franke of fauours , sparing of expence , ●o bargain'd with her , ere he parted thence , ●hat for ten ells of holland , fiue of lawne , ●o grant dishonest pleasures , she was drawne . ●ext day the man repenting of his cost , ●id studie meanes , to get him resolution : ●r to be paid for that he there had lost , ●nd thus he puts his thought in execution : ●e turnes to her , with settled resolution , ●nd in her husbands presence vnawares , ●e asketh fifty shillings for his wares . ●er husband ignorant what cause had bred it , ●y wife , said he , had you so spent your store , ●ou must with petty chapmen runne on credit ? now for my honors sake , doe so no more . no sir ( quoth she ) i meant it to restore . i tooke it of him onely for a tryall , and finde it too high prised for a royall . thus neuer changing countenance , she doth rise ▪ with outward silence , inward anger choking . and going to her closer , she espies tobacco in a pype , yet newly smoking . she takes the pype , her malice her prouoking , and laps it in his linnen , comming backe , and so the pedler put it in his packe , and packes away , and ioyes that with his wyle , he had regayn'd the stuffe , yet gayn'd his pleasure . but hauing walked scarcely halfe a mile , his packe did smoke , and smell so out of measure , that opening it vnto his great displeasure , he found by that tobacco pype too late , the fiery force of feeble female hate . and seeking then some remedy by lawes , vnto a neighbour iustice he complaines : but when the iustice vnderstood the cause , in her examination taking paines , and found 't was but a fetch of womens braines : the cause dismist , he bids the man beware , to deale with women that could burne his ware . a good answere of a gentlewoman to a lawyer . a vertuous dame , that saw a lawyer rome abroad , reprou'd his stay so long from home : ●nd said to him , that in his absence thence , ●is wife might want her due beneuolence . ●ut he straight quit himselfe of such disgrace , ●nswer'd it thus , with putting off a case . ●ne owes one hundred pounds , now tell me whether 〈◊〉 best ? to haue his paiment all together : ●r take it by a shilling , and a shilling , ●hereby the bagge should be the longer filling ? ●ure , said the dame , i grant 't were little losse , ●one receiu'd such payments all in grosse . yet in your absence this may breede your sorrow , to heare your wife for want might twelue pence borrow . of one that tooke thought for his wife . no sooner cynnas wife was dead and buried , but that with mourning much and sorrows wearied maid , a seruant of his wiues , he wedded , ●nd after hee had boorded her , and bedded . and in her mistris roome had fully plast her , his wiues old seruant waxed his new master . sir iohn bauynsfords choyce of a man. rainsford , whose acts were many times outragiou● had speciall care , to haue his men couragious : a certaine friend of his one day began , vnto his seruice to commend a man , one well approued , he said , in many iarres , whereof in head armes , hands , remain'd the skarres ▪ the knight the man , his markes and manners view'd ▪ and flat refusing him , did thus conclude : this is no man for me , but i suppose , he is a tall fellow that gaue him all these blowes ▪ of linus and his mistris . chaste linus , but as valiant as a gander , came to me yet , in friendly sort as may be : lamenting that i rais'd on him a slander , namely , that he should keepe a gallant lady . begge me ( said i ) if i proue such a babie , to let my tongue , so false and idly wander . who sayes that you keepe her , lyes in her throate , but she keepes you , that all the world may note . inpraise of a lady and her musike . vpon an instrument of pleasing sound a lady playd more pleasing to the sight . ● being askt in which of these i found greatest content , my senses to delight ? rauisht in both at once , as much as may be , said , sweet was musike , sweeter was the lady . of riding-rimes . faire leda reads our poetry sometimes , but saith she cannot like our ryding-rimes ; ●ffirming that the cadens falleth sweeter , ●hen as the verse is plac'd between the meeter . ●ell , leda , leaue henceforth this quarrel-piking , ●nd sith that one between is to your liking , you shall haue one betweene ; yet some suppose , leda hath lou'd both riding-rime , and prose . of deuout parents and children . a husband and a vvife oft disagreeing , and either weary of th' other , being ●choller great , either deuoutly prayes 〈◊〉 god , that he will shorten th' others dayes : but more deuout then both , their sonne and hei●e praies god that he wil grant thē both their pray'r . in commendation of two valiant scottish knights , that defended their king from the earle gowry : sir thomas erskin , sir iohn ramsey . the persian monarch , who by faithfull spyall was safe preseru'd frō slaues intended slaughter , by him whose cousin and adopted daughter vnwares he did endow with scepter royall ; when reading in his bed a good while after , he found in true records that seruice loyall , then with most gratefull mind to make requitall , and to increase mardoches great renowne , vpon his head ( such was their vse that season ) he caused to be set his royall crowne . but greater should be your reward in reason ; he but reueal'd , but you reueng'd a treason . in prayse of the countesse of darby , married to the lord chauncellor . this noble countesse liued many yeeres with darby , one of englands greatest peeres ; fruitfull and faire , and of so cleare a name , that all this region marueld at her fame . but this braue peere , extinct by hastned fate , she stayd ( ah too too long ) in widdowes state : and in that state , tooke so sweet state vpon her , all eares , eyes , tongues , heard , saw , & told her honor : yet finding this a saying full of veritie , t is hard to haue a patent of prosperitie , shee found her wisest way and safe to deale , was to consort with him that keepes the seale . of cosmus , that will keepe a good house hereafter . old cosmus to his friends thus out doth giue , after awhile , he like a lord will liue . after awhile , he le end all troublous suites , after awhile , retaine some men of qualitie , after awhile , of riches reape the fruits , after awhile , keepe house in some formality , after awhile , finish his beautious building , after awhile , leaue off his busie buying : ●et all the while he liues but like a hilding , ●is head growes gray with fresh vexations toyling . ●ell , cosmus , i beleeue your heire doth smile , ●o thinke what you will doe after awhile : for sure , the prouerbe is more true then ciuill , blest is the sonne whose sire goes to the diuell . of neate galla. the pride of galla now is growne so great , she seekes to be surnam'd galla the neat , but who their merits shall , and manners scan , may thinke the terme is due to her good man. ask you , which way ? methinks your wits are dull : my shoomakes resolue you can at full , neats leather is both oxe-hide , cow , and bull. of reuersing an error . i did you wrong , at least you did suppose , for taxing certaine faults of yours in prose : but now i haue the same in ryme reherst , my error , nay your error is reuerst . of good sauce . i went to suppe with cinna tother night , and to say true ( for giue the diuell his right ) though scant of meat we could a morsell get , yet there with store of passing sauce we met . you aske what sauce , where pittance was so small ? this , is not hunger the best sauce of all ? of a slaunder . on lesbya , lynus raysed had a slander , for which whē as she thought to take an actiō ▪ yet by request she tooke this satisfaction , that being drunke , his tongue did idly wander : came this from viderit vtilitas ? or else from this , in vino veritas ? of a lady early vp . lesbya , that wonted was to sleepe till noone , this other morning stirring was at fiue : what did she meane , thinke you , to rise so soone ? i doubt we shall not haue her long aliue . yes : neuer feare it , there is no such danger , it seemes vnto her course you be a stranger : for why , a dauncing , banquetting , and play , and at carowsing many a costly cup , she sate the night before , vntill t was day , and by that meane , you found her early vp ▪ oh , was it so ? why then the case is cleere , that she was early vp , and ne're the neere . the end of the third booke . sir iohn harringtons epigrams , the fourth booke . to an ill reader . the verses , sextus , thou doost read , are mine ; but with bad reading thou wilt make thē thine . in lectorem inuidum . who reades our verse , with visage sowre and grim . i wish him enuy me , none enuy him . of table friends . you thinke his faith is firme , his friendship stable , whose first acquaintance grew but at your table : ●e loues your venison , snytes , quailes , larks , not you : ●ake me such fare , and take my friendship too . the authour to his wife , of partition . some ladies with their lords diuide their state , and liue so when they list , at seuerall rate ; but i 'le endure thee , mall , on no condition , to sue with me a writ of such partition . twice seuen yeeres since , most solemnly i vow'd , with all my worldly goods i thee endow'd , then house , plate , stuffe , not part , but all is thine : yet so , that thou , and they , and all are mine . then let me goe , and sue my writ of dotage , if i with thee part house , or close , or cottage . for , where this is my lords , and that my ladies , there some , perhaps , think likewise of their babie● of treason . treason doth neuer prosper , what 's the reason ? for if it prosper , none dare call it treason . of the warres in ireland . i prays'd the speech , but cannot now abide it , that war is sweet , to those that haue not try'd it : for i haue prou'd it now , and plainely see 't , it is so sweet , it maketh all things sweet . at home canarie wines and greeke grow lothsome : here milke is nectar , water tasteth toothsome . there without bak't , rost , boyld , it is no cheere . bisket we like , and bonny clabo heere . there we complaine of one reare rosted chicke : heere viler meat , worse cookt , ne're makes me sicke . at home in silken spa●uers , beds of downe , we scant can rest , but still tosse vp and downe : heere i can sleepe , a saddle to my pillow , a hedge the curtaine , canopy a willow . there if a child but cry , oh what a spite ! heere we can brooke three larums in one night . there homely roomes must be perfum'd with roses : here match and powder ne're offends our noses . there from a storme of raine we run like pullets : heere we stand fast against a showre of bullets . lo then how greatly their opinions erre , that thinke there is no great delight in warre : but yet for this ( sweet warre ) i le be thy debter , i shall for euer loue my home the better . of women learned in the tongues . you wisht me to a wife , faire , rich and young , that had the latine , french and spanish tongue . i thank't , and told you i desir'd none such , and said , one language may be tongue too much . then loue i not the learned ? yes as my life ; a learned mistris , not a learned wife . the author to his wife , of the twelue signes , how they gouerne . marke here ( my mall ) how in this dozen lines , thus placed are the twelue celestiall signes : and first , the ram beares rule in head and face , the stiffe-neckt bull in neck doth hold his place , and twins mine armes and hands do both imbrace . then cancer keepes the small ribs and the brest , and leo back and heart hath aye possest . then virgo claimes the entrailes and the panch , libra the nauell , reynes , and either hanch . scorpio pretends power in the priuy parts , both thighes are pierst with sagitaries darts . then capricorne to knees his force doth send , aquarius doth to legges his vertue lend . pisces beneath vnto the feet discend . thus each part is possest ; now tell me , mall , where lies thy part ? in which of these ? in all . in all ? content . yet sure thou art more iealous of leo's part and scorpio's , then their fellowes . against swearing . in elder times an ancient custome was , to sweare in weighty matters by the masse . but when the masse went downe ( as old men note ) they sware then by the crosse of this same grote . and when the crosse was likewise held in scorne , then by their faith , the common oath was sworne . last , hauing sworne away all faith and troth , only god dam'n them is their common oath . thus custome kept decorum by gradation , that losing masse , crosse , faith , they find damnation . of little pitie . when noble essex , blount and danuers died , one saw them suffer , that had heard them tried : and sighing , said ; when such braue souldiers dye , is●t not great pitie , thinke you ? no , said i : there is no man of sense in all the citie , will say , 't is great , but rather little pitie . of a booke called the gentle craft . i past this other day through pauls church-yard , and heard some reade a booke , and reading laught , the title of the booke was gentle craft . but when i markt the matter with regard , a new-sprung branch that in my minde did graft , and thus i said , sirs , scorne not him that writ it : a gilded blade hath oft a dudgeon haft , and well i see , this writer roues a shaft neere fairest marke , yet happily not hit it . for neuer was the like booke sold in poules , if so with gentle craft it could perswade great princes midst their pompe to learne a trad● once in their liues to worke , to mend their soule● of the games that haue beene in request at the court. i heard one make a pretty obseruation , how games haue in the court turn'd with the fashion the first game was the best , when free from crime , the courtly gamesters all were in their prime : the second game was post , vntill with posting they paid so fast , 't was time to leaue their boasting . then thirdly follow'd heauing of the maw , a game without ciuility or law , an odious play , and yet in court oft seene , a sawcy knaue to trump both king and queene . then follow'd lodam , hand to hand or quarter , at which some maids so ill did keep the quarter , that vnexpected , in a short abode they could not cleanly beare away their load . now noddy follow'd next , as well it might , although it should haue gone before of right . at which i saw , i name not any body , one neuer had the knaue , yet laid for noddy . the last game now in vse is bankerupt , which will be plaid at still , i stand in doubt , vntill lauolta turne the wheele of time , and make it come about againe to prime . the author to queene elizabeth , in praise of her reading . for euer deare , for euer dreaded prince , you read a verse of mine a little since , ●nd so pronounst each word , and euery letter , ●our gracious reading , grac't my verse the better . ●ith then your highnes doth by gift exceeding , make what you read , the better in your reading , let my poore muse your paines thus far importune , to leaue to read my verse , and read my fortune . of king henries wooing . vnto a stately great outlandish dame , a messenger from our king henry came , ● henry of famous memory the eight ) ●o treat with her in matter of great weight ; ●s namely , how the king did seeke her marriage , ●ecause of her great vertue and good carriage . ●he ( that had heard the king lou'd change of pasture ) ●●pli'de , i humbly thanke the king , your master , and would , ( such loue his fame in me hath bred , ) my body venter so , but not my head . two witty answers of bishop bonner . bonner , that late had bishop beene of london , was bid by one , good morrow bishop quondam : he with the scoffe , no whit put out of temper , reply'd incontinent , adieu knaue semper . another in such kinde of scoffing speeches , would beg his tippet , needs , to line his breeches . not so ( quoth he ) but it may be thy hap , to haue a foolish head to line thy cap. of lynus borrowing . lynus came late to me , sixe crownes to borrow , and sware god damn him , hee 'd repai't to morrow . i knew his word , as currant as his band , and straight i gaue to him three crownes in hand ; this i to giue , this he to take was willing , and thus he gaind , and i sau'd fifteene shilling . a good answere of the poet dant to an atheist . the pleasant learn'd italian poet dant , hearing an atheist at the scriptures iest , askt him in iest , which was the greatest beast ? he simply said ; he thought an elephant . then elephant ( quoth dant ) it were commodious , that thou wouldst hold thy peace , or get thee hence , breeding our conscience scandall and offence with thy prophan'd speech , most vile and odious . oh italy , thou breedst but few such dants , i would our england bred no elephants . of quintus almes . when quintus walketh out into the street , as soone as with some begger he doth meete , ere that poore soule to aske his almes hath leasure , he first doth chafe and sweare beyond all measure , and for the beadle all about he sends , to beare him to bridewell , so he pretends . the begger quickly out of sight doth goe , ●ull glad in heart he hath escaped so . then quintus laughes , and thinks it is lesse charges , to sweare an oath or two , then giue a larges . of marcus his drunken feasting . when marcus makes ( as oft he doth ) a feast , the wine still costs him more then all the rest . were water in this towne as deare as hay , his horses should not long at liuery stay . ●ut tell me , is 't not a most foolish tricke , ●o drinke to others healths till thou be sicke ? ●et such the fashion is of bacchus crue , ●o quaffe and bowze , vntill they belch and spue : well , leaue it , marcus , else thy drinking health , will proue an eating to thy wit and wealth . a good iest of a crow . a baron and a knight , one day walking on richmond greene , & as they were in talking , a crow , that lighted on the raile by fortune , stood becking , and cry'd kaw with noise importune . this bird , the baron said , doth you salute , sir knight , as if to you he had some sute , not vnto me , the knight reply'd in pleasance , 't is to some lord he makes so low obeysance . of kissing the foote . a courtier , kinde in speech , curst in condition , finding his fault could be no longer hidden , went to his friend to cleere his hard suspition , and fearing lest he might be more then chidden , fell to a flattering and most base submission , vowing to kisse his foote , if he were bidden . my foote ? ( said he ) that were too submisse , but three foote higher you deserue to kisse . of a sawcy cator . a cator had of late some wild-fowle bought , and when vnto his master them he brought , forthwith the master smelling nigh the rump , said , out , thou knaue , these sauour of the pump . the man ( that was a rude and sawcy lout ) what sir , said he , smell you them thereabout ? smell your faire lady there , and by your fauour , your fortune may meete with a fulsome sauour . of a certaine man. there was ( not certain when ) a certaine preacher , that neuer learn'd , and yet became a teacher , who hauing read in latine thus a text of erat quidam homo , much perplext , he seem'd the same with study great to scan in english thus ; there was a certaine man. but now ( quoth he ) good people , note you this , he saith there was , he doth not say there is : for in these daies of ours , it is most certaine , of promise , oth , word , deed , no man is certaine : yet by my text you see it comes to passe , that surely once a certaine man there was . but yet i thinke , in all your bible no man can finde this text ; there was a certaine woman . of lesbia . old widdow lesbia , after husbands fiue , yet feeleth cupids flames in her reuiue . and now she takes a gallant youth and trim . alas for her , nay , nay , alas for him . the horne cinqu●-apace . who wishes , hopes , and thinks , his wife is true , to him one horne , or vnicorne is due . who sees his wife play false , and will not spy it , he hath two hornes , and yet he may deny it . the man that can indure when all men scorne , and pardon open faults , hath treble horne ; who brings fine courtiers oft to see his bride , he hath one paire of hornes on either side . but he that sweares hee did so happy wiue , he can be none of these , let him haue fiue . of cursing cuckolds . a lord that talked late in way of scorne , of some that ware inuisibly the horne , said he could wish , and did ( as for his part ) all cuckolds in the thames , with all his heart . but straight a pleasant knight reply'd to him , i hope your lordship learned hath to swimme . of the pillars of the church . in old time they were the churches pillars , that did excell in learning and in piety , and were to youth examples of sobriety , of christs faire field the true and painefull tillers : but where are now the men of that society ? are all those tillers dead ? those pillars broken ? no , god forbid such blasphemy be spoken ; i say , to stop the mouthes of all ill-willers , gods field hath harrowers still , his church hath pillars , of exchange . old caius sold a wench , to buy a barke . yong titus gaue the ship , to haue the slut . who makes the better mart , now let vs marke , th' one loues to roue , the tother goes to rut . of lesbias kissing craft . lesbia with study found a meanes in th' end , in presence of her lord to kisse her friend , each of them kist by turnes a little whelpe , transporting kisses thus by puppies helpe . and so her good old lord she did beguise : was not my lord a puppy all the while ? of sixe sorts of fasters . sixe sorts of folkes i find vse fasting dayes , but of these sixe , the sixt i onely praise . the sicke man fasts , because he cannot eate . the poore doth fast , because he hath no meate . the miser fasts , with mind to mend his store . the glutton , with intent to eate the more . the hypocrite , thereby to seeme more holy . the vertuous , to preuent or punish folly . now he that eateth fast , and drinkes as fast , may match these fasters , any but the last . of cinna . pvre cinna gets his wife a maiden cooke with red cheeks , yellow locks , & cheerfull looke . what might he meane hereby ? i hold my life , she dresseth flesh for him , not for his wife . of claudia . claudia , to saue a noble romans blood , was offred by some friends that wisht his good , a iewell of inestimable price ; but she would not be won by this deuice : for she did take his head , and leaue the iewell . was claudia now more couetous , or cruell ? a rule to play. lay down your stake at play , lay down your passion : a greedy gamester still hath some mis-hap . to chafe at play , proceeds of foolish fashion . no man throws still the dice in fortunes lap . of a drunken tobacconist . when marcus hath carrowst march beere and sack , and that his brains grow dizzy therewithall , then of tobacco he a pipe doth lacke , of trinidade in cane , in leafe , or ball , which tane a little , he doth spit and smacke , then laies him on his bed for feare to fall , and poore tobacco beares the name of all . but that same pipe which marcus braine did lade . was of medera , not of trinidade . tristis es & foelix , sciat hoc fortuna caueto . to a lady . froward yet fortunate ? if fortune knew it , beleeue me , madam , she would make you rue it . a salisbury tale . faire sarum's church , beside the stately tower , hath many things in number aptly sorted , answering the yeere , the month , weeke , day & houre , but aboue all ( as i haue heard reported , and to the view doth probably appeare ) a piller for each houre in all the yeere . further , this church of sarum hath beene found , to keepe in singing seruice so good forme , that most cathedrall churches haue beene bound , themselues ad vsum sarum to conforme : i am no cabalist to iudge by number , yet that this church is so with pillers fill'd , it seemes to me to be the lesser wonder , that sarums church is euery hower pill'd . and sith the rest are bound to sarums vse , what maruell if they taste of like abuse ? of a faire shrew . faire , rich , and yong ? how rare is her perfection , were it not mingled with one foule infection ? i meane , so proud a heart , so curst a tongue , as makes her seeme , nor faire , nor rich , nor yong . of gods part . one that had farm'd a fat impropriation , vs'd to his neighbours often exhortation , to pay to him the tithes and profits duely , affirming ( as he might affirme most truely ) how that the tithes are god almighties part , and therefore they should pay 't with all their heart . but straight replyed one amongst the rest , ( one that had crost him oft , but neuer blest . ) it is gods part indeed , whose goodnes gaue it ; but yet oft times we see the diuell haue it . of lalus symoniacall horse-coursing . pvre lalus gate a benefice of late , without offence of people , church , or state ; yea but aske eccho how he did come by it , come buy it ? no with oathes he will deny it . he nothing gaue direct , or indirectly . ●ie , lalus , now you tell vs a direct lye : did not your patron for an hundred pound , ●ell you a horse was neither yong nor sound , no turke , no courser , barbary , nor iennit ? ●imony ? no , but i see money in it . well , if it were but so , the case is cleere ; the benefice was cheape , the horse was deare . an addition to the same epigram . peter for westminster , and paul for london , lament , for both your churches wil be vndone , if smithfield find a fetch forth of a stable ▪ lawes to delude , and lords of councell table . the same in latine by the author . nec populo infenso , nec ruptis legibus vllis , lelus noster habet pingue sacerdotium , vnde sed hoc venit , vaen it tibi personet eccho , eccho , misodes , dicito an emit , emit . ilia ducentem , fructumque : senilibus annis illi patronus vendit auarus equum , aurea pro vetulo dat bis centena caballo , cui nec turca pater , nec patria italia est : ergo sacerdotium regina pecunia donat , magno equitat precio , praedicat exiguo . additio . iam vos templorum properam sperare ruinam , et tu petre tui , tu quoque , pa●le , ●ui sordida fabrili si nata astutia campo , legibus & sanctis patribus imposuit . of cinna . fiue yeeres hath cinna studied genesis , and knowes not what in principio is ; and greeu'd that he is graueld thus , he skips , ore all the bible , to th' apocalips . of bagge and baggage . a man appointed , vpon losse of life , with bag and baggage at a time assign'd . ●o part a towne ; his foule vnweildy wife , ●esired him that she might stay behind . ●ay , quoth the man , i le neuer be so kind , as venture life , for such an vgly hag that lookes both like a baggage and a bag . of a womans kindnes to her husband . one that had liued long by lewdest shifts , brought to the court that corne from cockle sisis , ●archamber , that of iustice is the mirror , ●as senten'st there , and for the greater terrour , ●diudged , first , to lye a yeere in fetters , ●hen burned in his forhead with two letters , ●nd to disparage him with more disgrace , ●o slit his nose , the figure of his face . the prisoners wife with no dishonest mind , to shew her selfe vnto her husband kind , sued humbly to the lords , and would not cease , some part of this sharp rigour to release . he was a man ( she said ) had seru'd in warre , what mercy would a souldiers face so marre ? thus much said she : but grauely they replied , it was great mercy that he thus was tried : his crimes deserue he should haue lost his life , and hang in chaines . alas , repli'd his wife , if you disgrace him thus , you quite vndoe him , good my lords hang him , pray be good vnto him . of don pedro. don pedro neuer dines without red deere ; if red deere be his guests , grasse is his cheere . i , but i meane , he hath it in his dish , and so haue i oft what i doe not wish . the author to his wife . mall , once in pleasant company by chance , i wisht that you for company would dance , which you refus'd , and said , your yeeres require , now , matron-like , both manners and attire . well mall , if needs thou wilt be matron-like , then trust to this , i will a matron like : ●et so to you my loue may neuer lessen , 〈◊〉 you for church , house , bed , obserue this lesson . 〈◊〉 in the church as solemne as a saint , ●o deed , word , thought , your due deuotion taint . ●aile ( if you will ) your head , your soule reueale ●o him , that onely wounded soules can heale . 〈◊〉 in my house as busie as a bee , ●auing a sting for euery one but mee , ●uzzing in euery corner , gathering hony . ●et nothing waste , that costs or yeeldeth mony . ●nd when thou seest my heart to mirth incline , 〈◊〉 tongue , wit , bloud , warme with good cheere and wine , then of sweet sports let no occasion scape , but be as wanton , toying as an ape . of lelia . when louely lelia was a tender girle , she hapt to be deflowred by an earle ; ●las , poore wench , she was to be excused , ●●ch kindnesse oft is offered , seld refused . ●ut be not proud ; for she that is no countesse , ●nd yet lies with a count , must make account this , all countesses in honour her surmount , they haue , she had , an honourable count. of a drunken smith . i heard that smvg the smith , for ale and spice sold all his tooles , and yet he kept his vice . of soothsaying . might kings shun future mischief by foretelling thē amongst soothsayers 't were excellēt dwe●ling but if there be no means such harmes repelling , the knowledge makes the sorrow more excelling . but this , deare soueraigne , me comfort doth , that of these sooth-sayers , very few say sooth . a good request of a lawyer . a pleasant lawyer standing at the barre , the causes done , and day not passed farre , a iudge to whom he had profest deuotion , askt him in grace , if he would haue a motion : yes sir , quoth he , but short , and yet not small , that whereas now of satieants is a call , i wish ( as most of my profession doe ) that there might be a call of clyents too : for sure it brings vs lawyers mickle cumber , because of them we find so small a number . of friendship . new friends are no friends ; how can that be true ? the oldest friends that are , were somtimes new . of caius increase in his absence . while caius doth remaine beyond the seas , and followes there some great important suit , ●is lands bare neither oates , nor beanes , nor pease , ●ut yet his wife beares faire and full-growne fruit . what is the cause that brings his lands sterility , ●nd his wiues fruitfulnes and great fertility ? his lands want occupyers to manure them , but she hath store , & knows how to procure them . of a toothlesse shrew . old ellen had foure teeth as i remember , she cought out two of them the last december ; ●ut this shrewd cough in her raign'd so vnruly , ●e cought out tother two before t was iuly . ●ow she may cough her heart out , for in sooth , ●he said shrewd cough hath left her ne're a tooth . but her curst tongue , wanting this common curbe , doth more then erst the houshold all disturbe . to doctor sharpe . late i tooke leaue of two right noble dames , and hasted to my wife as i protested : you will'd me stay awhile , and thus you iested : you sir , may please your wife with epigrams . well said , 't was doctor-like , and sharply spoken , no friendship breakes , where iests so smooth are 〈◊〉 but now you haue new orders tane of late , those orders , which ( as you expound saint paul ) are equall honourable vnto all ; i meane of marriage the holy state , i hope , in lent , when flesh growes out of date , you will , in stead of tother recreation , be glad to please your wife with some collation of the papists feasts , and the brownists fasts . a papist dwelling to a brownist neere , their seruants met , and vanted of their chee● and first , the papists man did make his bost , he had each festiuall both bak't and rost , and where ( said he ) your zealous sort allow , on christmasse day it selfe to goe to plow , we feast , and play , and walke , and talk , and slumb●● besides , our holy dayes are more in number : as namely , we doe keepe with great festiuity , our ladies , both assumption and natiuity ; s. pauls conuersion , s. iohns decollation , s. laurence broyld , s. swithens moyst translation , s. peters chaines , and how with angels vision he brake the prison , quite without misprision . ● grant , the tother said , you seeme more gainesome , but for your sport , you pay too deare a ransome . we like your feasts , your fastings bred our greeues , your lents , your ember weekes , and holy eeues . but this coniunction i should greatly praise , the brownists fasts , with papists holy daies . of mile the glutton . milo with haste to cram his greedy gut , one of his thumbs vnto the bone had cut : then straight it noysed was about by some , that he had lost his stomack with his thumb . to which one said , no worse hap fall vnto him : but if a poore man finde it , 't will vndoe him . of fortune . fortune , men say , doth giue too much to many : but yet shee neuer gaue enough to any . of deuotion and promotion . i met a lawyer at the court this lent , and asking what great cause him thither sent , he said , that mou'd with doctor androes fame , to heare him preach , he onely thither came : but straight , i wisht him softly in his eare , to find some other sense , else some will sweare , who to the court come onely for deuotion , they in the church pray onely for promotion . of a painted lady . i saw dame leda's picture lately drawne , with haire about her eares , transparent lawne , her iuory paps , and euery other part , so limd vnto the life by painters art , that i that had been long with her acquainted , did think that both were quick , or both were painte● of galla's gallantry . what is the cause our galla is so gallant , like ship in fairest wind , top and top gallant ▪ hath she of late been courted by some gallant ? no sure : how then ? galla hath quaft a gallon . in cornutum . a thais ? no , diana thou didst wed : for she hath giuen to thee acteons head . of paulus , a flatterer . no man more seruile , no man more submisse , then to our soueraigne lady paulus is . he doth extoll her speech , admire her feature , he calls himselfe her vassall , and her creature . thus while he dawbes his speech with flatteries plaster , and calls himselfe her ●laue , he growes our master , still getting what he list without controle , by singing this old song , re mi fa sol . of lynus , an ill ghest . aske you what profit kew to me doth yeeld ? this , lynus , there i shal see thee but seeld ; ●or where good ghests may take a cottage gratefull , there , such as thou do make a palace hatefull . against pius quintus , that excommunicated queene elizabeth . are kings your foster-fathers , queens your nurses , oh roman church ? then why did pius quintus with basan bulls ( not like one pius intus ) lay on our sacred prince vnhallowed curses ? it is not health of soules , but wealth of purses you seek , by such your hell-denouncing threats , oppugning with your chaire , our princes seats , disturbing our sweet peace ; and that which worse is you suck out blood , and bite your nurses teats . learne , learne , to ask your milk , for if you snatch it , the nurse must send your babes pap with a hatchet of finding a hare . a gallant full of life , and voyd of care , asked his friend if he would find a hare ? he that for sleepe more then such sports did care , said , goe your waies , and leaue me here alone ; let them find hares that lost them , i lost none . of merit , and demerit . a knight , and valiant seruitor of late , playn'd to a lord and councellor of state , that captaines in these dayes were not regarded , that onely carpet knights were well rewarded : for i , saith he , with all my hurts and maimes , get not the recompence my merit claimes . good cousin ( said the lord ) the fault is yours , which you impute vnto the higher powers , ●or where you should in pater noster pray , giue vnto vs our daily bread to day ; your misdemeanors this petition needs , our trespasses forgiue vs , and misdeeds . of faustus , esquire . faustus , for taking of a wrong possession , was by a iustice bound vnto the session : the cryer the recognizance doth call , ●austus , esquire , come forth into the hall. out ( said the iudge ) on all such foolish cryers , diuels are carpenters , where such are squires . of peleus friendship . when peleus is brought vp to london streets , by proces first to answer waighty sutes , oh then how kind he is to all he meets ! how friendly by their names he them salutes ! then one shall haue a colt of his best race , ●nother gets a warrant for a buck : ●ome deeper brib'd , according as their place may serue his turne , to worke or wish good luck . but when his troubles all to end are brought by time , or friendly paines on his behalfe , then straight ( as if he set vs all at nought ) his kindnes is not now so much by halfe . sith then his suites in law his friendship doubles , i for his friendships sake could wish him troubles of inclosing a common . a lord , that purpos'd for his more auaile , to compasse in a common with a rayle , was reckoning with his friend about the cost and charge of euery reule , and euery post : but he ( that wisht his greedy humour crost ) said , sir , prouide you posts , and without fayling , your neighbors round about wil find you rayling ▪ the author to his wife , of too much stomack ▪ late hauing been a fishing at the foord , and bringing home with me my dish of trouts your minde that while , did cast some causelesse doubts for while that meat was set vpon the boord , you sullen silent , fed your selfe with powts . i twice sent for you , but you sent me word , how that you had no stomack to your meat . well i fear'd more , your stomack was too great . a witty choice of a country fellow . a rich lord had a poore lout to his ghest , and hauing sumptuous fare , and costly drest , ●aru'd him a wing of a most dainty bird ; ●ffirming seriously vpon his word , those birds were sent him from his louing cosen , ●nd were well worthy twenty markes a dozen ▪ ●e that for such great dainties did not care , ●●id , i like well your lordships courser fare : for i can eat your beefe , pig , goose and cony , but of such fare , giue me my share in mony . to a great magistrate , in re and in spe. those that for princes goods do take some paine ( their goods to whō of right all paines we owe ) ●eeke some reward for seruice good to gaine , which oft their gracious goodnesse doth bestow : i for my trauell , begge not a reward , i begge lesse by a sillable , a ward . a comparison of a booke , with cheese . old haywood writes , & proues in some degrees , that one may wel compare a book with cheese ; 〈◊〉 euery market some buy cheese to feed on , at euery mart some men buy bookes to read on . all sorts eate cheese ; but how ? there is the question the poore for food , the rich for good disgestion . all sorts read bookes , but why ? will you discerne ? the foole to laugh , the wiser sort to learne . the sight , taste , sent of cheese to some is hateful , the sight , taste , sense of bookes to some's vngrateful no cheese there was , that euer pleas'd all feeders , no booke there is , that euer lik't all readers . a scottish verse . rob. will. and dauy , keepe well thy pater noster and aue : and if thou wilt the better speed , gang no further then thy creed : say well , and doe none ill , and keepe thy selfe in safety still . to beggers of bookes . my friend , you presse me very hard , my bookes of me you craue ; i haue none , but in pauls church-yard , for mony you may haue . but why should i my coyne bestow such toyes as these to buy ? 〈◊〉 am not such a foole i trow : forsooth no more am i. in paulum athaium . proud paulus , led by sadduces infection , doth not beleeue the bodies resurrection , but holds them all in scorne and deepe derision , that talke of saints or angels apparision : and saith , they are but fables all , and fansies of lunaticks , or folkes possest with frensies . ● haue , saith he , trauell'd both neere and farre , by land , by sea , in time of peace and warre , ●et neuer met i spirit , or ghost , or elfe , drought ( as is the phrase ) worse then my selfe ▪ ●ell , paulus , this i now beleeue indeed , that who in all , or part , denyes his creed ; went he to sea , land , hell , i would agree , a fiend worse then himselfe , he could not see . of double fraud . a fellow false , and to all fraud inured , in high starchamber court was found periured , and by iust sentence iudg'd to lose his eares : a doome right fit for him that falsly sweares . now on the pillory while he was preaching , the gaolor busie for his eares was searching : but all in vaine , for there was not an eare , onely the places hid with locks of haire . thou knaue , said he , i will of thee complaine vnto the lords , for cousonage againe . why so , said hee ? their order me doth binde to lose mine eares , not you mine eares to finde . of taking a hare . vnto a lawyer rich , a client poore came early in the morning to his doore , and dancing long attendance in the place , at last , he gat some counsell in his case ; for which the lawyer look't to haue beene paid : but thus at last the poore man to him said , i cannot giue a fee , my state 's so bare : but will it please you , sir , to take a hare ? he that tooke all that came , with all his hart , said that he would , and take it in good part . then must you runne apace ( good sir ) quoth he : for she this morning quite out-stripped me . he went his way , the hare was neuer taken . was not the lawyer taken , or mistaken ? the author to his wife . your maid brunetta you with newes acquaints , how leda , ( whom , her husband wanting issue , brought erst to bath , our pilgrimage of saints ) weares her gowne veluet , kirtle , cloth of tissue , a figur'd sattin petticote carnation , with sixe gold parchment laces all in fashion , yet neuer was dame leda nobler borne , nor dranke in gossips cup by sou'raigne sent , nor euer was her highnes woman sworne , nor doth her husband much exceed in rent . then mall , be proud , that thou maist better weare them . and i more proud , thou better dost forbeare them . of too high commendation in a meane person . a scholler once , to win his mistresse loue , compar'd her to three goddesses aboue , and said she had ( to giue her due desarts ) iuno's , minerua's , and faire venus parts . iuno so proud , and curst was of her tongue , all men misliked her both old and yong . pallas so soule , and grim was out of measure , that neither gods nor men in her tooke pleasure . venus vnchaste , that she strong mars entices , with yong adonis , and with old anchises . how thinke you , are these praises few or meane , compared to a shrow , a slut , or queane ? of trusting a captaine . an alderman , one of the better sort , and worthie member of our worthiest citie ; vnto whose table diuers did resort , himselfe of stomake good , of answeres witty , was once requested by a table friend , to lend an vnknowne captaine forty pound . the which , because he might the rather lend , he said he should become in statute bound . and this ( quoth he ) you need not doubt to take , for he 's a man of late growne in good credit , and went about the world with captaine drake . out ( quoth the alderman ) that ere you sed it , for forty pounds ? no nor for forty pence . his single bond i count not worth a chip : i say to you ( take not hereat offence , ) he that hath three whole yeeres been in a ship , in famine , plagues , in stench , and storme , so rife , cares not to lye in ludgate all his life . in cornutum . what curld-pate youth is he that sitteth there so neere thy wife , and whispers in her eare , and takes her hand in his , and soft doth wring her , sliding his ring still vp and downe her finger ? sir , t is a proctor , seene in both the lawes , retain'd by her , in some important cause ; prompt and discreet both in his speech and action , and doth her busines with great satisfaction . and thinkest thou so ? a horne-plague on thy head : art thou so like a foole , and wittoll led , to thinke he doth the businesse of thy wife ? he doth thy businesse , i dare lay my life . a tragicall epigram . when doome of peeres & iudges fore-appointed , by racking lawes beyond all reach of reason , had vnto death condemn'd a queene anointed , and found , ( oh strange ! ) without allegeance , treason ; the axe that should haue done that execution , shunn'd to cut off a head that had beene crowned , our hangman lost his wonted resolution , to quell a queene of noblenesse so renowned . ah , is remorse in hangmen and in steele , when peeres and iudges no remorse can feele ? grant lord , that in this noble i le , a queene without a head , may neuer more be seene . of reading scriptures . the sacred scriptures treasure great affoords , to all of seuerall tongues , of sundry realmes . for low and simple spirits shallow foords , for high and learned doctors deeper streames , in euery part so exquisitely made , an elephant may swimme , a lambe may wade . not that all should with barbarous audacity , read what they list , and how they list expound , but each one suting to his weake capacity : for many great scriptureans may be found , that cite saint paul at euery bench and boord , and haue gods word , but haue not god the word . the author to his wife : a rule for praying . my deare , that in your closet for deuotion , to kindle in your brest some godly motion , you contemplate , and oft your eyes doe fixe on some saints picture , or the crucifixe ; t is not amisse , be it of stone or mettle , it serueth in thy mind good thoughts to settle ; such images may serue thee as a booke , whereon thou maist with godly reuerence looke , and thereby thy remembrance to acquaint , with life or death , or vertue of the saint . yet doe i not allow thou kneele before it , nor would i in no wise you should adore it . for as such things well vs'd , are cleane and holy , so superstition soone may make it folly . all images are scorn'd and quite dis-honoured , if the prototype be not solely honoured . i keepe thy picture in a golden shrine , and i esteeme it well , because 't is thine ; but let me vse thy picture ne're so kindly , 't were little worth , if i vs'd thee vnkindly . sith then , my deare , our heauenly lord aboue vouchsafeth vnto ours to like his loue : so let vs vse his picture , that therein , against himselfe we doe commit no sinne ; nor let vs scorne such pictures , nor deride them , like fooles , whose zeale mistaught , cānot abide them . but pray , our hearts , by faith's eyes be made able to see , what mortall eyes see on a table . a man would thinke , one did deserue a mocke , should say , oh heauenly father , to a stocke ; such a one were a stocke , i straight should gather , that would confesse a stocke to be her father . poenitentia poenitenda : of a penitent fryer . bound by his church , and trentin catechisme , to vow a single life , a cloystered frier , had got a swelling , call'd a priapisme , which seld is swag'd , but with a femall fire . the leach ( as oftentimes physicians vse ) to cure the corps , not caring for the soule , prescribes a cordiall med'cine from the stewes , which lewd prescript , the patient did condole : yet strong in faith , and being loth to dye , and knowing that extremes yeeld dispensation , he is resolu'd , and doth the med'cine trie : which being done , he made such lamentation , that diuers thought he was fall'n in despaire , and therefore for his confirmation praid . but when that they had ended quite their prayer ; after long silence , thus to them he said : i waile not , that i thinke my fact so vicious ; nor am i in despaire : no , neuer doubt it ; but feeling female flesh is so delicious , i waile , to thinke i liu'd so long without it . of a picture with a ferriman rowing in a tempest , with two ladies in his boate , whereof he loued one , but she disdained him , and the other loued him , but he not her : now a voice came to his eare , that to saue his boate from beeing cast away , hee must drowne one of the ladies : in which perplexitie hee speaketh these passions . in troublous seas of loue , my tender bote , by fates decree , is still tost vp and downe , ready to sinke , and may no longer flote , except of these two damsels one i drowne . i would saue both : but ah , that may not be : i loue the tone , the tother loueth me . heere the vast waues are ready me to swallow . there danger is to strike vpon the shelfe . doubtfull i swim betweene the deepe and shallow , to saue th'vngrate , and be vngrate my selfe . thus seeme i by the eares to hold a wolfe , while faine i would eschue this gaping gulfe . but since loues actions , guided are by passion , and quenching doth augment her burning fuell , adieu , thou nimph , deseruing most compassion , to merit mercy , i must shew me cruell . aske you me why ? oh question out of season ! loue neuer leisure hath to render reason . the old mans choice . let soueraigne reason , sitting at the sterne , and farre remouing all eye-blinding passion , censure the due desert with iudgement cleere , and say , the cruell merit no compassion . liue then , kind nimph , and ioy we two together : farewell th' vnkind , and all vnkind goe with her . in philautum . your verses please your reader oft , you vaunt it : if you your selfe doe reade them oft , i grant it . to an old batchelor . you praise all women : well , let you alone , who speakes so well of all , thinks well of none . of two that were married and vndone . a fond yong couple , making haste to marry , without their parents will , or friends consent , after one month their marriage did repent , and su'd vnto the bishops ordinary , that this their act so vndiscreetly done , might by his more discretion be vndone . vpon which motion he awhile did pause : at length , he for their comforts to them said , it had beene better ( friends ) that you had staid : but now you are so hampered in the lawes , that i this knot may not vntye ( my sonne ) yet i will grant you both shall be vndone . in commendation of a straw , written at the request of a great lady , that ware a straw hat at the court. i vowd to write of none but matters serious , and lawfull vowes to breake , a great offence ; but yet , faire ladies hests are so imperious , that with all vowes , all lawes they can dispence : then yeelding to that all-commanding law , my muse must tell some honour of a straw . not of iack straw , with his rebellious crew , that set king , realme , and lawes at hab or nab , whom londons worthy maior so brauely slew , with dudgeon daggers honorable stab , that his successors for that seruice loyall , haue yet reward with blow of weapon royall . nor will i praise that fruitlesse straw or stubble , which built vpon most precious stones foundation : when fiery tryalls come , the builders trouble , though some great builders build of such a fashion , to learned androes , that much better can , i leaue that stubble , fire , and straw to scan . now lift i with philosophers to range , in searching out , ( though i admire the reason ) how simpathising properties most strange , keepe contraries in straw , so long a season . yee , snow , fruits , fish , moist things , & dry & warme , are long preseru'd in straw , with little harme . but let all poets my remembrance wipe , from out their bookes of fame , for euer during , if i forget to praise our oaten pipe , such musicke , to the muses all procuring : that some learn'd eares preferr'd it haue before both orpharyon , violl , lute , bandore . now if we lift more curiously examine , to search in straw some profitable points , bread hath beene made of straw in time of famine , in cutting off the tender knotted ioynts : but yet remaines one praise of straw to tell , which all the other praise doth farre excell . that straw , which men , & beasts , & fowles haue scorned , hath beene by curious art , and hand industrious so wrought , that it hath shadowed , yea adorned a head and face of beauty and birth illustrious . now praise i ? no , i enuy now thy blisse , ambitious straw , that so high placed is . what architect this worke so strangely matcht ? an yuory house , dores , rubies , windowes touch a gilded roofe , with straw all ouerthatcht . where shall pearle bide , when place of straw is such ? now could i wish , alas , i wish too much , i might be straw-drawne to that liuely tuch. but herein we may learne a good example , that vertuous industry their worth can raise , whom slanderous tongs tread vnder foot & trample . this told my muse ; and straight she went her waies : which ( lady ) if you seriously allow , it is no toy , nor haue i broke my vow . in romam . hate , and debate , rome through the world hath yet roma amor is , if backward read . then is 't not strange rome hate should foster ? no : spread , for out of backward loue , all hate doth grow . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e dia poemata, poetick feet standing upon holy ground, or, verses on certain texts of scripture with epigrams, &c. / by e.e. elys, edmund, ca. -ca. . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing e a estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) dia poemata, poetick feet standing upon holy ground, or, verses on certain texts of scripture with epigrams, &c. / by e.e. elys, edmund, ca. -ca. . [ ], p. s.n.], [london : . "epigrams, &c." has half t.p. attributed to edmund elys. cf. bm. place of publication from wing. reproduction of original in harvard university libraries. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - elspeth healey sampled and proofread - elspeth healey text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion dia poemata : poetick feet standing upon holy ground : or , verses on certain texts of scripture . with epigrams , &c. by e. e. non fuit hoc artis , sed pietatis opus . printed in the year , . to the truly noble sir william courtney , baronet , and his most vertuous lady . honours gemini , ' t would be an injury to your unfaigned worth , to be praised by a poet : i shall therefore wave the common method of dedicatory epistles , and passe by your commendation , which ( proving a pardon ) comes most decently from your selves , whose illustrious merit ( like the sun ) can't be shewn , but by its own light . whatever actions are purely yours , essentially imply their own encomiums . to both of you my muse humbly dedicates her i wotopt parnassus . the lustre of your known vertues , by its powerful influence upon my thought , attracts these vapours of my brain , as so many . exhalations : excuse then my boldness in presenting you this small offering : i do not bring it ; your desert draws it . if my verses feet any where seem to stumble , may the reader conceit , it falls prostrate to you , to whom ( as the chief commanders of my best respects ) i am wholly devoted . to my friend , mr. e. e. on his divine poems . rare must the chymick art of thy muse be , to distill humour into poesie . the clear streams of thy hypocrene o're-flow those wholsome plants that in blest eden grow . thy zealous muse does lustful heats defie , warm'd by the sun beams of divinity . to speak thy praise at large , ilesilent be , for praise in thought befi●s thy modestie . w. williams , esq . on the sacred poems of my ingenious friend , mr. e. e. let those who earthly subjects dote upon , go scoure their dirty brains in helicon . our poet's head 's his fountain , wit the streams , pour'd through the conduits of his holy theams , so , gliding through the channel of each line , cleanseth the ground which was before divine . 't is in this holy place the nine do meet , and wash the ground that it may wash their feet . fancy and phrase contend , each sublimate : wit , and divinity concorporate . i le say no more ; 't is labour spent amiss , to praise the book , when i have said 't is his . r. s. esq . in amici mei e. e. dia poemata . frontem apage phaniccam . ne crubescas ingens libelle stylo digne adamantino . ne famininam induas verecundiam cui ingenium masculum . nec inter centones lateas monasticos . et ●ine typis apoc yphos in lucem prodeas lure canon●●o : dentes ne vereare sa●y●icos tam sacra pagin● haud ●●n● schism●t● nec blasphem 〈…〉 erit criticus . non leves sotadis schedu'ae ( quibus nil , p ae 〈…〉 er licc●ttam , poeticum ) in tuos ( l●ctor ) involant amp ●xus . nec 〈◊〉 sluctuantis cereb●i 〈◊〉 amplexu● us es , emergentes v●n 〈…〉 , sed piae m●tr●● diam s 〈…〉 b●●em . bacchans ac●to in pectore caren 〈…〉 r●psodus evomi● poematia . hic musarum opsonator apis instar mi●e aletymi 〈…〉 , e bibli●rum fol●is collegit mells poctic● , nec , ' laurta nempe cinct as fuit astro percit 〈…〉 . suo haud navigat anticyras helicone . minervae fi ioli , latinum hunc ●i●emi●i prometh●um , ( cuj●s ferulae quaelibe subd : catur manus ) qui divino raptu cae i●us detulit ingenit ign 〈…〉 los , 〈◊〉 ita u● ipse 〈…〉 e vi 〈…〉 ur ph●●us , n 〈…〉 st●is● l●cet vatis p 〈…〉 usqu●m d●l●hici audi●s , silescu 〈…〉 ap 〈…〉 o 〈◊〉 . invictissime juvenis , palmas tibi pro●ert terra s 〈…〉 a , quatum dactyl●● saltent poetici pedes , in quibus tantae probantur vires ut jam 〈◊〉 — expede herculem . pa●nasso vix credam somniasse sed libano , te cedro digus l● 〈◊〉 . quid testat ? plas●● de●●t licet poeticum , habes tamen , lector , pegasi alarum in cherubicas , inque coe●●cas modulatrices harmonicon ●●leste nu●c edentes pegasidum metamorphosi● . t. p. to his honest cousin , e. e. on his dia poemata ; or , his setting feet on holy ground . good iourney ( ned ) at this first step thou' rt gone beyond the longest line my muse e're spun . but were i loose from natures's tic , i then would roave out in thy praise like other men . ran but our blood thin , as my ink does now , how clear , how quick encomiums should flow ? yet since thy divine muse has testify'd , we 're onely cozens on the fathers side : i le dare to praise thy muse , although not thee , and hum the base to thy sweet poetrie , laud modestly thy wit , though not thy brains , though we 're ally'd in blood , yet not in veins . 't is true ( our modern counsels voted it ) good verse is scandall , nothing's sin but wit : yet could thy teeming muse long since despise . the humble epithets of good and wise ; let moulded fancies , & worm eaten brains , whose crawling genii breed nought else but pains , beg the salt froth of an adultera●e phrase to season them , and pickle up their praise . let addle wits , muses with stinking breath , yawn after perfumes , and kiss sweet in death . let chap-falne hags , gnawing o're some tough ditty , like homer's spittle , spue , and so seem witty . whom phoebus sun-burns , when he should inspire , cold crackling cinders of poetick fire ; faint dwindling lights , snuffs of old virgin-tapers , useless to th' muses but for blotting-papers : dry saplesse poets , whose wan poems are just as their subjects , onely painted faire . let such crampt phant'sies hop on crutches , 'las they 'l ' scape no criticks nose without a passe . take off the pattens of your approbation , their feet are all bemir'd , and out of fashion . 't is thy diviner muse w●th heav'n spun layes , commands a reverence , and begs not praise . one whose high birth boasts nobler parentage , than the poor grov'lling songsters of our age. whose squeaking ela's never dare outstretch wretch : the short breath'd quave●s of some green-sick who scra● a sniv'lling reed up , till it speaks o're those black cro●chets , on their mistresse cheeks . thy sanctifi'd min●iva , that sweet s●ee , jove's brain sublim'd to holy poetry , puts on her sunday's dresse , and humbly comes without black patches of encomiums . prophaner beauties stand her foils , the arts are but mute heraulds of her nobler parts . no wanton current of lascivious blood good . plaies through her veins , but sober , chast , and whose azure colour speaks thus much ( though all should contradict , they 'r pure celestial . ) thy stedfast feet not damn'd to giddy wheelings , lost in meanders of their own wilde reelings , have got sure footing on the holy land , where they two pillars of gods glory stand . thy zealo●s muse too keeps the precept sound . puts off her shoos because 't is holy ground . her helicon's no gold , nor silver stream , but milk and honey flowing from thy theam : how'l cleavelands maccabees brook this abuse ? an holy grace prophan'd into a muse ? to see apollo thus evangelize ? and in bethesda helicon baptise ? now thy angelick muse has mov'd the waters , thou 'st shown the way to our poor leprous creatures ; our cripled girls may tumble in , and so return all sound , if not to run , to goe . how'l our pot-poets belch up wit who can pisse wine out water , and so play the man ▪ to see new miracles ? that power 's divine which turn'd thy helicon to sacred wine . well ned , march on , untill thy nimble feet out run thy name , and sound a sad retreat to those fool hasty , hot spur wits , who can think for an heav'n , ne're dream of canaan . farewell . 't is for such black aegyptian wits as we , safe taking leave on this side the red sea : in hippocrene , which once sprang earth , and found for thee a boat , our leaden wits lie drown'd . our slow encomiasticks buz behind , and spend their breath , all for a prosperous wind . but since thou' rt safe in canaan , thy praise is , thou 'st worn out a wilderness of bayes : and wrought this happy metamorphosis , the muses garden now is paradice . there grows thy tree of life , and there let grow that living laurell shall surround thy brow. onely , since thou hast won the mount , o stoop and lend a hand to help us infants up . then shall we praise thee right , then onely we shall on thy shoulders see as far as thee . clem. elis art. bac. c. r. t. to my friend , the author . amongst your other friends ( dear sir ) that bring unto your sacred muse their offering , accept a verse from him , who how to pay due praise in verse , did ne're till now essay . 't is you make me a poet , and i 'm bound , t' offer my first-fruits to your holy ground . for why ? who reads your book may dare thereon swear he hath washt his lips in helicon . an 't may be prov'd , the argument runs thus , where feet poetick are , there 's pegasus . r. inglet è col. exon. a. b. to his honour'd friend m. e. e. on his incomparable poems . now helicon runs holy-water , and parnassus is mount sion , on each hand ▪ muses with graces are enamell'd , see wit and devotion wedded ( friend ) by thee . thy blossoms are ripe fruits , which do invite our eyes both unto profit and delight . the mint's thy own : sure then there can't appear adulterate coyn , which doth thy image bear . profit hence momus , yet carp at this deed , your envious teeth bite that on which you feed . allegiance sayes these verses ( sir ) are due : our muses dutifully wait on you . your muse i'th'throne as queen of wit we see : let ours , attendants , maids of honour be . t. tomkins , a. b. è coll. bal. to mr. e. e. on his diapoemata . they 're heathen poets , whom phoebus does inspire , but thou' rt divine , and tun'st a sacred lyre . david's majestick musick , which can quell base envious spirits , and make our minds to swell with holy raptures . thy sweet poetry keeps even time to the soule 's harmony . jordan's thy helicon , thy muse goes on from mount parnassus unto lebanon ; thus double honour is most due to thee , as poet laureat in divinity . some do affect ( for rattles still please boyes ) quibbles , and puns that make a gingling noise : others do aim at wit , but misse the white , and rather laughter move , than cause delight . no such thing here : thou scornst this vanity , thy quick wit 's balla'st with solidity . no more : 't is praise enough , the book 's thine own , itself best speaks thy commendation . will : reade . art. bac. to mr. e. e. on his book , &c. your muse hath well inspir'd you , since that she hath made you , sir , clove-tong'd in poetrie ; for your poetick heat makes from your quill water of life , and helicon distill : your muse was sure some mer-maid , that could tie two things so different in one phantasie . your pia mater here her twin doth bring to th' reader as her first-fruit-offering : hee 'l like it ; in your cloven quil hee 'll see parnassus , shown in an epit●●● . g. h. to the author . thine alpha-bet d●d non-plus momus rage , he 's quite struck dumb by this profounder page . thy fancy is divine indeed : by wit each leaf is seal'd and sign'd by holy writ . for helicon thou bath'st in sions spring ; and not of gods , but th' onely god dost sing . loose are some poems , though their feet be ty'd : thine's cannon-proof , and more severely try'd . my muse but homely threads of praise can spin , yet wither'd bushes shew there 's wine within . robert carrell . to the laurell ▪ worthy mr. e. e. on his excellent poems . ingenious friend , i doe presume to blow a trumpet here , before thy rarer show ; but be a gentleman usher who can chuse , to wait on such a beauteous lady muse ? since love which to the muses i doe beare and thee , makes me a prologue now appeare ; though wit as precious every scene doth hold , as shakespeare's lease , or johnson's massy gold , though thou with swelling canvas sail beyond hercules pillars , fletcher and beamont , and though thou art ( what ever fooles repute ) a poet in all numbers absolute ; yet will i not wrong thee so much ( my friend ) as to be speake the reader to commend , thy ware is not of that same baser sort that sells not , ' lesse a good word 's spoken for 't : let not thy sack , but foggy ale goe pray to customers to come and help't away ; 't is only for the poore in poetry basely to beg the readers charity ; let subtle have a captaine face who tells that he can work ( lord knowes what ) miracles ; thy muses beauty needeth not to catch after a spokesman , to make up the match : therefore ben●● apophthegme i 'le only say , in troth 't is good , and if you lik't you may. john tomkins . to the author . dear friend , i 've view'd thy book , wherein each page shews me thy fancy , antidates thy age. thy epigrams have such poetick heat , as makes their feet drop wit instead of sweat. so that the muses say they 'l have no son but thee , th' apparent heire to helicon : and if they chance t'adopt a ganimede , their drink shall be thy brains , their cup thy head. jo : ford. to his most deserving friend , mr. e. e. on his diapoemata . i 'm bash'd to read thy verse , as i begin to scan thy worth , my muse comes trembling in : when i turn over this foul leaf , i 'de ne're look back again , but that thy name is here ; thou art no pedling . poet , what 's here writ . is at whole sale ; thy book 's a shop of wit ▪ th' poets nurshell , a volume in each page , w'admire thy youth in thy ripe muses age. i cease to praise thy book , what e're we see , in that of worth , i 'm sure there 's more in thee . thou art a poet , and divine , who 's thus doth ride to heav'n on winged pegasus . john parker . in dia poemata ; or , poetick feet standing upon holy ground . ad encomiastas authoris . you might have sav'd your labour , th' author sure doubts not to stand on his own legs secure . let those on churches go , whose muses all bring forth but cripples for an hospitall , whose fame by others must supported be ; their commendation 's but a charity . he 's self sufficient , and as the sun , whose scatter'd beams through every quarter run ; maintaines it self in its own lustre , by that font which doth within its bosom lie ) scorns all recruits from others , th'lesser stars are but this greater planets pensioners . what hel●●on , each pen distilleth , can adde little to this boundlesse ocean . here fix poetick ra●ble , whilst his grace the muses high-priest enters th' holy place . g. towerson , art. bac. è col. reg. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . all is vanity and vexation of spirit . and is the world like its black monarch made , that being graspt we find it nought but shade ▪ hell fiends need walk no more ; the world 's their own , converted to an apparition . 't is nothing else but empty shape ; and thus it seems to be our malus genius . 't is o' th' old serpents nature , being warme with love , its venome is impower'd to harme . its kisses still are treacherous : and so it often huggs , not to embrace , but throw . sith then , when t'r we 're happy here below , griefe but gives back , to fetch the harder blow : since nothing tipt with essence is th'world's all , and the earths globe , but fortunes tennis ball : fly up my minde ; thy pearches are heav'ns pole , earth's gotham hedge confines not winged soules . surely men of low degree are vanity , and men of high degree are a lie : to be laid in the balance they are altogether lighter then vanity , ps . . how light is man ! by ev'ry wind of fortune here , or there incl●n'd ! her blasts dispell his chiefest trust : and toss him to and fro , like dust . he 's oft puft up by th' peoples breath , and , bubble-like , so vanisheth : oft whirled on the wings of fame , and swallow'd up by a great name . inferiours scorn'd are : great men curst ; or swoll'n with pride untill they burst . praise , honor , riches , earthly glory , like man , are pilgrims , transitory : till th'night of ignorance decline , these glow worms seem to him to shine . so light 's his head ! that sov'raigne part , he'th nothing heavy , but his heart ; which drunk with pleasure , still doth reele , or else is broke on fortunes wheel . vain 's all his labour : vain his thought : himself 's but once remov'd from nought . void of all solidity , he 's lighter then vanity . all is vanity ; but he 's vanity of vanities . have pity upon me , have pity upon me , o ye my friends , for the hand of god hath touched me . job . . . on me , my friends , ô pity take ! my bowels quake ! the hand of god hath touched me most terriblie : within , without from top , to toe , i 'm closely girt about with woe . a wounded spirit i must bear , o'rewhelm'd with fear : gods terrours ( ah me ! ) have confin'd my troubled mind ( shrunk from the hope of all relief ) within the straits of restlesse griefe . my flesh is all beset with sores , it s very pores are block'd up by this siege of death . i can't vent breath , but 't is so loathsome , that you 'd think , 't were a dead bodie 's odious stink . my goods , my health , my friends , and all together fall : i 've onely life enough to cry when shall i die ? clothed with clods of dust , e're dead , my flesh in 't self is buried . mine eye is dim , can only see my miserie : my breath 's left but to frame my moans , and waft out groans . to pity now , my friends , incline ! your hearts if stony , will break mine . lavatus aethiops . and he commanded the chariot to stand still , and they went down both into the water , both philip , and the eunuch , and he baptized him . acts . . most happy eunuch ! that hath cur'd his sick soule in this bath . by baptism , he 's wash'd within ; wrapt about with 's old black skin . his soule , penitently sad , seems to be in mourning clad . this water him t'heavens port bears , mixt with paenitentiall tears : aqua vitae't proves to him dead in t●espasses , and sin. his soule 's a diamond that 's set in a cabinet of jeat : in dark-lanthorns thus ther 's light , thus a star shines in dark night . in 's jesus is his delight ; he shall walk with him in white such candid aethiopes are seldome seen ; fa●r people oft arc aethiopes within . on christmas day . vnto you is born , in the city of david , a saviour , which is christ the lord. luke . . this day the lord of heaven and earth subjects himself to humane birth : by this transcendent mysterie , god , and man are at vnity . strange ! he , that is , was , is to come , thus wrapt up in a mortall wombe ! would th' sun of righteousnesse thus shroud his glorious lustre in a cloud of humble flesh , and bloud ? and can mans maker be the son of man ? hyperbole of wonder , how ! times ancestor come forth but now ! nay , stranger yet : we may dare say eternity was born this day . blest angel ! who these tidings bring , ambassadour from th' king of kings . th' articulate aire , that wafts this news , to th' soul does th' breath of life infuse , this heav'nly sound the shepheards ears judge the best musick of the sphears : as orpheus's courser art drew sense , this ravisheth intelligence : souls rapt up by this harmony , unto the throne of grace do fly . faith comes by hearing : he that hears this angels voice , annoints his ears with th' oyle of gladness : and by faith shall live , although he pass through death . o jesu ! who wast born jesus to me , grant that , this day , i be new-born to thee . i am distressed for thee , my brother jonathan , very pleasant hast thou been unto me : th● love to me was wonderfull , passing the love of women . sam. . . i 'm slave to grief ( not mine own man ) for thee , my brother jonathan . twixt us , who were in life all-one , death could cause no division : i can't forsake thee dead , but i , sith thou art dead , must dayly die . tearing thee off , my souls best part , fate could not choose but break my heart . those arrows , which thou shot'st did prove , the arrows of our mutual love . most pleasant hast thou been to me : no woman ever lov'd , like thee . w 'had more then marriage-union ; our souls had copulation . our heart-blood was so mixt , that we were'kin by consanguinity . thus't could not be thou shouldst be slain , and i not feel the utmost pain . thy fate strikes at me : in thy knell , methinks i hear my passing-bell . i scarce survive ! with sighs disturb'd my breath , seems to be seiz'd on by the pangs of death . how shall we sing the lords song in a strange land ? psal . . to light hearts only such light mirth belongs : our fortune weeping will allow no songs . these rivets yield us the fitt'st musick : we account their murmures our best harmony : in them the embleme of our fate appears : their murmures show our groans , their streams our tears . how shall we sing in a strange land ? our tongues benumm'd with sorrow , are unfit for sengs . he profanes sacred melody , that dares to sing in anguish , and mix sighs with ayres . our unregarded harps hung up you see , like trophees , to adorn griefs victory . our ears so glutted with continuall moans , can't relish th' sweetnesse of such plealant tones . then mirth farewell 〈◊〉 our mournfull gestures shall still solemnize our countryes funerall . whilst she , a captive , lives a wofull death , we wo'nt , by songs , let any joy draw breath : unlesse once more that queen of cities raigne , wee 'l ne're lift up our drooping heads againe . and they ston'd stephen , calling upon god , and saying , lord jesus receive my spirit . acts . . rapt with hot ●eale ( elias like ) blest stephen went , in a fiery char o● , up to heaven . by this faire gale of holy breath , he is arrived safely at the port of blisse . his last words summon heav'n : and by them he gives christ his spirit for a legacy . and thus he dy'd , so fill'd with th' heavenly dove , that his soule fled out on the wings of love. where are the nine ? luke . of the ten leapers , lord , the world claim 's nine : the tenth turnes back to thee ; for tithes are thine . take , eat , this is my body . mark . . oh lord , shall we thy glorious body eat ? can earth-worms relish such celestial meat ? o blessed lamb of god! shall we be fed on thee , whom our dire sins have butchered ? and have we slain thee thus to feed on thee ? and are we pious anthropophagi ? stretch faith ! Ô mystick table ! where each guest is b●d to eat o' th' master of the feast : nay , where the meat it self invites , and where our bodyes eat , but soules digest the fare . draw neer , my son ! to this strange truth , and fly out of thy self , by holy extasie , into the bosome of the light of men , who here will make thee to be born agen . i come ; but faintly , lord , as sick folk doe : thou find st us meat , ô find us stomacks too . open thou mine eyes . that i may behold wondrous things out of thy law. ps . . . lord , on my heart write thou thy law , that i may read it o're with my internall eye . let the light of thy countenance appear to make thy law 's mysterious wonders clear. the works o' darkness , in my earthly mind , have made mine eyes ( like moles , earth's prisners ) blind . thou that mak'st th'blind to see , help i thee pray , not putting to , but wiping off the clay . those fogs , which youthfull heat exhales , doe rise like misty clouds 'twixt heaven and mine eyes . shine on me sun of righteousnesse : the night is now far spent : o day spring , bring the light. to behold wondrous things my sight 's too dull , unlesse through him , whose name is wonderfull . i am weary with my groaning , all the night make i my bed to swim , i water my couch with my tears . psal . . my lungs are worn with groaning ; often moans infect my breath ; my very words turn groans . drawn through ( that pipe , so blown with sighs ) my throat , their sound is tainted with a dole full note . my panting heart breathes after some reliefe ; but still 't is heavy , through the weight of griese . it weeps , so stony , it s own misery , like ( sorrows emblem ) stupid niobe . this rock ●ields ( teary ) water , smote by th' rod of moses teacher , our , and moses god. in silent night , when clos'd eyes look for rest , i hear the out-cryes of a troubled breast : then clouds of melancholy ( by th'wind of fears blown to and fro ) drop into showrs of tears ; which stream so fast , as 't were to wash mine eye polluted by beholding vanity . i make my bed to swim with tears ) as tho 't were charons boat , tost on the floud of woe . my body thus , and soule ( at once ) want-light ; the one black fate orewhelmes , the other night . wretch that i am ! nothing quite vanquisheth these i wins of darknesse , but the day of death . i see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind , and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin , rom. . . ah ! shall my restlesse mind for ever be thus captive made by too much liberty ? when , lord , wilt thou me bind , with th'cords of thy soul-keeping love , that my affections may not rove , but justly be confin'd ? my thoughts so froathy are , as though they came out of the bosome of the cyprian dame : but yet i hate my folly ; and when i laugh , as heretofore , i doe but throw mirth out at doore , within i 'm melancholy . my lust submits not to my will 's command , can my soules houshold thus divided stand ? that these home-wars may cease , come to my soule , and speedily confirm't in christian unity . come quickly , prince of peace . remember now thy creator in the dayes of thy youth . eccle. . . thy youthfull heat should still aspire to the bright flame of zeals pure fire : that will ( no atheist dares controll ) prove vitall heat unto thy soule . those youthfull veins , that proudly swell , do boile , as 't were with th' fire of hell. he , whose first yeares are spent in evill , shewes that he is the child o' th devill . remember then , i' th' dayes of youth , to find the way , and learn the truth . wash thy new soule , and keep it clean with th' well of lifes continuall stream ; now fortifie thy selfe within ; maintain it ' gainst approaching sin : be pious , and live strictly 〈◊〉 so , shut up , thou wilt keep out thy foe . whilst that thy growth in grace , and years are even , degrees of age are but the steps to heaven . in obitum vitae . on the death of jesus . he gave up the ghost . luke . . gave up the ghost ? how so ! o where could he dislodge his soule , who had ubiquitie ? could god be mortall ? and could he that made the worlds great lights , becom himself a shade ? o mystick truth ! which can't on earth be shown : he knowes it best that thinks it can't be known . thus * darknesse set it forth ; by which the skie seem'd th' emblem of some losty mysterie : whilst that bold death durst to assault the † light the heavens wore mourning , and the day turn'd night . that we might live , so did our jesus die ; ' sthough he gave us his life by legacie : but he 's reviv'd , and now has made us be partakers of his immortalitie : so shall we find , when th' whole world vanisheth , our selves refreshed by the sleep of death . i have washed my feet , how shall i defile them ? cant. . . i 've washt my feet , ev'n in the bloud o'th'lamb of god ; how shall i them again defile ? i le fly sins guile , which drawes to those foule paths that lead down to the chambers of the dead . no more i le wallow in the mire of fond desire : i le ever shun vncleannesse : i th'worlds sp 〈…〉 defie : to shew them th'clean way ( as 〈◊〉 meet ) gods word 's a lamp unto my feet . oh let me walk ( through holy aw ) lord , in thy law , that * undefiled still i may be in the way : make me to goe ( led by thy word ) i' th' path * of thy commandments lord. then herod , when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men , was exceeding wroth , and sent forth , and slew all the children &c. mat. . . thrice happy babes ! wean'd from the world so soon , they suck the brests of consolation . they passe to canaan through a crimson flood , they die for christ , baptiz'd in their own blood . o wrathful herod ! were thy storms so stout , to blow the tapers of their lives quite out ? could nothing , but yong ( half milk ) blood asswage the boistrous wild-fire of thy dismal rage ? fond man ! ( whom wrath beside himself hath hurl'd ) wouldst kill the life , that 's come to save the world . most cruel fox ! that would have suckt the blood of ( sheep , and shepheard too ) the lamb of god. lament not , rachel , moans bring no relief : these brinish tears exasperate thy grief . grudge not thy children th' happiness to die ; they cou'd doe nothing in this life , but crie . their bitter cup they but a potion found , which purg'd their souls of flesh , and made them sound . i'th'body , pierced by that rabble-rout , there 's made a breach to let the soul ' scape out . and so they went to their long home , this day , the soldiers shew'd them ( mist themselves ) the way . back-sliding : or , a spirituall relapse . a wounded spirit who can bear ? prov. . . my heart bleeds : wounded spirit ! oh ! 't was sin gave me this deadly blow . sin thus reviv'd i die : for neither can be content to live together : we fight like two fierce combatants , that meet to get a trophee , or a winding-sheet . but , must i die indeed ? and can the sinner thus destroy the man ? self-murtherer i am : o! i have slaine my selfe , yet would not die. ah! i am dead in trespasses and sin : the worme already feeds on me within . heale my back-slidings , lord : o draw me from the roaring lions paw , that tears my soul : o jesu , give me once more will , and pow'r to live. cure but the wounded spirit that i bear , i le fight th' good fight ; be more than conqueror . how can i do this great wickednesse and sin against god ? gen. . hold ! hold ! i will not do 't : shall i turn traitour to heav'ns majesty ? shall i do this ? sin ' gainst my god ? such folly will provoke his rod. dread , my soul , this impiety , startle into an extasie : so may'st thou seem thy self to flee , which is thy greatest enemy . o! shall i sin ' gainst god , whose arm protects me from eternall harm ? how ! sin ' gainst god , whose gracious eyes dispel my clouds of miseries ? without whose countenance's light , my mirth is anguish , day is night . i will not do 't : but , lord , do thou now make me able not to do. homo lapsus . she tooke of the fruit thereof , and did eat , and gave also to her husband with her , and he did eat . gen. . . the vniverse at once th' old serpent stung : a world of mischief in a womans tongue . she tempts her husband : and her noisome breath blasts him , and his posterity to death . and he did eat ( by th counsell of a wife ) not to sustain , but to destroy his life . but , ah ! he err'd not thus alone : he fell on us so hard . he prest us down to hell : where we had stay'd , but that th' jesus of men went down himselfe to fetch us up agen . his mouth was made our slaughter-house : and we , being in his loins , had there our destinie : his jawes crush his own happinesse ; and ours : we surfeit too at that which he devours . oh! we are sick to death ; can't eased be but by the fruit , born on a better tree , which is our living food : yea , ( strange ! yet true ) ' ●is both our physick , and physitian too . i said of laughter , it is mad , and of mirth , what doth it ! eccl. . . thrice curst be wanton pleasure , hell 's fine daughter , that tickles us into such fits of laughter ! what i' st on earth can make us be so jolly ? like fooles in grain , laugh we at our own folly ? solace , by laughter , breaks forth to excess , out-goes its selfe , and turnes to heaviness . laughter's but the last blaze of mirth : full-blown our joyes straight fade : from greatest come to none . he laugh no more for mirth : but , if thou see me laugh , vain world , be sure i laugh at thee . finis . epigrams , &c. by e. e. carpere vel noli nostra , vel ede tua . encomiast : to j. c. no verse , grand poet , can express thy prayses , they are numberless . thy worth 's so weighty , 't is not meet 't should stand upon poetick feet , which ( hence they mount to such a height ) like poets heads , are alwayes light. but , sith i am thus thrown upon thy muses commendation ; blots ( my pen's lssue ) i shall place , for some black patches , in her face . so may thy phoebus dart his rayes more bright out of my cloud of prayse . thy verse runs in a way so rare , that it must needs be singular : thy muse so chast thus seems alone to bath her selfe in helicon . that off-spring , which from her we see , was onely sure begot of thee : mixture of fancie she doth flye as if 't were wits adultery . thy lines have such a glittering strain , ' sthough tagus had washt o're thy brain . thy sense doth with huge myst'ries swell , as 'twere apollo's oracle . our judgement should dig deep to find the hidden treasure of thy mind . thy wit ( like tersian kings ) we see , keeps close in shew of majestie . thy fancy to such height is flown , no words can reach it but thine own : to shew how much a poet can do , thou mak'st new matter , and words too : thus in arts most curious schools , the best workmen make their own tools : thus some limners i could name , who make both picture , and its frame . each verse of thine with lustre streams , as though 't were one of phoebus beams . who e're dislikes thy book , his sight of judgement 's dazled at its light . on a dull poet , but good logitian . if his verse character'd may be , 't is laurel ' graft on p●r●h'ry●s tree : he dresses his poore poetry i' th' rags of old philosophy : as if indeed on feet poetick , hee 'd seem a true peripatetick . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . on a little gentleman of great parts . does nature act the limner's part , shaping lesse things with rarest art ? or ( like some ladies ) does she set her best gems ●'th ' lesse cabinet ? great volumes uselesse oft we see , he 's natures quaint epitome : or else he may deserve the name of her wittiest epigram . so small in stature and in age , yet learn'd he seems minerva's page : no wonder then if she him dresse in such abundant gaudinesse . short ( like him ) are my verses feet ; o were they also ( like him ) sweet . to a false-hearted poet. thou' rt double-tongu'd , and double-foot'd to boot ; thy false verse savours of a cloven foot . on a gentlewoman of a brown complexion , but handsome features . whilst lovely her black features prove , they seem like coals ' o th' fire of love. on a gentleman who died with lord in his mouth . when he had breath'd out lord ! his soul thought fit , as loath to leav 't , to leap forth after it . on the death of leander . the saying prov'd too true , by his distress , that fire and water , are both mercilesse . but , cold death did asswage his hot desire : the fatall water serv'd to quench his fire . to one that gets his living by writing satyres . thou feed'st on thine own brains , 't is said : with thy wits tooth thou eat'st thy bread. nec fonte labra prolui caballino . my mouldy brains i ne're wash'd clean in the fond streams of hippocrene : to which some wisely have recourse to be made poets : gra ' marcy horse . — vino pellite curas . horace , thou' rt out : bacchus , thy wits harsh master , but lops thy cares to make them grow the faster . be drunk at evening , and thou'●t find o' th morrow , that too much liquor pickles up thy sorrow . of vulgar criticks . their blindfold censures out of order range ; their words are wind indeed , as often change : sometimes they 're tempests too : but i defie them ; i 'le ne're be puft up , or be blasted by them . to the eye adulterer . lend eyes to cupid : view thy handsom lasses : drink streams of pleasure in those christall glasse . but yet consider that this splendid show can only light thee to the shades below . on a gentlewoman that would be married to none but a rich man. thus her example proves , that ovid told , that cupids arrow must be gilt with gold. lasciva est nobis pagina , vita proba . to the author . vvriting's a poets life ; then , sure , if thou do'st write lasciviously , thou liv'st so too . to the same . thou studiest mischief when thou writest it : thy bawdy verse is but adulterate wit. to an epigrammatist , that inveighs against women . the muses , man , are female ; may'st thou know it , a foe to their sex can't be a good poet. on the perfect conclusion of a fierce war. those thunder-bolts of mars , which lately fell , were but a v●ll●y to bid war farewell . to a vertuous gentlewoman , weeping for the death of her eldest brother , my bosom-friend . alas ! sweet lady ! must you sup so deeply of this bitter cup ? your brinish tears increase the smart o' th' wounds of my afflicted heart . your griefe 's infectious , i believe : i 'm griev'd afresh to see you grieve . double grief my thought endures , my sighs , like ecchos , answer yours . my plaints are most ; beside mine own , i 've yours too by reflection : i can't hear moans for him , but i must be ingag'd to sympathy . lament not you ; let me ingrosse the lamentation of this losse . you 've now a second-self , but i lost such a one when he did die : nay , more than such did's title merit , you are one flesh , we were one spirit . how sadly then may i complain ? grief ! break my heart , and crack my brain . to the same . your wet eyes are ( as i may say ) like sun-shine in a rainy day . on the tempestuous season of wind and rain , . for th' growth of our iniquitie , i fear , our fields will barren be : for sin that hath ●a'n root so deep , the heavens sure thus sigh , and weep . strong drink . drink 's strong indeed : with stygian water purl'd , like alexander , it o'recomes the world. charity . vvhere charity takes cold , the country's sick : that 's th' vitall heat o' th' body politick . — stupet hic vitio — — nescit quid perdat : & alto demersus summa rursus non bullit in ●●dâ . per. sa. . his soul 's so dark all o're , he cannot see the ugly face of his iniquitie . faln so in love with vice , he cannot rise : for , sampson like , he'th lost both strength & eyes . his dread - cool'd heart 's benumm'd : he 's void of sense his burning lust hath scar'd his conscience . an unquiet-bad conscience . the worm of conscience feedeth on our naturall corruption . whiles hell , and death lodge in our breast , our hearts may sleep , but cannot rest . temptation . the devil onely tempts : but ( wretched elves ) we oft turn devils , and so tempt our selves . pride . pride 's the soul 's blister , scall'd by th' fire of hel ; ill humours onely make the mind to swell . the world ne're saw one yet , did entertain pride , thought 's i●postume , but in a sick-brain . to a lascivi●m p 〈…〉 . for shame , for shame , leave off : for , as we 're told , cupid , and phoebus have been 〈◊〉 of old . on poetry . the muses sauce , my study's strong-meat : these shall be my play-mates , not my mistresses . of partiality . mens judgements often erre , that are too kinde : they see not what they say , for love is blinde . the world 's fine gentleman . he makes a dainty leg , and nod , thus he is every inch well-bred , ev'n cap-a-pe . to vnlearned criticks . vve don't estrange at your grammatick war , we know rough judgements must be prone to jar. to an hireling poet. wing'd riches hatch thy muses young ; and thus thou mak'st an hackney of thy pegasus . to his displeased pater in phoebo , mr. f. m. you 're not in earnest , sure : and thus 't is but furor poetic 〈…〉 . your anger 's faign'd , though 't seem so great , you 're incens'd by poetick heat . why man ! i spoke but like a poet : i said 't was bad ; i wo'nt stand to it . come , let 's be friends : and doe not move phoebus again to quarrell with love. how much i 'm griev'd , good sir , pray think : my muse for mourning wears this ink. on a newes-monger . far , and neer all th' newes he hears : asses alwayes have long ears . to an honourable lady rarely accomplisht with wit , and beauty . fair venus and minerva shew , that they 're at length made friends by you : yo 've given both content : both prize the apples of your glis'tring eyes , which t' each of them assigned are : for , still you looke both wise , and faire . your wing'd soule at each glance doth fly out of the casement of your eye ; whose splendid beams , like phoebus rayes , create new blossomes to my bayes . my muses weak eye , gazing on this daz'ling sight , drops helicon : but its streams are at best too base , to wash your ladyships sweet face ; which is set in such symmetrie , that , like the soule , 't seems harmony , which , sith it comes not to our eares , is like the musick of the spheares . your body is ( ail symptomes show it ) so fine that your clear soule shines through it : 't is quaintly order'd , as we find , by th' lady governnesse , your mind . both your parts thus , as 't were , all-one , are like a constellation . your very face ( my muse dares say ) is parallel to th' milkie way . your wit and beauty thus take equall place ; your self make up these twins ; a mvse and grace . on the fifth of november . thus rend the bowels of the earth ! 't is well ; dig deeper yet , and so dig down to hell : incarnate f●ends ! seek out the way , by th' light of your dark lanthorn , to eternall night . think you with royal limbs to fill the aire , because your master's lord and soveraign there ? wretches ! he cannot help you , but grim death shall , in the aire , you struggle out of breath . thus of advancement , which you hop'd to see , the fruit you 'l have , but from a gallow tree . so may all craft taught by th' old serpent faile , and serpent like , still bear a sting i' th' taile , to wound its owners : so may trayt'rous elves , find death ●'th ' pit , which they have digg'd themselves . kicking at us , the ugly beast at rome hath spurn'd his whelps , & given them the doom : pushing he'th broke his horns : thus oft t is known , the stone 〈…〉 burst ' gainst that at which t is thrown . now then that we are safe , and that our land hath cast the vipers , which stuck to her hand , into the fire : enslam'd with love let 's bring our zeal-fir●d hearts , as a burnt off r●ng , to great jehovah , whose foreseeing eye hath struck these bas'lisks with mortality . let quick-foot verse dance nimbly on the rope , of hanged traytors ; and let 's wish the pope swing'd in our bell-ropes , or consum'd 〈…〉 th' flame o● this night's bone-fire ; so shall his dire name be curst in his own fashion ; we handle no other curse but his , bell book and candle . and now let 's fill the skies with shouts , that even our joyes rebound ( from whence they came ) to heaven . to an handsome gentlewoman on this part of her anagram : each beauty shoots . each beauty that your features show , shoots at some mark with cupids bow. your beauties pierce through , and melt hearts , as though they were love's fiery darts . each beauty shoots ; your beauteous eyes shed rayes , like stars shot through the skies . to the same . your fore-head's semicircled so , the young god takes it for his bow. swearing and cursing . fond oaths , backt on with curses , are the fell oaths of allegiance to the prince of hell. such boyst'rous breath ' its owners soul will shake , and blow the fire of the infernall lake . melancholy . 't is pia mater in discolour'd weeds : a checker'd plat form of phantastick deeds : the brain-filme wrought into a dismall shroud : the sun o' th' little world in a thick cloud : swift thought turn'd fairy : wild wit gone astray : a fancy , that i' th' dark hath lost its way . to mr. f. m. your strong-wing'd fancy , mounting with such grace , is eagle-ey'd , looks phoebus in the face : he is the parent of your high born strain ; his best blood runs in your poetick veyn , to one marrying for love , not money . thou dost as all men ought to doe : heart-strings are best for cupid's bow. thanks to a vertuous gentlewoman , who gave him a dish of sweet meats . what modest favour 's this forsooth ? t' avoyd my thanks it stops my mouth . my tongue 's confin'd to ●ast o' th' meat : i 'm forc'd , as 't were , my words to eat . your eares thus ●scape my thanks , but i present them here unto your eye : they come at last clad all in black , as mourning that they come so slack . so high my gratefull thoughts doe swell , i like the dish so hugely well ; i fancy you 're a goddesse , and dare say , your sweet-meat is divine - ambrosia . to his honour'd friend , w. w. esq . sith that i can't at full set forth my great love , and thy greater worth ; my pen , its hard taske hath forsook : i le say 't by heart , and not by book . to mrs. m. s. in her child-bed dresse . in child-bed look so fine ! thus ( all confesse ) phoebus looks fairest in his morning dresse , come newly out of bed : my bold muse sayes , your sparkling glances doe out vie his rayes . my fancy , like the larke 〈◊〉 fowlers glasse , playes in the mirroir of your lovely face : with wonder caught , she 's at a non plus set ; and thinks her self with venvs in the net . to the same , newly married , on her anagram : so ! yov're matcht . so ! you're ( well matcht : & i dare say , love saw upon your marriage-day . fit marriage is a match , thus ) you may see the anagram is true , you 're fitly married sure ( say i ) fore-joyn'd by consanguinity : so you this paradox make good : two may become one flesh , and bloud . mars togatus : or , fighting in the schooles . foole ! what! dost strive with might , and main , for a broke pate to a crackt brain ? thy brains leake out already , man ; and wouldst for anger break the pan ? thy head swoll'n in this boyish fight , by rising , shewes that it is light. thy black eyes , by such marks , as these , wear mourning for thy wits decease . such apish braules who 'd not despise , whose fume had not put out his eyes . throughout the schooles such hissings are , ' sthough all the furies snakes were there . grave zabarells , and aristotles ( whose thirsts nere reach beyond beer-bottles ) come fiercely on ( who 'd not decline 〈◊〉 ? ) with argumentum bacillinum young preachers too stare , stamp , and hum , as if they 'd kill both all , and some : who ●●e but saw their fifty pushing , wou'd swear they learnt to beat the cushion . mad poets too come vap'ring here , ' sthough helicon were bottle beer . each all his faculties combines t 〈…〉 shew his arme as strong 's his lines . had but ●i●stes seen these men , he 'd startled into● wit agen : here seeing's emblem , wretched else , act●on-like hee d fled h mselfe . goe , sirs , you are fooles rampant : and ( to which ev'n mad men set their hand ) the worme , that gnawes your pates was bred by some snake on medusa's head. hac ignis : sive lues venerea . beware , fond lads , of a shrewd turne : loves flames at last will surely burn another . damn'd venus ! whose embrace is pimp to slaughter ; thou burn'st mens bodies here , their soules hereafter . lust . when satan shoots such fiery darts , to fl● is th' onely way to get the victory . lust , like a baited engine , ne're annoyes , if passed by ; but being touch'd , destroyes . to the reader . i fear no carping : reader spare not : what e're thy judgment be , i care not . young muses ( like young men ) i hold , for want of wit shou'd be more bold . to mr. e. f. the only son of sir e. f. knight . so much of vertues light appeares in ( ages dawn ) your tender years : we hope you 'l ever shew your self to be true heir of your illustrious familie . plaine verse . my verse is plain : i 'd have it so : why not ? my pegasus shall amble still , not trot. to mrs a. s. on the death of her two first children . your fair cheeks with tears sprinkled shew like roses pearled o're with dew . but be not so discomforted : your babes departed are not dead . to keep them from all casuall harmes , their saviour takes them in his armes . these olive-branches , by his care , in paradise transplanted are . so they become , by their decease , a garland to the prince of peace . allusion . t is janus wit : th' two splits of a learn'd quill th' best emblem of two-topt parnassus hill. to that pretty piece of perfection mrs l. c. natures fine thing ! best show that e're came on the world 's the-tre ! my young muse takes you out to hay , and vowes she 'll ha' you queene of may. but oh , she cannot deck you more then nature't selfe has done before : whatever of you she can say is but to give light to the day . had sweet ad●nis but you seen , how hee 'd have scorn'd the cyprian queen ! i 'd almost thought the fiction true , that gods beget , when i saw you . your eyes , your cheeks , are all so fine , i 'd think 'um , but they 're flesh divine . yet this is but your beauty's spring , what plenty will the harvest bring when you are ripe , in years ? sure then love will begin to love agen . for you blind cupid need not shoot : your glances , darts o' th' eyes , will do 't . a garland hymen need not seek : he may have 't in your rosy cheeke : when e're he shall joyn male to you , may no division make you two : in vertue , and true amitie shine , as bright's the gemini . so may you be , before all other , in goodnesse great ; even like your mother . to mrs. k. g. having been lately sick of the small pox. t were blasphemy ' gainst th' god of love to say , ought can deform you , till you 're turn'd to clay . spots by your eyes are brighten'd : each pock hole shews ( at a distance ) but like venus mole : th'rose spreading o're your cheeks my fancy spies ; the lovely l●lly in your sicknesse dies . your well-fare will revive't : your eys once ope , their radiant beams turn't to an heli●trope . you onely look , come newly out of bed , like faire aurora , at her rising , red. alwayes to shine no beauties are allo v'd : the sun it self sometimes endures a cloud . i 've spent my present stock of poets wealth , in aganippe thus to drink your health . a love sick gentleman to a fair lady scorning him . g. alas ! love's darts wound me to death ! not t' hear me speak's to stop my breath ! l. i 'd give thee leave to shew thy art , but thy sharp wit would pierce my heart . g. no subtle wit leads on my love : i 'm innocent as venus dove . l. why ! hath fond grief now made thee stupid , are thy thoughts blind , to be like cupid ? g. yes ; my sharp wit so blunt is grown , by working on your heart of stone . l. out of this stone ( cease thy desire ) thy love strikes not one sparke of fire . g. have mercy goddess ! hold ! o hold ! without your fire my heart growes cold. l. fie , fie ! art not asham'd to faint ? g. i fall but to adore my saint . l. farewell : i can't perswaded be : bid thy vain love depart with me . g. ah! life , * and soul she is to me : her absence is my extasie . why should i keep my fruitless breath ? my panting heart beats me to death . love's warriours die , or overcome : sith she is deaf , i will be dumb. to a phantastick vagabond , professor of satyricall ●●t ●'octrie . vvild colt of pe●asvs ! what would st thou doe ? are th muses priests itinerary too ? thou art no poet , man , thy false high strain is but the bubbling of a froathy brain . no masculine strength lies in a drunken line : a tavern flash is but a spark o th ▪ wine . a mounting vapor , a phantastick fit. the off scouring , the excrement of wit. thy best jests are but old : for all thy brags , thou rt but a swaggerer in scarlet rags . thy magpie muse delights to scold , not sing : thy crawling fancy has a vermines sting . thy aged whimsies , like old wizards , lowre ; and thy stale wit ( even like stale beer ) growes sowre : judicious men disgust it ; they disdaine th' vnsav'ry outlets of thy addle brain : our haughty muse scornes such poor prey : the carr●on stinks : she flurts away . fame . vvho would not shun the peoples breath ? we find 't is but a wind ; which still has puff'd up th owner , or else blown the dangerous fires of emu●ation . to his book . come on , my book , no page of thine shall beat mens brains with a strong line : thou' rt plain ( no phrase - crags in thee plac'd ) apollo's temples pav'd , not caus'd . 't is true ; thou art no gallant , fine , clad with silk w●rds , and full of wine : but yet , i doubt not , some confesse , thou' rt comely , though in a plain dresse . our eagle-muse her young ones tries by none , but true phoebaan eyes . but if some minor critick carps , with satyr wit would fight at sharps ; his heavy censures i le despise : prest by lead ▪ wits my palm shall rise . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e ' l●urea 〈◊〉 〈…〉 . caussia 〈◊〉 sot notes for div a -e * mat. . . † joh. . . * ps . . . * ps . . . notes for div a -e * z●d , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . epigrams of all sorts written by richard flecknoe. flecknoe, richard, d. ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) epigrams of all sorts written by richard flecknoe. flecknoe, richard, d. ? [ ], p. printed for the author, london : . reproduction of original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams, english. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - john latta sampled and proofread - john latta text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion epigrams of all sorts . i. book . written by richard flecknoe . london , printed for the author . . to his noble friends , the readers . epigrams ; in verse are the same , as characters in prose ; a short and easy kind of writing ; and therefore most fit for me , who love not long discourses , and cannot take pains in any thing ; and if the reader be of my disposition , i 'm glad of it ; for we shall well agree . i writ them to avoid idleness and publish them to avoid the impute of it ; and as others write to live , after they are dead : i do it , not to be thought dead , whilst i am alive ; for as to conceal what one does , little differs from idleness ; so so to be idle , little differs from being dead . they are most of them newly writ , or newly publish'd ; and if any of them have been published before , there is somewhat added to them that makes them in manner new . to dedicate them in particular to any one , were to do injury to the rest ; by appropriateing that , which shou'd be in common amongst you all . take them amongst you then , since they were chiefly writ for you ; and if you like them , they are the first book ; if not , the last , of your humble servant , richard flecknoe . epigramme in praise of epigrams . with epigrams , just as with musick 't is , their chiefest grace is in their cadences , and point o' th' close ; just like some gentle dart do's strike our ears , as love do's strike our heart . in every kind , be th'writing what it will , 't is epigram do's most delight us still . and in it's wit consists the harmony , and beauty of 't , what e're the subject be . poets can't write , nor orators declame , but all their wit is chiefly epigramme : nor any well discourse , but 't is that which do's chiefly charm , and chiefly do's bewitch to end , in verse and prose and every thing , your epigramme is writing for a king. epigrams of all sorts . to a fair lady , too confident of her innocence . poor innocent beauty how it pitties me ! to see thee thus expos'd to calumnie . whilst men so vitious are , they won't allow that any can be fair and vertuous now . in saturn's reign perhaps it might suffice , when to be innocent was to be wise , but now without the serpent's wisdom too , the innocence of the dove will hardly do . trust then no more to harmless innocence , for you and vertue , but a poor defence , for innocence , but vertue is unarm'd , the more you trust unto 't , the more you 'r harm'd . to his honourable friend h. h. i grant you , sir , i have a mind unfit for my low fortune , and too high for it , but sure you 'l grant t is better , have it so than for high fortune , t' have a mind too low . i 'm none of these same cringing things that stoops just like a tumbler when he vaults through hoops , or daw , or magpie , when at fruit it pecks , alternately their tayls above their becks . if wealth i th vulgar way doth only lye for me , let low minds stoop for 't min's too high who ne'r thought any thing was truly wealth , that was below , or else without my self . nor care i what the talking vulgar say for being not of their number , nor their way , they do but talk , and can't in judgment sit , nor lyes it in their verge to judge of it . i put my self upon the only few that is the best and worthiest , such as you . who is the richest and happiest man. who cares for nothing that he cannot have and nothing others can deprive him of , with no disquiet of a guilty breast to break his sleep , or to disturb his rest ; in state and fortune neither rich nor poor , but ha's enough and does desire no more , and lives a life no prince's smile nor frown can either raise him up , nor throw him down , and neither hopes to rise , or fears to fall is richest and the happiest man of all . on an avaritious person . who wholly spends his life in getting wealth , and to increase his store , consumes himself , does no less fool , than those to me appear , who sell their horse , to buy him provender . on certain ladies , who said , they lik'd not our old wits . ladies you like not our old wits , you say , and what new ones are those , you like , i pray ? as squibs and crackers are to solid fire , so to the old , as th' new ones you admire . but t is the nature of green-sickness wits , as t is of your green-sickness appetits , that in the soul 's , this in the body's food , to like the bad , and to mislike the good. and just as heresie at first begun , with crying down the old religion , so t is a kind of heresie in you , to cry down old wits , and cry up the new . if so with your good leave , say what you will of your new wits , i 'm for the old ones still . on the death of charles lord gerard of bromley . who alive so far had been , he almost every land had seen , and almost every thing did know , as man cou'd in this world below . at last his knowledge to improve , is gone unto the world above . where his knowledge is so much ; and his happiness is such , twou'd envy and not sorrow seem , in those too much shou'd grieve for him . on pen careless . slighted by all , pen said ; she did not care for others more , than others did for her , if so she 's happy , for i do not see any one lives more free from care , than she . on married ministers . if both it 'h spiritual and temporal warr , your wives but baggages o th' armies are , we well may say , your ministers who marry , whilst others fight , do with the baggage tarry . the author of a good play not acted , to the author of an ill one acted . their wit and judgment 's small , we well may say , by the acting or not acting , judge the play , for t is not the act 〈…〉 ightly understood but writing makes the play or bad or good ; if good , like mine , it is the actors fault , and not the writers , if they act it not , but if 't be bad , like thine , then if they do , 't is both the actors and the writers too . to mis : davies , on her excellent dancing . dear mis : delight of all the nobler sort ; pride of the stage and darling of the court , who wou'd not think to see thee dance so light , thou wer 't all air ? or else all soul and spirit ? or who 'd not say to see thee only tread , thy feet were feathers ! others feet but lead ? athlanta well cou'd run , and hermes flee , but none er'e mov'd more gracefully , than thee ; and circes charm'd with wand and magick lore , but none , like thee , er'e charm'd with feet before . thou miracle ! whom all men must admire to see thee move like air , and mount like fire . who er'e wou'd follow thee or come but nigh to thy perfection , must not dance but fly . aenigma . on the name of a fair lady . her first name somwhat of elizium has , her second is ( in a more mistick phrase ) that colour which shews venerable age , and does it 'h morning a fair day presage ; unriddle now and tell whose name this is , or forfeit a discretion , if you miss . on mrs. a. c. blushing when the king look'd on her . so roses blush when lookt on by the sun , as cicilanna when the king looks on , and so of all fair things , we nothing see more fair in nature , than the rose and she . if things take name from their original , we well her blushes royal ones may call ; and if tha've lost the royal purples stain , it in her cheeks may well be found again , mean time as excellent matter best does fit an excellent artisan to work on it , the king cou'd ne're have found a fitter place to look upon , than cicilanna's face . the dedication of his book of characters to his majesty . vouchsafe great sire on these to cast your sight , made chiefly for your majesty's delight , by one ha's cast off all ambition but pleasing and delighting you alone . counting it , highest honour can befall to delight him , who 's the delight of all . on madam master . of madam it may well be sed , that madam ha's but little wit , since madam's husband is her head , and madam makes a fool of it . on doctor cornuto . who so famous was of late , he was with finger pointed at , what cannot learning do and single state ? being married , he so famous grew as he was pointed at with two , what cannot learning and a wife now do ? to clarissa . and why clarissa so much pains and care to gain repute of beautiful and fair ? when without all this care and all this pain , you have already what you strive to gain : beauty and truth need so small setting forth as all you add to 't , takes but from its worth , and the sun and you need far more art to hide your glittering beams , than make them more espy'd . all other arts in you wou'd shew as poor as his shou'd seek to gil'd gold ingots or'e , and you 'd appear , as vain in it , as they shou'd go about to blanch the milky way . no , no , you 'r fair enough , leave unto those these petty arts , whose beauty 's chiefly cloaths , so politicks when th' lyon's skin does fail , do use to piece it with the foxes tail , but when th 'ave lyons skin enough , t is poor and beggarly , to add a piece to 't mote on those who sell their liberty for a little gain . whilst those for wealth do sell their liberty , cal 't angling for the golden fish , for me , loving my liberty as i do , i look upon 't , as fishing with a goldenhook . to the truly noble lord. even such a person , such a mind , as thine brave heroe , emperours had in antient time , when choosing men for empire only fit , the bravest mind and person carryed it . and now , although the times be changed , we see , they make their favourites still of such , as thee , whom for their noble persons and their mind , they best and fittest for imployment find . so howsoe're the world goes , thou at least shalt always be the best , or nigh the best . the lives of the patrons . first of all they never care nor for clock nor calendar , next they ne're desire to know how affairs ot'h world do go . above all , they ne're resort to the busie hall nor court , where poor men do nothing else but trouble others and themselves . all the business they look after , only is their sport and laughter , with a friend , and cheerful cup merrily to dine and sup , hear good musick , see a play , thus they pass the time away . of an epicure . he 's one , of nothing else does think , but only of good cheer and drink , and never is in better mood than when you talk of drink and food . who for his palat and his gust ha's quite forgot all other lust , and huggs a bottle , as he wou'd a mistress , when the wine is good . who layes about him like a gyant when he meets a morsel fryand . and so long does cram his gut he 's nothing else from head to foot ▪ when you such an one do see for many a year ne're saw his knee , and now scarce sees at all , be sure that such an one 's an epicure . on the play , of she wou'd , if she cou'd , to the duke of n. to tell you what i think of etridg play since you command this , i will only say , th 'as sparks of wit , as much as you 'd desire , but sparks alone , as far from solid fire . in former dayes none ever went away but with a glowing bosom from a play , vvith somwhat they had heard or seen , so fir'd you 'd think they were celestially inspir'd . ●ow you have only a few light conceits ●ike squibs and crackers , neither warms nor heats , but cause at best a little gigling laughter vvhich quickly past , makes you but colder after . ●o hard t is now for any one to write vvith iohnson's fire , or fletcher's flame and spirit . much less inimitable shakspear's way promethean-like to animate a play. on our late prolouge and epilouge . as horse-coursers their horses set to sale with ribands on their foreheads and their tail , so most ot'h poets wit lyes now a days it 'h prolouge and the epilouge of their plays . on the poetess . t was wonder knowing the poet they shou'd press , and run so far to see his poetess , but 't was no wonder seeing it , at last they prest and ran away from it , as fast . epitaph on the same . under this stage together with queen bess , deeply intomb'd here lies the poetess , t is fit such plays for obsequies shou'd have actors for mourners , and the stage for grave . question on a lady's letting bloud . of this just mixture and equalitie of water and bloud what shou'd the reason be ? the reasons clear , forced to part with her each drop of bloud for grief did shed a tear. on the lady rockingham's nursing her children her self . how like to charity this lady stands with one child sucking , t'other in her hands vvhilst bounteous nature mother of us all , of her fair breasts is not more liberal . those parents , but half mothers are at best who whilst they give their wombs , deny their breast and none true mothers are , but such as you who when th 'ave brought them forth , do nurse them too . mirrour of mothers ! in whom all may see by what you are , what they themselves shou'd be , ready , like pelicans for childrens good , to give their very lives and vital bloud . and if that milk be only bloud turn'd white you shew your self great strafford's daughter right , both alike ready for the kingdom 's good , you for to give your milk , as he his bloud . on simple . simple kept much ado , and much offence he took for saying , he scarce had common sense , till saying , he had , and very common too , he was well pleas'd , and made no more ado . in execration of small beer . now pox and plague to boot on this same small - beer , we may well the devils julip call , distil'd i' th limbeck of some lap-land witch with north winds bellows blowing in her breech , or stale of some old hagg ot'h marshes , who than water never better liquor knew . a penitential drink for none by right but those it 'h ' morning who were drunk or'e night . sure 't was the poison , ( as we well may think ) they gave condemned socrates to drink , or that the macedonian drunk , so cold as nothing but an asses hoof cou'd hold . they were deceiv'd it was not niobe's moan , but drinking small-beer turn'd her unto stone . and that which since infallibly ha's made our charity so cold , and the world so bad . if then divines wou'd mend it , let them preach gainst small-beer only , and no doctrine teach but drinking wine , and then we soon should see all in religion easily wou'd agree . this were a study worthy of the pains of breaking both their own and others brains , this were a doctrine worthy of their heat , and furious beating the pulpit , till they sweat . in the small pox . thou greatest enemy that beauty ha's , the very goth and vandal of a face , on which thou mak'st as bad or worser work than does thy fellow meazels upon pork , what execration can be enough for one like thee is long since all curse-proof ? for shou'd we bid the plague on thee , that curse thou anticipas't already , for tha' rt worse , or great pox on thee , we shou'd curse , but ill , since thou' rt more great in being the small pox sti●● be still thy self then , but for ever be banisht all fair and gentle company to live with beasts , as horses , doggs and swin● or divel's , old companions of thine . to sir k. d. recommending a memorial to him in italy , during our troubles here . i must beg of you , sir , nay , what is more , t is a disease so infectious to be poor , must beg , you 'd beg for me , which whilst i do , what is 't but even to make you beggar too ? but povety being as honourable now as 't was when cincinnatus held the plough , senators sow'd and reapt , and who had been in car of triumph , fetcht the harvest in . whilst mightiest peers do want , nay , what is worse even greatest princes live on others purse , and very kings themselves are beggars made no shame for any , sir , to be ot'h ' trade . on the riches of the barbados to col. henry drax. how rich barbados is , and how much worth , we well may see by sugars , it brings forth , of all the rest , the richest merchandize . and if by th' patern , we may judge ot'h ' piece , how rich it is in men , we well may see by bringing forth brave drax such men as thee . of the difference of travellers . as bees and spiders by their different powe● suck hony and poison from the self-same flowe● so there no less a difference doth appear betwixt the wise and foolish traveller , vvhilst t'one makes wise election of the best of every thing he sees , and leavs the rest : t'other as foolishly does only choose the worst of things , and better still refuse , t'one brings their vertues home , t'other agen their vices , only brings along with him . on a hector , beaten and dragg'd through the streets by the watch and constable . still to be dragg'd ! still to be beaten thus ! hector , thy name ( i fear ) is ominous , and thou for fighting didst but ill provide , to take thy name thus from the beaten side . to have every watch like band of mirmidons , beat thee with halberts down , and break thy bone● and every petty constable thou meets achylles-like to drag thee through the streets . poor hector , when thou' rt beaten blind and lam● i hope thou 'lt learn to take another name . somwhat to mr. i. a. on his excellent poem of nothing . of nothing , nothing's made they say , but show by what tha 'st writ , disprov'st that saying now , and prov'st thy self maker of poems right , can'st out of nothing bring such ones to light , vvhich i ( as creatures , him who does create ) only on somwhat dully imitate . mean time at least say all they can agin it , i hope they needs must say there 's somwhat in it . or granting it , as good as nothing be the greater honour still , for it and me . a rural dialogue . cho. once a nimph and shepherd meeting , never past there such a greeting , nor was heard 'twixt such a pair plainer dealing , than was there . he scorns vvomen , and she men , he slights her , she him agen . vvords with words wer'e overthwarted thus they meet , and greet , and parted . shep. he who never takes a vvife , lives a most contented life . nim. she , her whole contentment looses vvho a husband ever chooses . shep. i of vvomen know too much , er'e to care for any such . nim. i of men too much do know to care where er'e you do or no. shep. since y' are so resolv'd , farewell , look , you lead not apes in hell. nim. better lead apes thither , than thither to be led by men . shep. be rul'd , and do , but as they bid you . they to paradise wou'd lead you , nim. to fools paradise ; t is true , vvou'd they , but be rul'd by you . cho. thus they parted as they met , hard to say , who best did get , or of love was least afraid , vvhen being parted , either said ambo. love , what fools , thou mak'st of men , when th' are in thy power ! but when from thy power they once are free , love , what a fool men make of thee ! to story , of the meeting of love and death . love and death ot'h ' way once meeting , having past a friendly greeting , sleep their weary eye-lids closing , lay them down themselves reposing . love whom divers cares molested , cou'd not sleep , but whilst death rested , all in hast away he posts him , but his haste full dearly costs him . for it chanc'd that going to sleeping , they had given their darts in keeping , unto night , who error 's mother blindly knowing , not t'one from t'other . gave love , death's and ne're perceiv'd it , vvhilst as blindly love receiv'd it . since which time their darts confounding : love now kills instead of wounding . death our hearts with sweetness filling , gently wounds instead of killing . epithalamium , or a nuptial song for the marriage of the lord brackley with the lady elizabeth cranfield . the fairest flower of cranfield's race , and noblest branch of egerton , accompanied with every grace , by hymen now are joyn'd in one . go happy youth , and tast a bed the pleasures fair eliza. yields , by far surpassing all that 's sed ot'h pleasures of the elizian fields . and fair eliza. be'nt afraid o' th' bug-bears of a married life , those fears which haunt you now a maid , vvill vanish soon , when y' are a vvife . and when y' are once a mother grown , such joy they in their place shall leave , can ne're be exprost by human tongue , nor human heart can e're conceive ! to george duke of albermarle . if others have their honours well deserv'd , who nobly have their king and country serv'd ▪ none ever yet deserv'd them more , than you , who have not only serv'd , but sav'd them too . in recommending the acting of a play out of the french , unto his majesty . most royal sir , this play wo'nt court the actors , and much less to any others humbly make address . 't was made for you , and has the ambition to owe its acting unto you alone . all other courtship and address is poor , t is pure moliere , i need to say no more . prologue . for the revival of his damoiselles , a-la-mode . this play of ours just like some vest or jupe , worn twice or thrice , was carefully laid up , and after a little while it so had lain , is now brought forth , as good as new again . for having the honour of our master's sight , and happiness of giving him delight . our author thought his business was done , but great part of our business is to come . he only looks after the pleasure of it , but we must look as well , unto our profit . he car'd but for an audience or two , but if we cou'd , wee 'd every day have new . and to conclude , he had his end agen , in pleasing those , who only saw it then , but we must please you now , or wee 'd be sorry , since only for that end w 'ave kept it for ye . on sir critick . whilst thou on every one so fast dost spend thy judgment as t wou'd never have an end , prithee take heed thou spend it not so fast , to leave thy self no judgment at the last . on the same . t is but a cruel sport for men to go to th' theater , as to bear-bayting they do , and bandog-like to fall upon the play , worry the poet , and then go away , as they some great and mighty act had done , when every day , dogs do as great an one . on the play of periocles prince of tyre . ars longa , vita brevis , as they say , but who inverst that saying , made this play. on the dutchess of newcastles closet . vvhat place is this ! looks like some sacred cell , where holy hermits antiently did dwell . and never left importunating heaven , till some great blessing unto earth was given ? is this a lady's closet , it can't be ? for nothing here of vanity we see , nothing of curiosity , or pride as most of lady's closets have beside . scarcely a glass or mirrour in 't you find , excepting books , the mirrours of the mind . nor is 't a library , but only as she makes each place where she comes , a library . here she 's in rapture , here in extasie , with studying high and deep philosophy . here those cleer lights descend into her mind , which by reflexion in her books we find . and those high notions and idea's too , which , but her self , no woman ever knew . whence she 's her sex's ornament , and grace , and glory of her time , hail sacred place ! to which the world in after-times shall come , as unto homer's shrine , or virgil's tomb , honouring the walls , in which she made abode , the air she breath'd , and ground on which she trod . so fame rewards the arts , and so agen the arts reward all those who honour them , whilst who in any other hopes do trust , shall after death lye in forgotten dust . to mr. henry jermin on occasion of some demanding , why he had no higher titles . still noble , gallant , generous and brave ! what more of titles wou'd these people have ? or what can they imagine more to express how great thou art , that wou'd not make thee less ? he , who is proud of other titles , is proud of a thing , that 's fortun 's , none of his , a thing , that 's but the title-page ot'h book , on which your ignorant vulgar only look , or garnishment of dishes , not to eat , but only ▪ better to set off the meat . thou envy'st none their honours , but woud'st be sorry they shou'd deserve them more , than thee . and 't were in thee , but vain ambition , to seek by other titles to be known . when harry iermin's name alone affords as great and loud a sound as any lords . be still thy self then , and let others be high as they list in place , what 's that to thee ? their worth 's without , but thine is all within , and man t is fills the place , but worth fills him . the title of a worthy person 's more than all the rest the world does so adore . and there 's no office we may greater call , than doing of good offices to all . this is thy office , these thy titles are , let who 'se will take the rest , thou dost not care . in one who standered a fair and vertuous lady . thou enemy of all that 's fair and bright , as fowls of darkness are unto the light. monster of monsters ! basilick of spite , who kill'st with tongue , as t'other does with sight . slanderer of ladies , and of them the best , th' ast done an art which all men must detest . beauty 's a thing divine , and he that wou'd wrong that , wou'd wrong divinity , if he cou'd . whence th' art not only highly injurious , but impious too , in slandring of her thus . who takes our wealth , does but as robbers do , who takes our farms , robbs us and kills us too . and 's worse , than he who does another slay , he takes but life , thou life of life away . the soul of honour , and with poisnous breath , woud'st if thou coud'st , even kill them after death . but i mistake , it is no infamy to be calumniated by such as thee . thou rather praisest her against thy will , as he who cur'd by chance , whom he wou'd kill . for 't is the same thing , rightly understood , to be disprais'd by th' bad , as prais'd by th' good . on mistress stuart . stuart , a royal name that springs from race of calidonian kings . whose vertuous mind and beauteous frame , adds honour to that royal name . what praises can i worthy find , to celebtate thy form and mind ? the greatest power that is on earth , is given to princes by their birth . but there 's no power in earth nor heaven , more great , than what 's to beauty given . thât makes not only men relent , when unto rage and fury bent , but lyons tame , and tygers mild , all fierceness from their breasts exil'd . such wonders yet cou'd ne're be done by beauties force and power alone , without the power and force to boot , o● excellent goodness added to 't . for just , as jewels we behold , more brightly shine , when set in gold , so beauty shines far brighter yet in goodness , and in vertue set . continue then but what you are , so excellently good , and fair , let princes by their birth-rights sway , you 'l have a power , as great as they . on mistress stuarts dancing in whitehall , all shining with iewels . so citherea in th' olympick hall , and rest o th' starrs dance their celestial ball , as stuart with the rest ot'h nimphs does here , the brightest glories of the british sphere . who wou'd not think her heaven , to see her , thus all shine with starry jewels as she does ? or somwhat more than heaven , to see her eyes out-shine the starry jewels of the skies ? only their splendor's so exceeding bright , th' excess confounds and blinds us with the sight , just as the sun , who 's bright to that degree , nothing is more , nothing less seen , than he . mean time the rapid motion of the sphears , is not so sweet and ravishing , as hers , nor is 't the harmony makes her dance , but she in dancing , 't is that makes the harmony . next to divinest cinthia , queen of light , never was seen a nimph more fair and bright . nor ever shall mongst all her starry train though those in heaven shou'd all come down again . on mistress stuarts marriage with the duke of richmond . the brightest nimph of all diana's train , for whom so many sigh'd , and sigh'd in vain , she who so oft had others captive made and who so oft or'e others triumph'd had . is venus captive now her self , and led in triumph to the noble richmond's bed . nor is it strange to see about her fly as many cupids as are starrs i' th' sky , as many graces as are sands i' th' sea , nor yet as many venus's as they ; but to behold so many vertues throng about a nimph so beautiful and young , is strange indeed to admiration ! and joy and gladness too of every one . but now whilst so much joy and gladness is , to see how mighty iove does frown at this , is stranger yet ! and does too clearly prove , th' are neer to-thunder , who are neer to iove . oh may he think amongst his milder thoughts , how god-like ▪ t is to pardon mortals faults , and how of all the rest , the faults of love least move the anger of the gods above . of friends and foes . just as a friend and foe shou'd go about to paint antigonus , whose one eye was out . which at half face , either to shew or hide , t'one turns his blind , t'other his better side . so betwixt friends and foes men are exprest , by halfs set forth , whilst they conceal the rest . no man's so bad , as foes depaint him wou'd , no man , as friends wou'd make him , half so good . to lilly drawing the countess of castlemains picture . stay daring man , and ne'r presume to draw her picture , till thou maist such colours get , as xerxes and apelles never saw , nor er'e were known by any painter yet . till from all beauties thou extract'st the grace . and from the sun , the beams , that gil'd the skies , never presume to draw her beauteous face , nor paint the radiant brightness of her eyes . in vain the whilst thou dost the labour take , since none can set her forth to her desert ; she who 's above all , nature er'e did make , much more 's above all , can be made by art. yet been't discourag'd , since who er'e does see 't , at least with admiration must confess it has an air for charming and for sweet , much more , than others though than her 's much less . so those bold gyants , who wou'd scale the sky , although they in their high attempt did fall , this comfort had they , mounted yet more high than those who never strove to climb at all . comfort thee then , and think it no disgrace , from that great height a little to decline , since all must grant the reason of it was her too great excellence , and no want of thine . on a fair and vertuous lady's embracing a religious life . a gentle shepherdess as er'e did tread upon the plains , whereon her flocks were fed , inspir'd by him who all good thoughts inspires , felt in her breast , till then unfelt desires , to tast heavens pleasures , since the earth had none , a soul in longing , long cou'd feed upon . but changing one , aweary of the first , she found the latter pleasure still , the worst . and so went still deluded in her mind , seeking for that which she cou'd never find . this infant thought with pious care she fed , and with religious education bred . giving it now an aspiration , or wish for that blest life to feed upon , and now a sigh , and now a tear agen , never to have known that blessedness , till then . avoiding carefully those rocks and shelves , on which so many souls had wrackt themselves , those two extremes on which so many fall , to undertake too much , or nought at all , for 't is with new-born children of desire , as 't is with sparks you kindle unto fire , starv'd with too little fuel 't will not light , opprest with too much , 't is extinguisht quite , and now she 's all a fire , happiness be fair virgin to thy blest desires , and thee , so full , so high , so great a happiness , as nothing can be more that is not less , nothing beyond , but down the hill again , and all addition rather loss than gain . by glad experience maist thou find all store of hearts contentment thou expect'st , and more , and learn that magick of religion there , makes every thing quite contrary appear , to you than unto us , rich poverty triumphant sufferance , brave humility . soft hardness , hardness difficulties slight , sweet bitterness , and heaviest burthens light . ease in your labour , pleasure in your pain , a heaven on earth , and all things else but vain . pious epigrams to her maiesty . of the force and efficacy of prayer . heaven is god's throne , and earth his footstool is , to that on wings of prayer , souls fly from this , where they almost omnipotent become by being joyn'd to the almighty's throne , to this height ( madam ) from your infancy your majesty by prayer was taught to fly , in company of those , to whom 't is given to have their conversation in heaven , where those stupendious miracles are wrought surpass all human force and human thought , and if heaven suffer violence , from whence but only prayer , proceeds this violence ? ther 's nothing then that england may despair to obtain of heaven by katherina's prayer , let us have faith in her , but to confide , and she ha's faith enough for all beside . of easter and christmas . of easter a great word was said this is the day the lord has made : of christmas now a greater word , this is the day that made the lord. on the magii's following the starr . your other magii knew that every starr in heaven , was greater than this world by far but now so well professed what th 'ad known as these , who left the vvorld to follow one . on these words of our b. s. be ye perfect . you bid us to be perfect , lord , and we continue still imperfect , as you see , what shou'd we say , o lord , but only this , give what you bid , and bid us what you please . on these other words , o woman great is thy faith ! o lord when shall our faiths be praised thus and we deserve to have thus much said of us others count all things possible to thee , we nothing possible but what we see , they more to faith , than senses credit give , we more our senses , than our faith believe , they believe all , we but believe by halfs , their faiths are gyants , our faith 's only dwarfs finis . on these words of our b. s. i am the way , the truth , and the life . o lord , thou art the way , the truth , and life , thou say'st ; as well thou may'st . what fool is he then , wou'd forsake the way , to go astray ? what fool is he , who wou'd the truth refuse , and falshood chuse ? but oh ! 'bove all , what fool and mad-man's he wou'd forsake thee ? the only eternal life , and chuse to die eternally ! the saying of a certain holy-man . my god , and i , can all things do said one and if it seem too great presumption to name on 's self with god , 't is without doubt a greater yet , to name on 's self without . on adam's fall. those who deny free-will to man , i wou'd when adam fell , they cou'd have made it good . the pleasure of doing good. do good with pain , this pleasure in 't you find , the pain 's soon past , the good remains behind . do ill with pleasure , this y 'ave for your pains , the pleasure passes , and the ill remains . in contemplation of our b. s. crucified . o god! and wou'dst thou die for me ! and shall i nothing do for thee ? but still continne to offend , so good a lord , so dear a friend . had any prince done this for thee , what wondring at it wou'd there be ! but since 't is god that does it , thou dost never wonder at it now . strange ! that one shou'd more esteem a grace or gift , that 's given to him by earthly kings , then what is given unto him by the king of heaven ! on man's audaciousness , who dares offend almighty god. whil'st some admire young cato in story so , durst offend those who threatned for to throw him down to th'ground ; i more admire them who dare offend god , not only threatens to ▪ throw them to th'ground ; but what more fearful is , even to th'pit o' th' bottomless abiss . on our passions . passions like fire and water are , and they good servants , but ill masters are , they say ; govern them then , if thou wou'dst master be ; if rather servant , let them govern thee . on the death of beatrix duchess of lorain . she who alive , all vertue and beauty was , t'one , in her heart , and t'other in her face ; now she 's dead , just reason w 'ave to fear , least vertue and beauty all be dead with her . to the right honourable the lord henry howard of norfolk . it is not travel makes the man , 't is true unless a man travel'd ( my lord ) like you ; in putting off himself , and putting on the best of every country where they come , their language , fashions , manners , & their use , purg'd of the dross , and stript of the abuse . whilst y'ur pied traveler , who nothing knows of other nations fashions but their clothes , and learns their language but as parrots do , only perchance a broken word or two ; goes , and returns just as he went agen , by carrying still himself along with him . mean time your own , and other countrys too , in this agree , that chiefly such as you are honour'd by their country when at home ; and honour of it , when abroad they come . of the choice of friends . we ought to shame , each common carver shou'd more choice & careful be in chosing wood to make their statua's of , than we of men to make our friends of , try , and prove them then , and know each one is not for friendship good , no more than mercury's made of every wood ; a friend is rarely found , and just as one who is of every trade is good for none : so he who every one a friend does call , shall find in time of need , no friend at all . to his royal highness the duke of york , returning from our naval victory , an. . more famous and more great than e're caesar or alexander were ! what those great heroes could not do , thou hast both done , and out-done too . till empire of the seas we get , no victory can be compleat ; for land and seas make but one ball , they had but half , thou hast it all : great prince the honour of our days , and utmost bound of human praise ! increas'd in stile , we well may call you novv the vvhole world's admiral : whil'st mighty charles with trident stands , and like some god , the seas commands . having so gloriously o'recome , what now remains but to come home ; more famous and more great then e're caesar , or alexander were ! to his highness prince rupert on the same . great and heroick prince , surpassing far him , who was styl'd the thunderbolt of warr ! whil'st with thy mighty courage we compare but others petty ones ; methinks they are like dwarfs compar'd to giants ; or at sea like little schiffs to some huge argosey well for the world the whil'st , thou dost not find imployment equal to thy mighty mind ; with th' macedon else it would as little seem unto thee now , as then it did to him . greatest example of heroick worth , as ever yet this latter age brought forth ! as formerly the land of britain was , so now the sea 's too narrow for thy praise : and 't will in time become the work alone , of extasie and admiration ! great and heroick prince surpassing far , him who was stil'd the thunderbolt of war ! of an unworthy nobleman . see you yond thing , that looks as he wou'd cry i am a lord , a mile e're you come nigh . look on him well , & you 'd scarce find enough in the whole man , to make a lacquey of . as when a dwarf 's drest up in giant 's cloths , greater he 'd seem , the lesser still he shows ; or petty statua's on tall bases set , their heighths but only make them seem less great so when they in themselves have real worth , titles shew handsomely , and set them forth , when they have none , their titles makes them show but less , & more contemptible and low . the mock-lover . song . of all your fools , your lover does greatest folly discover ; who 's alway's crying and weeping , like school-boys after a whipping . so long as they 'r merry , one's never a weary : but still to be whyning and puling , and still to be sad , as if they were mad , is neither good loving nor fooling . your natural fools we pity ; and delight in those that are vvitty ; but those vvho are fools for love , nor delight , nor pity do move . these only are toys for girls and for boys . and never move to compassion , when lovers are vvise , and cupid has eyes , they 'l love in another fashion . the excuse . to excuse thy vice thou callst it natural , a poor excuse the whilst , if that be all , for so we call a fool a natural too , but to excuse his folly that won't do . the revenge . god says , revenge only to him belongs , the laws , to them the righting others wrongs , for us to seek it then , what is it else , but to wrong them , whilst we wou'd right our selves exhortation to friendship . enough , enough , let us be friends agen , and still remember w' are not beasts but men ; this bayting one another is but just like bear-bayting , where those who seem the most delighted with 't , nor love the dog , nor bear , but only th'sport to see them tugg and tear each other ; & what fools are they , wou'd hurt and harm themselvs , for to make others sport ? you know we are commanded not to let the sun upon our anger 's rise nor set . it is enough then , let 's be friends agen , and still remember w'ar not beasts , but men. on mary duchess of richmond . vvhether a cheerful air does rise and elevate her fairer eyes , or a pensive heaviness her lovely eye-lids does depress ; still the same becoming grace , accompanies her eyes and face . still you 'd think that habit best in which her countenance last was drest : poor beauties ! whom a look or glance can sometimes make look fair by chance , or curious dress , ore artful care , can make seem fairer than they are : give me the eyes , give me the face to which no art can add a grace : give me the looks , no garb nor dress can ever make more fair , or less . the liberty . free as i was born i 'le live , so shou'd every wise man do : only fools they are who give their freedoms to i know not who . if my weakness cannot save it , but 't must go , what e're it cost : some more strong than i shall have it , who can keep what i have lost . still some excellency shou'd be more i' th' master than the slave ; which in others till i see none my liberty shall have . nor is 't excellency enough , time or chance can marr or make ; but 't must be more lasting stuff shall from me my freeedom take . those to whom i 'le give away that which none too dear can buy , shall be made of better clay : and have better souls then i. of several sorts of wits . vvits like hawks are for the sport , some are long vving'd some are short : the first do fly so high a flight , they often soar quite out of sight . the second , far the fitter for ye , keep them close unto the quarry ; nor too lovv ; nor yet too high , of this latter sort am i. why i write not of love. i knovv not what is love , but what is more , i knovv to honour , reverence and adore a mistress , so vvrapt up from outvvard sence , in all that 's excellent , as one by one unfolding her out every excellence : you never shall to only vvomen come . whil'st all my thoughts then are so far above , let none admire i never vvrite of love. l' envoye . authors use to make the feasts , books their viands , readers guests ; iudgment caterer , and wit the cook to dress and season it ; which lastly on the table set , the author vvho provides them meat , comes and prays his guests to fall unto 't , and says , they 'r welcome all . finis . emendations or amendments , pag. . to h. h. i grant you sir i have a mind unfit for my low fortune , and too high for it ; but sure you 'l grant 't is better have it so , than for high fortune t' have a mind too low : for by the first w'ar almost raised to an angels heighth attain'd by only few ; whilst by the second we are ev'n deprest unto the vulgar , almost to the beast , &c. pag. . on an avaritious person , better thus . who wholly spends his life in getting wealth , and to increase his store , consumes himself ; does unto me , more fool than him appear , who sold his horse to buy him provender . pag. . on the riches of the barbadoes how rich barbadoes is of other things , we well may see by sugars that it brings ; hovv rich it is of men , vve vvell may see by bringing forth brave drax such men as thee . pag. . l. , read the title of a vvorthy person 's more than all the titles vvhich your fools adore : errata . for the faults of the printer as p. . l. the last but harmless for ●elpless : p. . l. the . from the end far for fast . p. . l. the last but tvvo farms for fames : and divers other lesser ones , the reader may please to mend . diuine fancies digested into epigrammes, meditations, and observations / by fra. quarles. quarles, francis, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) diuine fancies digested into epigrammes, meditations, and observations / by fra. quarles. quarles, francis, - . [ ], p. printed by m.f. for iohn marriot, and are to be sold at his shop in st. dunstans churchyard in fleetstreet, london : . in verse. signatures: [par.]⁴(-[par.] ) a- c⁴ d³. numbers - repeated and - deleted in the pagination. reproduction of original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng epigrams, english. meditations. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - tcp staff (oxford) sampled and proofread - aptara rekeyed and resubmitted - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion divine fancies : digested into epigrammes , meditations , and observations . by fra : qvarles . london , printed by m. f. for iohn marriot , and are to be sold at his shop in st. dunstans churchyard in fleetstreet . . to the royall bvdde of maiestie , and center of all our hopes and happinesse , charles , prince of great britaine , france and ireland , sonne and heyre apparant to the high and mighty charles , by the grace of god , king of great britaine , france , and ireland , &c. illustrious infant : give mee leave to acknowledge my selfe thy servant , ere thou knowst thy selfe my prince : my zeale burnes mee , and my desires are impatient : my breeding muse longs for greene fruit , and cannot stay thy ripenesse : sweet babe ; the loyalty of my service makes bold to consecrate these early leaves to thy sacred infancie , not knowing how to glorifie themselues , more , then by the patronage of such princely innocencie . modell of sweetnesse , let thy busie fingers entertaine this slender present , and let thy harmelesse smiles crowne it : when thy infancie hath crackt the shell , let thy childhood tast the kernell ; in the meane while , let thy little hands and eyes peruse it : lugge it in thy tender armes , and lay thy burthen at thy royall parents feet ; for whose sake , it may gaine some honor from their glorious eyes . heaven blesse thy youth with grace , and crowne thy age with glorie : angells conduct thee from the cradle , to the crowne : let the english rose , and the french lilly florish in thy louely cheeke : and let their united colours presage an euerlasting league . let the eminent qualities of both thy renowned grand-fathers meet in thy princely heart ; that thou mayst , in peace , be honourable ; and in warre , victorious . and let the great addition of thy royall parents vertues make thee vp a most incomparable prince , the firme pillar of our happines , and the future object of the worlds wonder expected , and prayd for by your highnesses most loyall and humble servant , fra : qvarles . to the right honovrable and truely vertuous lady , mary countesse of dorset , governesse to that royall infant , charles , prince of great britaine , france , and ireland , the mirror of unstained honovr . most excellent lady , yov are that starre , which stands over the place , where the babe lyes ; by whose directions light , i am come from the east , to present my myrrh , and frankincense to the yong child : let not our royall joseph , nor his princely mary be affrayd ; there are no herods here ; we have all seene his starre in the east , and have rejoyced : our loyall hearts are full ; for our eyes have seene him , in whom our posterity shall bee blessed : to him , most honorable lady , i addresse my thoughts ; to him , i presume to consecrate these lines ; which , since it hath pleased our gracious soveraigne to appoint you the governesse of his royall infancy , i have made bold to present , first , to your noble hands ; not daring , in my very thoughts to disjoyne , whom his sacred majestie , in so great wisedome , hath put together ; or to consider severally , where his highnesse hath made so in violable a relation . madam , may your honors increase with your howers , and let eternall glory crowne your u●rtues ; that when this age shall sleepe in dust , our children , yet unborne , may honour your glorious memory , under the happinesse of his government , whose governesse you are ; which shall be daily the subject of his prayers , who is the sworne-servant of your ladiships perfections , fra : qvarles . to the readers . readers , i wil not ( like one that knowes the strength of his owne muse ) commit rape upon your vnderstandings , nor rayle at your ignorances , if our wits jumpe not : i have written at my owne peril ; understand you at your owne pleasures : i have nor so little man in me , as to want my faults ; nor so much foole in me as to thinke it ; nor so little modesty , as to sweare it ; nor so much childe in me as to whine at zoilus : my request is , that the faultles hand may cast the first stone , so although i cannot avoyd the common lot of man , error ; i may escape the punishment of the common man , censure . i heere present thee with a hive of bees ; laden , some with waxe , and some with honey : feare not to approach ; there are no waspes ; there are no hornets , here : if some wanton bee should chance to buzze about thine eares , stand thy ground , and hold thy hands : there 's none wil sting thee , if thou strike not first : if any doe ; she hath honey in her bagge , will cure thee too : in playner tearmes , i present thee with a booke of fancies ; among which , as i have none to boast of ; so ( i hope ) i shall have none to blush at . all cannot affect all : if some please all ; or all , some , 't is more then i expect ; i had once thought to haue melted the title , and cast it into severall bookes , and have lodg'd observations , meditations , and epigrams by themselves ; but new thoughts have taken place : i have required no helpe of herauld , either to place , or to proclaime them . cards , well shuffled , are most fit for gamesters : and oftentimes , the pastime of discovery adds pleasure to the enioyment : the generous faulkner had rather retrive his partridge in the open feilds , then meet her in his coverd dish . only this : when you read a meditation , let me entreate thee to forget an epigramme . fare-well . ad lectores vtrivsque generis . candide , si mala sint nostra inter carmina , parce ; et bona si quae sint , zoile , parco tibi . to god. glorious and great ; whose power did divide the waves , and made them walls on either side ; that didst appeare in cloven-tongues of fyre ; divide my thoughts : and with thy selfe , inspire my soule ; o cleave my tongue , and make it scatter various expressions in a various matter ; that like the painefull bee , i may derive from sundry flow'rs , to store my slender hive : yet , may my thoughts not so divided be , but they may mixe againe , and fixe in thee . divine fancies , digested into epigrammes , meditations , and observations . . on the musique of organs . observe this organ : marke but how it goes : 't is not the hand of him alone that blowes the unseene bellowes ; nor the hand that playes upon th'apparent note-dividing kayes , that makes these wel-composed ayres appeare ●●fore the high tribunall of thine ear● : they both concurre : each acts his severall part : th' one gives it breath ; the other lends it art. man is this organ : to whose every action heav'n gives a breath ( a breath without coaction ) without which blast we cannot act at all ; without which breath , the vniverse must fall to the first nothing it was made of : seeing in him we live , we move , we have our being : thus fill'd with his diviner breath , and back't with his first power we touch the kayes and act : he blowes the bellowes : as we thrive in skill , our actions prove , like musicke , good or ill. on the contingencie of actions . i saw him dead ; i saw his body fall before deaths dart ; whō tears must not recall : yet is he not so dead , but that his day might have bin lengthen'd , had th'untrodden way to life beene found : he might have ●ose agin , if something had , or something had not bin : what mine sees past , heav'ns eie foresaw to come he saw , how that contingent act should summe the to●all of his dayes : his knowing eye ( as mine doth see him dead ) saw he should die that very fatall howre ; yet saw his death , not so so necessary , but his breath might beene enlarg'd unto a longer date , had he neglected this , or taken that : all times to heav'n are now , both first and last ; he see● things present , as we see them past . . on the sacraments . the lo●ves of bread were five ; the fishes two , whereof the multitude was made partaker . who made the fishes ? god : but tell me , who gave being to the loaves of bread ? the baker : ev'n so th●se sacraments , which some call seaven , five were ordain'd by man , and two , by heaven . . on the infancie of our saviour . hayle blessed virgin , full of heavenly grace , blest above all that sprang from humane race ; whose heav'n-saluted womb brought forth in one , a blessed saviour , and a blessed son : o! what a ravishment ' thad beene , to see thy little saviour perking on thy knee ! to see him nuzzle in thy virgin brest ! his milke white body all unclad , undrest ; to see thy busie fingers cloathe and wrappe his spradling limbs in thy indulgent lappe ! to see his desprate eyes ▪ with childish grace , smiling upon his smiling mothers face ! and , when his forward strength began to bloome , to see him diddle up and downe the roome ! o , who would thinke , so sweet a babe as this , should ere be slaine by a false-hearted kisse ! had i a ragge , if sure thy body wore it , pardon sweet babe , i thinke i should adore it , till then , o grant this boone , ( a boone far dearer ) the weed not being , i may adore the wearer . . on iudas iscariot . vve raile at iudas , him that did betray the lord of life ; yet doe it day by day . . on the life and death of man. the world 's a theater ; the earth , a stage plac'd in the midst ; wheron both prince & page , both rich and poore ; foole , wiseman ; base , and high ; all act their parts in lifes short tragedy : our life 's a tragedy : those secret roomes wherein we tyre us , are our mothers wombes ; the musicke ush'ring in the play , is mirth to see a manchild brought upon the earth : that fainting gaspe of breath which first we vent is a dumb-shew , presents the argum●nt : our new-born cries that new-born griefes bewray , is the sad prologue of th' ensuing play : false hopes , true feares , vaine ioyes , and fierce distracts are like the musicke that divides the acts : time holds the glasse , and when the hower's run , death strikes the epilogue ; and the play is done . ▪ on the seven liberall sciences of a christian. grammar . it is an art , that teaches not t' excell in writing , speaking , as in doing well . logicke . it is an art sometimes of plotting treason against the crowne and dignity of reason . rhetoricke . it is an art , whereby he learnes t' encrease his knowledge of the time , to hold his peace . arythmeticke . it is an art , that makes him apt to raise and number out gods blessings , and his dayes . musicke . it is a potent science , that infringes strong prison dores , and heaves them from their hinges . astronomie . it is an art of taking out the lead from hi● dull browes , and lifting ●p the head. geometrie . it is an art , ins●ructs him how to have the world in scorne ; and measure out his grave . . christs foure houses . his first house was the blessed virgins wombe ; the next , a cratch ; the third , a crosse ▪ the fourth a tombe . . of light and heate . mark but the sun-beames , when they shine most bright , they l●●d this lower world both heat & light : they both are children of the selfe-same mother , twinnes ; not subsis●i●g one without the other ; they both conspire unto the common good , when , in their proper places , understood : is 't not rebellion against sense to say , light helps to quicken : or , the beames of day may lend a heat , and ye● no light at all ? 't is true , some obvious shade may chance to fall vpon the quickned pl●nt , yet not so great , to quench the 〈◊〉 of the heate : the heate cannot be parted from the light , nor yet the light from heate ; they neither might be mingled in the act , nor found asunder : distinguish now fond man ; or stay and wonder : know then ; their vertues differ though themselves agree ; heat vivifies ; light gives man power to see the thing so vivifyed : no light , no heate ; and where the heat 's but small , the light 's not great : they are inseparable , and sworne lovers , yet differing thus ; that quickens ; this discovers : within these lines a sacred myst'ry lurkes : the heat resembles faith : the light ; good workes . . on judas iscariot . some curse that traytour iudas life and lim ▪ god knows , some curse thēselves , in cursing him . . on the possession of the swine . when as our blessed saviour did un-devill the man possest ; the spirits , in conclusion , entred the swine ( being active still in evill ) and drove them headlong to their owne confusion . dru●kards , beware , and be advised then , they 'l find you as y' are swine ▪ if not , as men : . on a sun●dyall . this horizontall dyall can bewray to the sad pilgrim , the houre of the day : but if the sun appeare not his adviser , his eye may looke , yet he prove n●'er the wiser : alas , alas ; there 's nothing can appeare , but onely types , and shadow'd figures there : this dyall is the scripture ; and the sun , gods holy spirit ; wee , the ●ookers on : alas , that saceed letter , which we read , vvithout the quickning of the spirit 's dead : the knowledge of our peace improves no better , then if our eye had not beheld a letter : i , but this glorious sun shines alwayes bright : i , but we often stand in our owne light : vse then the day , for when the day is gon , there willl be darknes : there will be no sun. . on the three christian graces . faith. it is a grace , that teaches to deprave not the goods we have ; to have the goods we have not . hope . it is a grace ▪ , that keeps th' almighty blamelesse , in long delay : and men ( in begging ) shamelesse . charitie . it is a grace , or art to get a living by selling land ; and to grow rich , by giving . . on a feast . the lord of heav'n and earth ha's made a feast , and ev'ry soule is an invited guest : the word 's the food ; the levits are the cookes ; the fathers writings are their dyet-bookes ; but seldome us'd ; for 't is a fashion growne , to recommend made dishes of their owne : what they should boyle , they bake ; what r●st , they broyle ; their lushious sallats are too sweet with oyle : in briefe , 't is now a dayes too great a fault , t' have too much pepper , and too little salt. . on dives . that drop-requesting dives did desire his brothers might have warning of that fire , whose flames he felt : could he , a fiend , wish well to man ? what , is there charity in hell ? each soule that 's damned is a brand of fire , to make hell so much hotter ; and the nigher in blood or love they be , that are tormented , the more their paines & torments are augmented : no wonder then , if dives did desire , his brothers might have warning of that fire ▪ . on outward shew . ivdge not that field , because 't is stubble , nor him that 's poore , and full of trouble ▪ though t'one looke bare ; the tother thin ; judge not ; their treasure is within . . on the reading of the scriptures . in reading of the sacred writt ; beware , thou climbe no stile , when as a gapp stands faire ▪ . on the life of man. ovr life 's the modell of a winters day ; our soule 's the sun , whose faint and feeble ray gives our earth light ; a light but weak , at strongest , but low , at highest ; very short , at longest : the childish teares , that from our eyes doe passe , is like the dew that pearls the morning grasse : when as our sun is but an hower high , we goe to schoole , to learne ; are whipt , and cry : we truant up and downe ; we make a spoyle of precious time , and sport in our owne toyle : our bed's the quiet grave ; wherein we lay our weary bodyes , tyred with the day : the early trumpet , like the morning bell , calls to account ; where they that have learnd well shall find reward ; and such as have mis-pent their time , shall reape an earned punishment : no wonder , then , to see the sluggards eyes , so loath to goe to bed ; so loth to rise . . on the crowing of a cocke . the crowing of a cocke doth oft foreshow a change of weather : peter found it so : the cocke no sooner crew , but by and by he found a change of weather in his eye : t 's an easie thing to say , a●d to sweare too , wee 'l dye for christ ; but t is as hard to doe . . on mammon . mammon's growne rich : does mammon boast of that ? the stalled oxe , as well may boast , hee 's fat . . on church-contemners ▪ those church-contemners , that can easily waigh the profit of a sermon with a play ; whose testy stomacks can digest , as well , a profer'd injury , as a sermon-bell ; that say unwonted pray'rs with the like wills , as queazy patients take their loathed pills : to what extremity would they be driven , if god , in iudgement , should but give them heaven . . on morus . he is no flemming : for he cannot swill : no roman ; for his stomacke 's fleshly still : he cannot be a iew ; he was baptiz'd : nor yet a gentile ; he was circumciz'd : he is no true man ; for he lyes a trot : prophane he is not ; for he sweares ye not : what is he then ? one feast without a bill shall make him all ; or which of all ye will. . on the hypocrite . no mans condition is so base as his ; none more accurs'd than he : for man esteemes him hatefull , 'cause he seemes not what hee is : god hates him , 'cause he is not what he seemes ; what griefe is absent , or what mischiefe can b● added to the hate of god and man ? . on a pilgrime . the weary pilgrime , oft , doth aske , and know ▪ how farre hee 's come ; how far he has to go● ▪ his way is tedious , and his hart 's opprest , and his desier is to be at rest : our life 's a wayfare ; yet fond man delaies t'enquier out the number of his daies ; he cares not , he , how slow his howers spend ; his iourney 's better then his iournies end . . on the needle of a sun-diall . behold this needle ; when the arctick s●one hath toucht it , how it trembles vp and downe ; hunts for the pole ; and cannot be possest , of peace , untill it finde that poynt , that rest : such is the heart of man ; which , when it hath attayn'd the vertue of a lively faith , it findes no rest on earth , makes no abode , in any object , but his heav'n , his god. . on afffiction . when thou afflict'st me , lord , if i repine , i show my selfe to be mine owne , not thine . . on a sun-dyall . goe light a candle : by that light , make tryall , how the night spends it selfe , by the sun-dyall ▪ goe , search the scripture ; l●bour to increase in the diviner knowledge of thy peace by thy owne light , derived from thy mother : thou maist as eas●ly doe the one , as t'other . . on peter . vvhen walking peter was about to sinck into the sea , in what a case d' ye thinke , h 'ad bin ; if he had trusted his complaint to th' intercession of some helpfull saint : beleeve it ; if romes doctrine had bin sound , and soundly follow'd , peter had bin drown'd . on merits . fie , rome's abus'd : can any be thought able to merit heaven by workes : t is a meere fable : if so ; stout rome had never bin so faint to move her suit by a collaterall saint . . on servio ▪ servio serves god ▪ servio has bare relation ( not to gods glory ) but his owne salvation : servio serves god for life : servio , t is well : servio may finde the cooler place in hell. . a soliloquie . where shall i find my god! o where , o where shall i direct my steps , to finde him there ? shall i make search in swelling baggs of coyne ? ah no ; for god and mammon cannot joyne : doe beds of down containe this heavenly stranger ? no no ; hee 's rather cradled in some manger : dwells he in wisedome ? is he gone that rode ? no no ; mans wisedome's foolishnes with god : or hath some new plantation , yet unknown , made him their king , adorn'd him with their crowne ? no , no , the kingdomes of the earth thinke scorne t' adorne his browes with any crown but thorne . where shall i trace ; or where shall i go winde him ? my lord is gone ; and o! i cannot finde him : i le ransack the dark dungeons : i le enquire into the furnace , after the sev'nth fire . i le seeke in daniels den , and in pauls prison ; i le search his grave ▪ and see if he be risen : i le goe to th' house of mourning ; and i le call at every almes-abused hospitall : i le goe and aske the widow , that 's opprest ; the heavy laden , that enquiers rest : il● search the corners of all broken hearts ; the wounded conscience , and the soule that smarts ; the contrite spirit fill'd with filiall feare ; i , there he is ; and no where else , but there : spare not to scourge they pleasure , o my god , so i may finde thy pres●nce , with thy rod. . on daniel in the den. fierce lyons roaring for their prey ? and then daniel throwne in ? and daniel yet remaine alive ? there was a lyon , in the denne , was daniels friend , or daniel had bin slaine : among ten thousand lyons , i de not feare , had i but only daniels lyon there . . on those that deserve it . o when our clergie , at the dreadfull day , shal make their audit ; when the iudge shal say give your accompts : what , have my lambs bin fed ? say , doe they all stand sound ? is there none dead by your defaults ? come shepheards , bring them forth that i may crowne your labours in their worth : o what an answer will be given by some ! we have bin silenc'd : canons strucke us dumbe ; the great ones would not let us feed thy flock , vnles we pla●'d the fooles , and wore a frock : we were forbid unles wee 'd yeeld to signe and crosse their browes , they say , a mark of thine . to say the truth , great iudge , they were not fed , lord , here they be ; but , lord , they be all dead . ah cruel shepheards ! could your conscience serve not to be fooles , and yet to let them sterve ? what if your fiery spirits had bin bound to antick habits ; or your heads bin crownd with peacocks plumes ; had ye bin forc'd to feed your saviours dear-bought flock in a fools weed ; he that was scorn'd , revil'd ; endur'd the curse of a base death , in your behalfs ; nay worse , swallow'd the cup of wrath charg'd up to th' brim , durst ye not stoope to play the fooles for him ? . doe this and live . doe this and live ? t is true , great god ▪ then who can hope for life ? for who hath power to doe ? art thou not able ? is thy taske too great ? canst thou desier help ? canst thou intreat aid from a stronger arm ? canst thou conceive thy helper strong enough ? canst thou beleeve , the suffrings of thy dying lord can give thy drooping shoulders rest ? doe this and live . . on ioseph and his mistresse . when as th' egyptian lady did invite wel-favor'd ioseph to unchast delight , how well the motion and the place agreed ! a beastly place , and t was a beastly deed : a place well season'd for so foule a sin ; to● sweet to serve so foule a master in ▪ . on scriptum est . some words excell in vertue , and discover a rare conclusion , thrice repeated over . our saviour thrice was tempted : thrice represt th'assaulting tempter with thrice scriptvm est. if thou would'st keepe thy soule secure from harme , tho● know'st the words : it is a potent charme . . on the flourishing of the gospell . how doe our pastures florish , and refresh our uberous kine , so faire , so full of flesh ! how doe our thriving cattell feed our young with plenteous milk ; & with their flesh the strong ▪ heav'n blest our charles , and he did our late iames , from pharohs troubles , and from pharohs dreames . . on ioseph's speech to his brethren . goe , ●etch your brother ( said th' egyptian lord ) if you intend our garniers shall afford your craving wants their so desir'd supplies ; if he come not , by pharoes life , y' are spies : ev'n as your suits expect to find our grace , bring him ; or dare not to behold my face : some little food , to serve you on the way , we here allow , but not to feed delay ; when you present your brother to our hand , ye shall have plenty , and possesse the land ; away ; and let your quicke obedience give the earnest of your faiths ; do this and live : if not ; your wilfull wants must want supply , for ye are spies , and ye shall surely dye : great god , th' egyptian lord resembles thee ; the brother 's iesus ; and the suitors wee . . of common devotion . ovr god and souldiers we alike adore ev'n at the brink of danger ; not before : after deliverance , both alike requited ; our god 's forgotten , and our souldier's slighted . . on the day of iudgement . o when shal that time come , whē the loud trump shall wake my sleeping ashes from the dump of their sad vrne ! that blessed day , wherein my glorifi'd , my metamorphiz'd skin shall circumplexe and terminate that fresh and new refined substance of this flesh ! when my transparent flesh , dischargd frō groan●s , and paynes , shall hang upon new polisht bones ! when as my body shall re-entertaine her cleansed soule , and never part againe ! vvhen as my soule shall , by a new indenture , possesse her new-built house , come down and enter ! vvhen as my body and my soule shall plight inviolable faith , and never fight nor wrangle more , ●or alcercat , agin , about that strife-begetting question , sin ! vvhen soule and body shall receive their doome of o yee blessed of my father , come ! vvhen death shall be exil'd , and damn'd to dwell vvithin her proper and true center , hell ! vvhere that old tempter shall be bound in chaynes , and over-whelm'd with everlasting paynes ; vvhilst i shall sit , and , in full glory , sing perpetuall anthems to my iudge , my king. . on death . vvhy should we not , as well , desier death , as sleep ? no diffrence , but a little breath : 't is all but rest ; 't is all but a releasing our tyred lims ; vvhy then not alike pleasing ? being burthen'd with the sorrowes of the day , vve wish for night ; which , being come , we lay our bodies downe ; yet when our very breath is yrkesome to us , w' are affraid of death : our sleepe is oft accompanied with ●rights , distracting dreames and dangers of the nights ; vvhen in the sheets of death , our bodie 's sure from all such evils , and we sleepe secure : vvhat matter , doune , or earth ? what boots it whether ? alas , our bodye's sensible of neither : things that are senslesse feele nor paynes nor ease ; tell me ; and why not wormes as well as fleas ? in sleepe , we know not whether our clos'd eyes shall ever wake ; from death w' are sure to rise : i , but 't is long first : o , is that our feares ? dare we trust god for nights ? and not for yeares ? . on the body of man. mans body 's like a house : his greater bones , are the maine timber ; and the lesser ones , are smaller splints : his ribs are laths , daubd o'er , plaister'd with flesh and bloud : his mouth 's the doore : his throat 's the narrow entry : and his heart is the great chamber , full of curious art : his midreife , is a large partition wall , 'twixt the great chamber , and the spacious hall : his stomacke is the kitchin , where the meate is often but halfe sod , for want of heate : his spleen 's a vessell , nature does allot to take the skimme , that rises from the pot : his lungs are like the bellowes that respire in ev'ry office , quickning ev'ry fire : his nose , the chimney is , whereby are vented such fumes , as with the bellowes are augmented : his bowels are the sinke , whose part 's to dr●ine all noysome filth , and keepe the kitchin cleane : his eyes like christall windowes cleare and bright lets in the ob●ect , and le ts out the sight : and as the timber is , or great or small , or strong or weake ; 't is apt to stand , or fall ; yet is the likelyest building sometimes knowne , to fall by obvious chances ; overthrowne , oft-times by tempests , by the full mouth'd blasts of heav'n ; sometimes by fire ; somtimes it wasts through unadvis'd neglect : put case , the stuffe were ruin-proofe ; by nature , strong enough , to conquer time and age : put case , it should ne'er know an end , alas , our leases would : what hast thou then , proud flesh and bloud , to boast ? thy dayes are ev'll , at best , ; but few , at most ; but sad , at merryest ▪ and but weake , at strongest ; vnsure , at surest ; and but short , at longest , . on the young man in the gospell . how well our saviour and the landed youth agreed a little while ? and , to say truth , had he had will and power in his hand , to keepe the law , but as he kept his land ; no doubt , his soule had found the sweet fruition of his owne choyce desires without petition : but he must sell and follow ; or else , not obtaine his heav'n : o now his heav'ns too hot : he cannot stay ; he has no businesse there : hee 'l rather misse , then buy his heav'n too deare : when broth 's too hot for hasty hounds , how they will licke their scalded lips , and sneake away ! . on mans goodnesse and gods love . god loves not man , because that man is good ; for man is sinfull , because flesh and blood : we argue false : it rather may behove us , to thinke us good , 'cause god thinks good to love us ▪ hee that shall argue up from man to god , takes but the paines to gather his owne rod : who from such premis●es , shall drawe's conclusion , makes but a syllogisme of his owne confusion . . on mans plea. mans plea to man , is , that he never more will begge , and that he never begg'd before : mans plea to god , is , that he did obtaine a former suit , and therefore sues againe . how good a god we serve ; that when we sue , makes his old gifts th'examples of his new ! . on furio. fvrio will not forgiue ; furio beware : furio will curse himselfe in the lords prayer . . on martha and mary . martha , with joy , receiv'd her blessed lord ; her lord she welcoms , feasts , and entertains : mary sa●e silent ▪ heares , but speakes no word ; martha takes all , and mary takes no paines : mary's to heare ▪ to feast him martha's care is ; now which is greater , martha's love , or mary's ? martha is full of trouble , to prepare ; martha respects his good beyond her owne : mary sits still at ease , and takes no care ; mary desires to please her selfe , alone : the pleasure's maryes ; martha's all the care is ; now which is greater , martha's love , or maryes ? t is true ; our blessed lord was martha's guest ; mary was his ; and , in his feast , delighted : now which hath greater reason to love best , the bountifull invitor , or th'invited ? sure , both lov'd well ; but mary was the detter , and therefore should , in reason , love the better ▪ marye's was spirituall ; martha's love was carnall ; t'one kist his hand ; the other , but the glove : as far as mortall is beneath eternall , so far is martha's lesse then marye's love : how blest is he , great god , whose heart remembers marye's to thee ; and martha's to thy members ! . on our blessed saviour . we often read our blessed saviour wept ; but never laught , and seldome that he slept : ah , sure his heavy eyes did wake , ●●d weepe for us that sin , so oft , in mirth , and sleepe . . on sinnes . si●●es , in respect of man , all mortall be ; all veniall , iesu , in respect of thee . . on mans behaviour to god. vve use our god , as vs'rers doe their bands ; we often beare him in our hearts , our hands ▪ his paths are beaten , and his wayes are trod , so long as hee 's a profitable god : but when the money 's paid , the profit 's taken , our bands are cancel'd , and our god 's forsaken . . on mans cruelty . and da●'st thou venture still to live in sin , and crucifie thy dying lord agin ? were not his pangs sufficient ? must he bleed yet more ? o , must our sinfull pleasures feed vpon his torments ; and augment the story of the sad passion of the lord of glory ! is there no pitty ? is there no remorse in humane brests ? is there a firme di●ors● betwixt all mercy , and the hearts of men ? parted for ever ? ne'r to meet agen ? no mercy bides with us : ' ●is thou , alone , hast it , sweet jesu , for us , that have none for thee : thou hast ●ore-stal'd our markets so , that all 's above , and we have none below : nay , blessed lord , we have not wherewithall to serve our shiftlesse selves , unlesse we call to thee , that art our saviour , and hast power to give , and whom we crucifye , each hower : w' are cruell ( lord ) to thee , and our selves too ; iesv forgive's ; we know not what we doe . . mans progresse . the earth is that forbiden tree that growes i th' midst of paradise ; her fruit that showes so sweet , so faire , so pleasing to the eyes , is worldly pleasure in a faire disguize : the flesh suggests : the fruit is ●aire and good apt to make wise , and a delicious food ; it hath a secret vertue , wherewithall to make you gods ; and not to dye at all . man ●asts , and ●empts the frailty of his brother ; his brother eats ; one bits calls on another : his guilty conscience opes his eyes ; he sees , he sees his ●mpty nakednesse ▪ and flees ; he sti●ches slender fig-leaves , and does frame poore arguments t'●xcuse his sin , his shame : but in the cooler evening of his dayes , the voyce calls adam : adam's in a maze : his consci●nce bids him run : the voyce pursues ; poore ad●m trembles , ere he knowes the newes : adam must quit the garden , lest he strive to tast the saving tree of life , and live ; poore man must goe ; but whether is he bound ? ev'n to the place from whence he came , the ●round . . on the two great flouds . two flouds i read of ; water , and of wine ; the first was noahs ; lot , the last was thine : the first was the effect ▪ the last , the cause of that foule sin , against the sacred lawes of god and nature , incest : noah found an arke to save him , but poore lot was drownd ; good n●ah found an arke ; but l●t found none : w' are safer in gods hands then in our owne : the former flood of waters did extend but some few dayes ; this latter ha's no end ; they both destroy'd , i know not which the worst : the last is ev'n as gen'rall , as the first : the first being ceas'd ; the world began to fill ; the last depopulates , and wasts it still : both flouds ore welm'd both man and beast together ; the last is worst , if there be best of either : the first are ceas'd : heav'n vow'd it by a signe ; when shall we se● a rainebow after wine ? . on fuca. fvca ▪ thou quo●'●t the scriptures on thy side , and maks● rebec●a patronize ●hy pride ; thou say'st that she wore ear-rings : did she so ? know this withall , she bore the pitcher too : thou may'st , like h●r , we●re ear-rings , if thy pride can stoope to what , rebecca did beside . . on abrahams servant . this faithfull servant will not feed , u●till he doe his trust-reposing masters will : there 's many , now , that will not eat before they speed their masters work : they 'l drink the more . . on alexander . no marvell , thou great monarch , did'st complaine and weep , there were no other worlds to gaine ; thy griefes and thy complaints were not amisse ; h 'as griefe enough , that findes no world but this . . on rash iudgement . ivdge not too fast : this tree that does appeare so barren , may be fruitfull the next yeare : hast thou not patience to expect the hower ? i feare thy owne are crabs they be so ●ower : thy judgement oft may tread beside the text ; a saul to day , may prove a paul , the next . . on iacobs purchase . how poore was iacobs motion , and how strang● his offer ! how unequall was th' exchange ! a messe of porrage for inheritance ? why could not hungry e●au strive t'enhaunce his price a little ? so much und●rfoot ? well might he give him bread and drink to boot : an easie price ! the case is even our owne ; for toyes we often sell our heaven , our crowne . . on esau. what hast thou done ? nay what shal esau do ? lost both his birthright , and his blessing too ! what hath poore esau left , but empty teares , and plaints , that cannot reach the old mans eares ? what with thy fathers diet , and thine owne , thy birthright's aliend , and thy blessing 's gone : how does one mischiefe overtake an other : in both , how overtaken by a brother ? could thy imperious stomack but have stay'd , and if thy fathers had not bin delay'd , thou had'st not need have wept and pleaded so , but kept thy birthright , and thy blessing too : had thy unprosp'rous , thy unlucky hand dispatch'd thy venz'on , as it did thy land , thy sorrowes had not made so great a heape , that had not bin so deare ; nor this , so cheape : had thine given place but to thy fathers will , thad'st had thy birthright ; and thy blessing still . . on the absence of a blessing . the blessing gon , what do's there now remaine ? esau's offended ; iacob must be slaine : the heart of man once emptyed of a grace , how soone the devill jostles in the place ! . on the younger brother . i know , the elder and the yonger , too , are both alike to god ; nor one , nor other can plead their yeares , but yet we often doe observe , the blessing 's on the yonger brother : the scripture notes it , but does spare to show a reason ; therefore , i despaire to know . . on kain . before that monster spilt his brothers blood , w'●re sure the fourth part of the world was good : o , what a dearth of goodnes did there grow , when the fourth part was murd'red at a blow ! . on the righteous man. promise is d●tt : and det implyes a payment : how can the righteous , then dout food , & raymēt ? . on faith , love , and charity . by nature faith is fiery , and it tends still upward : love , by native course , descends : but charity , whose nature doth confound and mixe the former two , moves ever round : lord , let thy love descend , and then the fire of sprightly faith shall kindle , and aspire : o , then , my circling charity shall move in proper motion , mixt of faith and love. . on iacobs pillow . the bed , was earth : the raised pillow , stones , whereon poore iacob rests his head , his bones ; heav'n was his canopy ; the shades of night were his drawne curtaines , to exclude the light : poore state for isacks heyre ! it seemes to me , his cattell found as soft a bed , as hee : yet god appeared there , his ioy , his crowne ; god is not alway seene in beds of doune : o , if that god shall please to make my bed , i care not where i rest my bones , my head ; with thee , my wants can never proove extreame ; with iacobs pillow , give me iacobs dreame . . on faith. faith do's acknowledge gifts , altho we have not ; it keepes unseene those sins , confession hid not ; it makes us to enjoy the goods we have not ; it counts as done , those pious deeds , we did not ; it workes ; endowes ; it freely ●accepts ; it hides : what grace is absent where true faith abides ? ▪ on zacheus . me thinks , i see , with what a busie hast , zacheus climb'd the tree : but , o , how fast how full of speed , canst thou imagine ( when our saviour call'd ) he powder'd downe agen ! he ne'r made tryall if the boughes were sound , or rotten ; nor how far 't was to the ground : there was no danger fear'd : at such a call , hee 'l venture nothing , that dare feare a fall : needs must he downe , by such a spirit driven ▪ nor could he fall , unlesse he fell to heaven : downe came zacheus , ravisht from the tree ; bird that was shot , ne'r dropt so quicke as he . . on the thiefe and slanderer . the thiefe , and sland'rer are almost the same ; t'one steales my goods ; the tother , my good name : t'one lives in scor●e ; the other dies in shame . . on abram● pleading for sodome . how loth was righteous abraham to cease , to beat the price of lustfull s●doms peace ! marke how his holy boldnesse intercepts gods iustice ; brings his mercy downe , by steps : he dare not bid so few as ten , at first ; nor yet from fifty righteous persons , durst his zeale , on sudden , make too great a fall , although he wisht salvation to them all . great god : thy dying son has pow'r to cleare a world of sinnes , that one shall no● appeare before thine angry eyes : what wonder then , to see thee fall , from fifty downe to ten ! . on mans goodnesse . thy hand , great god , created all things good ; but man rebell'd , and in defiance stood against his owne creation , and did staine , nay lost that goodnesse which the beasts retaine ▪ what ●ap ha's man , poore man , above the rest , that hath lesse goodnesse left him , then a beast ! . on zacheus . short-legg'd zacheu● ▪ 't was the happiest tree that ever mortall climb'd ; i meane , to thee : thy paynes in going up , receiv'd the crowne of all thy labour , at thy comming downe : thy statures lownesse gave thee faire occasion to mount that tree ; that tree , to find salvation : but was 't the tree , zacheus ? no , t' was hee , whose bleeding body dy'd upon the tree . . on the roman , turke , and atheist . the roman worships god upon the wall ; the turke , a false god ; th' atheist , none at all . . on babels building . great god , no sooner borne , but we begin babels accurs'd foundation , by our sin : our thoughts , our words , our deeds are ever yeelding the sad materials of our sinfull building : should not thy grace prevent it , it would even rise , and rise up , untill it reach'd to heaven : lord , ere our building shall begin to show , confound our language , and our building too ▪ . on the theife and the lyer . the lyer and the thiefe have one vocation ; their difference is but only in their fashion : they both deceive ; but diversly proceed ; the first deceives by word ; the last , by deed. . on the egyptians famine . marke but the course the pin'de egyptians run : when all their coyn , when all their corn is done : they come to ioseph , and their stomacks plead ; they chāge their beasts for corn , their flocks for bread , yet still they want : observe what now they doe ; they give their lands , and yeeld their bodies too : now they have corne enough ; and now , they shall have seed to sow their barren soyle withall ; provided that the fi●t of their encrease be pharoe's : now their stomacks are at peace : thus when the famine of the word shall strike our hungry soules ; our soules must doe the like : we first must part with , ( as by their directions ) our flocks , our beasts , our bestiall affections ; when they are gone , what then must sinners doe ? give up their lands , their soules , and bodies too : o , then our hearts shall be refresht and fed , wee shall have seed to sowe , and present bread : allowing but the fift of our encrease , wee shall have plenty , and our soules have peace ▪ how art thou pleas●d , good god , that man shold live ! how slow art thou to take ! how free to give ! . on zacheus . well climb'd , zacheus ; 't was a step well given ; frō hence toth tree ; & frō the tree to heavē ! . on the plough-man . i heare the whistling plough-man , all day long , sweetning his labour with a chearefull song : his bed's a pad of straw ; his dyet , course ; in both , he fares not better then his horse : he seldome slakes his thirst , but from the pumpe , and yet his heart is blithe ; his visage , plumpe ▪ his thoughts are nere acquainted with such things . as griefes or feares ; he onely sweats , and sings : when as the landed lord , that cannot dine without a qualme , if not refresht with wine ; that cannot judge that controverted case , 'twixt meat & mouth , without the bribe of sauce ▪ that claimes the service to the purest linnen , to pamper and to shroud his dainty skin in , groanes out his dayes , in lab'ring to appease the rage of either buisnes , or disease : alas , his silken robes , his costly diet can lend a little pleasure , but no quiet : the untold summes of his descended wealth can give his body plenty , but not health : the one , in paynes , and want , possesses all ; t'other , in plenty , findes no peace at all ; 't is strange ! and yet the cause is easly knowne ; tone's at gods finding ; t'other , at his owne . . on a happy kingdome . that kingdome , and none other , happy is , where moses , and his aar●n meet , and kisse . . on gods appearance to moses . g●● first appeard ●o moses , in the myre ; the next time he appeard , h●appeard in fire ; the third time , he was knowne to moses eye vpon mount sinai , cloath'd in maiestie . thrice god appeares to man : first , ●allowing in his ●oule pollution , and base myre of sin ; and like to pharoes daughter do'es bemone our helplesse state , and drawes us , for his owne : the next ●ime , he ●ppeares in fyre , whose bright and gentle flames consume not , but give light ; it is the fire of grace ; where man is bound to d'off his sh●●●s , because 't is holy ground : the last apparance shall be in that mount , where every soule shall render an account of good or evill ; where all things transitory shall cease ▪ & grace be crownd with perfect glory . . on gods law. thy sacred law , o god , is like to mo●es ●od● if wee 〈◊〉 i● i● our hand , it will doe wonders in the land ; if wee sleight and throw it to the ground ; 't will 〈…〉 a wound that flesh and blood cannot endure , nor salve , untill the brazen serpent cure : i wish not , lord , thou sholds● ●ithold it ; nor wold i have it , and not hold it : o ●each me the●● my god ▪ to handle mos●s rod. . on pharo●●s b●icke . ovr god 's not like to pha●o● ; to require his 〈…〉 for fi●e : his workemen wanted straw , and yet were lasht , for not performance : we have straw unthrasht , yet we are idl● , and we w●●ch , and kicke against our burthens , and returne no bricke : we spend our 〈…〉 the s●abl● , and then we cry ▪ alas ! w● are not able ; thinke not on isra●ls sufferings , in that day , when thy offended justice shall repay our labo●● ; lord ▪ when 〈…〉 thinke , 〈◊〉 was a tyrant ; thou ▪ a ●od . . on the insa●iablenesse of mans heart . this globe of earth ha's not the pow'r to fill the heart of man , but it desi●rs still : by him that seekes , the cause is easly found ; the heart 's triangular ; the earth is round ; he may be full ; but , never to the brim be fill●d with earth , till earth be fill'd with him . . on pharoe's ●ard-heartednes . plag●es after plagues ? and yet not pharoh yeeld t' enlarge poore israel ? was thy heart so steel'd , rebellious tyrant , that it dare withstand the oft repeated iudgements of heav'ns hand ? could neither mercies oyle , nor iudgements thunder dissolve , nor breake thy ●linty heart in sunder ? no , no , what sun beames soften not , they harden ; purpos'd rebellions are asleepe to pardon . . on the change of pharoe's fortunes . observe what peace great pharo's kingdom found while ioseph liv'd ; what blessi●gs●round ●round his happy dayes ! heav'ns plague-inf●icting hand was then a stranger to his peacefull land : peace was ent●yl'd upon his royall thron● ; his land had plenty , when the world had none ; his full desiers over-flowd their brim , favo●rs cam● downe unask●t , unsought by him : his scepter florish'd , from a god unknown● , no need to tro●ble any of his owne : while ioseph liv'd , his blessings had no end ; that god was his , whil'st he was iosephs frend : these temp'rall blessings heav'n doth , often , share vnto the wicked , at the good-mans prayer : but ioseph dyes : and ios●phs sons must fall beneath their burthens , and be scourg'd withall ; whilst tyrant pharoh's more severer hand keeps them laborious pris'ners in his land : god oft permits his children to be hurld into distresse , to weane them from the world : but pharohs blessings alter with his brow ; the budding scepter 's turn'd a serpent now : his land must groan ; her plagues must still encrease , till iacobs off-spring shall find iacobs peace ; gods children are the apples of his eye , whose touch is death , if beeing toucht , they cry : now tyrant pharoh dares no longer chuse , israel must goe : pharoh , repents , pursues ; pharoh wants brick ; pharoh , ere long , i feare , will find the purchase of his brick too deare : moses holds forth his rod : the seas divide ; the waves are turn'd to walls on either side : they passe secure ; pharoh pursues them still : god leaves his children to the brunt of ill : the chariot - wheeles flye off , the harnesse cracks ; one wants a nayle ; the next , a hammer lacks : how man is cross'd and puzzel'd in that plot , where heav'n denyes successe , and prospers not ! moses holds forth his rod : the easterne wind calls backe the tydes : the parted waters ioynd , and overwhelmd great pharo and pharoes host ; none scap'd to ●ell the newes : all drownd , and lost : thus thrives rebellion : plagues , nor doing good , oft-times conclude their ceremony in blood : thus hardned hearts grow more and more obdure ; and heav'n cuts off , when earth is most secure . . on the first born● . the fir●● borne of th' egyptians all were slaine , from him that holds the scepter to the swayne : but all that are first-borne in israel , be accepted , lord , and sancti●ied to thee : thy lookes are always turn'd upon the prime of all our actions , words , our thoughts , our time ; thy pleased eye is fixt upon the first ; and from the womb w' are thine , or else accurst . . on baptized infants . i dare not judge those iudgements , ill advis'd , that hold such infants sa●'d , as dye , baptiz'd . what hinders life ? originall hath bin new was●t away ; there 's yet , no actuall sin : death is th' effect of sin : the cause being gon , what ground is lef● for death to worke upon ? i know not : but of israels sons 't is found , moses was sav'd ; i read that none was drownd . . on the grumbling israelites . no sooner out , but grumble ? is the brick so soone forgotten ? 't is a common trick : serve god in plenty ? egypt can doe thus ▪ no thankes to serve our god , when god serves us : some sullen curres , when they perceive a bone , will wagg their tayles and faune ; but snarle , if none . . on mans rebellion . o , how perverse is flesh and bloud ! in whom rebellion blossomes from the very wombe ! what heav'n commands , how lame we are to do ! and things forbid how soone perswaded t● we never read rebellio●s israel did bow to strange gods , till israel was forbid . . on israel . had israel , in her want , been truely humbled , isr'el had prayd , & ground to heav'n ; not grumbled : but isr'el wanted food . isr'els complaint could not be servent , isr'el being faint : isr'el gets food : now isr'el is so full , that her devotion , and her zeale is dull : lord when art thou in season ? when 's the time , to doe thee service ? when 's our zeale in prime ? 't is alwayes either not full ripe or wasting : we can not serve our god nor full nor fasting . . on the sinners refuge . he that shall shed , with a presumptuous hand , the blood of man ; must , by thy just command be put to death : the murtherer must dye ; thy law denyes him refuge where to flye : great god our hands have slain a man ; nay further , they have commit●ed a presumptuous murther , vpon a guiltles man ; na● , what is worse , they have betraid our brother to the curse of a reproachfull death ▪ nay , what exceeds , it is our lord , our dying saviour bleeds : nay more ; it is thy son ; thy only son ; all this have we , all this our hands have done : on what deare obiects shall we turne our eye ? looke to the law ? o , by the law , we dye : is there no refuge , lord ? no place that shall secure our soules from death ? a● , none at all ? what shall poore mortals do ? thy lawes are j●st , and most irrevocable : shall we trust or flye to our owne merits , and ●e freed by our good workes ? i ; there were helpe indeed ! is there no city for a soule to flye , and save it selfe : must we resolve to dye ? o infinite ! o ( not to be exprest ? ) nay , not to be conceived by the brest of men or angels ! o transcendent love ! incomprehensible ! as farre above the reach of man , as mans deserts are under the sacred benefit of so ●lest a wonder ! that very blood our sinfull hands have shed , cryes loud for mercy , and those wounds do plead for those that made them : he that pleades , forgives ; and is both god and man ; both dead , and lives ; he , whom we murther'd , is become our g●arden ; hee 's man , to suffer ; and hee 's god to pardon : here 's our protection ; here , our refuge city , whose living springs run piety and pitty : goe then , my soule , and passe the common bounds of passion , goe , and kneele before his wounds ; go touch them with thy lips : thou needst not feare ; they will not bleed afresh , though thou be there : but if they doe , that very blood , thou spilt , beleev 't , will plead thy pardon , not thy guil● . . on the deposing of princes . i know not by what vertue rome deposes a christian prince : did aaron command moses ? if sacred scriptures mention such a thing , sure rome has colour to depose a king. . on peters keyes . the pow'r of peter does all pow'r excell ; he opens heav'n ; he shuts the doores of hell : the keyes are his ; in what a ●a●e were they , should peters● successors mist●ke the k●y ? . on offrings . are all such offrings , as are crusht , and bruis'd , forbid thy altar ? may they not be us'd ? and must all broken things be set apart ? no , lord : thou wilt accept a broken heart . on vsurers . of all men , vs'rers are not least accurst ; they robb the spittle , pinch th' afflicted worst . in others griefe they 'r most delighted in ; whilst givers suffer for the takers sin : o how unjust a trade of life is that , which makes the lab'rers leane ; and th' idle , fat ! . on repentance . canst th●● recover thy consumed flesh , from the well-feasted wormes ? or put on fresh ? canst thou redeeme thy ashes from the dead ? or quit thy carkas from her sheet of lead ? canst thou awaken thy earth-closed eyes ? vnlock thy marble monument , and rise ? all this thou mayst performe , with as great ease , as to repent thee , mortall , when thou please : it is thy grave , not bed that thou art in : th' art not asleepe , but thou art dead in sin. . on wine and water . nature and grace , who ever tasted both , differ as much , as wine and water doth : this clenses , ( if not grosly stayn'd with sin ) the outward man : but scowers not , within : that cheares the heart , & makes the courage bold , quickens and warmes dead spirits that are cold : it fires the blood , and makes the soule divine : o ●hat my water , lord , were turnd to wine ! . on balams asse . the asse , that for her slownesse , was ●orbid to be imployed in gods service , did per●orme good service now , in being slow : the asse received stripes , but would not goe : she bau●kd the way , and balam could not guid her : the asse had farre more wisedome then the rider : the message being bad , the asse was loth to be the bearer : 't was a happy sloth ; 't was well for balam : had his asse but tryde another step , balam had surely dy'd : poore asse ! and was thy faithfull service payd with oft-repeated strokes ? hadst thou obayd , thy lord had bought thy travell , with his blood : such is mans payment , often , bad for good : the asse begins to question with his master , argues the case , pleads why he went no faster : nay , shewes him myst'ries , far beyond his reach ▪ sure , godwants prophets , when dull asses preach : the asse perceives the angel , and fals downe ; when balam sees him not ; or ●ees , unknowne : nor is 't a wonder : for gods spirit did passe from blindfold balam , into balams asse . . on some raw divines . some raw divines , no sooner are espous'd to their first wives , and in the temple hous'd , but straight the peace is broke : they now begin t' appoint the field , to fight their battailes in : school-men must war with school men ; text with text : the first 's the chaldee's paraphrase ; the next the septuagints : opinion thwarts opinion ; the papist holds the first ; the last , th' arminian ; and then the councells must be call'd t'advice , what this of lateran sayes ; what that of nice : and here the poynt must be anew disputed ; arrius is false ; and bellarmine's confuted : thus with the sharpe artill'ry of their wit , they shoot at random , carelesse where they hit : the slightly studied fathers must be prayd , although on small acquaintance , in to ayd , whose glorious varnish must impose a glosse vpon their paint , whose gold must gild their drosse : now martine luther must be purg'd by them , from all his errors , like a school-boyes theame ; free-wil's disputed , consubstantiation ▪ and the deepe ocean of predestination , where , daring venter , oft , too far into 't , they , pharo like , are drownd both horse and foot : forgetting that the sacred law enioynes new-married men to sit beneath their vines , and cheare their wives : they must not venter out to warre , untill the yeare be run about . . on buying of the bible . t is but a folly to rejoyce , or boast , how smal a price , thy wel-bought pen'worth cost : vntill thy death , thou shalt not fully know whether thy purchase be good cheap , or no ; and at that day , beleev 't , it will appeare , if not extreamely cheape , extreamely deare . . on the buying of the new testament . reader , if thou wilt prove no more then what i terme thee , ev'n before thou aske the price , turne backe thine eye ; if otherwise , unclaspe , and buy : know then , the price of what thou buy'st , is the deare blood of iesus christ ; which price is over-deare to none , that dares protect it with his owne : if thou stand guilty of the price , ev'n save thy purs-strings , and be wise : thy mony will but , in conclusion , make purchase of thy owne confusion : but if that guilt be done away , thou mayst as safely buy , as pay . . to my booke . my little pinnace , strike thy sayles , let slippe thy anchor ? the vvin●e fayles : and sea-men oft , in calmes doe feare that foule , and boy ●●rous ●●ather's neare ; if a 〈◊〉 storme should rise and bl●●●er from censorious eyes , although the swelling vva●es be rough , and proud , thy 〈◊〉 sa●e enough : rest , rest a while , ●ill ●bbing tides shall make thee stanch , and breme thy sides ; when vvinds shall serve , hoyst up thy sayle , and flye before a prosp'rous gale ▪ that all the coasters may resort , and bid thee welcome to thy port . the end of the first booke . divine fancies . the second booke . . to almighty god. lord , thou requir'st the first of all our time , the first of all our actions , and the prime of all our thoughts ; and , lord , good reason , we , when thou giv'st all , should give the first to thee : but o , we often rob thee of thy due , like elies children , whom thy vengeance slue : we pinch thy offring to enlarge our fee ; we keepe the fat , and carve the leane to thee : we thrust our three-tooth'd flesh-hook in thy pot , that only , what the flesh-hook taketh not , we share to thee : lord , we are still deceiving ; we take the prime , and feed thee with our leaving : our sluttish bowles are cream'd with soile & filth , our wheat is full of chaffe ; of tares , our tilth : lord , what in flesh and blood can there be had , that 's worth the having , when the best is bad , here 's nothing good , unlesse thou please to make it ; o , then , if ought be worth the taking , take it . . on gods dyet . deare lord ; when wee approch thy sacred fire , to burne our sacrifice , thou do'st require the heads of ev'ry beast that dyes ; the hearts ; th'enclosed fat● ; and all the inward parts : our senses and our memories must be , all set apart and sanctifi'd to thee ; the strength of our desires , the best perfections of our imperfect wills , the choyce aflections of our refined hearts must all conjoyne to seeke thy glory : they must all be thine : i know thy dyet , lord ; of all the rest , thou do'st affect the head and pur●nance , best . . on moses birth and death . vve read ; no sooner new-borne moses crept into this vale of teares , but th'infant wept ; but , being warned of his death , his last , we find it storied , that he sung as fast : these sev'rall passions found their reason , why ; he dy'd to live , but he was borne to dye : to whom this transitory life shall bring just cause to weepe ; there , death gives cause to sing . . on ieptha's vow . victorious ieptha , could thy zeale allow no other way , then by a rash-made vow , t' expresse thy thanks ? a vow , whose undertaking was ev'n a sin more odious , then the making : 't was cruell piety that taught thee how to paddle in thy da●ghters blood : but thou , vnlucky virgin ! was there none to ●e ▪ betwixt thy fathers mortall brow ▪ and thee ? why cam'st thou forth , sweet virgin ? to what end mad'st thou such needlesse hast ? thou cam'st , to lend thy filiall triumph to thy fathers wreath ; thou thought'st to meet a blessing , and not death : rash ieptha ▪ may not thy repentance quit that vow , when rashnesse was the cause of it ? o canst thou not dispence with that , wherein ▪ thy strict religion 's a presumptuous sin ? is she unhappy , or thou cruell rather ? vnhappy child ▪ and too too cruell father . . on jesus and sampson . an angel did to m●no●hs wife appeare , and brought the news her barren womb should beare : did not another angel , if not he , thrice blessed virgin , bring the same to thee ? the wife of m●no●h ( nine moneths being run ) her he●v'n-saluted womb brought forth a son : to thee , sweet virgin , full of grace and heaven , a child was borne , to us a son was given : the name of hers was sampson , borne to fight for captiv'd israel , and a nazarite : thine was a naz'rite too , and bor●e to ease us from sathans bur●hens , and his name is iesus : s●●pson espons'd , and tooke in marriage her that was the child of an idolater ; our iesus tooke a wife , that bow'd the knee and ●orshipt unknown● 〈◊〉 ; as well as she : assaulted sa●pso● me● , and had to doe vvith ● fierce lyon ; ●oyld , and 〈◊〉 him too : our conquering iesus purchas'd higher fame ; his arme encountred death ▪ and overcame ▪ 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 but what ! is sampson singular in this ? did not our iesus doe the like to his ? sampson propounds a riddle , and does hide the folded myst'ry in his faithles bride : our blessed iesus propounds riddles too , too hard for man , his bride unsought , t' undoe : the bride forsakes her sampson ; do's betroth her to a new love , and falsly weds another : and did not the adult'rous iewes forgoe their first love iesus , and forsake him too ? displeased sampson had the choyce to wed the younger sister in the elders stead : displeased jesus had espous'd the younger ; god send her fairer ; and affections stronger : sampson sent foxes on his fiery errant , among their corn , & made their crim●s his warrant : offended jesus shewes as able signes of wrath : his foxes have destroyd their vines : our sampsons love to delilah was such , that for her sake poore sampson suffer'd much : our jesus had his delilah : for her his soule became so great a s●ff●r●r . sampson was s●bject to their scorne and shame : and was not jesus even the very same ? sampson's betrayd to the philistians hands , vvas bound a while , but quickly brake his bands : jesus the first , and s●cond day , could be the graves clos● pris'ner ; but , the third was free : in this they differ'd ; jesus dying breath cry'd out for life ; but sampsons cald for death : father forgive them ; did our jesus crye ; but sampson , let me be reveng'd and dye : since then , sweet saviour , t is thy death must ease us , we flye from sampson , and appeale to iesus . . on elyes double ●ensure . vvhen barren hanna , prostrate on the floore , in heat of zeale and passion , did implore redresse from heav'n , censorions ely thought she had beene drunk , and checkt her for her fault ; rough was his censure , and his check , aus●ere ; where mildnesse should be us'd , w' are oft severe . but when his lustfull sonnes , that could abuse the house of god , making her porch their stues , appear'd before him , his indulgent tongue compounded rather then rebuk'd the wrong ; he dare not shoot , for feare he wound his childe ; where we should be severe , w' are oft too milde : vnequall ely ! was thy sentence iust , to censure zeale , and not to punish lust ? could thy parentall mildnesse but have past the former by as eas'ly , as the last , or had the last , by just proportion , bin rated but like the first supposed sin , perchance thy aged head had found encrease of some few dayes , and gone to sleepe , in peace : passions misplac'd are dangerous : let all remember elies faults , with elies fall. . on the refining of gold. hast thou observed how the curious hand of the refiner seekes to understand the inadult'rate purenesse of his gold ? he waighs it first , and after does infold in lead ; and then , commits it ●o the fire ; and , as the lead consumes , the gold drawes ●igher to his perfection , without wast or losse of his pure substanc● , but his waight , his drosse : the great refiner of mans baser heart vses the like , nay showes the selfe-same art ; he weighs it , first , and finding it too full of trash and earth , he wraps it in some dull and leaden crosse , of punishment , or sin ; then , tryes it in afflictions fire ; wherein , the lead and drosse evaporate together , and leaves the heart refin'd , and quit of ●ither : thus though mans heart be lessen'd by the crosse , and lighter ; 't is but lighter by the drosse . . on dagon and the arke . what newes with dagon ? is thy shrine so hot , thou canst not keepe it ? or has dagon got the falling sicknes , that his godship's found on such a posture , prostrate on the gro●nd ? poore helplesse god! but stay ! is dagon growne so weake ith'hamms : nor stand , nor rise , alone ? a god , and cannot rise ? t is very odde ! he must have help , or lye : a proper god! well , dagon must requier helpe of hands ; vp dagon go●s the second time , and stands as confident as though his place had bin his owne , in fee : downe dagon falls agin : but dagon's shrewdly martyr'd with the jumpe , lost hands and head ; and nothing left but stumpe : sure , all 's not well with dagon , now a late ; hee 's either sicke , or much forgot the state , belonging to so great a god : has none offer'd some stinking sacrifice , or blowne some nauseous fume into his sacred nose , and made his god-ship dizzy ? or who knowes , perchance h 'as taken pett , and will resigne his sullen place , and quitt his empty shrine : no wonder , a false god should stoope , and lye vpon the floore when as a true god's by : it was unlikely dagon should forbeare respite of homage , when the arke was there : if i would worship a false god at all , it should be one that would not scorne to fall before his betters : whose indiff'rent arme , if it could doe no good , could doe no harme ; i 'd rather choose to bend my idle knee , of all false gods , to such a god as hee , whose spirit 's not too quick : the fabulous frogg found greater danger in the stork , then logge : and to conclude , i 'd choose him , dagon-like , not having head , to plot ; nor hand , to strike . . on saul and david . svre , saul as little lookd to be a king , as i : and david dreamd of such a thing , as much as he ; when both alike did keepe , the one his fathers asses ; t'other , sheepe : saul must forsake his whip : and david flings his crooke aside ; and they must both be kings : saul had no sword ; and david , then , no speare , there was none conquer'd , nor no conqu'ror there ; there was no sweat ; there was no blood , to shed ; the unsought crowne besought the wearers head ; there was no stratagem ; no opposition ; no taking parts ; no jealous competition : there needs no art ; there needs no sword to bring , and place the crown , where god appoints the king. . on david and goliah . sathan's the great goliah , that so boasts and threats our israel , and defyes her hosts : those smoother stones couragious david tooke from the soft bosome of the silver brooke , are scriptum ests : the sling , that gives them flight , is faith ; that makes them flye , and flye aright : lord , lend me davids sling , and then i know , i shall have davids strength and courage too ; give me but skill to pick such stones , as these , and i will meet goliah , when he please . . on sauls witch . when saul receiv'd no answer down frō heav'n how quickly was his jealous passion driven a despr'ate course ! he needs must cure the itch of his extreame desiers , by a witch : when wee have lost our way to god , how levell , how easie to be found 's the way toth ' divell . . on the necessity of gods presence . vvhen thou wert present with thy strengthning grace , saul prophesied , and fought : but when , great god , thou didst with-draw thy face , murther was in his thought : thus , as thou giv'st , or tak'st away thy hand , we either fall , or stand . . davids epitaph on jonathan . here lyes the fairest flowre , that stood ▪ in isr'els garden ; now , in blood ; which , death to make her girland gay , hath cropt , against her triumph day : here , here lies hee , whose actions pen'd the perfect copie of a frend : whose milke-white vellam did incurre no least suspition of a blurre : here lyes th' example of a br●ther , not to be follow'd by another ; the faire indented counter-part of davids joy , of davids heart : rest then ; for ●ver , rest alone ; thy ashes can be touch'd by none , till death hath pickt one such another : here lyes a flow'r , a friend , a brother . . on gods word . gods sacred w●rd is like the lampe of day , which softens wax , but makes obdure the clay ; it either melts the heart , or more obdures ; it never falls in vaine ; it wounds , or cures : lord , make my brest thy hive , and then i know , thy bees will bring in waxe and honey too . . on man. by nature , lord , men worse then nothing be ; and lesse then n●thing , if compar'd with thee ; if lesse and worse then nothing , tell me than , where is that s●mthing , thou so boasts , proud man ? . on ahaz●diall mans heart 's like ahaz diall ; if it flees not forward ; it goes backward ten degrees . . on lust. lvst is an ignis fatuus , that arises from the base earth , that playes her wanton prizes , in solitary hearts , and ever haunts darke places , whose deceitfull flame inchaunts the wandring steps of the diverted stranger , still tempting his mis-guided feet to danger : she never leaves , till by her faire delusion , shee brings him headlong to his owne confusion . . on thamar and ammon . she must be lov'd ; then courted ; and what more ? enjoy'd ; then hated ; then expeld the dore : ammon must be discov'red ; must obtaine license to feast ; and then , be drunke ; then slaine : o what repose is had in sinfull breath , whose love , in hate ; whose mirth cōcludes in death ! . on love and lust. they 'r wide , that take base lust , for loves halfe-brother , yeelding two fathers , but the selfe same mother : lust is a monster , that 's conceiv'd and bred of the abused will ; maintain'd , and fed with sensuall thoughts ; of nature rude , uncivill ; of life , robustious ; and whose sire 's the devill : but love 's the childe of th' uncorrupted will , nourisht with vertue , poys'ned with the swill of base respects ; of nature , sweet and milde ; in manners , gentle ; eas'ly knowne ▪ whose childe ; for , by the likenesse , ev'ry eye may gather , that he 's the off-spring of a heav'nly father : this , suffers all things ; that , can suffer nothing ; this , never ends ; that , ever ends in loathing : t'one loves the darknesse most : the other , light : the last's the childe of day ; the first , of night ; the one is meeke ; the other , full of fyre ; this never laggs ; that ever apt to tyre ; t'one's rash and furious ; t'other milde and sage ; that dies with youth ; whilst this survives with age ; the one's couragious ; tother full of feares ; that seekes ; the other baulks both eyes and eares : in briefe , to know them both aright , and misse not ; in all respects , t'one is , what to'ther is not : so farre from brothers , that they seeme disioyn'd , not in condition only , but in kinde : admit a falshood : that they had one mother , the best that l●st can claime 's a bastard brother ▪ great god , must thou be conscious of that name , which jealous mortals ●ount the height of shame ? and not thy nuptiall bed alone defil'd , but to be charged with the base-borne childe ? and yet not mov'd ? and yet not move thy rod ? hast thou not cause to be a iealous god ? can thy just iealousies , great god , be grounded on mans disloyalty , not man confounded ? . on a tinder-boxe . my soule is like to tinder , whereinto the devill strikes a sparke , at ev'ry blow ; my heart 's the flint ; the steele temptation is ; and his suggestions hit , and never misse : his hand is sure ; my tinder apt to catch , soone sets on fier ev'ry profer'd match . . on achitophel . sage were thy counsels , and as well apply'd , if thou hadst had but loyalty on thy side : i like thy last designe ( above the rest ) when thou hadst set thy house in order , best ; in all exploits , the rule is not so ample , not halfe so beneficiall as th' example : th' almighty prosper christian crownes ; and blesse all such like counsels , with the like successe : confound achitophel : and , lord , impart his head to us ; and to our foes , his heart . . on sinne. vnhappy man ! whos 's every breath is sin : whos 's every sin is death : sin , first originall ; then our actuall sin : our sins that sally forth : our sins that lurk within , our wilfull sins ; and worlds of sins , by chance , our conscious sins ; our sins of darker ignorance , our o●t-repeated sins●never ●never reckon'd : gainst the first table sins : sins done against the second , our pleading sins ; our sins without a cause : our gospel - sins ; reb●llious sins against thy laws : our sins against our vowes ; fresh sins agin : sin of infirmity ; and high presumptious sin : thus like our lines , our lives begin , continue , and conclude in sin : ▪ on the sun and starres . ovr dying saviour's like the setting sun ; his saints , on earth , are like the stars of night : experience tels us , till the sun be gon , the starres appeare not ▪ and retaine no light : till sun-set we descerne no starres at all , and saints receive their glory , in his fall : . on absolon and sampson . sampsons defect ▪ and thy excesse of hayre , gave him his death , oth'ground ; thee , thine i th' ayre ; his thoughts were too deprest ; thine sor'd too high ; as mortals live , so oftentimes , they die : . on gods favour . gods favour 's like the sun , whose beams appeare to all that dwell in the worlds hemispheare , though not to all alike ▪ to some they expresse themselves more radiant , and to others ; lesse : to some , they rise more early ; and they fall more late to others , giving day to all : some soyle's more grosse , and breathing more impure and earthy vapours forth , whose foggs obscure the darkned medium of the moister aire ; whilst other soiles , more perfect , yield more rare and purer fumes ; whereby , those beames appeare , to some , lesse glorious ; and to some , more cleare : it would be ever day ; day , alwayes bright , did not our interposed earth make night : the sun shines alwayes strenuous and faire , but , ah ▪ our sins , our clouds benight the ayre : lord , drayne the fenns of this my boggy soule , whose grosser vapours make my day so foule ; thy son hath strength enough to chase away these rising foggs , and make a glorious day : rise , and shine alwayes cleare ; but most of all , let me behold thy glory , in thy fall ; that being set , poore i ( my flesh being hurld from this ) may meet thee , in another world . . on a spirituall feaver . my soule hath had a fever , a long while ; o , i can neither rellish , nor digest , my nimble pulses beat ; my veynes doe boile : i cannot close mine eyes , i cannot rest : o , for a surgeon , now , to strike a vaine ! that , that would lay my heate , and ease my paine : no , no , it is thy blood , and not my owne , thy blood must cure me , iesus , or else none . . on davids ●hoise . famine ? the sword ? the pestlence ? which is least , when all are great ? which worst , when bad 's the best ? it is a point of mercy , yet , to give a choise of death to such , as must not live : but was the choise so hard ? it seemes to me , there was a worse , and better of the three , though all extreame : me thinks , the helpe of hands might swage the first ; the bread of forraine lands might patch their lives , & make some slender shift to save a while , with necessary thrift : me thinks , the second should be lesse extreame then that ; alas ! poore israel could not dreame of too much peace , that had so oft division among themselves , and forrain opposition : besides , their king was martiall ; his acts glorious ; his heart was valiant , and his hand victorious ; me thinks a conquerour ; a man o th' sword should nere be puzzeld a● so poore a word : in both , however , david , at the worst , might well presume he should not die the first ▪ but oh , the plague's impartiall , it respects no quality of person , age , nor sex : the royall brest 's as open to her hand as is the loosest pesant in the land : famin ? the sword ? the pest'lence ? david free , to take his choice ? and pick the worst of three ? he that gave david power to re●use , instructed david , in the art to chuse ; he knew no forrain kingdōe could afford supply , where god makes dearth : he knew the sword would want an arm ; the arm would want her skill ; and skill , successe , where heav'n prepares to kill : he knew ▪ there was no trust , no safe recourse to martiall man , or to his warlike horse ; but it is thou , great god ▪ the only close of his best thoughts , and the secure repose of all his trust ; he yields to kisse thy rod ; israel was thine , and thou art israels god : he kn●w thy gratious wont , thy wonted grace ; he knew , thy mercy tooke the upper place of all thy attributes ; 't was no adventure to cast himselfe on thee , the only center of all his hopes ; thy david kn●w the danger to fall to th' hands of man ; or frend , or stranger : thus davids filiall hopes , being anchor'd fast on gods knowne mercy , wisely ●hose the last : if thou wilt give me davids heart : i le voyce , great god , with david ; and make davids choyce : but stay ; deare lord , my tongue 's too bold , too free , to speake of choyce , that merits all the three . . on mans unequall division . lord , 't is a common course ; w' are apt and free to take the best , and share the worst to thee : we fleet the mornings for our owne designe ; perchance , the flotten afternoones are thine : thou giv'st us silke ; we offer cammills hayre . thy blessings march i th' front ; our thanks , i th' reare ▪ . on beggers . no wonder that such swarmes of beggers lurke in every street : 't is a worse trade to worke then begge : yet some , if they can make but shift to live , will thinke it scorne to thrive by gift ; 't is a brave mind ; but yet no wise fore●cast ; it is but pride , and pride will stoope at last ; we all are beggers ; should be so , at least ; alas ! we cannot worke : the very best our hands can doe , will not maintaine to live ; vve can but hold them up , whilst others give : no shame for helples man , to pray in aid ; great sol'mon scornd not to be free o' th' trade ; he begg'd an almes and blusht not ; for the boone he got , was tr●ble fairer then his crowne : no wonder that he thriv'd by begging , so ; he was both begger and a chuser too : o who would trust to worke , that may obtaine the suit he beggs , without or sweat , or paine ! o what a priviledge , great god , have we , that have the honour , but to begge on thee ! thou dost not ●right us with the tort'ring whips of bedels ; nor dost answere our faint lips with churlish language ; lord , thou dost not praise the stricter statute of last henries dayes : thou dost not dampe us with the empty voyce of nothing for yee : if our clam'rous noyse should chance t' importune , turn'st thy gracious eye vpon our wants , and mak'st a quick supply : thou dost not brand us with th'opprobrious name of idle vagabonds : thou know'st w' are lame , and can●ot worke ; thou dost not , pharo-like , deny us straw , and yet requier brick : thou canst not heare us grone beneath our taske , but freely giv'st , what we have faith to aske : the most , for which my large desire shall plead , to serve the present's but a loafe of bread , or but a token ( ev'n as beggers use ; ) that , of thy love , will fill my slender cruse : lord , during life , i le begge no greater boone , if at my death , thou 'lt give me but a crowne . . on the two children . my flesh and spirit , lord , are like those payre of infants , whose sad mothers did repayre to iustice : t'one is quick ; the other dead : the two promiscuous parents that doe plead for the live childe , is thee and sathan , lord : both claime alike ; iustice cals forth the sword , and seeing both , with equall teares , complaine , proffers to cleave the children both in twaine ▪ and make them equall sharers in the same that both doe challenge , and what both disclaime : sathan applaudes tho motion , and replyde ; nor thine , nor mine , but let them both divide ; and give alike to both : but thou , deare lord , dislik'st the iustice of th'unequall sword : rather then share it dead , thou leav'st to strive , and wilt not own't at all , if not alive : the sword 's put up , & straight condemnes the other to be the false ; calls thee , the nat'rall mother : lord of my soule : it is but sathans wilde , to cheate thy bosome of thy living childe ; hee 'd have the question by the sword decided , knowing the soule 's but dead , if once divided : my better part is thine , and thine alone ; take thou the flesh , and let him gnaw the bone : . on two mysteries . a perfect virgin , to bring forth a son ! one , three entyre ; and three , entirely one ! wonder of wonders ! how might all this come ? we must be deafe , when th' holy spirit 's dumb ; spare to enquire it : thou shalt never know , till heav'n dissolve , and the last trump shall blow . . a forme of prayer . if thou wouldst learne , not knowing how , to pray , adde but a faith , and say as beggers say ; master , i 'm poore , and blinde , in great distresse ; hungry and ●ame , and cold , and comfortlesse : o , succour him , that 's graveld on the shelf of payne , and want , and cannot help himself ; cast downe thine eye upon a wretch ▪ and take some pitty on me for sweet iesus sake : but hold ! take heed this clause be not put in , i never begg'd before , nor will agin : note this withall , that beggers move their plaints at all times ore tenus , not by saints . . on solomon and the queene of sheba . it spreds : the sweet perfume of salomons fame affects the coasts ; and his illustrious name cannot be hid : the unbeliev'd report must flye with eagles wings to th'honourd court of princely sheba : sheba must not rest , vntill her eye become th'invited guest of fames loud trumpet ; her impatience strives with light-foot time , while her ambition drives her chariot wheeles , and gives an ayry passage to'th'quick deliv'ry of her hearts embassage : true wisdome planted in the hearts of kings , needs no more glory then the glory'it brings ; and , like the sun , is viewd by her owne light , b'ing , by her owne reflection , made more bright : the emulous queen 's arriv'd ; shee 's gon toth ' court ; no eye-delighting masque ? no princely sport , to entertaine her ? no , her ●ye , her eare is taken up , and scornes to see , to heare inferiour things : sh'allowes her eare , her eye no lesse then oracles , and maiestie : how , empty pastimes doe resolve and flye to their true nothing , when true wisdome's by ! th'arrived queene has audience ; moves ; disputes ; wise solomon attends ; replyes ; confutes ; sh' objects ; he answers ; she afresh propounds ; she proves ; maintaines it ; he decides ; confounds : she smiles ; she wonders , being overdaz'd with his bright beams , stands silent ; stands amaz'd : how scripture-like apo●rypha's appeare to common bookes ! how poore , when scripture's neare ! the queene is pleas'd , who , never yet did know the blast of fame , lesse prodigall , then now ; for now , the greatest part of what she knew by fame , is found the least of what is true ; we often finde that fame , in prime of youth , does adde to falshood , and subtract from truth : the thankfull queene do's , with a lib'rall hand , present him with the riches of her land : where wisdome goes before we often finde that temp'rall blessings seldome stay behinde : lord , grant me wisdome ; and i shall possesse enough ; have more , or have content with lesse . . on rehoboam . could dying parents , at their peacefull death , make but a firme assurance , or bequeath their living vertues ; could they recommend their wisdome to their heyrs ; could hearts descend vpon the bosome of succeeding sons , as well as scepters doe ; as well as th●●nes ; sure rehobeams reigne had found increase of love and honour , and had dyed in peace : kingdomes are transitory : scepters goe frō hand , to hand , and crownes , from brow , to brow , but wis●dome marches on another guize : they●● two things ; to be worldly great , and wise ; it was the selfe same scepter that came downe from solomon to thee : the selfe same crowne , that did encl●se his princely browes , and thine ; th● 〈◊〉 same flesh and blood , the next o'th'line ; the selfe same people were alive , to blesse the prosp'rous dayes ; but not the same successe : where reste the fault ? what secret mischiefe can vn-same thy peace ? 't was not the selfe same man. . on the prophet slaine by a lyon. t was not for malice ; not for want of food , the obvious lyon shed this prophets blood : where faithlesse man neglects the sacred law of god ; there , beasts abate their servile awe to man : when man dares take a dispensation , by sin , to frustrate th' end of mans creation , the beasts , oft-times , by mans example , doe renounce the end of their creation too : the prophet must abstaine : he was forbid ; he must not eate : and yet the prophet did : th'obedient lyon had command to shed that prophets blood : and see , the prophet's dead : o , how corrupt's the nature of mans will , that breaks those lawes which very beasts fulfill ! . on ahab . how ah●b longs ! ahab must be possest of naboths vineyard , or can find no rest : his tongue must second his unlawfull eye : ahab must sue : and naboth must denye : ahab growes sullen ; he can eat no bread ; his body prostrates on his restlesse bed : vnlawfull lust immoderate often brings a loathing in the use of lawfull things : ahabs defier must not be with-stood , it must be purchas'd , though with naboths blood ; witnesse must be suborn'd : naboth must lie open to law ; must be condemn'd ; and dye : his goods must be confiscate to the crowne ; now ahab's pleas'd ; the vineyard's now his owne ▪ vnlawfull pleasures , when they jostle further then ordinary bounds ; oft end in murther . me thinkes , the grapes that cluster from that vine , should ( being prest ) afford more blood then wine . . on rehoboam . people have balances ; wherein to weigh their new-crown'd princes ; which can soone bewray their native worth : some counterpoyse th'allow : vnhappy israel had not weights enow , to weigh thy fingers ▪ heads can never rest in peace , when their poore members are opprest : had thy unlucky fingers weigh'd no more then thy light iudgement ; had thy judeement bore but halfe the burthen of thy fingers weight , thou hadst bin prosp'rous , both in crowne , and state : the lyon's knowne by 's paw ; the people spends their judgement of a prince by 's fingers ends . . on leprous naaman . the leper , prompted with his lothsome griefe , seekes to the king of israel for reliefe : but naaman's vayne desiers could not thrive ; israel's no god ; to hill , or make alive : the morall man is of too meane a stature , to reach his hand above the head of nature : the willing prophet undertakes the cure ; the leper must goe wash , and be secure from his disease : he must goe paddle straight , in iordan's water : 't is a faire receipt : and why in iordan ? have our syrian streames lesse pow'r then isr'els ? sure the prophet dreames : how hard it is for mortals to rely on faith ! how apt is sense , to question , why ? the cure perpl●xes more then the disease ; prophets prescribe no better meanes then these ? i lookd his ceremonious hand should stroke the place ; i look'd the prophet should invoke : some men would faine he cleane , if god would stay their times , or would but cure them their owne way : the techy leper is displeas'd ; hee 'l hence : the iordan prophet dallyes against sense : his wiser servants urge their hasty lord to iordan's streames : he washes ; is restor'd ▪ how good a god have we , whose grace fulfils our choyce desires oft-times against our wills ! the leper's clens'd ; and now he dos applaud not isr'els streames alone , but isr'els god : the prophet must have thanks , and gold beside ; the thanks are taken , but the gold 's deny'd : who would not deale with thee , that are not nice , to sell such pen'worths at so small a price ! naaman , in lieu of his refus'd reward , vowes the true god ; provided , when his lord shall serve i th house of rimmon , if he bow for fashion-sake , he may secure his vow : some will not stick to lend their god a house , might they reserve one roome for their owne use : gehazi thinks the cure too cheape ; he soone oretakes the lepers chari●t , asks a boone i' th' prophets name : but marke what did befall ; he got his boone ; but got his plague withall : vnlawfull gaines are least what they appeare , and ill got gold is a alwayes bought too deare : lord , i did wash in iordan , and was cur'd ; my flesh , that false gehazi , hath procur'd a sinfull purchase , having over-run the clensed naaman of my soule : what 's done by false gehazi , let gehazi beare ; let naamans leprosie alone stick there ; o , clense them both , or if that may not be , lord , strike gehazi ; and keepe naaman free , . on chamber-christians . no matter whether ( some there be that say ) or goe to church , or stay at home , if pray : smiths dainty sermons have , in plenty , stor'd me with better stuffe , then p●lpets can afford me : tell me , why pray'st thou ; heav'n commanded so : art not commanded to his temples too ? small store of manners ! when thy prince bids come , and feast at court ; to say , i 've ●●at at home . . on the widowes cruse . lord , i 'm in debt , and have not where withall to pay : my score is great ; my wealth but small ; my house is poorely furnisht , and my food is slender ; i have nothing that is good : lord , if my wasted fortunes proove no better , my debt is ev'n as desp'rate as the detter : all the reliefe thy servant this long while , hath had , is but a little cruse of oyle ; there 's none will give of almes : i neither get enough to satisfie my wants , nor debt : lord , if thee please to show the selfe same art vpon the slender vessell of my heart , the prophet did , upon the widowes cruse , i shall have oyle to sell , have oyle to use ; so shall my debt be paid , and i go free ; no debt is desp'rate , in respect of thee . . on the swimming axe . the borrow'd axe fell in : 't was lost ; lamented ; the prophet moov'd ; the workman discontented ; a stick he ●ne downe ; and by the prophets hand , throwne in ; the axe did float , and came aland : and why a stick ? had that the pow'r to call the massy ●ron up ? sure , none at all : moses must use his rod ; moses i doubt it , had beene but lame , but impotent without it ; nor could that rod have scourged pharoes land , had it beene waved by an other hand : god often workes by meanes , and yet not so , but that he can , as well without them , too . god can save man without the helpe of man , but will not ; wils not alwaies that he can : something is left for us : we must not lye i th' ditch , and cry , and if we dye we dye : we must not lye like blocks , relying on the workmans axe ; there 's something must be done : the workmans axe perchance had never bin recald againe , if not the sticke throwne in : we must be doing , yet those deeds , as our , have no more native vertue , nay , lesse power to save us , then that sticke had , to recall the axe from the deepe bottome of his fall : i will be doing ; but repose in him ; throw i in sticks : hee 'l make my iron swim . . on baals priests . iehu's crown'd king ; iehu the king must fall to ahabs gods : iehu must worship baal : the gods-divided people must goe call baals sacred priests : iehu must worship baal : none must be left behinde ; they must come all ; iehu must burne a sacrifice to baal : the priests come puffing in ; both great and small must wait on iehu that must worship baal : baals house is fill'd and crouded to the wall with people , that are come to worship baal . what must there now be done ? what offring shall perfume baals nostrils ? ev'n the priests of baal : baals holy temple 's now become a stall of priestly flesh ; of fleshly priests for baal ; how would our gospell flourish , if that all princes , like iehu , would but worship baal ! . on the tempter . how dares thy bandog , lord , presume t' approach into thy sacred pre●ence ? or incroach vpon thy choyce possessions , to devoure thy sporting lambs ? to counterfeit thy po'wr , and to usurpe thy kingdome , ev'n as he were , lord , at least , a substitute to thee ? why dost not rate him ? why does he obtaine such favour to have liberty of his chaine ? have we not enemies to counterbuffe , enow ? is not the flesh , the world enough to foyle us ? this abroad , and that at home ; but must that sathan , must that bandog come t' afflict the weake , and take the stronger side ? o , are there not enow , enow beside ? is there not odds enough , when we have none but mighty foes ; nay , rebels of our owne , beneath a false disguise of love and peace , that still betray us ? are not these , all these sufficient , to encounter and o'rthrow , poore sinfull man ; but must that bandog too , assault us , lord ? we dare not cast our eyes our timorous eyes to heav'n , we dare not rise from off our aking knees , to plead our case , when he can commune with thee face to face ; nay more , were it but possible to doe , would draw thee , lord , to his bold faction too . lord , lend me but thy power to resist what foes thou sendst , and send what foes thou list : it is thy battaile : if thou please to warme my blood , and find the strength , i le find the arme ; march thou i' th' front , i le follow in the reare ; come then ten thousand bandogs , i le not feare . . on a cypher . cyphers to cyphers added , seeme to come ( with those that know not art ) to a great sum : but such as skill in numeration , know , that worlds of cyphers , are but worlds of show : we stand those cyphers , ere since adams fall ; we are but show : we are no summe at all : our bosome-pleasures , and delights , that doe appeare so glorious , are but cyphers too : high-prized honour , friends , this house ; the tother , are but one cypher added to another : reckon by rules of art , and tell me , than , how great is thy estate , ingenious man ? lord , be my figure , then it shall be knowne that i am something : nothing , if alone : i care not in what place , in what degree ; i doe not weigh how small my figure be : but as i am , i haue nor worth , nor vigure : i am thy cypher ; o , be thou my figure . . on haman and mordecay . the king wold fain take rest ; but thought denies to pay her nightly tribute to his eyes : the persian chronicle must be brought , to set his eyes in quiet , till they 'r payd the debt : he turnes the leaves ; the first he lights upon , is the true service mordecay had done : heav'n often works his ends , at such a season , when man has will to banish sense , and reason : his loyall service must be now recall'd to blest remembrance : haman must be call'd to councell ; question'd , but not know the thing the king intends : he must advise the king , what ceremony must be us'd , what cost , what honor , where the king shall honor most ; observe but in the progresse of this story , how god turnes factor for his servants glory : haman perswaded that such honour can fit none but him ; ne'r questions , who 's the man ; his more ambitious thoughts are now providing a horse of state , for his owne princely riding ; in briefe ; his iudgement is , that such a one , must lack no honor , but the royall throne : how apt is man to flatter his owne heart ! how faire a debter to his false desert ! the royall horse is ready , all things fit , that could be broach'd by a vain-glorious wit : haman expects his answere ; his ambition spurrs on , wants nothing but his large commission : haman must haste with all the speed he can , and see it done : but mordecay's the man ▪ god often crownes his servants at their cost , that hate their persons , and disdaine them most : lord , if thou please to make me but thine owne , i shall have honour , spight of honours frowne . . on jobs temptations . god questions sathan : boasts his iobs desert , in the perfection of a simple heart : iobs faith was servent ; sathan was as chill to yeeld it ; but must yeeld against his will ; condemnes it to be servile , to be bought with gods own coyn ? does iob ●erve god for nought ? it is a common trick , the tempter uses , the faith he cannot conquer , he abuses . alas , that faith requires not so much praise , 't is a good faith , as faiths goe now a dayes : is it not strengthen'd by thy indulgent hand , that blest his labours , and inricht his land ? puffe out the fire : his faith will quickly chill : sathan puffe thou ; nay sathan puffe thy will : nor ebbe nor floud of small , or great estate , are certaine badges of gods love or hate : what 's now to doe ? poore iob must be bereaven of all his stronger herds ; fire , sent from heaven , must burne his fruitfull flocks , that none remaine ; his houses fall ; and all his children slaine ; and yet not ●●rse ? alas , poore iob adresses his thoughts to heav'n ; he worships god & blesses ▪ the lively faith that can retaine her god , may groane ; but seldome rav● beneath the rod. but what sayes sathan now ? the hedge is broke , that fenc'd my servant iob : what further cloke for his uprightnesse hath he ? what pretence for his continued love and innocence ? has not thy malice had her owne desire ? 't was soundly puff'd ; thy puffs have blown the ●ire : gods tryals are like bellows : sathan's blower , blowes out false faiths , makes true ones blaze the more . true lord ; his raith is tough : but snailes as well can thrive without , as live within their shell : to save a life who would not lose some skin ? touch but his hornes ; o how hee 'l draw them in sathan i give thy malice leave , be free to peele the barke , but spare to touch the tree . feare not ye little flocke : the greatest ill your foes can doe's to scratch ; they cannot kill . what now 's th'exployt ? afflicted iob does lye , a very hospitall of misery : i thinke , that all the vlcers that have bin in egypt cu●'d , are broken out agin in his distempered flesh ; yet iob is still the very same , nor charg'd his god with ill : a faith that lodges in a double brest , may stand the touch ; none but true faiths the test : if these be flames poore man must swelter in , he needs a world a patience , not to sin . . on bauling curres . i feard the world and i were too acquainted ; i hope my feares are , like her joyes , but painted : had i not bin a stranger , as i past , her bauling curres had never bark'd so fast . . on david . stands it with state , that princely david , who did weare the crown , should play the harper too ? he playes and sings ; his glory ne'r disdaines to dance , and to receive a crowne for 's paines : t is no disparagement , 't is no misprision of state , to play before the great musitian . . on abraham . the word is out : poore abr'am must be gon ; must take his isaak ; take his onely son ; the son of his affection ; him , from whom , from whose blest loynes so many kings must come : ev'n him must abr'am slay , abr'am must rise , and offer isaac a burnt sacrifice . god scornes the offals of our faint desires ; he gives the best , and he the best requires . abr'am forbeares to question ; thinks not good to reason , to advise with flesh and blood ; begs not young isaacks life , nor goes about t'object the law of murther ; makes no doubt : he rises , rises early , leads his son ; hasts where this holy slaughter must be done : where god bids goe , that very breath's a warrant : we must not linger there : haste crownes the arrant . his servants must no further : they must stay : private devotion claimes a private way : they must abide with th' asse , whilst th' aged syre in t'one hand takes the knife : in t'other , fire : the sacred wood of offring must be pil'd on the young shoulders of th'obedient childe : o here mine eye must spend a teare to see thee beare that wood , great god , that , since , bore thee : mistrustles isaac seeing the wood , the fire , the sacrificing knife , begins t' enquire , but where 's the sacred lambe , that must be slaine ? resolved abr'am ( lest the flesh should gaine too much of nature ) sayes not , thou my son art he : but , the almighty will provide ●s one : where god commands , 't is not enough t' effect , but we must baulk th' occasion of neglect . the faithfull abra'm now erects an altar : orders the wood : what tongue can chuse but falter , to tell the rest ? he layes his hands upon his wondring isaac , binds his only son : he layes him downe , unsheath's his priestly knife : vp-heaves his arme , to take his isaacks life . true faith is active : covets to proceed from thought to action ; and from will to deed : before the strengthned stroke had time to fall , a sudden voyce from heav'n cryes hold : recall thy threatning arme , and sheath thy ●oly knife , thy faith has answer'd for thy isaac's life ; touch not the childe ; thy faith is throughly showne , that has not spar'd thine owne , thine onely son : how easie is our god , and liberall , who counts it as don , what we haue will to doe ! . on censorio . censorio takes in hand , by sharp reproofe , to mend his brothers errror , and to snuffe his darkned flame ; and yet censorio's crimes are rankt among the foulest of the times : let none presume , censorio , to controule or top the dim light of anothers soule , if not more pure then him , that is controll'd : the temple-snuffers must be perfect gold. . on mordecay and haman . two steeds appointed were by hamans hand ; the one at grasse ; the other steed did stand in persia's mues : the former was providing for mordecay : the last for hamans riding : but since , in order , last things prove the worst , hamans ambition drove him to the first : but see , proud hamans prouder steed did cast his glorious rider , whilest the iew sits fast : what matter haman ? fortu●● , though no friend of thine , first brought thee to thy iourneyes end . . on three fooles . the wise man sayes , it is a wise mans part , to keepe his tongue close pris'ner in his heart ; if he be then a foole , whose thought denies , there is a god , how desp'rately unwise , how more then foole is he , whose language shall proclaime in publike , there 's no god at all ! what then are they , nay fooles , in what degree , whose actions shall maintain 't ? such fooles are we . . on miserable man. adam , the highest pitch of perfect nature , and lively image of his great creator , declin'd his god ; and , by one sinfull deed , destroy'd himselfe , and ruin'd all his seed : how wretched , then , how desp'rate's our condition , whose ev'ry minute makes a repetition of greater sins , against both light of nature , and grace , against creation and creator ! alas ! we claime not by descent , alone , but adde by hourely purchase of our owne : there is no breach of loyalty , no sin we are imperfect , and unpractis'd in ; shall not a world of sins bring ruine , then , to one ; when one sin slew a world of men ? . on mans two enemies . two potent enemies attend on man ; t'one's fat and plump ; the other leane and wan ; t'one faunes and smiles ; the other weepes as fast ; the first presumption is ; despaire , the last : that feeds upon the bounty of full treasure ; brings jolly newes of peace , and lasting pleasure : this feeds on want , unapt to entertaine gods blessings : finds them ever in the waine : their maximes disagree ; but their conclusion is the selfe same : both jump in mans confusion : lord , keepe me from the first , or else , i shall sore up and melt my waxen wings , and fall : lord , keepe the second from me ; lest i , then , sinke downe so low , i never rise agen : teach me to know my selfe , and what i am , and my presumption will be turn'd to shame : give me true faith , to know thy dying son , what ground has then despaire to worke upon ? t' avoid my shipwrack upon either shelfe , o , teach me , lord , to know my god ; my selfe . . on queene ester . illustrious princesse , had thy chance not beene , to be a captive , thou hadst bin no queene : such is the fortune , our misfortune brings ; had we not first bin slaves , w'ad ne'r beene kings . . on slanders . have sland'rous tongues bin busie to defame the pretious oyntment of my better name ? or hath censorious basenesse gone about with her rude blast to puffe my taper out ? they have : and let their full mouthd bellowes puffe : it is their breath that s●inks , and not my snuffe : i , let them snarle and burst , that i may smile , doe , let them jerk , and i will laugh the while : they cannot s●rike beyond my patience ; no , i le beare , and take it for an honour too ; the height that my ambition shall flye , is only to deserve their calumny : o , what a iudgement 't were , if such as they should but allow my actions , and betray my'endangered ●ame , by their maligne applause , to good opinion , that were a just cause of griefe indeed ! but to be made the story of such base tongues , it is my crowne , my glory : i , let them spend their dust against the winde , and bark against the moone , till they be blind , and weary ; let their malice not forbeare to baule at innocence , to wound and teare an absent name , whilst their un●allowed tongues make me a glorious martyr in their wrongs : i beg no favour : nay , my hearts desire is still to be calcin'd by such a fyre : that , in conclusion , all men may behold a faire gilt counter , from a crowne of gold. great god , i care not this , how foule i seeme to man ; may i be faire in thy esteeme : it matters not how light i seeme to be to the base world , so i be weight to thee . . on nabvchadnezzer . what lucklesse accident hath bred such ods betwixt great babels monarch , and his gods , that they so oft disturbe him , and affright his broken slumbers with the dreames of night ! alas , what hath this princely dreamer done , that he must quit the glory of his throne , his royall scepter , his imperiall crowne ? must be expeld his honour , and come downe below the meanest slave , and , for a season , be banisht from the use , the act of reason ? must be exil'd from humane shape , and chew the cudde , and must be moistned with the dew of heav'n ; nay , differ in no other thing from the bruit beast , but that he was a king ? what ayle thy gods , that they are turn'd so rough , so full of rage ? what , had they meat enough to fill their golden stomacks ? was thy knee bent oft enough ? what might the reason be ? alas , poore harmelesse things ! it was not they ; 't was not their wills : i dare be bold to say , they knew it not : it was not they that did it ; they had no pow'r to act , or to forbid it : deserv'st thou not , great king , the stile of beast , to serve such gods , whose deities can digest their servants open wrongs ? that could dispense with what they'endure , without the least offence ; illustrious beast , methinks thy better'd state has no great reason to complaine of fate : thou art more neere to him thou didst adore , by one degree , then ere thou wert before : ●tis some promotion ; that there is lesse ods ' betwixt thy nature , and thy senslesse gods. . on partio . hast thou forsaken all thy sinnes , but one ? beleeve it , partio , th' ast forsaken none . . on ignorance . the greatest friend religion hath t' aduance her glory's unaffected ignorance : the burning taper lends the fairest light , and shines most glorious , in the shades of night . . on a great battaile . vvhen my rebellious flesh doth disagree with my resisting spirit ; me thinks , i see two mighty princes draw into the field , where one must win the day ; the other , yeeld : they both prepare ; both strike up their alarmes ; both march ; both well appointed in their armes ; they both advance their banners : t'one displayes a bloody crosse : the other colours blaze a globe terrestriall : nature carries one , and grace the other : each by 's ensigne's knowne : they meet , encounter , blowes exchange for blowes : dart is returnd for dart : they grapple , close : their fortune 's hurryed with unequall sailes , somtimes the crosse ; somtimes , the globe prevailes . we are that field ; and they that strive to win us , are god and sathan ; those , that warre within us , the flesh , the spirit : no parting of the fray , till one shall win : the other , lose the day : my god , o weaken this rebellious flesh , that dares oppose : o , quicken and refresh my dull and coward spirit , that would yeeld , and make proud sathan master of the field : deare lord , the field's thy own ; thou thoughtst it good to purchas 't with my dying saviours blood : 't is thine , great god , by title , and by right ; why should thou question , what 's thy owne , by fight ? lord , keepe possession thou , and let th'accurst and base vsurper doe his best , his worst . . on the world. the world 's an inne ; and i , her guest , i eate , i drinke , i take my rest : my hostesse nature , do's deny me nothing , wherewith she can supply me : where , having stayd a while , i pay her lavish bills , and goe my way . . on the sabbath . away my thoughts : away my words , my deeds ; away , what ever nourishes and feeds my frayle delights : presume not to approach into my presence ; dare not once t' encroach vpon the hallowed temple of my soule ; ye are not for this day , y' are all too foule : abide yee with the asse , till i goe yonder , and cleave the isaac of my heart in sunder : i must goe sacrifice : i must goe pray , i must performe my holy vowes , to day : tempt not my tender frailty : i enjoyne your needfull absence ; y' are no longer mine : but if it may not be , that we must sever our yoakt affections , and not part for ever ; yet give me leave , without offence , to borrow , at least , this day , although we meet to morrow . . on prayer . in all our prayers , th' almighty do's regard the iudgement of the ballance , not the yeard : he loves not words , but matter ; 't is his pleasure to buy his wares by weight , and not by measure . . on fido . findst thou no comfort on this fickle earth ? no joy at all ? no obiect for thy mirth ? nothing but sorrow ? nothing else , but toyle ? what , doe thy dayes shew nothing , worth a smile ? doe worldly pleasures no contentment give ? content thee , fido , th' ast not long to live . . on charissa . woldst thou , charissa , wish thy fortunes better , then , by thy act , to make thy god thy detter ? i le teach thee how to doe 't : relieve the poore , and thou mayst safely set it on gods score : . on raymond sebvnd . i wonder , raymond , thy illustrious witt , strengthned with so much learning , could commit so great a folly , as to goe about , by natures feeble light , to blazen out such heav'n-bred mist'ryes , which the hearts of men cannot conceive , much lesse the darkned pen expresse ; such secrets , at whose depth , the quire of blessed angels tremble , and admire : could thy vaine-glory lend no easier taske to thy sublime attempt , then to unmaske the glorious trinity , whose tri-une face was ne'r discovered by the eye of grace , much lesse by th' eye of nature , being a story objected only to the eye of glory ? put out thy light , bold raymond , and be wise ; silence thy tongue , and close thy'ambitious eyes : such heights as these , are subjects far more fit for holy admiration , then for witt. . on sinnes . my sinnes are like the hayres upon my head , and raise their audit to as high a score ; in this they differ ; these doe dayly shed , but , ah , my sinnes grow dayly more and more : if , by my hayres , thou number out my sinnes , heav'n make me bald , before that day begins . . on the gospell . ovr gospell thrives the more by forreine iarres ; it overcomes in outward opposition : but o , it suffers still , in civill warres , and loses honour by a home-division : if thou assist , i care not , lord , with whom i warre abroad , so i have peace at home . . on the dayes of man. lord , if our dayes be few , why doe we spend and lavish them unto so evill an end ? lord , if our dayes be evill , why doe we wrong our selves , and thee , to wish our day so long ? our dayes decrease ; but , still , our evils renew ; great god , we make them evill ; thou mak'st them few . . on sinnes . my sinnes are like the sands upon the shore ; which every ebbe layes open to the eye : in this they differ ; these are cover'd ore with ev'ry flood ; my sinnes still open lye : if thou wilt make mine eyes a sea of teares , o , they will hide the sinnes of all my yeares . . on kain and david . their sins were equall ; equall was their guilt : they both committed homicide ; both spilt their brothers guiltles blood : nay , of the twayne , the first occasion was lesse foule , in kain : 't was likely kains murther was in heate of blood ; there was no former grudge , no threate : but davids was a plott ; he tooke the life of poore vriah , to enjoy his wife : was iustice equall ? was her ballance even ? kain was punisht : david was forgiven : both came to tryall : but good david did confesse that sin , which cursed kain hid : kain bewaild the punishment ; wherein , his sin had plung'd him : david wayles his sin : if i lament my sins ; thou wilt forbeare to punish , lord ; or give me strength , to beare . . on plavsvs . plausus of late , hath rais'd an hospitall , repay'rd a church ; founded a colledge hall : plausus hath built a holy temple ; vow'd it to god : erects a schoole , and has endow'd it : plausus hath given , through his abundant pity , a spittle to the blind , and lame o' th' citty : plausus allowes a table for the poore o' th ●parish ; besides those , he seeds at doore : plausus relieves the prisons ; mends the wayes ; maintaines a lecture , on the market dayes : plausus , in briefe , for bounty beares the bell ; plausus has don much good ; but nothing , well . . on sinnes . my sinnes are like the starres , within the skyes ; in view , in number , ev'n as bright , as great : in this they differ : these doe set and rise ; but ah , my sinnes doe rise , but never seit : shine son of glory , and my sins are gon , like twinkling starres , before the rising sun. . on change of weathers . and were it for thy profit , to obtaine all sunshine ? no vicissitude of raine ? thinkst thou , that thy laborious plough requires not winter frosts , as well as summer fires ? there must be both : somtimes these hearts of ours must have the sweet , the seasonable showres of teares ; sometimes , the frost of chill despaire makes our desired sunshine seeme more faire : weathers that most oppose to flesh and blood , are such as helpe to make our harvest good : we may not choose , great god ; it is thy task : we know not what to have ; nor how to ask . . on prosper . take heed , thou prosp'rous sinner , how thou liv'st in sin , and thriv'st ; thou , that dost flourish in thy heapes of gold , and summes untold ; thou , that hadst never reason to complaine of crosse , or paine . whose unafflicted conscience never found nor check , nor wound . beleeve it , prosper , thy deceitfull lease allowes thee neither wealth , nor ioy , nor peace . thy golden heapes are nothing but the price of paradise ; thy flattering pleasures , and thy ayrie ●oyes , but painted toyes ; thy peacefull conscience is but like a dogge , tyed in a clogge ; beleeve it , prosper , thy deceitfull lease allowes thee neither wealth , nor ioy , nor peace : thy heapes of gold will stand thee in no steed , at greatest need ; thy e●pty pleasures , will convert thy laughter , to groanes , hereafter . thy silent conscience , when enlarg'd , will roare , and rage the more : beleeve it , prosper , thy deceitfull lease , affords thee neither wealth , nor ioy , nor peace . . on the sight of a plague bill . five thousand in a weeke , in one poore city ? because it was thy pleasure , t was no pity ; why should thou pity us , just god , when we could never finde a time to pity thee ? thou never strik'st without a reason why , nor often , then : we easily cast our eye vpon the punishment , but blinde toth ' sin , that farre transcends the judgement it calls in : o , if the weekly bills of our transgression could but appeare , and make as deepe impression in our sad hearts , to make our hearts but know as great a sorrow , as our plague-bills doe ; no doubt , no doubt but heav'ns avenging hand would turne a stranger to our prosprous land o , if that weekly catalogue of si● could , with our city bills be brought but in ; and be compar'd wee 'd think our bills not high , but rather wonder there are men , to dye . . on theaters . six dayes were made for work ; the seventh , for rest ; i read of none , that heav'n ordaind for play ; how have our looser theaters transgrest the decalogue , that make it ev'ry day : me thinkes that they should change their trade for shame , or honour 't with a more laborious name , . on players and ballad mongers . ovr merry ballads , and ●ascivious playes are much alike : to common censure , both doe stand or fall : t'one sings ; the other sayes ; and both are frippries of anothers froth : in short ; they 'r priest and clark of belials altar ; t'one makes the sermon ; t'other tunes the psalter . . on god and the king. ovr god and prince ( whom god for ever blesse ) are both , in mercy , of a constitution : both slow , till meere necessity shall presse , to put their penall lawes in execution : and marke , how in a like successe they joyne ; at both we grumble ; and at both , repine . . on the life and death of man. the life of man is but th' imperfect story of his adventure , towards future glory ; for death to finish : who will sticke to say , a glorious ev'n foretells a glorious day ? . on fox . there was a time , ( wo-worth that heavy time ) when rav'no●is foxes did devoure the prime , and choyce of all our lambs : but heav'n did raise a more ingenuous fox , in after dayes , whose high immortall pen redeem'd their breath , and made those lambs revive , in spight of death : to see , how mutuall saintly favours be ! thou gav'st them life , that now give life to thee . . on the booke of common prayes . the booke of common pray'r excels the rest ; for pray'rs that are most common are the be●● . . to mvndano . woldst thou mundano , prove too great , too strong for peevish fortunes angry brow to wrong ? renounce her power : banish fortune hence , and trust thee to the hands of providence ; the poorest heart that ever did importune heav'ns ayd , is farre above the frownes of fortune . . on romes sacrifices . it cannot be excus'd : it is a wrong proceeding from a too-too partiall tongue , to say , the profer'd service of false ro●● had no good savor , and did never come toth ' gates of heav'n ; eye , poore rome's belyde ; for when our troopes of glorious martyrs dy'd , in that warm age , who were their priests ? by whom was their blood shed ? was 't not by holy rome ? such sweet perfumes , i dare be bold to say , rome never burnt before , nor since that day : a sweeter incense , save his dying son , heav'n ne'r accepted since this world begun . . on a dead man. it is a common use to entertaine the knowledge of a great man , by his trayne : how great 's the dead-man then ? there 's none that be so backt with troopes of followers , as he. . on corner sinners . svch men are like to owles ; they take delight , to make the night their day ; their day , the night , they hate the sun , and love dark corners best ; but they shall houle , when day-birds are at rest . . on the kite . marke but the soaring kite ; and she will reade brave rules for diet ; teach thee how to feede ; she flyes aloft ; she spreads her ayrie plumes above the reach , above the nau●ious ●umes of dang'rous earth ; she makes her selfe a stranger t'inferiour things , and checks at ev'ry danger ; at length , she stoopes ; and , with a brave disdaine , she strikes her prey , and mounts her up againe ; by her example , learne to use the earth , and thou shalt find lesse mischiefe , and m●●● mirth . . on formio . formio bewailes his sins , with the same heart , as frends do frends , when they 'r about to part , beleeve it , f●rmio will not entertaine a merry thought , untill they meet againe . . on bosome sinnes . how loath is flesh , to yield ! the spirit , to win the glorious conquest of a bosome sin ! o , how th'ingenious flesh will pleade ! abuse the height of wit , to argue , or excuse : at length , it yeelds : o , give it leave to stay a yeare , a moneth ; a weeke ; at least , a day ; and if not so , yet let my breaking heart but hugge it once or twice , before we part ; let me but take my leave , my thoughts shal bind me from the least touch ; let me but looke behind me : nay sin , gehezi●like , will have a blow at cleansed naamans bounty , ere she goe . . on the eccho . an eccho's nothing , but a forc'd rebound , or airy repercussion of a sound , proceeding from some hollow place , well knowne to have to bulk , no beeing of her owne : it is no substance ; nothing , but a noise ; an empty sound ; the picture of a voyce : such is my courtly friend , at my request , hee 'l breath his service from his hollow brest , and eccho-like for every word that 's blowne into his eares , returnes me two , for one ; but when they come to th'test , alas they 'r found more light then ayre , meere shadowes of a sound ; i le trust my god ; his bounty still af●ords as many deedes , as my false friends do words . on a water-mill . the formall christian's like a water-mill : vntill the floodgate's open , he lyes still : he cannot work at all ; he cannot dreame of going : till his wheeles shall finde the streame . . on pavl and apollos . t is not , what this man , or what that man saith , brings the least stone , toth'building of my faith ; my eare may ramble , but my conscience followes no man : i 'me neither pauls , nor yet apollo's : when scripture gold lyes by me , is it just to take up my salvation , upon trust ? my faith shall be confin'd to no mans lists ; i le onely follow paul , as paul is christs . . on morvs . if a poore timorous hare but crosse the way , morus will keepe his chamber all the day ; what evill●ortends ●ortends it , morus ? it does show , that morus is not wise , for thinking so . but morus keepes his chamber : there will be , morus , one foole the lo●●e abroad by thee . . on some faiths . some faiths are like those mills , that cannot grind their c●rne , unles they worke against the wind : . on the temporizer . he seemes to be a man of warre ; his sayle being fill'd and prosper'd with a foreright gale , makes speedy way ; and , with her keele , divides the sparkling furrowes of the swelling tides ; or if the wind should slacke , or ●●ase to blow , can make a shift to tide it to and fro ; but if it prove a storme , or the wind cro●●e , his wavering bottom soone begin● to tosse vpon the troubled ●aves , without r●gard of either stear● , or yet the sea-mans ●ard ; his prouder courage quailes , & the rough weather transports his wandring keel , he knows not whither ; till , after many a ruine-threatning knock , he 's overwhelmd or splitt upon a rock . . on our sins . it is an errour even as foule , to call our sins too great for pardon , as too small . . on the hypocrite . hee 's like a christmas candle , whose good name crowns his faire actions with a glorious flame ; burnes cleare and bright , and leaves no ground for doubt to question , but he stincks at going out ; when death puf●s out his flame , the snuff will tell if he were waxe or tallow , by the smell . . on secret mungers . he , that at secrets , shall compose his aime , is like the flie that sports about the flame ; he never leaves to buzze , untill he brings hi●selfe to ruine ; or at least , his wings : and like a desp'rate fly , though he has bin once schorcht , hee 'l venture at the flame agin . . on a flye . the sun-delighting flye repayres , at first to the full cup , onely to quench her thirst ; but , oftentimes , she sports about the brinke , and sipps so long till she be drownd in drinke : when wanton leysure shall present thine eye with lavish cups , remember but the flye . . on scripture and apocrypha . vvhen as the scripture opens to mine eyes , i see my lord in 's bed : but when i meet th' apocrypha at th' end , me thinks it lyes , like his well countnanc'd page , at the beds feet ; who wears his lords old cloths , made lesse ; & sayes his owne inventions in his masters phrase . . to my booke . here comes a criticke ; close thy page : thou art no subject for this age : and censure , oftentimes , yee know , will strike the dove , and spare the crow : but hold ; thy guilt does not require that thou shouldst lurke , or yet retyre ; be open as the eye of noone : and let dogs barke against the moone : thou hast no luster of thy owne , but what 's deriv'd from heav'n alone : feare not : thy heav'n-instructed page , will either please , or teach the age. the end of the second booke . divine fancies . the third booke . . on old wine and new . old crazy casks are not designd to hold new-wines ; nor yet new vessells , for the old : old must , with old ; and new , with new , be filld : else will the vessels breake , and wine be spilld : these empty vessels are thy heart and mine ; the law and gospell represents the wine : the new's the spirit , and the old 's the letter ; with reverence to the text , the new's the better . . on zacharias and the blessed virgin. his tongue requir'd a signe , which might afford a cleerer evidence , then the angels word ; and had it too : vntill those things shall come to passe , his faithlesse lips are stricken dumb : our blessed virgin , at her salutation , seemd ev'n as faithles , on the selfe same fashion her lips reply'd : and how can these things be ? hard iustice ! why he punisht , and not she ? the reason's easie to be riddeld out ; hers was the voyce of wonder ; his , of doubt . . on a picture . some pictures , with a fore-right eye , if seene , present unto the view some beauteous queene ; but step aside , and it objects the shape ; on this side , of an owle ; on that , an ape : looke full upon the world , it proves the story , and beauteous picture of th' almighties glory ; but if thy change of posture lead thy sight from the full view , to th' left hand , or the right , it offers to thine eye , but painted toyes , poore antick pleasures , and deceitfull ioyes . . on servio . servio's in law : if servio cannot pay his lawyers fee , servio may lose the day , no wonder , formall servio does trudge so oft to church : he goes to bribe his judge . . on peters cocke . the cocke crow'd once , and peters careles eare could heare it , but his eye not spend a teare : the cocke crow'd twice , peter began to creepe to th' fyer side , but peter could not weepe : the cocke crow'd thrice : our saviour turnd about , and look'd on peter ; now his teares burst out : 't was not the cock , it was our saviours eye . till he shall give us teares , we cannot crye . . on ambidexter . god keepe my goods , my name , they never fall into the net of ambidexters lawes ; but , for a cause , he seldome prayes at all ; but curses , evermore , without a cause : i 'de rather have his curses , all the day , then give his conscience the least cause to pray . . on lazarus , the damosell , and a sinner . laz'rus come forth ? why could not laz'rus plead , i cannot come , great god , for i am dead : dam'sell arise ? when death had closd her eies , what power had the damsell to arise ? sinner repent ? can we as dead , in sin , as laz'rus , or the damsell , live agin ? admit we could ; could we appoint the hower ? the voyce that calls , gives , and gives then the power . . on sinne. how , how am i deceiv'd ! i thought my bed had entertaind a faire , a beauteous bride : o , how were my beleeving thoughts misled to a false beauty , lying by my side ! sweet were her kisses , full of choyce delight ; my fancy found no difference in the night . i thought they were true ioyes , that thus had led my darkned soule , but they were false alarmes ; i thought i 'd had faire rachel in my bed , but i had bleare ey'd leah in my armes : how seeming sweet is sin , whē cloathd with night ; but , when discover'd , what a loathd delight . . on repentance . t is not , to cry god mercy , or to sit and droope ; or to confesse , that thou hast faild ; t is , to bewaile the sinnes , thou didst commit , and not commit those sinnes , thou hast bewaild : he that bewailes , and not forsakes them too , confesses , rather , what he meanes to doe . . on man. man is a mooving limbeck , to distill sweet smelling waters ; where withall to fill gods empty b●ttle : lord doe thou inspire thy quickning spirit ; put in thy sacred fire ; and then mine eyes shall never cease to droppe , till they have brimd thy bottle , to the toppe : i can doe nothing , lord , till thou inspire : i 'm a cold limbeck , but expecting fire . . on the pouring out of our hearts . t is easie to poure in : but few , i doubt , attaine that curious art , of pouring out : some poure their hearts , like oyle , that there resides an unctions substance still , about the sides : others , like wine ; which , though the substance passe , does leave a kinde of savour in the glasse ; some pour their hearts like milk , whose hiew distaines though neither substance , nor the sent remaines : how shal we poure them , then ; that smel , nor matter , nor colour stay ? poure out your hearts like water . . on friends . god sheild me from those friends , i trust ; and be my firme defence from such , as trust not thee . . on the hypocrite . hee 's like a bul-rush ; seems so smooth , that not the eye of cato can discry a knot : pill but the barke , and strip his smoother skin , and thou shalt find him spungie , all within : his browes are alwaies ponderous as lead , he ever droopes , and hangs his velvet head : he washes often ; but , if thou enquire into his depth , his rootes are fixt in myre . . on servio . servio would thrive ; and therefore , do's obay gods law , and shuts up shop o th' sabbath day : servio would prosper in his home affaires , and therefore dares not misse his dyet-prayres . servio must put to sea , and does implore ; toth'end , that he might safely come ashore . servio's in suit , and therefore must be tyed to morning prayre , untill his cause be tryed : servio begins to loath a single life , and therefore prayes for a high-portion'd wife : servio would faine be thought religious too , and therefore prayes as the religious doe : servio still prayes for profit , or applause ; servio will seldome pray , without a cause . . on the devils master-piece . this is the height the devils art can show , to make man proud , because he is not so . . on our saviours fishing . when as our blessed saviour tooke in hand to be a fisher ; marke the rule he keepes ; he first puts off a little from the land ; and , by degrees , he launchd into the deepes : by whose example , our men-fishers hold the selfe same course ; they do the same , or should . . on mans greatest enemy . of all those mortall enemies , that take part against my peace , lord , keep me frō my heart . . on the hypocrite . hee 's like a reed , that alwaies does reside , like a well planted tree , by th' water side ; hee beares no other fruit , but a vaine bragge of formall sanctitie ; a very flagge : hee 's round , and full of substance , to the show ; but hollow hearted , if enquir'd into : in peacefull seasons , when the weather 's faire , stands firme ; but shakes , with every blast of aire . . on the holy scriptures . why did our blessed saviour please to breake his sacred thoughts in parables ; and speake in darke enigma's ? whosoere thou be that findst them so , they were not spoke to thee : in what a case is he , that happs to run against a post , and cries , how dark's the sun ? or he , in summer , that complaines of frost ? the gospell's hid to none , but who are lost : the scripture is a ford , wherein , t is said , an elephant shall swim ; a lambe may wade . . on mans heart . nature presents my heart in ore ; faire civill cariage gilds it o're ; which , when th' almighty shall behold with a pleas'd eye , he brings to gold : thus chang'd , the temple ballance weighs it ; if drosse remaine , the touch bewrayes it ; afflictions furnace , then refines it : gods holy spirit stamps and coynes it : no coyne so currant ; it will goe for the best wares , that heav'n can show , . on drunkennesse . most sins , at least , please sense ; but this is treason not only 'gainst the crowne of sense , but reason . . on a kisse . ere since our blessed saviour was betrayd with a lip-kisse , his vicar is affraid : from whence , perchance , this common use did grow to kisse his tother end ; i meane his toe . . on the alchymist . the patient alchymist , whose vaine desire , by art , is to dissemble natures fyre , imployes his labour , to transmute the old , and baser substance into perfect gold : he laughs at unbeleevers , scornes and flouts illiterate counsell ; neither cares , nor doubts : vntill , at length , by his ingenious itch , hee 's brought most poore , in seeking to be rich : such is the civillman ; that by his even and levell actions hopes to merit heaven ; he thinks , by help of nature , to acquire , at least to counterfeit the sacred fire of saving grace , to purge and to refresh his base desires , and change his stone , to flesh : he spurnes at counsell ; he derides and jerks those whining spirits that renounce their works ; till , too much trusting to their doing well , in seeking heav'n , they find the flames of hell , . on the ten lepers . ten lepers clensed ? and but one , of ten returne the clenser thanks ? vngratefull men ! but ten i' th' hundred ? ' that 's a gaine that we receive or sue , yet oft deny it thee . . on the last epigram . how , how , am i deceiv'd , that speake to thee of interest , when the purchase was in fee ! thou mad'st a cleane conveyance to the ten , and ne'r expectd'st the principall agen : lord , we must reckon by another rate : they gave not one yeares purchase for th' estate : lord , how we palter with thee ! we pretend a present payment , till w'obtaine our end : and then we crave , and crave a longer day , then pay in driblets ; or else , never pay . . on the boxe of oyntment . it is no wonder , he , above the rest , whom thirty pieces tempted to betray the lord of glory to his death , profest the boxe of oyntment was but cast away : he that dare murther at so small a cost , may eas'ly thinke the charge in buriall , lost . . on mary and jvdas . mary did kisse him : iudas kist him too , but both their aymes were coverd in a mist ; both kisse our saviour ; but their kisses doe differ as farre as did the parts they kist : there 's danger still , where double hearts doe steale the forme of love , or weare the cloake of zeale . . on our saviour and his vicar . me thinks thy vicar gen'rall beares the keyes , and executes thy place , with greater case . and in one iubile , enjoyes more mirth , then thou , my dying lord , didst from thy birth , alas : thou hadst not , wherewithall to fill thy craving stomack : he has cates at will : thy empty costers had not to defray thy tribute charge : to him kings tribute pay ; foxes haue holes ; thou hadst not , whereupon to rest thy wakefull head : he snorts in downe : in short , thy life was nothing but the story of poverty ; and his , of princely glory : when tempting sathan would have giv'n thee all the wealth and glory of the world , to fall and worship him ; at thy refusall , lord , thy vicar tooke the tempter at his word ; so came thy wants so great ; so great his store ; the vicar so-so rich ; the lord , so poore . . on the great prelate . ovr saviours feet were kist : the people doe the very same to thee , great prelate , too ; o , who will seale but such another kisse vpon thy lips , our saviour had on his ! . on idolatry . can common madnes find a thing , that 's more repugnant to the very lawes of nature ; that the creators image should adore the senslesse image of a sensuall creature ! if such be gods ; if such our helpers be , o , what are men ! how more then beasts are we ! . on the tables of stone . that stony table could receive the print of thy just lawes ; thy lawes were written in 't : it could be hew'd , and letters grav'n thereon ; sure , lord , my heart is harder then that stone . . on mans three enemies . there 's three , that with their fiery darts , do level against my soul , the world , the flesh , the devil . lord , give me patience , if not strength ; for there are three t' afflict me ; i 'm but one , to beare . . ☞ on dinah . ☜ when dinahs careles eye was grown too lavish to entertaine , sechem found time to ravish : it is no lesse then silent invitation , although we scorne the sin , to give th' occasion : sure , dinahs resolution was too strong , or to admit , or not resist a wrong , and scornes to stoope to the adult'rers armes ; we often burne , intending but to warme's : she went but out to see , perchance , to heare what lust could say : what harme to lend an eare ? anothers sin , sometimes , procures our shames : it staines our bodies ; or , at least , our names . . on fido . mark , when the good man prospers with his plot , hee 's still envy'd ; despis'd , if prosper not ; the wicked have no peace with god ; and , then , how canst thou , fido , look t' have peace with men ? . on jacob . how iacob's troop'd : laban pursues with one great troope ; and esau meets him with another . laban resolves to apprehend his son : esau , to be reveng'd upon his brother : me thinks i see how jacob stands supplide , like vertue with a vice on either side : laban pursues him , to regaine his gods : esau , t' avenge his birth-right and his blessing : what hope has iacob now ? 'twixt both , 't is ods , there will be either death or dispossessing : god takes delight to turne our helper , then , when all our helps and hopes are past with men . laban encounters iacob : he requires his gods : and esau's neare at hand , by this : laban's appeas'd ; and quencht are esaus fyres ; t'one leaves him ; t'other meets him with a kisse ; iacob's in league with both : the soule that shall have peace with god , has league and peace with all . . on drunkennesse . it is a thiefe ; that , oft , before his face , steales man away , and layes a beast in 's place . . on a tenis-court . man is a tenis-court : his flesh , the wall : the gamesters god , & sathan . th'heart's the ball : the higher and the lower hazzards are too bold presumption , and too base despaire : the rackets , which our restlesse balls make flye , adversity , and sweet prosperity : the angels keepe the court , and marke the place , where the ball fals , and chaulk out ev'ry chace : the line 's a civill life , we often crosse , ore which , the ball not flying , makes a losse : detractors are like standers-by , that bett with charitable men : our life 's the sett ; lord , in this conflict , in these fierce assaults , laborious sathan makes a world of faults ; forgive them lord , although he ne'r implore for favour : they 'l be set upon our score : o , take the ball , before it come toth'ground , for this base court has many a false rebound : strike , and strike hard , but strike above the line : strike where thou please , so as the sett be thine . . on abels blood. abel was silent , but his blood was strong , each drop of guiltles blood commands a tongue , a tongue , that cryes ; 't is not a tongue , implores for gentle audience , 't is a tongue that rores for hideous vengeance : 't is a tongue that 's bold and full of courage , and that cannot hold : o , what a noyse my blessed saviours blood makes now in heav'n ! how strong it cries ! how loud ! but not for vengeance : from his side , has sprung a world of drops ; from ev'ry drop , a tongue . on the memory . does thy corrected frailty still complaine of thy disloyall mem'ry ? do'st retaine nothing that 's good ? and is the better part of what thou hear'● , before it warme thy heart , snatcht from thy false remembrance ? is the most of what th' inspired prophets tell thee , lost in thy unhospitable eares ? and not to be recall'd ? quite buried ? quite forgot ? feare not : thou hast a chanc'lour in thy brest , that keeps th' exchequer , and hoards up the least , the poorest summe : no , no , thou needst not feare , there 's nothing will be lost that 's taken there : thinkst thou , that thou hast lost that piece of gold that 's dropt into a fairer heape , untold ? or canst thou judge that fier , clos'd about with rak'd up embers , 'cause not scene , is out ? gold , lost in greater summes , is still thine owne ; and rak'd up embers will , in time , be blowne to flames : beleeve 't the words thine eares have lost , thy heart wil find , when thou shalt need them most . . on the babel-builders . svre , if those babel-builders had thought good to raise their heav'n-high tower before the flood , the wiser sort of people might deride their folly , and that folly had salv'd their pride ; or had their faiths but enterpriz'd that plot , their hearts had finisht what their hands could not ; 't was not for love of heav'n : nor did they ayme so much to rayse a building ; as a name : they that by works shall seeke to make intrusion to heav'n , find nothing but their owne confusion . . on esav and jacob . esau goes forth ; strives , with his owne disquiet , to purchase ven'son for his fathers diet : iacob abides at home ; and , by his mother , is taught the way , how to supplant his brother : there 's some that hunt , like esau , sweat and toyle , and seeke their blessing by their owne turmoyle ; whilst others crave assistance , and bewray their wiser weakenes , in a safer way : o , if the church my mother will instruct me ; make savory meate , and cloath me , and conduct me into my fathers armes , these hands shall never trust to the poorenesse of their owne endevor : bring i a kid but of my mothers dressing , 't will please my father , and procure my blessing . . on severall sinnes . grosse sinne. is like a show'r , which ere we can get in into our conscience , wets us to the skin : sin of infirmity . is like the falling of an april shower ; 't is often raine , and sun-shine , in an hower . sin of custome . is a long showre , beginning with the light oft-times continuing till the dead of night . sin of ignorance . it is a hideous mist , that wetts amaine , though it appeare not in the forme of raine . crying sin. it is a sudden showre , that teares in sunder the cope of heav'n , & alway comes with thunder . sin of delight . is like a fethered showre of snow , not felt , but soakes to th' very skin , when ere it melt : sin of presumption . does like a showre of hayle , both wet and wound with sudden death : or strikes us to the ground . the sin of sinnes . it is a sulph'rous shower , such as fell on sodom , strikes , and strikes to th' pit of hell. . on these showers . good god! what weather 's here ! these soules of our have still the luck to travell in a shower : lord , we are cold and pitifully drencht ; not a dry thrid ; and all our fyer's quencht : our very blood is cold ; our trembling knees are mutuall andvils ; lord , we stand and freeze : alas we find small comfort from the eye of heav'n ; these showring clouds , our sins , doe flye betwixt the sun and us : wee dry no more , then if the sun had giv'n his office o'r : nay lord ; if now and then those beames do chance to breake upon 's , and lend a feeble glaunce vpon our reeking soules , ere we begin to feele the warmth , w' are dous'd and drencht agin : in what a case are we ! our nightly damps and daily storms , have fild our soules with cramps , with wav'ring palseyes , and our hoarser tongues can doe thee service , nor in prayers , nor songs : our zeales are aguish ; hot and cold : they be extreamely hot toth ' world , as cold to thee ; our blood has got a fever : lord , it must be set on fire with every wanton lust : what worlds of mischiefes are there , that prevaile not vpon our fainting soules ? what is 't we ayle not , that wet and cold can bring ? yet have no power to keepe us in , but dable in the shower : shine forth , bright sun of glory ; be as feirce , as these eclipsing clouds are blacke ; disperse and cleare them with thy stronger beams , that thus dare interpose betwixt thy glory ' and us : reflect on my distempered soule ; refine this vap'rous earth , this sinfull flesh of mine , that , tho some drops m●●● fall , i may have power , shelter'd by thee , t' avoyd the down right shower ; o let my dabled spirit still retyre to thee , and warme her by thy sacred fyre ; that having ravill'd out some weary howers , she may arrive where 's neither clouds nor showers . . on dives and lazarvs . did ever iudge more equally proceed to punish sin ? so right , in kind , and nature ? poore laz'rus was refus'd a crum of bread ; and dives was deny'd a drop of water : children are oftentimes so like the mother , that men may eas'ly know the one , by th' other . . on two suitors . the soule is like a virgin ; for whose love two jealous suitors strive : both daily move for nuptiall favour ; both , with lovers art , plead for the conquest of the virgins heart : the first , approaching , knockt , and knockt agin ; the doore being op'ned , at his entring in , he blushd ; and ( as young bashfull lovers use ) is more then halfe discouraged , ere he sues : at length , that love , that taught him what to feare , gave resolution to present her eare with what he hop'd , and in a lovers fashion , he oft repeates the story of his passion : he vowes his faith , and the sincere perfection , of undissembled , and entyre affection ; he sues for equall mercy from her eye ; and must have love , or else , for love , must dye : his present meanes were short : he made profession of a faire ioynture , though but small possession : and in word , to make his passion good , he offers to deserve her with his blood : the other boldly enters : with the strong and sweet-lip'd reth'ricke of a courtly tongue , salutes her gentle eares : his lips discover the amorous language of a wanton lover : he smiles and faunes , and now and then le ts flye imperious glaunces from his sparkling eye ; bribes her more orient neck with pearl ; with charms ▪ - enclosing bracelets decks her yvory armes ; he boasts th' extent of his imperiall power , and offers wealth and glory for a dower : betwixt them both the virgin stands perplext ; the first tale pleas'd her well , untill the next was told : she lik'd the one , the other ▪ loth to make a choyce : she could affect them both : the one was iocund , full of sprightly mirth : the other , better borne ; of nobler birth : the second su'de in a compleater fashion ; i , but the first show'd deeper wounds of passion : the first was sadly modest : and the last more rudely pleasant : his faire lookes did cast more am'rous flames ; but yet the tothers eye did promise greater nuptiall loyalty : the last's more rich ; yet riches , but for life , make a poore widow , of a happy wife : the first 's estate 's but small , if not made good by death : faire ioyntures comfort widow hood : whō shal this virgin 〈◊〉 her thoughts approve the last , for present wealth , the first , for love : both may not be enjoy'd : her heart must smother her love to one , if she affect the other : ah , silly virgin , is the choyce so hard in two extreames ? can thy weake thoughts reward two so unequall , with a like respect ? knowst thou not which to slight , & which t' affect ? submit to better judgement , and advise with thy best friend : o trust not thine owne eyes : this last , that seemes so pleasant , so acute , is but a slave , drest in his lords old suite : he brags of glory , and of princely power , when he is kickt and baffled every hower : the treasure that he boasts is not his owne , he basely stole it , and the theft is knowne ; for which , he is arraign'd , condemn'd to th'paines of death ; his sentence is , to hang in chaines : his plott's to bring thee in as deepe as he ; beleeve 't ; it is thy blood he seekes , not thee : the bribes he gave thee , are but stolne : fond girle , discard those bracelets , and disclaime that pearle : the first , whose oft repeated knocks did crave admittance , was the lord to that base slave : his faith is loyall , and as firme his vow : to him , his life 's not halfe so deare , as thou : that wealth , that honour , that dissembled power , that pleasant pesant offer'd as a dower , is that faire lords : nor peace , nor pow'r●or ●or wealth can any challenge from him , but by stealth : match there , my soule , and let thy sacred vowes plight holy contracts with so sweet a spouse : his left hand 's full of treasure ; and his right ; of peace , and honour , and unknowne delight : hee 'l give thee wealth ; and in that wealth , content , for present meanes ; and ( when thy glasse has spent her latest sand , that time untransitory thy dayes ) a joynture of eternall glory . . on the old and new garment . new garments being brought , who is 't that would not scorne to live a pris'ner to the old ? yet though our bo●nteous saviour , at his cost , presents us new , we love the old ones most : alas , they pinch us ! o , they sit too strait ! they are too combersome ! too great a waight ! no , no ; the old were too too light , too great ; so we have ease , we care not to be neat : like tyred jades , our better wils repayre to a foule stable , then t' a rod● that 's faire . . on mans co-operation . we are not blocks : we must expect the call ; and , being cal'd , must move , and rise withall : the voyce were needlesse , and as good be dumb , as , with the call , not give the pow'r to come : deserves hee food , that thinkes it vaine to gape ? christ takes his spouse by contract , not by rape . . on the old and new tables . the former tables of the law were broken , and left no monuments of themselves , no token , no signe that ever such things were : but marke , the later were kept holy in the arke : those tables are our hearts . can we be bold to looke for new , and yet not breake the old ? or can the ruines of the old find place in th' arke of glory , not repayr'd by grace ? dismount , o blessed moses , and renew those tables thou hast broken , or make new . . on a crucifixe . why not the picture of our dying lord , as of a friend ? nor this , nor that 's ador'd : does not th' eternall law command , that thou shalt ev'n as well forbeare to make , as bow ? not to so good an end ? t' advance his passion ? the gold being pure , what matter for the fashion ; take heed : the purest gold does often take some losse , some prejudice , for the fashions sake : not to a civill end ? to garnish halls ? to deck our windowes ? to adorne our walls ? shew-bread must not be common : and the cruse of holy oyle admits no civill use : no , no ; the beauty of his picture lies within ; t is th' object of our faith , not eyes . . on praying to saints . not pray to saints ? is not the warrant ample , if back't with scripture ? strengthen'd with example ? did not that sweltring dives make complaint for water ? was not abraham a saint ? why should reformed churches then forbid it ? 't is true : but tell me ; what was he , that did it ? . on confession . experience tels , that agues are about to weare away , when as our lips breake out : in spirituall fevers , there 's the same expression of health , when lips breake forth into confession : but mark : these hopefull symptomes never doe confirme the ague gone , but faire to goe : they doe not alwayes worke , what they portend ; confession profits not , unlesse we mend . . on solomons rejoyce . young man rejoyce : what jolly mirth is here ? let thy heart cheare thee : what delicious cheare ? in thy young dayes ; thy cates will relish sweeter . walk thy owne wayes : thy cares will passe the fleeter : please thine own heart : carve where it likes thee best : delight thine eyes : and be a joyfull guest : but know withall , the day will come , whereon thy iudge will doome thee for the deeds th' ast done : o what a feast ! o what a reckning's here ! the cates are sweet ; the shot 's extreamely deare : lord , i have been , and am a dayly guest ( too oft invited ) at the young mans feast : the reckning's great ; although i cannot pay , i can confesse ; great god , before this day , i had been dragd to the redeemlesse iayle , hadst thou not pleas'd t' accept my saviours baile ; lord , he must bear 't i doubt : for i can get nor coyne to pay , nor labour out the debt : i cannot digge , my ioynts are starke and lame , but i can begge , although i beg with shame ; i have no grace in begging ; can receive the first repulse : i have no faith , to crave : if th'entertainments of the feast be these ; lord give me famine ; take the feast that please : on bread. take up that bit of bread : and understand , vvhat 't is thou holdest in thy carelesse hand : observe it with thy thoughts , and it will reade thee an usefull lecture , ev'n as well as feed thee ; vve stirre our lands , or give directions how ; but god must send a season for the plough : vve sow our seede ; but sowe our seed in vaine , if heav'n deny the first , the later raine ; small proofe in showrs , if heau'ns pleas'd hand shall cease to blesse those showrs , nor crowne thē with encrease . the tender blades appeare , before thine eye , but , uarefresht by heav'n , as soone they die : the infant eares shoot forth , and now begin to corne : but god must hold his mildewes in : the harvest 's come : but clouds conspire together hands cannot work , til heav'n shall clear the weather : at length 't is reap'd : between the barne and furrow how many offices poore man runs thorow ! now god has done his part : the rest we share to man : his providence takes now the care : no ; yet it is not ours : the use alone , not bare possession makes the thing our owne : thy swelling barnes have crownd thy full desire ; but heav'n , when mows should sweat , can make them i , but the sheaves are thrasht , & the heap lies in thy full garnier . he that sent the flyes fire ; to pharees court , can , with as great an ease , send thee more wastfull vermin if he please : perchance 't is grounded , kneded : and what though ? gods curse is often temper'd with the dough ; beleeve 't the fruits of all thy toyle , is mine , vntill they be enjoy'd , as much as thine : but now t' has fed thee : is thy soule at rest ? perchance , thy stomack 's dainty to digest . no , if heav'ns following favour doe not last from the first furrow to the very tast , thy labour 's lost : the bread of all thy travill , without that blessing , feeds no more then gravill : now wastfull man , thou mayst repose againe that modell of gods prov'dence and thy paine : that bitt of bread ; and if thy dog should fawne vpon thy lappe , let not so deare a pawne of greater plenty be contemn'd and lost ; remember how it came , and what it cost . . on faith and reason . true faith and reason , are the soules two eyes : faith evermore lookes upward , and discryes objects remote ; but reason can discover things onely neere ; sees nothing that 's above her ; they are not matches ; often disagree ; and sometimes both are clos'd , and neither see : faith viewes the sun ; and reason , but the shade ; t'one courts the mistresse ; t'other wooes the maide : that fees the fire ; this , only but the flint ; the true-bred christian alwayes lookes asquint . . on carnall mirth . vvho seeks to quench by help of carnal frends those fiery errants that the consciēce sends , redeemes his peace , but with a further spoyle ; drinks in a fever : quenches fyre with oyle . lord , if thou strike my conscience ; and that , me : i will expect , and trust no friend , but thee . . on prayer . prayre's like a vapour fum'd from earth ; that flyes to th' gates of heav'n : it never rotts i th' skyes : if faith and it be joyn'd , it will obtaine , and melt into a first and later raine ; if faith forsake her , and they part in sunder , it falls in thunderbolts ; at least , in thunder . . on anna . vvhat faithfull anna by her teares had done deserv'd the double duty of a son : she was a double parent ; pleas'd to doe a double office ; bore , and got him too : thus samuel was ( it was lesse strange then rare ) borne of her body , gotten by her prayer . . on a gift . no losse to give to thee ; the gift is more our owne , being giv'n , great god ; then 't was before . . on my selfe . if righteous ely was not vengeance-free , how shall i scape ! he was a saint , to me : nay , lord , how would my heart & comfort faile , if i should weigh thy mercies in our scale ! . on iustification and sanctification . lord , thou hast promis'd , in and for thy christ , to sanctifie where ere thou iustifi'st : lord , all my evils are iustifi'd in thee ; lord , let those evils be sanctifi'd to me . . on mans love. when think we , lord : on thee ! & when we doe , how feeble are our thoughts , & sinfull too ! how basely doe our crooked soules engage themselves to heav'n ? we make thy glory , page to our salvation : mans more servile heart loves what he 'd have thee , lord , not what thou art : this is the very best of man ; wherein w' are apt to think we merit more , then sin. but there 's a baser love : our chiefe respects have meere relation to our owne defects , like dogs we fawne upon our masters lapps , with dirty feet , and only love for scrapps . but there 's a baser yet : we love for feare , finding , like kain , more then we can beare , and , were it not for shame , our hearts would be as warme to sathan , as , great god , to thee : but there 's a baser yet : and baser none : we love thee , to be lov'd of man alone : we force a zeale ; usurpe the name of pure ; that we may sin more closely , more secure , we love thee onely to abuse thee , just as whores love husbands , but to cloke their lust : how art thou martyr'd in our lustfull fyres ! how made a stale to catch our wilde desires ! lord , i will love as farre as lyes in me , thee for thy selfe , and all things else in thee : . on filiall love and servile . they 'r not alike , although alike appeare : t'one feares for love : the other loves for feare . . on grapes . it is receiv'd , that seed of grapes being sowne , brings forth degenerate clusters , or else none : but stocks being grafted prove a fruitfull vine , whose pleasing berries yeeld a generous wine ; we are thy vineyard , lord ; these grapes of our , by nature , are degenerous and sower ; but if thou please to graft us , we shall beare delicious fruit ; which being prest , shall cheare the hearts of angels , and that blessed trine of perfect glory with their sprightly wine . . on ioy and griefe . lord , if my griefes were not oppos'd with ioy , they would destroy : and if my mirth were not allaid with sadnesse , it would be madnesse : while this , with that , or that , with this contends , they 're both my friends : but when these happy wars doe chance to cease , i have no peace : the more my earthly passions doe contest , the more my heavenly ' affections are at rest . . on doves and serpents . we must have doves and serpents in our heart , but how they must be marshall'd there 's the art ; they must agree , and not be farre asunder ; the dove must hold the wily serpent under : their natures teach what places they must keepe , the dove can flye , the serpent onely creepe . . on christ , and our selves . i wish a greater knowledge , then t' attaine the knowledge of my selfe ; a greater gaine then to augment my selfe ; a greater treasure then to enjoy my selfe ; a greater pleasure then to content my selfe : how slight , and vaine is all selfe-knowledge , pleasure , treasure , gaine ; vnlesse my better knowledge could retrive my christ ; unlesse my better gaine could thrive in christ ; unlesse my better wealth grow rich in christ ; unlesse my better pleasure pitch on christ ; or else my knowledge will proclaime to my owne heart how ignorant i am : or else my gaine , so ill improv'd , will shame ; my trade , and shew how much declin'd i am : or else my treasure will but blurre my name with bankrupt , and divulge how poore i am ; or else my pleasures , that so much inflame my thoughts , will blabb how full of fores i am : lord , keepe me from my selfe ; 't is best for me , never to owne my selfe , if not in thee . . on man. at our creation , but the word was said , and we were made : no sooner were , but our false hearts did swell with pride , and fell : how slight is man ! at what an easie cost hee 's made and lost ! . on death . we all are going to the selfe same place , we only differ in our way , our pase : one treads the common roade of age : another travels , directed by the hand os's brother : some crosse the waves , perchance the neerer way ; some by the winged shaft that flyes by day ; some ride on feavers ▪ others beat the hoofe , with horses in their hands , and make a proofe of their owne strrngth ; others more fairely pase on beds of downe ; some ride a speedy race on hot-mouthd surfeits , emulous for the cup : some hotly mounted fiercely gallop up . on spurgal'd broyles , whose frantick motions send their hasty spirits to their iournies end : some ride upon the racking steeds of treasure ; others false-gallop on the backs of pleasure : all journey forwards to the selfe-same place ; some , the next way ; and some , the faster pace : all post an end ; till beaten out of breath , they all arrive at the great gates of death ; lord , in this common roade , i doe not care what pase i travell , so my way be faire . . on the life of man. ovr life is nothing but a winters day ; some onely breake their fast , and so , away : others stay dinner , and depart full fed ; the deepest age but sups , and goes to bed : hee 's most in debt , that lingers out the day ; who dyes betimes , has lesse ; and lesse to pay . . on gods image . it was a dainty piece ! in every part , drawne to the life , and full of curious art : it was as like thee as a shadow could be like a substance ; there was none but would have known thee by 't : there needed then no name , no golden characters , that might proclaime whose picture t' was : the art was so divine that very beasts did reverence , as thine : but now , alas , 't is blurr'd : the best that we or they can judge , is this , 't was made for thee : alas'tis faded , soyl'd with hourely dust , sullyed , and shadow'd with the smoke of lust ; so swarthy as if that glorious face of thine were tawnyed underneath the torrid line : how is thy picture altred ! how ill us'd by our neglects ! how slubberd ! how abus'd ! her cedar frame 's disioynted , warp'd and broke ; her curious tablet's tainted with the smoke : the objects both offensive , and the savor ; retaining neither beauty , nor thy favour : lord , let not thy displeased eye forsake thy handy-worke ; for the bad keepers sake : behold it still ; and what thou seest amisse , passe by : thinke what it was ; not what it is : what though her beauty and her colours fade ? remember ; o , 't was like thee when 't was made . there is a great apelles that can lim with thy owne pencell ; we have sought to him : his skilfull hand will wash off all the soyle , and clense thy picture with his sacred oyle : hee 'l mak 't more faire then 't was ; at least , the same ; hee 'l mend the tablet , and renew the frame : till then ; be pleas'd to let thy picture be acknowledg'd thine : 't was made for none but thee . . on the penny. he that endur'd the tyranny of heate ; the morning-sorrowes , and the midday-sweat ; the evening-toyle , and burthen of the day , had but his promis'd penny for his pay : others , that loyter'd all the morning ; stood i th' idle market , whose unpractis'd blood scarse felt the warmth of labour , nor could show a blush of action , had his penny too . what wages can we merit , as our owne ? slaves that are bought with price , can challeng none , but onely stripes : alas , if servants could doe more , then bid , they doe but what they should ▪ when man endeavours , and where heav'n engages himselfe by promise , they are gifts , not wages , he must expect : we must not looke t' obtaine because we run ; nor doe we run in vaine : our running showes th' effect , produces none : the penny 's giv'n alike to every one , that works i th' vin●yard : equall price was shar'd t'unequall workes : therefore no reward : lord , set my hands a worke : i will not serve for wages , lest thou give what i deserve . . on a christian. the generous christian must as well improve i th' quality of the serpent , as the d●ve ; he must be innocent ; affraid , to doe a wrong ; and crafty , to prevent it too : they must be mixt , and temper'd with true love ; an ounce of serpent , serves a pound of dove . . on gods bountie . god freely gives ; as freely we receive ; it is not , doe ; but ask , and thou shalt have . . on sinnes . my sinnes are like to mountaines , that arise above the clouds , & threat the threatning skyes ; lord , give me faith ; and let that faith be prov'd , in leaving not a mountaine unremoov'd . . on the life of man. a thousand yeares , with god ( the scriptures say ) are reckon'd but a day ; by which accompt ; this measur'd life of our exceeds not much an hower ; the halfe whereof nature does claime and keepe as her owne debt for sleepe : a full sixt part or what remaines , we ryot in more then needfull dyet : our infancy , our child hood , and the most of our greene youth is lost : the little that is left , we thus divide ; one part to cloathe our pride ; an other share we lavishly deboyse to vaine , or sinfull joyes ; if then , at most , the measur'd life of man be counted but a span , being half'd and quarter'd , and disquarter'd thus , what , what remaines for us ? lord , if the totall of our dayes doe come to so-so poore a summe ; and if our shares so small , so nothing be , out of that nothing , what remaines to thee ? . on the childrens bread. thy strengthning graces are the childrens bread , which maks thy thriving children strong & able honour , and riches are the crummes that feed the d●ggs that lurk beneath their masters table : lord , if thy gracious pleasure will allow but bread , i 'am sure i shall have crums enow : . on trust and care . ovr trust in god , for riches ; neither must exclude our care ; nor care exceed our trust. . on rvscvs . illiterate ruscus heard pedantius preach ; admir'd the church mans learning , & commended such things alone , that were above his reach ; but meanly slighted what he appprehended : what hinders then to thinke that ruscus hath at least the twi-light of a bastard faith ? . on the receiving of the lords supper . men take the sacred seales of their salvation , as some doe physick , not for health , but fashion : the day preceding , and the following day , there 's none so strict ; none so reform'd as they : they curb the fury of their wanton ryot , and call their surfets to a stricter dyet : the time expir'd , the first assault that haps , prevailes , and strikes them to a worse relaps ; like doggs to vomits they returne agin , as though they'ad past a patent now to sin : let such day-christians , on the very toppe of all their mirth , remember judas sopp . on faith. th'oft shaken tree growes faster at the root ; and faith 's most firm , that 's somtimes urg'd with doubt . . on the story of man ? the word was spoke ; and what was nothing , must be made a chaos of confused dust : the word was spoke : the dust began to thicken to a firme clay : the clay began to quicken : the grosser substance of that clay thought good to turne to flesh : the moyster turn'd to blood : received organs : and those organs , sense ; it was imbellisht with the excellence of reason : it became the height of nature , being stampt with th' image of the great creator : but , lord , that glorious image is defac'd : her beautye's blasted , and her tablet's raz'd : this height of nature has committed treason against it selfe : declin'd both sense and reason ; meere flesh and blood , containing but a day of painted pleasure , and but breathing clay : whose moysture , dry'd with his owne sorrow , must resolve , and leave him to his former dust ; vvhich dust , the utter object of our loathing , small time consumes , & brings to his first nothing : thus , from this nothing , from this dust , began thus something , turnd to dust , to nothing ; man. . on ananias . the land was his : the land was his , alone ; 't was sold , and now the money was his owne : the powre remain'd in the possessors hand , to keepe his money , or have kept his land : but once devoted to the churches good , and then conceald , it cost his life , his blood : if those that give , may not resume agin , vvithout a punishment , without a sin , vvhat shall become of those , whose unjust power dispoyles the widdowed temple of her dower : vvho take her profits , and in stead of giving encrease to her revenues , make a living vpon her ruines , growing plump and full vpon her wants , being cloathed in her wooll ; vvhile she sustains th'extremes of cold and hunger , to pamper up the fat advousion-monger ; vvho thrust their flesh-hooks in their thristy pot , and only leave her what they value not : the whilst her sacred priests , that dayly tread their slighted corne , must begge their early bread ; or else , be forc'd to purchase easie shares vvith the deare price of their ungranted prayres : let such turne backe their sacrilegious eyes , and see how breathlesse ananias lyes : behold the wages that his sin procures , that was a mole-hill , to these alpes of yours : he tooke not from the church : did but conceale some part he gave ; but your false fingers steale her maine inheritance , her owne possession ; his was but bare deceipt , yours bold oppression : o , if no lesse then the first death was due to him , what death d' ye think's prepar'd for you ? so often as your pamper'd eyes shall looke on your estates , thinke on the flying booke . . on pious vses . they that , in life , oppresse , and then bequeath their goods to pious uses at their death , are like those drunkards , being layd to sleepe , that belch and vomit what they cannot keepe : to gods and mans acceptance , i presume their severall actions send the like perfume . . on sophronia . the chast sophronia knowes not how to scape th' inevitable danger of a rape ; cruell sophronia drawes her hasty knife and would relieve her chastity with life : doubtfull sophronia knowes not what to doe , she cannot keepe the one , and t'other too : sophronia's in a strait ; one eye is fixt o' th' seventh commandment ; t'other , on the sixt ; to what extreames is poore sophronia driven ! is not sophronia left at sixe and seaven ? . on the knowing man. hee 's like a lusty soyle , whose moysture feeds , if not a world of corne , a world of weeds . . on romes pardon . if rome could pardon sins , as romans hold , and if such pardons might be bought for gold , an easie iudgement might determine which to choose : to be religious , or else rich ; nay rome does pardon : pardons may be sold ; wee 'l search no scriptures , but the mines , for gold. . on the world. the world , compos'd of heaven & earth , 's the story of gods eternall , and mans temp'rall glory . . on formall devotion . men doe god service with the same devotion , as the soule body takes his loathed potion : they stay and stay , then gulp it downe in hast , not for the pleasure , but to have it past : whose druggy tast goes so against their minde ; that , oft , the better part is left behind , and what is taken , 's taken but in vaine , it either works not , or comes up againe . on heavenly manna . o what a world of heav'nly manna falls within the circuit of our happy walls ! with how great ioy wold neighb'ring lands receive the fragments of those fragments , that we leave ! our furnisht markets flourish all the yeare : we need no ephaths , nor yet omers here : we take , unmeasur'd , from the bounteous heape ; thanks never were so deare : not that , so cheape : vve never hoard , but tosse from hand to hand , as if that famine had forsworne the land ; our satiate stomacks are so lavish fed , that we ev'n sleight , and wanton with our bread : ah lord ! i feare when carelesse children play vvith their spoyl'd bread , 't is time to take away . . on naturall sins . to murther parents , or our selves , has bin , though falsly , counted an unnaturall sin : by nature , we are apt to fall into 't ; i rather think 't unnaturall not to doe 't : if heav'n should but forsake us , 't were agin . the very course of nature , not to sin . . on the arke . if flouds of teares should drown my world of sin , alas , my floating arke retaines within , a cursed cham to store the world agin : what then ? so long as holy sem vouchsafeth but to divide a tent with bashfull iapheth . . on sophronia . sophronia chooses rather to commit selfe murther , then by violence , to submit her ventur'd honor to th' injurious trust of the eye sparkling tyrants furious lust : what means sophronia ? dare her conscience frame , to act a sin , but to prevent a shame ? . on a faire prospect . looke up ; and there , i see the faire abode and glorious mansion of my gracious god : looke downe ; in ev'ry garnisht corner lyes favours objected to my wondring eyes : looke on my right hand ; there , the sweet encrease of joyes present me with a joyfull peace : looke on my left hand ; there , my fathers rod sublimes my knowledge , from my selfe , to god : looke forward ; there , i see the lively story of faiths improvement and of future glory : looke backward : there , my thankfull eye is cast on sinnes remitted , and on dangers past : looke inwards ; and mine eye is made partaker of the faire image of my glorious maker : looke up ; or downe ; about , above , or under ; nothing but objects of true love and wonder . . a resolution . if thou hast giv'n me wealth , great god , i crave content ; and grace to have the goods i have ; if otherwise ; thy will be done : i crave not so much , to have , as use the goods i have not : lord , make me thine : and then i shall appeare , if not thy almner , yet thy beads-man , here . . on the worlds welcome . earths entertainments are like those of iael , her left hand brings me milke ; her right , a nayle . . on our meditation upon god. vvhen thy ambitious knowledge would attempt so high a taske as god , she must exempt all carnall sense ; thy reason must release her pow'r ; thy fancy must be bound toth ' peace ; thy spirits must be rapt ; they must exile thy flesh , and keepe a sabbath for a while ; thou must forget thy selfe , and take strong bands of thy owne thoughts , and shake eternall hands with thy rebellious lusts ; discard and cleare thy heart of all idea's ; then , with feare , and holy reverence , thou must thinke of one , as though he were not to be thought upon : conceive a spirituall , a most perfect beeing , pure , simple ; at the selfe-same instant , seeing things present , past , and future ; one , whose might , whose wisedome , iustice , mercy , ( in a height above exceeding ) is himselfe , being great without a quantity , and most compleat without degrees ; eternall without space of time : at all times present , without place : think thus : and whē thy thoughts can sore no higher , stay there , stand humbly silent , and admire . . on faith. he that wants faith , and apprehends a griefe because he wants it , hath a true beliefe . and he that grieves , because his griefe 's so small , h 'as a true griefe , and the best faith of all . . on mans folly. ideots , and sense-bound lunaticks discerne 'twixt salt and suger ; very babes will learne to know a counter from the currant coyne ; bruit beasts , by ' instinct of nature , will decline th'alluring bait , and sense-beguiling snare ; though that seeme ne'r so sweet ; this , ne'r so faire : yet man , heav'ns greatest master-piece will chuse , what fooles , and mad-men , beasts , and babes refuse : delights in dangerous pleasures , and beneath the name of ioyes , pleases himselfe to death . . on glory . that saint , in heav'n , whose glory is the least , has ev'n as perfect glory , as the best : there 's no degrees ; but in a finite treasure : no difference 'twixt pauls glory & mine , but measure . . on reward . when holy scriptures mention the rewarding of works , we read not , for , but stil according . the end of the third booke . divine fancies . the fourth booke . . a good morrow . t is day : vnfold thine armes ; arise , and rouze thy leaden spirits , and pay thy mcrning vowes ; send up thy incense ; let her early smoke renew that league thy very dreames have broke ; then mayst thou worke or play ; nothing shall be displeasing to thy god , that pleases thee . . a good-night . close now thine eyes , and rest secure ; thy soule is safe enough ; thy body sure ; he that loves thee , he that keepes and guards thee , never slumbers , never sleepes . the smiling conscience in a sleeping brest has onely peace , has onely rest : the musicke and the mirth of kings are all but very discords , when she sings : then close thine eyes and rest secure ; no sleepe so sweet as thine , no rest so sure . . on a printing-house . the world 's a printing-house : our words , our thoughts our deeds , are characters of sev'rall sizes : each soule is a compos'ter ; of whose saults the levits are correctors : heav'n revises ; death is the common press ; from whence , being drivē , w' are gathered sheet by sheet , & bound for heaven . . a dialogue betweene gabriel and mary . gabriel . haile blessed mary : ma , what celestial tongue cals sinfull mary blessed ? gab : it is i : ma. who art thou ? ga. i am gabriel that belong to the high quire of heaven : ma. i faint , i dye . ga. feare not sweet virgin ; all the earth shall be son made debters to thy womb , and blest in thee . ma. how lord ? ga : thy virgin womb shal beare a that shal redeem the world . ma. my lord , how can such wonders come to passe ; such things be done by a poore virgin , never knowne by man ? ga. the holy ghost , at his appointed howre , shall make thee pregnant by his sacred powre : ma. wonder of wonders ! ga. at whose height the quire of heav'n stand ravisht , tremble , & admire . ma. o may it be according to thy word : ga. before that twice five moons compleated be thou shalt be knowne the mother of our lord , and thou shalt dance thy saviour on thy knee . ma. both heav'n & earth shall triumph ; & the frame of hell shall tremble at maria's name : ga. all ages past , and present , and to come , shall joy in mary , and in marye's wombe . on rhemvs . if heav'n would please to purge thy soule as well as rome thy purse , thou needst not feare a hell. . on the life of man. mans day 's a song , compos'd by th'great musition , full of harmonious ayres and dainty choyce ; but spoyld with discords , and too much division ; abus'd and lost for want of skill , and voyce : we misse our rests , and we neglect our graces ; our life the trebble , and our death the base is : . on mary . foure marye's are eterniz'd for their worth ; our saviour found out three , our charls , the fourth . . on the church . let not thy blacknesse moove thee to despaire , black women are belov'd of men that 's faire : what if thy hayre , her flaxen brightnes lack ? thy face is comely , though thy brow be black . . on the two essences . gods sacred essence represents the bright and glorious body of the greater light : 't is perfect ; hath a being of her owne , giving to all , receiving light from none : mans essence represents the borrowed light and feeble luster of the lampe of night : her rayes are faint , and her reflection thin , distain'd with nat'rall blemishes within ; inconstant , various ; having , of her owne , no light at all ; or light , as good as none : when too much earth shall interpose , and slipps betwixt these lights , our soules are in th' eclips . . on our saviours passion . the earth did tremble ; and heav'ns closed eye was loth to see the lord of glory dye ; the skyes were clad in mourning , & the spheares forgat their harmony ; the clouds dropt teares : th' ambitious dead arose to give him roome ; and ev'ry grave did gape to be his tombe ; th' affrighted heav'ns sent down elegious thunder ; the worlds foundation loos'd , to lose their founder ; th' impatient temple rent her vaile in two , to teach our hearts what our sad hearts should do : shall senslesse things doe this , and shall not i melt one poore drop to see my saviour dye ? drill forth my teares ; and trickle one by one , till you have p●irc'd this heart of mine , this stone . . on peter . vvhat luck had peter ! for he tooke a fish that stor'd his purse , as well as fill'd his dish ; whose bounty did inrich , as well as feed him ; but they are better fishers that succeed him : he catcht by chance : these catch the like by skill : he catcht but once : these catch them when they will : they cast their angles into better seas ; their bayts are only for such fish as these : brave sport , and full of curious pleasure ! come , there is no fishing to the sea — of rome . . on herodias . i 'le tell thee , light-skirts , whosoever taught thy feet to dance , thy dancing had a fault : thou 'lt find it deare , herodias , if thou do'st compare thy pen'worth with the price it cost . . on faith and hope . how much the stronger , hopes on life relye , so much the weaker is my faith , to dye . . on water and wine . the happy diff'rence and sweet change of life , when a chast virgin turnes a loyall wife , our blessed lord , in cana did divine , and turnd cold water into lusty wine . . on age. how fresh blood dotes ! o how green youth delires ! it most disdaines the thing it most desires . . on a figg-tree . a christian's like a figg-tree , that does beare fruit , greene , or ripe , or blossomes all the yeare : no wonder then , our saviour curst that tree ; figg-trees are alwayes dead , where no figgs be . . on rhemvs . rhemus , upon a time i heard thee tell , a wall divideth purgatory ' and hell ; and that a gold-bought masse will cleare th' offence that brought us thither , and redeeme us thence : ah rhemus , what demented soule would spare to ruine wife , or to dis-land an heyre , rather then feele such torments , you pretend , that equall hell in all but time , and end : ah rhemus , if the power of gold be such , how dare you be so bold to dye so rich ! . on jacob . ne're boast thy bargaine , iacob : for poore wee have made a better contract far , then thee : we envy not his land thou didst inherit ; our brother tooke our flesh ; gave us his spirit . . on simon magvs . simon , bring gold enough ; and i will tell thee , wher thou shalt buy what peter wold not s●l thee : repaire to his successors ; they are free and frolick gamsters ; not so strict as hee : nay , if thy gold be weake , they will not stand to sell good pen'worths at the second hand : they 'l sell good cheape , but they 'l not give to any ; no , pater-noster where there is no penny : no , if thy purse be like an empty shell , they will not give , what peter would not sell. . on the bishop of rome . admit , great prelat , that thou wert that rock wheron the church was founded ; coldst unlock the gates of heav'n ; and , with thy golden key , make hel thy pris'ner , and the fiends obey , thy papall dignity would far be greater , if thou wert simon , but as well as peter . . on milo . do ; strive to enter milo , though the gate be narrow , and the rugged passage straight ; lessen thy selfe , and fast thy carkas thin ; take in thy flesh , 't will get thee easier in : look up to heav'n , t will raise thy body'uprighter ; give lib'rall alms , t will make thee tread the lighter : sweat forth thy base corruptions , and inherit thy promis'd crowne ▪ halfe lost for want of spirit ; let not thy destard , and dull thoughts disdaine those works which cold despaire mistakes , as vaine ; take heed ; let not thy queazy soule repine against those actions which are none of thine : heav'n bids thee shine ; what if thy rayes be dim , doe thou thy best ; leave the successe to him : follow thy worke ; and when thy soule shall be gather'd from hence , thy works shall follow thee . . on rome . good workes abound in rome : 't is well they doe , 't is the best string they chalenge to their bow : but ev'ry hee 's no monck , that weares a hood , 't is well , if they 'r well done , as well as good : when wandring passengers have lost their way , no sort of men that ride so fast as they . . on three dayes and nights . thou knowst our dying saviour did repose on friday ; on the sabbath , he arose ; tell me , by what account can he be said to lodge three dayes and nights among the dead ? he dyde for all the world : what wanted here , was full supply'd in t'other hemisphere . . on tobits dogge . what luck had tobits dog ! what grace ! what glory thus to be kenel'd in th' eternall story ! vntill th' apocrypha and scripture sever , the mem'ry of tobits dogg shall live for ever : . on the gospell . vvhen two evangelists shall seeme to vary in one discourse , they 'r divers , not contrary ; one truth doth guide them both ; one spirit doth direct them ; doubt not , to beleeve them both . . on servio . servio , 't is scarcely worth thy paines , to smother or to subdue one sin , and hugge another : beleeve it servio , he that is in thrall to one , is a potentiall slave to all . . on formio . formio will keepe the sabbath , read and pray , his lips are seal'd from oaths upon that day ; formio is clad in black , and will absent his fleshly thoughts , this holy time of lent. thinkst thou that formio's shaking hands with sin ? no , t is but giving hands to meet agin . . on iohn and iesvs . iohn was the morning-starre that did fore-run the long-wisht rising of our glorious sun : the first word that iohns preaching lips expressed was this , repent : our saviours first , was , blessed : iohn makes th' incision ; iesus makes it sound ; iesus nere cures , where iohn ne'r made a wound . . on dispossessing . vve read , a broyled fishes heart will scare a frighted devil from a troubled brest : we read againe , by fasting , and by prayre the fierce demoniack's only dispossest : what this affirmes , that flatly does deny ; with reverence to the text , the t'one's a lye. . on herodias . i have a young herodias lives within me , that never leaves to dance , untill she win me to grant her suit ; will never cease to plead vntill i give her my iohn baptists head : o then my sorrow would be past her date , and i , like h●rod , should repent too late . . on malfido . sathans injections are like weeds that fall into thy garden , darted ore the wall , whose loathsom smel unscent thy sweeter flow'rs ; but grow not there , unles we make them ours : they 'l dye , neglected ; if thou lend them roome , they 'l stink ; but eas'ly thrown from whence they come : feare not , malfido ; those they be that spoyle thy flow'rs , that suck their substance from the soyle . . on slanders . when undeserv'd report distaines my name , it shames not , but perchāce prevents a shame . . on law and gospell . the law is rough ; the gospell milde and calme ; that launc'd the bile ; & this powres in the balme . . on abosome sin. that sin that finds more credit then the rest , that is thy darling , leanes upon thy brest ; that , in the b●some of thy heart does lye ; that dips within thy dish , sayes , is it i ? that gives thee kisses ? that 's the sin that slayes thee , o that , o that 's the iudas , that betrayes thee . . on the world. the world 's a booke , writ by th' eternall art of the great maker , printed in mans heart ; 't is falsly printed , though divinely pend , and all th' erratas will appeare at th' end . . on my soule . my weather-beaten soule long time has bin becalm'd , and tiding in the sea of sin ; but now afflictions storme does drive and tosse her batter'd keele : the wind is loud and crosse : feare fills her tatterd sailes , & doubts doe drive her , she knowes not where ; and of all hopes deprive her : thus , thus transported by the troubled ayre amongst the swallowing quick-sands of despaire , if not prevented by a greater power , she looks for wreck and ruine ev'ry hower ; o , that mine eyes could raine a showre of teares , that , that would lay the storme of all my feares . . on the cuckoe . the idle cuckoe , having made a feast on sparrowes eggs , layes downe her owne i' th' nest ; the silly bird she ownes it , hatches , feeds it ; protects it from the weather , clocks and breeds it ; it neither wants repose nor yet repast , and joyes to see her chicken thrive so fast : but when this gaping monster has found strength to shift without a helper , she at length not caring for that tender care that bred her , forgets her parent , kills the bird that fed her : the sin we foster in our bosome , thus ere we have left to feed it , feeds on us . . on tobit . was it not time to send his sonne to rages , for mony , whē his wife spun hard for wages ? was 't not high time for him to post away , that for an angell paid a groat a day ? . on david . who ever sung so high , so rapt an 〈◊〉 as david prompted by heroick clio ? but when thy more divine vrania sung , what glorious angell had so sweet a tongue ? but when melpomene began to sing , each word 's a rapture , or some higher thing : sweet were thy triumphs ; sweet those ioyes of thine ; o , but thy teares were more then most divine . . on a monument . seest thou that mon'ment ? dost thou see how art does polish nature to adorne each part of that rare worke , whose glorious fabrick may commend her beauty to an after day ? is 't not a dainty pe●ce ? and apt to raise a rare advantage to the makers praise ? but knowst thou what this dainty peece encloses ? beneath this glorious marble there reposes a noysome putrid carkas , halfe devour'd by crawling caniballs , disguiz'd , deflour'd with loath'd corruption , whose consuming sent would poyson thoughts , although it have no vent : ev'n sucha peece art thou , who ere thou be that readst these lines : this monument is thee : thy body is a fabricke , wherein nature and art conspire to heighten up a creature to summe perfection , being a living story and rare abridgement of his makers glory ; but full of loathsome filth , and nasty mire of lust , uncurb'd affections , base desire ; curious without , but most corrupt within a glorious monument of inglorious sin. . on plavsvs . plausus has built a church : and lest his glory should dye , has boasted his vain-glorious story vpon the painted wall , and built to fame a large memoriall of his doubtfull name : plausus , 't is bravely done ; thy deeds make knowne thou either seekst gods glory , or thy owne . . on censorio . thou blam'st the age , condemns the daies of crimes , if thou wouldst mend thy faults , 't would mend the times . . on fooles of both kinds . some scorne the crosse , whilst others fall before it : some sit and take the bread , and some adore it : some are too bold , and others too too nice : fooles act a sin whilst they decline a vice. . on the name of jesvs . it is the common course of man to double the name of iesus in the times of trouble : the name of lord is not a stile to please us ; iesu's no lord with us ; if lord , no iesus . . on the woman with the issue . how could thy soule , fond woman , be assur'd thy long disease could be so eas'ly cur'd ? what ? couldst thou think the touch of cloth was good to dry the fountaine of thy flowing blood ? or was 't because our blessed saviour wore it ? or why ? i read not , that thou didst adore it : he nere so much as ownd thee , woman : sure , thy faith , and not his garments wrought the cure . on our redemption . we were created at a word , a breath ; redeemed with no lesse then blood & death : how much greater labour is it , than , to wash a sinner , then to make a man ! . on gods arme. t was not , that he was weake ; or thou so strong ; he dy'd so soone , or that thou liv'st so long : the head-strong oxe is haled to the slaughter , when the poore worm crawls many a summer after : when heav'ns victorious arme shal please to strike , the gyant and the pigmey are alike . . on our blessed saviour . o thou that wert the king of heav'n and earth , how poorely wert thou attended at thy birth ! a manger was thy cradle , and a stable thy privy chamber , marye's knees thy table ; theeves were thy courtiers , & the cross , thy throne ; thy dyet , gall ; a wreath of thornes , thy crowne : all this , the king of glory endur'd , and more , to make us kings that were but slaves before . . on cordvplo . keepe in thy actions , and maintaine the fences of thy clos'd lipps , corduplo , and thy senses ; thou shalt deceive both man and devill too , and mayst be damn'd , and yet they never know ; the devils power of knowledge never delves into our hearts , till we proclaime our selves . . on dreames . vvho dreams a sin , & not his dreams forbid it an entertainment , sins , as if he did it ; which if thy slumbring soule could not prevent , th' art safe , if thou hast dreamd thou didst repent . . on adam . how soon , poore adam , was thy freedome lost ! forfeit to death ere thou hadst time to boast ; before thy triumph , was thy glory done , betwixt a rising and a setting sun : how soon that ends , that should have ended never ! thine eyes ne'r slept , untill they slept for ever : . on sins and blessings . vve write thy common blessings , lord , upon a sliding streame ; no sooner writ , but gon : thy more illustrious favors we entrust to the dry sand , defac'd with ev'ry gust : but , lord , our scrowle of sins are written downe on during marble , or some harder stone ; and our extreame mis-doings are thought good to be inscrib'd , like draco's lawes , in blood : lord , let us change our tables , or our story , and we shall have more comfort ; thou , more glory . . on celia . celia complaines , her heart cannot be well ; nor will not , celia , till it cease to swell ; 't is too-too proud with blood , perverse and stout ; it must be launc'd to let the humour out : alas no launce can pierce it ; it is growne more hard then raunce , or th' adamantine stone . then celia , like an adamant , thou must make the incision with her owne made dust . . on pvsillvs . pvsillus can be jocund , never whines when he is full , but still , in want , repines ; and , like a bad-nos'd ●ound , that hunts not true , hee 's at a fault , if not the game in view : be well advis'd pusillus ; heav'n may chance , to pipe no more , if thou give ore to dance . . on beliefe . the divels doe beleeve ; i know they doe ; but their beleefe does make them tremble too . . on crastinio . past time is gone , the future is to be ; crastinio , say , which most belongs to thee ? the first , thou further goest and further from ; and thou mayst dye before the last shall come : the first , crastinio's now growne out of date ; perchance the last may come , but come too late : the last's uncertaine , and the first is gone , the present then crastinio's thine , or none . . on an hower-glasse . mans life is like an hower-glasse , wherein each sev'rall sand that passes is a sin : and when the latest sand is spent and run , our sinnes are finisht , as our lives are done . . on kain . kain , 't is true : it was , and did appeare a punishment too great for thee to beare : if thou hadst had a faith , and couldst have bin as much opprest and loaded with thy sin , thy greater patience either might out-worne it , or found more able shoulders to have borne it . on ticio . ticio stands gaping for the clouded sun to be inform'd how fast the howers run ; ah , foolish ticio , art thou sound in minde , to lose by seeking , what thou seekst to finde ? . on sortio . sortio , that makst a trade of gaming , know thou breakst two great command'ments at a throw : the third thou break'st by thy abuse of lot ; thou breakst the tenth , that bids thee covet not : now tell me , sortio , whether sins most high , he that playes faire , or he that helps a die ? . on raymond sebvnd . honour to high-brain'd raymond , and no lesse to thy renowned scholler , great du plesse : your high attempts object to our dull sight the god of nature , by dull natures light : but what has raymond , and du plessis done ? they light but two bright tapers to the sun. . to henry earle of holland . t is not the sun-shine of great cesars eye , nor our opinion makes thy honour flye so faire a pitch ; nor need thy glory claime assistance from thy blood , t' enrich thy name : but what it is that mounts thee up so high , the world shall tell thee , henry , and not i : blood gives no vertue ; nor opinion , glory ; and princely favors are but transitory ; heav'ns act is mingled with great cesars eye : heav'n gave thee wings , and cesar bids thee flye . . on drunkards and idolaters . which is the greater sin , and which the lesse ? which finds the sharper ? which the milder rod ? to turne gods glorious image to a beast , or turne the image of a beast to god ? thrice happy is that soule , and more then thrice , that buyes no knowledge at so deare a price . . on dying . he that would dye once well , must often trye ; practice does bring perfection how to dye : the law 's our tutor ; and the world our schoole , wherein w' are taught by ' example , as by rule : the rods afliction , which being laid away , the gospell comes , and begs us leave to play . . on ravens and lilies . are not the ravens , great god , sustaind by thee ? and wilt thou cloth the lilyes , and not me ? i 'le nere distrust my god , for cloth , and bread , whilst lilyes flourish , and the ravens be fed . . on degrees of sin. cvrses proportion to the sins degree : adam had one ; eve , two ; the serpent , three . . a last will. my life 's my dying day ; wherein i , still , am making , alter , and correct my will : my soule i doe bequeath to god ; provided some smaller legacies may be divided among my friends : item my sins i giue to my deare iesus , whether dye or live : item , i give the world , that did refresh the tender frailty of my feeble flesh , my lesser cares : i doe bequeath moreover , to my poore body , home-spun cloath , to cover and hide her shame , and food for needfull diet ; some sleepe , but not immoderate , to quiet distemper'd nature , and in her vacation , some lawful pleasures for her recreation ; my charity , to my poore helples brother , i give ; my prayers to the true church my mother ; whose watchfull eyes i must desier , still , to be the over-seers of my will. . on our jesvs . hee 's like a rock , which when we strive to shun we are in danger to be wreckt upon ; but when our wide-spred armes seek refuge there , it will secure us from the harmes we feare . . to king charles . the common wealth is like an instrument ; the divers sorts of people represent the strings , all differing in degrees , in places ; some trebles , and some meanes , and some are bases : the potent rulers the musitians are ; the musicke , sometimes peace , and sometimes warre ; the lawes are like the ruled bookes that lye before their eyes , and which they practice by : play on great charles ; heav'n make thy strings as strong , and true , as thou art skilfull : ravish long the worlds wide eares , with thy diviner ayres , that whosoever to thy land repayres , may thence returne amazd , and tell the story of brittains triumph , in great charles his glory . . a riddle . the goods we spend we keepe ; and what we save , we lose , and only what we lose , we have . . on glorioso . nero vaunt glorioso , that thou oft reliev'st the poore ; glorioso , t is not thine , thou giv'st : boast what 's thy own ; thou art the poor mans sive ; thy wealth was giv'n thee , with a clause , to give ; put case it were thy owne thou gav'st ; what then ? thy owne applause hath paid thy own agen . . on jvdas : two hundred pence ! what 's that to thee ? but say that so much oyntment had beene cast away ; the coyne that paid for 't , iudas , was not thine ; o iudas , that 's the cause thou didst repine . . on impropriator . lord , how he swells ! as if he had , at least , a common wealth reposed in his brest : a common-wealth ? ●twas shrewdly guest , i tell ye ; he has a leash of churches in his belly . . on the same . prodigious stomacke ! what a cruell deale it can devoure ! who le churches at a meale : 't is very strange that nature should deliver so good ● stomack to so bad a liver . . on lvcro . lvcro , it is beleev'd , thy conscience , either is very wide , or made of stretching leather : me thinkes thy conscience rather seemes too small ; so farre from large , i feare th' ast none at all . . to god. if thou shouldst strike a blow for every slipp that mortalls make , or spurre for every tripp , within a moments space , here would be found no place left free t' inflict an other wound : hackneys and spur-gall'd iades would happier be , and in condition , better farre , then wee . . on sleepe and death . it is receiv'd , that sleep's the elder brother ; i see no reason for 't ▪ i thinke , the other : though sleepe does now usurp the upper hand , i 'am sure that death do's sweepe away the land. . to rhemvs . thy conscience tels thee , that to make debate twixt prince and people ; to subvert a state ; to violate a truce , to murther kings are lawfull ; nay , are meritorious things : thou hast a freedome more then we , wherein to doe against thy conscience , and not sin . . on glorioso . he that relieves his brother in distresse , and seeks no 〈◊〉 applause , do's nothing lesse then lend to his redeemer , laying downe a worthlesse 〈◊〉 , to take up a crowne : but if vain-glory prompt thy tongue to boast , it is not lent , glorioso ; 't is but lost . . to god. i wonder , lord , thou shouldst so much desire our yonger dayes , when as the greene-wood fire of feeble nature is but newly blowne ; when ev'ry roome 's unfurnisht ; and not one fit for the presence of so great a guest ; none trim'd with art ; no , not so much as drest with common sense ; when as th'unburnisht print of thy faire image , taken from the mint but now , has not the least imbellishment of heav'nly knowledge : lord , what hast thou ment , to make such choyce , to choose a time so ill , when we have neither meanes , nor yet a will to entertaine ? would not our deeper age , wherein the toyes of child-hood , and the rage , the fire of lustfull youth shall be abated , wherein our riper soules shall be estated in richer knowledge , and the strength of reason ; o might not , might not this bin thought a season , a time more aptly chosen of the twaine , for thee to come ; and us , to entertaine ? no ; thou , great god , that art our wise creator , wert better read in our rebellious nature : thou knewst the bow of our corrupted will stood bent to mischiefe , would be drawne to ill by every arme ; thou knewst that every hower gave new encrease to strength , and double power to draw those sinfull shafts that shoot at heaven ; thou knewst our easie nature would be driven by ev'ry breath , and that our thoughts would fall from bad to worse ; from worse , to worst of all ; thou knowst that growing time wold more unlevell our rugged wills , and tookst the best of evill : lord , take it , and betimes ; that , being possest of that , thou mayst prescribe for all the rest . . on partio . thou sayst thy will is good , and glory'st in it , and yet forgetst thy maker ev'ry minit : say partio , was there ever will allow'd when the testators mem'ry was not good ? . on an evill conscience . what hells of horror , an evill conscience brings . what strange chimera's ! what prodigious things ! a pregnant womb of wonders ! ev'ry minit we sin ; but least , when most we sin agin it . . to mvndano . nere thinke , mundaeno , that one roome will hold thy god , and all thy gold ; if ere they chance to meete within a heart , they 'l either fight , or part ; so long as earth seemes glorious in thine eyes , thy thoughts can never rise ; beleeve 't mundano , by how much more neare thou getst to heav'n , the lesse will earth appeare . . to my friend . vvould'st thou be prosp'rous , tho the bēded brow of fortune threaten thee ? he teach thee how : call home thy dearest wishes , and recall thy hopes ; expect the worst that can befall : if come ; thy heart will be the more secure , the lesse amaz'd , and abler to endure : if it come not , expectance is no losse ; perchance it armes thee for another crosse : thus wisely sheltred under this reliefe , thy ioy shall be the lesse ; and lesse , thy griefe . . to malfido . cheare up malfido , lay thy thoughts more level ; make sure of grace , and ne'r suspect thy food : he that is good , can give a thing that 's evill no more , then thou , being evill , canst wish a good : he better knowes to give , then thou , to begge ; thou whin'st for stones , and grumblest at an egge : o , let his better will suspend thy wish , and thou shalt find no scorpion ; if , no fish. . on crvcio . thou stil complainst that sorrowes do attend thee , and that their savours do so much annoy thee : mistake not ; they are weapons , to defend thee ; they be not engins , crucio , to destroy thee ; wilt thou mislike thy cropps of swelling corne , because th' are trencht , & fenc'd about with thorn ? . to rhemvs . t is true ; we are but dust ; but wormes ; nay men , that are more base then either ; and what then ? shall wormes , or dust , or men be well advis'd , to goe in person ( where we have despis'd ) before a god , a glorious god ? i doe ; who bids thee come , will bid thee welcome too : rhemus , when call'd in person , you appeare by proxy , tell me where 's your manners , there ? 't is better to be wisely bold , then make thy selfe unmannerly , for manners sake : some ill-bred clownes there be , that , being loath to foule a napkin , draw a filthy cloath . . to macio . droope not beneath thy wants , as if forlorne , thou must be made a iewell , to be worne in abrams bosome : macio , he that comes to abrams bosome , finds his way , by crumms . . on reproofe . t is not enough to strive agin the act , or not to doe 't ; we must reprove the fact in others too ; the sin , being once made knowne to us , if not reprov'd , becomes our owne : we must disswade the vice , we scorne to follow ; we must spit out , as well as never swallow . . on cvrio . two eares to let in knowledge ; nature gave ; to entertaine true faith , one heart we have ; why so ? i le tell thee curio , in briefe , our knowledge twice exceeds our halfe beleefe . . on zelvstvs . zelustus thinks , his paines are worth his labour if he love god , though he traduce his neighbour : his hot-mouth'd zeale false-gallops on so fast in the table't tyers in the last : art thou a faithfull steward of gods store , zelustus , that spendst sixe , and keepst but foure ? . on philautos . philauto's charity is like a mouse that keepes at home , and never leaves the house , till it be fir'd : it stirres for no mans cause , vnlesse to feed on crumms of vaine applause : take heed , philautos , lest thou heed too late ; the mouse , in time , will eate up thy estate . . on dubius . dvbius , thy eares are two , thy tongue but one ; heare god and priest , confesse to god alone . . to sir julius cesar , master of the rol●es . the high perfections , wherwith heav'n do's please to crowne our transitory dayes , are these ; goods well possest ▪ and not possessing thee : a faithfull friend ; equall in love , degree : lands fruitfull , and not conscious of a curse : a boastlesse hand , a charitable purse : a smiling conscience , a contented mind ; a sober knowledge , with true wisedome , j●ynd : a brest , well temper'd ; dyet without art , surfeit , or want ; a wisely-simple heart . pastimes ingenious , lawfull , manly , sparing ; a spirit not contentious rash , but daring : a body healthfull , found , and fit for labour ; a house well order'd , and an equall neighbour : a prudent wife , and constant to the roofe ; sober , but yet not sad , and faire enough ; sleepe seasonable , moderate , and secure ; actions heroicke , constant , blamelesse , pure , a life , as long as faire ; and when expir'd , a glorious death , unfeard , as undesir'd . . on lvcro . lvcro , how poor thy tyrant-wealth has made thee ! how miserable poore ! it has betrayd thee to thy owne seeming selfe ; and it is growne as little , thine , or lesse then thou , thy owne : alas , poore lucro , how thy fruitfull pawnes abuse thy stomacke , that so often yawnes . for a good morsell , whilst thy saint does rome , like a d●coy , t' entice evill angels home , whose more imperious presence must controule and fright the peace of thy perplexed soule ! lucro , be slave no longer to thy pelse ; sub due thy gold , and make thy selfe , thy selfe : but if thy saint be growne too strong for thee , he tell thee lucro ; turne thy saint to me . . on mendax . faire-spoken mendax , on the least occasion , sweares by his faith , and by his owne salvation ; is rash●brayne mendax , well advised , then , to pawne his faith in god , for faith with men ? sure , small 's thy wit or credit , to be drawne for wares so poore , to leave so great a pawne . . on blandvs . vvhen ere i wish my blandus a good mor●ow he is my servant : if i come to borrow , or but salute my blandus passing by , i am your servant , blandus does reply : if court my blandus , i must understand , he is my servant , and does kisse my hand ; discourse with blandus , ev'ry clause shall be i am your servant : if he drinke to me my servant does it ; i returne his love , my servant pledges : if my lips doe move a suit , he is my servant ; though i doe abuse my blandus , hee 's my servant too : how blest am i , his service should be such to me ! he never told his god so much : how much , dear blandus , hast thou bound me thine , that art his servant , not so much , as mine ! . on rebellio . the stout rebellio , scourged by his god , slights his correction , and ne'r ownes the rod ; take heed , rebellio ; be not stout too long ; neglected stripes doe oft returne more strong ; a stubborne silence more ill nature showes , then sobbs of stomack , and deserves more blowes . . on god and gold. my god and gold cannot possesse one heart : my god and i ; or gold and i must part . . to james archbishop of armagh . renowned prelate , i nor know nor care what secret vertue 's in saint patricks chayre ; if any ; i dare boldly say , 't is more since thou satst there , then ere it was before : goe on , great patriarck ; if thy higher story ( as sure it will ) shall drowne s. patricks glory : iërna will , ( as now iërna vaunts ) be knowne , as well as cal'd , the isle of saints . . on a waking conscience . there is a kind of conscience some men keepe , is like a member that 's benumb'd with sleepe ; which , as it gathers blood , and wakes agen , it shoots , and pricks , and feeles as big as ten . . on our affections . o how prepostrous our affections burne ! we serve the world , love god , to serve our turn . . on zelvstvs . zelustus weares his clothes , as he were clod to frighten crowes , and not to serve his god ; as if the symptomes of regeneration were nothing but a christian out of fashion . . on rebellio . vvhat ? ever whining ? evermore alike , both when heav'n strikes & whē he leaves to strike ? not stroke thy stomacke downe , when as thy god is friends with thee , and throwne aside the rod ? take heed , rebellio , heaven doe not replye vpon thy sobbs , and he that made thee crye for thy owne good , reward not thy repining with a new rod , & scourge thee worse for whining . . on zelvstvs . not thy geneva ruffe , nor steeple hat with flagging eaves , or cepresse out of date ; thy nock-shorn cloake , with a round narrow cape ; thy russet hose crosse-garterd with a tape ; thy antick habit , of the old translation , made for the purpose in despight of fashion ; t is none of these , zelustus , that can bring thy zeale in credit ; none of these can wring the least applause from heav'n : heav'n never ment a christians conscience should be bound or bent to shapes ; zelustus , we can scarce divide an affectation from a secret pride . . on conscio . art thou revil'd , and slandred ? and yet whine ? i feare th' art guilty : is that heart of thine so faint ( if guiltles ) that it cannot stoope beneath so poore a burthen , and not droope ? he that has fire at home may well refraine to blow his singers , conscio , or complaine the weather 's cold abroad : make sure within , and let them censure , let them snarle agin : thou mayst appeare , but not be this , the worse ; if conscience blesse thee , doe , let shemei curse . to god. thy sacred will be done , great god , to spend , or to suspend thy rod : if possible , my will 's to misse it ; if otherwise , to stoope , and kisse it . . on devotion . we must not onely be to god , but shew to man ; pauls cloak must be remembred too on the christian. t is not enough that the kings daughter should be faire within ; she must be clad in gold ; the curious needle cloathes her whiter skin ; shee 's rich without , and glorious all within : the true borne christian , must , as well , be clod with lives to men , as lin'd with hearts to god. . on mercy and lustice . gods mercy and his iustice is the same ; t is but the obiect that divides the name . on avlicvs . before that aulicus was made a lord , he was my friend ; we might exchange a word , as well as hearts ; he could be never weary of my society ; was jocund , merry ; ingenious , and as jealous to offend ; he was enjoyd , he could enjoy his friend : but now he swells , looks big , his favours change , a● well as fortunes : now his eyes are strange : his thoughts are councels , curious webs of state ; and all his actions must be wonder'd at ; his speeches must be lawes , and every word an oracle , to be admir'd , ador'd : friendship must now be service : a new mold must have new matter , melted from the old : o aulicus , 't were well , if thou couldst doe the very same in spirituall honour too . . to rhemvs . faith must be joynd to works : rhemus , i wonder , what god has joynd , thou dar'st presume to sunder ! . on tortvs . t is not the bearing of the crosse , or cup of thy affliction ; thou must take them up : nor i st the taking up , alone , will doe ; tortus , thou must take up , and follow too . . on gracchvs . gracchus so often did repeat a lye , past on , with credit , from his very youth , that now his conscience has forborne to crye against it , and perswades him 't is a truth : t is well for gracchus ; he has gaind thereby ; he now may tell the same , and never lye . . on phares . thou sayst , it is a supper , and is fit to use the posture of a meale , to sit : can thy discretion , phares , or thy zeale give carnall gestures to a spirituall meale ? a heav'nly supper and a fleshly heart ? thy posture has discover'd what thou art . . on the same . you 'l take it sitting : pray ; and no man know it : you 'l doe , and yet you will not seeme to doe it : you 'l bow your heart , although you bend no knee : 't is like your selfe ; you seeme , not what you be . . to my booke . so ; now , 't is time to waine thee from my brest ; thy teeth grow sharp , my babe , it will be best for both : thy hasty nurse is come to take thee from my fond arms : ne'r whimper ; he wil make thee a dainty golden coate : let it suffice thee , thou art mine stil : how ere ; thy nurse will prize thee for his own sake and thine : when thou art strong , and fure of foot , hee 'l let thee sport among thy fellow●children ; he will let thee see the world , which thou hadst never seene , with me : thou mayst doe well ; if fortune strike thee lucke , and faire opinion ; thou didst never sucke but one good friday , and thou mayst improve as well in merit , as in pop'ular love : thou hast sixe brethren ( borne as well as thee of a free muse ) legitimate and free ; pages to cesar , and in cesars court , besides an ishmael , that attends the port of a great lord , an honourable peere of this blest realme : if ere thou wander , there . they 'l bid thee welcome , at the times of leasure , perchance , and bring thee to the hand of cesar : thou art but young , and tender , ( for who knowes the paths of fate ? ) perhaps , and one of those whom clotho favours not ; perchance , thy twine may be produc'd ( for thou art halfe divine ) to after ages , to the utmost date of time ; who knowes ? but we subscribe to fate : perchance , thy fortune 's to be bought and sold ; was not young ioseph serv'd the like of old ? thy bondage may , like his , be made perchance , a steppe to honour , and a meanes t' advance thy higher fortunes , and prepare thy hand to ease a dearth , if dearth should strike the land : but i transgresse , my b●be : 't is time to part ; the lawes of nature breake the rules of art ; once more farewel : let heav'ns high blessings shine on my poork babe , as my poore babe has mine . the end of the fourth and last booke .