THE Melancholy Knight. By S. R.  
¶ Imprinted at London by R. B. and are to be sold by George Loftus, in Bishopsgate street, near the Angel. 1615.   

To Respective Readers.  
GAllants expect no idle news,  
For carrying tales I scorn to use,  
Employ their tongues that way who will,  
men's heads with strange reports to fill,  
Of what is done in foreign lands  
I clear from those things wash my hands,  
I meddle not like light-brained men,  
With this and that, and where & when,  
And how and which and what and why,  
And thus, and so, I scorn it I,  
I have a melancholy skull  
Is almost fractured 'tis so full  
To ease the same these lines I writ,  
Tobacco boy a pipe, some light.   

Introduction.  

WHen Phoebus' Chariot (flaming living fire)  
Was drawn with winged horses to the West,  
And obscure darkness clad in black attire,  
Had summoned every sleeping eye to rest,  
The cloudy curtains of the heavens were spread,  
And glorious day from fair Aurora fled.   

The winds were all locked up and nothing spoke,  
The dribbling waters murmur was not heard,  
No fire was seen, yet all the air seemed smoke:  
The starry lamps were from their shining barred  
Fowerfooted tramplers, all had drowsy heads;  
Bush-breeders wrapped up in their featherbeds.   

An universal slumber ceased on all,  
To bury cares in sleeps forgetfulness,  
While dreams and visions did in question call,  
Charging the mind with much unquietness,  
And did present an object to my sight,  
That made next day to wonder at last night.   

I saw, (or seemed to see a well shaped man,  
His body form comely as I thought;  
Yet not describe him perfectly I can,  
Because his outside was so overwrought,  
With tailors art, new fashioned from the stall,  
What I be held was but man's making all.   

His face being masked with his hat pulled down,  
And in french doublet without gown or cloak,  
His hose the largest ever came to town,  
And from his nostrils came much stinking smoke;  
Garters would make two ensigns for a need,  
And shoe-ties that for circle did exceed.   

His head hung down, his arms were held a cross,  
And in his hat a coal-black feather stuck,  
His melancholy argued some great loss,  
He stood so like the picture of ill luck:  
I longed much his humour for to find  
Until at length he thus revealed his mind.    

THE MELANCHOLY KNIGHT.  

LIke discontented Timon in his Cell,  
My brains with melancholy humers swell,  
I cross mine arms at crosses that arise,  
And scoff blind Fortune, with hat o'er mine eyes:  
I bid the world take notice I abhor it,  
Having great melancholy reason for it.  
I'll put my case (and if the world do please)  
To four men's censures, and they shall be these;  
For my part I'll have Riot joined with Pride,  
Take Covetousness and Fraud, on th'other side,  
And all I have shall thereupon be laid,  
Which is not much, if all my debts were paid:  
That when these honest men give up award,  
They will confess the world doth use me hard,  
When my agreevances do once appear,  
Which I in brief will only point at here.  
The cause from whence my melancholy grows,  
To the iudious will itself disclose:  
Oh wicked age, of wretched days and times,  
Wherein I writ these melancholy rhymes!  
Ungrateful world, false and unconstant found  
To those brave minds, to whom thou most art bound:  
I have red over (while youths glass did run)  
Sir Lancelot of the Lake, the Knight of th'Sun,  
Sir Triamour, Sir Bevis, and sir Guy,  
Four sons of Amon, horsed so gallantly,  
And all the old world's worthy men at arms,  
That did revenge fair Ladies wrongs and harms,  
The Monster slayers, and the Giant killers,  
With all the rest of Mars his brave well-willers,  
Which to rehearse I never shall be able,  
The Worthis Arthur had at his round Table;  
And how in Chronicles those dead ones live,  
By breath that Fame doth from the Trumpet give.  
But what an age is this my fellow Knights?  
(I mean all you whom melancholy bites)  
As it doth me, the jovial sort I leave  
That have their hundreds yearly to receive;  
For they and I, I know shall never meet  
In Golding lane, nor yet in Silver street;  
My melancholy walks find spacious room  
With pensive pace, about Duke Humfrey's Tomb,  
Where many thoughts above the Steeple climb,  
That humbly walk away their dinner time:  
Yet in despite of Fortunes turning wheel,  
In scorn of gold I wear it at my heel;  
Even in contempt of wealth my spurs are guilt,  
And siluer's common in my Rapier's hilt;  
I hate the Idol misers dote upon,  
Being as big in heart as Prester john,  
Disdaining Peasants, Rustics, Boors and Clowns,  
My mind is full of Castles, Towers, and Towns,  
Woods, wildernesses, stately fields and groves,  
With cattle, most innumerable drove,  
Corn, precious odours, spice, heart cheering wine  
The Ocean full of ships me thinks is mine,  
And who can have a richer mind than this?  
Only possession is a thing I miss,  
And want of that same powerful point in Law,  
Makes me remember late a piece I saw,  
An artificial feast which rare did look:  
But yet because the Painter played the Cook,  
To make the gazer to his praise a debtor,  
The eye was pleased but stomach near the better.  
Even so my mind, which is an empire tom,  
Yields haughty swelling thoughts, and they undo me,  
Leaving me only an old song to sing  
The ballet of the Beggar and the King;  
But that I can abide no music now,  
My melancholy will no mirth allow,  
Therefore take warning resolute set down,  
To all the fiddling fellows in the town,  
That they approach not near my tavern room,  
On pain of stabs to be their fatal doom.  
If but their sight my presence do annoy,  
I'll finish all their days from man to boy,  
The like for th'Talor for his scrawling bill,  
I take his Items most distasteful ill:  
If he presn me to ask my worship chink,  
With poniard point his doublet I'll bepinke.  
The Mercer's man that plies me so of late,  
Before I cross his book I'll cross his pate.  
A Gallants mind beyond all reason frets,  
To pay for worn suits, out of fashion debts,  
To come for money due in eighty nine,  
Will make a man that's out of cash repine:  
Yet there's Hungarians that on terms do stand,  
As if one still should have his purse in's hand.  
But letall such take notice what Isay;  
My humour's to receive, not now to pay,  
It is an easy case to understand;  
Tenants will shrink, when Landlords sell their land:  
For 'tis not now as in the days of old,  
When men were willing to departed with gold,  
Give longer time, friend Creditor to debtor,  
Angels grow proud because theyare twelve pence better  
And very scarce withal I will be sworn,  
When to keep Knighthood company they scorn,  
For I that know their absence may be bold,  
To clear my hand from this corrupting gold,  
Look to it Lawyers unto you they fly,  
And you must answer for them more than I,  
You can transfor me their case from good to evil,  
Turning an angel oft into a Devil;  
But let the Devil have a golden claw,  
You will defend him any suit in law.  
Physicians, likewise, must be offered too,  
Or else both pill and potion will not do:  
He that into their purging hands doth fall,  
Must bring a sacrifice Angelical,  
But both may starve for what they get of me,  
If with my Creditors I once agree.  
I'll leave friend Lawyer to his Littleton,  
For little good with me there will be done,  
And so for Doctor-purge an's glister pipe,  
His diet should be worse than souse and tripe,  
If I his Patient's Physic might persuade,  
We would undo him quite and spoil his trade.  
Take the rare herb that grows on India ground,  
(In Tavern and in Alehouse so renowned)  
Smoke noses with the same from one to t'other,  
As though your faces were all seacoal smother,  
Make fogs and mists ascend in hot degrees,  
Snuff some into your nostrils till you neese,  
And spit and spawle until your throats be choking,  
But above all things keep your noses smoking,  
For that's most Blacke-amore and Inaian like,  
And fume the braver in your brain will strike;  
Then rheum it out, and do no spitting spare,  
Fo● absolute Tobacchonist you are:  
This is brave physic for brave Caveleers,  
This at both ends, upward and down ward clears:  
'twill make one sober that was drunk before,  
Fill a pipe boy before I writ line more;  
So, here's a health unto the good estates,  
Of all our Poets that have smoking pates:  
The Muses bless their brains with store of wit,  
I near knew Usurer amongst them yet,  
That puts out hundreds to engender tens,  
Their stock consists of paper, ink, and pens,  
And a sew books, their value proving small,  
When sometime rated on a Broker's stall.  
But what have I to do with what they pawn,  
Or sell, or give, or dedicate by fawn;  
Let me survey mine own house well within,  
Where no excess this many a day hath been;  
I scorn both silver cups and guilded plate,  
Common with basest tradesmen grown of late.  
Tinkers and Cobblers and such vulgar asses,  
I love to drink Gentlemanlike in glasses,  
The rare french fashion is preferred thereby  
Which graceth out good wine unto the eye.  
Or be it our own native English beer,  
A glass presents it to you comely clear  
If it be thick, or thin in watery plight,  
The Brewer's fault will that way come to light:  
Besides, you know by fire great losses grows,  
Which to prevent (as all my neighbours knows)  
I seldom times have any chimney smoke,  
Except great cold extremely do provoke;  
Yet often then, for fear of doing harm,  
I lie a bed till noon, and keep me warm.  
Likewise, I do not wasteful spend my store,  
In drawing idle Beggars to my door:  
For if I should, the Country would come down,  
And bring a charge of poor upon the Town;  
No, there is none shall frame by me excuses  
And tax or charge me with these great abuses:  
And as for gluttons feasting at my Table,  
Let them that are more willing or more able.  
For I protest, who surfeits on my cheer,  
Within the compass of these seven year,  
I'll pay for's physic on my knightly word,  
If he'll be sworn he took it at my board:  
I keep a table hanging in my hall,  
The Poetry is my invention all;  
And though I say it, (wanting others praise)  
The Morals sit most rarely for our days,  
A frugal house, it doth instruct to keep  
Matter in this age to be weighed deep,  
Although the lines are written but with ink,  
A man may call them golden Rules I think,  
Because this doth advise to save his purse,  
The empty plague whereof there's nothing worse.   

I'll be no miser of them to my friends  
Because, good counsel, no wise man offends,  
Thus they begin, theyare plain, but to good ends.   
Into my spacious Hall who enters here,  
Must not expect to meet with belly-cheer,  
No Dives dinings, nor yet Nabals' feasts  
Our diet doth distinguish men from beasts:  
In steed of fat beef breakfasts when we rise,  
Apipe of good Tobacco will suffice,  
Which both dischargeth all the rheum we have,  
And doth the charge of other drinking save.  
Bal't, roast, sod, at noon is vulgar feeding,  
But dainty salads they are most exceeding.  
Strong drink make strong dissensions this is sure,  
Your smallest beer, small quarrels doth procure;  
At night, light suppers if you light upon,  
Digestion easy will be quickly gone:  
An egg new laid is physical rare roasted,  
And so is cheese of the welsh fashion toasted;  
Beef, Mutton, Pork, Veal, Lamb, (gross diets folly)  
Are breeders of expense and melancholy,  
Small birds, small fish, small reasons and small beer,  
May save a knight, a hundred pound a year.  
Let such as will shun prodigal expense,  
Learn to observe good wholesome rules from hence;  
Those that are of another humour, so  
Each man his own purse credit best doth know;  
So I do mine, for as before I said,  
The Golden-age and Silver is decayed:  
Oh now comes on a melancholy sit,  
To write of Gold and not possess a whit;  
Once more Tobacco boy, I'll smother grief,  
I tarry for it sirrah, quick be brief.  
What says the knave that keeps the smoking shop?  
Will he have money ere I drink a drop?  
Doth he deny to trust me one pipe more?  
Tell him, I'll near pay penny off my score  
Unless he send me presently his best.  
And furthermore, thus much I do protest,  
Choler doth stir my fury up so grim,  
If he deny to smoke me, I'll smoke him:  
Shall I be held for such a younger brother,  
As not be trusted for a little smother?  
Is ready-money so upon the spur  
That debts like Lawyers may not use demur,  
Why then the ancient speech most true doth chance  
Heers yours, there's mine, no longer pipe than dance:  
Well, leave that knave because he deals so base,  
Fetch me Tobacco at another place,  
Bid him send good, and set it on the score,  
He shall have all my custom for great store:  
If these same foolish knaves had any wit,  
My custom would afford much use of it:  
For to all Gulls that come why they might vow,  
A Knight had of this very roll but now,  
Who daily sends and likes it passing well:  
And thus my name their bad for good might sell,  
And utterance thereby would not be small,  
So I deserve the best, and trust withal:  
But fools there are cannot occasion see,  
A very Cobbler shall as welcome be  
That pays his ready money at the stub,  
As I that come a trust to worships dub,  
This makes me melancholy as a Cat,  
And in mine eyes doth cause me pull my hat,  
To think how all men carefully provide  
To join with money on the stronger side.  
Let it be fool; or ass, or dolt, or gull,  
More sheepish than the Sheep that wears the wool,  
No language, but the Countries that did breed him,  
Taught by the parting Nurse which did spoon-feed him,  
Got up to London with a stick in's hand,  
And there seven year at some stall talking stand;  
His travels, Islington, Hacney, or Highgate.  
Yet this smooth fellow with his cunning sly pate,  
Will scrape, and scratch, and spare, and pinch and save,  
Beyond my wealth for all the wit I have:  
And note the spiteful case twixt him and I  
Let me on credit any where go buy,  
And he in's purse have ready money plenty,  
Where I have one Sir they le afford him twenty:  
Yes sir, and I sir, welcome sir, indeed sir,  
When I shall have 'tis money that we need sir,  
This Gentleman, (than have a hat he must)  
Pays present quoin, in truth we cannot trust.  
Hear be the fellows with the nimble hams,  
And they have learned to live without their dams;  
Such as have skill to sell a piece of stuff,  
And having wealth, why they have wit enough.  
Admit a man should bravely undertake,  
To travel further than sir Francis Drake,  
And with more languages his tongue were cloyed,  
Then there was used when Babel was destroyed:  
What of all this, when trial shall be found,  
'Twould never serve to take up twenty pound:  
Let Scholar bring his Hebrew and his Greek,  
And with the same a hundred pound go seek,  
The Usurer in English will reply,  
Sir I must have some good security:  
Come traveler from Turkey, Room, or Spain,  
And take a suit of trust in Burchen-lane,  
Let him bring news to furnish all th'Exchange,  
And make himself admired at most strange:  
Some Citizen must pass his bond or bill,  
Or else the Gallant rests nonsuited still.  
Let Soldier come with scarre-becarued skin,  
And talk of Newport battle he was in:  
Siege of Ostend, and brave exploits in France,  
To golden credit twill him not advance:  
Who'll take his word for lodging, or for diet?  
He might have stayed at home and kept him quiet:  
Perhaps will some say, and have saved an arm,  
Or Musket shot had done his legs no harm;  
And this hath made me never venture far.  
I once was over-sea to see the war,  
Where soldiers spent both blood and life most free  
But I protest not one the less for me:  
No, kill men? I ever did abhor it;  
Yet do not hold me to be Coward for it:  
For if I were constrained to do my best,  
My sword should be as naked as the rest,  
There's certain rules which I intent to use;  
First I'll not fight until I cannot choose:  
And all my Creditors, while I do live,  
Shall have good words, though nothing else I give;  
Give me the lie my patience mild receives it,  
Knowing I often lie, when none perceives it.  
And therefore that same term doth ne'er perplex me;  
But if I used not lying, sure 'twould vex me:  
Good company doth very much delight me,  
I ne'er think scorn who ever do invite me;  
The poorest man that keeps the meanest house,  
I'll taste his pudding, or his piece of souse,  
His housh oldloafe, his butter and his cheese,  
Such courtesy by pride I will not lose,  
If it be offered me, I will not fail  
To take my neighbour cobblers pot of ale.  
With mean goodfellows I can well agree,  
And leave rich Kninghts as well as they leave me:  
Yet shall my Lady have her own desire,  
To match their Ladies in their brave attire:  
For she's a Gentlewoman (though I say-it)  
That doth deserve to domineer and sway it,  
To Lady it, she served a Lady taught her,  
Well bred and borne a good rich Graziers daughter;  
One that if once he bid the world good night,  
His death would cure the Melancholy knight;  
And make him mighty with excessive wealth,  
But I am sick to think upon his health;  
A lusty man and yet above threescore:  
If I should die and go to heaven before,  
Which I think not; but if I so were crossed,  
All that estate were ev'ry penny lost:  
With him I play the Politician so,  
I have his love most absolute I know,  
Roundlets of Sack, with suger-loaves and spice,  
I send as tokens that may love entice,  
Which if I did not hope to find at large,  
He should be hanged ere I would bear the charge.  
For now adays I hold he gross doth err,  
That spends his money for I thank you sir,  
I am beholden to you for this kindness,  
Count me a buzzard if I show such blindness:  
No, I have one gift proveth not amiss  
To take all comes, be whatsoe'er it is.  
As for example, when I let a lease,  
And raise my rent unto the most increase;  
When th'utmost penny I have brought it to,  
Before I seal the same, why thus I do,  
I add a Capon, Turkey, Goose, or so,  
At quarter day my Tenants love to show,  
And no man is so simple and absurd,  
That he will lose his bargain for a bird:  
Thus do I fetch my subtle hobnails in,  
More craftier grown by odds then they have been;  
But let them grow as cunning as they may,  
There's tricks to fetch them in and make them pay.  
'Tis not amiss to keep such fellows under,  
That they and riches may be held asunder:  
For if their wealth come to a little height,  
They think themselves their Landlord's fellows straight;  
This is a thing that ought not be allowed,  
But I'll keep mine for being over proud,  
They shall not boast of pen-worths at my hand,  
In any thing they hold of house or land:  
What charge have they but homely country fare,  
Or what discredit if their clothes be bare,  
When I must maintain show of gallant life;  
Especially upon my Lady wife,  
Who (I protest unto my very friends)  
More in apparel then my rent is, spends:  
My tent, poor rent, like to a garment rend,  
As that's past wearing that is almost spent,  
If one fat kinsman or another dyenot,  
And that unlucky handed Death supply-not,  
Ere long the wandering Knight I will go play,  
And put out venter's at return to pay:  
As, who will undertake give three for one,  
When I do that which hath been done by none,  
Namely, return from Salisbury to London  
And number just those stones (to this hour undone)  
The devils bastard Merlin placed there,  
Which admirable do each other bear:  
Or when I cross the Ocean into France,  
And bring from thenceking Pippin's warlike lance,  
Mounsieur Malignants armour of gold plate,  
(Which would prove very wholesome to my state)  
And hundred projects which I keep obscure,  
Until the practice I do put in ure.  
Another help I have at a dead list,  
As I could turn Ascumist for a shift,  
Shift said I, that same word I will convert,  
Lest some conclude it for a shifting art:  
Yet for the rhyme sake, (cause I am in haste)  
I'll let it pass, how ever it distaste,  
And such as make a question, let them trie-it,  
For on my credit there is profit by it,  
But how? note that, not out of brass and copper  
To turn that gold in quality just proper,  
But turning off again to the professor,  
That of a wealthy Novice is possessor,  
'Tis a deep Art to try conclusions by,  
And may be called Craft, or Myst-er-y:  
There is no Science that a man can name,  
Makes all professors rich that use the same.  
Some man hath gotten much by Alchemy,  
And many men have lost, I'll not deny:  
And on my credit I dare boldly say,  
I know the getting and the losing way.  
Why then may some object unto me sir:  
What is the cause yourself you not prefer?  
I'll show them reason for it by and by,  
And thus conceive it in a Simile.  
An Angler goes to take himself some fish,  
Having bait, line, and hook unto his wish,  
He patiented waiteth with a fixed sight;  
Yet taketh none because they will not bite:  
Few words will serve to satisfy the wise,  
Pick English out of this, let that suffice.  
Tobacco boy, and a clean pipe withal,  
Sirrah a candle, 'tis in haste I call,  
I once kept men, (whose liveries being worn)  
For saving charge, a boy now serves my turn:  
Amongst the rest I had a beetlehead,  
Of vulgar education Clownish bred,  
Whom I called to me as alone I sat,  
And took Tobacco, which he gazing at:  
Sirrah (quoth I) unto the staring owl,  
Give a clean pipe, and burn this same, 'tis fowl,  
So he supplied my use s●ill with a new,  
And those which I returned away he threw,  
When none was left, hast burned those pipes I said?  
(Quoth he) sir I as good a hand have made,  
With them you bade me burn, our fire is small,  
And so to make short work I broke them all:  
The Clownish villain, thinking I did burn them,  
As out of use, I did intend to turn them;  
Quick, dry Tobacco, fill a pipe complete,  
And then my pen goes forward in a heat,  
There's news rare news, new news come to my hand,  
The like near since the conquest in this land;  
Called True and Wonderful the story says,  
A Serpent newly whelped in our days:  
Nay more, a Dragon is title fit,  
Because he is a very poison spitter:  
Some he hath killed, but eat them he refuses,  
And near to Horsham, worse than horse play uses▪  
For he hath slain (they say) I know not who,  
Nay, is beside a Coney-catcher too,  
Supposed to live by thieving in the warren;  
Which if he do 'twill make the burrows barren:  
But if according to the Books direction,  
The Carrier tell us of his strange infection,  
It shall be seen the Melancholy Knight  
Like valiant George will with the dragon fight.  
Let him wrap up his body in a bundle,  
And with his poison up to London Trundell,  
I'll arm myself directly at all points,  
And on the Dragon venture limbs and joints,  
He or she Serpent, I will set upon-her,  
To raise my worship to degrce of honour,  
I hope it is note qually so fierce,  
As that same Monster Chronicles rehearse,  
Which came out of the Irish seas a shore,  
The like whereof was never seen before,  
With whom the king Meruidius would go fight,  
Forbidding combat to each other Wight;  
For which brave resolution which he held,  
He was past hope and help most cruel killed;  
If he be such I will vnsayed again,  
I long not to be desperately slain,  
And set upon a poyson-spitting thing:  
Hath teeth and claws, and venom, tail and sting,  
That were foolhardy to expose my life,  
And make a mourner of my Lady wife:  
And therefore for a time I will forbear,  
Till of a second part in print I hear;  
Which shall no sooner (I protest) come out,  
But I'll take horse to Horsham for a bout,  
And so I leave this filthy scurvy Dragon,  
That never yet did soil a Knight to brag on.  
I chanced of late an ancient book to view,  
As good as Bevis, and as strange and true,  
Of lions Leopards. Tigers, Bears and Boars,  
And such ill faces as in Forests rores:  
Amongst the rest was one that had a den,  
Piled like a wood-wharfe with the bones of men,  
He had a head most fearful to behold,  
Wherein, two eyes like globes of fire rolled,  
Teeth terrible to bite through flesh and bone;  
A forked tongue the like was never known,  
Claws past compare to scratch down trees withal  
A sting in's tail would enter through a wall,  
I do protest, I was almost afraid  
To read the strange description that was made,  
Of this den-divell, (sure he was no less)  
As by the story any man would guess:  
Yet by a valiant Knight, this same hot shot  
Was hewed as small as flesh unto the pot.  
Then in that book a Dragon I do find  
The like is not among the Dragon's kind,  
Th'enchanted Dragon of the darksome shade,  
Of seven metals all composed and made:  
And that the world shall witness I am red  
('Gainst melancholy vexings in my head)  
In ancient stories courage to provoke,  
Not spending all my time in taking smoke,  
Although my worship's scandaled now and then  
Amongst the ruder sort of vulgar men,  
But that I turn and overturn again  
Old books, wherein the worm-holes do remain,  
Containing acts of ancient Knights and Squires,  
That fought with Dragons, spitting forth wild fires  
The history unto you shall appear,  
Even by myself verbatim set down here:  

As thus,  
Sir Eglamour that worthy Knight  
He took his sword and went to fight,  
And as he road both hill and dale  
Armed upon his shirt of male.  
A Dragon came out of his den  
Had slain, (God knows how many men:)  
When he espied sir Eglamore,  
Oh if you had but heard him roar,  
And seen how all the trees did shake,  
The Knight did tremble, horse did quake;  
The Birds betake them all to peeping,  
It would have made you fall a weeping:  
But now it is in vain to fear,  
Being come unto, fight dog fight bear.  
To it they go, and fiercely fight  
A livelong day from morn till night:  
The Dragon had a plaguy hide,  
And could the sharpest steel abide,  
No sword will enter him with cuts  
Which vexed the Knight unto the guts;  
But as in choler he did burn  
He watched the Dragon a good turn,  
And as a yawningh did fall,  
He thrust his sword in hilts and all.  
Then like a Coward he to fly  
Unto his den that was hard by,  
And there he lay all night and roared;  
The Knight was sorry for his sword:  
But riding thence said, I forsake it,  
He that will fetch it let him take it.  
And so I hope to the judicious wise,  
Thus much of this rare story shall suffice,  
To prove how I in worthy works am read,  
How ere illiterate censures are misled:  
But as I will not vaunt of my deserts,  
So will I not in tomb mine own good parts,  
I have a Muse hath been at Helicon,  
And brain sometime that versed do th' flow upon  
The world shall know though Melancholy bite.  
The discontented Money-scorning Knight,  
I have interior excellence that shines  
Beyond your earthlings gold and silver mines:  
Once more Tobbacco to perfume my brain,  
I'll smoke amongst you in my Poets vain.   

Melancholy Conceits.  

RApier lie there, and there my hat and feather,  
Draw my silk curtain to obscure the light,  
Goose-quilland I must join a while together:  
Lady forbear I pray, keep out of sight,  
Call pearl away, let one remove him hence,  
Your screeking Parrot will distract my sense.   

Would I were near the rogue that crieth black,  
Buy a new Almanac, doth vex me to:  
Forbidden the maid she wind not up the jack,  
Take hence my watch it makes too much a do,  
Let none come at me dearest friend or kin,  
Who ere it be, I am not now within.    

To Fortune.  
THou purblind puppet for a Tradesman's stall,  
Thou limping Lady of the Hospital;  
Empress of Epicures and belly-gods,  
With whom I vow to live and die at odds;  
Thou mole-eyed, owle-eyed, Countess for a spittle,  
That gives to some too much, to me too little,  
Thou whirly-gigge, and ratsbane of my life,  
Which by thy wheel dost seem some wheel-wrights wife  
Thou makebate to a discontented mind,  
Thou water-bubble, wasteful puff of wind,  
Thou flying-feather of a woodcocks wing,  
Thou Heathenish and very Pagan thing,  
Thou Miser's friend, thou worthy Gallants foe,  
Thou scurvy Ballad of▪ I wale in woe,  
Thou that all discontentment dost provoke,  
Thou worse to me then this Tobacco smoke,  
Thou that sage, Fury, Envy dost importune,  
I'll tickle thee, thou scurvy minded Fortune.   

To Lady Pecunia.  
A Pin for them that care appoint for me,  
And that's the love between myself and thee,  
Proud Lady of the gold and silver mine,  
Thou scornest my company, I banish thine:  
What stamp soever thou about dost bear,  
And causest many for to stamp and swear;  
Or runnest current quoin, from man to man,  
I am not currant thou hast made me wan.  
And therefore since thou givest me unrest,  
In being stranger to my purse and chest,  
Not looking on me with thy golden face,  
Nor yielding me angelical embrace:  
Expressing love by pounds most kind and willing,  
But comest to me by sixpences, and by shilling;  
To be thy Treasurer I do abhor it,  
I'll neither purse nor chest, nor bag thee for it,  
But use thee even in all disgrace I may,  
To eat and drink, and dice thee still away.   

To Patience.  
LOng have I waited at thy woeful gate,  
With expectation to augment my state,  
And sought for her which cannot yet be found,  
The Lady that makes crazy credits sound;  
She that I think will near be friends with me,  
Because a sunder we so often be:  
But Patience I protest thou art to blame,  
And I have cause upon thee to exclaim,  
Thou dost neglect, defer, protract, delay,  
And puts me empty off from day to day;  
When I expect to have my wants supplied,  
Says, helpless friends, Patience good sir provide:  
Who can take up an hundred pound, I pray,  
And pawn some patience till he come and pay:  
Or trade with Tradesman be for what it will,  
That will take Patience hand unto his bill.  
No masters no, all gripe to get their own,  
And I from Patience am impatient grown.   

To Fame.  
THou art the Lady that I seek to please,  
Before Pecunia, Fortune, Patience; these  
Are all inferior in renowned name,  
To this eternal honour-giver Fame;  
Say I had Fortune's gifts in large degree,  
Why fools have fortune we do daily see.  
If moneys Lady would for me provide  
More quoin and plate, then is in all Cheapside:  
Let Solon's saying in this case suffice,  
There are more wealthy fools then wealthy wise;  
If I take Patience physic for my sore,  
And wait with her at expectations door,  
What's the reward will follow? even this;  
Patience and poverty in th'end will kiss:  
Therefore I'll set wit working like a watch,  
Some rare unknown invention to dispatch  
That all the world could not have brought about,  
If I had not been borne to find it out:  
And when I have it (being yet unbegotten,  
I shall have Fame alive, and dead and rotten.   

To Time.  
THou Register of old Antiquities,  
Observer of the world's iniquities,  
Surveying life from birth till Death in tomb,  
From Adam's making, to the day of doom:  
That in thy restless cunning dost admit  
Of actions lawful, or of things unfit,  
And hast thy head behind of purpose balled,  
Because thou never wilt be back recalled;  
But wear'st a lock before I understand,  
On which I never yet could lay my hand.  
I have expected (thou grave ancient father)  
Thy helping hand, and I protest the rather,  
Because they say that Time by turns doth go,  
And hitherto I have not found it so:  
Therefore for some good turn, one of these days  
I challenge thee, or I'll disprove thy praise,  
And I writ of thee according as I find,  
That thorough age thou art both balled and blind;  
Find out a time, good Time for to relieve me,  
For at this time, Time very bad doth grieve me.   

To all miserable Misers.  
YOu careless raking, greedy getting slaves,  
That never have enough till in your graves,  
Until Death have you prisoners in his hold,  
As you in chests lock up your bags of gold,  
You that have that excessive wealth lies by,  
Would furnish twenty such poor Knights as I,  
I do detest you all as dunghill swains,  
You dogged Nabals with your cursed gains,  
That love base lucre so entirely well,  
You'leventer souls, as Dives did to hell;  
And here I vow, promise, and firm protest  
I scorn this hoarding money in a chest,  
That golden sin on me shall never light,  
As clear as is the child was borne last night;  
From keeping money lying on my hand,  
So much kind gentle Reader understand,  
With Bias I do give the world this flout,  
All that is mine I bear with me about.   

The Conclusion.  
THe Friar that his brains did break,  
To make a brazen head to speak,  
And spent his study seven year,  
Ere that perfection would appear;  
Then fell a sleep when he should watch,  
Trusting his man a foolish patch,  
That to it gave no heed at all,  
But heard the voice and would not call:  
What was the gain he got at last?  
Three words, Time is, Time was, Times past,  
And those for this time I have took  
To end my melancholy book:  
Especially, last of the three,  
Which is Tim's past: farewell to thee:  
FINIS.