536. On Women.

Women think women far more constant be,
Than we-men, and the letter O we see,

In wo-men, not in we-men, as they say,
Figures earths constant Orbe; we-men say nay:
It means the Moon, which proves (none think it strange)
Women are constant, & most true in change.

537. On Souldiers.

Nor faith, nor conscience common souldiers carry,
Best pay, is right; their hands are mercenary.

538. Drusius and Furio.

Furio would fight with Drusius in the field,
Because the straw, stout Drusius would not yield,
On which their Mistriss trod; they both did meet ;
Drusius in field fell dead at Furio's feet;

One had the straw, but with it this Greek letter II
The other lost it, pray who had the better?

Love is a Boy, and subject to the rod
Some say, but Lovers say he is a God:
I think that love is neither god nor boy,
But a mad brains imaginary toy.

540. On Candidus.

When I am sick, not else, thou com'st to see me,

Would fortune from both torments still would free me.

From impure mouths, now many bear the name

Of Puritan, yet merit not the same.

This one shall onely be my Puritan

That is a knave, yet seems an honest man.

542. Ostendit hedera vinum.

A scoffing mate, that past along Cheap-side,
Incontinent a gallant lasse espide';

Whose tempting Breasts (as to the sale laid out)
Incites this youngster thus to 'gin to flout.
Lady (quoth he) is this flesh to be sould?
No Lord (quoth she) for silver nor for gold,
But wherefore ask you? (and there made a stop)
To buy (quoth he) if not shut up your shop.

543. Quantum mutatus ab illo.

Pedes grown proud makes men admire thereat,
Whose baser breeding, should they think not beare it,
Nay, he on cock-horse rides, how like you that?

Tut! Pedes proverb is, Win gold and weare it.

But Pedes you have seen them rise in hast,

That through their pride have broke their necks at last.

544. Vpon Lavina.

Lavina brought to bed, her husband looks

To know's childs fortune throughout his books,

His neighbours think h'had need search backward rather,

And learn for certain who had been the father.

545. Report and Error.

Error by Error, Tales by Tales, great grow;
As Snow-balls do, by rowling to and fro,

546. In Superbum.

Rustick Superbus fine new cloaths hath got,
Of Taffata and velvet, fair in sight;

The shew of which hath so bewitcht the sot,
That he thinks Gentleman to be his right:
But he's deceiv'd, for true that is of old,
An Ape's an Ape, though he wear cloth of gold.

547. No truth in Wine.

Truth is in wine, but none can finde it there,
For in your Taverns, men will lye and sweare.

548. On Infidus.

Infidus was so free of Oaths last day,

That he would swear, what e're he thought to say: But now such is his chance, whereat he's griev'd, The more he swears, the lesse he is believ'd.

549. On Celsus.

Celsus doth love himselfe, Celsus is wise,
For now no Rivall e'r can claim his prize.

At Christmasse men do alwayes Ivy get,

And in each corner of the house it set:

But why do they, then, use that Bacchus weed?
Because they mean, then Bacchus-like to feed.

551. Adversity.

Adversity hurts none, but onely such

Whom whitest fortune dandled has too much.

552. On Bacchus.

Pot-lifting Bacchus to the earth did bend
His knee to drink a health unto his friend :
And there he did so long in liquor pour,
That he lay quite sick-drunk upon the floor.
Judge, was there not a drunkards kindnesse shown,
To drink his friend a health, and lose his own?

553. Of a fat Man.

Hee's rich, that hath great in-comes by the year:
Then that great belly'd man is rich, I'l swear :

For sure his belly ne'er so big had bin,
Had he not daily had great comings in.

554. A wished Cramp.

Some have the Cramp in legs, and hands, 'tis told, I wish't in my wifes tongue, when she doth scold.

Kitt being kick'd and spurr'd, pursues the Law,
That doom'd the dammage at twice forty pence.
Which, when the party which had wrong'd him saw ;
Thought 'twas too great a fine for such offence.
Why then, quoth Kitt, if I too much request,
Thou maist at any time kick out the rest.

556. On Flaccus.

Flaccus being young, they said he was a Gull;
Of his simplicity each mouth was full:

And pitying him, they'd say, the foolish Lad
Would be deceived, fure of all he had.

His youth is past, now may they turne him loose;
For why? the Gull is grown to be a Goose.

557. Per plumas anser.

See how young Rufus walks in green each day,
As if he ne'r was youthful until now :

E're Christmasse next, his green Goose will be gray,
And those high burnish'd plumes in's cap will bow:
But you do wrong him, since his purse is full,
To call him Goose, that is so young a Gull.

558. Of Fenkin.

Fenkin is a rude Clowne, go tell him so ;
What need I tell, what he himself doth know?
Perhaps he doth not, then he is a sot;

For tell me, what knows he that knows it not?