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The most elegant and witty epigrams of Sir Iohn Harrington

... digested into fovre bookes: three whereof neuer before published
Harington, John (1560-1612)

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THE EPISTLE TO ALL Readers, that Epigrams must bee read attentiuely, that Legere & non intellegere, est negligere.
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[dedication]
expand section1. 
Sir Iohn Harringtons Epigrams, the first Booke.
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Sir Iohn Harringtons Epigrams, the second Booke.
 1. 
1 To the Lady Rogers, th' authors wiues Mother.
 2. 
2 Of the Bishopricke of Landaffe.
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3 Of Don Pedro's Dyet drinke.
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4 Of Leda and Balbus.
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5 Of Cinna his Gossip cup.
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6 Of Leda's Religion.
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7 That fauorites helpe the Church.
 8. 
8 Of Cinna his courage.
 9. 
9 Of a Lawyer that deseru'd his fec.
 10. 
10 Of Don Pedro.
 11. 
11 Against Lynus a writer.
 12. 
12 Of Don Pedros bonds.
 13. 
13 Against Cayus that scorn'd his Metamorphosis.
 14. 
14 Against an Atheist.
 15. 
15 Of Cosmus heyre.
 16. 
16 Of Faustus, a stealer of Verses.
 17. 
17 Misacmos of himselfe.
 18. 
18 Of the corne that rained.
 19. 
19 To his wife, at the birth of his sixt Child.
 20. 
20 Against Feasting.
 21. 
21 Against Cosmus couetousnesse.
 22. 
22 Against Vintners in Bathe.
 23. 
23 To Bassisie, his wiues mother, when shee was angry.
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24 To his wife, of Poppea Sabynas faire heyre.
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25 Against Lalus an ill Preacher.
 26. 
26 Against Paulus an Atheist.
 27. 
27 To Galla going to the Bathe.
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28 To one that had meate ill drest.
 29. 
29 Of giuing much credit.
 30. 
30 Of honest Theft. To my good friend Master Samuel Daniel.
 31. 
31 Against Faustus.
 32. 
32 Of Free will.
 33. 
33 Of a drunken Paracelsian.
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34 Of Misacmos his successe in a suite.
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35 A Groome of the Chambers religion in King Henry the eights time.
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36 To Doctor Haruey of Cambridge.
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37 An infallible rule in rule a wife. To his wiues mother.
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38 Why Paulus takes so much Tobacco.
 39. 
39 Of a formall Minister.
 40. 
40 Of a lawfull wife.
 41. 
41 Against Feasting.
 42. 
42 Against Lynus, that said the Nobility were decayed.
 43. 
43 To Itis, alias Ioyner, an vncleanly token, conuayd in cleanly tearmes.
 44. 
44 To his wife.
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45 Sir Iohn Raynsfords confession.
 46. 
46 A pretty question of Lazarus soule well answered.
 47. 
47 Against long suits in Law.
 48. 
48 Of an importunate prater, out of Martiall.
 49. 
49 Against Ielousie. To my friend.
 50. 
50 Against Quintus, that being poore and prodigall, became rich and miserable.
 51. 
51 To my Lady Rogers.
 52. 
52 Of Sextus mis-hap comming from a Tauerne.
 53. 
53 How Sextus laid claime to an Epigram.
 54. 
54 Of an Aborne Rabbet.
 55. 
55 Of hearing Masse.
 56. 
56 Of a Preacher that sings Placebo.
 57. 
57 Of the naked Image that was to stand in my Lo: Chamberlaines Gallery.
 58. 
58 Of the same to the Ladies.
 59. 
59 Of Don Pedroe's threats.
 60. 
60 Against brauery.
 61. 
61 Of Leda's vnkindnesse.
 62. 
62 Of an Abbot that had beene a good fellow.
 63. 
63 Against Cinna a Brownist, that saith he is sure to be saued.
 64. 
64 To Master Bastard, a Minister that made a pleasant Booke of English Epigrams.
 65. 
65 Of a kinde vnkinde Husband.
 66. 
66 Of Galla's goodly Petiwigge.
 67. 
67 Of Master Iohn Dauies Booke of Dancing. To himselfe.
 68. 
68 To Paulus.
 69. 
69 Of Table-talke.
 70. 
70 Of the commodities that men haue by their Marriage.
 71. 
71 To Marcus that would borrow.
 72. 
72 To his wife after they had beene married foure yeere.
 73. 
73 Of a Bequest without a Legacy.
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74 Of one that lent money on sure band.
 75. 
75 Of light Merchandize.
 76. 
76 Of father Peleus stable.
 77. 
77 Of a censurer of English writers.
 78. 
78 Of Titus boasting.
 79. 
79 To Doctor Sherhood, how Sack makes one leane.
 80. 
80 Of swearing first betweene the wife and the Husband.
 81. 
81 To his Wife.
 82. 
82 To a prattling Epicure.
 83. 
83 Of Don Pedro.
 84. 
84 To Master Bastard, taxing him of Flattery.
 85. 
85 Ouids confession translated into English for Generall Norreys. 1593.
 86. 
86 A witty speech of Heywood to the Queene.
 87. 
87 To my wife, from Chester.
 88. 
88 Against lying Lynus.
 89. 
89 Of lending our Priuy-seales.
 90. 
90 In defence of Lent.
 91. 
91 Malum bene positum ne moueas.
 92. 
92 To King Dauid.
 93. 
93 Of Monsters. To my Lady Rogers.
 94. 
94 Of a pleasant Broker.
 95. 
95 To the L. Ro.
 96. 
96 To his wife, in excuse he had call'd her foole in his writing.
 97. 
97 Of the growth of Trees to Sir H. Port.
 98. 
98 Against promoting Lynus.
 99. 
99 The Story of Marcus life at Primero.
 100. 
100 Lesbias rule of praise.
 101. 
101 Another of Table-talke.
 102. 
102 Of old Haywoods sonnes.
expand section3. 
Sir Iohn Harringtons Epigrams, the third Booke.
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Sir Iohn Harringtons Epigrams, the fourth Booke.

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64 To Master Bastard, a Minister that made a pleasant Booke of English Epigrams.

Though dusty wits of this vngratefull time,
Carpe at thy booke of Epigrams, and scoffe it:
Yet wise men know, to mix the sweet with profit.
Is worthy praise, not onely void of crime.
Then let not enuy stop thy veine of Rime:
Nor let thy function make thee shamed of it:
A Poet is one step vnto a Prophet:

And such a step, as 'tis no shame to clime.
You must in Pulpit treat of matters serious:
As best beseemes the person, and the place,
There preach of Faith, Repentance, hope and grace,
Of Sacraments, and such high things mysterious.
But they are too seuere, and too imperious,
That vnto honest sports will grant no space:
For these our minds refresh, when those weary vs,
And spurre our doubled spirit to swifter pace.
The wholesom'st meates that are, will breed sacietie,
Except we should admit of some varietie.
In musike notes must be some high, some base.
And this I note, your Verses haue intendment,
Still kept within the lists of good sobrietie,
To worke in mens ill manners, good amendment.
Wherefore if any thinke such verse vnseasonable:
Their Stoicke mindes are foes to good societie,
And men of reason may thinke them vnreasonable.
It is an act of vertue and of pietie,
To warne vs of our sinnes in any sort,
In prose, in verse, in earnest, or in sport.
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