A Strappado for the Diuell Epigrams and Satyres alluding to the time, with diuers measures of no lesse Delight. By MISOSUKOS[Greek], to his friend PHILOKRATES[Greek] [by Richard Brathwait] |
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 | A Strappado for the Diuell |  |
To his BOOKE.
Booke whither goes thou, I had rather haue theeTo stay still with me, for my Booke may saue me:
Saue me, its true, and that's the cause I craue
Thou'de to the world, that thou the world might saue;
But that's a taske (my booke) too hard for thee,
Bid hang the world so that thou wilt saue me:
Yet pray thee be aduis'd whom thou dost checke,
For speaking truth may chance to break thy necke.
Which to preuent, let this be vnderstood,
Great men though ill they must be stiled good,
Their blacke is white, their vice is vertue made:
But 'mongst the base call still a spade a spade;
If thou canst thus dispense (my booke) with crimes,
Thou shalt be hugg'd and honour'd in these times.
| A Strappado for the Diuell | |