THE SECOND BOOK.
1. To the Reader.
Let my Verse not please Fools; the world is full;
I would not be the Darling, of a Gull.
Few Readers will suffice; grant me but one;
If no body me like, I'm pleas'd with None.
2. To the Lady Mary Nevill.
Others Renown, is but the Poets praise.
Your splendid glory, your own Merits raise.
3. To the same.
If you have Enemies, they need not fear;
To oblige friends, you make your chiefest Care:
This you observe; Friends, never to Forget:
Ne'r to Remember, with Foes, to cry Quit.
4. To the same.
That a fair Face, might beauty keep alive;
The curious Pencil, helps it to survive.
I though a stranger, to the Limners Trade;
To keep your Fame alive, in Verse essay'd:
Although Apelles Pencil, one Divine,
Should Draw: Apollo's Verses her enshrine.
5. To Mr. J. H.
No whit portentous, but a Poet I:
You are no Poet; but a Prodigie.
6. What Newes?
All that know Me, my Patience thus abuse;
Good Mr. Owen! hear you any News?
I Answer, I know None; and tell them True:
Of all I know, for I know nothing New.
7. The Court.
He, who to all Mens Humours, can't stoop down;
Hath got a foolish Humour; for his own.
8. Upon Aulus.
Why were you made a Knight? because that more,
Your wife might love you, then she did before?
But you mistook your self; Sir Aulus, she,
Will love her self, the better; but not thee.
Former expence must double every yeer:
You shall have cause, to call your Lady, Deer.
9. Upon the Chymist.
It is the silly Chymists doting Fate,
To seek for Gold, and Lose his whole Estate.
None must Elixar have, but He alone;
Till all away is squandred; Stick, and Stone.
10. A Trojan.
After
Troy's burning, the Trojans grew wise:
In this, True Trojan, who Himself denies?
11. The Cure of Love.
By frequent Fastings, take wood from the Fire:
Let not a Ladies Glance kindle desire.
If still, your Fervour will not let you rest;
A Wife will quench the Flame. Probatum est.
12.
Troynovant. To the Londoners.
No Phœnix beautifies, the gilded East;
Before Sol lights her Mothers fragrant Nest:
So decimated Troy, the Grecians burn:
Majestick London, sprouts from Troy's pale Urn.
13. The Lawyers God.
A deity cal'd Term, Rome did adore:
But now at Westminster He's Worshipt more.
14. The Earth.
To charm our Tongues, the middle hath a Spell;
For there we think, the golden Mean doth dwel.
Therefore in play for Praise, earth throws an Ace,
Above the Heavens: here's the Middle place.
15. To King James, De. of the Faith
You are Faiths chiefest Guardian; to intrust,
Her, with your sacred self, Envy thinks Just.
16. To the Lord Treasurer.
A treasurer, whom Vertue makes to hold,
Vulturian Talons, from the Regal Gold:
Is Himself greater Treasure, then can shine,
In the Rich womb of an Exchequers Mine.
17. To the Kings chief Secretary.
The Secrets of three Florid Nations lie,
Committed to your Tested Secrecie.
The Kings thoughts are not safe, till in the Chest,
They be lockt up; of your most Tacid Breast.
18. To the Venetians.
A fair laid your Foundations, at the first.
Neptune, turn'd Foster-father; and them nurst.
Nor shall mute Fish, the Sea Monopolize;
Your Palaces, make proud waves pay excize.
The Sea now fetter'd, gives a City Birth;
Art baffling Nature, water turn'd to Earth.
Your Empire survives time; waves ebb, and flow:
Yet never dare unconstant prove, to you.
It is not strange, Venice her self, loves Lawes;
Since she, the out-law'd Ocean, over-awes.
19. To the Lord Chancellor.
Lest that the Quirks, or Rigour of the Laws,
Should accidentally, Injustice cause;
Deservedly it in your power doth lie,
To bridle Common-Law, with Equitie.
20. To the Lord Richard Sacvil, Earl of Dorchester.
Your Ancestors were Noble; you, we see,
The glory of renew'd Nobilitie.
For you, (which was a Wonder in old time,
Seems now Prodigious, to our vicious Clime)
Rewards attending Merits, disrespect;
Love prudent Lawes; devasting Arms neglect.
To prefer Vertue, before Power, think good;
And Learning's Jewel, before Noble Bloud.
21.
Cecil Lord Treasurer. 1597.
Arms abroad are invalid; unless that
Prudence at Home, and Cecil, steer the State.
Cecil, is Atlas Brother; born Above:
Cecil, Props up Elisa; Atlas, Jove.
22. Upon the Lord William Cecil's Motto.
Virtute Duce, Comite Fortuna:
Vertue my Leader, Fortune my Companion.
Divine
Elizabeth, Fortune did grace,
(Your wisht Companion) with an Earls high place:
Since there was None, her Pleasure durst Rebuke;
Why made She not, Vertue your Leader, Duke?
23. To Richard Vaughan, Bishop of London.
You
British Honour! are the first from Wales,
Arriv'd at Londons Sea; through happy Gales.
24. To the same.
Those Doctors alwaies pleas'd me, who account,
Their good Lives, their good Sermons to surmount.
Most learned Bishop! you, not only teach,
Others their duty, but by Life do Preach.
25. To Tho. Bilson, Bishop of Winchester.
You were my School-master; let who will, know;
All these I write, I to your Precepts owe.
26. The Life of William of Wicham, formerly Bishop of Winchester;
publisht in Latine, by Tho. Martin, Doctor of the Civil Law.
That a dead Man, a Person should have freed,
From deaths black Dungeon; few wil make their creed.
Had you not don this work, in Lethe's Brook
You had bin drown'd; now both, live by this Book.
27.
Winchester Colledge.
Europe
's chief School, our Winchester appears;
Where I was honour'd to spend younger years.
To give her the first place, Zoilus is bound;
Suppose he knows, great Wicham, did her Found.
28. Sir Philip Sidney.
Because old Homer did his Praises sing,
Achilles was thought happy, by the King,
Of large Æmathia, Poor wretch am I,
Whose Muse can't divine Philip, Deifie.
29. To the same.
VVho acts things, worthy to be writ, or writes,
Things worth the Reading; on no small bliss lights.
No Plummet sounds your Repute; who alone,
By a rare Genius make these Two, but One.
Readers your Writings covet; ev'ry Act,
Might all Historians Table-books, exact.
Your writings prove you Learned; Deeds attest,
That Prowess Anchors, in your noble Brest.
30. Upon the Marriage of William Earl of Pembrook;
and Mary, Daughter to the Earl of Salisbury, 1605.
For Nature, Wisdom, Beauty, Age, Estates,
Nobility, ye are most equal Mates:
Yet Sir, I this confess; you have not wed
So Nobly, as deserv'd, your Bridal-bed.
And I acknowledge Madam; that you are,
Worthy a Husband, yours, excelling far.
31. To Elizabet, Countess of Rutland, Daughter to Sir Philip Sidney.
Rate
Philip's Praise, did not on Error trip;
Since he was Father, to your Ladiship.
That was his Honour: Yours is for to be
Daughter, to such Heroick Chivalrie.
32. To Lucia Countess of Bedford.
Light gave (as God-mother) your honour Name;
That through the world might shine, your Lucid Fame,
You for your Birth, to noble Parents owe;
But wit, and Vertue, you the Light, did show.
33. The Knights Ring. To Sir Henry Goodyear.
Let Honour be the Gold, Vertue the Stone;
Until that Ring, your Finger leaves alone.
34. To Mr. J. H.
Your Verses deserve well, yet want Applause:
Some Writers are much prais'd, for little cause.
35. To D. B.
If he who keeps things close lives well, then you:
You hide your Faculties, they greater show.
36. To Th. M. the Princes Tutor.
To a Decorum, you the Prince do bring,
Will make him of himself; as Britains King,
Rule of himself, all other will out-vie;
This one, excels the Four-fold Soveraigntie.
This one laid in the Balance, will weigh down
Babylon, Persia, Grecia, Romes proud Crown.
37. To the same.
Now Age makes our Prince docil, his green youth
Imbibes grave Precepts from your learned mouth:
O Teach him so! that future times may say,
Our King is great, good, learned; which bears sway?
38. To Mr. Walter Gwyn.
You make the Princes happiness compleat,
By Prophesies
, flourish in Arthur's Seat.
Nature hath given Parts; let Fortune be
As much profuse, in her Indulgencie.
And as the Prince grows bigger, I wish you,
May swell in Honour, and still greater grow.
39. Francis Drake. 1581.
Drake
hath embrac'd the Word; and did espy,
Both Polar Tenter-hooks, which hold the sky.
If men be silent, Stars will blaze thy Fame:
And Sol will Trumpet, his Dear Comrades Name.
Drake did but bait at Calpe; and may cry,
Great was Alcides; true, but Greater I.
40.
Britains Strength. To the Prince.
Havens, are England's Gates; the Navy, Wals;
Sea, Tents; works, Bodies; and Hearts, Admirals.
41. The Terrestrial Globe.
Water, & Earth, make but one Globe; 'tis strange;
For Earth moves not; the waters, always range.
42. The mad way to Health.
The more Healths in your Belly swim; the less
Shall your drown'd Body, dwell with healthfulness:
I envy not your thousand Healths; to me,
A single Health, is a sufficiency.
It is the only Health, no Healths to drink:
In drinking Healths, there is no Health; I think.
[Your knowledge, is a Cypher, without you]
43. The Divine.
Your knowledge, is a Cypher, without you,
To light your Brothers Candle, it allow.
The Politician.
My Brother shall be hang'd first, before I,
Reveal one tittle, of my Mystery.
44. All things desire that which seems Good.
Doth
Optimus from Opto steal its Name?
The Best, to Wish; in Latin ne'r the same.
Why may not this be so, since none can rest
From Wishing; (except Fools) what they think Best?
45. A Black Swan.
A maid of Burgundie, lean as a Rake
Made by Green-sickness; was advis'd to take
Sedum minus 2 M. which some vow,
As rare an Herb, as can in Gardens grow.
The Pious Maid, her Doctor did deny:
Chose before sin, Sins wages; and would Die.
46.
Democritus, and Heraclitus.
Democritus
, laught at what e'r befell:
Plague, Famine, Murders; stil the World went well.
At Feasts, at Weddings, brewing brinish Tears;
Sad Heraclitus, with sore eyes appears.
Shall we weep for Heraclitus? or thus,
Shall we laugh at merry Democritus?
47. Upon Langa.
Langa
a Papist, wedded to a Man,
That did Profess himself a Lutheran.
To prevent Future strife, Husband! said shee,
I'l make (for once) this fair offer, to Thee:
Grant me but Free Will, and then there's an end:
About the other Points, I sha'nt contend.
48. King Arthurs Round Table.
VVhy did Heroick Arthur, so much care
For a Round Table; and rejected square?
Not without Reason; for Gods work is Round:
But humane heads, the Quadrature have found.
49. To Theophila. B. C.
He must be zealous; in Brains no whit dull;
Who can ye Love; or praise unto the full.
50. Upon Hernicus.
His Soul to Heaven, Body, to the Grave,
Commended Hernicus; about to leave
This sinful world: but hearing that his Wife,
Would quickly period her Widows Life;
In very anger, he recal'd his Breath:
But before that, he was resolv'd for Death.
51. Of Love, and Faith.
Love, and Faith, are divorc'd; we know it thus;
Faith is suspected; Love, suspicious.
52. The Lover.
Uncertain Hope, short Pleasures, constant Fears,
Joy-grief, sweet Pains, fall to poor Lovers shares.
53. The Golden Age.
When to fill Bags with Gold, men did not rage;
Why did they call such Times, the Golden Age?
54. Upon Alana.
Nature ordain'd you, to Lie under; yet,
At Table uppermost, be sure, you'l sit.
Thus Man, and Wife, finde out Pacifique waies;
He rules the Rost, by Night; She rules the Daies.
55. The German Death. To Polynicus.
Not to be, Death; grave Seneca did think:
But Germany supposeth, Not to drink.
56. Upon Philodemus.
Of scarce Commodities you hate the Price;
But to take common (if cheap) are not Nice.
I'le tell you what, (because a friend of Mine)
A cheap costs more, then a dear Concubine.
57. Upon Long-tongue.
Battus
talks like a fool; and then of course
Comes out; Pray pardon Sir, my long Discourse.
No want of Pardon, should to you belong;
If you could learn the Art to hold your Tongue.
58. The Gordian Knot.
Was the strain'd Gordian Knot, rather unty'd
By the Kings Wit; or did his Sword divide?
Without wit you may untye this Knot: but,
Were Alexander here; He could not Cut.
59. Love.
War, Peace; Peace, War; such faults are found in Love:
For Love, from strife; doth seldom far remove.
60. The Laws, The loss of Quiet. To the Lawyers.
Strife, breeds Laws; Laws, Strife; without strife, no Man
Useth to live; without the Laws none can.
61. The Covetous, and the Prodigal.
The Prodigal affects high, polisht strains;
Nothing but Rhetorick, coms neer his Brains.
The Covetous, in Logick, takes delight:
And scrapes up Syllogisms, day, and night.
For Avarice, Logicks close fist, we call
Suadas broad Palm, denotes the Prodigal.
62. Πονος. Labour, or Trouble.
Pain, was scarce Labour; to most Active Rome:
To Idle Greece, Labour was Troublesome.
63. A Good man, Valiant, Wise.
Good men, have seldom wealth; or stout men, wit:
And to Beleeve a Wise Man, few think fit.
64. The Order, of the Golden-Fleece.
From
Philip Duke of Burgundie, saith Fame;
The Order of the Golden-Fleece, first came:
His Heir, now wears, Rich Peru's Regencie:
This was no Order, but a Prophesie.
65.
Tho. Earl of Dorchester's Motto.
Nec Temere, nec Timide.
Not Rashly, not Cowardly.
Wisely Despair of all things; Boldly Hope:
Beware of all things; yet scorn fear to cope.
66. Sir Tho. Nevil's Motto.
Ne vile velis.
Scorn Baseness.
Let not vain, or Vile things thy Honour stain:
Vile things are worth but little; Nothing vain.
67. To Sir Phil. Sidney, concerning his Arcadia.
You did at Death, (witness your wife) command,
That your Arcadia, through some bloudy hand,
Should give a Treat, to the Impartial flame:
And like a Phœnix Nest, perfume thy Name.
But if the Crime be fatal, that hot Fires,
Were by it kindled, in Lovers desires;
Those queint Lines, by more Justice had been sent
A present, to the watry Element.
But let your Book be sentenc'd; ev'ry vote,
Proclaims your wit, shall reach times highest Note.
68. To the most learned Gentlewoman; Mris. Jane Owen.
I never heard of, nor did ever see,
Those Sisters, a Fifth Father, gave to Thee.
Therefore how many, and how Qualifi'd;
By unacquaintance, could not be descry'd.
Yet what they are, (Dear Jane!) I full well know;
If't be their happiness, to be like you.
69. To his Friend.
Though I hate none, I'll not be twice a Friend:
My Friendship once begun, shal ne'r have End.
70. The Usurers Grammar.
Take Bird, Beast, Fish, or any creeping thing;
This, that, all these, acknowledge Love their King.
Yet Mr. Gold, Dame Plate, a thing call'd Cash;
Compar'd with Love; proves that proud Victor, Trash.
71. To one, like neither of his Parents.
Why do you neither Parent represent;
Since Both at your conception, gave consent?
Not Fathers, Mothers Features, can you show:
For Both, strove joyntly, when they begot you.
72. To two concealing their Names, at their Return from Venice.
You went to Venice, to seek four-fold Gains,
To fill your purses; and reward your pains.
Since ye got good; your friends were wel content,
That ye return'd; though to their detriment.
73. Adultery, and Fornication.
The idle Fornicator, Pray, how far,
Differs he from the loose Adulterer?
I shall resolve this Question, if I can:
As much as Comick, and Tragœdian.
74. Concerning Hercules. To C. D.
No Monster could Alcides hurt; yet Love,
Trampled upon him; and sate Queen above.
A Lion could not; a Lass made him yeeld:
Not Beasts with Four, but Two Legs, won the field.
75. A friendly Salute.
I desire
Phyllis, three kisses to have;
At least as many as your Lips, I crave.
She lends Me one; is paid; yet denies Two:
Take thine, or give me mine; why this adoe?
76. A Problem to the Naturalist concerning a Kiss.
Either a Kiss, to taste, belonging is;
Or why most proper, by the Mouth, to Kiss?
77. To Labiemus.
This is Promotion; Heaven, waites on Me;
Quoth Labiemus, at the Gallow-Tree.
78. Upon Alexander.
To
Philip's Son, a world, gave not content:
Though he Rul'd North, South, West, the Orient.
Though we the world, vastly dilated finde;
It was too narrow, to contain his Minde.
To Philip's Son, the world prov'd much too vast;
For his long Arms to clasp it in the wast.
Though he was Great, by Actions; Great, by Birth:
Yet this Great Man, was Lesser then the Earth.
79. To Firmicus, against Aulus.
You Beleeve none; yet Firmicus, I see
No Man such Sceptic, but will Beleeve, thee.
What others tell, you Aulus, suck all in:
But for your News, no Man would give a Pin.
80. Upon a certain Versifier.
You drink, as if, none could a Poet be;
Without from Ale, they learn the Mysterie.
You swill, as if, the Muses lend an Hand
To none; but those, whom Beer forbids, to stand.
When drunk, you Rhythm, without all wit, or Fear:
You may love drink; your self, an Hogs-head are.
81. Upon certain Lying Letters.
I frequenly receive Lines you endite:
But seldom, never, do you Gospel write.
82. Physician, heal your self. To Gilbert.
I bid you, minde your self; yet might Neglect:
You for your self, have singular Respect.
83. Upon a certain Usurer.
In a good Mood, you lent an Hundred Pound,
To Flava; now ask Use; but on what Ground?
If you get Principal, 'tis an Abuse,
To require more; her Body, paid you Use.
Quod non habet in Ære, luat in Corpore.
84. Upon an Hypocrite.
Quite through your life, you dissemble; or feign:
Though Fiction is a Labour; th'other, Pain.
85.
Erasmus his Encomium Moriæ.
Erasmus
was the First, writ Folly's Praise:
Folly requited, and his Fame did raise.
86. The Anagrammatist.
What a stir here's with Vowels? here, and there,
The Letters fly; to light, I know not where.
So by Augustus Favour; to their Coats,
Thyrsis drove Sheep; and Corydon, the Goats.
87. To a certain silly Doctor.
Beardless of late, and very weak, in Parts;
You seem'd a Master, of the Seven Arts.
But now you are a Doctor; no Beard want:
But yet hang Him, that is more Ignorant.
88. Love is Naked.
Nature cloathes Fields, with Grass; and Beasts, with Hair:
Birds have their Plumes; Sheep, warm in Fleeces are.
What ever Animal, is Born; or Bred;
By Nature; or by Art, is covered:
But why should Love, to Nakedness, be sold
Alone? because it Naked, feels least cold.
89. Concerning the Exchequer. To Sir Will. Pits.
Money collected, runs into the chinks,
Of the Exchequer; so Sea, Rivers drinks.
Money disperst, flies from't as fast; as though,
A thousand Rivers, from the Sea should flow.
And yet the Sea, is not full satisfy'd:
Nor lavish streams of Crystall Rivers dry'd.
90. Upon one Perfidious.
I was too credulous; that made me Heir,
To Unbelief: False Hopes, taught me Despair.
91. The sin of the Silver Age.
All
Saturn's gilded Reign, Whores did defie:
Till Jove was King; the world, woo'd Purity.
92. A Baud.
Your Body is all sold; and you much scoul,
Because you want a Chapman, for your Soul.
Who buys a Soul! but none is so unwise,
(Except Don Beelzebub) to give your Price.
93. Upon Self-Love.
He
's the third Person; Second, Thou; first, I:
No Third, but loves the First's, Supremacy.
94. Wisdome.
Who's Rich? a Wise Man; who is Poor? Unwise:
Therefore if I have wit; my Bags will rise.
Who's Wise? a Rich man; who's a Fool? one Poor:
Either I must be Rich, or Fool, therefore.
95. The Etymologie of Venus.
Venus
, A Veniendo,
Tully sayes;
Because to all she comes, without delayes.
But in another sense, her Name I hold;
'Cause she comes oft to Markets; to be sold.
96. To a certain Fox-catcher.
If Gold were as much Drunk, as Coveted;
Thy Guts would make a Royal Mine; indeed!
97. To Polla.
You deny Kisses unto None; none Kiss:
But to their Mouths, your Cheek, reverted is.
The Name of New, and Old, is not the same:
Your new-found Kissing, should have a new Name.
98. A Friend, A Wife.
Souls are most Dear; hence Friends, love not to part:
But how comes thy Wife, so? she's thy deer Heart.
99. Anger.
Because it Vertue spurns, I conjecture;
The Stagyrite miscall'd it, Vertues Spur.
100. The Roman Flora.
Taxes on the whole World, were by Rome laid;
Yet this Great City to the Tribute paid.
For what, for Hackney-hire, was given you;
Was but as Tribute, to your Beauty due.
101. The Etymologie of Anger.
One Angry, is perplext; so saith the Name:
Anger, and An-gor, are almost the same.
102. Of Himself.
Whilst light things, I touch soberly; I may
Be rightly said; to study; as I Play:
Whilest I write sober things, with a Light Pen;
My Play, may be to Study compar'd, then.
103. Womens Titles of Honour.
Let an Earl take to wife, a Countrey Girl;
She is a Countess; because He, an Earl.
But let a Countess marry meanly; She,
Adds not one Atom, of Gentilitie.
So Phœbus gilds, the Lady of the night;
But scorns to vapour, in a Borrow'd Light.
104. Upon Zoilus.
He that will others praise, and bears an heart,
Brim-full with Love; shall himself, help to part
The Stakes, with Men belov'd; & prais'd: commend;
Thou canst not want Requital; in the end.
105. The middle Age is unknown.
Before the last Line of our Life shall trace
The Grave; no Line, designs the Middle space,
What to be cal'd the Middle Age, is grown,
Through Custom; before Death, cannot be known.
106. To a Dyer waxing Gray.
Your Beard was Black; but now 'tis turn'd to Gray:
Not Art, but Nature, found out this fine way.
107. To the Courtier.
Proud
Rome, Superbus, to disgrace did bring;
What wonder? Pride, did never love a King.
Kings have not many friends; a Reason why?
Because the Scepter, detests Parity.
108. Bed.
What
English call a Bed, the Welch call Grave:
A Bed, and Tomb, Death, Sleep; Resemblance have.
109. Rider's Bibliotheca.
Conceited
Rider, merited great Blame;
When he his Book, a Library did Name.
One Book, can't make a Library; Grave on
His heap of words, the Title, Lexicon.
110. Money.
Doth Latine, from Νομος, Νομισμα Greek;
To derive Nummus, and Numisma, seek?
Nummus denotes Money told out; Upon
This Fancy, Number, will give Etymon.
But I can derive't better; Money is,
In all Mens Thoughts; the chief of Goddesses:
This once premis'd, it fals into our Road;
Nummus à Numine; As Gold, from God.
111. Upon Covetous I. S.
Your Gates are Iron; you in Iron, hoard
Your Gold; your House is Iron; Iron, its Lord.
112. Of Roman Flora. To the Grammarians.
To
Flora, Rome, did Flowers sacrifice;
And her the goddess of Flowers, devise.
But she, of a good Name, was Prodigal;
And therefore never brought forth fruit, at all:
But being wanton, in her youthful Flower;
Flower, and Fruit, that Canker did devour.
113. Upon John Protus.
As tepid Autumn, by severer Blasts;
Trees verdent Beauty, on the low ground, casts:
So Calvus had a trick, to shake his Crown;
Till he shak'd fair; for ev'ry hair, fell down.
114. Upon Theodorus.
When as King David was, Threescore, & Ten;
A florid Virgin warm'd his cold sides, then.
You to do like him, who a Prophet was;
Have clapt at your old back, a plump young Lass.
115. To a certain Gentlewoman.
Were Fortune to you so Propitious, as
Nature Profuse, in your endowments was:
Had your Commands, Troy fastned to the Stake;
It would have kiss'd the flames; 'cause for your sake.
116. The great Pestilence. 1603.
So many Souls, this Sickness, sent to Styx;
There is scarce room, for a new plague to fix.
117. Upon a perjured person, convicted, by his own Hand-writing.
In vain by Oath, did you confirm a Lie;
Since your Hand detects, which you can't denie.
That Deeds, might exceed Words; God only gave
Your Bodies Form, to challenge one mouth leave.
Since God gave but one Tongue; and yet, Hands Two:
What makes Hand, single; your Tongue double so?
118. Upon Cottula, the Grammaticastre.
The Greek word Labyrinth, you well expound;
By telling us, Labour-in-it is found.
119. The Anagram of Roma. To the Carthaginians.
Hannibal
took not Luck, when 'twas his course:
Not well considering, the Roman Force.
The way to Conquer, was known to this Man;
But (though he were a subtle African)
He was found Ignorant, to use his Lot.
So, many strike not whilst the Iron's hot.
Roma, by Mora; Little Delay, More
Then fit; made Rome as Great, as once before.
120. To a certain Great Clerk.
VVhere is Concoction, in a sick mans Feast?
You know much, I confess; Nothing, digest.
121. Upon one Davis.
To boast your self of Cockney, you think good;
Lest som should say, you were of British Bloud.
You refuse that, (which would a Wise Man grace)
To procure descent, from an obscure Race.
You, and your Countrey, Ill; yet well, Agree:
You are asham'd of that; and that, of Thee.
122. Upon Aulus.
Fools, count thee wise; Wise Men, A Fool i'th' Height:
What art I prethee, in thine own Conceit?
123. Upon Doctor Linus.
You wholly Act Formalities; but why,
Do you slight Learning? Form gives Entity.
If any dare, this Axiom's Truth invade;
I prove it thus; Form, Linus, Doctor made.
124. Upon Thais.
VVould Handsomeness were less; or Goodness more:
Nothing is worser, then a Beauteous Whore.
125. Upon a great Scribler, ashamed to affix his Name.
When cruel Hunger, did gag up thy Jawes;
And untam'd thirst, to cry Fire, gave the cause;
You like a Mad man, Idle Pamphlets made:
What's your excuse? Ah! Hunger, did perswade.
Curst Poverty, makes you like Tereus Sup;
You beget Children; and then, eat them up.
126. Upon Mr. No-Hair.
On this side, that side, before, and behinde;
I search your Head: yet not one Hair can finde.
Since Ev'ry Hair, hath its Plantation fled;
What can you next lose Calvus? what? My Head.
127. To Claudius, and Linus.
Nothing wants to make Claudius good; but Wil:
Nothing but Power; to make Linus, Ill.
128. To George.
If you will be in my Book, which you see,
Guilty enough of lazy Poetrie;
If the Praise of your Family, I take
For Theme; of you I'll seldom mention make:
Or if to give ye thanks, my verse should strive;
To you (as you deserve) I cannot Give.
My Love, and liking do to you belong;
'Cause you are not accus'd in any Song.
Or noble George! shall I upon you call?
Then you must sit, inferiour to all.
And to spin out longer Discourse, with you;
My Muse is willing: but she knows not how.
129. Every Lover, is a Souldier.
VVenches to Souldiers, Aulus did compare:
Men please Mars arm'd; Venus, when naked are.
130. The Military Oath.
The Latines call that Oath, a Sacrament;
Which to New Leaders, Times of war present.
If that a Sacrament, be but just so;
The Pope is right: for there are more then Two.
131. Upon Covetous and Cripled Alanus.
Are Gifts to maim'd Alanus, gratis sent?
He then, Briareus can represent.
But if you think, a Recompence to see;
His hundred Hands, prove Lame; immediately.
132. The Condition of Kings.
One loves not to tell Truth; Another fears:
This greatest Misery, fals to Kings shares.
133.
Vis. Jus. The Anagram of Jus, the Law, is Vis, Force.
The Law disgusteth Force; Force, Law; both bee
In Name, good Friends; but Natures disagree.
134. Upon Marcus.
VVith Wifes, with Widows, Chamber-maids, your Life
Is lewdly spent; but a Fig for your Wife.
Let who will Ask, your Back, scorns to say no:
Any thing, but what's Lawful; you will do.
135. Desperate Debt.
Men are bound to their wifes; but who dares say,
He hath enough, the Total sum to pay?
For though some to have paid, may make pretence;
Yet they still owe, a due Benevolence.
136. Upon Culianus.
A wise Man is a
Miracle; but now,
They are all ceas'd; our Times no wise Man know.
But Culian you have wit; I can't devise,
If Miracles be ceas'd; you should be Wise.
137. Upon Beautiful Marc.
Venus
did Fire, your Tenement of Lust:
In all Spectators eyes, you are Venust,
138. Upon Adrian the Fifth.
Your silly Epigrams; your dull Verse, fears
It should endure the sting, of acute Jeers.
Though they are not Facetious; Readers smile,
And laugh to see no Wit come, all the while.
139. I, Thou, He.
Self-Love's the Quarry, at which all Birds flie
From hence the first of Persons, must be, I.
You can both flatter, and Back-bite; thus see,
He stands next, Thou; and Thou, the nearest mee.
140. Ask, and you shall Receive.
We read in Scripture; Ask, you shall Receive:
But 'tis perform'd only to those, who Give.
Give your Acquaintance, first; then They'l give you:
No Chinke, no Drink; Nothing is Gratis now.
Give, and it shall be Given you.
141. Husband, and Wife; Parents, Children.
Husband, & Wife, are both one Flesh; although,
Before the sacred Union, They were Two.
Father, and Son, were both one Body; yet,
They can't their Horses, in one Stable set.
142. Upon Marc the Lawyer.
You plead your own, in your poor Clients Cause:
He Bags no Gold; for all's seiz'd by your Claws.
To you the Law is certain; Not to him:
He is as sure to Sink; as you to Swim.
143. To his Father.
By how much Man, surpasseth Woman; I,
By being Male, excel the Female Fry.
144. The Italian.
The
Latine like a Lord, commands his Wife;
And forceth her, to lead a Prisoners Life.
This Man, or none; acts Gods curse o'er again:
O Woman! I will multiply thy Pain.
145. What kinde of Wife.
Let Vertue, Beauty, be in Her conjoyn'd;
Let her be courted; yet bear a chaste Minde.
Rivals I like in Love: For I, alone;
Should be a Fool, to Fancy any One.
146. To one complaining, that he could Beget no Children, like Himself.
First get a Wife, in Visage, much like Thee:
Then draw thy Picture, on Posteritie.
147. To Husbands concerning Conjugal Affection.
When happy Adam, took Eve for his Bride;
He lov'd her more, then the whole world Beside.
He was the first, of Husbands; and the best:
To serve Eve, in his room; now, Love is prest.
148. The Epitaph of Sir Francis Drake.
Suppose Queen Maries Reign, once more return;
You may rest certain; Malice, can't you Burn.
You did complot, your Corps from Fire to save;
When you elected such a watry Grave.
149. An Epitaph, upon a Youth, dying before Father, or Grand-Father.
Death's no Logician; not Methodical:
To make young Sons, before old Parents, fall.
150. The Epitaph of Maurus.
Thy Soul, doth want a Body; Body, Soul:
You nothing have, but Name: you, want the whole.
151. The Epitaph of Pyramus, and Thisbe.
Grief did contrive your Death, Death like a Friend,
Reveng'd the wrong; and brought Grief to its end.
152. Sir Tho. More at his Execution.
VVhat though Head was, from Body severed?
More would not let Body be cut from Head.
153. Three Languages were Crucified.
The
Grecian Tongue, Porter of Wit, and Art:
The Regal Roman: That, God did impart.
154.
Don Antonio, King of Portugal.
A late Divorce, the Kingdom from you rent;
Though to the Bill, you never gave consent.
You may well say (now from the Throne you're hurl'd),
With Christ; My Kingdom, is not of this World.
155.
Alexander, and Aristotle.
The greatest King; the man, to wonder, wise;
Under their Notions, these two Names comprise.
Great was Macedo; but the Stagyrite,
As much outshin'd; as bright Day, Cypress Night.
The Sages Learning did direct the King:
But the Kings Greatness, could no honour bring.
156. Plato.
Those Bees, which chose thy sweet Mouth for their Hive;
To gather Honey from thy Works, survive.
157. Virgil's Georgicks.
Those Verses, which you sent, to hold the Plough;
The Readers fallow Wits, both Till, and Sow.
158. The Poet Persius.
I read your Satyrs; but can't understand:
An Oedipus fetch, Readers! out of hand.
159. Tacitus.
Vertue, made you speake True; Nature, made Wise;
Shortness, Obscure; and Gravity, Concise.
160. To Martial.
You lov'd to speak of Things; but persons spare:
Your Jests want Spleen; & sweet as Hony are.
161. To Petrarch.
Whilst
Laura may be view'd; thy burnisht strains;
Start boundless disputes, in the Gazors Brains;
Whether fair Laura, is more due to Thee;
Or the Prostration, of the Laurel-Tree.
162.
Pliny Translated into English, by Doctor Holland.
Pliny
is Long, 'cause many things he writes;
Pliny is short, much Matter, He endites.
Holland is Longer; Shorter; because He,
Hath Writ more full; hath shun'd Obscuritie.
163. Concerning Cicero. To Catullus.
None could of falshood, Catullus convict;
Nor that, which he of Tully, did Predict.
164. To the Historians of our Age.
Because of old, Historians would not Lie;
They were rewarded with an Eulogie.
But now He all Competitors outvies;
Whose Pen is fertil, with the Rampant Lies.
What one Protests, others defie; how can
Posterity confide, in this; that Man?
No Sciolist to Blot his Species spares:
Scarce any Modern Author, Truth reveres.
165. The King. His Subjects.
A prince, Imprudent; Subjects will confound;
As the Feet stumble, when the Brains are drown'd.
166. The Parliament.
The King, is King, alone; unto him Sole,
Why not Affairs, committed in the Whole?
Because of Justice, this makes him the Fount;
That though he Rules; He must give an Account.
167. To the Historian.
You noting Story, without harm, commence.
Expert in Things; which sad experience,
The Learned taught. What would be long to Try;
Is quickly known from Classick History.
168. Concerning Diet. To J. H.
If you would shun old Age; be sure to Use,
Moderate Physick: or not to abuse
Your self, with Feastings. If you should like Meat,
Take Physick; 'tis the way, not long to eat:
But if, as upon Physick, you Meals make;
Thin Diet's Healthful: and there's no Mistake.
169. The Peers of France.
Not at all Equals! yet sometimes, we see
Unequal Concord; equals disagree.
170. Publius Magnus. Cato Major. Fabius Maximus.
The greatest was less, then the Great; yet still,
Made the Greater, under wing keep his Bill.
Now you have read the Riddle, Answer Me;
Which was the very Greatest, of the Three?
171. To T. S.
My Wit, and judgment, serve not to rehearse,
Thy rare Endowments, in a polisht verse.
Your Judgment, Wit; over all Arts prevail:
Unless both Wit, and Judgment, in Me fail.
But though my Wit, and Judgment, little be:
Yet I have Judg'd the Truth; concerning Thee.
172. Of Himself.
No wonder that my Epigrams, are Lead:
I never bite my Nails, nor scratch my Head.
173. The five Senses.
Do the five servant-Senses, more assist
Us, in our Wils, and Pleasure; or resist?
174. Seeing.
To pleasing Objects, Sight, conveys the Minde;
And as her Vassal, doth it strongly binde.
175. Hearing.
Sweet Sounds, make in our Ears, but little stay;
They come like Air; like Air, they fly away.
176. Smelling.
The Nose is plac'd betwixt the Mouth & Eyes:
In Bodies; Spirits; doth Sent exercise.
177. Tasting.
That you may disgust nothing, you should Eat:
Let Hunger, give the Hogoo, to your Meat.
178. Feeling.
A touch may Tickle; or give bare Delight:
The first, is young; the last, is old Mens Right.
179. The Objects of the Senses.
The things I see, Hear, Smell, Taste, Touch; pretence,
Make to affect; but do infect, my Sense.
180. Touch and Taste.
Some are devoid of Smell; some Deaf, we finde:
And 'tis no Rarity, to see men Blinde.
But with want of Taste, Touch; the Fates ne'r strike:
By Taste I live; by Touch, beget my Like.
181. An Epigram. A Satyr.
An Epigram may aptly stiled be,
The long-ledg'd Satyrs, brief Epitomie.
A Satyr bears equal Respect; and is
An Epigram, with a Periphrasis.
Satyrs, without their Stings; are hiss'd by all:
So Epigrams, if not Satyrical.
182. Upon one Dumb.
He moves his Lips, yet speak I can't him hear:
Fetch Apollonius, for Interpreter.
183. The Blinde, and Deaf.
The one, his Sight; the other, Hearing prise:
One sees with Ears; the other hears with Eyes.
184.
Dentes, the Teeth; Lingua, the Tongue.
Dens
, quasi Edens; 'cause it helps to Eat:
Lingua, quod Lingit; 'cause it licks the Meat.
Thus to derive these words, Grammarians please;
From special duties; distinct Offices.
185. The Phœnix, and the Viper.
The Melancholy Phœnix when she dies;
Brings forth a Daughter in her Obsequies.
The fatal Viper, when she brings forth young,
Dies gnawn, run through; with poysonous Teeth, and Tongue.
186. The Silk-worm.
I perish by my Art; dig mine own Grave:
I spin my Thread of Life; my Death, I weave.
187. The Right Hand.
If Give, Receive, I still use my Right Hand;
My Right Hand Acts; my Left, shan't understand.
188. The Left Hand.
The Left Hand had its Name; because one Day,
All Right Hands wrought, whilst Left, left Work, for Play.
189. Sunday.
In the first day, there was no Sun at all:
Then what makes people Sunday, it to call?
190. Terra di Lavoro.
Of old, Campania, was a pleasant Land:
Why now, doth Labour old demerits brand?
191. Cloathes.
The Modes now in Request, were once thrown by:
Old Fashions revive, for their Novelty.
192. Wine.
Over a Glass of Wine, who can be Sad?
'Tis that unchains my Soul; makes my Heart glad.
193. A Sheep.
Flesh, Skin, Lambs, Dung, Dice, Lute-strings, Milk, and Wooll:
The harmless Sheep, affords us to the full.
194. The Dunging of Arable Land.
Dung is not useless, though base Excrement:
For it helps forward, my best nutriment.
195. Harmony.
Discords make sweetest Musick: By this Fate,
Husband, and Wife, do Children Procreate.
196. A Parret.
If to invert the Name, you'l leave give mee;
Then Parret turn'd a Prater you shall see.
197. Ink, and Paper.
Ink's black Patch, to affect the Readers sight;
Useth to Borrow, from the Paper, white.
198. A Comedie.
What we Act secretly, comes to the Stage:
Fiction, hits True, the Vices of our Age.
199. A man in a Cloke.
Though I trample the Earth; my vaulting Cloke,
Scorns Goodwife Tellus, durty cheeks to stroke.
A Scholar in a Gown.
Though my Gown kiss the ground, Thoughts come not near.
They make a Foot-stool of old Saturn's Sphear.
200. A Satyr.
Vice begot Satyrs; Vice begot the Law:
The end of both, is to keep Men in awe.
201. An Eunuch.
Though I want what some have; yet brag I can,
Ther's a false-witness left, to prove Me, Man.
202. The Hour-glass.
The cheating Hour-glass, at Time right may guess;
Because its Hole is bigger, & Sand, less.
203. The Merchant.
I can't call him Rich, or Poor; whose Estate,
Upon deluding Waters, fluctuate.
204. Lasciviousness.
That in the Night, deform'd seem Fair; you must
Not blame the Dark; but fault your stone-blind Lust.
205. Donna.
None keep their Wifes more under; yet none less
Forget, then He; to call them Mistresses.
206. A Souldier.
Though armed Mars, is cruel without bounds;
Yet naked Venus, gives Thee deeper wounds.
207. What an Army usually is.
A multitude, disloyal, rude, Hair-brain'd;
And perhaps Hands, with guiltless Bloudshed stain'd.
208. The Tears of Lovers.
As from the wood, Sap is expell'd by fire:
So Tears, are from the Head, by not Desire.
209. The Stars.
Love you Imparity? Beleeve me; God,
When He created Stars; created Odd.
210. Venice.
As Waters make the Sea; as Stars, the Sky:
So Riches, the Venetian Seignory.
211. The Lute.
Can there be many strings; and yet no Jars?
And are not men asham'd of dismal wars?
212. The Fowler.
What must the Fire, be on your errand sent?
Your will's observ'd, by Ev'ry Element.
213. The Eccho.
Ask Art to paint a voice; you it confound:
The Eccho can Limn voice; on hollow ground.
214. A Looking-Glass.
Apelles
could not depaint Motion; you
Excell his colours: To give you, your Due.
215. The Eccho and the Looking-Glasse.
No Sign of Life, but Sound; to Eccho grant:
Mirrors would Live; did they not voices want.
216. Musick.
The Muses, Name to Musick, do impart;
But scorn to Grace so much another Art.
217.
Albion. To the King.
The
Saxons had their Heptarchie. A while,
Nine large Partitions did dissect this Isle.
But Albion, Olbion, you have made to be;
Happy in her Dear Sisters, Unitie.
