University of Virginia Library

TO THE WORLDS BLINDE IVDGEMENT, that wants a paire of Spectacles with a true fight.

Truth doth auouch it, and experience sayes,
Time serues vs with his worst of wicked dayes,
The world, euen like a garment waxeth old.
Selfe-loue is hot, charitie deadly cold.
The notes we haue to know our good men by
(As corrupt Iudgement deemes with errours eye)
Are wealth, and words, no matter how they liue,
Hee's a good man, that can good speeches giue,
And talke of Vertue, and Religious zeale,
Although in deeds he like a Diuell deale.
Another sort there are, the world cals best,
Onely because they are of wealth possest:
Their gold and siluer gildeth them so well,
They are the best in Parish where they dwell:
And so was Diues, out of question too,
Most richly magnified with much adoe,
Vntill the end tryes truth, at dying day,
When all the worlds esteemed things decay,
Diuels with Gluttons soule did merry make,
Angels, poore Lazarus to glory take.
Blinde iudging world, sencelesse in censure th' art,
With greatnesse, not with goodnes taking part:
Tell me, where's he that for true Vertues sake,
The poore Iust man, will his companion make?
Where's he that is the greatest finde-fault knowne,
Reproues his brothers misse, and mends his owne?
Where's he that is to such a patience growne,
That he will put vp wrong, and offer none?
What's he that now-a-daies doth good for ill,
And would doe hurt to no man by his will?
Point out the man, breathing beneath the Sunne,
That doth, as to himselfe he would haue done.
What's he as willing will repay a Debt,
As he was ready trusted goods to get?
Who will not flatter Greatnesse now-a-daies,
In all the errours of their gracelesse wayes?
Who will in losses on his God depend,
And take that patiently the Lord doth send?
Who will be weary to be monies slaue,
And hauing wealth, confesse, inough I haue?
Who will not catch (if by his craft he can,)
The meanes, and liuing from another man?
What's he that will his Couenant fulfill,
As firme by promise, as by Bond or Bill?
Where's he will lend of superfluitie,
Without the Vsurers gratuitie?
Who is it that of faithfull true intent,
Maintaines the poore, defends the Innocent?
Sure if Diogenes did liue againe,
He might burne day, as once he did, in vaine,