EPIGRAMS DIVINE AND MORAL. By EDW. MAY, Gent. Non illum praemia tant 'em quam labor ipse juvat. Claudian. De Laudib us Stiliconis. Lib. 3. LONDON: Printed by I. B. for john Grove, and are to be sold at his Shop, in Chancery-Lane, near the Rolls, over against the Suppery-Office. 1633. EPIGRAMS, DIVINE AND MORAL. 1 On Christ, and the Virgin Mary. A Virgin pure a Mother to become, That Mother still a virgin to remain, Wonder itself at this is strucken dumb, Which our belief makes manifest and plain; Nay more, the Father came from daughter's womb: And the Creator say i'th' creatures tomb. (2) On Adam *, Eve *, and Christ *. COme hither Oedipus, for I thee summon, A man is brought forth with out man or woman And three and thirty years then reckon can *. A woman without woman, out of man *. A child without a Man, borne of a Maid *. Tell me how this may be? truth I have said. (3) On josephs' begging of Christ's body of Pilot. A Gift there was & a good man did crave it, More worth than all the world, a bad man gave it. (4) On Christ. IF e'er the midst were good, my soul believes, 'twas then, when Christ was hanged betwixt two thiefs (5) On Christ. THere is a thing, the strongest was known, Which is itself the Temple, Priest & Stone, Or Altar; and the offering likewise; And he to whom was done the sacrifice. (6) De eadem. What might he be, that never had a Brother, And was a great deal elder than his Mother? (7) De eadem. THe wound that Adam did by eating give, Christ cured by dying, through whom we live. (8) De eadem. Who dies in Christ, eternally shall live, Who lives in him, him death, no death, can give, Where Christ is present, death away shall fly, For than we live, when here we seem to dye. (9) On Lazarus. KNow Reader, underneath this stone there lies, He that was borne but once, and died twice, (10) Of Abraham. SInce when we die, our bodies lose their breath What man was he that spoke after his death? (11) On Christ's Cross. OF Cypress, Pine, and Cedar, was that Cross, By which the world most gained; yet was it loss For there to give us life, Christ lost his breath The Copresse being an emblem of his death: The Cedar of his Immortality, The navigable Pine did signify, That death had lesser power to weigh down His Godhead, than the water that to drown. (12) To Hypocrisy. CAn Giant greatness cover guilt? it may, And painting hide and trim deformed clay; But draw tho●e curtains, and there will be found A rotten post a conscience most unsound. (13) De eadem. A Candle is most like an Hypocrite, That unto others gives a glorious light, But wastes himself unto the pocket's snout, There stinks, is smelled, and so is trodden out. (14) De eadem. AS Venison in a poor man's kitchings rare, So Hypocrites and Usurers in heaven are. (15) On an Hypocrite. 'tIs said that every Hypocrite commands, The voice of jacob, Esaus ●ea● and hands, And like the cursed figtree seem to flourish, But with leaves only, and no fruit does nourish. (16) To the Proud. LEt him whose vast ambition strives to rear, His altitude of thoughts above the sphere, Measure his shadow and he'll find no more, Is added to the length it had before. (17) On Mortality. THose days we had are past and gone, Of those to come, we are not sure, Our present time we think not on, How can so fine a thread endure? Happy art thou that relyst, In that short minute on thy Christ. (18) A caveat? LEt these three things be in thy heart enrolled, That there's an Eye above does all behold; An Ear that no word can be kept from it, And last a Book where all our faults be writ. For he which oftentimes remembers this, Shall seldom speak, or think, or do amiss. (19) All's vanity. FOr every day i'th' year, we have a vein, And each thing in our eye, or ear, is vain; For every harvest ear, a thought we feign: As mutable how e'er, as is a phaine. (20) Saint Anselmes' memento on the last day. REmember this thou ashes, dust, and clay, What will thy faltering tongue have then to say? When at thy right hand sins accusing be, And at thy left, Devils expecting thee; Beneath thee, hell belching continual fire; Above thee, a just judge incensed to I●e; Within thee, thy bad conscience weak and lame, Without thee, all the world of one bright flame, Where as the just shall only saved be, Whence it will be impossible to flee, Though to remain most grievous; then alas, Prevent in time, what time will bring to pass. (21) So learn as if thou never shouldst decay, So live as if thou wert to dye to day. Look up to Heaven, count that thy friend, Despise the world respect thy end. (22) On a Toad. ONe that was walking in a sunshine day, Seein● an ugly Toad lie in the way, Fell passionately a weeping, his friend by, Enquired the cause, he sadly made reply, How that the sight of that same loathsome thing, Did to his conscience, the remembrance bring Of his ingratitude to God, that he Had never given thankes for th'exellency, Of his creation, being made, and framed, Like his own image, by his breath inflamed, When he being in the Potter's hands as clay Within his power instructable it lay To fashion, and bestow, on him the feature, Of that s●me Toad, even the most deformedst creature, Thus basest things heaven makes an instrument, To humble those are willing to repent. (23) To the Adulterer. HE that does break his holy wedlock band, But t●●s another's ground and ploughs the sand Leaving his own field unmanured, if then, He finds s●ed sown there, may thank other men. (24) On Death. A Thousand ways we die, though borne but one As mame strange diseases there are known, Thus diverse paths death on us makes his stealth, And to resist him we have but one health. (25) On Sinne. HVge frames & buildings, of a ponderous weight The earth can bear with a digested freight, And all but sin, that all things doth excel, It weighs down, to the deep abyss of hell. (26) On justice. Four things true justice, never will come near, The which are fat gifts, favour, hatred, fear. (27) Of men tunes. TO these two pronouns, all things still are tide, For men's tunes do the world divide, Yet be thou Croesus' rich, I Codrus poor, Not worth a mite compared to thy store, The time shall come I truly do divine, When naught shall differ betwixt mine and thine. (28) To Superbus. HVge frames and lofty buildings thou dost raise Unto the clouds to win the worldly praise, Thy corn and oil, increaseth, and thy rent, Thou dost receive in state, to thee are sent Rich gifts, and presents; and Superbus crave Kindred of thee, no want of friends canst have, Rich syndon, Syrian silks, and ungvents rare, Deck up thy body, and perfume thy hair; The Swans of silent Lyris, yield their down, To stuff thy couch, thou fearest not fortunes frown Wines of high prize; jovicke Partridges, And Africa Qua●les, do thy rich please; No cost upon thyself thou sparest to spend, But I will tell thee, that am more thy friend, How thou mayst better spend thy wealthy store; Prithee Superbus, spend it on the poor, For when thou thinkest thyself safe and well, Thy soul may be snatched, from thee into hell. (29) AS two and twenty letters our speech hath, So two and twenty books contain our faith. (30) A Microcosm THE Body is the mansion of the soul, Where Empress; see like each part it doth control, The eyes its Crystal mirrors; and the brows, To be the portal fair, the mind allows; The ears are the interpreters of sounds, The lips the leaves are of the mouth, or bounds, The workmen of the body are the hands, The heart the custody of life commands, The lungs the bellowes moving speech and air, The stomach of the meats is orderer; The bones the body's strength in great or small, The legs the columes that support up all. (31) De eadem. COr sapit, & pulmo loquitur, Fel commovet Iram Splen ridere facit, cogit amare jecur. Englished. Wisdom the heart, lungs speech the gall has wrath; Laughter the spleen, and love the livor hath. (32) To Extortioners. IF Dives circled with hell's flaming fire, A little drop of water did desire To cool his heat, yet never from the poor Did he extract, to add unto his store, As ere I red, whilst he on earth did live, But his offence was only not to give, If he such pains endured, what will become Of them, at that black dreadful day of doom That never give, but gripping do oppress, The poor, the Widow, and the Fatherless. (33) On Almesdeeds. THou that dost fear God's anger, or that he, Should turn away his blessed face from thee, Then from the poor turn not thy face away, For God will, like for like, for ever pay. (34) To Disimulation. Wouldst thou that all men honest thee esteem Strive them to be, what thou desir'st to seem. (35) Of Codrus. IN rags and tatters Codrus did resort And would have gone into the Emperor's Court, The surly Porter beat, and thrust him by, Saying so naked he should not enter; why? Quoth Codrus then, the Gods are naked I trow, And none but naked must to heaven go. (36) Or a Dwarf. A Dwarf upon a Mastiffs back did ride, He cocked his hat, and set his arms aside, And boldly then he 'gan to boast and vaunt, As if he had bestride an Elephant, At last using his spur the Dog turned round And with great violence cast him to the ground, The Dwarf unhorsed, each laughed, why laugh you all (Quoth he in rage) wha●? Phaeton had a fall. (37) To old Omelia. THou wonder'st why no men do sue to thee, Omelia thy hu●band for to be. Should any marrow chee, thou wouldst be taken, Not for his wife, but mother, by thy look. (38) To Flora. FLorae the fairest creature that does breathe Ot draw this air, to which she does bequeathe More oderifferous balm, than bruised gum, Of happy Arrabie prized at might●e sums, So fair a forehead, Eyes so bright and clear, Do only in chaste Cynthia appear, You two are so alike that I should miss, Were you together, and Diana kiss Instead of you, or you instead of her, And only this a difference doth prefer, Hearts wild she killed with Arrows she let fly, Hearts mild thou kill'st, with glances from thine eye. (39 To Clara. CLara, I do not grossly wish thee send, Or gold, or jewels unto me thy friend, Or other presents which high prizes sings, For I can read thy love in humble things: May I presume, I only would command A blushing Rose, that kissed thy lily hand. (40) To Vesbia. THere but three furies used to be in hell, But Vesbia being there now four do dwell. (41) To a covetous Churl. ALthough thy blood be frozen, and thy scalp Exceed the whiteness of the sowie Alpe; Though thy few teeth can hardly chew the crumb, Though to the stygian lake thou now art come, And though one leg is now within the grave, Yet still more gold thou dost desire to have: What dost thou mean? know Charon does not care For all thy wealth, one penny is his fare. (42) Loves remedies. TO quench loves fires three good spoonfuls take Of Stygian water, or of Lethe's lake, And drink it fasting when thou goest to bed; Then in the morning wash thy face and head With such a woman's tears who constant loved, For these are excellent, and have been proved; But least these chance to fail thee, to be sure, Take then a rope, for that's a present cure. (43) Beauty and virtue seldom meet. Seldom is beauty with fair virtue crowned, The Canker in the sweetest Rose is found. (44) To Slander. TO bite with teeth does to all beasts belong, But thou more beast, bit'st worse with thy tongue (45) A Rule. THree things feed life and keep the body quiet, A glad heart, mind content, and moderate diet. (46) To rich Croesus, and poor Codrus. THou art not Croesus' rich, though thou hast store, Nor art thou Coarus that hast nothing poor; Rich Croesus' precious stones and sewels doth need, And ●●●ike white horses of the Thracian breed, 〈◊〉 doth of Tissue wrought in Tyrean looms, 〈◊〉 ogles and Arromaticke fumes; 〈◊〉 Codrus only meat and drink does lack, And rustic clothing for his naked back; Thou since both want, as I do here express, Be frolic Codrus, for thy need is less. (47) On the Eyes. WHat man would secret keep, the Eyes express; Two things they are, called love, & drunkennes. (48) On a blind Man. ONe asked a blind man in what place his eyes He lost, he in a merry vain replies, Sir, you can see the truth, but I suppose, That they were lost, from either side my nose. (49) To Claudia. SEven years did Claudia live her husband's wise, And all that time did lead an honest life, But whether 'twas her or her spouses' crime, She could not bear a child in all this time, Physician's skill she used, but all in vain, At last she to a friar did complain, Who shrived her so, that in three quarters after She was delivered of a son and daughter. (50) To Drusius. DRusius I met and kindly did demand Whether his wife were on the mending hand? Oh, yes, quoth he, and I do trust in God, That she will shortly now come well abroad. Sure Drusius is a Prophet, for next day His wife was brought forth dead, and cold as clay. (51) On a woman burned in Smithfield the 20 of April 1632. who died a Wife, a Widow, and a true maid, by her own free confession. When all in white pure as her qu'et thought She to her journey's end was easily brought How sweetly then she on her deathbed lay, How cheerfully her eye did dart its ray, What crimson blushes in her cheeks were spre d And how the snow strove gently with the red; All this I law and thousands more beside, Whose Eyes flowed over, 'twas so high a tide, That had the fires then been kindled round, They had been quenched, and she in tears been drowned How quickly up the nimble flame did skip And ●ike glad lovers, fed upon her lip; K●st her fair eyes and with such fervour strove, That they destroyed what they so much did love: Impartial death thy skill is strange and great Thou wound'st with frost, but here thou kill'st with heat, And she like gold thou hast in fire tried, And her bright soul thou now hast purified; For 'twas unfit the greedy worms should tore Such dainty flesh, or such a banquet share, That was ordained by the destinies, For a offering and a sacrifice. Yet with myself when I thy case do try, Me thinks it is injustice thou shouldst dye A Wife, a Maid, a Widow, can this be? The Law condemned only one, not three, And if the Wife the jury guilty found, Why was not she alone with fires crowned? Or if ●he Widow did the offence commit, Why was not then the innocent Maiden quit? 'Tis strange no drop of mercy could be shown, But let three suffer for the fault of one; Yet of that one this might be truly said, She did● a Wife, a Widow, and a maid. Thus did this Phoenix, Phoenix' like Expire, (Not three but one; not one but three) in fire. (52) To Flora. THree graces were there, but when Nature made my Flora fair, Then there were four, and now in earth she's laid but three they are. (53) To Venus. HO! fire, fire, this way, this way turn, Ye wanton streams fall here, I burn, I burn, My bosom's all on flame, if Cytherea Great Queen of love and beauty, of the sea, Was borne, why burns she so? we water bring Fire to quench, yet love from thence did spring, And turns my breast to Aetna; silly wretch, From Icy streams thou scalding flames dost fetch; Nought but a diamond can a diamond wound, And nought but love, to cure love's heat is found. (54) To Critticus. CRitticus, about to kiss a maiden throng, He happened first on one whose nose was long, He flouting said, I fain would kiss you sweet, But that I fear our lips will never meet, Your nose stands out so fare; the maiden died Her cheeks with crimson, but soon thus replied, Pray sir then kiss me in that place where I To hinder you, have neither nose, nor eye. (55) To Flora. IN my fair Flora's breast two Apples grow, Whiter than Ivory or Sythian snow, Which common people call her breasts, where be Nipples more red than blushing Strawberrie. Being unlaced to take the silken air, Cupid, a hungry, flew to suckle there, And having sucked, mother, quoth he, farewell; Your dugs have milk, but these with Nectar swell. (56) On marrying a Widow. I Rather had to lead a single life, Then to enjoy a widow for my wife: For being dry, 'twere better keep me fasting, Then drink that spring another died by tasting. In qua quis perijt non bibo, dixit, aquam. (57) On a Wife. A Wife is of best use, and has most room Within a bed of Down, or in a Tomb: But he that to a scolding quean is wed, Had rather have her there then in his bed. (58) Of marrying twice. THe Seaman tossed upon the raging wave, That every rude gust does expect a grave, His Ship being split, and lost, and himself cast, By help of some small board or piece of mast, Upon a neighbouring shore, forgets his pain, And dares to venture on the Sea again; Such is his case that's once from wedlock free, And yet a second time will married be. (59) On a Strumpet. NO lecherous Goat, that climbs the craggy hill Or sparrows that upon the housetops bill, No beast, or satire overgrown with hair, With an insatiate woman may compare: One Cock sufficeth twice five hens 'tis common, But thrice five men can hardly please that woman. (60) To a Foot man. I Musd why jockey troubled with the Gout, Did talk so much, at last I found it out; His footmanshes pand dancing days being done He now took pleasure with his tongue to run. (61) To Madam Non-such. A Lady asked a spark, why beggars wives, Were still most fruitful, yet lived poorest lives, Madam (replied he) they are still assured To have their ground well tilld, and well manured And if your husband cannot take the p●ine, You should do well to try another's grain; Well Sir, quoth she, since you such skill have shown By you my garden shall be tilled, and sown. (62) To Catro. CAtro resign thy government, give o'er, The Commonwealth thou now shalt rule no more, Thy wife is chosen governor to be, For thou the people rul'st, but she rules thee. (63) On one that would pay money in the evening ONe being at a scriveners to be bound, For the sure payment of a hundred pound, Being more nice, then wise, would not agree, The time of payment on the day to be, Why, quoth the notary, our bonds do run, For moneys payment betwixt Sun and Sun. I but quoth other this I dare to say, The Evening Sir, was made before the day, And therefore in the night it shallbe paid, The scrivener pursed his gold, and laughing said, Farewell t' ye Sir, and when of me you borrow, You shall give eldership unto the morrow. (64) Of good Wine. GOod Wine should unto every sense appear, Unto the fight fair colour, pure and clear, To the ear a sparkling noise being poured fast, A sweet, and pleasant relish to the taste, The touching, rocky coldness should assume, And the sweet smell an arromaticke fume. (66) On a Painter. ONe asked a Painter, seeing that he drew, Such rare proportions to the life so true, Why such deformed Children he begot; He strait replied, good Sir mistake me not, The one I limb and fashion in the light With my best art, the other in the night. (67) On a bald knavish Foole. Diogenes' at supper sat one night, By chance a bald man was his opposite, To whom he jesting said, my honest friend, I'll not disgrace thee, only I commend Thy hairs that flew away from such a head, For oftentimes I thus have heard it said, More hair than wit, but thou most right and fit Hast not a lot of hair nor any wit. (68) On man and woman. When man or woman dies, as Poets sung, His heart's the last that stirs, of hers the tongue. (69) On Marriage. When a man weds she he affecteth most, He fetches back the rib which first he lost. (70) Of Physicians. When help's promised by a Physician, He comes i'th' likeness of a skilful man; And when he it performs he doth appear, In a blessed Angels shape most bright and clear; But when he comes demanding his reward. he's like a Devil and has no regard: Therefore I count them wise to take the fee, Whilst that the sick hand will the giver be. (71) To a notorious Lyar. HAd I a secret that I would commit To any's bosom, I should think it fit, To tell it thee, for thou art truly known, So great a liar, & so common grown, That shouldst thou swear and dam thou speak'st good sooth, Not any would believe thou tellest a truth, (72) THe Hebrews at the sacred fountains quaffed, The Grecians at the Rivers take their draft, The Latins at the silver brooks do drink, English, and others, at the lakes small brink. (73) Of a Witch. A Certain Witch condemned to be burned, Seeing her Son stand by, to him she turned, And earnestly desired some drink to have, Which he denying, she the more did crave, Swing, Dear Son I am exceeding dry, Give me one draught of drink before I die▪ For that quoth he, if I remain your debtor, No matter Mother, you will burn the better▪ (74) On a Gull. A Worthy Lady monsieur Gull did meet, As he with awicke gesture passed the street, At fight of her off went his hat and feather, And bowed that chin and knee even kissed together; She g●ve him the salute, being Nobly bred, And asked, When shall your wife be brought to bed: H● answered from th'abundance of his wit, Even when your Ladyship shall think it fit. (75) On money. THe form of money round at first began, Because it is to run from every man. (77) On captain Shark. ONe asked a friend where Captain shark did lie Why Sir quoth he at Algate at the pie, Away, quoth other, he lies not there I know't, No says the other, than he lies in's throat. (78) On Signior Vapour? Sweet Signior Vapour a late cast commander, Boasts in the wars he was a Salamader, And lived in flames it might be true he spoke, For now in peace, he only lives by smoke. (79) To Chameleon. Walking in Paul's I met Camelion there, Who told me he had been to take the air I'th' Temple Cloisters when I did repair, Him did I find being come to take the air, Trasing the fields, the weather being fair, He told me then h'had been to take the air, And t'other day I heard him deeply swear, The music played a sweet and dulcet air; Another's dancing he esteemed most rare, And vowed he moved his body like the air: He talks so much on't that I think in troth, The air is unto him meat, drink, and cloth. (80) To Spendall. SPend all to grace and gild his cunning shifts, Swears by new coined oaths he lives by his wits, They are wondrous sharp indeed, for I have known When with Duke Humphrey he hath fed on stone. (81) An Aerosticke on Canary Sack. C Come, come ye powerful raptures, sisters nine A And bathe your spirits in this spring of mine, N Nectar, Ambrosia, nor Nepenthe can A Afford more immortality to man, R Rich blood it makes, comforts the hart & brain Y. Your noblest balsum for all grief and pain. S Sack, why 'tis only Agavippes well, A And much it doth P●rnassus fount excel, C Crown me with chaplets of this clustering grape K Kindle about me flames, draw swords, I'll scape E Even through the heart of danger, Sack as free From thunder keeps me, as the Laurel tree. (82) To Women. THe sword and sea ruins so many men, That for one man you may find women ten, But were they few as good, the tailor knows, His bill would be but little for their clothes. (83) On a Sheep that gave a Wolf suck. A Sheep (a Wolf) did suckle with her teat, And when the Wolf was lusty grown and great, He in requital slew the silly sheep, Thus kind from kind, no love nor cost can keep. (84) To Cornutus. Happy art thou Cornutus, for to thee All things are proper that may proper be, Thy fat Sardinian Corn, and Indian Gold, Thou truly proper to thyself dost hold, To thee is proper thy most lussius Vine, Which proper yields to thee old Massique wine, Thy grateful flocks are proper too, to thee, Yielding free offerings of fertility; Thy wondrous wit, thy heart, and courage stout, All that thou hast is proper thine no doubt, Yet if I say so, I shall say amiss, Thy wife's not proper, for she common is. (85) To Claudius. SEven wives of thine are laid within the ground, The earth so kind, but thee, whoever found? These in short time thou hadst, and now hast none, I have a longer time been vexed with one. To Philenis. (86) PHylenis, do not ask me why I wear A plaster on my lip, thou needest not fear, I do not mean to kiss thee wh●n we meet; Phylenis, no, thy breath is not so sweet. (87) To Lalia. Four teeth had Lalia, which did grieu her much, She durst not freely cough, her fear was such, At length upon her it so fiercely grew, That one sore cough did force her spit out two: So half her fear was past, to quit her doubt, Another hawk expelo the other out: Now she may dreadless spit, him, spew, and spawl, For now she's none to cough away at all. (88) To Venus. Venus' one time got Mars his armour on, His sword, his shield and javelin, whereupon Quoth Pallas, come let's fight, let Paris be An umpire now betwixt thyself and me; Fie, fie, quoth Venus, when I naked stood, Thou knowst I conquered thee in Ida's wood, (89) To the same, otherwise. PAllas in arms before the gods once stood, And challenged Venus then to try her might: Quoth Cytherea, naked in Ida's wood I conquered thee, and therefore scorn to fight. (90) To an inconstant Mistress. FAlse one, farewell, Man's woe, and therefore mine, Stringst thou thy vows upon so weak a line That they are broke and lost? Noun adiective, That canst not stand without a substantive, And then art falling too, weak feminine, What gender art thou? or who can decline Thy heart, it is the common of two, else, either The doubtful, or the Neuter; true 'tis neither, Nor proper ist to one, but like thee woman Tak'st part with homo, unto all men common: Forth of my hearts true Grammar thee Isle taire, So foul a lease shall stand no longer there: 'Tis blotted so, that I no word can see, Only thy charactered inconstancy; Adrew changing Camelion, that dost live By air, and that, my numerous sighs do give Farewell thou various rainbow, which appears More glorious, after my sad shower of tears, Those sighs, and tears I'll in the balance lay, With the light Creature whom they shall outweigh Oh but thou wilt not tarry in the scale, There is so much quicksilver in the tale, Thy wanton frisks I tell thee will be little, When thou art tempered well with fasting spittle: And since thou wilt be changing, change then all, And take a lodging in the hospital, Then change thy daubing next, another place, Is fit for plasters better than thy face, When thou vowst love again, change not, 'tis evil, For shouldst thou, who'd believe the next, the devil Why Counsel I in vain, for it is known, True love has rules prescribd, but lust has none. (91) To Flora. When dusky clouds do snake their dewy plumes And the sad earth exhales her misty fumes, When pearly showers fall, the Sun is fled, And each thing droops, the violet hangs her head, Then muse not, Flora, why I sad remain, My flowing eyes distil soft showers of rain, And all my powers melt for lack of thee, For thou, my Sun, art gone away from me. (92) To Callus. GAllus finds fault with such as do indite In a new phrase, when they do letters write: The reason why he thinks this an abuse is, He keeps an old one, serves him for all uses. (93) To Lupus. THe garments of S. Francis, Papists say, Will keep 'vm safe, and fright the fiend away; And therefore Lupus, when that he is gone To commit theft, or mischief, gets them on: But although he a Friar's habit have, The devil sure will know him for a knave. (94) Who are most merry? THe Popish Priests most mirth do keep, For they do sing whilst others weep. (95) Who most free? PHysicians are most free, for they have leave To kill, and yet no punishment receive. 96 Who most mad? NIice scholars are most mad, that fight & swear Only 'bout vowels, and for sound and air. 97 Who most blessed. THe poor are blessed that are content With whatsoever God has sent. 98 Of Marriage. THe quietest Marriage that I e'er could find, Is when the Husband's deaf, & the wuc blind. 99 To Vacera. IF Vacera you strictly do behold, You by her face would judge her to be old: But if you by her hairs, her years do scan, I do confess she's but an Infant than. 100 To Zoylus. HEre's several baits, than Zoylus come and bite; Alas, poor fool, they do not term thee right That term thee vicious, thinking so to gall thee, For thou art vice itself, and so I'll call thee. The end of the first Century. 1 A Comparison betwixt a Ship and a Wife. A Ship and a good wife should thus agree: That being the greatest movable, we see, Man can enjoy; and yet our art doth learn To rule and guide it by a little stern: So should a woman with obedient will Be ruled, and governed by her husband's skill: And as it sails by sounding, compass, care, To judgement and discretion must prepare Her ways, and actions; that though envy blow, She may resist, and triumph o'er her foe: Here must she differ, and be thus unlike, For as one Vessel may her topsail strike To many Merchants, so there must be none Have any share or right in her but one: Then as a ship, of all goods man can have, May not be housed; a wife should never crave To gad, or lie abroad: and to conclude, Ships may be painted, women never should. 2 On the Eyes. THe eye-lid's the least member, yet it car, And has the power to darken the whole man. (4) Mors ultima linea rerum. THe Clergy prayers for all to heaven sends, The bold and valiant soldier all defends, The rustic Clown does nourish all, and feed, And last comes death, devouring all with speed. (5) On Manuscripts. THough the word spoken live, the written die; Yet that shall end, this live eternally. (6) On a Cutpurse. A Cutpurse is the best trade in the land, For his work done, his money's in his hand. (7) On a she Papish. A Young she Papist asked best was which, To wed a young man, or an old man rich: Quoth one, the old; so thou'lt be sure to keep Enough of fasting days, and little sleep. (8) ●n Mr. Robert Cromwell, who for poisoning his Master, was executed at Tyburn, on Saturday, june 2. 1632. IT is a common weakness in our blood, To loathe that Potion which may do us good; But in diseases dangerous, 'tis fit, To use like cure that may remedy it. And, Cromwell, though the Law was unto thee A bitter pill, yet did it purge thee free: Neither could upright justice more express, In way of pity, or in right do less. Astrea weighed thy crime with even hand; And though thy piece was fair, wherein did stand A perfect Image; yet to light it was By many grains, and could not rightly pass, Not with allowance; but again thou must, (Being cast, and filled anew) resolve to dust: Yet though thou were't condemned by th' reverend (Big with thy guilt) thy happy soul did draw The breath of Innocents', which perfumed thy path To heaven with sweets, more than Elysium hath: And sacred Priests to thousand weeping eyes, Acknowledged thee a destined sacrifice. What revelation, or what holy flame Mounted thy drooping thoughts, so young, so lame (As thy fault made thee) swanlike at thy end To chant such divine Anthems? Did attend Legions of Angels on thee, at that time Thou were't to suffer? didst thou hear the chime Of the Celestial spheres, that thy glad spirit Seemed to be ravished with such free delight? Thou hopd'st more Angels were attending on thee, Then at thy death were eyes to graze upon thee. The good sold judges, most uprightly gave Thee guilty for th' offence, due to the grave; And thou a felon wert at thy last breath, Like the good Thief thou stoll'st heaven at thy death justly the Law condemned thee, and thy spot Was plain and evident, yet that gross blot Divinity has wiped out, thou now art even, The Law of man's fulfilled, and will of heaven. We must nor say 'tis pity thou didd'st dye, Because we all are mortal; nor will I Say thou art guilty of that vild offence Thou suffer'dst for, nor crown thy innocence, Only to this an answer Me receive, Shall we the Gospel, or the Law believe? On two Lovers, George and Bess. MY better fate, my sight, blessed with a pair Of young and gentle lovers, both so fair, That in my ravished thoughts the tale did move, Of young Adonis and the Queen of love: But here this Adonis wooed one of such price, That had frail man another Paradise, One Nectered Cherry from her tempting lip Would make him lose it: did he but sip Some of her precious and preserving breath, He could not dye, despite of fate or death. The rugged Air grew gentle at her sight: Ten thousand stars, as she did walk by night, Hasted to see her; e'er the Moon could rise, And did receive bright lustre from her eyes, To gild the gloomy Eve, Nature must seek Some quainter name: the pure flood in her cheek Does cause the Roses blush; her virgin hue Makes Lilies droop their heads, and shed their dew Instead of tears, grow pale with shame, and dye, When they are called by some o'er hasty eye To match those milky paths, which seemed to trace Along her snowy bosom, from her face: Her lips, a pretty bird, upon a day, Mistook for Cherries; and had pined away For want of food, but that her balmine breath Preserved the innocent from cruel death. And ever since, scorning all other far, It's a Chameleon called, and lives by Air. Oh Nature, wherefore when thou first mad'st woman Mad'st thou not all alike, or else all common? But blessed art thou, fair youth, that dost possess So rich a beauty; nor thyself art less In excellence of feature: for what she, I lent in praise, I borrowed first from thee: And should I vindicate thy blessed for me o'er, I shall but speak what I have said before: So thou art nothing, George, without thy Bess, And she without thee, must be needs much less. On his Mistress a little wavering. (1) HAst thou power to soften hell? And the stubborn furies quell? Canst thou Beasts and Satyrs move By thy art? and quicken love; Much thou mayst, yet fail to find The centre of a woman's mind. (2) For though some in stories stood Excellent for fair and good, Constant in their loves, and wise, Whose examples might suffice, Yet beleeue'● blind Nature spent So much in waist, she did repent. (3) And therefore with the Fates agreed, To spring such fruit, but spoil the seed. Then thou fond man, call home, call home Thy wand'ring heart into its room: Live at peace, and never trust Women fa●re, and so unjust. On a handsome Maid, who loved an ill-shapen dwarf, called the Lo. of Portsmouth. CAn this report be true by love? 'tis rare, And pitiful, a Maid so young and fair, To dote upon an Urchin: how can she Look on the ruiner of her Chastity, And not dissolve in tears? will not the Rose, Blown in her Lily cheek, grow pale, and close When he climbs up to kiss it? and the white Be soiled and blasted at the loathed sight? Shall I blame thee, oh love! no; for I fear The monster Lust hath usurpation here: She has heard, it may be, how a Queen of Crect Did love a Bull, and held the dalliance sweet; And therefore hopes to prove at least the half Of those delights and pleasures, by this Calf; Who with her help (though he be Nature's scorn) May grow a Beast, yet of a larger horn▪ Or shall the Serpent watch th'esperides, And guard her golden fruit; yet Hercules Can charm him, enter in, and shake the tree, Taste all, and leave the passage after free. What is her rebel blood so wanton grown, she's sick till the fool's babble be her own, And such a cramped Monkey: but it may be She is ambitious to be styled a Lady, To be of kindred to the Pharie Queen (For so her changeling is) and on the green With them to trip in ring-lets, and be made A gentle faith, and Madam of the shade. She nedde not fear, as common mortals do, The pinching of her white arms black and blue, Her cousin Elves and Goblins will dispense (For her dear spouse sake) with her offence. Then Hymen snuff thy torch, lead on the way, The Bride doth with her crooked Bridegroom stay, Whose humble dwarfe-ship may meet this eclipse, To kiss her tail, when others reach her lips. (9) To Fabulus. I asked Fabulus why he had no wife, Quoth he, because I'd live a quiet life. (10) To Momus. Why Spanish-leather on thy head dost wear Oh, now I know, 'tis cause thou hast no hair. And I commend the workman did it do, Thy pate is clouted neater than thy shoe. (11) To Bald pate. With curious ivory comb why art thou sped, When not a hair does grow upon thy head. (12) On a Ram. O Cruel Butcher, of a bloody mind, How canst thou be so wicked and unkind, With thy sharp knife to cut his tender throat, That oftentimes has given thee his coat. (13) Against praying for the dead. THou sowest in sand, or anglst in the air, That thinkest to help a soul deceased, by prayer. (14) To Cotta. COt knows his wife's a whore, & says 'tis right, One lamp may give a score of men good light. (15) To Calais. Were virtue, goodness, and plain honesty But half so dear as is thy drink to thee, Then would the virgin Lily, not the Rose, Spread itself gently in thy face and nose. thou'rt rich enough, for pearls and rubies store Grow in thy nose, then say thou art not poor. (16) To Phylaene. PHylaene lets tears but from one eye fall, The reason is, she hath but one in all. (17) On Hermophroditas. PArthia▪ great with child, toth' Temple came, And offering Incense with religious flame Unto the gods, for her the ●●●est enquired What 'twas she went withal, this she desired; A fire flew o'er the Altar, and devoured The sacred Wine, and Oil which she had poured: This promised speedy answer, and with joy She listening lay; quoth Phoebus, 'tis a boy: Mars said it was a girl; juno replied, 'Twas neither girl not boy: her cheeks late died With crimson blush's, now waxed wan and pale, That hardly could the aged Priest prevail To keep life in her: but being safe and well, At length came home; she strait in labour fell, And was delivered as the gods said, right, Boy, Girl, yet neither an Hermaphrodite; Her time of lying in being over past, She to the former Temple hies in haste; And having done her holy sacrifice, She does again request the deities With prayers, o● humble knees pressing the earth, What fate should follow her prodigious birth. Mars said she should be hanged Phoebus said no, But he by water should his life forgo: Quoth juno, as he's neither, so this death, Nor that, but his own sword shall end his breath. Parthia amazed at this, aloud she cried, Either too cruel; so went home and died. Hermophroditas grown to man's estate, Being one time put to a dangerous strait By a pursuing wolf; flying, espied A thick branched tree grown by a river side; Whose spreading arms at such a length were laid. That they the gliding brook did overshade. Seeking to climb the tree, his foe to shun, His sword fell out, and in his belly run: Thus wounded, down he fell; the boughs did meet Him in his falling, and held fast his feet: H●s head, the murmuring waves (that seemed to chide The fates) received, & thus he stringely died. And so this man, maid, neither, here was found To suffer all three deaths, hanged, killed, and drowned. (18) To Flacca. I Love thee not, yet know not what should move me, But only this, in troth I cannot love thee. (19) To Appricius. Much dost thou project, much dost thou begin But naught dost finish thou hast entered in; And so when into drinking thou dost fall, Appricius thou canst make no end at all. (20) To Cinna. 'tWas Mithridates' use, and his intent, Still to eat poison, poison to prevent: So because hunger Cinna shall not kill, He uses much to fast against his will. (21) To Laelius When others speak, thy tongue apace does walk, And then believest that thou dost wisely talk The arrantst fool that is, may prattle so, And yet no slander by his folly know; But now the rest are silent and give ear, Now Laelius speak, thy wisdom let us hear. (22) To Elisia. ELisia sent to me a Hare, and writ I should be fair seven days after it: If thou sayest true, Elisia, than I swear In all thy life thou ne'er didst eat a hate. (23) To Thraso. Vicious, and evil minded men there be, But, honest Thraso, this is naught to thee; Castor keeps whores, who'll feel●●he smart but he, And honest Thraso, etc. Gnat●o a dice consumes his state we see, But honest Thraso, etc. He sits up la●e, and vainly watch doth keep, T●ou in thy bed all nigh dest●oundly sleep: C●luns from Lu●u● d● but never free, But honest Thraso, etc. Thou nothing ow'st, nor none can do thee wrong, Yet there are some things do to thee belong; Thy c●oaths are pawned, set them at liberty, This, Thraso, only does belong to thee; Not one will trust thee for a doit again, This, Thraso, unto thee does appertain: Thy wife does give thee horns; & this great wrong Does most my Thraso, unto thee belong. Much more there is, but what belongs to thee, Does not, good Thraso appertain to me. (24) On Arria and Paetus. Paetus commanded by the Tyrants will, With his own sword his own dear blood to spill, His chaste wife Arria, being present by, First took the sword, and with a scornful eye Beheld the Tyrant; saying, Monster know, Though it is in thy power, at one blow To kill two bodies, yet our souls shall fleet Hence, spite of thee, and in Elysium meet: Thy cruel doom pronounced, shall make us blessed, And saying so, she pierced her noble breast; Then drew it forth, and gave the bloody blade Unto her dearest husband, and thus said, My faithful Patus, what I now have done, Does grieve me not, but when the sword shall run Through thy heart, that heart I loved so well, The thought of that to me alone is hell; Yet sweet make haste to overtake: her breath Flew with that word; herself o'retane by death. (26) To Luper. LVper, when late I did thee sitting see, Me thought I saw three men, which cozened me; Thy bald patc 'twas, where stood one patch of hair, Another here, likewise another there, Afraid of one another; and so seen, As if in fations they had parted been: Thy Crown was bare, where many an ally was In which there grew not half a blade of grass Yet thy head yields unto thee profit: when The Emperor's dole is given, other men Only one basket have, but thou hast three, But have a care, if thee Alcides see Before grim Pluto's gate, thou art but dead, So like to three-chapped Cerberus is thy head. (27) On Leander. LEander sinking, cried unto the waves, Spare me you seas, spare me you liquid g●aue●, Until my Hero I have seen; be still, And spare me now, then drown me if you will. (28) To Flora. MY dearest Flora, it is wondrous strange, That one so fair should subject be to change, For in an April day there cannot be More change of wethers, then there's change in thee Sometimes thou full of pleasure dost appear, And then thou swearest thou only hold'st me dear Strait, in a frantic vain, thou fliest away, Nor have I power to entreat thee stay: Again, that humour off thou art more kind, Then loving Turtle, or the Southern wind; Now thou ma●'st much of me, and now again Thou break'st thy vows, and puttest me unto pain: Would Tantalus my case were like to thine, Thy punishments to be in waves and pine: Bu● 'tis a greater plague to be a dry, And yet not drink, when Nectar standeth by: (29) To a naughty Lawyer. THou dost the Court with noise & business fill, And prayest & talk'st, as if thou hadst great skill I'th' Law; yes faith, thou hast as much as need, Need has no Law, nor thou hast none indeed. (30) To Labine. THou married hast a wife deformed and black, And yet no wealthy substance did she lack: Her didst thou choose, wisely, to set thee free, For hands to feel, not for thine eyes to see. (31) To mark a Usurer. Mark, miserable wretch, as I hear say, Would needs go hang himsefle the other day, But thus he was deceived of his hope, F●● under three pence he could buy no rope: Oh sie, quoth he, the price amazed the Elf: Two pence half penny he gave, & hanged himself. (32) To Marcus. MArcus being drunk o'er night, his bed does keep, Till noon next day, dots Marcus sound sleep And being bid, by some that do him know, To yield a reason why he sleepeth so, He makes reply, why does not David say, 'Tis vanity in man to rise day, (33) The Lover's Enigma. Sum sine Deo sum sine te, sum sine me. WHat power shall I invoke, and to whom turn me, To thaw my Ice, or quench the fire does burn me; I see my folly, count it worthy blame, And yet have no figleaf to hide my shame: Is there an Art unto our memory set, And can we not as well learn to forget? Oh no, for trifles we estreme as rare, When they are purchased with much cost and care: Like Tantalus I only feast mine eye, And court my shadow that does from me fly: As the poor Moth, my funeral flame I fan, In loving thee, I leave to be a man, And what a man should be, and am become Bankrupt, in paying unto thee a sum Of faithful tears, and constant vows; nay, more, I am without God; for I do adore And seek thee more than him: for thee I pine, Yet am without thee, 'cause thou art not mine: And what most weighs me down into my grave, I am without myself, being thy slave: judge then my case, how strange it is, and odd, Without thee I'm without myself, and God. (34) To his Mistress who found fault with him. AS your bright eyes discover my amiss, So your fair lips may cure me with a kiss: Then if I am not good, the fault's in you, That spare your kisses and to mend me too. (35) To his cruel mistress. Fair cruel Mistress, since nor prayers, nor tears Can move your pity, nor my tender years, Yet since your heart is stone, oh give give consent To let it be my true heart's monument. (36) To Lacon. I Asked Lacon, that was lately wed, Why such a little wise he had chose to bed? Oh friend, quoth he) I hold it for the best, Still, of all evils, for to choose the least. (37) To a Braggart. SInce, Sturdy, thou canst better fart then fight, Take S away, and thou art such a wight. (38) On a woman and a ship. A Goodly ship, a fair and wanton woman, For man's use both created, and both common; Such is their natures, their condition such, That they can ne'er be tricked or trimmed too much. (39) On the Sun and man's thought WHat in the world is swifter than the Sun, That in a day the orbed round doth run? The thought of man, whose quick and fleeter force Does in a moment circled the same course. (40) On the Pope. A Glorious seat, and most imperial state, The Pope has purchased after this life's date: For heaven he doth continually sell, And with those sums has bought a place in hell. Vendidit et Coelum Romanus et Astra sacerdos: Ad stigias igitur, cogitur ire domus, (41) Truths above all. King, wine, or women, which is strongest of these But I say Truth's 'boue all, say which you please. (42) On a little Boy, who wore a sword. I Saw a little youngster wear a sword, The other day, and strut it like a lord: I smiling, asked him who it was that tied Him to his weapon? the poor urchin cried, (43) On small Beer. ONe did commend the pureness of his Beer▪ Indeed, Sir, weted a little thought more clear (Quoth on, on whom he freely did bestow it) Surely from water one should hardly know it. (44) Qui mocat, mocabitur. THe Salamander, ready ●o expire, Wanting his natural Element, the fire; Being got into a barn, frighted the Mice Wi●h his strange uncouth noise, that in a trice They take 'vm to their holes, and there they peep, Wondering what Monster did their dwelling keep; But knowing who it was, they boldly came, And with their jeers and mocks, they lend a flame Unto his frozen heart; but 'twas in vain For him to vex or raise, for still his pain Increased, and their flouts and mocks grew greater, Making his woes, and their delights completer: At length, by some mishap, or want of care, The Barn was all on fire; the vermin stare, And muse to see such light, away they run Towards their Cells, the greedy flames to shun; But those are grown too hot, and back amain They post, the flames possession there had ta'en: No harbour find they, each one madly seeks: The heat does parch' 'em, and their cries & shrieks Is music to the Salamander's ears, Who now recovered, at 'vm laughs and jeers: Plays with the wanton flames, and leaps, & turns, Whilst the poor Mice consume, & the Barn burns, But now no fuel left for flames to eat, They famish now for want, and make retreat; Leaving the Salamander as distressed, As at the first; who being overpress With killing cold, casting his dying eye Where the sad ruins of his enemies lie, Quoth he, I gladly now resign my breath, In that I am revenged before my death. (45) To Priscus and Ga●la, man and wife; Who ne'er agreed in all their life. PRiscus love's wine, Galla does not despise it, He uses to be drunk she never flies it: Priscus spends all, all Galla does consume, He love's Tobacco, she delights in fume: Priscus does keep a whore, Galla a knave; He gallant goes, and she is very brave: Priscus is black, and Galla is not fair, He meager is, and lean, and she is spare: Since that both wicked, both so like we see, I wonder why they never do agree. (46) To Spurius and Stella. STtella does bury all her husbands still; And Spurius with his wives the vault doth fill; Whom they do marry dye: good Hymen light Thy Saffron Torch, let it burn clear and bright, And grant these conquerors may have the lot For to be knit in sacred nuptial knot; That at one time they may together have One solemn funeral, one knell, one grave. (47) To Crispus. When I dine with thee, look upon thy wise, Tho frown'st, & in thy trench●● stabst thy Prithee what fault is this? the sun, the sky, The stars, and things more glorious to mine eye, knife: I may behold. what, should I turn aside? Or veil me with my hand, as if I spied Some ugly object? if no guest shall see Thy loving wife, let me then counsel thee, That none at meals may ever thee molest, Good Crispus let some blind man be thy guest. (48) To Castellus. Grieve not, my friend, because thou art backbited But let that ill, be with thy good requited. For name of wretch, does unto him belong That slanders thee, not thou that hast the wrong. (49) To Drusus. THou art proper, handsome, & well shaped, we see, Yet many people take me still for thee; Would I were like one soul●, so good he were, For now thy faults about me I do bear. (50) To his Mistress, because he came not in the daytime, as he promised. What though I did not come by day, according to my vow? Must I for that endure the ray of thy incensed brow? No, rather crown my head with bays, and kiss me with delight, For love has not such sport by dayee, as pleasures in the night. (51) To Flora, that unseen took his handkerchief out of his pocket. A Lovely beauty, that did owe A hand more white than falling snow, To make her sport with others grief, Pleased to play the beauteous thief; And whilst I with various thought, Still at fleeting shadows caught, On my Elbow careless lay, Stole my handkerchief away, Unfelt of me; but 'twas her art, She might steal this, who stole my heart, (52) On a Heart sent to his Mistress. SWeet, if you can think what pain A heart thus wounded, may sustain, I need not then to you impart, The anguish of my bleeding heart; Enough I feel, yet cannot dye, Because my life's fed from your eye: By you I have or woe, or bliss, This the poor hearts evil is; And such a one do I endure, Which no King alive can cure, Nor Physic help; only you, Heaven has lent this power to: Then since you all evils check, Hang like an Angel 'bout my neck. (53) To Torpetus. A Fruitful wench God send me, when I wed, I hate these barren dames: Torpetus said He married Frank, and so he had his prayer, For the next day she brought him forth a pair. (54) To such as paint themselves. Who love to paint their face, this hope have they That God shan't know them at the later day: But they which use such colours, but foretell, How they shall show when they are damned in he●. (55) To his Picture. MY face the Painter has expressed by Art, But God does know the secrets of my hart. (56) To Sixtus. Sixtus, thy wife is fair, that's not amiss: But she's a scold; tell me how lik'st thou this? (57) To an unskilful Physician. Achilles' with his spear his foes did spill; Thou with more ease, with a small herb dost kill, Thou art more worthy than Achilles found, Only his spear could cure as well as wound. (58) On a Drunkard. Within this grave he choked with dirt does lie That in his life time was but once adry. (59) Five things white. Four things are white, the fift exceeds the rest, Snow, silver, ceruse. age, and a chaste breast. (60) To Torpetus. THy wife is barren, what's the reason trow? Why I will tell thee, if thou dost not know; Plants will not thrive, except they well are set, And she bears nought, 'cause thou nought canst beget. (61) To Aulus. What Aulus does, not now do I demand; But which of these, I fain would understand, Or drink, or sleep, pray whether of these two, For nothing else I know does Aulus do. (62) To Callus. GAllus, the dreadful thunderclaps to shun, Down to some Cellar in all haste doth run; And there he counts himself both safe and well, He thinks in Cellars God does never dwell. (63) To one that bragged he was nosed like K. Cyrus. THou sayest thou art hawk-nosed as Cyrus was; Have Myda's ears, and then be like an Ass. (64) Of money and land. WHat's coin, or gold, or silver, nought but rust; What's land & great possessiòs? naught but dust (65) To a Prodigal. IN brave Outlandish, and in strange attire, Thou pleasest thy fantastical desire: Sometimes the roaring French, the Spaniard than, And other while the spruce Italian: But now at last in rags, all rent and torn, What fashion's this? is it beyond-Sea worn? (66) A verse of Homer. What crimes soe'er great Princes do commit, The Commonwealth is sure to pay for it. (67) Of him that is in debt. Who owes much money, shuns all company, Like to the Owl that in the night doth fly. (68) On a Fool bitten with Fleas. A Fool extremely troubled with the Fleas, By no means in his bed could take his ease, But rising up with speed put out the light, Saying you shall not see me now to bite. (69) On a Drunkard. A Drunkard fell into a fever sore, Whereby his thirst grew greater than before Physicians came, who promised to cure His Fever, and the thirst he did endure: To whom the Patient spoke, Physicians see You cure my Fever, leave my thirst to me. (70) On a young man, and an old man. A Young man, and an aged man of late, Being in a Tavern, fell at great debate▪ The youth thinking the testy sire to cool, Said, turd i'th' thy teeth, thou crabbed do●ing fool, At this the old man laughed, and made reply, Turd in his teeth that has teeth, none have I: So showed his gums, which made the young man laugh, They both grew friends, and drank their liquor off. (71) When Women profit. ALthough all women are reputed bad, Yet two good days by them are ever had; That happy day she does thee husband call, And day of death, when she does leave thee all. (72) To Flora. SNow held unto the fire, dissolves, we see, So they consume that burn in love with thee. (73) To Claudia. Claudia delivered of a chopping lad, The Midwife swore it was as like the dad As could be possible: tell true, quoth she, Has he a bald crown? prithee let me see. (74) To Calais. CAllice I met, whose nose being richly spread With Oriental pearls, and rubies red: I asked him when he with the Goldsmith was: Why Sir, quoth he? because that be in brass Has set those stones, which should have been in gold: And therefore Calais, if I might be bold, The knave has cozened thee, as I suppose, To give thee, instead of gold, a Copper nose. (75) To Furnus. FVrnus takes pains; he needs not, without doubt; O yes, he labours much; how? with the gout. (77) To a covetous Miser. THou sayest all things are dear, wine, corn & oil, Yet thou well stored, livest in a plenteous soil, And wretch to no man dear, thou dear dost sell: Alas, all's dear, and therefore thou dost well: Sell as thou mayst, and fly extortion, So thou'lt be dear to all, yet dear to none. (78) To one that painted Echo. PAinter forbear, a madness 'tis in thee To draw my form, whom never man did see: I only daughter am to Air and noise, Without the bodies help I am a voice, For my Narcissus loss, the world I hate, And the last words I still reverberate, In mocking sort; no farther than proceed: But wouldst thou draw my counterfeit indeed? (Echoes my name, my dwelling under ground) And Painter, thou must only paint a sound. (79) To her Love.. BEhold, my dearest, how the fragrant Rose Is fresh and blown, whilst on the tree is grows▪ But being by some rude hand plucked away, Loseth its sweetness, and doth soon decay: Even so poor I, or live, or dye by thee, I am thy Rose, my dear, and thou my tree (80) To Scattergood. Scattergood going to his bed, with sorrow In mind, what he should wear, or eat next morrow Found in his house a thief; who every way Had searched, yet could not meet with any prey; He laughing said, away thou foolish wight; Dost thou come hither in the mask of night, To look for aught? thou art deceived, quoth he, For when 'tis day, myself can nothing see. (81) To one fickle minded. Were't thou as light of foot as light of mind, Thou wouldst outstrip the stag, the hair, or wind. (82) To his Picture. HOw well, my Picture, thou resemblest me, Thou art pale and so am I; thou canst not see, And I am blind: ay me, to well I find, Thou hast no thought, and poor I have no mind: I have no life, no breath does from thee break; Thou speechless art, ay me, nor can I speak: Thy bosom does no heart at all contain, And heartless I, without a heart remain: Alone thou dwellest, uncompanied of any, And so am I, though gazed upon by many: Of fading colours thou, wilt soon decay; As I, of brittle and unconstant clay: Thou as my shadow, for a time shalt be; A● weak a shadow still does follow me: Thou weak, must fade; long cannot I remain, To dust and ashes both must turn again: Both thus are like, yet happier thou than I, Thou dost not love, I love and wish to dye. (83) To the Reader. REader, if nothing please thee here, begun; I writ them for to please myself alone. (84) To Swillus. WHen the parched earth, made thirsty with the rays Of scorching Phoebus, cleaves in several ways To quaff the wished showers; Swillus gapes, Bring hither, boy, the pleasant juice of grapes: Now is the time to drink; and still his eye Beholds the earth, and still he is adry. Then when the heavenly fluccs up are ta'en, And freedom given to gushing stoods of rain, Now, now quoth Swillus, fill with nimble hands, Th'exhausted cups, for heaven now commands Us to carouse; his drink is ne'er forgot, And somewhat still he'll say to toss the pot. (85) To Cornutus. Cornutus' twits his wife and says, that he Can have no child by her sterrillity: Before a year was past, she was so sped, That with two children she was brought to bed; He musing asked her if those Babes were his? Lord, husband (quoth she) what a question's this? I have resolved you this, and let me dye, These babes are yours; with you I did not lie. (86) On a Thief. A Thief condemned for a heinous crime, Was for to lose his tongue at that same time, But he the Court entreats with feigned tears, To spare his tongue, and cut off both his ears: To this the judge, and all the Bench agreed, And for the Executioner sent with speed; Who being come, and searching, there was found No ears, but hairs; at this all laughed round: Says judge, thou hast no ears; Sir, quoth the wight, Where there is nought, the King must lose his right (87) To Barba. Have I the power to bid the frost not melt, Or Alpine snow, when it the Sun hath felt? Or can I stay the falling showers of rain, When springy Exhalations drop again? Or may I mask the stars, or Cynthia bright, In a fair Evening, and a frosty night? No more have I the power to enforce Thy constancy, for lust will have its course. (88) On Love.. A Salve for every sore is to be found, But there's no balsum that can cure love's wound (89) Sent to his Mistress in a Lemon. FAirest, if you do not find Natural substance in this rind, Be not angry: what you do See enclosed here, grows in you. Purest colours would you seek? Go no further than your cheek: Or would you Nepen the sip? Taste your own soft melting lip. The juice of Lemon well may prove Cooling, but the flames of love In my breast, no julip, no Nor cakes of Ice, nor falling snow Can quench 'vm; you have only power To slake them with a gentle shower: I in your lips the cordial see, Cupid made to comfort me. From your charm my pain will run, Say you love me, and 'tis done: 'Tis the heart-ake which I have, You can ease me, help I crave. For which, to Love and you, I'll bond become, Till for the cure I have discharged the sum. (90) On a fool that found a Crabfish. IN midst of Summer when the radiant Sun In all his glory, through the Zodiac run; A Crabfish crawling from the scorched sea, Came on a verdant bank to sport and play; And as he frisking lay upon the grass, A certain Idiot by that place did pass, Who having▪ before a Crabfish seen, In haft to catch it, thrust his hand between His griping claws; the Crab did pinch him sore, And made the simple fellow cry and roar; Who to renenge himself of this fell spite, took up the Crabfish, and with all his might Fling i● into the sea; saying, I trow I'll teach you sirrah to pinch strangers so. The Crab amongst the waves doth leap and frisk, fl●ppeth his tail apace, is wondrous brisk: S●, quoth the Innocent, alas dumb thing, The pangs of death, how sharp and sore they sting. (91) To Petrus and Critticus. men's faces differ, and so does the heart, Nor can the eye the hidden thoughts impart: This man in outward show doth gentle seem, And for a Daemon we do him esteem, When in his heart he does a Daemon prove; So although Criticus profess thee love, Believe me, Petrus, trust him not, I know Him for to be thy deadly private foe. (92) To Zoylus. TO answer she, I lately did refuse, About Religion; know, I do not use To give to dogs things holy and divine: Thy carping currish nature does repine At all that's good; thus to a cur I writ, That still will bark, although he cannot bite. (93) On a Surgeon. A Skilful Surgeon does these three command, A Lion's heart, Hawks eye, and Lady's hand. (94) To his truly virtuous Mistress. MY Mistress breast more beauty shrines within, Then can be fancied on an outward skin: Let fools their wantoness court, their face compare To Roses mixed with Lilies, and their hair To Sunbeams, gold, or down, when it is known To be another's come, not their own; And that pure red and white, so highly graced, Was there by Art and not by Nature placed: Shall this draw my affection? shall my last Writ my despised memory in dust? No, I am mounted on a nobler wing, I can behold a painted urn, and sing No Anniverse; no charm the face puts on Can move me, 'tis the mind I dote upon: The Superficies of the earth contains Not half the treasure is within its veins: The curled waves vpon' 'em cannot keep The moy'tie of that's hid in the deep; Nor can the outward face of heaven, (As unto what's within) such praise be given. Where am I? from the heavens, earth, and sea, Return I back, my dearest unto thee: Thy inward beauty is to thee more grace, Then Helen's, which was only in the face, Thou never needest despair, there shall not grow One wrinkle in thy virtue's ivory brow: The elder that thy graces grow, the more They shall to thee renew rich beauty's store: Thy wisdom, and thy noble soul I love, That knowst affection, and how far to prove; Here will I build, here my foundation lay On rocky virtue, not on painted clay. (95) On Mistri (* Westbe.) Would you know what is more sleek Than the smooth and glassy cheek Of bladed grass? or would you know What is purer than the snow? Would you learn what is more soft Than the down that grows aloft The blow-ball? or what is more sweet Than hunger, or the wedding-sheet? Would you know what blushes be, Besides the Rose, or blossemed tree? Or all delights, if you would read 'vm, And would know what could exceed 'vm, Look on her, for none but she Can their true Elixir be. Touch her skin, and you shall feel It slipperer than the glass, or Eel; View it well, and then your sense Will judge it pure as Innocence; Softer fare than true love's kisses, Sweeter than the choicest blisses; More red, more white, more sweet delight Yielding, then or day, or night, Can boast of; oh, who would not be, To such a Saint, a Votary? Why should then the spiced East Be famous for the Phoenix nest? Since there may in the (* West be) found One in whom more sweets abound. (96) On a Lover. I Frieze in fire, and I fry in frost, Unhappy I, that love with labour lost. (97) To certain Maidens playing with snow. YOu tender Virgins, fairer than the Snow, with which you play, Note how it melts, think how the Roses grow, and how decay, Just so does beauty fade, and age draw on, Winter makes haste, and Summer's quickly gone. (98) To Sixtus. SIxtus the toothache troubles thee insooth, That neither day nor night no rest canst take, Yet with a good tongue do but lick thy tooth, And suddenly thy pain will thee forsake. (99) On a Beggar. Alive I had no house, now dead, a grave; I lived in want, now I do nothing crave: A perrigrine I lived, poor, and distressed, But weary death has signed my Quietus est: Alive I naked went, but now I am Clad in rich robes, for Caesar wears the same. (100) To his wife, which set a pot of Flowers in the window. Fair flowers thou dost in thy window set, And stinking dirt to make them grow, dost get. Good wife cast all away, I thee desire, The flowers smell sweet, but worse stinks the mire. To Zoylus. Why are thy brows girt with a laurel wreath? Apollo such does to his Sons bequeath: But to thy Tribe, that stingest with thy tongue, A garland made of Nettles does belong. Virtus post funera vivit. THough flames do dye, yet embers live, And grief and sorrows usher joy; Perfumes, when burnt, the smoke doth give A comfort, doth bad scents destroy: So, if in utrtues' path we tread, That will survive when we are dead. He that is deemed an honest man, Whilst that he life's, no envy can Blot the fair story of his life: When he is dead, his virtue shall Long outlive his funeral; Though all the world be at strife, To make his Tomb more lasting than The large remembrances of men. To his worthy friend, Mr. john Hall, going to travel. ANd must we lose what other Realms shall find? Is England grown to narrow for thy mind? Cannot th'impetuous periil of the main, Or Silla, or Caribdos, thee restrain? Or, if not these, the dangers of the land, Which thou shalt find waiting on either hand? If none of all, thy forward thoughts can bar, Prove both a wand'ring, and a fixed star. FINIS.