D'ye see me wrong'd, and will ye thus restrain me ?
Sir let me go, for by these hilts I'll brain ye.
Shall a base patch with appearance wrong me?
I'll kill the villain, pray do not prolong me.
Call my Tobacco putrified stuffe ?

Tell me it stinks? say it is drosse I snuffe?
Sirrah! what are you? why Sir, what would you?
I am a Prentice, and will knock you too :

O are you so? I cry you mercy then,
I am to fight with none but Gentlemen.

606. To Momus.

Momus thou say'st my Verses are but Toyes: 'Tis true, yet truth is often spoke by boyes.

607. In Dolentum.

Dolens doth shew his purse, and tell you this,
It is more horrid then a Pest-house is;
For in a Pest-house many mortals enter,
But in his purse one Angell dares not venture.

608. Additio perditio.

From Mall but merry, men but mirth derive,
For trix 'tis makes her prove demonstrative.

609. On a Gallant.

Sirrah, come hither, boy, take view of me,
My Lady I am purpos'd to go see;

What, doth my Feather flourish with a grace?
And this my curled hair become my face?
How decent doth my Doublet's form appear?
I would I had my Sute in Hounds-ditch here.
Do not my spurs pronounce a silver sound?
Is not my hose-circumference profound?
Sir, these be well, but there is one thing ill,
Your Taylor with a sheet of Paper-bill,

Vow's hee'l be paid, and Sergeants he hath fee'd,
Which wait your coming forth to do the deed.
Boy God-a-mercy, let my Lady stay,
I'll see no Counter for her sake to day.

610. In Sextum.

Sextus six pockets wears, two for his uses,
The other four to pocket up abuses.

611. A Stammerer.

Balbus with other men would angry be,
Because they could not speak as well as he;

For others speak but with their mouth he knows,

But Balbus speaks both through the mouth and nose.

613. Tom's fortune.

Tom tel's he's robb'd, and counting all his losses,
Concludes, all's gone, the world is full of crosses :
If all be gone, Tom take this comfort then,
Th'art certain never to have crosse agen.

614. Opus & Vsus.

Opus for need consum'd his wealth apace,
And ne'r would cease untill he was undone ;
His brother Vsus liv'd in better case

Than Opus did, although the eldest son.

'Tis strange it should be so, yet here was it, Opus had all the Land, Vsus the Wit.

615. A good Wife.

A Batchelor would have a Wife were wise,
Fair, rich, and young, a maiden for his bed-
Nor proud, nor churlish, but of faultlesse size;
A Country houswife in the City bred.

But he's a fool, and long in vain hath staid;
He should bespeak her, there's none ready made.

616. Anger.

Wrongs if neglected, vanish in short time;
But heard with anger, we confesse the crime.

617. Vpon Gellia.

When Gellia went to school, and was a Girle;
Her teeth for whiteness might compare with pearle

But after she the taste of sweet meats knew,
They turn'd all Opals, to a perfect blew ;
Now Gellia takes Tobacco, what should let,
But last they should converted be to jet?

618. On an inconstant Mistresse.

I dare not much say when I thee commend,
Lest thou be changed e're my praises end.

619. In Lesbiam.

Why should I love thee Lesbia? I no reason see: Then out of reason, Lesbia, I love thee.

620. In Paulinum.

Paul by day wrongs me, yet he daily swears,
He wisheth me as well as to his soul:

I know his drift to damn that he nought cares,
To please his body; therefore good friend Paul,
If thy kind nature will afford me grace,
Hereafter love me in thy body's place.

621. On Zeno.

Zeno would fain th'old widow Egle have;
Trust me he's wise, for she is rich and brave:
But Zeno, Zeno, she will none of you;

In my mind she's the wiser of the two.

622. Of a Drunkard.

Cinna one time most wonderfully swore,

That whilst he breath'd he would drink no more. But since I know his meaning, for I think

He meant he would not breath whilst he did drink.

623. To Cotta.

Be not wroth Cotta, that I not salute thee,
I us'd it whilst I worthy did repute thee;
Now thou art made a painted Saint, and I,
Cotta, will not commit Idolatry.

624. To Women.

Ye that have beauty, and withall no pitty,
Are like a prick-song lesson without ditty.

625. On Creta.

Creta doth love her husband wondrous well,
It needs no proof, for every one can tell :
So strong's her love, that if I not mistake,
It doth extend to others, for his sake.

626. On Priscus.

Why still doth Priscus strive to have the wall?
Because he's often drunk and fears to fall.

627. On Rufus.

At all, quoth Rufus, lay you what you dare,
I'l throw at all, and 'twere a peck of gold;