Several Poems, Poem 2
Of the four Humours in Mans Conſtitution.
THe former four now ending their diſcourſe,
Ceaſing to vaunt their good, or threat their force,
Lo other four ſtep up, crave leave to ſhow
The native qualityes that from them flow:
But firſt they wiſely ſhew'd their high deſcent,
Each eldeſt daughter to each Element.
Choler was own'd by fire, and Blood by air,
Earth knew her black ſwarth child, water her fair:
All having made obeyſance to each Mother,
Had leave to ſpeak, ſucceeding one the other:
But 'mongſt themſelves they were at variance,
Which of the four ſhould have predominance.
Choler firſt hotly claim'd right by her mother,
Who had precedency of all the other:
But Sanguine did diſdain what ſhe requir'd,
Pleading her ſelf was moſt of all deſir'd.
Proud Melancholy more envious then the reſt,
The ſecond, third or laſt could not digeſt.
She was the ſilenteſt of all the four,
Her wiſdom ſpake not much, but thought the more
Mild Flegme did not conteſt for chiefeſt place,
Only ſhe crav'd to have a vacant ſpac….
Well, thus they parle and chide; but to be brief,
Or will they, nill they, Choler will be chief.
They ſeing her impetuoſity
At preſent yielded to neceſſity.
Choler.
To ſhew my high deſcent and pedegree,
Your ſelves would judge but vain prolixity▪
It is acknowledged from whence I came,
It ſhall ſuffice to ſhew you what I am,
My ſelf and mother one, as you ſhall ſee,
But ſhee in greater, I in leſs degree.
We both once Maſculines, the world doth' know,
Now Feminines awhile, for love we owe?
Unto your Siſterhood, which makes us render
Our noble ſelves in a leſs noble gender.
Though under Fire we comprehend all heat,
Yet man for Choler is the proper ſeat:
I in his heart erect my regal throne,
Where Monarch like I play and ſway alone.
Yet many times unto my great diſgrace
One of your ſelves are my Compeers in place,
Where if your rule prove once predominant,
The man proves boyiſh, ſottiſh, ignorant:
But if you yield ſubſervience unto me,
I make a man, a man in th'high'ſt degree:
Be he a ſouldier, I more fence his heart
Then iron Corſlet 'gainſt a ſword or dart.
What makes him face his foe without appal,
To ſtorm a breach, or ſcale a city wall,
In dangers to account himſelf more ſure
Then timerous Hares whom Caſtles do immure?
Have you not heard of worthyes, Demi-Gods?
Twixt them and others what is't makes the odds
But valour? whence comes that▪ from none of you,
Nay milkſops at ſuch brunts you look but blew.
Here's ſiſter ruddy, worth the other two,
Who much will talk, but little dares ſhe do,
Unleſs to Court and claw, to dice and drink,
And there ſhe will out-bid us all, I think,
She loves a fiddle better then a drum,
A Chamber well, in field ſhe dares not come,
She'l ride a horſe as bravely as the beſt,
And break a ſtaff, provided be in jeſt;
But ſhuns to look on wounds, & blood that's ſpilt,
She loves her ſword only becauſe its gilt.
Then here's our ſad black Siſter, worſe then you.
She'l neither ſay ſhe will, nor will ſhe doe;
But peeviſh Malecontent, muſing ſits,
And by miſpriſſions like to looſe her witts:
If great perſwaſions cauſe her meet her foe,
In her dull reſolution ſhe's ſo ſlow,
To march her pace to ſome is greater pain
Then by a quick encounter to be ſlain.
But be ſhe beaten, ſhe'l not run away,
She'l firſt adviſe if't be not beſt to ſtay.
Now let's give cold white ſiſter flegme her right,
So loving unto all ſhe ſcorns to fight:
If any threaten her, ſhe'l in a trice
Convert from water to congealed ice:
Her teeth will chatter▪ dead and wan's her face,
And 'fore ſhe be aſſaulted, quits the place.
She dares not challeng, if I ſpeak amiſs,
Nor hath ſhe wit or heat to bluſh at this.
Here's three of you all ſee now what you are,
Then yield to me preheminence in war.
Again who fits for learning, ſcience, arts?
Who rarifies the intellectual parts:
From whence fine ſpirits f…ow and witty notions:
But tis not from our dull, ſlow ſiſters motions:
Nor ſiſter ſanguine, from thy moderate heat,
Poor ſp…rits the Liver breeds, which is thy ſeat.
What comes from thence, my heat refines the ſame
And through the arteries ſends it o're the frame:
The vital ſpirits they're call'd▪ and well they may
For when they fail, man turns unto his clay.
The animal I claim as well as theſe,
The nerves, ſhould I not warm, ſoon would they freeze
But flegme her ſelf is now provok'd at this
She thinks I never ſhot ſo far amiſs.
The brain ſhe challengeth, the head…s her ſeat;
But know'ts a fooliſh brain that wanteth heat.
My abſence proves it plain, her wit then flyes
Out at her noſe, or melteth at her eyes.
Oh who would miſs this influence of thine
To be diſtill'd, a drop on every Line?
Alas, thou haſt no Spirits thy Company
Will feed a dropſy, or a Tympany,
The Palſy, Gout, or Cramp, or ſome ſuch dolour:
Thou waſt not made, for Souldier or for Scholar;
Of greazy paunch, and bloated cheeks go vaunt,
But a good head from theſe are diſſonant.
But Melancholy, wouldſt have this glory thine,
Thou ſayſt thy wits are ſtaid, ſubtil and fine,
'Tis true, when I am Midwife to thy birth
Thy ſelf's as dull, as is thy mother Earth:
Thou canſt not claim the liver, head nor heart
Yet haſt the Seat aſſign'd, a goodly part
The ſinke of all us three, the hateful Spleen
Of that black Region, nature made thee Queen;
Where pain and ſore obſtruction thou doſt work,
Where envy, malice, thy Companions lurk.
If once thou'rt great, what follows thereupon
But bodies waſting, and deſtruction?
So baſe thou art, that baſer cannot be,
Th' excrement aduſtion of me.
But I am weary to dilate your ſhame,
Nor is't my pleaſure thus to blur your name,
Only to raiſe my honour to the Skies,
As objects beſt appear by contraries.
But Arms, and Arts I claim, and higher things,
The princely qualities befitting Kings,
Whoſe profound heads I line with policies,
They'r held for Oracles, they are ſo wiſe,
Their wrathful looks are death their words are laws
Their Courage it foe, friend, and Subject awes;
But one of you, would make a worthy King
Like our ſixth Henry (that ſame virtuous thing)
That when a Varlet ſtruck him o're the ſide,
Forſooth you are to blame, he grave reply'd.
Take Choler from a Prince, what is he more
Then a dead Lion, by Beaſts triumph'd o're.
Again you know, how I act every part
By th' influence, I ſtill ſend from the heart:
It's nor your Muſcles, nerves, nor this nor that
Do's ought without my lively heat, that's ſlat:
Nay th' ſtomack magazine to all the reſt
Without my boyling heat cannot digeſt:
And yet to make my greatneſs, ſtill more great
What differences, the Sex? but only heat.
And one thing more, to cloſe up my narration
Of all that lives, I cauſe the propagation.
I have been ſparings what I might have ſaid
I love no boaſting that's but Childrens trade.
To what you now ſhall ſay I will attend,
And to your weakneſs gently condeſcend.
Blood.
Good Siſters give me leave, as is my place
To vent my grief, and wipe off my diſgrace:
Your ſelves may plead your wrongs are no whit leſs
Your patience more then mine, I muſt confeſs▪
Did ever ſober tongue ſuch language ſpeak.
Or honeſty ſuch tyes unfriendly break?
Doſt know thy ſelf ſo well us ſo amiſs?
Is't arrogance or folly cauſeth this?
Ile only ſhew the wrong thou'ſt done to me,
Then let my ſiſters right their injury.
To pay with railings is not mine intent,
But to evince the truth by Argument
I will analyſe this thy proud relation
So full of boaſting and prevarication,
Thy fooliſh incongruityes Ile ſhow,
So walk thee till thou'rt cold, then let thee go.
There is no Souldier but thy ſelf (thou ſayeſt,)
No valour upon Earth, but what thou haſt
Thy ſilly provocations I deſpiſe,
And leave't to all to judge, where valour lies
No pattern, nor no pattron will I bring
But David, Judah's moſt heroick King,
Whoſe glorious deeds in Arms the world can tell,
A roſie cheek Muſitian thou know'ſt well;
He knew well how to handle Sword and Harp,
And how to ſtrike full ſweet, as well as ſharp,
Thou laugh'ſt at me for loving merriment,
And ſcorn'ſt all Knightly ſports at Turnament.
Thou ſayſt I love my Sword, becauſe it's gilt,
But know, I love the Blade, more then the Hil…,
Yet do abhor ſuch temerarious deeds,
As thy unbridled barbarous Choler breeds:
Thy rudeneſs counts good manners vanity,
And real Complements baſe flattery.
For drink, which of us twain like it the beſt,
Ile go no further then thy noſe for teſt:
Thy other ſcoffs, not worthy of reply
Shall vaniſh as of no validity:
Of thy black Calumnies this is but part,
But now Ile ſhew what ſouldier thou art.
And though thou'ſt us'd me with opprobrious ſpight
My ingenuity muſt give thee right.
Thy choler is but rage when tis moſt pure,
But uſefull when a mixture can endure;
As with thy mother fire, ſo tis with thee,
The beſt of all the four when they agree:
But let her leave the reſt, then I preſume
Both them and all things elſe ſhe would conſume.
VVhilſt us for thine aſſociates thou tak'ſt,
A Souldier moſt compleat in all points mak'ſt:
But when thou ſcorn'ſt to take the help we lend,
Thou art a Fury or infernal Fiend.
Witneſs the execrable deeds thou…ſt done,
Nor ſparing Sex nor Age, nor Sire nor Son;
To ſatisfie thy pride and cruelty,
Thou oft haſt broke bounds of Humanity,
Nay ſhould I tell, thou would'ſt count me no blab,
How often for the lye, thou'ſt given the ſtab.
To take the wall's a ſin of ſo high rate,
That nought but death the ſame may expiate,
To croſs thy will, a challenge doth deſerve
So ſhed'ſt that blood, thou'rt bounden to preſerve
Wilt thou this valour, Courage, Manhood call:
No, know 'tis pride moſt diabolical.
If murthers be thy glory, tis no leſs,
Ile not envy thy feats, nor happineſs:
But if in fitting time and place 'gainſt foes
For countreys good thy life thou dar'ſt expoſe,
Be dangers n'er ſo high, and courage great,
Ile praiſe that proweſs, fury, Choler, heat:
But ſuch thou never art when all alone,
Yet ſuch when we all four are joyn'd in one.
And when ſuch thou art, even ſuch are we,
The friendly Coadjutors ſtill of thee.
Nextly the Spirits thou doſt wholly claim,
Which nat'ral, vital, animal we name:
To play Philoſopher I have no liſt,
Nor yet Phyſitian, nor Anatomiſt,
For acting theſe, I have no will nor Art,
Yet ſhall with Equity, give thee thy part
For natural, thou doſt not much conteſt;
For there is none (thou ſayſt) if ſome not beſt
That there are ſome, and beſt, I dare averre
Of greateſt uſe, if reaſon do not erre:
What is there living, which do'nt firſt derive
His Life now Animal, from vegetive:
If thou giv'ſt life, I give the nouriſhment,
Thine without mine, is not, 'tis evident:
But I without thy help, can give a growth
As plants trees and ſmall Embryon know'th
And if vital Spirit…, do flow from thee
I am as ſure, the natural, from me:
Be thine the nobler, which I grant, yet mine
Shall juſtly claim priority of thine.
I am the fountain which thy Ciſtern fills
Through warm blew Conduits of my venial rills▪
What hath the heart but what's ſent from the liver
If thou'rt the taker, I muſt be the giver.
Then never boaſt of what thou doſt receive:
For of ſuch glory I ſhall thee bereave.
But why the he art ſhould be uſurp'd by thee,
I muſt confeſs ſeems ſomething ſtrange to me:
The ſpirits through thy heat made perfect are,
But the Materials none of thine, that's clear▪
Their wondrous mixture is of blood and air,
The firſt my ſelf, ſecond my mother fair.
But Ile not force retorts, nor do thee wrong,
Thy fi'ry yellow froth is mixt among,
Challeng not all, 'cauſe part we do allow;
Thou know'ſt I've there to do as well as thou:
But thou wilt fay I deal unequally,
Their lives the ira…ible faculty,
Which without all diſpute, is Cholers own;
Beſides the vehement heat, only there known
Can be imputed, unto none but fire
Which is thy ſelf, thy Mother and thy Sire
That this is true, I eaſily can aſſent
If ſtill you take along my Aliment;
And let me be your partner which is due,
So ſhall I give the dignity to you:
Again, Stomacks Concoction thou doſt claim,
But by what right, nor do'ſt, nor canſt thou name
Unleſs, as heat, it be thy faculty,
And ſo thou challengeſt her property.
The help ſhe needs, the loving liver lends,
Who th' benefit o'th' whole ever intends
To meddle further I ſhall be but ſhent,
Th'reſt to our Siſters is more pertinent;
Your ſlanders thus refuted takes no place,
Nor what you've ſaid, doth argue my diſgrace,
Now through your leaves, ſome little time I'll ſpend
My worth in humble manner to commend
This, hot, moiſt nutritive humour of mine
When 'tis untaint, pure, and moſt genuine
Shall chiefly take the place, as is my due
Without the leaſt indignity to you.
Of all your qualities I do partake,
And what you ſingle are, the whole I make
Your hot, moiſt, cold, dry natures are but four,
I moderately am all, what need I more;
As thus, if hot then dry, if moiſt then cold,
If this you cann't diſprove, then all I hold
My virtues hid, I've let you dim…y ſee
My ſweet Complection proves the verity.
This Scarlet die's a badge of what's within
One touch thereof, ſo beauti…ies the skin:
Nay, could I be, from all your tangs but pure
Mans life to boundleſs Time might ſtill endure.
But here one thruſts her heat, wher'ts not requir'd
So ſuddenly, the body all is fired,
And of the calme ſweet temper quite bereft,
Which 'makes the Manſion, by the Soul ſoon left.
So Melancholy ſeizes on a man,
With her unchearful viſage, ſwarth and wan,
The body dryes, the mind ſublime doth ſmother,
And turns him to the womb of's earthy mother:
And flegm likewiſe can ſhew her cruel art,
With cold diſtempers to pain every part:
The lungs ſhe rots, the body wears away,
As if ſhe'd leave no fleſh to turn to clay,
Her languiſhing diſeaſes, though not quick
At length demoliſhes the Faberick,
All to prevent, this curious care I take,
In th' laſt concoction ſegregation make
Of all the perverſe humours from mine own,
The bitter choler moſt malignant known
I turn into his Cell cloſe by my ſide
The Melancholy to the Spleen t'abide:
Likewiſe the whey, ſome uſe I in the veins,
The overplus I ſend unto the reins:
But yet for all my toil, my care and skill,
Its doom'd by an irrevocable will
That my intents ſhould meet with interruption,
That mortal man might turn to his corruption.
I might here ſhew the nobleneſs of mind
Of ſuch as to the ſanguine are inclin'd,
They're liberal, pleaſant, kind and courteous,
And like the Liver all benignious.
For arts and ſciences they are the fitteſt▪
And maugre Choler ſtill …hey are the wittieſt:
With an ingenious working Phantaſie,
A moſt voluminous large Memory,
And nothing wanting but Solidity.
But why alas, thus tedious ſhould be,
Thouſand examples you may …aily ſee.
If time I have tranſgreſt, and been too long,
Yet could not be more brief wi…hout much wrong;
I've ſcarce wip'd off the ſpots proud choler caſt,
Such venome lies in words, though but a blaſt:
No braggs i've us'd, to you I dare appeal,
If modeſty my worth do not conceal.
I've us'd no bittererſs, nor …axt your name,
As I to you, to me do ye the ſame.
Melancholy.
He that with two Aſſailants hath to do,
Had need be armed well and active too.
Eſpecially when friendſhip is pretended,
That blow's moſt deadly where it is intended.
Though choler rage and rail, I'le not do ſo,
The tongue's no weapon to aſſau…t a foe…
But …ith we fight with words, we might be kind
To ſpare our ſelves and beat the whiſtling wind,
Fair roſie ſiſter, ſo might'ſt thou ſcape free;
I'le flatter for a time as thou didſt me:
But when the firſt offender I have laid,
Thy ſoothing girds ſhall fully be repaid.
But Choler be thou cool…d or chaf'd, I'le venter,
And in contentions liſts now juſtly enter.
What mov'd thee thus to vilifie my name,
Not paſt all reaſon, but in truth all ſhame:
Thy fiery ſpirit ſhall bear away this prize,
To play ſuch furious pranks I am too wiſe:
If in a Souldier raſhneſs be ſo precious,
Know in a General tis moſt pernicious.
Nature doth teach to ſhield the head from harm,
The blow that's aim'd thereat is latcht by th'arm.
When in Batalia my foes I face
I then command proud Choler ſtand thy place,
To uſe thy ſword, thy courage and thy art
There to defend my ſelf, thy better part.
This warineſs count not for cowardize,
He is not truly valiant that's not wiſe.
It's no leſs glory to defend a town,
Then by aſſault to gain one not our own;
And if Marcellus bold be call'd Romes ſword,
Wiſe Fabius is her buckler all accord:
And if thy haſt my ſlowneſs ſhould not temper,
'Twere but a mad irregular diſtemper;
Enough of that by our ſiſters heretofore,
Ile come to that which wounds me ſomewhat more
Of learning, policy thou wouldſt bereave me,
But's not thine ignorance ſhall thus deceive me:
What greater Clark or Politician lives,
Then he whoſe brain a touch my humour gives?
What is too hot my coldneſs doth abate,
What's diffluent I do conſolidate.
If I be partial judg'd or thought to erre,
The melancholy ſhake ſhall it aver,
Whoſe cold dry head more ſubtilty doth yield,
Then all the huge beaſts of the fertile field·
Again thou doſt confine me to the ſpleen,
As of that only part I were the Queen▪
Let me as well make thy precincts the Gall,
So priſon thee within that bladder ſmall▪
Reduce the man to's principles, then ſee
If I have not more part then all you three:
What is within, without, of theirs or thine,
Yet time and age ſhall ſoon declare it mine.
When death doth ſeize the man your ſtock is loſt,
When you poor bankrupts prove then have I moſt.
You'l ſay here none ſhall e're diſturb my right
You high born from that lump then take your flight
Then who's mans friend, when life & all forſakes?
His Mother mine, him to her womb retakes:
Thus he is ours, his portion is the grave,
But while he lives, I'le ſhew what part I have:
And firſt the firm dry bones I juſtly claim,
The ſtrong foundation of the ſtately frame:
Likewiſe the uſefull Slpeen, though not the beſt,
Yet is a bowel call'd well as the reſt:
The Liver, Stomack, owe their thanks of right,
The firſt it drains, of th'laſt quicks appetite.
Laughter (thô thou ſay malice) flows from hence,
Theſe two in one cannot have reſidence.
But thou moſt groſly doſt miſtake to think
The Spleen for all you three was made a ſink,
Of all the reſt thou'ſt nothing there to do,
But if thou haſt, that malice is from you.
Again you often touch my ſwarthy hue,
That black is black, and I am black tis true;
But yet more comely far I dare avow,
Th…n is thy torrid noſe or brazen brow.
But that which ſhews how high your ſpight is bent
Is charging me to be thy excrement:
Thy loath…ome imputation I defie,
So plain a …nder needeth no reply.
When by thy heat thou'ſt bak'd thy ſelf to cruſt;
And ſo art call'd black Choler or aduſt,
Thou witleſs think'ſt that I am thy excretion,
So mean thou art in Art as in diſcretion:
But by your leave I'le let your greatneſs ſee
What Officer thou art to us all three.
The Kitchin Drudge, the cleanſer of the ſinks
That caſts out all that man e're eats or drinks:
If any doubt the truth whence this ſhould come,
Shew them thy paſſage to th' Duodenum;
Thy biting quality ſtill irritates,
Till filth and thee nature exonerates:
If there thou'rt ſtopt, to th' Liver thou turn'ſt in,
And thence with jaundies ſaffrons all the skin.
No further time Ile ſpend in confutation,
I truſt I've clear'd your ſlanderous imputation.
I now ſpeak unto all, no more to one,
Pray hear, admire and learn inſtruction.
My virtues yours ſurpaſs without compare,
The firſt my conſtancy that jewel rare:
Choler's too raſh this golden gift to hold,
And Sanguine is more fickle manifold,
Here, there her reſtleſs thoughts do ever fly,
Conſtant in nothing but unconſtancy.
And what Flegme is, we know, like to her mother,
Unſtable is the one, and ſo the other;
With me is noble patience alſo found.
Impatient Choler loveth not the ſound,
What ſanguine is, ſhe doth not heed nor care,
Now up, now down, tranſported like the Air:
Flegme's patient becauſe her nature's tame,
But I, by virtue do acquire the ſame.
My Temperance, Chaſtity is eminent,
But theſe with you, are ſeldome reſident;
Now could I ſtain my ruddy Siſters face
With deeper red, to ſhew you her dſgrace,
But rather I with ſilence vai…e her ſhame
Then cauſe her bluſh, while I relate the ſame.
Nor are ye free from this inormity,
Although ſhe bear the greateſt obloquie,
My prudence, judgement, I might now reveal
But wiſdom 'tis my wiſdome to conceal.
Unto diſeaſes not inclin'd as you,
Nor cold, nor hot, Ague nor Pluriſie,
Nor Cough, nor Quinſey, nor the burning Feaver,
I rarely feel to act his fierce endeavour;
My ſickneſs in conceit chiefly doth lye,
What I imagine that's my malady.
Chymeraes ſtrange are in my phantaſy,
And things that never were, nor ſhall I ſee
I love not talk, Reaſon lies not in length,
Nor multitude of words argues our ſtrength;
I've done pray ſiſter Flegme proceed in Courſe,
We ſhall expect much ſound, but little force.
Flegme.
Patient I am, patient i'd need to be,
To bear with the injurious taunts of three,
Though wit I want, and anger I have leſs,
Enough o… both, my wrongs now to expreſs
I've not forgot, how bitter Choler ſpake
Nor how her gaul on me ſhe cauſeleſs brake;
Nor wonder 'twas for hatred there's not ſmall,
Where oppoſition is Diametrical.
To what is Truth I freely will aſſent,
Although my Name do ſuffer detriment,
What's ſlan…erous repell, doubtful diſpute,
And when I've nothing left to ſay be mute.
Valour I want no Souldier am 'tis true,
I'le leave that manly Property to you;
I love no thundring guns nor bloody wars,
My poliſh'd Skin was not ordain'd for Skarrs;
But though the pitched field I've ever fled,
At home the Conquerours have conquered.
Nay, I could tell you what's more true then meet,
That Kings have laid their Scepters at my feet;
When Siſter ſanguine paints my Ivory face:
The Monarchs bend and ſue, but for my grace
My lilly white when joyned with her red,
Princes hath ſlav'd, and Captains captived.
Country with Country, Greece with Aſia fights
Sixty nine Princes, all ſtout Hero Knights.
Under Troys walls ten years will wear away,
Rather then looſe one beauteous Helena.
But 'twere as vain, to prove this truth of mine
As at noon day, to tell the Sun doth ſhine.
Next difference that 'twixt us twain doth lye
Who doth poſſeſs the brain, or thou or I?
Shame forc'd the ſay, the matter that was mine,
But the Spirits by which it acts are thine:
Thou ſpeakeſt Truth, and I can ſay no leſs,
Thy heat doth much, I candidly confeſs;
Yet without oſtentation I may ſay,
I do as much for thee another way:
And though I grant, thou art my helper here,
No debtor I becauſe it's paid elſe where.
With all your flouriſhes, now Siſters three
Who is't that dare, or can, compare with me,
My excellencies are ſo great, ſo many,
I am confounded; fore I ſpeak of any:
The brain's the nobleſt member all allow,
Its form and Scituation will avow,
Its Ventricles, Membranes and wondrous net,
Galen, Hippocrates drive to a ſet;
That Divine Ofſpring the immortal Soul
Though it in all, and every part be whole,
Within this ſtately place of eminence,
Doth doubtleſs keep its mighty reſidence.
And ſurely, the Soul ſenſitive here lives,
Which life and motion to each creature gives,
The Conjugation of the parts, to th' braine
Doth ſhew, hence flow the pow'rs which they retain
Within this high Built Cittadel, doth lye
The Reaſon, fancy, and the memory.
The faculty of ſpeech doth here abide,
The Spirits animal, from hence do ſlide:
The five moſt noble Senſes here do dwell;
Of three it's hard to ſay, which doth excell.
This point now to diſcuſs, 'longs not to me,
I'le touch the ſight great'ſt wonder of the three;
The optick Nerve Coats, humours all are mine,
The watry, glaſſie, and the Chryſtaline;
O mixture ſtrange! O colour colourleſs,
Thy perfect temperament who can expreſs:
He was no fool who thought the ſoul lay there,
Whence her affections paſſions ſpeak ſo clear.
O good, O bad, O true, O traiterous eyes
What wonderments within your Balls there lyes,
Of all the Senſes fight ſhall be the Queen,
Yet ſome may wiſh, O had mine eyes ne're ſeen.
Mine, likewiſe is the …arrow, of the back,
Which runs through all the Spondles of the rack,
It is the ſubſtitute o'th royal brain,
All Nerves, except ſeven pair, to it retain.
And the ſtrong Ligaments from hence ariſe,
Which joynt to joynt, the intire body tyes.
Some other parts there iſſue from the Brain,
Whoſe worth and uſe to tell, I muſt refrain:
Some curious learned Crooke, may theſe reveal
But modeſty, hath charg'd me to conceal
Here's my Epitome of excellence:
For what's the Brains is mine by Conſequence,
A fooliſh brain (quoth Choler) wanting heat
But a mad one ſayl, where 'tis too great,
Phrenſie's worſe then folly, one would more glad
With a tame fool converſe then with a mad;
For learning then my brain is not the fitteſt,
Nor will I yield that Choler is the wittieſt.
Thy judgement is unſafe, thy fancy little,
For memory the ſand is not more brittle;
Again, none's fit for Kingly ſtate but thou,
If Tyrants be the beſt▪ I…le it allow:
But if love be as requiſite as fear,
Then thou and I muſt make a mixture here.
Well to be brief, I hope now Cholers laid,
And I'le paſs by what Siſter ſanguine ſaid.
To Melancholy I…le make no reply,
The worſt ſhe ſaid was inſtability,
And too much talk both which I here confeſs
A warning good, hereafter I'le ſay leſs.
Let's now be friends; its time our ſpight were ſpent,
Leſt we too late this raſhneſs do repent,
Such premiſes will force a ſad concluſion,
Unleſs we agree, all falls into confu…ion.
Let Sangine wit… her hot hand Choler hold,
To take her moiſt my moiſture will be bold:
My cold▪ cold melancholy hand ſhall claſp;
Her dry, dry Cholers other hand ſhall graſp.
Two hot two moiſt, two cold, two dry here be,
A golden Ring the Poſey ƲNITY.
Nor jarrs nor ſcoffs, let none hereafter ſee,
But all admire our perfect Amity
Nor be diſcern'd▪ here's water, earth, air, fire,
But here a compact body, whole intire.
This loving counſel pleas'd them all ſo well
That flegm was judg'd for kindneſs to excell.