University of Virginia Library

On the sight of a Rivelet, that eight foot off from its Fountain dis-embogues it selfe into the Medway.

No sooner did this pregnant spring distill
Out of her watry womb this purling rill,
But see how eagerly it rushes downe
It selfe, in Medwayes neighbouring streame to drowne;
And even at its first birth falls upon
A ruinous precipitation;
Like some unwarie heire, who being of age
To act an unthrifts part, upon the stage
O'th world, and newly wean'd from the imbrace
Of his deceased Parent, does deface
His heritage with not, and makes hast
To let himself loose into lavish wast,
Powring out his Revenues, to advance
Vice in each gay and pompous circumstance,
With such profusenesse, that he straight is found
Plung'd in the Vserers books, and there he's drown'd:
And as the river when it has inlarg'd
Its channell with that rill the spring discharg'd
Into its liquid womb, gliding away
With thanklesse speed, its vassalage to pay
To the blew Sea-god, does no more reflect,
But steales by th' spring that fed, it with neglect;
Ev'n so the userer when his bags swell high
And grow affected with a plurisie,
Which was with this loose unthrifts ruines fed,
And (like some flies) from his corruptions bred,
Calls in each wandring glance, and passing by
He ne're looks back, left it be with an eye
Of scorne, not pity, nor will deigne to know
Him from whose spring his streames of wealth did flow.