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The Scourge of Folly

Consisting of satyricall Epigrams, And others in honour of many noble Persons and worthy friends, together, with a pleasant (though discordant) Descant upon most English Proverbs and others [by John Davies]

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Against Plumbus the wealthy most miserable Miser.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Against Plumbus the wealthy most miserable Miser.

Plumbus may spend a Thousand pounds a yeare:
And Iuftice is of peace, that shames the Sheere,
Yet like a Begger goes, stil goes on foote;
And neuer yet hath vsed Horse or Boote.
From home, to London (three times forty miles)
Is but a walke with Plumbus otherwhiles.
At night, in Ale-houses the Man doth lye
To exercise his pure Spirits pouerty.
O diuine Vertue! which a man dost make
To liue in Wealth as though he liu'd in lacke.
But Plumbus come to Towne, he, by and by,
Heard that his lownesse should be Sheriffe hie:
Then fell he in a Feauer, with pure feare,
That Fortune would o'rethrow him with this Reare,
And that a royal Hand with one Pins point
(By pricking) would his strong-knit state vnioynt.
Which to preuent, he had liu'd as though he dide
In this base fashion, so his State to hide

212

But Plumbus much I muse thou worldly art;
When, through a leafe, one pricke doth kill thy heart.