I Smell a Rat.  
To the tune of, Upon a Summer tide. OR, The Seminary Priest.  

 

I Travelled fare to find  
where honesty abides,  
And found in England more  
than all the world beside;  
But where true virtue grows,  
vice quickly ruins that:  
A poor man must not speak,  

although he Smell a Rat.    

When justice hath her sight,  
she's beautiful in show:  
But when she Masks her face,  
how vild she soon doth grow;  
I do perceive the cause,  
but dare not speak of that:  
I'll not offend the Laws,  

but yet I Smell a Rat.    

When I see wealthy men,  
by worldly causes rise:  
I count them happy here,  
and truly worldly wise;  
But Folly oft makes lean,  
what Wit hath long kept fat:  
Who knows how rich men fall?  

in troth I Smell a Rat.    

Some gathers in their rents,  
and hordes the coin with care:  
Stretching their credits great,  
for money or for ware:  
When such great men do break,  
what is the cause of that?  
In troth I dare not speak,  

and yet I Smell a Rat.    

To see a Courtier kind,  
is common every hour,  
To Widow, Wife, or Maid,  
or any in his power:  
The Husband's welcome to,  
but what's the cause of that?  
I do not justly know,  

but yet I smell a Rat.    

When luber marries wealth,  
how joy full are the twain,  
On both sides wealths increase  
comes in with ill got gain:  
This wealth command's their minds,  
they live like Dog and Cat;  
What should the occasion be?  

in faith I Smell a Rat.    

When rates of all things rise,  
within a plenteous year:  
What should the occasion be,  
that every thing's so dear;  
Some censure rich men's faults,  
and some say this and that:  
Let all say what they will,  

for faith I Smell a Rat.    

When Age doth marry Youth,  
how lovingly they live:  
The want of youthful blood,  
this tender Wife doth grieve:  
The old man jealous grows,  
occasion oft bids that:  
When wealth and beauty meet,  

in faith I Smell a Rat.     

The second Part,  
To the same Tune.  
 

Wherefore doth women paint  
or young men pruine their hair?  
It may be 'tis to make,  
this earthly carcase fair;  
Yet there are causes great,  
are ten times worse than that:  
'tis beauty tempe's the eye,  

in faith I Smell a Rat.    

When Strumpets strive by Art,  
and fond enticing strains,  
To bring poor youth to spend  
both substance, strength, & veins:  
What sickness follows lust?  
what poverty brings that?  
I have no cause to know,  

but yet I Smell a Rat.    

When gulls and gooscaps find,  
the vildness of expense:  
How penitent their mind,  
will grow for that offence:  
But folly to such men,  
doth show them what is what:  
I speak not all I know,  

but still I Smell a Rat.    

To see a Whore fall sick,  
why 'tis a common thing:  
A Hakney soon will tyre,  
doth too much burden bring:  
Beside, an inward grief  
may be the cause of that,  
Let Surgeons lend relief:  

for faith I Smell a Rat.    

When Seigneur Roman T,  
did go upright and strait:  
He crumples in the hams,  
so great's his body's weight:  
Nay stradles twice as wide,  
what is the cause of that?  
There's something bars his stride  

in troth I Smell a Rat.    

Why grows your Bawds so big,  
when Panders prove so lean:  
When they were young they swelled  
and ne'er will fall again:  
The Panders swift on foot,  
and so keeps down his fat,  
By bringing some unto't:  

in troth I Smell a Rat.    

When Officers let slip  
to punish such as these:  
Pray where doth justice sit,  
or rails she when she please:  
It may be she is bribed,  
and so kept blind by that:  
Else none of these could thrive,  

in troth I Smell a Rat.    

When sin strives to surcease,  
and folly flies away:  
Where love and lasting peace,  
will make a glorious day:  
When England harboures none,  
that bears the name of Whore,  
The Rat will run away,  
and I shall Smell no more.    
FINIS.   

Printed at London for Henry Gossen