Abuses Stripped and Whipped, Epigrams – Table of contents
To Time. EPIGR. 1.
NOw swift-deuouring, bald and ill fac't Time,
Dost not thou blush to see thy selfe vncloak't?
Oh that I knew but how to laugh in Rime?
Faith I would do it though thou wisht me choakt.
Did'st thou but see how thy faire antique shape,
Is now transformed to a shapelesse hew:
How like thou look'st to some Barbarian Ape,
Could'st thou I say with me thine owne selfe view
Thou wouldst be Metamorphosed anew,
Run quite away, and either all amend,
Or wish thy selfe and all things at an end.
And yet dispaire not Time, though thou art ill;
The worst that euer yet was knowne to be,
Tis not ordain'd thou shouldst remaine so still,
For I my selfe this age do hope to see:
The gloriou'st work that euer Time brought forth,
The master-peece, and the most noble act;
In the respect of which 'twere nothing worth
If all the braue deeds done were but one fact,
Romes fall I meane; I heard it when it crack't.
Yea from my Cradle I did still surmize;
I should see Babell tumble Bethell rise,
EPIG. 2.
I Heare theres some aske how I dare so plaine
Tax the Abuses that I now see raigne,
I muse as much they dare say ill vntounto it,
Or dare but aske, but how I dare to doe it.
To the Stranger 3.
THou that wert so vnhappy first, to breath,
Without the compasse of Great Brittans powe…
And blest againe that fate did thee bequeath,
The knowledge of so rich a tongue as our.
If vnderstanding thou dost hap to read,
This booke wherein thou seest my nations sham…
Yet do not thou against my Country plead,
For thine thou know'st doth merit as much blame
Our faults are many, this indeed is true;
But were they moe, we were no worse then you.
To the Satyro-mastix. 4.
OH Lord Sir y'are deceiu'd I'me none of tho…
That write in Anger, or malicious spleene,
I hauehave not taken pepper in the Nose,
Nor a base forger of false libels beene,
Such ones there be indeed, such I hauehave seene;
I enuy no man for his greatnes I,
Nor seeke I any honest mans disgrace;
I ioy in eueryevery ones prosperity,
Ile not the credit of a dogge deface,
My Aduersaery shall not prooue the case.
Then stand back sirrah Whip-Iack with your scourge,
Do not incense my Satyr for thy life:
Hee's patient enough vnlesse thou vrge,
Contentions are now a dayes to rife,
And he is very backward vntounto strife,
But notwithstanding heere he lets thee see,
As long as there is cause and reason why:
In spight of all that foes to Satyrs be:
He shall, if I list taxe iniquitie,
It is a matter of necessity.
What? you would faine hauehave all the great ones freed,
They must not for their vices be controld,
Beware; that were a saucines indeed;
But if the Great-ones to offend be bold,
I see no reason but they should be told.
Yea and they shall; their faults most hurtfull be,
And though I will not put them to that shame,
I no iniustice in the matter see,
If they were taxed by their proper name,
For no sinne can on earth hauehave her full blame.
Then Scourge of Satyrs hold thy whip from mine,
Or I will make my rod lash thee and thine.
To the gald Reader.
EPIG. 8.
SIr, he thats night-gald or hath cornes on's toes,
May blame the Shoomaker and curse his shooes
But those that are acquainted with the fault,
Can tell the reason wherefore he doth halt;
So thou maist think (perhaps) these Satyrs sting thee
Where only thy owne guiltines doth wring thee.
For if thou wert from these diseases free,
Thou wouldst be quiet as some others be.
But tis well known a ticklish beast hath tricks
And the old Prouerb saith a gold la …e kicks.
But I'le aduise thee, if thou feele it smart,
Be rule by me and play not the fooles part,
Keep't to thy selfe, and there are none shall know,
Whether that thou art toucht therein or no,
Thou seest thou neither art markt out nor na'md;
And therefore onelyonly to thy selfe art sham'd;
Now if thou stir at best thou shalt but make
The Country of thy faults more knowledge take.
And (as indeed it iustly may) diuine,
The worst faults that I write against are thine,
Then since to be reprooued seemes a curse,
And to be mooued makes the matter worse,
Either for to amend thy life hauehave care,
O… like a Pack! orse and an Asse stil beare.
To the Impartiall Author.
CEorge, I did euer thinke thy faithfull breast,
Conteind a mind beyond the common sort,
Thy very looke and honest heart exprest,
And seem'd an aw-full mildnes to import:
Poets may vaunt of smooth and lofty straines,
Thine with thy subiect fitly do agree;
But then thy Muse a better praise obtaines,
For whilst the greatest but time-pleasers be,
Thou vnappald and freely speak'st the truth:
Not any one for feare or lucre sparing:
A vertue rare in age, more rare in youth;
Another Cato, but I think more daring;
Wel maist thou speed in these tempestuous times,
Thou soone begin'st to make the world thy foe
Yet I so wel do like thy honest rimes;
That I could wish al Poets would write so;
For thou the way of truth so rightly tend'st,
I hold them double prais'd whom thou commendst
Thy deare friend, TH. C.
The Contents of the first BOOKE.
The Occasion.
The Introduction,
Of Man
Offond LoueLove. Satyr 1
Of Lust. 2
Of Hate. 3
Of Enuy. 4
Of Reuenge. 5
Of Choller. 6
Of Iealousie, 7
Of Couetousnes. 8
Of Ambition. 9
Of Feare. 10
Of Despaire. 11
Of Hope. 12
Of Compassion. 13
Of Cruelty. 14
Of Ioy. 15
Of Sorrow. 16
The Conclusion of the first Booke.
THE SECOND BOOKE.
Of Vanity. Satyr. 1
Of Inconstancy 2
Of Weaknes. 3
Of Presumption 4
The Scourge
Epigramms to the King, &c. and to certaine noble Personages and friends, to whom the Author gaue any of his Bookes.