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Humours Heau'n on Earth

With The Ciuile Warres of Death and Fortune. As also The Triumph of Death: Or, The Picture of the Plague, according to the Life, as it was in Anno Domini. 1603. By Iohn Dauies of Hereford

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To the Reader in praise of the Author.

In every Tale which scarffed Truth containes,
We must that Truth vnmaske to see her face:
Else see we but the halfe the Tale retaines;
Then such (how e're well told) lose halfe their grace.
But these are Tales, which (though their truth be maskt)
Tickle the itching'st Eares with witching Touches;
And so such Eares to listen still are taskt,
By subtill clawing, that such Eares bewitches.
Canst thou but Riddles reade, and not areede?
These Riddles high (well read) stoope to thy reason:
That though they fat not Wit, yet Will they feede
With Wittes pure Salt, that Wits fresh-Sweetes doth season:
The Fiction is for gladdest Will as fit,
As is the Morall for the saddest Wit.
Anth: Greys.