Satyre II.

AWAY thou fondling motley humorist,Leave mee, and in this standing woodden chest,Consorted with these few bookes, let me lyeIn prison, and here be coffin'd, when I dye;5Here are Gods conduits, grave Divines; and hereNatures Secretary, the Philosopher;And jolly Statesmen, which teach how to tieThe sinewes of a cities mistique bodie;Here gathering Chroniclers, and by them stand10Giddie fantastique Poëts of each land.Shall I leave all this constant company,And follow headlong, wild uncertaine thee?First sweare by thy best love in earnest(If thou which lov'st all, canst love any best)15Thou wilt not leave mee in the middle street,Though some more spruce companion thou dost meet,Not though a Captaine do come in thy wayBright parcell gilt, with forty dead mens pay,Not though a briske perfum'd piert Courtier20Deigne with a nod, thy courtesie to answer.Nor come a velvet Justice with a longGreat traine of blew coats, twelve, or fourteen strong,Wilt thou grin or fawne on him, or prepareA speech to Court his beautious sonne and heire!25For better or worse take mee, or leave mee:To take, and leave mee is adultery.Oh monstrous, superstitious puritan,Of refin'd manners, yet ceremoniall man,That when thou meet'st one, with enquiring eyes30Dost search, and like a needy broker prizeThe silke, and gold he weares, and to that rateSo high or low, dost raise thy formall hat:That wilt consort none, untill thou have knowneWhat lands hee hath in hope, or of his owne,35As though all thy companions should make theeJointures, and marry thy deare company.Why should'st thou (that dost not onely approve,But in ranke itchie lust, desire, and loveThe nakednesse and barenesse to enjoy,40Of thy plumpe muddy whore, or prostitute boy)Hate vertue, though shee be naked, and bare?At birth, and death, our bodies naked are;And till our Soules be unapparrelledOf bodies, they from blisse are banished.45Mans first blest state was naked, when by sinneHee lost that, yet hee was cloath'd but in beasts skin,And in this course attire, which I now weare,With God, and with the Muses I conferre.But since thou like a contrite penitent,50Charitably warn'd of thy sinnes, dost repentThese vanities, and giddinesses, loeI shut my chamber doore, and come, lets goe.But sooner may a cheape whore, who hath beeneWorne by as many severall men in sinne,55As are black feathers, or musk-colour hose,Name her childs right true father, 'mongst all those:Sooner may one guesse, who shall beare awayThe Infanta of London, Heire to an India;And sooner may a gulling weather Spie60By drawing forth heavens Scheme tell certainlyWhat fashioned hats, or ruffes, or suits next yeareOur subtile-witted antique youths will weare;Then thou, when thou depart'st from mee, canst showWhither, why, when, or with whom thou wouldst go.65But how shall I be pardon'd my offenceThat thus have sinn'd against my conscience?Now we are in the street; He first of allImprovidently proud, creepes to the wall,And so imprisoned, and hem'd in by mee70Sells for a little state his libertie;Yet though he cannot skip forth now to greetEvery fine silken painted foole we meet,He them to him with amorous smiles allures,And grins, smacks, shrugs, and such an itch endures,75As prentises, or schoole-boyes which doe knowOf some gay sport abroad, yet dare not goe.And as fidlers stop lowest, at highest sound,So to the most brave, stoops hee nigh'st the ground.But to a grave man, he doth move no more80Then the wise politique horse would heretofore,Or thou O Elephant or Ape wilt doe,When any names the King of Spaine to you.Now leaps he upright, Joggs me, & cryes, Do you seeYonder well favoured youth? Which? Oh, 'tis hee85That dances so divinely; Oh, said I,Stand still, must you dance here for company?Hee droopt, wee went, till one (which did excellTh'Indians, in drinking his Tobacco well)Met us; they talk'd; I whispered, let'us goe,90'T may be you smell him not, truely I doe;He heares not mee, but, on the other sideA many-coloured Peacock having spide,Leaves him and mee; I for my lost sheep stay;He followes, overtakes, goes on the way,95Saying, him whom I last left, all reputeFor his device, in hansoming a sute,To judge of lace, pinke, panes, print, cut, and plight,Of all the Court, to have the best conceit;Our dull Comedians want him, let him goe;100But Oh, God strengthen thee, why stoop'st thou so?Why? he hath travayld; Long? No; but to me(Which understand none,) he doth seeme to bePerfect French, and Italian; I replyed,So is the Poxe; He answered not, but spy'd105More men of fort, of parts, and qualities;At last his Love he in a windowe spies,And like light dew exhal'd, he flings from meeViolently ravish'd to his lechery.Many were there, he could command no more;110Hee quarrell'd fought, bled; and turn'd out of doreDirectly came to mee hanging the head,And constantly a while must keepe his bed.

AWAY thou fondling motley humorist,

Leave mee, and in this standing woodden chest,

Consorted with these few bookes, let me lye

In prison, and here be coffin'd, when I dye;

5Here are Gods conduits, grave Divines; and here

Natures Secretary, the Philosopher;

And jolly Statesmen, which teach how to tie

The sinewes of a cities mistique bodie;

Here gathering Chroniclers, and by them stand

10Giddie fantastique Poëts of each land.

Shall I leave all this constant company,

And follow headlong, wild uncertaine thee?

First sweare by thy best love in earnest

(If thou which lov'st all, canst love any best)

15Thou wilt not leave mee in the middle street,

Though some more spruce companion thou dost meet,

Not though a Captaine do come in thy way

Bright parcell gilt, with forty dead mens pay,

Not though a briske perfum'd piert Courtier

20Deigne with a nod, thy courtesie to answer.

Nor come a velvet Justice with a long

Great traine of blew coats, twelve, or fourteen strong,

Wilt thou grin or fawne on him, or prepare

A speech to Court his beautious sonne and heire!

25For better or worse take mee, or leave mee:

To take, and leave mee is adultery.

Oh monstrous, superstitious puritan,

Of refin'd manners, yet ceremoniall man,

That when thou meet'st one, with enquiring eyes

30Dost search, and like a needy broker prize

The silke, and gold he weares, and to that rate

So high or low, dost raise thy formall hat:

That wilt consort none, untill thou have knowne

What lands hee hath in hope, or of his owne,

35As though all thy companions should make thee

Jointures, and marry thy deare company.

Why should'st thou (that dost not onely approve,

But in ranke itchie lust, desire, and love

The nakednesse and barenesse to enjoy,

40Of thy plumpe muddy whore, or prostitute boy)

Hate vertue, though shee be naked, and bare?

At birth, and death, our bodies naked are;

And till our Soules be unapparrelled

Of bodies, they from blisse are banished.

45Mans first blest state was naked, when by sinne

Hee lost that, yet hee was cloath'd but in beasts skin,

And in this course attire, which I now weare,

With God, and with the Muses I conferre.

But since thou like a contrite penitent,

50Charitably warn'd of thy sinnes, dost repent

These vanities, and giddinesses, loe

I shut my chamber doore, and come, lets goe.

But sooner may a cheape whore, who hath beene

Worne by as many severall men in sinne,

55As are black feathers, or musk-colour hose,

Name her childs right true father, 'mongst all those:

Sooner may one guesse, who shall beare away

The Infanta of London, Heire to an India;

And sooner may a gulling weather Spie

60By drawing forth heavens Scheme tell certainly

What fashioned hats, or ruffes, or suits next yeare

Our subtile-witted antique youths will weare;

Then thou, when thou depart'st from mee, canst show

Whither, why, when, or with whom thou wouldst go.

65But how shall I be pardon'd my offence

That thus have sinn'd against my conscience?

Now we are in the street; He first of all

Improvidently proud, creepes to the wall,

And so imprisoned, and hem'd in by mee

70Sells for a little state his libertie;

Yet though he cannot skip forth now to greet

Every fine silken painted foole we meet,

He them to him with amorous smiles allures,

And grins, smacks, shrugs, and such an itch endures,

75As prentises, or schoole-boyes which doe know

Of some gay sport abroad, yet dare not goe.

And as fidlers stop lowest, at highest sound,

So to the most brave, stoops hee nigh'st the ground.

But to a grave man, he doth move no more

80Then the wise politique horse would heretofore,

Or thou O Elephant or Ape wilt doe,

When any names the King of Spaine to you.

Now leaps he upright, Joggs me, & cryes, Do you see

Yonder well favoured youth? Which? Oh, 'tis hee

85That dances so divinely; Oh, said I,

Stand still, must you dance here for company?

Hee droopt, wee went, till one (which did excell

Th'Indians, in drinking his Tobacco well)

Met us; they talk'd; I whispered, let'us goe,

90'T may be you smell him not, truely I doe;

He heares not mee, but, on the other side

A many-coloured Peacock having spide,

Leaves him and mee; I for my lost sheep stay;

He followes, overtakes, goes on the way,

95Saying, him whom I last left, all repute

For his device, in hansoming a sute,

To judge of lace, pinke, panes, print, cut, and plight,

Of all the Court, to have the best conceit;

Our dull Comedians want him, let him goe;

100But Oh, God strengthen thee, why stoop'st thou so?

Why? he hath travayld; Long? No; but to me

(Which understand none,) he doth seeme to be

Perfect French, and Italian; I replyed,

So is the Poxe; He answered not, but spy'd

105More men of fort, of parts, and qualities;

At last his Love he in a windowe spies,

And like light dew exhal'd, he flings from mee

Violently ravish'd to his lechery.

Many were there, he could command no more;

110Hee quarrell'd fought, bled; and turn'd out of dore

Directly came to mee hanging the head,

And constantly a while must keepe his bed.

Satyre I.1633-69,D,H49,JC,Lec,P,Q,S,W:Satyre the Second.orSatyre 2.A25,B,O'F:Satyre.orA Satyre of Mr. John Donnes.Cy,L74,S96:no title(but placed first),H51,N,TCD1 fondling1633,L74,Lec,N,S,TCD:changeling1635-69,A25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,O'F,P,Q,S96,W5 conduits, ... Divines;1650-69,Q:conduits; ... Divines,1633-396 Is Natures Secretary,1669,S96Philosopher;Ed:Philosopher.1633-39:Philosopher:1659-697 jolly1633,A25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,L74,N,Q,S,S96,TCD,W:wily1635-69,O'F:withP12 headlong, wild uncertaine thee?1633:om. comma 1635-69 and Grolier13 love in earnest1633,A25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,L74,Lec,N,P,Q,S,S96,TCD,W:love, here, in earnest1635-69,O'F16 dost. meet,] doe meet.H51,Q,W19 Not1633-69,A25,Lec,P,Q:NorCy,D,H49,L74,N,O'F,S,S96,TCD,Wpiert] neatQ23 Wilt1633-69,L74,Lec,N,TCD:ShaltA25,B,D,H49,H51,JC,O'F,P,Q,S,S96,W24 heire!Ed:heire?1633-6925 or worse1633-69,Cy,D,L74,Lec,N,O'F,Q,TCD:and worseA25,B,H49,H51,S96,W:or for worseP:and for worseJC27 Oh monstrous,] A (i.e.Ah)orO Monster,B,D,H49,H51,JC,W29 eyes1635-69:eyes;163332 raise1633-69,D,H49,H51,L74,Lec,N,TCD:vaileA25,B,Cy,JC,O'F,P,Q,S,What:] hate:163333 consort none,] consort with none,Cy,O'F,P,S,S96untill] till166937-40brackets1650-69,Q:that ... boy1633:that ... boy;1635-3939 barenesseA25,B,D,H49,H51,JC,O'F,Q,W:barrennesse1633-69,L74,Lec,N,P,S,TCD40 Of] of1633:or1633,1669:om. 1635-5441 bare?1635-69:bare,163345 first blest1633-69,Cy,D,H49,L74,Lec,N,TCD,W:first bestA25,B,H51,JC,O'F,P,Q,S46 yet1633,A25,B,D,H49,H51,JC,L74,Lec,N,Q,S,TCD:om. 1635-69,Cy,O'F,P47 weare,1650-69:weare1633-3950 warn'd] warm'd163352 goe.1635-69:goe,163354 Worne by] Worne out by1650-6955 musk-colour1633-35,D,H49,L74,Lec,N,TCD,W:musk-coloured1639-69,A25,P,Q58 The Infanta ... India;Ed:The Infanta ... India,A25,O'F,Q:The infant ... India,1633-54 and MSS. generally:The Infantry of London, hence to India:166960 Scheme1635-69,A25,B,D,H49,H51,JC,Q:schemesL74,S:sceamesN:Sceanes1633,Cy,Lec,TCD:sceneP62 subtile-wittedD,H49:subtile wittied1633-54,L74,N,TCD:supple-wittedA25,JC(altered tosubtle),H51,O'F,P,Q,S,W:giddy-headed1669youths] youth166963 depart'st from mee] depart'st from henceCy,D,H49,H51,O'F,S,W:departest henceA25,Q,S96canstJC, Q:can1633-69 and many MSS.66 conscience?] conscience.163370 state] roomH51his1635-69 and all MSS.:high1633,Chamberslibertie;] libertie,163373 them] then163378 stoops1635-69,A25,Cy,D,H49,H51,O'F,Q:stoopethB,P:stoopt1633,L74,Lec,N,TCDnigh'st the ground.] nighest ground.D,H49,P,Q,W81-2om. 163384 youth?1635-69:youth;1633Oh,] Yea,A25,B,H51,JC,Q,W86 here] soH5189 us;Ed:us:1635-69:us,1633whispered, let'us goe,Ed:whispered, let us goe,1633-54:whisperd, let us goe,1669:whispered (letts goe)Q.See note90 'T may be] May beCy,D,H49,JC,Lec,O'F,P,Q,S,S96,W94 goes on the way,] goes, on the wayD,H49,Q(in),W(in)95 all repute1635-69 and MSS. generally:s'all repute1633,Lec97 print, cut, and plight (pleite,1635-39:pleit,1650-69),1633-69,L74,Lec,N,TCD:cut, print, or pleate (pleight&c.),A25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,O'F,P,Q,S96,W100 stoop'st1633,1669,A25,B,D,H49,H51,JC,L74,Lec,N,P,Q,TCD:stop'st.1635-54,O'F101 Why? he hath travayld; Long? No; but to meS96:Why: he hath travayld. Long? No: but to meeW:Why, hee hath travayl'd. Long? no. But to meeH49:Why he hath travayld; Longe? Noe: but to meeJC:Why, he hath travailed (traveled1635-39) long? no, but to me1633-39:Why hath he travelled long? no, but to me1650-54,P:Why. He hath travelled long; no, but to me1669.See note102 understand] understood1669:brackets from Q.See note105 and qualities;] of qualities;Lec,P,Q,S96106 a]om. 1669108 lechery.1635-69 and MSS:liberty;1633109 were there,1633-39:there were,1650-69

Satyre I.1633-69,D,H49,JC,Lec,P,Q,S,W:Satyre the Second.orSatyre 2.A25,B,O'F:Satyre.orA Satyre of Mr. John Donnes.Cy,L74,S96:no title(but placed first),H51,N,TCD

1 fondling1633,L74,Lec,N,S,TCD:changeling1635-69,A25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,O'F,P,Q,S96,W

5 conduits, ... Divines;1650-69,Q:conduits; ... Divines,1633-39

6 Is Natures Secretary,1669,S96

Philosopher;Ed:Philosopher.1633-39:Philosopher:1659-69

7 jolly1633,A25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,L74,N,Q,S,S96,TCD,W:wily1635-69,O'F:withP

12 headlong, wild uncertaine thee?1633:om. comma 1635-69 and Grolier

13 love in earnest1633,A25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,L74,Lec,N,P,Q,S,S96,TCD,W:love, here, in earnest1635-69,O'F

16 dost. meet,] doe meet.H51,Q,W

19 Not1633-69,A25,Lec,P,Q:NorCy,D,H49,L74,N,O'F,S,S96,TCD,W

piert] neatQ

23 Wilt1633-69,L74,Lec,N,TCD:ShaltA25,B,D,H49,H51,JC,O'F,P,Q,S,S96,W

24 heire!Ed:heire?1633-69

25 or worse1633-69,Cy,D,L74,Lec,N,O'F,Q,TCD:and worseA25,B,H49,H51,S96,W:or for worseP:and for worseJC

27 Oh monstrous,] A (i.e.Ah)orO Monster,B,D,H49,H51,JC,W

29 eyes1635-69:eyes;1633

32 raise1633-69,D,H49,H51,L74,Lec,N,TCD:vaileA25,B,Cy,JC,O'F,P,Q,S,W

hat:] hate:1633

33 consort none,] consort with none,Cy,O'F,P,S,S96

untill] till1669

37-40brackets1650-69,Q:that ... boy1633:that ... boy;1635-39

39 barenesseA25,B,D,H49,H51,JC,O'F,Q,W:barrennesse1633-69,L74,Lec,N,P,S,TCD

40 Of] of1633:or1633,1669:om. 1635-54

41 bare?1635-69:bare,1633

45 first blest1633-69,Cy,D,H49,L74,Lec,N,TCD,W:first bestA25,B,H51,JC,O'F,P,Q,S

46 yet1633,A25,B,D,H49,H51,JC,L74,Lec,N,Q,S,TCD:om. 1635-69,Cy,O'F,P

47 weare,1650-69:weare1633-39

50 warn'd] warm'd1633

52 goe.1635-69:goe,1633

54 Worne by] Worne out by1650-69

55 musk-colour1633-35,D,H49,L74,Lec,N,TCD,W:musk-coloured1639-69,A25,P,Q

58 The Infanta ... India;Ed:The Infanta ... India,A25,O'F,Q:The infant ... India,1633-54 and MSS. generally:The Infantry of London, hence to India:1669

60 Scheme1635-69,A25,B,D,H49,H51,JC,Q:schemesL74,S:sceamesN:Sceanes1633,Cy,Lec,TCD:sceneP

62 subtile-wittedD,H49:subtile wittied1633-54,L74,N,TCD:supple-wittedA25,JC(altered tosubtle),H51,O'F,P,Q,S,W:giddy-headed1669

youths] youth1669

63 depart'st from mee] depart'st from henceCy,D,H49,H51,O'F,S,W:departest henceA25,Q,S96

canstJC, Q:can1633-69 and many MSS.

66 conscience?] conscience.1633

70 state] roomH51

his1635-69 and all MSS.:high1633,Chambers

libertie;] libertie,1633

73 them] then1633

78 stoops1635-69,A25,Cy,D,H49,H51,O'F,Q:stoopethB,P:stoopt1633,L74,Lec,N,TCD

nigh'st the ground.] nighest ground.D,H49,P,Q,W

81-2om. 1633

84 youth?1635-69:youth;1633

Oh,] Yea,A25,B,H51,JC,Q,W

86 here] soH51

89 us;Ed:us:1635-69:us,1633

whispered, let'us goe,Ed:whispered, let us goe,1633-54:whisperd, let us goe,1669:whispered (letts goe)Q.See note

90 'T may be] May beCy,D,H49,JC,Lec,O'F,P,Q,S,S96,W

94 goes on the way,] goes, on the wayD,H49,Q(in),W(in)

95 all repute1635-69 and MSS. generally:s'all repute1633,Lec

97 print, cut, and plight (pleite,1635-39:pleit,1650-69),1633-69,L74,Lec,N,TCD:cut, print, or pleate (pleight&c.),A25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,O'F,P,Q,S96,W

100 stoop'st1633,1669,A25,B,D,H49,H51,JC,L74,Lec,N,P,Q,TCD:stop'st.1635-54,O'F

101 Why? he hath travayld; Long? No; but to meS96:Why: he hath travayld. Long? No: but to meeW:Why, hee hath travayl'd. Long? no. But to meeH49:Why he hath travayld; Longe? Noe: but to meeJC:Why, he hath travailed (traveled1635-39) long? no, but to me1633-39:Why hath he travelled long? no, but to me1650-54,P:Why. He hath travelled long; no, but to me1669.See note

102 understand] understood1669:brackets from Q.See note

105 and qualities;] of qualities;Lec,P,Q,S96

106 a]om. 1669

108 lechery.1635-69 and MSS:liberty;1633

109 were there,1633-39:there were,1650-69

Note

SIR; though (I thanke God for it) I do hatePerfectly all this towne, yet there's one stateIn all ill things so excellently best,That hate, toward them, breeds pitty towards the rest.5Though Poëtry indeed be such a sinneAs I thinke that brings dearths, and Spaniards in,Though like the Pestilence and old fashion'd love,Ridlingly it catch men; and doth removeNever, till it be sterv'd out; yet their state10Is poore, disarm'd, like Papists, not worth hate.One, (like a wretch, which at Barre judg'd as dead,Yet prompts him which stands next, and cannot reade,And saves his life) gives ideot actors meanes(Starving himselfe) to live by his labor'd sceanes;15As in some Organ, Puppits dance aboveAnd bellows pant below, which them do move.One would move Love by rithmes; but witchcrafts charmsBring not now their old feares, nor their old harmes:Rammes, and slings now are seely battery,20Pistolets are the best Artillerie.And they who write to Lords, rewards to get,Are they not like singers at doores for meat?And they who write, because all write, have stillThat excuse for writing, and for writing ill;25But hee is worst, who (beggarly) doth chawOthers wits fruits, and in his ravenous mawRankly digested, doth those things out-spue,As his owne things; and they are his owne, 'tis true,For if one eate my meate, though it be knowne30The meate was mine, th'excrement is his owne:But these do mee no harme, nor they which useTo out-doe Dildoes, and out-usure Jewes;To out-drinke the sea, to out-sweare the Letanie;Who with sinnes all kindes as familiar bee35As Confessors; and for whose sinfull sake,Schoolemen new tenements in hell must make:Whose strange sinnes, Canonists could hardly tellIn which Commandements large receit they dwell.But these punish themselves; the insolence40Of Coscus onely breeds my just offence,Whom time (which rots all, and makes botches poxe,And plodding on, must make a calfe an oxe)Hath made a Lawyer, which was (alas) of lateBut a scarce Poët; jollier of this state,45Then are new benefic'd ministers, he throwesLike nets, or lime-twigs, wheresoever he goes,His title of Barrister, on every wench,And wooes in language of the Pleas, and Bench:A motion, Lady; Speake Coscus; I have beene50In love, ever sincetricesimoof the Queene,Continuall claimes I have made, injunctions gotTo stay my rivals suit, that hee should notProceed; spare mee; In Hillary terme I went,You said, If I return'd next size in Lent,55I should be in remitter of your grace;In th'interim my letters should take placeOf affidavits: words, words, which would teareThe tender labyrinth of a soft maids eare,More, more, then ten Sclavonians scolding, more60Then when winds in our ruin'd Abbeyes rore.When sicke with Poëtrie, and possest with museThou wast, and mad, I hop'd; but men which chuseLaw practise for meere gaine, bold soule, reputeWorse then imbrothel'd strumpets prostitute.65Now like an owlelike watchman, hee must walkeHis hand still at a bill, now he must talkeIdly, like prisoners, which whole months will sweareThat onely suretiship hath brought them there,And to every suitor lye in every thing,70Like a Kings favourite, yea like a King;Like a wedge in a blocke, wring to the barre,Bearing-like Asses; and more shamelesse farreThen carted whores, lye, to the grave Judge; forBastardy abounds not in Kings titles, nor75Symonie and Sodomy in Churchmens lives,As these things do in him; by these he thrives.Shortly (as the sea) hee will compasse all our land;From Scots, to Wight; from Mount, to Dover strand.And spying heires melting with luxurie,80Satan will not joy at their sinnes, as hee.For as a thrifty wench scrapes kitching-stuffe,And barrelling the droppings, and the snuffe,Of wasting candles, which in thirty yeare(Relique-like kept) perchance buyes wedding geare;85Peecemeale he gets lands, and spends as much timeWringing each Acre, as men pulling prime.In parchments then, large as his fields, hee drawesAssurances, bigge, as gloss'd civill lawes,So huge, that men (in our times forwardnesse)90Are Fathers of the Church for writing lesse.These hee writes not; nor for these written payes,Therefore spares no length; as in those first dayesWhen Luther was profest, He did desireShortPater nosters, saying as a Fryer95Each day his beads, but having left those lawes,Addes to Christs prayer, the Power and glory clause.But when he sells or changes land, he'impairesHis writings, and (unwatch'd) leaves out,ses heires,As slily as any Commenter goes by100Hard words, or sense; or in DivinityAs controverters, in vouch'd Texts, leave outShrewd words, which might against them cleare the doubt.Where are those spred woods which cloth'd hertoforeThose bought lands? not built, nor burnt within dore.105Where's th'old landlords troops, and almes? In great halsCarthusian fasts, and fulsome BachanallsEqually I hate; meanes blesse; in rich mens homesI bid kill some beasts, but no Hecatombs,None starve, none surfet so; But (Oh) we allow,110Good workes as good, but out of fashion now,Like old rich wardrops; but my words none drawesWithin the vast reach of th'huge statute lawes.

SIR; though (I thanke God for it) I do hate

Perfectly all this towne, yet there's one state

In all ill things so excellently best,

That hate, toward them, breeds pitty towards the rest.

5Though Poëtry indeed be such a sinne

As I thinke that brings dearths, and Spaniards in,

Though like the Pestilence and old fashion'd love,

Ridlingly it catch men; and doth remove

Never, till it be sterv'd out; yet their state

10Is poore, disarm'd, like Papists, not worth hate.

One, (like a wretch, which at Barre judg'd as dead,

Yet prompts him which stands next, and cannot reade,

And saves his life) gives ideot actors meanes

(Starving himselfe) to live by his labor'd sceanes;

15As in some Organ, Puppits dance above

And bellows pant below, which them do move.

One would move Love by rithmes; but witchcrafts charms

Bring not now their old feares, nor their old harmes:

Rammes, and slings now are seely battery,

20Pistolets are the best Artillerie.

And they who write to Lords, rewards to get,

Are they not like singers at doores for meat?

And they who write, because all write, have still

That excuse for writing, and for writing ill;

25But hee is worst, who (beggarly) doth chaw

Others wits fruits, and in his ravenous maw

Rankly digested, doth those things out-spue,

As his owne things; and they are his owne, 'tis true,

For if one eate my meate, though it be knowne

30The meate was mine, th'excrement is his owne:

But these do mee no harme, nor they which use

To out-doe Dildoes, and out-usure Jewes;

To out-drinke the sea, to out-sweare the Letanie;

Who with sinnes all kindes as familiar bee

35As Confessors; and for whose sinfull sake,

Schoolemen new tenements in hell must make:

Whose strange sinnes, Canonists could hardly tell

In which Commandements large receit they dwell.

But these punish themselves; the insolence

40Of Coscus onely breeds my just offence,

Whom time (which rots all, and makes botches poxe,

And plodding on, must make a calfe an oxe)

Hath made a Lawyer, which was (alas) of late

But a scarce Poët; jollier of this state,

45Then are new benefic'd ministers, he throwes

Like nets, or lime-twigs, wheresoever he goes,

His title of Barrister, on every wench,

And wooes in language of the Pleas, and Bench:

A motion, Lady; Speake Coscus; I have beene

50In love, ever sincetricesimoof the Queene,

Continuall claimes I have made, injunctions got

To stay my rivals suit, that hee should not

Proceed; spare mee; In Hillary terme I went,

You said, If I return'd next size in Lent,

55I should be in remitter of your grace;

In th'interim my letters should take place

Of affidavits: words, words, which would teare

The tender labyrinth of a soft maids eare,

More, more, then ten Sclavonians scolding, more

60Then when winds in our ruin'd Abbeyes rore.

When sicke with Poëtrie, and possest with muse

Thou wast, and mad, I hop'd; but men which chuse

Law practise for meere gaine, bold soule, repute

Worse then imbrothel'd strumpets prostitute.

65Now like an owlelike watchman, hee must walke

His hand still at a bill, now he must talke

Idly, like prisoners, which whole months will sweare

That onely suretiship hath brought them there,

And to every suitor lye in every thing,

70Like a Kings favourite, yea like a King;

Like a wedge in a blocke, wring to the barre,

Bearing-like Asses; and more shamelesse farre

Then carted whores, lye, to the grave Judge; for

Bastardy abounds not in Kings titles, nor

75Symonie and Sodomy in Churchmens lives,

As these things do in him; by these he thrives.

Shortly (as the sea) hee will compasse all our land;

From Scots, to Wight; from Mount, to Dover strand.

And spying heires melting with luxurie,

80Satan will not joy at their sinnes, as hee.

For as a thrifty wench scrapes kitching-stuffe,

And barrelling the droppings, and the snuffe,

Of wasting candles, which in thirty yeare

(Relique-like kept) perchance buyes wedding geare;

85Peecemeale he gets lands, and spends as much time

Wringing each Acre, as men pulling prime.

In parchments then, large as his fields, hee drawes

Assurances, bigge, as gloss'd civill lawes,

So huge, that men (in our times forwardnesse)

90Are Fathers of the Church for writing lesse.

These hee writes not; nor for these written payes,

Therefore spares no length; as in those first dayes

When Luther was profest, He did desire

ShortPater nosters, saying as a Fryer

95Each day his beads, but having left those lawes,

Addes to Christs prayer, the Power and glory clause.

But when he sells or changes land, he'impaires

His writings, and (unwatch'd) leaves out,ses heires,

As slily as any Commenter goes by

100Hard words, or sense; or in Divinity

As controverters, in vouch'd Texts, leave out

Shrewd words, which might against them cleare the doubt.

Where are those spred woods which cloth'd hertofore

Those bought lands? not built, nor burnt within dore.

105Where's th'old landlords troops, and almes? In great hals

Carthusian fasts, and fulsome Bachanalls

Equally I hate; meanes blesse; in rich mens homes

I bid kill some beasts, but no Hecatombs,

None starve, none surfet so; But (Oh) we allow,

110Good workes as good, but out of fashion now,

Like old rich wardrops; but my words none drawes

Within the vast reach of th'huge statute lawes.

Satyre II.:1633-69,D,H49,H51,HN(after C. B. copyin margin),JC,Lec,Q,S,W:Satyre 3rd.A25:Law Satyre.P:Satire.or no title,B,Cy,L74,N,O'F,S96,TCD2-3there is oneAll this towne perfectly yet in every stateIn all ill things so excellently bestThere are some found so villainously best,H51All this towne perfectly yet everie stateHath in't one found so villainously bestS964 toward] towards1669andMSS.them,] thatA25towards] toward1653-54rest.] rest;16336 As I thinke that1633:As I thinke That1635-54:As, I think, that1669:As I'ame afraid bringsH51dearths,A25,H51,HN,L74,Lec,N,TCD,W:dearth,1633-69,D,H497 and] orA25,D,H49,H51,O'F,P,S96,W8 Ridlingly it1633-69,L74,Lec,N,TCDIt riddlinglierest of MSS.10 hate.Ed:hate:1633-6912 cannot1633-69,L74,Lec,N,TCD:could notrest of MSS.14 sceanes;Ed:sceanes.1633-69 and Chambers15 Organ1633-54,L74,Lec,N,TCD:Organs1669 and rest of MSS.16 move.1633-69:move,Chambers.See note17 rithmes;1633-69,Lec,Q,TCD:rimes;A25,B,Cy(rime),D,H49,H51,HN,JC,L74,N,O'F,P,W18 harmes:Ed:harmes.1633-6919 Rammes, and slings] Rimes and songsP22 singers at doores1633-69,L74,Lec,N,TCD:Boyes singing at dore (ordores)B,Cy,D,H49,H51,HN,JC,O'F(corrected fromsingers),P,Q(at a dore),S,W:singers at mens doresA2524 excuse] scuseMSS.32 To out-doe Dildoes,1635-69, B, H51, L74, Lec, N, P, Q, TCD:To out-doe ——;1633:To out-swive dildoesCy,D,H49,HN,O'F,S,S96,W33 Letanie;Ed:Letanie,1669 and all MSS.:——1633:simply omit,1635-39:gallant, he1650-54.See note34 sinnes all kindes1635-69,A25,B,D,H49,H51,HN,JC,L74,N,O'F,Q,S,TCD,W:sinnes of all kindes1633,Cy(kind),Lec, P35-6 sake, Schoolemen1669:sake Schoolemen,1633-5440 just1633-69,L74,Lec,N,TCD:greatA25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,HN,O'F,P,Q,S,S96,W:hartsJC43 Lawyer,Ed:Lawyer;1633-69which was (alas) of lateEd:which was alas of late1633:which, (alas) of late1635-6944 a scarceA25,H49,H51,HN,JC(altered in margin),L74,Q,S96,TCD,W:scarce a1633-69,D,Lec,PPoet;1635-69:Poët,1633this1633-69:thatA25,Cy,H51,Q:hisHN,JC,O'F,S49 Lady;Ed:Lady,1633:Lady.1635-39:Lady:1650-69Coscus;1633:Coscus.1635-6953 Proceed;1669:Proceed,1633-5454 return'd] Returne1633next size1633-69,L74,Lec,N,O'F,TCD:this sizerest of MSS.58 soft maids eare,Ed:soft maids eare.1633-54 and MSS.:Maids soft ear166959 scolding] scolding's166960 rore.] rore;163363 gaine, bold soule, reputeEd:gaine; bold soule repute1633-69,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,HN,L74,P,W:gayne (bold soule) repute:Q:gain, bold souls repute1719 and Chambers:gayne, hold soule reputeA25,N,S,TCD, and Lowell's conjecture in Grolier.See note68 That] TheChambers69-70These lines represented by dashes,163370 yeaA25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,HN,JC,L74,Lec,N,O'F,P,Q,S,S96,TCD,W:or1635-6972 Bearing-like Asses;Ed:Bearing like Asses,1633-69 and MSS.73 whores,1633-69:whores;Chambers and Grolier.See note74-5These lines represented by dashes,163377 our land;] our land,A25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,HN,JC,L74,Lec,N,O'F,P,S,S96,TCD,W:the land;1633-69,Q79 luxurie,1633-69,A25,JC,L74,Lec,N,O'F(corr. fr.Gluttony),P,Q,TCD:GluttonyB,Cy,D,H49,H51,HN,S,S96,W80 will] wouldA25,Q84 Relique-likeA25,B,D,H49,H51,L74,N,O'F,Q,S,S96,TCD,W:Reliquely1633-69,Cy,JC,Lec,Pgeare;] chear;1669(which brackets from81 asto end of84),Cy86 men] Maids166987 parchmentsA25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,Q,W:parchment1633-69,L74,Lec,N,O'F,P,S,S96,TCDhis] the166998ses 1633-69,B,L74,Lec,Q,and other MSS.:hisCy,D,H49,H51,Pheires,] heires163399 As] And1669by] by,1633102 doubt.] doubt:1633105 Where's&c.Ed:Where's th'old landlords troops, and almes, great hals?1633,Lec,N,TCD(buthalsMSS.): Where the old landlords troops, and almes? In hals1635-69,L74,O'F:Where the old landlords troopes and almes? In great hallsA25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,HN,P,Q,S,W(but the punctuation is very irregular, and some have'safterWhere).See note107 Equally I hate;] Equallie hate,Qhate;Ed:hate,1633:hate.1635-69meanes bless;1633,A25,B,D,H49,H51,JC,L74,N,O'F,P,Q,TCD,W:Meane's blest.1635-69,Cy,S,S96(altered tois blest).See note111 in wardrops;1633:wardrobes.1635-69112 statute lawes.1633-54 and all MSS.:statutes jawes.1669,Chambers

Satyre II.:1633-69,D,H49,H51,HN(after C. B. copyin margin),JC,Lec,Q,S,W:Satyre 3rd.A25:Law Satyre.P:Satire.or no title,B,Cy,L74,N,O'F,S96,TCD

2-3

there is oneAll this towne perfectly yet in every stateIn all ill things so excellently bestThere are some found so villainously best,H51All this towne perfectly yet everie stateHath in't one found so villainously bestS96

there is oneAll this towne perfectly yet in every stateIn all ill things so excellently bestThere are some found so villainously best,H51

there is one

All this towne perfectly yet in every state

In all ill things so excellently best

There are some found so villainously best,H51

All this towne perfectly yet everie stateHath in't one found so villainously bestS96

All this towne perfectly yet everie state

Hath in't one found so villainously bestS96

4 toward] towards1669andMSS.

them,] thatA25

towards] toward1653-54

rest.] rest;1633

6 As I thinke that1633:As I thinke That1635-54:As, I think, that1669:As I'ame afraid bringsH51dearths,A25,H51,HN,L74,Lec,N,TCD,W:dearth,1633-69,D,H49

7 and] orA25,D,H49,H51,O'F,P,S96,W

8 Ridlingly it1633-69,L74,Lec,N,TCDIt riddlinglierest of MSS.

10 hate.Ed:hate:1633-69

12 cannot1633-69,L74,Lec,N,TCD:could notrest of MSS.

14 sceanes;Ed:sceanes.1633-69 and Chambers

15 Organ1633-54,L74,Lec,N,TCD:Organs1669 and rest of MSS.

16 move.1633-69:move,Chambers.See note

17 rithmes;1633-69,Lec,Q,TCD:rimes;A25,B,Cy(rime),D,H49,H51,HN,JC,L74,N,O'F,P,W

18 harmes:Ed:harmes.1633-69

19 Rammes, and slings] Rimes and songsP

22 singers at doores1633-69,L74,Lec,N,TCD:Boyes singing at dore (ordores)B,Cy,D,H49,H51,HN,JC,O'F(corrected fromsingers),P,Q(at a dore),S,W:singers at mens doresA25

24 excuse] scuseMSS.

32 To out-doe Dildoes,1635-69, B, H51, L74, Lec, N, P, Q, TCD:To out-doe ——;1633:To out-swive dildoesCy,D,H49,HN,O'F,S,S96,W

33 Letanie;Ed:Letanie,1669 and all MSS.:——1633:simply omit,1635-39:gallant, he1650-54.See note

34 sinnes all kindes1635-69,A25,B,D,H49,H51,HN,JC,L74,N,O'F,Q,S,TCD,W:sinnes of all kindes1633,Cy(kind),Lec, P

35-6 sake, Schoolemen1669:sake Schoolemen,1633-54

40 just1633-69,L74,Lec,N,TCD:greatA25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,HN,O'F,P,Q,S,S96,W:hartsJC

43 Lawyer,Ed:Lawyer;1633-69

which was (alas) of lateEd:which was alas of late1633:which, (alas) of late1635-69

44 a scarceA25,H49,H51,HN,JC(altered in margin),L74,Q,S96,TCD,W:scarce a1633-69,D,Lec,P

Poet;1635-69:Poët,1633

this1633-69:thatA25,Cy,H51,Q:hisHN,JC,O'F,S

49 Lady;Ed:Lady,1633:Lady.1635-39:Lady:1650-69

Coscus;1633:Coscus.1635-69

53 Proceed;1669:Proceed,1633-54

54 return'd] Returne1633next size1633-69,L74,Lec,N,O'F,TCD:this sizerest of MSS.

58 soft maids eare,Ed:soft maids eare.1633-54 and MSS.:Maids soft ear1669

59 scolding] scolding's1669

60 rore.] rore;1633

63 gaine, bold soule, reputeEd:gaine; bold soule repute1633-69,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,HN,L74,P,W:gayne (bold soule) repute:Q:gain, bold souls repute1719 and Chambers:gayne, hold soule reputeA25,N,S,TCD, and Lowell's conjecture in Grolier.See note

68 That] TheChambers

69-70These lines represented by dashes,1633

70 yeaA25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,HN,JC,L74,Lec,N,O'F,P,Q,S,S96,TCD,W:or1635-69

72 Bearing-like Asses;Ed:Bearing like Asses,1633-69 and MSS.

73 whores,1633-69:whores;Chambers and Grolier.See note

74-5These lines represented by dashes,1633

77 our land;] our land,A25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,HN,JC,L74,Lec,N,O'F,P,S,S96,TCD,W:the land;1633-69,Q

79 luxurie,1633-69,A25,JC,L74,Lec,N,O'F(corr. fr.Gluttony),P,Q,TCD:GluttonyB,Cy,D,H49,H51,HN,S,S96,W

80 will] wouldA25,Q

84 Relique-likeA25,B,D,H49,H51,L74,N,O'F,Q,S,S96,TCD,W:Reliquely1633-69,Cy,JC,Lec,P

geare;] chear;1669(which brackets from81 asto end of84),Cy

86 men] Maids1669

87 parchmentsA25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,Q,W:parchment1633-69,L74,Lec,N,O'F,P,S,S96,TCD

his] the1669

98ses 1633-69,B,L74,Lec,Q,and other MSS.:hisCy,D,H49,H51,P

heires,] heires1633

99 As] And1669

by] by,1633

102 doubt.] doubt:1633

105 Where's&c.Ed:Where's th'old landlords troops, and almes, great hals?1633,Lec,N,TCD(buthalsMSS.): Where the old landlords troops, and almes? In hals1635-69,L74,O'F:Where the old landlords troopes and almes? In great hallsA25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,HN,P,Q,S,W(but the punctuation is very irregular, and some have'safterWhere).See note

107 Equally I hate;] Equallie hate,Q

hate;Ed:hate,1633:hate.1635-69

meanes bless;1633,A25,B,D,H49,H51,JC,L74,N,O'F,P,Q,TCD,W:Meane's blest.1635-69,Cy,S,S96(altered tois blest).See note

111 in wardrops;1633:wardrobes.1635-69

112 statute lawes.1633-54 and all MSS.:statutes jawes.1669,Chambers

Note

Note (Supp.)

Kinde pitty chokes my spleene; brave scorn forbidsThose teares to issue which swell my eye-lids;I must not laugh, nor weepe sinnes, and be wise,Can railing then cure these worne maladies?5Is not our Mistresse faire Religion,As worthy of all our Soules devotion,As vertue was to the first blinded age?Are not heavens joyes as valiant to asswageLusts, as earths honour was to them? Alas,10As wee do them in meanes, shall they surpasseUs in the end, and shall thy fathers spiritMeete blinde Philosophers in heaven, whose meritOf strict life may be imputed faith, and heareThee, whom hee taught so easie wayes and neare15To follow, damn'd? O if thou dar'st, feare this;This feare great courage, and high valour is.Dar'st thou ayd mutinous Dutch, and dar'st thou layThee in ships woodden Sepulchers, a preyTo leaders rage, to stormes, to shot, to dearth?20Dar'st thou dive seas, and dungeons of the earth?Hast thou couragious fire to thaw the iceOf frozen North discoueries? and thriseColder then Salamanders, like divineChildren in th'oven, fires of Spaine, and the line,25Whose countries limbecks to our bodies bee,Canst thou for gaine beare? and must every heeWhich cryes not, Goddesse, to thy Mistresse, draw,Or eate thy poysonous words? courage of straw!O desperate coward, wilt thou seeme bold, and30To thy foes and his (who made thee to standSentinell in his worlds garrison) thus yeeld,And for forbidden warres, leave th'appointed field?Know thy foes: The foule Devill (whom thouStrivest to please,) for hate, not love, would allow35Thee faine, his whole Realme to be quit; and asThe worlds all parts wither away and passe,So the worlds selfe, thy other lov'd foe, isIn her decrepit wayne, and thou loving this,Dost love a withered and worne strumpet; last,40Flesh (it selfes death) and joyes which flesh can taste,Thou loveft; and thy faire goodly soule, which dothGive this flesh power to taste joy, thou dost loath.Seeke true religion. O where? MirreusThinking her unhous'd here, and fled from us,45Seekes her at Rome; there, because hee doth knowThat shee was there a thousand yeares agoe,He loves her ragges so, as wee here obeyThe statecloth where the Prince sate yesterday.Crantz to such brave Loves will not be inthrall'd,50But loves her onely, who at Geneva is call'dReligion, plaine, simple, sullen, yong,Contemptuous, yet unhansome; As amongLecherous humors, there is one that judgesNo wenches wholsome, but course country drudges.55Graius stayes still at home here, and becauseSome Preachers, vile ambitious bauds, and lawesStill new like fashions, bid him thinke that sheeWhich dwels with us, is onely perfect, heeImbraceth her, whom his Godfathers will60Tender to him, being tender, as Wards stillTake such wives as their Guardians offer, orPay valewes. Carelesse Phrygius doth abhorreAll, because all cannot be good, as oneKnowing some women whores, dares marry none.65Graccus loves all as one, and thinkes that soAs women do in divers countries goeIn divers habits, yet are still one kinde,So doth, so is Religion; and this blind-nesse too much light breeds; but unmoved thou70Of force must one, and forc'd but one allow;And the right; aske thy father which is shee,Let him aske his; though truth and falshood beeNeare twins, yet truth a little elder is;Be busie to seeke her, beleeve mee this,75Hee's not of none, nor worst, that seekes the best.To adore, or scorne an image, or protest,May all be bad; doubt wisely; in strange wayTo stand inquiring right, is not to stray;To sleepe, or runne wrong, is. On a huge hill,80Cragged, and steep, Truth stands, and hee that willReach her, about must, and about must goe;And what the hills suddennes resists, winne so;Yet strive so, that before age, deaths twilight,Thy Soule rest, for none can worke in that night.85To will, implyes delay, therefore now doe:Hard deeds, the bodies paines; hard knowledge tooThe mindes indeavours reach, and mysteriesAre like the Sunne, dazling, yet plaine to all eyes.Keepe the truth which thou hast found; men do not stand90In so ill case here, that God hath with his handSign'd Kings blanck-charters to kill whom they hate,Nor are they Vicars, but hangmen to Fate.Foole and wretch, wilt thou let thy Soule be tyedTo mans lawes, by which she shall not be tryed95At the last day? Oh, will it then boot theeTo say a Philip, or a Gregory,A Harry, or a Martin taught thee this?Is not this excuse for mere contraries,Equally strong? cannot both sides say so?100That thou mayest rightly obey power, her bounds know;Those past, her nature, and name is chang'd; to beThen humble to her is idolatrie.As streames are, Power is; those blest flowers that dwellAt the rough streames calme head, thrive and do well,105But having left their roots, and themselves givenTo the streames tyrannous rage, alas, are drivenThrough mills, and rockes, and woods, and at last, almostConsum'd in going, in the sea are lost:So perish Soules, which more chuse mens unjust110Power from God claym'd, then God himselfe to trust.

Kinde pitty chokes my spleene; brave scorn forbids

Those teares to issue which swell my eye-lids;

I must not laugh, nor weepe sinnes, and be wise,

Can railing then cure these worne maladies?

5Is not our Mistresse faire Religion,

As worthy of all our Soules devotion,

As vertue was to the first blinded age?

Are not heavens joyes as valiant to asswage

Lusts, as earths honour was to them? Alas,

10As wee do them in meanes, shall they surpasse

Us in the end, and shall thy fathers spirit

Meete blinde Philosophers in heaven, whose merit

Of strict life may be imputed faith, and heare

Thee, whom hee taught so easie wayes and neare

15To follow, damn'd? O if thou dar'st, feare this;

This feare great courage, and high valour is.

Dar'st thou ayd mutinous Dutch, and dar'st thou lay

Thee in ships woodden Sepulchers, a prey

To leaders rage, to stormes, to shot, to dearth?

20Dar'st thou dive seas, and dungeons of the earth?

Hast thou couragious fire to thaw the ice

Of frozen North discoueries? and thrise

Colder then Salamanders, like divine

Children in th'oven, fires of Spaine, and the line,

25Whose countries limbecks to our bodies bee,

Canst thou for gaine beare? and must every hee

Which cryes not, Goddesse, to thy Mistresse, draw,

Or eate thy poysonous words? courage of straw!

O desperate coward, wilt thou seeme bold, and

30To thy foes and his (who made thee to stand

Sentinell in his worlds garrison) thus yeeld,

And for forbidden warres, leave th'appointed field?

Know thy foes: The foule Devill (whom thou

Strivest to please,) for hate, not love, would allow

35Thee faine, his whole Realme to be quit; and as

The worlds all parts wither away and passe,

So the worlds selfe, thy other lov'd foe, is

In her decrepit wayne, and thou loving this,

Dost love a withered and worne strumpet; last,

40Flesh (it selfes death) and joyes which flesh can taste,

Thou loveft; and thy faire goodly soule, which doth

Give this flesh power to taste joy, thou dost loath.

Seeke true religion. O where? Mirreus

Thinking her unhous'd here, and fled from us,

45Seekes her at Rome; there, because hee doth know

That shee was there a thousand yeares agoe,

He loves her ragges so, as wee here obey

The statecloth where the Prince sate yesterday.

Crantz to such brave Loves will not be inthrall'd,

50But loves her onely, who at Geneva is call'd

Religion, plaine, simple, sullen, yong,

Contemptuous, yet unhansome; As among

Lecherous humors, there is one that judges

No wenches wholsome, but course country drudges.

55Graius stayes still at home here, and because

Some Preachers, vile ambitious bauds, and lawes

Still new like fashions, bid him thinke that shee

Which dwels with us, is onely perfect, hee

Imbraceth her, whom his Godfathers will

60Tender to him, being tender, as Wards still

Take such wives as their Guardians offer, or

Pay valewes. Carelesse Phrygius doth abhorre

All, because all cannot be good, as one

Knowing some women whores, dares marry none.

65Graccus loves all as one, and thinkes that so

As women do in divers countries goe

In divers habits, yet are still one kinde,

So doth, so is Religion; and this blind-

nesse too much light breeds; but unmoved thou

70Of force must one, and forc'd but one allow;

And the right; aske thy father which is shee,

Let him aske his; though truth and falshood bee

Neare twins, yet truth a little elder is;

Be busie to seeke her, beleeve mee this,

75Hee's not of none, nor worst, that seekes the best.

To adore, or scorne an image, or protest,

May all be bad; doubt wisely; in strange way

To stand inquiring right, is not to stray;

To sleepe, or runne wrong, is. On a huge hill,

80Cragged, and steep, Truth stands, and hee that will

Reach her, about must, and about must goe;

And what the hills suddennes resists, winne so;

Yet strive so, that before age, deaths twilight,

Thy Soule rest, for none can worke in that night.

85To will, implyes delay, therefore now doe:

Hard deeds, the bodies paines; hard knowledge too

The mindes indeavours reach, and mysteries

Are like the Sunne, dazling, yet plaine to all eyes.

Keepe the truth which thou hast found; men do not stand

90In so ill case here, that God hath with his hand

Sign'd Kings blanck-charters to kill whom they hate,

Nor are they Vicars, but hangmen to Fate.

Foole and wretch, wilt thou let thy Soule be tyed

To mans lawes, by which she shall not be tryed

95At the last day? Oh, will it then boot thee

To say a Philip, or a Gregory,

A Harry, or a Martin taught thee this?

Is not this excuse for mere contraries,

Equally strong? cannot both sides say so?

100That thou mayest rightly obey power, her bounds know;

Those past, her nature, and name is chang'd; to be

Then humble to her is idolatrie.

As streames are, Power is; those blest flowers that dwell

At the rough streames calme head, thrive and do well,

105But having left their roots, and themselves given

To the streames tyrannous rage, alas, are driven

Through mills, and rockes, and woods, and at last, almost

Consum'd in going, in the sea are lost:

So perish Soules, which more chuse mens unjust

110Power from God claym'd, then God himselfe to trust.

Satyre III.1633-69,B,D,H49,H51(with titleOf Religion.),JC,Lec,O'F,Q,S,W:Satire the 4th.A25,Cy:Satyre the Second.P:A Satire.L74:no title,N,TCD1 chokes] checks1635-54:cheeks1669eye-lids;Ed:eye-lids,1633-39:eyelids.1650-693 and] but16697 to1635-69,A25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,L74,O'F,P,Q,S,W:in1633,Lec,N,TCD9 honour was] honours wereCy,D,H49,S14 so easie wayes and neare1633-69,L74,Lec,N,P,TCD:wayes easie and neereA25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,Q,S,W:wayes so easy and neereO'F15 this;] this.163316 is.] is;163317 Dutch, and dar'st1633-69,L74,Lec,N,P,TCD:Dutch? dar'stA25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,O'F,Q,S,W22-3 discoueries? ... Salamanders,Ed:discoueries, ... Salamanders?1633-6928 words?] words,163331 Sentinell1633-69,L74,Lec,N,P,TCD:SouldierA25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,Q,S,Whis1633-54:this1669,A25,H51,P,Q32 forbidden1633 and most MSS.forbid1635-69,H5133-4Know thy foes; the foule Devell whom thouStrivest to please&c.H51,Q and generally(but with varying punctuation and sometimesfoe),A25,B,Cy,D,H49,JC,O'F,P,W:Know thy foe, the soule devill h'is, whom thouStrivest to please: for hate, not love, would allow1633,L74(is),Lec,N(his),S(is),TCD(his):Know thy foes: The foule devill, he, whom thouStriv'st to please, for hate, not love, would allow1635-69(he, ... please,bracketed, 1669)35 quit1633-69,L74,Lec,N,P,S,TCD:riddA25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,O'F,Q,W40 (it selfes death)1635-69,A25,B,H51,L74,Lec,N,O'F,P,Q,TCD,W:(it selfe death)1633,Cy,D,S42 loath.] loath;163344 here,] her,163345 Rome;Ed:Rome,1633-6947 He1633,1669:And1635-54herD,H49,H51,Lec,O'F,P,S,W:the1633-69,L74,N,P,TCD49 CrantzW:Crants1633-54,A25,H51,JC,Lec,N,TCD:GrantsorGrauntes1669,L74,O'F,P:GrantCy,D,H49:CratesQ52 unhansome;Ed:unhansome.1633-6954 drudges.] drudges:163357 bidorbiddMSS.:bids1633-6962 PrigasH51:PhrygasW:PhrigiasA2567 kinde,Ed:kinde;1633-6970 must ... butin reverse orderQ73 is;1633:is.1635-6974 her,1633:her;1635-6977 wisely;Ed:wisely,1633-6978 stray;1633-69,Cy,D,L74,Lec,N,O'F,S,TCD,W:staye;A25,B,H49,H51,JC,P,Q79 is. On] is: on1633huge] highB,Cy,D,H51,O'F,Q,W80 Cragged,1669,L74,N,P,TCD:Cragg'd,1633-54,Lec:RaggedA25,B,Cy,D,H49,JC,O'F,S,W:RugguedH51,Q81 about must goe;1633-54,O'F:about it goe;1669:about goe,A25,Cy,D,H49,H51,L74,N,P,Q,W84 Soule1633-69,L74,N,P,TCD:minderest of MSS.that night.Ed:that night,1633,1669:the night.1635-5485 doe:Ed:doe1633,Chambers and Grolier:doe.1635-69,D,W.See note86 tooH51,S,W:speltto1633-69,many MSS.:to (prep.)Chambers88 eyes.] eyes;163390 In so ill (evilH51) case here,A25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,L74,O'F,P,Q,S,W:hereom. 1633-69,N,TCD94 mans1633-69,A25,L74,Lec,N,O'F,P,Q,TCD:mensB,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,S,Wnotom. 1635-5495 Oh, will it then boot theeEd:Will ... boot thee1633,L74,N,P,TCD:Or ... boot thee1635-69:Oh will it then serve theeA25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,O'F(Or),Q,S,W97 thee] me166999 strong?Ed:strong1633:strong;1635-69101 is] are1669chang'd;] chang'd1633to beEd:to be,1633-69102 idolatrie.] idolatrie;1633103 is;] is,1633104 do well1633-69,Lec,N,P,TCD:prove wellA25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,L74,O'F,Q,S,W106 alas,] alas1633107 mills, and rockes,1633,L74,N,P,TCD:Mils, rocks,1635-69,and rest of MSS.

Satyre III.1633-69,B,D,H49,H51(with titleOf Religion.),JC,Lec,O'F,Q,S,W:Satire the 4th.A25,Cy:Satyre the Second.P:A Satire.L74:no title,N,TCD

1 chokes] checks1635-54:cheeks1669

eye-lids;Ed:eye-lids,1633-39:eyelids.1650-69

3 and] but1669

7 to1635-69,A25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,L74,O'F,P,Q,S,W:in1633,Lec,N,TCD

9 honour was] honours wereCy,D,H49,S

14 so easie wayes and neare1633-69,L74,Lec,N,P,TCD:wayes easie and neereA25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,Q,S,W:wayes so easy and neereO'F

15 this;] this.1633

16 is.] is;1633

17 Dutch, and dar'st1633-69,L74,Lec,N,P,TCD:Dutch? dar'stA25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,O'F,Q,S,W

22-3 discoueries? ... Salamanders,Ed:discoueries, ... Salamanders?1633-69

28 words?] words,1633

31 Sentinell1633-69,L74,Lec,N,P,TCD:SouldierA25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,Q,S,W

his1633-54:this1669,A25,H51,P,Q

32 forbidden1633 and most MSS.forbid1635-69,H51

33-4

Know thy foes; the foule Devell whom thouStrivest to please&c.

Know thy foes; the foule Devell whom thou

Strivest to please&c.

H51,Q and generally(but with varying punctuation and sometimesfoe),A25,B,Cy,D,H49,JC,O'F,P,W:

Know thy foe, the soule devill h'is, whom thouStrivest to please: for hate, not love, would allow

Know thy foe, the soule devill h'is, whom thou

Strivest to please: for hate, not love, would allow

1633,L74(is),Lec,N(his),S(is),TCD(his):

Know thy foes: The foule devill, he, whom thouStriv'st to please, for hate, not love, would allow

Know thy foes: The foule devill, he, whom thou

Striv'st to please, for hate, not love, would allow

1635-69(he, ... please,bracketed, 1669)

35 quit1633-69,L74,Lec,N,P,S,TCD:riddA25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,O'F,Q,W

40 (it selfes death)1635-69,A25,B,H51,L74,Lec,N,O'F,P,Q,TCD,W:(it selfe death)1633,Cy,D,S

42 loath.] loath;1633

44 here,] her,1633

45 Rome;Ed:Rome,1633-69

47 He1633,1669:And1635-54

herD,H49,H51,Lec,O'F,P,S,W:the1633-69,L74,N,P,TCD

49 CrantzW:Crants1633-54,A25,H51,JC,Lec,N,TCD:GrantsorGrauntes1669,L74,O'F,P:GrantCy,D,H49:CratesQ

52 unhansome;Ed:unhansome.1633-69

54 drudges.] drudges:1633

57 bidorbiddMSS.:bids1633-69

62 PrigasH51:PhrygasW:PhrigiasA25

67 kinde,Ed:kinde;1633-69

70 must ... butin reverse orderQ

73 is;1633:is.1635-69

74 her,1633:her;1635-69

77 wisely;Ed:wisely,1633-69

78 stray;1633-69,Cy,D,L74,Lec,N,O'F,S,TCD,W:staye;A25,B,H49,H51,JC,P,Q

79 is. On] is: on1633

huge] highB,Cy,D,H51,O'F,Q,W

80 Cragged,1669,L74,N,P,TCD:Cragg'd,1633-54,Lec:RaggedA25,B,Cy,D,H49,JC,O'F,S,W:RugguedH51,Q

81 about must goe;1633-54,O'F:about it goe;1669:about goe,A25,Cy,D,H49,H51,L74,N,P,Q,W

84 Soule1633-69,L74,N,P,TCD:minderest of MSS.

that night.Ed:that night,1633,1669:the night.1635-54

85 doe:Ed:doe1633,Chambers and Grolier:doe.1635-69,D,W.See note

86 tooH51,S,W:speltto1633-69,many MSS.:to (prep.)Chambers

88 eyes.] eyes;1633

90 In so ill (evilH51) case here,A25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,L74,O'F,P,Q,S,W:hereom. 1633-69,N,TCD

94 mans1633-69,A25,L74,Lec,N,O'F,P,Q,TCD:mensB,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,S,W

notom. 1635-54

95 Oh, will it then boot theeEd:Will ... boot thee1633,L74,N,P,TCD:Or ... boot thee1635-69:Oh will it then serve theeA25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,O'F(Or),Q,S,W

97 thee] me1669

99 strong?Ed:strong1633:strong;1635-69

101 is] are1669

chang'd;] chang'd1633

to beEd:to be,1633-69

102 idolatrie.] idolatrie;1633

103 is;] is,1633

104 do well1633-69,Lec,N,P,TCD:prove wellA25,B,Cy,D,H49,H51,JC,L74,O'F,Q,S,W

106 alas,] alas1633

107 mills, and rockes,1633,L74,N,P,TCD:Mils, rocks,1635-69,and rest of MSS.

Note

WELL; I may now receive, and die; My sinneIndeed is great, but I have beene inA Purgatorie, such as fear'd hell isA recreation to, and scarse map of this.5My minde, neither with prides itch, nor yet hath beenPoyson'd with love to see, or to bee seene,I had no suit there, nor new suite to shew,Yet went to Court; But as Glaze which did goeTo'a Masse in jest, catch'd, was faine to disburse10The hundred markes, which is the Statutes curse;Before he scapt, So'it pleas'd my destinie(Guilty of my sin of going,) to thinke meAs prone to all ill, and of good as forget-full, as proud, as lustfull, and as much in debt,15As vaine, as witlesse, and as false as theyWhich dwell at Court, for once going that way.Therefore I suffered this; Towards me did runneA thing more strange, then on Niles slime, the SunneE'r bred; or all which into Noahs Arke came;20A thing, which would have pos'd Adam to name;Stranger then seaven Antiquaries studies,Then Africks Monsters, Guianaes rarities.Stranger then strangers; One, who for a Dane,In the Danes Massacre had sure beene slaine,25If he had liv'd then; And without helpe dies,When next the Prentises'gainst Strangers rise.One, whom the watch at noone lets scarce goe by,One, to whom, the examining Justice sure would cry,Sir, by your priesthood tell me what you are.30His cloths were strange, though coarse; and black, though bare;Sleevelesse his jerkin was, and it had beeneVelvet, but'twas now (so much ground was seene)Become Tufftaffatie; and our children shallSee it plaine Rashe awhile, then nought at all.35This thing hath travail'd, and saith, speakes all tonguesAnd only knoweth what to all States belongs.Made of th'Accents, and best phrase of all these,He speakes no language; If strange meats displease,Art can deceive, or hunger force my tast,40But Pedants motley tongue, souldiers bumbast,Mountebankes drugtongue, nor the termes of lawAre strong enough preparatives, to drawMe to beare this: yet I must be contentWith his tongue, in his tongue, call'd complement:45In which he can win widdowes, and pay scores,Make men speake treason, cosen subtlest whores,Out-flatter favorites, or outlie eitherJovius, or Surius, or both together.He names mee, and comes to mee; I whisper, God!50How have I sinn'd, that thy wraths furious rod,This fellow chuseth me? He saith, Sir,I love your judgement; Whom doe you prefer,For the best linguist? And I seelilySaid, that I thought Calepines Dictionarie;55Nay, but of men, most sweet Sir; Beza then,Some other Jesuites, and two reverend menOf our two Academies, I named; ThereHe stopt mee, and said; Nay, your Apostles wereGood pretty linguists, and so Panurge was;60Yet a poore gentleman, all these may passeBy travaile. Then, as if he would have soldHis tongue, he prais'd it, and such wonders toldThat I was faine to say, If you'had liv'd, Sir,Time enough to have beene Interpreter65To Babells bricklayers, sure the Tower had stood.He adds, If of court life you knew the good,You would leave lonenesse. I said, not aloneMy lonenesse is, but Spartanes fashion,To teach by painting drunkards, doth not last70Now; Aretines pictures have made few chast;No more can Princes courts, though there be fewBetter pictures of vice, teach me vertue;He, like to a high stretcht lute string squeakt, O Sir,'Tis sweet to talke of Kings. At Westminster,75Said I, The man that keepes the Abbey tombes,And for his price doth with who ever comes,Of all our Harries, and our Edwards talke,From King to King and all their kin can walke:Your eares shall heare nought, but Kings; your eyes meet80Kings only; The way to it, is Kingstreet.He smack'd, and cry'd, He's base, Mechanique, coarse,So are all your Englishmen in their discourse.Are not your Frenchmen neate? Mine? as you see,I have but one Frenchman, looke, hee followes mee.85Certes they are neatly cloth'd; I, of this minde am,Your only wearing is your Grogaram.Not so Sir, I have more. Under this pitchHe would not flie; I chaff'd him; But as ItchScratch'd into smart, and as blunt iron ground90Into an edge, hurts worse: So, I (foole) found,Crossing hurt mee; To fit my sullennesse,He to another key, his stile doth addresse,And askes, what newes? I tell him of new playes.He takes my hand, and as a Still, which staies95A Sembriefe, 'twixt each drop, he nigardly,As loth to enrich mee, so tells many a lye.More then ten Hollensheads, or Halls, or Stowes,Of triviall houshold trash he knowes; He knowesWhen the Queene frown'd, or smil'd, and he knowes what100A subtle States-man may gather of that;He knowes who loves; whom; and who by poysonHasts to an Offices reversion;He knowes who'hath sold his land, and now doth begA licence, old iron, bootes, shooes, and egge-105shels to transport; Shortly boyes shall not playAt span-counter, or blow-point, but they payToll to some Courtier; And wiser then all us,He knowes what Ladie is not painted; ThusHe with home-meats tries me; I belch, spue, spit,110Looke pale, and sickly, like a Patient; YetHe thrusts on more; And as if he'd undertookeTo say Gallo-Belgicus without bookeSpeakes of all States, and deeds, that have been sinceThe Spaniards came, to the losse of Amyens.115Like a bigge wife, at sight of loathed meat,Readie to travaile: So I sigh, and sweatTo heare this Makeron talke: In vaine; for yet,Either my humour, or his owne to fit,He like a priviledg'd spie, whom nothing can120Discredit, Libells now'gainst each great man.He names a price for every office paid;He saith, our warres thrive ill, because delai'd;That offices are entail'd, and that there arePerpetuities of them, lasting as farre125As the last day; And that great officers,Doe with the Pirates share, and Dunkirkers.Who wasts in meat, in clothes, in horse, he notes;Who loves whores, who boyes, and who goats.I more amas'd then Circes prisoners, when130They felt themselves turne beasts, felt my selfe thenBecomming Traytor, and mee thought I sawOne of our Giant Statutes ope his jawTo sucke me in; for hearing him, I foundThat as burnt venome Leachers do grow sound135By giving others their soares, I might groweGuilty, and he free: Therefore I did shewAll signes of loathing; But since I am in,I must pay mine, and my forefathers sinneTo the last farthing; Therefore to my power140Toughly and stubbornly I beare this crosse; But the'houreOf mercy now was come; He tries to bringMe to pay a fine to scape his torturing,And saies, Sir, can you spare me; I said, willingly;Nay, Sir, can you spare me a crowne? Thankfully I145Gave it, as Ransome; But as fidlers, still,Though they be paid to be gone, yet needs willThrust one more jigge upon you: so did heeWith his long complementall thankes vexe me.But he is gone, thankes to his needy want,150And the prerogative of my Crowne: ScantHis thankes were ended, when I, (which did seeAll the court fill'd with more strange things then hee)Ran from thence with such or more hast, then oneWho feares more actions, doth make from prison.155At home in wholesome solitarinesseMy precious soule began, the wretchednesseOf suiters at court to mourne, and a tranceLike his, who dreamt he saw hell, did advanceIt selfe on mee, Such men as he saw there,160I saw at court, and worse, and more; Low feareBecomes the guiltie, not the accuser; Then,Shall I, nones slave, of high borne, or rais'd menFeare frownes? And, my Mistresse Truth, betray theeTo th'huffing braggart, puft Nobility?165No, no, Thou which since yesterday hast beeneAlmost about the whole world, hast thou seene,O Sunne, in all thy journey, Vanitie,Such as swells the bladder of our court? IThinke he which made your waxen garden, and170Transported it from Italy to standWith us, at London, flouts our Presence, forJust such gay painted things, which no sappe, norTast have in them, ours are; And naturallSome of the stocks are, their fruits, bastard all.175'Tis ten a clock and past; All whom the Mues,Baloune, Tennis, Dyet, or the stewes,Had all the morning held, now the secondTime made ready, that day, in flocks, are foundIn the Presence, and I, (God pardon mee.)180As fresh, and sweet their Apparrells be, as beeThe fields they sold to buy them; For a KingThose hose are, cry the flatterers; And bringThem next weeke to the Theatre to sell;Wants reach all states; Me seemes they doe as well185At stage, as court; All are players; who e'r lookes(For themselves dare not goe) o'r Cheapside books,Shall finde their wardrops Inventory. Now,The Ladies come; As Pirats, which doe knowThat there came weak ships fraught with Cutchannel,190The men board them; and praise, as they thinke, well,Their beauties; they the mens wits; Both are bought.Why good wits ne'r weare scarlet gownes, I thoughtThis cause, These men, mens wits for speeches buy,And women buy all reds which scarlets die.195He call'd her beauty limetwigs, her haire net;She feares her drugs ill laid, her haire loose set.Would not Heraclitus laugh to see Macrine,From hat to shooe, himselfe at doore refine,As if the Presence were a Moschite, and lift200His skirts and hose, and call his clothes to shrift,Making them confesse not only mortallGreat staines and holes in them; but veniallFeathers and dust, wherewith they fornicate:And then byDurersrules survay the state205Of his each limbe, and with strings the odds tryeOf his neck to his legge, and wast to thighe.So in immaculate clothes, and SymetriePerfect as circles, with such nicetieAs a young Preacher at his first time goes210To preach, he enters, and a Lady which owesHim not so much as good will, he arrests,And unto her protests protests protests,So much as at Rome would serve to have throwneTen Cardinalls into the Inquisition;215And whisperd by Jesu, so often, that APursevant would have ravish'd him awayFor saying of our Ladies psalter; But'tis fitThat they each other plague, they merit it.But here comes Glorius that will plague them both,220Who, in the other extreme, only dothCall a rough carelessenesse, good fashion;Whose cloak his spurres teare; whom he spits onHe cares not, His ill words doe no harmeTo him; he rusheth in, as if arme, arme,225He meant to crie; And though his face be as illAs theirs which in old hangings whip Christ, stillHe strives to looke worse, he keepes all in awe;Jeasts like a licenc'd foole, commands like law.Tyr'd, now I leave this place, and but pleas'd so230As men which from gaoles to execution goe,Goe through the great chamber (why is it hungWith the seaven deadly sinnes?). Being amongThose Askaparts, men big enough to throwCharing Crosse for a barre, men that doe know235No token of worth, but Queenes man, and fineLiving, barrells of beefe, flaggons of wine;I shooke like a spyed Spie. Preachers which areSeas of Wit and Arts, you can, then dare,Drowne the sinnes of this place, for, for mee240Which am but a scarce brooke, it enough shall beeTo wash the staines away; Although I yetWithMacchabeesmodestie, the knowne meritOf my worke lessen: yet some wise man shall,I hope, esteeme my writs Canonicall.

WELL; I may now receive, and die; My sinne

Indeed is great, but I have beene in

A Purgatorie, such as fear'd hell is

A recreation to, and scarse map of this.

5My minde, neither with prides itch, nor yet hath been

Poyson'd with love to see, or to bee seene,

I had no suit there, nor new suite to shew,

Yet went to Court; But as Glaze which did goe

To'a Masse in jest, catch'd, was faine to disburse

10The hundred markes, which is the Statutes curse;

Before he scapt, So'it pleas'd my destinie

(Guilty of my sin of going,) to thinke me

As prone to all ill, and of good as forget-

full, as proud, as lustfull, and as much in debt,

15As vaine, as witlesse, and as false as they

Which dwell at Court, for once going that way.

Therefore I suffered this; Towards me did runne

A thing more strange, then on Niles slime, the Sunne

E'r bred; or all which into Noahs Arke came;

20A thing, which would have pos'd Adam to name;

Stranger then seaven Antiquaries studies,

Then Africks Monsters, Guianaes rarities.

Stranger then strangers; One, who for a Dane,

In the Danes Massacre had sure beene slaine,

25If he had liv'd then; And without helpe dies,

When next the Prentises'gainst Strangers rise.

One, whom the watch at noone lets scarce goe by,

One, to whom, the examining Justice sure would cry,

Sir, by your priesthood tell me what you are.

30His cloths were strange, though coarse; and black, though bare;

Sleevelesse his jerkin was, and it had beene

Velvet, but'twas now (so much ground was seene)

Become Tufftaffatie; and our children shall

See it plaine Rashe awhile, then nought at all.

35This thing hath travail'd, and saith, speakes all tongues

And only knoweth what to all States belongs.

Made of th'Accents, and best phrase of all these,

He speakes no language; If strange meats displease,

Art can deceive, or hunger force my tast,

40But Pedants motley tongue, souldiers bumbast,

Mountebankes drugtongue, nor the termes of law

Are strong enough preparatives, to draw

Me to beare this: yet I must be content

With his tongue, in his tongue, call'd complement:

45In which he can win widdowes, and pay scores,

Make men speake treason, cosen subtlest whores,

Out-flatter favorites, or outlie either

Jovius, or Surius, or both together.

He names mee, and comes to mee; I whisper, God!

50How have I sinn'd, that thy wraths furious rod,

This fellow chuseth me? He saith, Sir,

I love your judgement; Whom doe you prefer,

For the best linguist? And I seelily

Said, that I thought Calepines Dictionarie;

55Nay, but of men, most sweet Sir; Beza then,

Some other Jesuites, and two reverend men

Of our two Academies, I named; There

He stopt mee, and said; Nay, your Apostles were

Good pretty linguists, and so Panurge was;

60Yet a poore gentleman, all these may passe

By travaile. Then, as if he would have sold

His tongue, he prais'd it, and such wonders told

That I was faine to say, If you'had liv'd, Sir,

Time enough to have beene Interpreter

65To Babells bricklayers, sure the Tower had stood.

He adds, If of court life you knew the good,

You would leave lonenesse. I said, not alone

My lonenesse is, but Spartanes fashion,

To teach by painting drunkards, doth not last

70Now; Aretines pictures have made few chast;

No more can Princes courts, though there be few

Better pictures of vice, teach me vertue;

He, like to a high stretcht lute string squeakt, O Sir,

'Tis sweet to talke of Kings. At Westminster,

75Said I, The man that keepes the Abbey tombes,

And for his price doth with who ever comes,

Of all our Harries, and our Edwards talke,

From King to King and all their kin can walke:

Your eares shall heare nought, but Kings; your eyes meet

80Kings only; The way to it, is Kingstreet.

He smack'd, and cry'd, He's base, Mechanique, coarse,

So are all your Englishmen in their discourse.

Are not your Frenchmen neate? Mine? as you see,

I have but one Frenchman, looke, hee followes mee.

85Certes they are neatly cloth'd; I, of this minde am,

Your only wearing is your Grogaram.

Not so Sir, I have more. Under this pitch

He would not flie; I chaff'd him; But as Itch

Scratch'd into smart, and as blunt iron ground

90Into an edge, hurts worse: So, I (foole) found,

Crossing hurt mee; To fit my sullennesse,

He to another key, his stile doth addresse,

And askes, what newes? I tell him of new playes.

He takes my hand, and as a Still, which staies

95A Sembriefe, 'twixt each drop, he nigardly,

As loth to enrich mee, so tells many a lye.

More then ten Hollensheads, or Halls, or Stowes,

Of triviall houshold trash he knowes; He knowes

When the Queene frown'd, or smil'd, and he knowes what

100A subtle States-man may gather of that;

He knowes who loves; whom; and who by poyson

Hasts to an Offices reversion;

He knowes who'hath sold his land, and now doth beg

A licence, old iron, bootes, shooes, and egge-

105shels to transport; Shortly boyes shall not play

At span-counter, or blow-point, but they pay

Toll to some Courtier; And wiser then all us,

He knowes what Ladie is not painted; Thus

He with home-meats tries me; I belch, spue, spit,

110Looke pale, and sickly, like a Patient; Yet

He thrusts on more; And as if he'd undertooke

To say Gallo-Belgicus without booke

Speakes of all States, and deeds, that have been since

The Spaniards came, to the losse of Amyens.

115Like a bigge wife, at sight of loathed meat,

Readie to travaile: So I sigh, and sweat

To heare this Makeron talke: In vaine; for yet,

Either my humour, or his owne to fit,

He like a priviledg'd spie, whom nothing can

120Discredit, Libells now'gainst each great man.

He names a price for every office paid;

He saith, our warres thrive ill, because delai'd;

That offices are entail'd, and that there are

Perpetuities of them, lasting as farre

125As the last day; And that great officers,

Doe with the Pirates share, and Dunkirkers.

Who wasts in meat, in clothes, in horse, he notes;

Who loves whores, who boyes, and who goats.

I more amas'd then Circes prisoners, when

130They felt themselves turne beasts, felt my selfe then

Becomming Traytor, and mee thought I saw

One of our Giant Statutes ope his jaw

To sucke me in; for hearing him, I found

That as burnt venome Leachers do grow sound

135By giving others their soares, I might growe

Guilty, and he free: Therefore I did shew

All signes of loathing; But since I am in,

I must pay mine, and my forefathers sinne

To the last farthing; Therefore to my power

140Toughly and stubbornly I beare this crosse; But the'houre

Of mercy now was come; He tries to bring

Me to pay a fine to scape his torturing,

And saies, Sir, can you spare me; I said, willingly;

Nay, Sir, can you spare me a crowne? Thankfully I

145Gave it, as Ransome; But as fidlers, still,

Though they be paid to be gone, yet needs will

Thrust one more jigge upon you: so did hee

With his long complementall thankes vexe me.

But he is gone, thankes to his needy want,

150And the prerogative of my Crowne: Scant

His thankes were ended, when I, (which did see

All the court fill'd with more strange things then hee)

Ran from thence with such or more hast, then one

Who feares more actions, doth make from prison.

155At home in wholesome solitarinesse

My precious soule began, the wretchednesse

Of suiters at court to mourne, and a trance

Like his, who dreamt he saw hell, did advance

It selfe on mee, Such men as he saw there,

160I saw at court, and worse, and more; Low feare

Becomes the guiltie, not the accuser; Then,

Shall I, nones slave, of high borne, or rais'd men

Feare frownes? And, my Mistresse Truth, betray thee

To th'huffing braggart, puft Nobility?

165No, no, Thou which since yesterday hast beene

Almost about the whole world, hast thou seene,

O Sunne, in all thy journey, Vanitie,

Such as swells the bladder of our court? I

Thinke he which made your waxen garden, and

170Transported it from Italy to stand

With us, at London, flouts our Presence, for

Just such gay painted things, which no sappe, nor

Tast have in them, ours are; And naturall

Some of the stocks are, their fruits, bastard all.

175'Tis ten a clock and past; All whom the Mues,

Baloune, Tennis, Dyet, or the stewes,

Had all the morning held, now the second

Time made ready, that day, in flocks, are found

In the Presence, and I, (God pardon mee.)

180As fresh, and sweet their Apparrells be, as bee

The fields they sold to buy them; For a King

Those hose are, cry the flatterers; And bring

Them next weeke to the Theatre to sell;

Wants reach all states; Me seemes they doe as well

185At stage, as court; All are players; who e'r lookes

(For themselves dare not goe) o'r Cheapside books,

Shall finde their wardrops Inventory. Now,

The Ladies come; As Pirats, which doe know

That there came weak ships fraught with Cutchannel,

190The men board them; and praise, as they thinke, well,

Their beauties; they the mens wits; Both are bought.

Why good wits ne'r weare scarlet gownes, I thought

This cause, These men, mens wits for speeches buy,

And women buy all reds which scarlets die.

195He call'd her beauty limetwigs, her haire net;

She feares her drugs ill laid, her haire loose set.

Would not Heraclitus laugh to see Macrine,

From hat to shooe, himselfe at doore refine,

As if the Presence were a Moschite, and lift

200His skirts and hose, and call his clothes to shrift,

Making them confesse not only mortall

Great staines and holes in them; but veniall

Feathers and dust, wherewith they fornicate:

And then byDurersrules survay the state

205Of his each limbe, and with strings the odds trye

Of his neck to his legge, and wast to thighe.

So in immaculate clothes, and Symetrie

Perfect as circles, with such nicetie

As a young Preacher at his first time goes

210To preach, he enters, and a Lady which owes

Him not so much as good will, he arrests,

And unto her protests protests protests,

So much as at Rome would serve to have throwne

Ten Cardinalls into the Inquisition;

215And whisperd by Jesu, so often, that A

Pursevant would have ravish'd him away

For saying of our Ladies psalter; But'tis fit

That they each other plague, they merit it.

But here comes Glorius that will plague them both,

220Who, in the other extreme, only doth

Call a rough carelessenesse, good fashion;

Whose cloak his spurres teare; whom he spits on

He cares not, His ill words doe no harme

To him; he rusheth in, as if arme, arme,

225He meant to crie; And though his face be as ill

As theirs which in old hangings whip Christ, still

He strives to looke worse, he keepes all in awe;

Jeasts like a licenc'd foole, commands like law.

Tyr'd, now I leave this place, and but pleas'd so

230As men which from gaoles to execution goe,

Goe through the great chamber (why is it hung

With the seaven deadly sinnes?). Being among

Those Askaparts, men big enough to throw

Charing Crosse for a barre, men that doe know

235No token of worth, but Queenes man, and fine

Living, barrells of beefe, flaggons of wine;

I shooke like a spyed Spie. Preachers which are

Seas of Wit and Arts, you can, then dare,

Drowne the sinnes of this place, for, for mee

240Which am but a scarce brooke, it enough shall bee

To wash the staines away; Although I yet

WithMacchabeesmodestie, the knowne merit

Of my worke lessen: yet some wise man shall,

I hope, esteeme my writs Canonicall.

Back to Index Next