Emblemes and Epigrames Psal: Quum defecerit virtus mea, ne derelinquas me, Domine. [A.D. 1600, by Francis Thynne ... ]: Edited by F. J. Furnivall |
 |
|
 | Emblemes and Epigrames |  |
(35) Counterfetts deuoure the whole world.
The kinge deuoures the husbandman;fond youths do spoyle the kinge;
The vsurer consumes those youthes.
the preist decaye doth bringe
To vsurers; and whores consume
the preist with filthie lust;
The bawd eates vp the gayninge whore
who putteth her in truste;
The taverner beggars the bawde;
and next is swallowed vpp
The taverner, by Parasites
which hange vpon the cupp.
The needie Parasites in th'end
are spoyled by lothed lyce;
The Ape, mann counterfetter, eates
those vermyn at a trice.
So that the beastlie, mocking Ape,
which mowes at everie thinge,
By circulation doth consume
the kingedome and the kinge.
| Emblemes and Epigrames | |