THE TENTH SATYRE.
[OF MISERIE.]
Taurus a Iustice rich, but poore in mind,
(Riches make rich-men poore through miserie,)
Had long time liu'd as one in hold confin'd,
With gates close-shut from hospitalitie:
Meanes without men he had him to attend,
Lest what he spar'd his Retinue should spend.
One time a Traueller chanc'd to repaire
To Taurus house, to quench his vehement thirst,
But he poore man could find no comfort there:
Drinke could he get none, if his heart should burst;
Men he saw none, nor ought to cheare his want,
Saue a Blew-coate without a cognisant.
The Traueller conceited in distresse,
Straight thus discours'd, his
As quicke conceits will passions best allay.
passion to allay:
This Iustice is a Seruing-man'd guesse,
Who leaues his coate at home when he's away:
Therefore I was deceiu'd and did amisse,
To seeke a Iustice where a blew-coate is.
But as the Traueller went on his way,
He met the Iustice in a ragged suite,
Who in a Bench-like fashion had him stay,
Saying—He ought a Iustice to salute:
The man at first perplex'd, and now awake,
Tooke heart of grace, and did this answer make.
Sir, if I haue forgotten my regard
Vnto your place, forgiue my ignorance,
My eye could not discerne you, till I heard
Your selfe report your owne preeminence,
Whose name is Terror, and whose awfull breath,
Is messenger of furie, and of death.
And great I heare's endowments you possesse,
But worthie greater then you do enioy,
Witnesse your open house, which doth expresse
The care you haue your fortunes to employ
In bounties seruice: your good beere doth show it,
Being kept so well, as none can come vnto it.
Taurus he stamp'd, cald his attendants knaues,
And so he might, for none could be offended,
Where art thou Tom (quoth he) Iack, George, out slaues,
Faining their voyces, All shall be amended.
Then answers he himselfe, Let none depart,
But entertaine all with a chearefull heart.
The Traueller though he conceiued all,
Seem'd to admire the bountie of the place,
Till th' badge-lesse coate thas hung within the hall,
Forc'd him to laugh the Iustice in the face.
Why doest thou laugh (quoth he?) I laugh to note,
For want of men, what seruic's in a coate.
