THE FVRIES. WITH VERTVES ENCOMIVM.  
OR, The image of Honour.  
In two books of epigrams, satirical and Encomiasticke.  
By R. N.  
Virtus est, vitium fugere.  

thou SHALT labour FOR   seal  
LONDON, Printed by William Stansby. 1614.   

TO THE RIGHT worshipful and generous disposed( follower of virtue and favourer of learning) Sir timothy THORNHIL Knight.  

MY Muse infor'st by Fortunes first extreme,  
To leave the Eden of my souls desire,  
Which Isis waters with her silver stream,   

unto my native Thames did back retire;  
Where maz'd to see so many various shapes,  
Of wanton 'vice, the Furies she doth raise  
With snaky whips to scourge such idle Apes,   

But least she prove to weak in these essays  
( Faire Plant of hope) some branch of safety yield,  
Vpon the which my forlor●e Muse may light,  
And if for virtues s●ke you deign to shield,  
Her poor endeavours 'gainst the powr'e of spite;   

More pleasing numbers, she too light shall bring,  
Though hoarse with grief, she now can hardly sing.   
Your juleps humbly devoted R. N.   

To the Reader.  
MAny idle humorists, whose singularity allows nothing good, that is common, in this frantik age, esteem of verses vpon which the vulgar in a Stationers Shop, hath once breathed as of a piece of infection, in whose fine fingers no papers are wholesome, but such, as pass by private manuscription; Others because to many impudent Poetasters, that can scarce red a Verse, do daily pester the Printers press with their paltries, will without trial, either for dislike of the title, distaste of the Authors name, or some such idle scruple, censure any mans endeavours with: Qui nescit, versus tamen audet fingere; For the first of these, I leave them to the curious conceits of the close Cabinet: the last I would haue to know, that Hic nihil inuitâ dicam, faciamue Mineruâ. To him, who out of a seeming severity, distastes all things, that savour not of grauite, and says epigrams are toys unworthy either his expense of time or suspense of opinion. I answer, & in ipso ioco, aliquid probi ingenij lumen eluceat; Yet I confess, these to bee Epigrams and but slight; in placing of which, for that I observe no method or order, if his austerity, out of ignorance, do cavil with me, I refer him to the Prince of all writers in this kind Val. Martialis. I desire the impartial Reader, to know, that for the follies of such and the like, I here invocate the Furies, who in the first part of this Pamphlet, alternatly succeed in the scourge of vanity; to the last part I refer you in his proper place, wishing all vertu●us Gentlewomen, either to pass over my Furies, as impertinent to their sex or mildly to ce●sure, or at le●st not misco●strue my intent: if question be made, why I make three parts of the first part, and but one of the last; because the best of us hath three partes of 'vice, for one of virtue, bre●fly I crave▪ but that the simplicity of my intent may be free from the malignity of interpretation, in all other things I submit myself to censure.   

THE FVRIES.  

EPIG. I. In Authoris intentionem.  
NO man be captious, my advice prevent him,  
Who first excepts, my Furies, will torment him;  
Yet they from guilt of private grudge are free,  
No man; but 'vice in man is taxed by me;  
None of my lines, detraction doth compose,  
To make men laugh, I play with no mans nose:  
Nor do I scandal any great mans name,  
So to lose liberty for idle famed.  
brief, not obscure, plain: yet obscoene I writ not,  
Pleasant, not wanton, sharp and yet I bite not.   

EPIG. II. Ad Poetarum nomine dignos.  
WIts rarest wonders, men of most import,  
Of all the skilful clerk in Natures Court)  
Let 〈…〉 I show them,  
That 〈…〉 may the better know them,  
The strain, which my Satyrique Muse doth sing,  
Fits not the pinion of an Eagles wing;  
Excuse me then, if that these lines be loose,  
The pen was but the pinion of a Goose.   

EPIG. III. Ad Lectorem mas.  
REader) the Furies, if thou faultless bee,  
Bid thee not vntrust, they wip not thee;  
If thou be faulty, let it not offend thee,  
here to untruss; this whipping may amend thee.   

EPIG. IIII. Ad Lectorem foem.  
THe Furies, by your fingers dainty touch,  
do know your gentle sex, and marvell much  
You'll come in danger of their ierking rhymes,  
Perhaps they thought to pass your petty crimes,  
In hope your faire would bring forth no foul dead;  
Yet in faire fruit, since worms do soonest breed,  
They bid that you yourselves with patience arm,  
A little whipping will do you no harm.   

EPIG. V. Ad Librum.  
LEt not his dreadful censure fearful make thee,  
Who scarce can red; yet in his hand will take thee,  
And with an humorous humh, a nod, a no,  
Will say this slight, this scurvy, this so so.  
Nor his, who reading thee with eyebrows knit,  
Contracting to his brain the whole worlds wit,  
As out of deeper iudgment thee disdaining,  
Will cast thee down, and leave thee thus complaining,  
Tush't hath no pith, tis harsh and yet to plain,  
I loathe these lines, that savour not of brain;  
fear neither these, nor partially spare those,  
Whom to the Furies whips thou canst expose,  
What can they do; thou doing my desire?  
They can but cast my rod into the fire.    

allecto.  

THE FVRIES.  

EPIG. VI. Ad allecto.  
COme sad allecto leave thy dismal cell,  
And bring thy s●ake-heard sisters up from hell,  
First take thy turn, doubt not the want of work,  
I will present thee thousand sins to jerk;  
But be no partial fury, do not spare  
This man for wealth, that woman for her fare,  
This guile for cheer, th●t fool for his fine clothes;  
This for his looks, that other for his oaths;  
jerk general sin, that it may here be seen,  
allecto scourges none for private spleen.   

EPIG. VII. In Syrenem.  
T'is strange to see a mermaid, you will say,  
Yet not so strange, as that I saw to day,  
One part of that which' boue the waters rise.  
Is woman, th' other fish, or fishers lies.  
One part of this was man or I mistook,  
The other woman, for I pray( sirs) look,  
The head is mans, I judge by hat and hair,  
And by the band and doublet it doth wear,  
The body should be mans, what doth it need?  
Had it a codpeice, 'twere a man indeed.   

EPIG. VIII. In Caluionem.  
SIr Calui●es hair did  shed not long ago,  
And on his head grew thin; but will you know,  
How 'tis of late so thick and comely grown,  
Why, he but mocks the world, 'tis not his own,  
To women he gave his, then is it strange,  
If he wear theirs? no, 'tis an honest change.   

EPIG. IX. In pecuniae penuriam.  
MOne I for money, is the common cry;  
Yet young and old men both can tell you why,  
When man is young, he spends vpon his pleasures,  
When man is old, he hoards up golden treasures,  
Out of the young mans school of venery  
The old man learns his art of usury;  
Then in each age, since money first was known;  
This is the cause that men for money mone,  
young men do spend all; therefore young men want,  
Old men do hoard all: therefore moneys scant.   

EPIG. X. In Fabium.  
BEhold the little great man, Fabius comes,  
little in wit and great in wealthy sums;  
But why doth wealthy Fabius walk alone,  
When many men for service make such mone,  
That the west gate of Paules great Ile( poor hearts)  
In paper daily speaks their better parts?  
T'is said, his legs that garter-loaded reels,  
And very shooe-ties fright men from his heels,  
This then the cause Paules gate for service begs,  
Fabius wears servingmen vpon his legs.   

EPIG. XI. In artem, fortunam,& ignorantiam.  
WHen Fortune fel on sleep,& hate did blind her,  
Art Fortune lost, and ignorance did find her,  
Since when dull ignorance with Fortunes store,  
Hath been enriched, and Art hath still been poor.   

EPIG. XII. In Vertumnum.  
STay( my Vertumnus) whether dost thou go,  
To thy chast Mistris, whose true heart doth know.  
No love but thine? O fool to think that shee  
Will keep from others; what she gives to thee,  
Here could I tel thee of her strange desire,  
he tricks to set the coldest hearts on fire,  
But least by laying open such foul crimes,  
I rather seem to teach, then ch●cke the times.  
Know this, the best, that is, or' ere hath been  
Of common women is no better then  
Such common things, at which( pho stop thy nose  
Each french-sicke stalion may put down his—   

EPIG. XIII. In Romam.  
HAte& debate, Rome through the world hath spread,  
Yet Roma Amor is, if backward red;  
Then' ist not strange Rome hate should foster? no,  
For out of back-ward love, all hate doth grow.   

EPIG. XIIII. In Curionem.  
TIs said, when Rusus Englands King did reign,  
When unto him a seruant of his tr●●e  
A pair of stockings of a mark d●d brin●●  
That then he said, why these are for a King;  
But lived he now, to see sir Curio hold  
Both wol'en, iersie, si●ke, all slite but gold;  
What then' I think, his crown, if he were here  
Should stil be gold, his stockings woollen were;  
Why then are Curioes legs with gold ore spread?  
I think, because, he hath a woollen head.   

EPIG. XV. In Ebrionem.  
SEE where Don Ebrio like a Dutchman goes,  
Yet drunk with English Ale, one would suppose,  
That he would shoulder down each door and wall;  
But they must stand, or he( poor fool) must fall,  
Well home at length he comes and on his bed,  
He lays him down to rest his drink-drownd-head.  
But in the morn, the drunken feuor past,  
Waking he feels his pocket all in hast,  
And finding there no penny of that store  
Which in his purse, he had, the night before,  
unto himself then soberly alone,  
He softly sighs, and says his moni's gone.   

EPIG. XVI. In Amorem.  
love hath two diuers wings, as louers say;  
Thou following him, with one, he flies away,  
With th'other, if thou fly, he follows thee;  
Therefore the last, love only use for me.   

EPIG. XVII. In Odoriferum.  
GReat Alexanders body, which is strange,  
perfumed his clothes, as oft, as he did change:  
But Odorifero says, that's nothing rare,  
In every place he comes, into the air  
His body all about sweet odours throws,  
Nay more, he sweats pure civet as he goes,  
Yet you shal find, uncase him to the skin,  
Though he smell sweet without he—.   

EPIG. XVIII. In Critticum.  
SOme critic in a spleen, himself far prouder  
Will ask, why Gentlewomen with sweet powder  
Sprinkle their hair; but pray, let me alone,  
Ile answer him, this hair not being their own,  
But combings bought, might peradventure be  
Of some unwholesome head, thus then you see,  
Why women use this odiferous dust;  
Let critics then be dumb, their cause is just.   

EPIG. XIX. In Procos.  
WHo woes a wife, thinks wedded men do know  
The only true content, I think not so,  
If woe in wooers be that women court,  
As the word woe, in wooers doth import  
And woe in women too, that courted bee,  
As the word woe, in women we do see,  
I think 'tis better led a single life;  
Then with this double woe, to woe a wife.   

EPIG. XX.  
A poor neglected scholar, whose chief good  
Was all he bore about him, understood  
A friend of his, to be in such a place,  
To whom he went, who gave him kind embrace,  
And spake his worth, entreating all his friends  
To do the like, to which all condiscends,  
Except one called All out sides, who will pass  
The streets with none, but some silke-grogten ass,  
And he in anger, after many oaths,  
( For he could swear) bad him get better clothes  
Then come to them again, adding this scoff,  
The schollers stuff is like, stand farther off,  
Thus ignorant All out sides thinks of arts,  
The tailor now gives man his better parts.   

EPIG. XXI. In Lenam.  
LEna being young could never haue her fill  
Of loues sweet sour: now old, she loues it still;  
And therefore young, of young men she took gold,  
That she might give to young men, being old.   

EPIG. XXII. In Fuscum.  
FVscus is turned a Player; for in rage,  
He lately left his function for the stage;  
In hope to out-act Roscius in a scene,  
In care of which, the fellow's grown so lean,  
That all men pity him; but Fuscus know,  
Players do now as plentifully grow,  
As spawn of Frogs in March; yet evermore  
The great devour the less; be wise therefore,  
Procure thou some commendatory letter  
For the Burthmothos, 'tis a course far better.   

EPIG. XXIII.  
WOmen think women, far more constant bee,  
Then we men, and the letter O we see  
In women, not in we men, as they say,  
Figures earths constant orb, we men say, nay,  
It means the Moon, which proves, none think it strange  
Women are constant and most true in—.   

EPIG. XXIIII.  
twice twenty dayes of lamentable lent,  
Why goes All Colours like a mal-content.  
Clad all in black, some think thereby to show,  
His sorrow for his sins, tush, 'tis not so,  
Flesh then forbidden, his all sable back,  
mourns for his belly forty dayes in black.   

EPIG. XXV. In Malbellam.  
MIstris Malbella bears away the bell,  
And doth more holland, lawn and cambric sell,  
Then all her neighbours, not because her stall  
shows better ware, or boyes do louder call,  
What lack ye Gentlemen? but for her faire  
Is far preferred before their better ware;  
For no spur-gingle gentle Paphian Knight,  
walks by her sent-sweet shop for his delight,  
Will pass, if shee be object of his eye,  
She absent, boyes may say, what will you buy?  
What lack you? but in vain, money appears not,  
Gallants are deaf, custom goes by and hears not,  
No ware's there vendible, or worth a rush,  
Except Malbella be the ivy bush.   

EPIG. XXVI. In Drusum& Furionem.  
FVrio would fight with Drusus in the field,  
Because the straw stout Drusus will not yield,  
On which their Mistris trod, they both did meet,  
Drusus in fight fell dead at Furioes feet;  
One had the straw, but with it this greek letter, ח  
The other lost it, pray, who had the better?   

EPIG. XXVII. In Battum.  
BAttus chief Mimmicke of the times quaint Apes,  
Who shifts not shirts, more oft, then he doth shapes,  
Frequents great states and vainly doth surmise,  
That 'mongst faire Ladies, he's reputed wise,  
But as the cask, hath ever noted been  
To sound most, having only air within,  
So thou art known, although thou seemest gay,  
decked with an others plumes; but painted jay,  
If they were plucked away, thou wouldst haue none,  
And my sic vos non vobis would be known.   

EPIG. XXVIII. In Priscum.  
'mongst the Monopolists on Londons burse,  
Priscus was ta'en for cutting of a purse,  
And being reuild', made this bold question, why,  
Are these Monopolists excused, since I  
Did cut but one mans purse, why they cut all?  
But thus we see, the weakest goes to'th wall?   

EPIG. XXIX. In Curuum detractatorem.  
CUruus thou saist, that I do our-like look,  
That fawnes on men, when I do give a book,  
But Curuus asse-like thou, hast not the wit  
To understand, much less to censure it,  
Else thou woul'st know, each book I give's a bone  
For such cursed cutres, as thee to gnaw vpon,   

EPIG. XXX. To the same right worshipful Sir timothy Thornhill.  
MY Muse cast off, at good hap first did fly,  
On wings of Hope, good hap did soare to high;  
But when my Muse too feeble was of wing  
I thought to whistle her off; but late did spring  
A meaner chance, at that I made my game;  
But whether at the fource she took the same,  
Or in the ramage no performance made,  
I know not well, good hope still gives her aid,  
Yet stil I doubt, but, gentle Sir, read on,  
This cannot be discussed, while you haue done.     

Tisiphone.  

TO THE LEARNED AND virtuous Gentleman my worshipful good friend Master Christopher Osborne.  

THe scourge of Carthage and Augustus were  
Two pillars of great Rome and taught her how  
To make the World beneath her Empire bow;  
Yet they sometimes would state affairs forbear   

Their Enius and their Maroes Musae to hear,  
Whose tuneful verse did smooth cares ruged brow;  
Which custom since those Worthies did allow.  
Be pleased( Sir) to lend a gentle ear   

unto my Muse, and cease some little space  
From serious studies worthy precious time,  
To gravest readers verse is no disgrace,   

Good wits reap good by reading idle rhyme,  
But smile on these with gentle entertain,  
And they perhaps will cause you smile again.    

THE FVRIES.  

EPIG. I. Ad Lectorem.  
IF that you please red on; yet read not one,  
Nor two, nor three, but all, else pray red none.   

EPIG. II. Ad Tisiphonem.  
NIghts second birth by th' Acherontike Lake,  
Who from the scourge of sin thy name dost take,  
up, for thou hast not on Cocytus strand,  
More cause to shake thy ever burning brand  
Against the giant brood of sin, then here,  
observe them well, Ile cause them to appear;  
But scourge them so that this report may pass,  
Tisiphone no partial fury was.   

EPIG. III.  
WHat haue we here? a Citie-Dame? sure no,  
'tis loues own Iris, or she should be so.  
How daintily the rainbow round dispread  
under her light-Scotch hat becomes her her head,  
It is a sign the weather will be faire,  
To the new walks, she is gone to take the air:  
But at that little gate how gets she out,  
Her head with such a compass archt about?  
With much ado; therefore these dames desire  
Great London will build little Moregate higher.   

EPIG. IIII.  
STand by my Masters, will ye be o'er run?  
See yonder comes the Chariot of the sun,  
How the fierce Horses! soame the coach-wheeles mount!  
He drives like Phaeton: 'tis some great Count,  
Tush, quoth another, you mistake, inquire;  
And you shal find your Count some pippen-squire:  
His living is but small; yet must he haue.  
His horse and coach, and he himself go brave.  
But what maintains it? miss you not his men?  
See you his liveries? where are they then?  
In his horse mouths, the men are all confined:  
And with their Liueties his coach is lined.   

EPIG. V. In Durum.  
A Friend of Durus coming on a day  
To visit him, finding the doors say nay  
Being locked fast up, first knocked and then did pause,  
As Lord haue mercy on's had been the cause;  
But missing it, he asked a neighbour by,  
When the rich Durus doors were locked and why?  
He said it was a custom grown of late,  
At dinner time to lock your great mans gate.  
Durus poor friend admired, and thought the door  
Was not for state locked up; but 'gainst the poor:  
And thence departing empty of good cheer  
Said, Lord haue mercy on us is not here.   

EPIG. VI. In Aquilam Romanam.  
THat Eagles yet saved Rome 'twas never known:  
Then in Romes ensign, why is th' Eagle shown?  
Yet Rome by goose, once free from thrall was set:  
Then why doth thankless Rome the goose forget?   

EPIG. VII. In Gurmundum.  
THe fat Gurmundo, great Idolater,  
His belie before his God doth far prefer,  
His dear loved Idol is his stomach, that  
In private eats up so much flesh and fat,  
And his oblation common at that shrine  
Is a fat Capon and a cup of wine,  
Boyes laugh to see him wallow in the street  
His Capon-fatted paunch over his feet  
hangs cistern like, and as 'tis said he swears,  
He hath not seen the cock this many yeares;  
Then hapless thou that are Gurmundoes hen,  
And all that suffer under such fat men.   

EPIG. VIII. In Liuiam.  
NOw lite-heel'd Liuia, whether trip it you,  
unto the shop again! pray, tel me true?  
Will not that gallant sit from whom you came,  
Buy that set ruff this morn, sent by your dame?  
He will not, well, although he doth not care  
For your dames Laundrie; yet he loues your ware.   

EPIG. IX. In Basiliscum.  
SUburbian Basiliscus in his looks  
bears signs of death, his eyes are murders books.  
But what's the cause he lately goes so trim?  
He keeps a Trul, or rather she keeps him,  
What is his function? or what hath he been,  
A man of arms? no, but of harms, what then?  
Some style him captain for that bloody dead,  
When with his blade he made his friends heart bleed;  
But in true valour know, no man is poorer,  
He is no captain but a turn-bull roarer.   

EPIG. X. In Blasum.  
NOr gold, nor silver is in Blaesus purse,  
Nor hath he any credit, which is worse;  
Yet those gilded spurs, which Blasus bootes adorn,  
says Blaesus at his heels rich gold doth scorn.   

EPIG. XI. In Pontiam.  
A Friend of mine with a love feuor taken  
To the faire rose-cheekt Pontia, and forsaken,  
Did wish that I with mine own eyes would prove  
If any could dislike, what he did love,  
I did, and as he said, for face and feature,  
Pontia at first did seem an heavenly Creature;  
But strange to tel, this gold was copper gilded,  
coming abroad, her beauty all was spilled,  
blown from her cheeks by the blind garlic man;  
Then looked she like deaths picture pale and wan,  
My friend admired; but I did show the reason:  
Though to such beauties, I do know 'twas treason,  
Yet they know well, that any Fust●lugges  
May buy such beauty in a shop of drugs;  
Then courage friend quoth I for six pence cost,  
Thy best beloved may buy, what she hath lost;  
With that loues feuor left him and he swore  
Rather then love such drugs, he'd love a—.   

EPIG. XII. In marittimos.  
SOme say, that Sea men, more then land men love.  
Fond Venus sports, and thus their saying prove,  
Since Venus self came of the Seas light froth  
Sea men are Venerists, and to say troth,  
If as tis said, the Seas light Venus bore,  
Sea men do smell of Venus on the shore.   

EPIG. XIII. In Hillum.  
MOor fields no more, shal now be Moor fields called,  
Hilliu well red before the same were wal'd;  
Seeing the plough go there did call to mind  
A certain prophesy, which he did find  
In Merlin, which he said, then came to pass,  
believe it you that like it, this, it was:  
When one whole year a Holiday shall last,  
Moore fields shall ploughed be the ditch new cast,  
If this be true and as all men do talk,  
Their's on a holiday scarce room to walk,  
Or if Hill ly'de; yet since the sense is true,  
London may well give holiday his due.   

EPIG. XIIII.  
FEw gallants lately will, nor is it strange,  
bargain for needments in the new Exchange;  
For on the strand, the new stands bleak and could,  
And they are hot in credit with the old.   

EPIG. XV. In Lasconem.  
HOt-liue'rd Lasco with loues longing itches,  
But what's the cause since he both young and rich is,  
That whom he woes, he wines not? I do smell it,  
And Lasco be not angry if I tell it,  
Thy face well featured is, so is thy nose  
Though somewhat crimson, which thou dost suppose  
With Campher daily daubing to amend;  
But know this drug was never louers friend  
Then, when to maids or widows thou art going  
leave it, the smell of it doth spoil thy wooing.   

EPIG. XVI. In Orgum.  
ORgus loues learning, yes, and will prefer it,  
vows his assistance, true, I do aver it;  
Yet this I know, the mark, at which he shoot;  
Is but to make learning make clean his boots.   

EPIG. XVII. In Neponem.  
NEpo that pays his hostess by post scoring,  
And hath spent all to learn the art of roaring,  
Would be observed: his qualities are many:  
drink he can stiffly, bandy oaths with any,  
Tel tales of blood and wounds, roar, fight and stab,  
look big, speak bombast, dally with a drab.  
All these good parts and more then these hath he;  
Yet wants what he deserves: but Nepo be  
A good prosicient in them, and outrun  
Thy fellow roarers, as thou hast begun,  
And thou before them al mayst haue this hap,  
To crown thy head with Stories corner cap.   

EPIG. XVIII.  
love as 'tis said, doth work with such strange tools,  
That he can make fools wise men, wise men fools.  
Then happy I! for being nor fool, nor wise;  
love with his toys and tools I shall d●spise,   

EPIG. XIX.  
WHat Don past by us with such compliment?  
observed you not his strange a coutrement?  
His deep, set holland ruff so high preferred  
above his chin, did hid his picked beard:  
His cuffs about the tist of either hand,  
Were both as large and deep as any band  
about mean mens necks: and as the fashion's now  
A sugar loaf did crown his brain-sick brow.  
His sleeve unto his arm sat close and scant,  
As if his country English wool did want,  
And wantonly he wore his desperate spit.  
In brief, for fashion, compliment and wit,  
The man so like a stranger did appear,  
I knew not whence he was; till drawing near,  
I found by his short cloaks new Spanish scape,  
'twas Don Penechio, Spaines new English Ape.   

EPIG. XX.  
WHen fan and fardingale came to carovie  
milk with a milke-maid in a darie house,  
Good Lord( said she) the milk pale standing by  
Rather then bear such burdens I would die.  
Yet( Mistris) quoth the milke-maide, you can bear  
Vpon your head an Asses load of hear.   

EPIG. XXI. In Miluam.  
WHen Milua to disgrace me calls me Poet,  
Then Milua graces me and doth not know it;  
Fo Kings and Prophets Poets haue been styled.  
Then Milua, since thy envy is beguiled  
To grace me thus in thinking to abuse me,  
Still call me Poet and I will excuse thee.   

EPIG. XXII.  
IN tuneful accents of a doleful strain  
Old Verlams fall thus Colin did complain:  
Verlam I was: what boots it what I was  
Sith now I am but weeds and wasteful grass?  
But lined he now to see out towns each day  
Made coats for sheep: of them he thus might say,  
towns once we were: what boots it what we were  
Since nothing now but sheeps dung doth appear?  
Here's neither green of wasteful weeds or grass,  
Our wretched case is worse then Verlams was.   

EPIG. XXIII. In Malsanctum.  
beardless Malsanctus many do thee wrong,  
To think thee so devout, and yet so young.  
Dost go to lecturs? I commend thee for it:  
But wherefore? to what end? O I abhor it;  
To shoot thy darts from a lust-sparkling eye,  
Into the breast of some chast Susan by.  
leave it Malsanctus, mark how I aduise,  
leave not the Church, but leave this wicked guise.   

EPIG. XXIIII. In Popaam.  
TVrn-Bul Popaea to her healths annoy  
Made drunk at supper by a roaring boy,  
reels through the street: at which an elder Sage,  
Who never knew such custom in his age,  
Admiring said, I once, and, as I think,  
But once did see a man thus drowned in drink,  
But never woman. One that heard him use  
This sharp reproof, our women to excuse,  
Said, Sir, were this a woman that is drunk,  
'twere strange indeed; but 'tis not, 'tis a punk.   

EPIG. XXV. In Ocuum.  
THe worshipful Sir Ocuus deeds of pity  
Haue won him grace in country and in city.  
For the poor wife of many a man decayed  
Hath tasted his free bounty: and 'tis said  
He leads a single life, that he may give  
His alms to those, that poor, yet wedded live:  
But they that think this charity, mistake;  
For know 'tis only for the womans sake,  
That in her husbands house by Ocuus planting,  
The horn of plenty grows, and nothing's wanting.   

EPIG. XXVI. In Vindicem.  
foul is the bide, that will defile his nest;  
Yet Vindex worse then either bide or beast,  
All women monsters every where proclaims:  
Which to affirm the Stagirite he names,  
Who says they are imperfect Creatures all.  
Then what doth Vindex his own mother call?  
A monsterlyes; then this must currant pass,  
A monster woman bore a monstrous ass.   

EPIG. XXVII.  
SOme think, that naked virtue, which of yore  
Was seen in women, is now seen no more.  
I think not so: if ve tue naked be,  
In women, men, more virtue nere did see.  
For doubtless virtue being naked rests  
With much content in their all naked breasts.   

EPIG. XXVIII.  
MAny will say money will not increase  
In any poor mans purse, while we haue peace;  
But let such men complain on peace no more,  
I think our warres are hotter then before,  
For both in men and women, this is known,  
Surgeons ne're found more wounds to work vpon.   

EPIG. XXIX. In Syringam Panafugientem.  
FRom rugged Pan though lovely Syriux fled,  
Pretending so to save her maidenhead;  
Yet in the end the chaster nymph did stay  
To be the pipe, when Pan would please to play.   

EPIG. XXX. In Remum.  
REmus doth kick, because I rub the soare,  
rails at my labours, swears their fruit's all chore,  
And in his rage will writ against me too,  
As some suppose. I prithee Remus do:  
The idle Drone hummes louder then the Bee,  
Yet hath no sting. Can Remus then hurt me?     

Megera.  

TO THE worshipful AND worthy Gentleman, lover of Artes and Learning, Master THOMAS FISHER.  

HE that is more, then what he seems to bee,  
derives his worth from no such idle famed,  
As fashion only gives: that which we see  
Of golden vanity, is not the same  
Which it appears; and therefore I would find  
One that hath more then what bare fashion made,  
That might without partiality of mind  
Proceed to censure that which here is said.  
Then leaving those, whose worth on vain ●stent  
Of golden outsides only doth depend;  
To you( praiseworthy Sir) this part is meant.  
This fury to your censure I commend:   

In reading which, if you no profit gain,  
You shall at least find pleasure for your pain.    

THE FVRIES.  

EPIG. I. Ad Lectorem.  
TWo Furies you haue past; therefore be glad,  
And( Reader) yet if you no jerk haue had,  
Boldly red on: if virtue with you go,  
You may escape Megaeras whip I know.   

EPIG. II. Ad Megaeram.  
up thou third daughter of sad Acheron,  
Earth more then pale Auernus now doth groan  
Beneath hels tyrants, up then, take thy stand,  
Be ready with thy snaky scourge in hand  
To startle them: and as thou tak'st thy name  
From hate of ugly 'vice, now show the same,  
Spare none( dread Virgin) so men title thee,  
True Virgins never can corrupted bee.   

EPIG. III.  
BY chance I met a thing vpon the way,  
Which came from France at first as men did say:  
It feigned big looks, yet had a womans face;  
It stalkt it too, but with a womans place;  
And with a womans voice it squeakt out oaths;  
Had womans locks and looks, and womans clothes;  
Hat, band and bodies, periwig of hear,  
Excepting bootes and spurs, all womens wear.  
wondering I asked what 'twas: one, that did eye it.  
Said sir, a gallant, or the clothes bely it.  
M●sing, that womans wear should make a man,  
To question with this gallant I began:  
But faith I found him, both in act and speech  
Woman in every part, excepting breech.   

EPIG. IIII. In Pontiam.  
young Portia long locked up from sight of all  
By her old Beco, unto mind did call  
A witty wile, th' old Fox to cirumvent,  
And know her loved Parius whole intent.  
An aged Crone, that came with staff in hand  
Bone lace to sel, her mind did understand,  
And at the next return from Parius came  
With more bone-lace to sel, and in the same  
A letter wrapped, Pontias good man stood by,  
And asked his wife, which parcel pleased her eye:  
That with the horned peaks, said she. He bought it  
And with his own hand to his wife he wrought it,  
Thus jealous Beco bought, such was his hap,  
Bone lace with horns, to edge his own night-cap.   

EPIG. V. In Bibonem.  
IF ( Bibo) I do tax thee here at all,  
Good fellowes streight will swear my ink was gull.  
For while thy purse can show one cross of money,  
No fellow-friend of thine shall spend one penny:  
And when thou scarce canst sit vpon thy stool,  
Thou drinkest up all mens healths. But know O fool  
As if from friends thou wouldst win death by stealth,  
Th●u drinkest thine own disease to their good health:  
And for thy kind good will( kind hearted ass)  
When thou art dead, this Epitaph shall pass,  
Here Bibo lies, whose loss few now do mone,  
Though drinking to their healths he lost his own.   

EPIG. XI.  
DVI Doll but one eye hath, and with that one  
Sees more then many do with two. For none  
looks more asquint at others good, then she,  
She envies all, which that one eye doth see.  
But Doll, to be a Christian now begin:  
Put out that eye, or put away that sin.   

EPIG. VII. In Luponem.  
CHurch-chaffring Lupo is an honest man,  
Touch him with any fault no neighbour can,  
Yet six impropriate livings are his living;  
His shavings to the levite in his giuing  
Are pious deeds: and when rich Lupo writes  
The false sown seeds of his wives stolen delights,  
Sole heir to all these livings, when he dies;  
Yet still is wealthy Lvpo counted wise:  
For he did leave, but what he should haue done,  
Improper livings t'an Improper son.   

EPIG. VIII. In Pisonem.  
PIso t'his wife in all things doth accord,  
Except in this: He needs must be her Lord  
And she his slave. To prove it, he will draw  
His argument from God and natures law:  
He is the head, and she must be the foot.  
Good reason too. Then Piso urge her too't,  
Humble her well and make her stoop to thee,  
And thou perhaps in time all head mayst bee.   

EPIG. IX.  
WHich of the Sages order shall I keep;  
The one of which did laugh, the other weep  
To see my new made, Sir, who yet smells fresh  
Of lenten schools, even the first day that flesh  
May be alow'd, seize the precostris, and  
Out-acting famous Roscius with his hand  
give passport to his phrase applied unfit  
Coind in the mint of his own mother wit.  
But chaffie stalks of corn their heads do bear  
High and aloft, whereas the fuller ear  
bows humbly down: he works vpon this ground  
Who is not, yet to some may seem, profound,  
And little reading serve, if in this case,  
The books kind index bee his common place.  
But prithee ( Domine) take heed in time,  
Accept the counsel of my ruder time.  
'tis nere too late good actions to begin:  
The ass must lay aside his borrowed skin.  
back to Parnassus, read o'er wisdoms book,  
And let time give thy youth a graver look:  
Else here thy life and learning both are doomb'd,  
With thy young credit to be cradle-toomb'd.   

EPIG. X.  
ON earth physicians are as gods of health.  
O then, how happy is our Common-wealth,  
In which so many young physicians been,  
That they be gods, before that they be men!   

EPIG. XI. In Poeticam& paupertatem.  
Twixt poetry and poverty is found  
congruity in sense as well as sound.  
The cause is this: when poetry did aim  
Beyond blind fortunes flight to follow famed,  
Fortune took V. in poetry to place it  
Twixt O. and E. with R. so to disgrace it.  
But grammar did deny; then Fortune swore  
In spite of grammar Poets should be poor.   

EPIG. XII. In Tubrionem.  
TVbrio the termer, though a rustic ass,  
Will make the Court his fancies looking glass,  
And late a yellow band he carried down  
To make himself more noted in the town.  
On Sunday on he puts it, and, that all  
The Rustickes might behold his yellow fall,  
Loud jingling spurs he wore, to bid them stand  
And view the fashion of his yellow band.  
But Tubrio next time lay thy spurs aside;  
Thy boots were only seen, thy band not eyed.   

EPIG. XIII. In Amorem.  
love is a boy and subject to the rod  
Some say, but louers say he is a god.  
I think that love is neither god nor boy,  
But a mad brains imaginary toy.   

EPIG. XIIII. In Verrem.  
BLunt Verres meeting with me in the strand  
Said, God be praised, holding up his hand.  
Why friend, what is the matter, answered I:  
O sir said he, as I was passing by,  
Plutoes black Coach, for sure the Coach was his,  
From running over me did little miss.  
This fear of his I checked with some reproach,  
And asked him why he thought 'twas Plutoes Coach.  
four fiery horse, quoth he, which drew the same  
Few with it through the street like lightnings flamme:  
The driver sat before, necked like a Bu l,  
grim was his beard, his cap was like a skull,  
And with a whip, which in his hand he had,  
He laid about and lashed, as he were mad;  
Three Furies sate, Furies I think they were,  
Within the Coach, whose heads with grizly hear  
Were dressed, or rather vndrest, and withall  
toys like Medusas Snakes about did crall;  
Their yellow coloured b●nds, and strange attire,  
About their neck●s, appeared like wheels of fire,  
And on their cheeks, which glow'd with scarlet die,  
And paps made bare to every vulgar eye,  
black specks and pimpels here and there were seen  
As if their bodies had infected been.  
This was their fashion, thus all three were shapt,  
And glad I am that I from them escaped.  
At this I smiled, and bad my friend go look  
What these three were, whom he for Furies took.   

EPIG. XV. In Gracchum.  
GRacchus will swear all women are vnchast,  
Yet Gracchus thou I think a woman h●st  
unto thy mother, say then, what was shee?  
O you are silent now, well this must be;  
Or women all must be vnchast no more  
Or Grachus must be th' offspring of a—.   

EPIG. XVI.  
WIll you know how we English men excel  
All other Nations? every one can tell,  
Time and occasion out of all the rest,  
Hath doubtless made an English man the best.  
His head and neck are Spanish; for his hat  
And ruff unto the World can witness that.  
His back is french, clad in their court quaint weeds:  
His belly German; for with them he feeds:  
His breech Venetian, greedy in delight:  
His legs are dutch, that cannot go upright:  
He then I think is best, since all these can  
Hardly make up a perfect English man.   

EPIG. XVII.  
A Friend and I consorting on the way,  
In midst of Cheap vpon a working day,  
spied a faire painted picture, as we thought,  
Vpon a stall, set to be so●d and bought.  
But mark our gross mistake, when we drew near  
To view the same, it plainly did appear  
By knocking those light heels against the bench,  
'T was no dead picture, but a lively wench.   

EPIG. XVIII. In Lidiam.  
LIdia though village bread and meanly born,  
Yet made my Ladies Chamber-maide doth scorn  
Al but the Court, your city Sea-cole air  
Is foggy gross, and s●oile, her cheese green faire,  
She says that London d●mes are dull not wit●ie,  
Nor fancies she the fashions of th city:  
Therefore all city suitors woe in vain,  
The learned Courtier hardly may obtain  
Faire Lidias love, but wherefore? I can tell her,  
She loues his Lordships yeoman of the cellar.   

EPIG. XIX. In nigrum,  
I prithee Niger leave to play the Ape,  
In this quaint age, Chaucers misconstru'd jape  
Is not so sordid, as each common iest  
Which thou dost parbreake; thou art grown a guest  
Most cumbers●me to friends, thy jests are gull,  
Yet rather then loose one, thou'lt loose them all;  
But Niger take good heed, least with some friend,  
Thou iest away thy wit, too in th' end.   

EPIG. XX.  
IN time of peace, the wisemans counsel is,  
To practise martiall feats, and we in this,  
The garland to our English hans must yield:  
Who daily trains good fellowes for the field:  
The bloud-red lettuce tavern is the plot,  
Which for a campus Martius hans hath got;  
The Vintners ivy bush for these ●ffaires  
The ensign is, to which his men repairs  
His Drums and Fifes are Fiddles, Sagbuttes are  
His Trumpets; thus begins, his desperate war;  
five in a rank in stead of smaller shot  
Play with Tobacco Pipes, whose vapour hot  
Heating the head, hide all in clouds of smoke,  
Doth with high valour either side provoke;  
Then eagerly instead of Cannos roar,  
The pottle pots do thunder on the floare;  
Hanus bravely brings them on, pel-mel they close;  
Then on the board the bloud-like haviour flows,  
here one drops down an other there doth fall,  
here one as wounded, leans against the wall,  
But hans stil leader-like doth courage cry,  
Till they about him all ●ike dead men lye,  
And he in his own head now wo●nded sore,  
Is carried from the fight let none therefore  
Slight valiant hans, more men to death do yield  
In hans his battailes, then in Mars his field.   

EPIG. XXI. In Fortunam.  
' MOngsts ethnics Fortune was a deity,  
'Mongst Christians 'tis a gross impiety,  
To think it any power, if any ill  
betid a man, 'tis his his own wicked will  
Was cause of it; if any good, t'is known  
'tis from above: then Fortune there is none,  
'tis but a word of idle wits creation  
And favours fools but in imagination.   

EPIG. XXII. In nomen suum.  
RIch heart of Richard, as the Saxons say,  
Is th' etymology: an other way  
Is hard and rich. But some from this I fear,  
Hard to be Rich, the name of Richard bear.   

EPIG. XXIII. In Papam Rom.  
ROme calls her Bishop Papa, of a Father:  
We English call him Pope, of Popa rather.  
Popa a bloody Sacrificer is  
Or greedy glutton; therefore not amiss:  
Since he still sacrifices for our fall,  
A Pope, not Papa, Englishmen him call.   

EPIG. XXIIII.  
SOme the word wanton fetch, though with small skill,  
From those, that want one to effect their will,  
If so, I think that wantons there are none,  
For till the World want men, can they want one?   

EPIG. XXV.  
AMongst the pack of knaves, which is the chief;  
Your breaker, broker, usurer, or thief?  
I know, thta many men your thief will say;  
For in this age, your great rich wise man may  
break, yet be whole and complete as before:  
Whereas your thief, a thief is evermore.  
Thus from your thief the breaker th' odds must haue,  
To be your wise, rich, great and complete knave.   

EPIG. XXVI.  
FRom impure mouths, now many bear the name  
Of Puritan, yet merit not the same.  
This one shall only be my Puritan,  
That is a knave; yet seems an honest man.   

EPIG. XXVII.  
IS that great dead of Edgar, Englands glory,  
To be approved: who as we read in story  
Destroi'd this kingdoms wolves; because that they  
Deuour'd our sh●ep? sure yes: yet some say nay,  
Wishing we had no other wolves; for then  
wolves did eat sheep: but sheep now eat up men.   

EPIG. XXVIII.  
WOman mans shadow is, love is the sun,  
Now in the sun, if man his shadow shun;  
T● follows h●m: but if he follow it.  
It the● shu●● him and shows his want of wit.   

EPIG. XXIX. In mortis timorem.  
HOw base hath sin made man to fear the thing,  
That men call M●rs; which, yet hath lost all sting,  
And is but a privation, as we know,  
Nay i● no word, if we exempt the O.  
Then let good men the fear of it defy,  
All is but ò when they shall come to die.   

EPIG. XXX. In Scyllam.  
COy Scylla swears that she will never love me,  
rails at my times; and says, that she will prove me  
A traitor to the sex; yet none shall find,  
That I was ever false to woman kind,  
She says their secrets are disclosed by me,  
And so condemns me; yet in charity  
I should be quit, were women of my jury,  
Since 'twas in heat of blood, and writ in fury,    
Finis.   

VERTVES ENCOMIVM.  
OR, The image of Honour.  
Honor virtutis praemium.  

PRO LEGE REGE, ET GREGE  
LOVE keepeth THE LAWE, OBEYETH THE king, AND IS GOOD TO THE COMMEN wealth.   seal depicting a pelican feeding her young  
LONDON, Printed by William Stansby. 1614.   

TO THE MOST noble lady, the lady HONORIA HAY, wife to the right honourable the Lord HAY, sole daughter and heir to the right honourable the Lord DENNIE.  

THough( noble lady) in your Honors praise,  
Beneath the shadow of your favours wing  
A sweet silvester Nightingale doth sing:  
The graceful music, of whose heavenly lays,   

From times bests wits, now bears away the bay.  
Yet( Beauties best) since meanest birds, each Spring,  
To choicest ears some pleasing sounds do bring;  
Vouch safe to hear my Muse in her essays.   

Where urged by hope, though yet not free from doubt  
That once her sisters tears did favour find,  
Your Honours image here doth portrait out,   

As th' humble pledge of my true thankful mind.  
If that did err, I hope in this alone;  
Since Honours chief, this image is your own.   
Your Honours most humbly devoted R. N.   

To the Reader.  
GEntlewomen) this last and least part of my little labour, I consecrate to you, the image of whose honour, though so excellent, that like that part of the picture of Venus left to posterity by Apelles, takes away all hope of imitating the same; Yet to acquit myself of that madness, which the woman-hater doth endeavour to make mine, perhaps though more hastily then happily, I haue here cast off this image of Honour from the model of a woman, in honour of your sex. To answer those, that say, my pen drops gull against you in the first part, I desire you to know that my Furies touch none but those Apes of yours; such I mean, who making no difference betw●xt Swans and Geesse; because they haue both white feathers, imitate only your fashion not your virtues. If in what follows you find my style too harsh for so sweet a subject, my form too impolish for so faire an image, be pleased to know that I am limited to Epigrams, in which no pen can limb so faire a picture as your faire deserves; such as it is; if you respect it, I care not who reject it, for, I put myself under your protection.   

To the same right Honourable the lady Honoria Hay, &c.  

EPIG. I.  
virtues, wits, beauties, riches perfect Honour)  
Though my meek Muse to weak to take vpon her  
Vertues Encomium, t' Epigrams confined;  
Ye● being bound to honour women kind,  
And quit herself of late imputed blame,  
Doth near pres●me to use your Honours name,  
That women-hating madmen, that of late  
Haue lost their wits; yet still retain their hate,  
By lo●king on you image, may restore  
Then little wits and so be mad no more.   

EPIG. II. Apoll.  
HOnour is masculine grammarians say,  
Nor by a woman portrait here I may  
Honours true image: yet the virtues all  
Are feminine and Honour needs must fall  
If virtue failes 'tis virtues chief reward;  
Then women in this feminine regard,  
Since all the virtues do attend vpon her,  
I here present, for th' image of true Honour.   

EPIG. III. In templum Honoris.  
VPon a hill, whose height doth reach the stars,  
Honour hath raised her fane: true virtue bars  
The passage to the same, whose Temple stands  
In the mid-way. Without industrious hands,  
Things great and glorious no man may attain.  
He that will climb this hil to Honour● fane,  
First, like the mysterie-supporting ass,  
Through virtues temple must with patience pass.   

EPIG. IIII. In habitum Honoris.  
TImes Swan-white wings illustrate Honour wears,  
With which from earth she mounts unto the spheres:  
Truths azure robes are her immortal weeds,  
Painted with Fames bright star-made glorious deeds.  
They then that Honour seek by deeds of same,  
Through time and truth must first attempt the same.   

EPIG. V. Aeternitas. In Caput.  
A crown of Roses plucked by her own hand  
From Fames faire three, vpon her head doth stand  
Whose amber tresses flowing down thereby,  
seem golden ensigns of eternity.  
He then that gets a tramell of that hear,  
Or Rose, for pledge of Honours grace to wear,  
The gallant is, whom famed shall eternize.  
For Honours gifts are glorious in all eyes.   

EPIG. VI. Fides. In frontem.  
VPon that crystal table of delight  
The ivory front, Faith seems in open sight  
To sit in triumph with each heavenly grace,  
Nere masked, or hide beneath an other face:  
And as the lovely fronts rare formed feature  
Most beautifies that angel-like faire creature:  
So constant Faith more graces same-grac'd Honour,  
Then all the graces heaven bestows vpon her.   

EPIG. VII. Spes. In oculos.  
THe two star-twinckling twins, those lamps of light  
The bodies sentinels, so quick of sight  
Beneath her crystal brow, hopes wi●dowes are,  
Out of the which when danger and despa●e  
do threaten mischief, hope looks up at heaven,  
From whence for her dear sake all power is given,  
When sad despair doth fill the heart with fears  
In Honours eye, Hope most of all appears;   

EPIG. VIII. Charitas. In Buccas.  
VPon the cheeks, on which, as on a bed,  
Of snow-white ●illies Roses haue been  shed,  
Sits, charity and with the sweet delight  
Of cheerful looks, that feed the gazers sight,  
Where milk commixed with wine doth seem to flow,  
Her bounteous gifts doth cheerfully bestow;  
Not dead but living charity, that gives  
With cheerful countenance honoured ever lives.   

EPIG. IX. Prudentia. In labra.  
THe red-soft-s●lken lips, those leaves of Rose,  
Are the two doors of coral, that enclose  
The closet up, where prudence day and night  
Doth work vpon the honey of delight,  
The which the Muses thither bring with pain,  
And after poores it through those lips again,  
For Prudence self, herself doth honoured prove,  
When as those lips be stil, or else do move.   

EPIG. X. Iustitia. In dentes.  
THe teeth, those two even ranks of pearl do seem  
To be the place, which Iustice doth esteem,  
Who querne-like grinding not for their own food,  
So much as for the bodies common good,  
do daily work and though they daily wear,  
Yet in the public cause do not forbear,  
True iustice here on earth most Honour gains,  
When most for common good it suffers pains.   

EPIG. XI. Fortitudo. In collum.  
THe neck, more white then snow on mountain tops,  
As Fortitudes faire column vnderprops  
Her Globe-like head; which though but small in sight,  
With majesty still stately stands upright;  
If it do bow, 'tis but to grace the frame  
Which it supports: it never failes the same.  
Honour true Fortitude then most esteems,  
When Fortitude is more, then what it seems.   

EPIG. XII. Temperantia. In mamillas.  
THose twin-like pretty buds of crimson Rose,  
The dainty paps, you may compare to those  
Two springs of Temperance; which a little swelled,  
The milk of goodness moderately do yield  
To nurse the virtues: powring out no more  
Then will suffice, yet ever yielding store.  
This part of Honour Temperance doth choose:  
amid her store the golden mean to use.   

EPIG. XIII. Castitas. In Pectus.  
THe snow-white breast where virtue keeps the treasure  
Of golden thoughts, the garden is of pleasure,  
In which the flower of chastity doth sprout;  
Whose spreading leaves Honour laps up from doubt  
Of bitter blasts, and keeps them curiously  
From scorching of the suins loue-burning eye.  
Pure Chastities faire flower which doth grow  
In Honours bosom, makes the goodliest show.   

EPIG. XIIII. Pudicitia. In gremium.  
THe red-cheekt daughter of the blushing morn,  
Sweet modesty, of all the World forlorn,  
On Honours lap nursed up in safety lies,  
With unknown graces; hide from sight of spies:  
I think, except in Honours self alone,  
Modestie's more imagined then known.   

EPIG. XV. Concordia. In Manus.  
THose lily hands, when they with curious cunning  
do touch the Lute or Viol with swift running,  
Concord so sweetly, that to hear such sounds,  
winds would be stil and Seas would keep their bounds:  
And those five Champion brethren, that do stand  
As armed with ivory helms on either hand,  
To guard the body safe do all agree,  
When any harms by foes intended be.  
Concord in peace, a music is therefore;  
In war a safety honoured evermore.   

EPIG. XVI. Patientia. In Crura.  
PAtience of all the virtues and the Arts  
Is the main prop. And as those dainty parts  
The neat-proportioned pillars, that do bear  
The body with quick motions here and there,  
For comely shape, are the most graceful limbs:  
So gentle patience all the virtues dimmes.  
chief glory by true patience Honour gains:  
Patience alone the virtues all sustains.   

EPIG. XVII. Humilitas. In Pedes.  
LOw at the feet humility doth rest;  
Yet is a virtue equal to the best.  
As the feetes feature, those two pretty bases,  
That glorious creature woman no less graces,  
Then any part of all that goodly frame,  
Nor less doth please the eye that sees the same:  
So her humility, which here I place,  
Lowest of all with heauen's in highest grace.   

EPIG. XVIII.  
HE that shall ask, what reason I can show  
Why virtue should be feminine, may know,  
The faire Pandora, unto whom was given  
Each seu●●all virtue by the Gods of heaven,  
A woman was: who asks, what honour is,  
An Angel vpon earth and not amiss  
Let him suppose; else Honour let him take,  
For that Pandora, which the Gods did make.    

TO THE virtuous AND NOBLE LADY, THE LADY charity HOWARD, wife to the nobly-descended Sir Charles Howard Knight, second son to the right Honourable the earl of Notingham, &c. VERTVES ENCOMIVM.  

EPIG. XIX.  
GOod, gracious, virtuous, all I can pick forth,  
Are needless attributes t'explaine your worth.  
For( noll lady) your own proper name  
Vniuocally doth express the same.  
deign then, that I your charity may place  
amongst these few of virtues honoured race:  
And though I here, unfitly in rude rhymes,  
Present to you the labour of lost times;  
Yet at the least these children look vpon,  
The naked Graces, sure they be your own.  
This, lady, please to know, that they be three,  
And of true charity the children be.   

EPIG. XX. In Aglaiam.  
AS faire Aglaia is the first in birth,  
So is she first in bounty; and from mirth  
Or true delight derives her name: which shows,  
That what she gives, she cheerfully bestows.  
Naked she is, that we by her may see  
True benefits without imposture bee:  
Bathing in th' Acidalian spring she says,  
Who gives, must give for no reward or praise.  
Who these three properties conceives, must yield  
Aglaia be Charities own child.   

EPIG. XXI. In Thaliam.  
THalia is the next, a noble Grace,  
beloved of God and man, and takes her place  
At Bounties shrine there offering thankes and praise.  
For h●ting gross ingratitude, she says,  
From euer-flourishing, I take my name,  
That gifts in mind received, may, as the same,  
Be ever green; for unto charity  
Ingratitude is chiefest enemy.  
Therefore this name Thalia she did give,  
The second Grace, that grace might ever live.   

EPIG. XXII. In Euphrosynem.  
EVphrosyne is, though the last of three,  
A Grace not least beloved of charity,  
She's her delight, Euphrosyne therefore  
Shee calls her name: and as the first before  
gives cheerfully, the second thankfu●l takes,  
This third a double restitution makes.  
Since then these three true charity explain,  
To give, to take, and to restore again;  
The Graces t'all from charity say this,  
give, take, restore, and never do amiss.    

To the pattern of virtue and Paragon of beauty, the lady Margaret Smith, wife to the right worshipful Sir RICHARD SMITH.  

EPIG. XXIII.  
SInce Beauties faire strikes blind the eyes of those,  
That unto beauty are but seeming foes:  
Since virtue doth convince them being blind,  
That are but seeming foes to women kind:  
( mirror of beauty and of virtue both,)  
My humble Muse unknown, and therefore loth  
T' attempt your name, yet knowing well your worth,  
Meekly craves leave, that she may portrait forth  
Your beauty and your virtue; not to flatter,  
But to oppose't against our woman hater.  
For not so much your own worth, as in you  
The worth of women, I present to view:  
In whose defence your name shall stand in sight,  
Like Beauties pearl or virtues Margarite.  
Which to behold, please to reflect your eye  
Vpon these three, Vnus, unam, uni.   

EPIG. XXIIII. Vnus.  
ONe more then excellent, we know, did make  
One woman excellent, whom we may take  
To be the Margarite; and gave that woman  
The same which with the Margarite is common:  
beauty he gave to her. The Margarite:  
Excels all other things, for crystal bright:  
He gave the woman virtue to sustain  
That beauty given. Such virtue doth remain  
In this faire pearl or Margarite, that none  
'Mongst gems most precious of more w●rth is known.  
For which 'gainst envy, in all womens right,  
We may present the precious Margarite.   

EPIG. XXV. unam.  
ONe woman made was given to one man,  
Which in the Margarite wise nature can,  
And doth express. The woman men do honour,  
For those chast thoughts which do attend vpon her  
Affecting only one. The Margarite  
Doth never prosper being indiscrete,  
Or separated by itself alone:  
Which caused the Romans call it union.  
For which 'gainst envy here in womans right,  
We may present the precious Margarite.   

EPIG. XXVI. uni.  
TO one alone one woman thus was given,  
That man might take it, as a gift from heaven:  
And keep it ever with such care and love,  
That from it nothing should his heart remove.  
The precious Margarite all men do covet,  
And having gained it, do so dearly love it,  
No Coffer, Cabinet, can be so strong,  
As they do think to keep it safe from wrong,  
With men therefore let women haue this right,  
That every one may be a Margarite.    

TO THE MIRROR OF true constancy, the lady Elizabeth clear wise to the Noble Gentleman deceased Sir FRANCIS clear Knight.  

EPIG. XXVII.  
TRue perfect image of that ancient worth  
derived from parents at your happy birth  
Yet graced in mind with heauens more faire perfection:  
Grant that my Muse, who under your protection  
Englands Eliza once did safely sing,  
May in the rank of honoured women bring  
Your worthy self, that of your virtues clear  
To women-hating want-wits may appear.  
So, noble lady, shall my Muse go free  
From envies touch: for men in you shall see  
What some men say is wanting in your kind,  
In your faire clear such worth shall all men find,    

In obitum benignissimi omnique gratiarum genere cumulatissimi viri Francisci clear Militis, &c.  

EPIG. XXVIII.  
IF't be a virtue, speaking virtues praise,  
The sleeping virtues of the dead to raise,  
( virtues dead living mirror) leave I crave  
To ope the entrance to thy honoured grave.  
Cleros his name was given at his birth;  
For living, he was virtues heir on earth.  
Cleros his name to him still dead is given;  
For here though dead, he lives an heir in heaven.  
On earth his virtue's clear from envies blame:  
In heaven he shines a star clear as his name.    

TO THE virtuous AND MY ever honoured lady, the lady Margaret wrath, wife to the right Worshipfall Sir Thomas wrath, Knight.  

EPIG. XXIX.  
WIts second unto none, worths excellence)  
My pen obliged by that due reverence  
Iewe to you, craves leave by you to show.  
What honour to your sex all men do owe  
The sparkling gem, whose worth all men esteem,  
The precious pearl, which all men rich do deome,  
The dazie which men call the dayes delight,  
All three the Romans title Margarite.  
Much worth is in the gem, that bears that name,  
More worth in you that double bear the same:  
Rich is that pearl; but Rich is more your due:  
Faire is that flower, but far more faire are you:  
This may susfice, who seeks, in you shall find,  
All faire, Rich, Worth, in body name and mind.    

In obitum nobilissimi benignissimique viri nuper defuncti ROBERTI wrath Militis, &c.  

EPIG. XXX.  
WOrthes chief is dead, since worthy he is gone,  
Who of that name most worthy was alone;  
( ye poor and hungry all) his grave go find,  
That holds the body of so faire a mind.  
There sit ye down and sigh for bounty dead:  
bounty with that brave Knight to heaven is fled:  
Where since he came, heaven as it doth appear,  
Wanting a star to set by bounteous clear;  
In wrath did place the O before the R,  
And made it Worth, which since is made a star.    

To all virtuous Ladies and Gentlewomen.  

EPIG. XXXI.  
earths fairest figures of the Saints in heaven,  
T' whose angel-like rare beauties power is given,  
Their healths to dying men for to restore,  
And strike them dead, that had their healths before:  
give life unto these lines, with gracious view,  
Where though your Honours praises want their due;  
Yet Honours image your ensample be,  
And evermore be honoured of me.  
My Muse for virtue women shall adore:  
A modest Epigram can say no more.   
FINIS.