University of Virginia Library

A Coward, 43.

The Fruite of Feare, Suspition, and of Dreed,
Whom Nature got, bot in colde Blood did breed.
And had too much a-doe, to make vp than,
A Creature, that should resemble a Man.
And that is all hee keepeth of his Kind,
For beastly base dejected is his Minde.
His Life a Sicknesse is, that doth resemble,
A sort of Palsie, for his Ioyntes doe tremble.
And but a Cause, such Terrour hee will take,
That hee will faint, and all his Members shake.
His Death then by debased Diffidence,
It is a Terrour to his Conscience.
His feeble Faith, no kinde of Hope it beares,
And therefore Death hee out of Measure feares.
All Persons hee suspects, and everie Place,
And therefore wretched is the Cowards Case.
Hee much affecteth Peace, for feare of Warres;
The thought of which his Sprite affrights and scarres.
And if hee bleede his Finger, hee anone,
Looks for the Signe, and layes, his Life is gone.
And if his Tooth but ake, incontinent
Hee makes his Latter Will, and Testament.
The Roaring, and Report, that Cannons giues,
Prostrates him flat, and neare of Sprite depriues.
And Thunder-claps doe him discourage so,
That hee can neyther stand, nor stirre, nor goe.
Before hee fight, or to Combate hee kythe,
Content is hee, and to bee beaten, blythe.
And if his Feete may succour him, bee sure
His Head, nor Hands, no danger shall endure.
Hee of no Hazard heares, nor hardie Feats,
Bot, fy for Shame, hee shudders, and hee sweats.
Hee will b'affrayde, with flying of a Bird,
Or noyse of Wands that with the Winds are stird.
Marrie hee will, and marrie bot with Such,
As are bot Meane, and not of Might too much.
Nor will hee haue a Wife that's faire: For why?
Some Broyls may bee, and Quarrels come there-by.
And when hee getts her, if hee finds her frowne,
Then hee's abash'd, dejected, and cast downe.
If shee bot chance to chyde him, than hee weepes;
And comes as Spanels, when they couch, and creepes.
Where Dogs doe barke, hee comes not neare that House,
Bot flees, as from the Catts th'amated Mouse.
If hee bee rich, for feare hee nev'r concludes,
How to dispose vpon, or vse his Goods.
And in his Nature, Natvre doth defame,
For hee doth Manhood both disgrace and shame.