 | Emblemes and Epigrames
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(56) Sweete mouthes.
A noble Earle, to vertue allwaies bent,
with rich and scoffinge knight on hunting went:
the Buck was rows'd, the hounds vncopled bee,
who with swifte course, to flie did seeme to mee,
and eger of the game, in their full crie
with dobled voice lowd ecchoed in the skie,
whose pleasant musick did the eares delight
of Earle and all the rest, except the knight,
that pleasured more in purchasing and gayne
than hawkes or hounds, or in such toyes vaine.
of whome the Earle demanded curteouslie,
when ended was the hounds long solempne crie,
‘yf those faire doggs, with their reioicing voice,
had not sweete mouthes as hounds of rarest choice;’
wherto the knight gaue answere scoffinglie,
‘hee did not knowe till hee the same should trie,
for anie of them he never kissed there,
and soe knewe not how sweet that there mouthes were.’
wherat good Earle, which tooke it in disdaine,
from moved chollar hardlie could refraine,
but said ‘if that you kist them not before,
you maie with ease kisse them behinde the more.’
| Emblemes and Epigrames
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