THE RIDDLES OF HERACLITUS AND Democritus.  
Printed at London by Arn. Hatfield, for john Norton. 1598.   

Prophecies, predictions,  
Stories and fictions,  
Allegories, rhymes,  
And serious pastimes  
For all manner men,  
Without regard when,  
Or where they abide,  
On this or that side,  
Or under the mid line  
Of the Holland sheets fine,  
Or in the Tropics fair  
Of sunshine and clear air,  
Or under the pole  
Of chimney and sea-coal:  
Read they that list, understand they that can,  
Verbum satis est to a wise man.   

The Riddles of Heraclitus and Democritus.  

1  

IT seems that Tunis is an ancient town  
near to the ruins of Carthage once so proud,  
Whose stately buildings now are clean pulled down,  
And calmed her bruit, that sounded sometime loud:  
But room, that is their ancient far away  
Doth hold, and shall, though cities all decay.   

Room is more large, then spacious Milan fair,  
Or Venice or the Tartars great Camball,  
Boeams three Prages, or Egypt's rich Alcaire,  
Or Quinsei in Cataie, biggest of them all,  
And more I say, after the day of doom  
Hell shall be no where, unless it be in room.    

2  
Room is a taker, Poets say,  
And lawyers are so too, you see  
Room is a taker by my faith,  
No learned man can disagree,  
And room shall take, believe well me,  
At least till something, no where be.   

3  
MAny a man doth speak of me,  
But no man ever shall me see,  
For all in one, do full agree  
That no where must my dwelling be.   

4  
NOt Mark, but Mercury keeps her warm,  
And Neptune hugs her in his arm  
Infertill, fertile of all good things,  
Her Lord her servant her children kings.   

5  
SAy what it is and if you can,  
That neither was by God create,  
Nor framed by the hand of man,  
Nor by the fiend that doth him hate;  
But caused it was for tyrant's strong,  
As things are many of great worth,  
Which made it strait and wondrous long  
When at the first, they brought it forth:  
And good it doth, and none ill deeds,  
Feeding upon green grass and weeds.   

6  
A Prince, for his delight, erected a spacious forest, which beareth even in the coldest months of the years, store of sweet flowers, wholesome herbs, and fair trees, some blossoming, & some bearing fruit. The forest is divided into five parts, every one of them containing birds, beasts, and fishes of divers kinds and qualities.  
A keeper hath this forest in charge, that in a wonderful sort attendeth over it, to the preserving, refection, creating and recreating of every thing vegetant or sensitive. A wife or sister he hath that is as diligem as himself, who with a sconce in the one hand, and a watering pot in the other, goeth about continually watering the herbs. The keeper hath no residence or abode, but taking with him his footman, and the blackesmithes' wife, they cross the forest continually, traveling from one Inn unto another. And when he comes once to the sign of the Dolphin, the Phoenix beginneth to die, which first begun to live, when he entered, at the sign of the Ram. The true Phoenix, of which we have never but one at once, and in every of her wings are 182 feathers at the least, so that she flieth fast, and dieth quickly.   

7  
Believe me now I tell it for notale,  
There is a Queen, or else a Goddess t'one,  
That without help of man, or any male  
conceiveth daughters by herself alone:  
But at their birth, be it by night or day,  
Some skilful man, the midwives part doth play.  
When they be borne, and perfectly brought forth,  
Both old and young do greatly them desire;  
Their beauty and their power is of such worth,  
That all men's hearts, therewith are set on fire:  
And in all times, they bear as great a sway  
As if on earth, there were no queens but they.   

8  
A Creature is that human flesh devours,  
From out whose howels fatness may be taken,  
That being dried by fire, a certain hours  
Will wax as hard, as crust of bread well baken,  
Which fat dissolved, and with the lean confused  
Of that body, from whom you must it take,  
May be with skill and industry so used,  
That a confection thereof we do make  
Greatly helping, though it be held no wonder  
Against all tempest, lightning and thunder.   

9  
HAndsome she was, and well beseen,  
As fresh as any of them all,  
Her raiment for the most part green,  
Her stature good and meetly tall.  
monsieur did take her by the arm  
And friendly entertained her,  
His countenance said he meant no harm,  
But well I wots he strained her,  
That (as lamenting her mishap)  
She cried, perhaps she cracked too,  
Yet monsieur would not leave her lap  
For any thing that she could do,  
This was a scholar by S. Anne,  
A civil, sober, honest man.   

10  
I Wrinkled am and passing old  
But gallant is my motion,  
Abhorring aye to be controlled  
By any one's devotion.  
Come all that list on me to mount,  
Sure I will not forsake them,  
But let them make their just account,  
That finely I shall shake them.  
Ne do I ask men ought for hose,  
For shoes, for drink, or meating,  
Come all that list with me to close  
Sans paying or entreating.  
And they may chance find in my womb  
To make them wish they were at home.   

11  
WHilst Phoebus lodgeth in his southern Inn,  
His ancient Inn, at sign of Capricorn,  
His northern lass, her raiment waxeth thin,  
And for her Lord she seems to pine and morn,  
I mean the lass that many brings to scorn,  
And makes men oft reveal their proper shame,  
Her maker once, took to himself her name.   

12  
A Female, produced first in a rude lump, as they say a young bear is, not by licking, but by pressing, became beautiful. For she hath as many friends as the Queen of England, As many subjects as the King of Spain, As many rulers as Athens ever had, or Venice hath. And though she can neither write nor read, yet is she lettered, a Physician, a Rhetorician, and a Chronicler.   

13  
AS Pallas was engendered from her father's brain,  
So was one other guest, that I see men do entertain,  
She sprang from neither grift, nor plant, nor egg nor seed,  
Ne is she fish, or flesh, or grain, or pulse or herb or weed,  
With Ladies and great Lords, she is both day and night,  
And clergy men, and prelates grave, sometime in her delight.  
Some think that the devil, begat her on his dame,  
Because that he much evil doth, and mischief by her frame:  
I think not so, but wish, she soberly were used,  
That neither she nor men by her, might henceforth be abused.   

14  
A Virgin fair, betwixt whose milk white  
Paps I sometime lay,  
When I was borne, the midwives part  
And nurses too did play,  
To whom I spent, my foremost age  
Working both day and night,  
And recompensed her taken care  
With profit and delight,  
Until by fate, without my fault  
In prison I was cast,  
And held in gives, which I had made,  
From which breaking at last:  
Such change and chances hath the world,  
A dotage made me blind,  
In amorous sports I killed myself  
Fool: propagating kind.   

15  
Upon some pale, or perch,  
Or stand, or rotten tree,  
In watery allows and fenny grounds  
Where store of fishes be:  
There will he gazing stand,  
And fish be feign would eat,  
burr he disdains to touch a fish  
If that it be not great.  
Right good ones he lets go,  
For better still to stay,  
Till that the sun is well-nigh set,  
And gone almost the day:  
Then down unto the ground  
In stately sort he hies,  
Where he a hungry supper makes  
On worms and butterflies.   

16  
THe welkin is well-nigh, out of our seeing,  
Our eyes and thoughts are on the ground remaining,  
On th' earth or no, where is our happy being,  
Yet there we ever grudge, and are complaining,  
But turn us so, that heaven hang in our spying,  
And strait we leave, our murmur, and our crying.   

17  
ONe rips the earth, another cuts the seas,  
And runs the world in circuit round about,  
All for my sake, I do all men so please,  
That all do seek, which way to find me out.  
In Diadems in sceptres, and in Crowns,  
In robes, in rotchets, in a cardinal's hat,  
In scarlet, silks, in costly furred gowns,  
In stones and pearls, and in I wots not what,  
In horses, hawks, bounds, harlots, and in books,  
One flieth for me, up into the skies,  
Another down to Pluto's reign he tookes,  
Where all this glistering Or and argent lies.  
This search declares, how greatly men do leek me,  
But they are mad so far from home to seek me.   

18  
A Never wearied, but ever bearing mother, was delivered of children, all (in a manner) of stature equal: which though they were (being young) very like one unto another, yet by diver sit of bringing up, they were transmuted so, that uneath they might be discerned to be of one lineage Some of them were made carters & plowmen, some served in cities, as porters, sergeants, and hangmen: some became mariners, and served at sea. Some were fine liar trained up, and for their delicacy, waxed in favour with fair virgins great matrons, gentlewomen and great Ladies. To all which they were so inward and nearly conjoined, that scarcely brother or husband was permitted to be with them of equal trust. Many of these waxed so skilful, and stored with all manner of learning, that more of them became divines, lawyers and statesmen, then are to be found in Paris, Padua, Bononia, Venice or Vienna. Of this last sort, sundry which grew to be ambassadors, secretaries, and intelligencers, were finally brought to violent death by fire, or interred in so fowl a fashion, that not knowing with what terms to express it, I must of force leave it, to be devined at.   

19  
AFter midnight, ere it was day  
His eyes he did unclose,  
And striving for to get away  
From prison he arose,  
With bodies two as cold as Lead  
He wrought so fine a feat,  
That other two which seemed dead  
Received life and heat.  
Then dead men came about him round,  
I wots not who they were,  
But of much thing deep and profound  
With them he did confer.   

20  
WE are in number not five times five,  
No one of us two handful long,  
Nor any of us takes care to thrive,  
Yet all together we do so throng,  
That if a man would list to strive  
T'extinguish or to do us wrong,  
Were he the greatest prince alive,  
We should be found for him too strong,  
And could make him infamous in time to come,  
Though most of us been deaf and dumb.   

21  

BY help of five, and six, and seven  
And lines and distances between,  
A scale is made that brings from heaven  
A virgin sweet that near was seen,  
Nor any man ever see her shall,  
Though heaven and earth together fall.   

Unseen, of lovers she hath choice,  
That are not led by wanton eyes,  
But they do love her Angel's voice,  
And he that rules above the skies  
Doth deign a listening ear to lend,  
Her earnest prayers to attend.    

22  
I Am not, but am said to be,  
And many things are told of me,  
As first for sooth that I am blind,  
And bushed before, and bald behind:  
And that I halting come to one,  
And fly when as I will be gone:  
With fools my godhead is not small,  
With wise men it is none at all.   

23  
Such as the company is, such am I,  
And I think some other folk are so too,  
To two Ladies great I ever am nigh,  
And we with the world have much to do:  
'tis hard for a lout to tell ye my name,  
And shame for a clerk if he hit not the same.   

24  
IT is not more fabulous what Prometheus did, then ridiculous what Paracelsus promiseth: yet there is one (to no man of great understanding unknown) that not only maketh persons at her pleasure, but also bringeth them from hell or heaven to life again when they be dead. Yea she maketh pillars, walls, or any thing to speak, not by sorcery, witchery, or imprecation of devils, but by fine art to the face of judges, for justice, she hath heretofore practised her skill, and of her property, a long time borne special denomination.   

25  
THis is the age that I would have,  
These times for me are wondrous fit,  
Each Lady that is fine and brave,  
With me delights to go and sit.  
My living lieth not in my lands,  
Yet I am dainty, fine and sweet.  
The Ladies take me in their hands,  
Their lips and mine full often meet.  
Their paps, their cheeks I well may touch,  
In smiling sort with me they play,  
Their husbands thereat think not much,  
No: though I down with them do lay:  
In sooth it is a foolish sin,  
When foolish husbands jealous been.   

26  
TWo forward went, and one did seem to stay them:  
Four after ran, and five did overlay them,  
Of which one dead, four quick was comprehending:  
And all these twelve unto one mark were tending.   

27  
FIrst I was small, and round like a pearl,  
Then long and slender, as brave as an Earl,  
Since, like an hermit, I lived in a cell,  
And now like a rogue, in the wide world I dwell.   

28  
THere is a body without a heart,  
That hath a tongue, and yet no head,  
Buried it was, ere it was made,  
And loud it speaks, and yet is dead.   

29  
far in the west I wots not where  
Are trees men say which oysters bear,  
I wonder how that comes about  
Those oysters she not, out of doubt  
And fall strait like a swarm of bees  
At home here on our apple trees.  
Grow they on trees, those oysters? fie:  
methinks it soundeth like a lie,  
A kind of trees, I know 'tis true,  
In purpoole lane bear oysters new  
And fish and flesh, and now and then  
They bear (I tell you) honest men.   

30  
THe new world, is environed with a deep ditch, whereinto many rivers do fall continually: in so much that it would overflow the whole world, were it not that from the water of this ditch, there riseth and is engendered great store of barnacles and other sea fowl of divers colours and proportions, some of them being bigger by great odds, then is any crane, bustard, swan, camel, elephant, whale, or whirlpool. And even as flies will sticker in the night season, about a torch or great light, till sometimes their streamers be singed: so assuredly these which I tell of▪ and which never fall to the ground, till their death, or dissolution, even from their first naisance, making towards the sun and stars, are enforced to shed their feathers in such abundance, that thereof are yearly made beds, a hundred times as big again, as the great bed in Ware. If I said a thousand times, it were no more than a thousand, which have seen them as well as I, might maintain and verify.   

31  
I Saw one stately stalking like a crane  
Strike at a stripling, something like a man,  
At the first stroke, he gave the wretch his bane,  
Threw him in the dirt, and with him ran  
Unto the water, where he washed and beat him,  
And at a mouthful at the last he eat him.   

32  

A Murderer, a prisoner, barelyfed  
Was first of all deprived of the light,  
And then straightways unto the gallows led,  
Which did belong to him of very right:  
Where hanged he was something against my will,  
Though some good folk could wish him hanged still.   

But one of power, the power of law to stay,  
That ere this time, did a companion make him:  
The prince himself came passing by that way,  
And from the gallows graciously did take him:  
The best is though he did enjoy this favour,  
He standeth bound unto the good behaviour.    

33  

WHen one by one, men fearful are  
They quickly are affrighted,  
And wanting weapons fit for war,  
Not daring be united:  
Whether it be in town or field  
To th' enemies forces soon they yield.   

A simple soldier God doth know,  
In Norfolk bloody wars doth make,  
And heaps of foes, doth overthrow  
Alone: and oft doth prisoners take:  
Yet they have forts, so hath not he,  
Marry fearful, and ill armed they be.    

34  

allow bred squire  
Borne in the mire,  
That never knew who was his sire,   

Being armed light  
After midnight,  
(No remedy) would needs go fight.   

In corselet bade  
The youth was clad,  
And sarsenet sleeves for sooth he had.   

But at a word  
He had no sword,  
Nor other weapon worth a etc.   

Newas he strong,  
Nor large nor long,  
But forth he came with a hideous song.   

And Tartar leek  
He me did seek,  
Lighting at first full on my cheek.   

This thing of nought,  
At face still reached,  
As Cesar once his soldiers taught   

When they should fight,  
Against that knight,  
Pompey defending countries right:   

So in like case,  
This varlet base  
Was ever poring at my face.   

I could not rest  
Within my nest,  
The rascal did me so molest.   

I had the jacke,  
Soon brought to wrack,  
Had he not ever retired back.   

But he comes, he goes,  
He fell, he rose,  
He bitten me by the very nose.   

It made me swear,  
And God to tear,  
I could not for my life forbear.   

That such a knave  
Should be so brave,  
Would make (I trow) a Saint to rave.   

But clod or stone,  
Or stick or bone,  
Or gun or crossbow had I none.   

That truth to show,  
I did not know,  
Which way I might him overthrow.   

So that at last  
I waxed aghast,  
And longing t'have the combat past.   

I hide my head  
Within a bed  
And slept like one that had been dead.    

35  

A Target bearer to a gallant man of war  
Was bidden by his Lord, t'attend him at a door,  
Whilst he should get him in, about t'appease a jar,  
That lately risen was, betwixt him and his whore:  
And hear ye (said he) Sirrah: if any body come,  
Or stirring be this way, aloud see ye cry hum.   

The scutiger had tarried but a little while,  
Ere Morpheus 'gan upon his forehead for to creep,  
His stomach vapours sent, which did his brains beguile,  
And ere he was aware, he falleth fast asleep:  
The Master hoping well, that well his man did watch,  
Accorded with the girl, her husband's coat to patch.   

To kissing first they fell, and after that to play,  
Soldiers fight sometimes, ye wots it well in sport,  
And I can tell no more, what they did do or say,  
God knows I have no skill of warring in this sort:  
But as the neighbours told, such war the soldier maked,  
That at the lock they lay, and both of them were naked.   

Tacitum petivit, my captain falls asleep,  
One in at window looks, where close he them espied,  
And tarrying not a whit, either to laugh or weep,  
He backward with the news, unto the husband hied,  
Which called his friends unto him, these pigeons for to get,  
And soon he had them both, caught fast within his net.   

The lookers on did laugh, the captain was ashamed,  
The husband was as angry, as any man could be,  
And though the wife by friends, and by her man were blamed,  
Yet made she her defence, and chid as fast as he:  
Thou hast (said she) ere this, thy slovens armful borne,  
By stealth as we did now, of many a neighbour's corn.   

She prays to be divorced, but he would not agree  
To hear that motion made, it made his heart full sore  
To set them in a sheet, alas why should it be,  
They had been sheeted now three hours and somewhat more.  
Forgiveness, that was best, the soldier him revested,  
The goodman kissed his wife, all quarrels were digested.   

His squire still at the door, this while lay fast asleep,  
His helmet clapped close unto his drowsy head,  
He dreamt that he saw, a lovely lass to weep,  
enchained with his Lord upon a feather bed:  
And in this dream he lay still in a mischiefs name,  
Until his captain came, and found him in the same.   

By shoulders he him took, he quickly made him wake,  
What was to him befallen, he did describe and tell,  
His angry look and noise, did make the wretch to shake,  
Villain he cried, how sayest, hast thou not served me well,  
Thou varlet base, thou ass, thou drunken headed ape,  
I thee conjure strait way, leave of thy soldiers shape.   

His spurs to bodkins turned, his lips convert to horn,  
His beard turned all to flesh, gone was his manly face,  
His shirt of mail and helmet, that he long had worn,  
To plumes and coxcomb turned, this was a foul disgrace:  
Behold and see, what 'tis, an angry one to serve,  
That for a toy forgets, what serving did deserve.   

He liveth still, and still retains a soldiers mind,  
With Swissers he will go, when they are waged to fight,  
Unto a lass he is, more than his captain kind,  
And five or six at once, do lodge with him all night:  
Remembering still the fault, that did him overthrow,  
He cries at peep of sun, Look to your windows hooe.    

36  
SInce the rebellion in the North, an host of light horsemen, issued, as from scotlan and invading England, came as far as Northampton shire, where they hurt and killed many, sparing neither age nor sex. At last they environed a worshipful knight's house, and had assuredly won entrance into it, had not his servants been, who with such wonderful resistance, stopped their passage; that no one of them, were he much less than a Pigmei, could make any irruption, yet left they way for a friend, which got in, of stature greater than ever was Atlas, or the goodly son of Grandgosier.   

37  

WIth cords they haled her from the ground,  
And did about them lay,  
Like lusty ringers of the bells,  
Upon some holiday.   

Her legs and arms close to a tree,  
She tottered up and down,  
Cla●●●●g her iron lined breech  
Close to a lubbers crown:   

Whom she struck down into the ground,  
Full twenty foot and more,  
And yet he never did complain,  
Or felt that he was sore.    

38  

WHilst I was young, I dare well say,  
I was as fresh as fairest May,  
And like a malapert young elf,  
As proudly did I bear myself.   

But pride men say, will have a fall,  
Even so had I, and therewithal  
To servants servant I became,  
And every puzzle is my dame.   

When that I once have done my work,  
I am enforced in hurnes to lurk,  
Expecting when for want of meat,  
My fellow servant should me eat.    

39  
I Lovers had, had words been true,  
As many as fair Corinna had,  
Yet when my foes me overthrew,  
My friends looked on, and were right glad.  
When he that erst did me defend  
Until the day of dreadful death  
Did hasten most unto mine end,  
Striking the stroke which reft my breath,  
And from my grave men me remove,  
Pretending still they do me love.   

40  

A conjuror was circling in the air,  
With nimble eyes attentive on the ground,  
Where walking spirits, nuzzled many a pair,  
Making a search the harmless to confound,  
They wrought to reave poor wretches of their breath,  
Which never in life did aught deserving death.   

I said to an abettor looking on,  
Those innocents were worthy of some pity,  
He answer made, and swore by sweet S. john,  
In pitying them, I showed myself not witty:  
What skills (said he) the shedding of their blood,  
They do me harm: but do they any good?    

41  
monsieur Monoculus, with that one eye,  
It's not for his parsonage or his sweet face,  
That wheresoe'er I go, I do him espy,  
With maidens and wives in special grace,  
He is a surgeon, he can let blood,  
His prick is a thing that doth them good.   

42  
BEfore many months be expired, there shall be borne of parents base and simple, a more silly offspring, blind, deaf and dumb: which after incision in the head, and drinking a certain liquor, shall become great tellers of men's thoughts. Not only revealing the deceits of love, stratagems of war, and policies of states: but they shall have also power of uniting or setting at variance: maintaining in England a war, which shall cost many their livings, and some their lives; without ceasing, unless all things grow so common, that joiners and locksmithes give over their occupations.   

43  
I Do agree with sister and brother,  
But I love neither father nor mother,  
If she embrace me, she makes me die,  
If he do but touch me I crack and cry,  
And surely it is a pretty thing,  
●o see how he makes me fart and fling:  
Marvel you sirs, who I should be,  
On sunday before noon you may me see.   

44  
I Have in the country seen at a fair,  
Of brethren and sisters many a pair,  
That being coupled like man and wife,  
Went yet to service for term of life,  
But they could neither wash nor wring,  
Nor brew, nor bake, nor play, nor sing,  
Nor pipe, nor dance, nor any such thing:  
All that they can, is well to keep  
All things, except great flocks of sheep.   

45  
Our parents are ever besmeared with dust,  
Our sisters and brethren in very good trust:  
Our chaps ever gaping, or if they meet just,  
Some one thing or other in sunder must.   

46  
LEt never wonder fill your head,  
For sure the case is plain and clear,  
By sluggish keeping of my bed,  
I lost a thousand pound a year:  
My brother rose, and did it get,  
And I am to his keeping set.   

47  
THe Miller, and the Miller's wife,  
That they might merry make,  
Were set down with a dish of fruit,  
A cake, and half a cake,  
The parson of the town with them,  
His sister and no more:  
Now have you heard of all the guests,  
And of their bread the store,  
Yet did they use the matter with  
Such cunning, skill, and art,  
That every one eat half a cake,  
Before they did departed.   

48  
THere are two sisters, one fair and cheerful, the other black or brown. The first for her beauty, is of all desired, loved and longed for: The second (with good reason) is to be liked for her humility. Supping all winter with the poorest, and making beggars (during her reign) more happy oftentimes then mighty monarchs. Before Phoebus shined, or Cynthia borrowed light, they were and ever since, striving for the worlds governance (of which either of them hath ever one half under her) they have chased continually one another, more swiftly than any ship sadeth on the sea. Long hath this contention lasted, and cease it shall never, till the Turk be overthrown, the Pope have resigned his triple crown, and all be brought to one sheepfold, under one shepherd.   

49  
THat which a sheep did inward hide,  
I use to wear on my out side,  
And that which a tree did outward wear,  
Within me always I do bear:  
By drowning first I took essence,  
And hanged was since for none offence:  
Still ready by a blast of breath,  
To find a life causing my death.   

50  
ALL day leek one that's in disgrace,  
He resteth in some secret place,  
And seldom putteth forth the head,  
Until day light be fully fled,  
Then in the maids, or goodwives' hand,  
The gallant gins first up to stand:  
Whom to a hole, they do apply,  
Wherein he will both live and die.   

51  
ON an evening as cold, as cold might be,  
With frost and hail, and pinching weather,  
Companions about three times three,  
Lay close all in a pound together:  
Yet one after one, they took a heat,  
And died that night, all in a sweat.   

52  
A Remnant of a soul, the water did enclose,  
That staid by one, from fire, which did repair,  
That fenced by one, which from the earth arose,  
And all kept warm by one, which grew up in the air:  
The goodwife out of these, did deal about her dole,  
Till one did put his nose, even right into her hole.   

53  
IF Lords of the land esteem me not a fly,  
If dainty nosed doctors, cry fie on me fie,  
If Ladies at Court, none account on me make,  
If citizens wives, do me all forsake,  
Then joane in the country, for a friend I will take:  
What though from my youth, I have had a white head,  
My tail will be green, until I be dead.   

54  
A Poor Alchemist, out of straight prison, accepted to service, fell presently on eating, and of a starveling, in short time, became goodly. But such was his gormandize, and quick digestion, that had he not been excellent, not only in transformation of metals, but also in preserving, conserving, candying, distilling, extracting of oils, balms, quintessences and spirits, with many other things, no man would have entertained him: for he could eat doing little work, but not work, unless he were eating. Having devoured to some scarcity, things grown and nourished upon the earth, he was brought to feed on viler achates, taken from the bowels thereof. But still he eateth, bringing profit by his service, comfort by his presence, and in his chaps destruction. He hath therefore allowed him, room from his trade, and habitation by himself, wherein he never resteth, but when he is wrapped up in his own excrements, and wert not that he is in danger of death, by too much fasting, or too much drinking, ye might judge him to be immortal.   

55  
AN idle brain, and wanton eye,  
Breeds in the heart, sometime a goose,  
That's often kept full hungrily,  
Whilst lechery, juggling fast and lose,  
Doth gain his bushel for each oat,  
That comes into the goslings throat.   

56  
Envy and love, together hatched a beast,  
Or hag of hell it rather seems to me,  
That pines if other comes but near her feast,  
And willingly would ever watching be,  
Things that are not, this envies bird would see:  
This parricide, this error whelping spirit,  
This Sibyl false, seldom divining right.   

57  
THere is a thing, some call it sport,  
(That young and old, and all will prove)  
'tis music in a kind consort,  
On tuned instruments of love,  
The fashion something bagpipe like,  
With poke and pipe the minstrels play,  
And if the bommes just measure strike,  
'tis pastime for a wedding day:  
Maids that to this their minds apply,  
For Lute and harp care not a fly.   

58  
A Tree, a beast, an angel, all in one  
Lives, and hath rule over both beast and tree,  
That oft, is after goatishnesse so gone,  
That there is no beast, beastlier than he.  
Bridle the beast, monster, misshapen thing,  
Lest tree, beast, angel, to the devil fling.   

59  

TO th'earth from highest heaven,  
Four virgins were descended,  
Sent down from him that unto men  
All goodness hath intended.   

And here they staid a while,  
And many things amended,  
But they were forced back by those,  
That should have them defended.   

Since then the golden age,  
The happy days were ended,  
And vice hath reigned most in them,  
That virtue most pretended.    

60  
IN a town, where the Praetor is wise, the Counsel witty, is a slovenly citizen, to whom many are so indebted, that they have much to do, to pay for the forbearance, and no man can get a general quietus est at his hand till he be dead; which yet is longed for of very few. For both the principal agents in the corporation, receive maintenance from him: and the Majoress, with the other good wives, do so fancy him, and the fore man of his shop, Bawdy Brian, that there is many times much misgovernance thereby in the whole town: notwithstanding any edict, proclamation, or reclamation that the magistrate can make.   
FINIS.   

The solutions.  
IT importeth that all things are contained in some place: and that hell itself must needs be local.  
A variation of the first riddle. So that here is not meant, any thing of the city Rome. But only room or place, viz. the hollow capacity of one body containing or comprehending another.  
It may perhaps be understood of the wind: but rightlier I think, of that which we call vacuity or emptiness. Which is a name, and none essence. For the penetrant subtility of air, suffereth nothing to be empty, as say the philosophers.  
Mercury is feigned to be god of merchandizing, which is the trade that beautifieth the glorious city of Venice. Neptune environeth her, and her Duke is servile or of very small authority. For the majesty and supreme commandment, is in the senate and magnificoes.  
The high way, wheresoever it go, eateth up the vesture of the earth. It was not created at the first, but is rather a privation, than a thing made. And if men were makers of it, it was for the more part, rather with feet then with hands. By the Tyrants are meant, use and necessity: great rulers in the life of man.  
The sovereign, and dread prince of princes, hath the great earth, a little forest of his pleasure. The five parts of it are the five Zones, or otherwise the five great continents Asia, Africa, Europa, America and Magellanica. The keeper is the Sun: his wife or sister the Moon, that bringeth always with her light and moisture. The footman is the planet Mercury: the Smiths wife Venus. They cross the Zodiac continually attending on the Sun. The Phoenix is our year, which beginneth when Sol entereth into Aries, and endeth when he goeth out of Pisces.  
It is meant, by the fair Lady Tellus, which conceiveth in her womb, the resplendent metals of gold and silver, the unworthy burnished regents of the earth.  
The earth that bears us shall devour us. And of chalk which is accounted adeps terrae, the fatness of the earth, mixed with sand (the leanest earth) is made mortar, for buildings to defend us against all wind and weather.  
A description of a student sitting at his book in a green chair, wherein he leaned and lolled till it cracked.  
A description of the indomable wild sea, whose waves are her wrinkles: she is as wanton as any Westminster wagtail, and for the body as perilous.  
The lass is the vine, a true lover of the Sun, for whom she mourneth, when he is run far southward. Her juice hath compelled many to reveal their own secrets, and not a few to lay open their own shame. Christ called himself the vine.  
Stamped coin is ruled, and it cureth: also what diseases it cureth, and what great things it persuadeth, the world knoweth but too well. It containeth a kind of chronology.  
It may well be understood by cardplay.  
In the spring time, a young damsel putteth in her bosom, the eggs of a silk worm: which being disclosed, the young worm, ere it be long, will fall to his natural task, till he hath enclosed himself in his husk. From which when he is broken out, he joineth with the female, for preservation of his kind, and then voluntarily dieth.  
There is a bird, called in Italian, Perdigiornata, the daywaster: of this quality. And some men are of the like, that let go, all small offers, to expect better employments.  
Swine saith Plutarch, to whom nature hath not given a look, up to the skies, are the most crying beasts in the world, ever grunting and complaining. But tie them by the heels, and carry them on a staff whither ye will: so long as they see the clouds, they are quiet and silent. And if men could learn to leave rooting in the earth, and place their cogitations in heaven, their tranquillity should be the greater.  
But men hunt after felicity, preposterously, with too much circuition: for it is best sought at home, in a quiet soul, and clean conscience.  
The infatigable earth beareth hemp, which is brought to divers trades, mysteries, forms and fashions. There of is made linen cloth, for sheets, shirts and smocks. And if they go not nearer my Lady's tail, than my Lords lips I have marvel. Then, of linen cloth is made paper: of paper, books and intelligencers, id est, letters of love and other missives. They come very often to the fire, or else to wipe where it is seldom cleanly, and never sweet. But see you not, how many transmutations here are, before we can have paper? Well far he that taught us the goose neck. But a quick duck had no fellow: for he could wash himself clean for a new piece of service.  
A student, rising from bed, with his flint and steel, giveth fire to the match and candle. The dead men which came about him, were S. Ambrose, S. Augustine etc. or if ye will Plowden and my Lord Dyer.  
They are the letters of the alphabet: whereof only five are vocal, and the rest dumb.  
The scale of music, is made with lines and spaces. Five signed cliffs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 odd. Six voices, ut, re, my, fa, sol, lafoy, and the seven diapasons, a. b. c. d. e. f. g.  
It is understood of fortune.  
An excellent expositor of heavenly mysteries, took this to be a looking glass which receiveth the similitude of any thing, that cometh traverse. The two great Ladies, he took to be pride and lechery. But the propounder understandeth this riddle, by the planet Mercury, placed mean betwixt Venus and Luna: being (say the Astronomers) eiusdem naturae, cum planeta cui coniungitur.  
Paracelsus, in his book de natura rerum teacheth an artificial generation of an homunculus, or little man. Prometheus, the son of japetus, was the first maker of images, and thereupon, was feigned to make men. This riddle is meant by Rhetoric, or the figure Prosopopeia, that to stir and move affection, attributeth speech to dead men, or to walls & such like.  
A fan of feathers.  
Viz. two cochehorses, one cocheman, four wheels, the body of the coach, and four passengers.  
First an egg, than a worm or canker: then enclosed in a husk, and last of all a butterfly.  
A bell, when it is cast, is buried in the ground.  
If every man and woman be an arbour reversa, than the shrill oyster queans in Gray Inn lane, are trees and plants: though not so sweet to plant upon, as be in other groves about London.  
The new world America, is compassed in with the sea. And were not the multitude of barnacles, viz. clouds, which are drawn out of it, (saith one author) the sea must needs drown all the earth. It is the sun and stars, that draweth up those clouds and vapours. Which when (by coldness of the air in his mid region) they convert to snow, fall down again and make feather beds bigger than any which be in Ware, though not altogether so wholesome, to lie long in.  
It was, if Aesop be a story, the blocks successor, the worthy king of frogs. Viz. a stork, devouring one of his subjects, in Claxton garden.  
A hawk, first fed, then hooded, then set on a perch: was soon after hanged by the heels, and rescued by the master of the house, at Stokesbie.  
The soldier, is our Norfolk tumbler which overthroweth multitudes of coneys: that want both armour and courage to hold together.  
He that hath lain one whole autumn at Stokesbie, shall understand this aenigma well enough. A gnat is an ill chamber-fellow.  
In Lucian's dialog, betwixt the shoemaker and his cock, ye shall find that Mars, when he went to lie with Venus, left his man captain Gallows or Gallus, to attend at the door. Master Cock fell in a nap, Phoebus looked in at the window, and descried the adultery etc. Ever since that day, every cock at peep of sun (thinking Mars to be at his old occupation, or martialistes to be at their venereous exercise) croweth to give them warning.  
A great snow, brought with a Northern wind, killed many birds and beasts. The servants at the Knight's house, were the glass windows, which kept out the snow, and let the light in.  
It describeth, the manner of driving piles into the ground, wherewith are made firm, the foundations of buildings, set in meadows, marshes and low places.  
A broom, when it is well worn, and none other thing at hand, serveth to feed the fire withal.  
Venison hath many lovers. The hunters rejoice when the dogs kill it, and commonly the foster or keeper is the chief murderer. The grave is made of pasticrust: and for shear love we take out the corpse and eat it.  
A lanner or falcon, lying in for her game, whilst the dogs hunted to spring it.  
A needle.  
Goose quills, when they be cut to pens, are instruments in great occurrences and affairs. Maintainers of war against unjust professors, and all manner of offenders against the Queen's peace, crown and dignity. This war shall last, till meum and tuum be overthrown, and coffers and locks be out of use. For until then shall the common law last, as prophesied old Master Barton.  
Salt, receiveth form by fire, the substance of it is water: and yet fire or water will destroy it.  
Most of our things, are kept under lock and key: except sheep here in England.  
It may be understood, of a pair of shears.  
I knew a gentleman, that would say he lost, a thousand pounds a year, by lying but one hour too long in bed. For his eldest brother was borne, not past one hour before him.  
The milners' wife, was the parson's sister: and so the division not hard to make.  
Day and night, were before the sun and moon. And though they seem to stay with us, yet in truth they do not so: but are in continual motion, ever slipping from us. A year runneth away and makes no noise.  
A candle.  
A candle.  
A pound of candles.  
Plants have a sweet vegetancie. The riddle is understood of a glass with sweet water, enclosed with bents, or some such matter, and also wrapped up in wool. Now if the glass were the goodwives' glass, then possessorily though not naturally the glasses mouth, whereunto one smelled, was the goodwives' hole.  
Garlic etc.  
The great chemic, that hath eaten so many houses, blocks and trees, that poor folk are glad to stop his mouth with sea coals, flags, turfs, and cowshardes.  
Love is a fool.  
jealousy is a fiend.  
Lechery is made a solace.  
Those women and men are happy, whose rational and intellectual part, hath her just and full dominion, over the material and sensual.  
Amity, peace, justice and shamefastness, are gifts and great blessings of God. Of which the two first (as I have red) a great while since, were chased from earth by princes: the third by lawyers, and the fourth by women. I had the substance of this riddle from Italy. Let it therefore tax and reprehend, roitelets, dukes and potentates, for their divisions: advocates for their injustice: and women for their impudence, only in Italy. We hold it in England, that a shameless woman, wanteth the properest ornament of her sex.  
The corporation or town, is the perfect frame of a man. In whom reason is placed, as the Praetor or Mayor. The five senses are of counsel, and the slovenly citizen is the belly.  
The Majoress is mistress Libido: and the good wives, the foolish affections of man: which will favour the belly and Brian, let reason say what he can.  
Oremus.