97. A Gentlemans satisfaction for spitting in another
A gentleman (not in malice nor disgracé,
But by chance) spet in anothers face,
He that receiv'd it, knowing not the cause
That should produce such rashnes ('gainst the laws
Of Christian man-hood or civility)
In kindling anger, ask'd the reason why ;
Pray sir sayes he, what thing that doth but sound
Like to an injury have you ere found
By me at any time? or if you had,
It never could deserve contempt so bad
'Tis an inhumane custome none ere use;
But the vile nation of contemned Jewes:
Pray sir, cryes th' other, be not so unkind,
Thus with an accident to charge my minde
I meant it not, but since it fals out so,
I'm sorry, yea make satisfaction too;
Then be not mov'd but let this ease your doubt
Since I have spet, please you, I'le tread it out.
98. On a little Gentleman and one Mr. Story.
The little man, by th❜other mans vain-glory,
It seems was roughly us'd (so say's the story,)
But being a little heated and high blown,
anger flyes at Story, puls him down ;
And when they rise (I know not how it fated)
One got the worst, the Story was translated
From white to red, but ere the fight was ended
It seemes a Gentleman that one befriended,
Came in and parted them; the little blade
There's none that could intreat, or yet perswade,
But he would fight still, till another came,
And with sound reasons councel'd 'gainst the same
'Twas in this manner, friend ye shall not fight
With one that's so unequal to your height,
Story is higher, th'other made reply,
I'd pluck him down were he three Stories high.
On a faire Gentlewoman whose name was Brown.
We praise the faire, and our inventions wrack,
In pleasing numbers to applaud the black,
We court this Ladies eye, that Ladyes haire,
The faire love black, the black best like the faire,
Yet neither sort, I court, I doate upon
Nor faire nor black, but a complexion
More rare than either; she that is the crowne
Of my entire affection is brown,
And yet shees faire, 'tis strange, how can it be,
That two complexions should in one agree?
Do I love Brown, my love can please mine eye,
And sate my narrow'st curiosity,
If I like faire, she hath so sweet a grace,
That I could leave an Angell for her face,
Let any judge then, which complexion's rarest,
In my opinion, she is brown that's fairest.
100. On the word intollerable.
Two gentlemen did to a Tavern come,
And call'd the drawer for to shew a room,
The drawer did, and what room think ye was't?
One of the small ones, where men drink in haste;
One gentleman sat down there, but the other
Dislik'd it, would not sit, call'd for another:
At which his friend, rising up from the table,
Cryes friend let's stay, this room is tollerable:
Why that's the cause (quoth hee) I will not stay,
Is that the cause, quoth th'other? why I pray?
To give a reason to you, I am able,
Because I hate to be in-Tollerable.
ΙΟΙ. On womens inconstancy.
Goe catch a star that's falling from the skye,
Cause an immortall creature for to dye,
Stop with thy hand the current of the seas,
Poste o're the earth to the Antipodes ;
Cause times return, and call back yesterday;
Cloath January with the Month of May,
Weigh out an ounce of flame, blow back the wind
And then find faith within a womans mind.
Why sure these necessary harmes were fram'd, That men as too too heedlesse might be blam'd,
His weaknes cannot greatest weakenesse fly,
In her strong drawing, fraile necessity;
Then happy they, that know what women are,
But happier, which to know them never care.
103. Satis est quod sufficit.
Weep no more, sigh nor groane,
Sorrow recals not, times are gone,
Violets pluck'd, the sweetest raine,
Makes not fresh or grow againe,
Joyes are windy, dreams fly fast
Why should sadnes longer last?
Griefe is but a wound to woe,
Gentle faire, mourn no moe.
Commit thy ship unto the winde,
But not thy faith to woman kind,
There is more safety in a wave,
Then in the faith that women have;
No woman's good, if chance it fall,
Some one be good amongst them all,
Some strange intent the dest'nies had,
To make a good thing of a bad.
105. On Musique.
I want a quill out of an Angels wing,
.. To write sweet musike's everlasting praise,
I likewise want an Angels voice to sing
A wished anthem to her happy dayes,
Then since I want an angels voice and pen,
Let angels write and sing, I'le say amen.
Times great consumer, cause of idlenesse,
Old whorehouse hunter, cause of drunkennes,
Bewitching smoake, vainest wealths consumer;
Abuse of wit, stinking breath's perfumer,
Cause of entrailes blacknes, bodyes dyer
Cause of nature's slacknesse, quenching her fire,
Offence to many, bringing good to none,
Ev'n be thou hack'd till thou art burnt and gone.
107. Womens properties.
To weep oft, still to flatter, sometimes spin,
Are properties, women excell men in.
When women weep in their dissembling art,
Their teares are sauce to their malicious heart.
A double gelding Gervase did provide,
That he and's wife to see their friends might ride,
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