University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The Scourge of Folly

Consisting of satyricall Epigrams, And others in honour of many noble Persons and worthy friends, together, with a pleasant (though discordant) Descant upon most English Proverbs and others [by John Davies]
Davies, John (1565?-1618)

collapse section 
[section]
  
TO THE MOST Noble Theophilvs Lord WALDEN.
expand section 
Passages before the Booke.
collapse section 
[subsection]
 1. 
Epigram. 1. AGAINST SOSBIVS THE impudent Leacher, defending his sinne, and glorying in the same.
 2. 
Epig. 2. Against Dacus the pott-Poet.
 3. 
Epig. 3. Against Valentine the prodigall.
 4. 
Epig. 4. Against Glaucus, an effeminate Fancy.
 5. 
Epig. 5. Against painting Nut-browne Dalia.
 6. 
Epig. 6. Against Prusus the prating-sterile-bald Statist.
 7. 
Epig. 7. Against Leuisius that would haue his Laundresse wash him gratis.
 8. 
Epig. 8. Against Fuscus the vnciuill Lawier.
 9. 
Epig. 9. Against Battus that buyes Books to stay his studies stomack.
 10. 
Epig. 10. Against Rotundus the nimble Turner.
 11. 
Epig. 11. Against Sr. Solus his laying out on no returne.
 12. 
Epig. 12. With and against Siluarius the Translator.
 13. 
Epig. 13. Against Vlalia and her ouer-much desire of pretious stones.
 14. 
Epig. 14. Against hot-braind-cold-witted Battus.
 15. 
Epig. 15. Of Classus his sleeping at Sermons.
 16. 
Epig. 16. Against Lassus the rediculous quarreller.
 17. 
Epig. 17. Against gaudy-bragging-vndoughty Daccus.
 18. 
Epig. 18. Against proud poore Phrina.
 19. 
Epig. 19. Against bouzing Bossus the woman-queller.
 20. 
Epig. 20. Against Thraxus his close pastime.
 21. 
Epig. 21. Against Formias brauery and vncessant prating.
 22. 
Epig. 22. Of Kates Baldnesse.
 23. 
Epig. 23. Of hir exclamation against busie-Bodies.
 24. 
Epig. 24. Against an olde Fornicator.
 25. 
Epig. 25. Against the vice of Prudence.
 26. 
Epig. 26. Of wise fooles, or foolish wise men.
 27. 
Epig 27. Against Clophus the Time-obseruer.
 28. 
Epig. 28 Of Grantus his grosse wit and wombe.
 29. 
Epig. 29. Against licorish Florella.
 30. 
Epig. 30. To mine honored friend Sir Iames Murray Knight.
 31. 
Epig. 31. To my deere friend Io. Murray Esquire, brother to Sr. Iames, &c.
 32. 
Epig. 32. Against Graxus his vpholding his honor.
 33. 
Epig. 33. Against Phryne hir light-heauinesse.
 34. 
Epig. 34. Of Tobacco.
 35. 
Epig. 35. Against Marcus his fire-worke.
 36. 
Epig. 36. Authorities for Marcus his hate-full loue.
 37. 
Epig. 37. Against faint-harted bragging Bomelio.
 38. 
Epig. 38. Of Calistus.
 39. 
Epig. 39. Of Lutus his perfect taste.
 40. 
Epig. 40. Of Colunus his leafe on his shin.
 41. 
Epig. 41. Against Brutius his good Angells.
 42. 
Epig. 42. Of Crispus and his formall beard.
 43. 
Epig. 43. Of Dolls taking Tobacco.
 44. 
Epig. 44. Of Clophus his helpes in arguing.
  
TO THE NO LESSE STRANGE, then farre renowned Peregrine;
 45. 
Epig. 45. Of Starchus his stout standing to it.
 46. 
Epig. 46. Against Sotus the Vsurer.
 47. 
Epig. 47. Of Helens welcomming Paris.
 48. 
Epig. 48. Of Cornutus and his costly wife.
 49. 
Epig. 49. Of Cozius his free-cure.
 50. 
Epig. 50. Of Drusus his deere Deere-hunting.
 51. 
Epig. 51. Of Corax the Aduocate.
 52. 
Epig. 52. Against Caluisius his forgetfulnesse.
 53. 
Epig. 53. Against vnnaturall poets.
 54. 
Epig. 54. Of Guacus his wise Beard.
 55. 
Epig. 55. Of the kinde Heires of these vnkinde Times.
 56. 
Epig. 56. Of the strength of Cornutus his faith.
 57. 
Epig. 57. Against painted Pero.
 58. 
Epig. 58. Of Grantus his curtesie.
 59. 
Epig. 59. Against Afraniaes impudency.
 60. 
Epig. 60. Against Menus his Solitarinesse.
 61. 
Epig. 61. Of Psalmus the Alchymist.
 62. 
Epig. 62. Against Sophron his darke and dull writing.
 63. 
Epig. 63. Of Amphilocus fore-sight.
 64. 
Epig. 64. Of Anchurus his kindenesse to his country.
 65. 
Epig. 65. Of Gammer-Gurton her young Tooth.
 66. 
Epig. 66. Against Rufus his throwing at all.
 67. 
Epig. 67. Against Seruus his conformity.
 68. 
Epig. 68. Against Lawrentiaes lying.
 69. 
Epig. 69. Of bad Debters.
 70. 
Epig. 70. Against illigitimate Friscus the Comedian.
 71. 
Epig. 71. Of Perusius his loosenesse.
 72. 
Epig. 72. Against Pigmalions indiscretion.
 73. 
Epig. 73. Against affecting Andocides.
 74. 
Epig. 74. Of lasciuious Laurentia.
 75. 
Epig. 75. Of Alphinus the hard-head.
 76. 
Epig 76. Against Annas the great Tydings-bearer.
 77. 
Epig. 77. Againe.
 78. 
Epig. 78. Of Cæsars loue to Poets.
 79. 
Epig. 79. In praise of Sr. Henry and Sr. Phillip Sidney, Syre and Sonne deceased.
 80. 
Epig. 80. Against ouer-weening wit.
 81. 
Epig. 81. Against Iustice Clophinus his erronious position.
 82. 
Epig. 82. Of Tobacco.
 83. 
Epi. 83. Against amorous Andrugio.
 84. 
Epig. 84. Against Sardinius the leacher.
 87. 
Epi. 87.
 88. 
Epig. 88. Against iesting Iouius.
 89. 
Epig. 89. To the happy, as honorable, Sr. Robert Carre.
 90. 
Epig. 90.
 91. 
Epig. 91. Against subtill Philargus.
 92. 
Epig. 92. Against the great Swearer Mezentius.
 93. 
Epig. 93. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE, my very good Lord,Phillip , Earle of Mountgomerie.
 94. 
Epig. 94. To my much honored and euer remembred Lord, the Lord Hayes.
 95. 
Epig. 95. To the most acute and Learned, Sr. Iohn Constable Knight.
 96. 
Epig. 96. To the well-worded and ingenious Mr. Richard Marten of the middle Temple.
 97. 
Epig. 97. To the no lesse ingenious then ingenuous Mr. Iohn Dun.
 98. 
Epig. 98. Against Congius his Wit-stealing.
 99. 
Epig. 99. Against Fortune-tellers.
 100. 
Epig. 100. Of poore and proud Cordilio.
 101. 
Epig. 101. Against Gorgonius his Slouenry.
 54. 
Epig. 54. Of Brunus his smoothnesse.
 102. 
Epig. 102. Against pure Glaucus his impurity.
 103. 
Epig. 103. To my much honored, & beloued, Sr. Thomas Lucy Knight.
 104. 
Epig. 104. Against Luciaes variety.
 105. 
Epig. 105
 106. 
Epi. 106. To Mr. Tho. Bastard, and the Reader.
 107. 
Epig. 107. To the right Honorable, Henry Earle of Northumberland, in the Towre.
 108. 
Epig. 108. Of a Tobacco-taking Horse.
 109. 
Epig. 109. Against Grillus his greedy gluttony.
 110. 
Epig. 110. Of Sosbius his getting vnlike Children.
 111. 
Epig. 111. To mine honorable friend Sr. Richard Tracy Knight.
 112. 
Epig. 112. Against Collophus his couetous choyce of a wife.
 113. 
Epig. 113. Of Crocus burying his money.
 114. 
Epig. 114. Of the staid furious Poet Fucus.
 115. 
Epig. 115. Against Vsurers.
 116. 
Epig. 116. Of Grace, wit, and courage.
 117. 
Epig. 117. Of the aduancement of Learning.
 118. 
Epig. 118. Against Flaccus the great house-keeper.
 119. 
Epig. 119. Of the force of Venus, and power of Gold.
 120. 
Epig. 120. To the right well-accomplisht Knight, Sr. Thomas Coningesby.
 121. 
Epi. 121. A WELSHE IVSTICE OF PEACE (call'd Iustice Griffith) comming vp against a Tearme to London, dyed by the way in Oxford; a poore welsh Scholler sued to the Executors for a mourning Freeze-gowne, who being neglected by them, made this Libellous Epitaph on Iustice Griffith, and fixt it on St. Maries Church Gate in Oxford, as followeth.
 122. 
Epi. 122. The Authors reply being a welsh-man.
  
Corollary.
 123. 
Epig. 123. Against fighting Flaccus his lying too open.
 124. 
Epig. 124. To the worthy, ingenious and learned Knight, Sr. Iohn Harrington, translator of Ariosto.
 125. 
Epi. 125. ON THE TRAGICAL AND MOST vntimely deaths of Sir George Wharton Knight and Iames Steward Esquire; who slew each other in priuate single fight on Thursday being the ninth of Nouember. 1609.
 126. 
Epi. 126. An Epitaph vpon the death of the most noble Knight Sr. Thomas Gorge. decesing in March Anno salutis. 1610.
 127. 
Epi. 127. A TRAGICALL EPITAPHE ON the Death of Mr. Williams, and Mr. Gwinne; who (like two vndaunted Cæsars, or vnyeelding Cockes of the game) slue each other with many grizly wounds, in single fight in the Haywood, neere the Citty of Hereford; and lye buryed close together in the Minster Church, there.
 128. 
Epig. 128. On the death of the worthy Knight Sir William Browne, Knight of the Bathe.
expand section 
In contradiction of some Adages.
 143. 
Epig. 143. To the sole fast friend of Elbo-clokes, countnance of obsolete Buskins; & grace of veluet Day-capps; remarkable for mellowed wisedome abounding in his priuate-publike printed Poetry; and sententious Apothegmes at meales: Maister W. Clarke, attending without Processe, the Starre-chamber.
 144. 
Epig. 144. Of Brunus his iesting policie.
 145. 
Epig. 145. Of Bonosus the great Bowzer.
 146. 
Epig. 146. Of Milo the great eater, not long since, in Chester.
 147. 
Epig. 147. Against Mandrus the Vsurer.
 148. 
Epig. 148. Of Fumosus the great Tobaccanist.
 149. 
Epig. 149. To myne approoued, deere, and intirely beloued friend, Mr. Iohn Sanderson.
 150. 
Epig. 150. Against Cinnus the time-reprouer.
 151. 
Epig. 151. Of Motus his counterfetting.
 152. 
Epig. 152. Against Laliaes disguising her selfe, and her husband.
 153. 
Epig. 153 Of Maurus his sayling in the Fleete.
 154. 
Epi. 154. Of a Theefe hang'd by his Prey.
 155. 
Epi. 155. To my worthily disposed friend Mr. Sam: Daniell.
 156. 
Epi. 156. To my well accomplish'd friend Mr. Ben. Iohnson.
 157. 
Epi. 157. To my much esteemed Mr. Inego Iones, our English Zeuxis, and Vitruuius.
 158. 
Epig. 158. To my worthy kinde friend Mr. Isacke Simonds.
 159. 
Epig. 159. To our English Terence Mr. Will: Shake-speare.
 160. 
Epig. 160. To his most constant, though most vnknowne friend; No-body.
 161. 
Epig. 161. To my neere-deere wel-knowne friend; Some-body.
 162. 
Epig. 162. To my much regarded and approued good friend, Thomas Marbery Esquire.
 163. 
Epig. 163 To my right deere friend, approued for such, Iohn Panton Esquire.
 164. 
Epig. 164. To my most deere Pupill. Mr. Henry Maynwarring.
 165. 
Epig. 165. To my bloued friend Mr. Doctor Gwin.
 166. 
Epig. 166. Against the lasciuous harlot Citheris.
 167. 
Epig. 167. To my louing friend Stephen Boughton one of the gentlemen of his Maiesties Chappell.
 168. 
Epig. 168. Against the contentious knight Sr. Mordicus.
 169. 
Epig. 169. To my much honored friend Sr. Edmund Ashfield Knight.
 170. 
Epig. 170 To my right worthy friend, and truly generous gentle-man, Henry Sherley Esquire.
 171. 
Epig. 171. Of Iellaes Bruising-fall.
 172. 
Epig. 172. Against Mustolphus his lying.
 173. 
Epig. 173. Against impenitent Graxus.
 174. 
Epig. 174. Against long Lockes in Woers.
 175. 
Epig. 175. To my beloued right-well-deseruing friend Mr. Iohn Speed.
 176. 
Epig. 176. What a common Gamster is like.
 177. 
Epig. 177. Of Gallaes Prodigalitie.
 178. 
Epig. 178. To my approued fast friend Mr. Thomas Welsh of Mauncell-lacy.
 179. 
Epig. 179. Against lying Mustophus.
 180. 
Epi. 180. Against Aesop the Stage-player.
 181. 
Epig. 181. Of choosing a Wife.
 182. 
Epig. 182. Of Cheris his making of Faces.
 183. 
Epig. 183.
 184. 
Epig. 184. Against Women that weares locks like womanish men.
 184. 
Epig. 184.
 185. 
Epig. 185. To the deere & eternal memory of our renowned late English millitary-Knights and Chieftaines; Robert, Earle of Essex; Sir Phillip Sidney; Sir Iohn Norris; Sir Francis Vere; Earle of Deuonshire; Sir Roger Williams; Sir Thomas Baskeruile; Sir Edward Wingfield, and Sir Edvvard Norris, Englands nine Woorthies.
 186. 
Epi. 186. To the most noble, ingenious, and Vallerous Knight, Sir Iosselline Percy.
 187. 
Epig. 187.
 188. 
Epig. 188. Of bashfull men.
 189. 
Epig. 189. To the highly honored Earle of Ormond.
 190. 
Epig. 190. Against Ebriscus his desire of the best place in all Companyes.
 191. 
Epig. 191. To the wittily-pleasant, S. I. H.
 192. 
Epig. 192. Against Prusus the Simoniacke.
 193. 
Epig. 193.
 194. 
Epig. 194. To the most nobly-disposed Knight Sir Hugh Smith.
 195. 
Epig. 195. Against the baudy-Wittold Lotus.
 196. 
Epig. 196. Against proud crooked-shankt Lucius.
 197. 
Epig. 197. Against Rutilus his immoderate desire of Fame.
 198. 
Epig. 198. Against Rontaes base pride, light waight, and too much affected nicifinity.
 199. 
Epig. 199. Of taking Tobacco.
 200. 
Epi. 200. Against Laurentia's painted tawny face:
 201. 
Epig. 201. Against Mall. New. the Curtezan.
 202. 
Epig. 202. Against Grillus the Glutton.
 203. 
Epig. 203. To my highly valued friend Mr. William Hackwell of Lincolnes Inne, learned in the lawes.
 204. 
Epig. 204. To my worthily beloued Mr. William Alexander of Menstrie.
 205. 
Epig. 205. To the Roscius of these times, Mr. W. Ostler.
 206. 
Epig. 206. To the well deseruing Mr. Iohn Fletcher.
 207. 
Epig. 207. Of Flauus his stabbing his laundres to death.
 208. 
Epig. 208. To my worthy, and worthily beloued friend, Sir Edward Parrham, Knight.
 209. 
Epig. 209. A Simily betweene youth, and Tobacco-pipes.
 210. 
Epig. 210. Of ones mistaking a Mute for a Consonant:
 211. 
Epig. 211. To my worthy friend Iohn Poynes Esquire.
 212. 
Epig. 212. Against Nefarius his base and beastly carelesnes in his lechery.
 213. 
Epig. 213. To my much honored worthy friend Sir Oliuer Cheyny Knight.
 214. 
Epig. 214. In praise of a Bagg-pudding.
 215. 
Epig. 215. Of a Pen for a running hand.
 216. 
Epig. 216. Of the Schollers of Oxford and Cambridge.
 217. 
Epig. 217. To ingenious Mr. Iohn Marston.
 218. 
Epig. 218. To the ingenious Doctor, M. Ioseph Hall.
 221. 
Epig. 221. Of Clituis.
 222. 
Epi. 222. To the learned, ingenious, and valorous, Sir Edward Herbert of Mountgomery: Knight of the honorable order of the Bathe.
 223. 
Epig. 223. Againe.
 124. 
Epi. 124. Out of Martiall to Maximus.
 225. 
Epig. 225. Of Dormus.
 226. 
Epig. 226. To the true keepers of honesty.
 227. 
Epig. 227. To my worthy friend Mr. Henry Butler.
 288. 
Epig. 288. Of Clauis and his bed-fellow.
 289. 
Epig. 289. Of Sardonius his Deuotion.
 230. 
Epig. 230. Of Poliphemus his sight in Geometry.
 231. 
Epig. 231. Of Megs maruell.
 94. 
Epig. 94. Of Friscus his attachment.
 233. 
Epi. 233. Of Rombus his desire of equality.
 234. 
Epig. 234 Of Grobius the rich Grasier.
 235. 
Epig. 235. To my much honored, and sincerely beloued friend, Sir Francis Smith, Knight.
 136. 
Epig. 136. Against Tuballus his time-keeping in his ill rule keeping.
 237. 
Epig. 237. Of Gellus and Gellaes greatnesse one with another.
 238. 
Epig. 238. Against Brusus the Broker.
 239. 
Epig. 239. To a Gold-smiths most faire wife, that alwaies vseth to stand behinde the Deske in her Shop, because (perhaps) she would not make the sight of her so rich beauty too cheape.
 240. 
Epig. 240. To my worthy friend william Seager Esquire; Garter, principall King of Armes.
 241. 
Epig. 241. To my elected compotent Iudge of this my too busie idlenes, Mr. Iohn Chapperline.
 242. 
Epig. 242. To my kinde and ingenious Pupill, Mr. Henry Holcroft.
 243. 
Epig. 243. Against Pattulus the common-drunkard.
 244. 
Epi. 244. Againe.
 245. 
Epig. 245. Of Poets, and their Power.
 246. 
Epig 246. Against Lubus his indirect purchasing and greedy gathering.
 197. 
Epig. 197. Of hot Seruice.
 198. 
Epig. 198. Of the pure.
 299. 
Epig. 299. Of an Anarchy.
 250. 
Epig. 250. Against poore bragging Radagon.
 251. 
Epig. 251. Of my selfe.
 252. 
Epi. 252. Three Ierkes for this, but Iustice is.
 253. 
253 Againe.
 254. 
Epig. 254. Against a Wittold Broker.
 255. 
Epig. 255. Of my selfe.
 256. 
Epig. 256. Of crooked Women.
 257. 
Epig. 257. Against Sextus his misery.
 258. 
Epig. 258. To the rare Painter mine approoued friend, and good neighbor, M.r Row: Locky.
 259. 
Epig. 259. Against Classus the witles pratler.
 260. 
Epig. 260. Against proud as witles Draccus.
 261. 
Epig. 261. Against Glossus.
 262. 
Epig. 262. Against selfe-conceited praters in generall.
 263. 
Epig. 263. Against wordy Classus.
 264. 
Epig. 264 To my beloued friend Mr. Iohn Gough; Register to the Byshop of London.
 265. 
Epig. 265. Against craking Misarchus.
 266. 
Epig. 266. Against the insufficiencie of the Malt-Worme Rubus his bill.
 267. 
Epig. 267. Of Phrine her Witt and Will.
 268. 
Epig. 268. To mine honest kind friend Mr. H. H. contenting him selfe with a meane estate and trade of life. Perflant altissima venti.
 269. 
Epig. 269. Against Gripsus the griping Patrone.
 270. 
Epig. 270. Against Marcus his plaine-dealing.
 271. 
Epig. 271 To honest gamesome-Garret, at Court.
 272. 
Epi. 272. To my now kinde friend, Mr. Iohn Towne.
 273. 
Epig. 273. Of a proud lying Dyer.
 274. 
Epig. 274. Againe.
 275. 
Epig. 275. Againe.
 276. 
Epig. 276. Of my beeing put into the Kings high Subsedy-bookes.
 277. 
Epig. 277. Againe of the same.
 278. 
Epig. 278. Againe, of my selfe: and my Maid, call'd Grace.
 279. 
Epig. 279. To my deere wife Mistris M. D.
 280. 
Epig. 280. Againe.
 281. 
Epig. 281 To my louing, and deere mother, the Citty of Hereford.
 282. 
Epig. 282. Againe.
 283. 
Epig. 283. Againe, in condoling her case, beeing afflicted with the Plague.
 284. 
Epig. 284 To my much honored & intirely beloued friend, Sir Basill Brooke, Knight.
 285. 
Epig. 285. To my worthy friend Dudley Norton Esquire.
 276. 
Epig. 276. To mine approoued kinde frend and Scholler, Humfrey Bought on Esquire, one of his Maiesties gent. Pensioners.
 277. 
Epig. 277. To Fuluia, in Comfort of her heauinesse.
 278. 
Epig. 278. Against Flauius his vnconstancy, and promise-breaking.
 279. 
Epig. 279. Against ouer-weening worthlesse Florus.
 280. 
Epig. 280. To Mr. Thomas Bond, Secretary to my right honorable Lord, the Lord Chaunceller of England.
 291. 
Epig. 291. To my deere friend and Pupill, Mr. Henry Twiddy: an other of the same. &c
 292. 
Epig. 292. To my beloued friend Mr. Robert Sharpe.
 293. 
Epig. 293. To old Iohn Heywood the Epigrammatist, wheresoeuer.
expand section 
Vpon English Prouerbs.
expand section 
[To worthy Persons.]

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section The Scourge of Folly
next section

Epig. 80. Against ouer-weening wit.

If Wit would weene of what Wit (weening) might
It selfe be seeme, and (reasoning) reason right,
Happy were VVit, and happy were the Head,
VVhere such vncompast wit, is compassed.
Crowne, Murall, Nauall, and Emperiall,
Varied in glory supercelestiall.
Inuiron would those euer-blessed Browes,
Lasting as long as perfect knowledge knowes.
Men-gods, Gods men, Gods good men, good Gods men
(In tearmelesse Time) they tearmd, and should be then,
VVorlde-blessing Creatures, Creatures like Creator,
38

Herralds of heauen to blaze the Armes of Nature:
But Wit, ore-vveening, his Povvres Armes extending
Reason to rase, and still vvith Truth contending,
Contending for Contentions sake accurst,
Makes of Heauens Center; Hell, and vvhat is vvorst.
Monster of Nature, Nature still oppugning,
Thy selfe (vnnaturally) thy selfe impugning.
O're-vveening vvilfull Wit ah vvoe to thee,
Author of Ills that Ill of Euills bee.
previous section The Scourge of Folly
next section