Classic Poem

(1)

T H ere was a Time (as I haue heard it sed
By those that did, at least, in Print it finde)
A certaine Marriage was solemnized
Betweene a mortall Paire, of noble kinde;
And, for the loue of those whom Loue doth wed,
Immortall Gods the company refin'd
With their pure presence; who the Feast to grace
Did reuell (as did all the rest) a space.

(2)

Among the rest of that immortall Crue,
Danc'd Death and Fortune, whose Masks were so like,
That none, that danc'd, the one from other knew;
So, in their choice of them they were to seeke:
For some that soght for Fortune Deth out-drew;
And some that soght for Deth did Fortune strike:
Time was their Minstrell, who did euer play,
As well when they did dance, as they did stay.

(3)

Fortune delighted most to dance with those
That best could flatter, and the time obserue;
But Death still lou'd to foote it with his foes,
Or else with such as he saw best deserue:
When Fortune danc'd, she turnes, she comes, and goes,
And kept no time, thogh Time hir turns did serue:
But, when death danc'd, he did those Mesures tread,
Whose times were long, and short, and tunes were dead.

(4)

So Fortune vs'd Lauoltaes still to dance
That rise, and fall, as Time doth either play:
And Death the Measure of least dalliance,
That's Passing-measure, and so strait away:
Or else the shaking of the Sheets perchance
Which he would dance, vntired, night and day:
Wherein he put them downe, so that he did
Driue them from dancing vnto Winck-all-hid.

(5)

The dancing done, while yet their bloods were hot,
Fortune and Death began on tearmes to stand;
Which, for their dancing, had most glorie got,
And who their actions did best command:
From which dispute (with choller ouer shot)
They fell to vrge their powres by Sea and Land;
The while the Gods stoode most attentiuely,
To heare their more contentious Colloqui .

(6)

When Ioe Deth (Lord of all that breathe this aire)
Thus gan t' inforce his powre, beyond compare;
I know (saith he) their honors they impaire
That striue with those that their inferiors are:
Yet Foulnesse is not made a whit more faire
By being compar'd with Beauty, much more rare;
But, Foulnesse takes the greater soile thereby,
And moles are foiles to set forth Beauties die.

(7)

Wert thou not blind (bold Baiard) thou woldst see,
A mighty diffrence twixt thy might and mine;
Sith among those that most almighty bee,
I do admit no power more diuine:
For Empire large, who can compare with mee,
Sith Earth and Aire the same cannot confine:
Nay, in Earth, Water, yea, in Aire, and Fire
(That's all in all) I rule as I desire.

(8)

What breathes, or hath a vegetatiue Soule,
But paies me Tribute as vnto their King?
Nay, doe I not the hoast of starres controule?
Then Heau'n and Earth I to obedience bring:
And Kings, as Beggars, are in my Checke-role;
Nay, Kings more oft then Beggars do I sting:
As farre as any thing hath motion, I
Play Rex ; for, all that liue, do liue to die.

(9)

And therefore testifie this modestie
(For error to defend is impudence)
In graunting that which thou canst not deny,
And to be true, thou know'st in conscience:
Thou sure woldst blush, if thou hadst but one eie,
To stand on tearmes with mine omnipotence:
But sith thine Eies are blind, and Iudgement too,
Thou canst not blush at that thou canst not doo.

(10)

Thy reasons seeme (quoth Fortune) strong to such,
As do but sleightly weigh them; but to mee,
(That seeth more than thou, as least as much,
For, thou wantst Eyes, as well as I, to see)
They are to[o] base, to brooke my Trialls Touch
For, Tyranny is no true Soueraigntie:
And, Empire large, consistes not of large Partes,
But in the free subiection of whole Harts.

(11)

Can any King be happy, or secure
That drawing bodies, cleane with-draw the harts?
Or is it like that Kingdome should endure,
That is by Hate, diuided into Parts?
And Hate a cruell Prince must needes procure,
That seekes his weale by all his Subiects smarts:
The Will is free, and will not be constrain'd,
How ere, for it, the body may be pain'd.

(12)

As vniversall as the Vniuerse
Extends (I graunt) thy grand authoritie:
And that thy Takers (more then most peruerse)
Sicknesse, Mischance, Disgrace, and Destinie,
Thy tribute take from Man, Beast (tame or fierce)
To fill thy still-consuming Treasurie:
But their vntimely taking, with high hand
Makes thy rule odious on Sea and Land.

(13)

Such Officers, in each craz'd common-weale;
(That vnder colour of their Offices,
Do, with the Sou'raignes fauour badly deale)
Great Mischiefs cause, and Inconueniences;
Which though they touch the Subiects, Kings do feele
Who often smart for suffring that disease:
When Princes tend their priuate, and neglect
The common good, they cause this sore effect.

(14)

But ballance on the other side, my might
In th' vpright Scholes of True Indiffrencie,
And thou shalt find I haue their heart and spright
Freely obaying mine authoritie:
For thou compellest, but I do inuite,
I Fauors giue, whose vse thou dost deny:
I do promote all those that rise to mee,
But thou subuertest those that fall to thee.

(15)

Then, though that vniuersall be thy powre,
Thinke not, therefore, Loue must to thee be such:
For wit and Courage may high place procure,
But Loue and Bountie ampler power by much:
Then of my currant Cause I am so sure,
That I dare rubbe it hard on Trialls Touch:
And, for my part, to end this Ciuile Warre,
Ile put it to iudicious Iupiter .

(16)

Although I iustly may (quoth Death) deny
To put a question, without question,
Vnto the Iudgement of selfe-Equity,
(For so I hold iust Iupiter alone)
Yet (not affecting Singularitie)
Ile make him Iudge in this Contention:
Now Fortune, proue thy powre, as I will mine
And then let Iupiter iudge both in fine.

(17)

So, when they were (to play this masters Prize)
Entred this round worlds spatious Theater;
Fortune adorn'd her selfe with Dignities,
With Gold, and Iems, which made All follow her:
These did she fall, to make her followers tise,
To gather which, they did them selues bestirre:
Keisars and Kings, that vsherd her the way,
Oft caught much more then they could beare away

(18)

Here might you see (like Beggars at a dole)
Some throng'd to death, in scambling for her almes:
He oft sped best that was the veriest foole:
Some tooke vp Coine, some Crownes, and others Palms
For which they pull'd each other by the Pole,
While othersome, for them, found precious Balms:
Some found odde ends to make their States intire,
And all found some thing that they did desire

(19)

But, that which was most notable to see,
Was the poore Priest, who still came lagging last,
As if (God wot) he car'd not rich to bee,
To whom kinde Fortune Liuings large did cast
(As't were to guerdon his humilitie)
Which, in the name of God, he still held fast:
And still look'd downe to find more if he might,
For, well he found, he found well by that sleight

(20)

Philosophers (that gold did still neglect)
Lookt only but (wise fooles) to find their Stone:
Which toy, in truth, was nothing, in effect,
But to get all the world to them alone:
For with that stone they would pure gold proiect
Worth all the world by computation:
But whiles they sought a Stone so rich and faire,
They perfect Gold but turn'd t'imperfect aire.

(21)

Thus at the heeles of Fortune all attend
Whom well shee feid for attending so:
On th' other side, Death to and fro did wend
To seeke one that with him would gladly go:
But, none he found; which made him those to end
He ouertooke, in going to and fro:
For those which are vnwilling Death to meete,
He is most willing soonest them to greete.

(22)

Nor could those Officers that him foreranne
(Sickenesse Mischance, Disgrace and Destinie)
Affect, with his affection; any Man;
For, none they found that willingly would die
Sith all, before, with fauours, Fortune wan,
And such desir'd to liue eternally:
For, it is death to thinke on Death with such
That Fortune makes too merry with too much

(23)

Through Campes, & Hosts, he trauel'd with a trice,
(For, soldiers needs must meet deth by their trade)
At last he came where some were throwing dice,
Who first a Breach should enter newly made;
Lord how some chaf'd (through Glories auarice)
For missing that which they wold not haue had:
And, he that wan, to lose his life did striue
Yet so, as faine he would haue scapt aliue

(24)

Among the rouing Crew, at Sea, he sought
For one that willing was to go with him,
Who, thogh they valu'd all their liues at nought,
And oft for trifles ventred life and limme,
Yet when their woorthlesse bloods were to bee bought
They sold them deerely, and in blood did swim
From bloody death, as long as they could moue:
For thogh they fear'd not death, yet liue did loue.

(25)

Through the Turkes Gallies, mong the Slaues he went
To seeke some desp'rat slaue that long'd to die;
But loe, not one to die would yeeld consent,
For, all through hope still lookt for libertie:
Hope doth the hart enlarge that Griefe forespent:
And Faith keepes Hope and Life in charitie
Dispaire can neuer seize that hopefull hart
That can, through Faith endure an hell of smart

(26)

At last he to a Monasterie came,
(Where mortified life is most profess'd)
And sought for one to meete him in the same;
But, all therein from sodaine death them blest:
And prai'd to Iesus so their liues to frame
That sodainely Death might not them arrest:
A Pater noster , Aue, and a Creede.
They thought right wel bestow'd, so wel to speed

(27)

Thence went he to an holie Ancrets Cell,
Who seem'd to be quite buried there aliue:
He Death embrac'd, but yet the feare of Hell
Made him with Death, for liue (in loue) to striue:
He knew himselfe (old Fox) perhappes, too well
Strait to presume that God would him forgiue:
So was most willing, and vnwilling too,
To do as present Death would haue him doo

(28)

In fine, Death doubting in his Cause to faile,
Intreated Sickenesse such an one to finde,
That wold not flinch, thogh Deth did him assaile,
And scorn'd the fauors of that goddesse blinde:
So, Sickenes went throgh many a lothsome Iaile,
And found, at last, one mortified in minde:
Who though he were but poore yet held it vaine,
To follow Fortune that did him disdaine.

(29)

On whom seiz'd Sickenesse, with resistlesse force,
And pull'd him downe so low, he could not stand;
To whom Death came, to make his corps a Corse,
Yet as his friend first shak'd him by the hand;
And by perswasions, would him faine enforce
With willing minde, to be at his command:
Which if he would, Death promis'd faithfully,
He should die sleeping, or most easily.

(30)

This forlorne wrech thankt death for his good wil,
But, yet desir'd one happy howre to liue,
Which ended, he would Deaths desire fulfill,
Who from him with a Purge, did Sicknesse driue,
Which shortly did one of his Kinred kill,
From whome, as heire he did some wealth receiue:
And being well in state of health, and wealth,
He followed Fortune more then Death, by stealth

(31)

Now, hee betooke him to a Furriers Trade,
And hauing Stock, hee multiplide his Store;
Then Death did mind him of the match he made,
But, him hee answer'd as hee did before:
Quoth he, O marre me not ere I am made,
But let me get (kind Death) a little more:
Contente (quoth Death) thou shalt haue thy desire,
So I may haue thereby what I require

(32)

Sables and Ermines Death for him did kill,
And made his wealth thereby, by heapes, increase:
Who hauing now (death thoght) the world at will,
He asked him if now he would decease:
Who yet desired life, of Death, to fill
His coffers to the top, then would he cease.
Death yet seem'd pleas'd, and brought all those to nought,
Th' reuersions of whose States he erst had bought.

(33)

Then when he had a world of wealth obtain'd
Death came againe for his consent to die;
But now he told Death, his mind more was pain'd
With thought, and care, then erst in pouertie:
Therefore he prai'd his death might be refrain'd
Till he had gotten some Nobilitie:
And then he would go willingly with Death,
And (nobly) yeelde to him his deerest breath.

(34)

Death yet agreed (sith his good will he sought,)
And gaue him leaue to compasse his intent;
Who, of a noble-man, decayed, bought
Both Land and Lordship, Honor, House, and Rent;
Then Hee turn'd Courtier, and with Courtiers wroght
(By Deaths assistance, and with mony lent)
That he in time, became a mightie King;
And al his Proiects to effect did bring

(35)

Then Death (not doubting of his will to die)
Vnto him came, to know his will therein;
But, he did Death intreate (most earnestly)
That sith to him he had so gracious bin,
He yet might gaine imperiall Dignitie
Before his Death, which soone he hop'd to win:
And then he would most willingly resigne
His life to Death, although a life diuine,

(36)

Death, hoping, that the greater he was made,
The greater glorie he, by him, should gaine,
(Which might the vmpire Iupiter perswade
That Death in powre, was Fortunes Soueraigne)
Made neighbour Kings each other to inuade,
To whom this King a Neuter did remaine:
Who when they had by wars themselues consum'd
He all their States, as Emperour, assum'd.

(37)

Now being Caesar , Death came strait to him
As most assured of his company:
But to the Emperour he seem'd more grim
Then erst he did, which made him loath to die;
Come on (quoth Deth, and therwith held a limme)
No oddes there must be now, twixt you and I:
To Ioue Ile bring you, then with good will go
To him, and me, and see you tell him so.

(38)

Alas (said hee) I am but newly come
To honors height, and wilt thou throw me downe
Ere I be warme or settled in my Roome,
And so my Brows scarse feele th'imperiall crown;
O suffer me to liue, to tell the summe
Of the Contentments, from my Grandure grown;
For better had it bin still Low to lie
Then, being at the Highest, straite to die.

(39)

Either (quoth Death) come willingly with me
Or thou shalt die a death thou most dost feare:
Hee hearing this, from Death did seeke to flee,
And cried on Fortune to assist him there:
Peace villaine then (quoth Death) I coniure thee,
Or lower speake, that Fortune may not heare:
Yet Fortune (which he follow'd) was at hand,
And laught for ioy to heare him Death withstand

(40)

But by this Time, the Time prefixt by Ioue
Expired was: and Fortune with her brought
A world of people, following Her in loue,
Who, willingly for Fortune long had sought:
These, as she moved, with hir still did moue,
Because she rais'd them higher then she ought:
In which respect she had more followars
Then Sol (that lights Heau'ns lamps) had waiting Stars.

(41)

Lord! how some (sweating) dropt in foll'wing her,
To whom shee dropt that which bedropt them more;
For, they were laden so, they scarse could stirre,
Who vnder-went the same with labour sore:
And othersome, themselues did so bestirre,
That they in each mans Boat would haue an Ore;
But, seeking to gripe more then well they could,
Were forc'd to lose that which they had in hold.

(42)

Among the rest, there was a Vsurer,
(Whose Backe his Belly did, for debt, arrest)
Who being fearefull of iust Iupiter ,
Made nice to goe with Fortune and the rest;
Sith well he knew, He was a Thunderer,
In, and from whom, he had no interest:
For he did neuer deale with such, perhaps,
That gaue for intrest nought but Thunder claps

(43)

The Souldier came, and gaue them much offence
That stood betweene his Breast, and Fortunes Back:
So, Souldiers haue backe-fortune euer since,
For they, for others good, go still to wracke;
And for their wracks haue wrackful recompence;
For, they are sackt, if they chance not to sacke:
And if they doe, the Publique Purse must haue
That which must keepe them as a Publique Slaue.

(44)

They, with right Swords, do ballance kingdomes rights;
(A glorious office they perform the while)
The woorths of Kings appeares by those their weights;
Which proue them to be valorous, or vile:
Yet they gaine nought but blows, in blody fights,
So, store they get without, or fraude or guile;
The while the gown-man keeps vnscarr'd his skin,
And with his Pen (in peace) the world doth win.

(45)

O thou true Ioue , bow downe thine vpright Eare,
To heare thy lowest Seruants Orisons,
Which, in the loue which he to them doth beare,
He makes for them (that wracke still ouer-runnes)
Incline the hearts of Princes farre and neare,
As Marses Minions to loue Marses sonnes:
And make this little land yeeld great increase,
To stay their stomackes great, in warre and peace

(46)

A Souldiers sword, from sheath, here Fortune took,
To Knight all those that her had followd well:
Now euery man did for a Knighthood looke,
That scarce had found an house wherein to dwell:
Yet some did much their betters ouer-looke,
And thrust in for it, while there lookes did swell:
So, Fortune seeing them to looke so big,
Possest them knights without a Truffe or Twig

(47)

Sois Cheualier; Arise sir Knight, (quoth she)
Then vp he springs, for feare lest Fortune would
Recall hir word for his debilitie;
Now Knight he is, for nought but being bold;
For Fortune fauours Squires of lowe degree,
If they be more audacious then they should:
Now Honor hath He, get Grace where He can,
Yet Fortune gaue him grace to keepe a man.

(48)

Some layd on all which they, by Fortune, got
Vpon their backes, that brauely sought to heare
The Sword vpon their shoulders, yet could not;
For, it fell in the sheathe ere it fell there:
Fell lucke it was that so they were forgot;
Yet they forgat themselues, as did appeare.
But when they saw they mist of what they sought,
Thei bar'd their backs, to line their guts, for noght

(49)

Which Iupiter himselfe did laught to see;
For, these so much were mou'd with this disgrace,
That they were at the point of Death to flee,
And Fortune leaue, for such their fortune bace:
Yet followed her (most malecontentedly)
Because they followed her vnto that place:
To cast away long seruice on a spleene,
Is not to foresee, but to be oreseene.

(50)

O! twas a world to see what shift was made
To hold vp Greatnes with a little stay;
T'were sinne to say some vs'd the Cheaters trade,
To borrow with a purpose ne'r to pay,
And get all, howsoe'r, that might be had:
No, no, they did not so, I dare well say,
But this I say, perhaps, they liu'd by wit,
And so to liue, some great Ones thinke it fit.

(51)

Now, in these knightly times ye might haue seene
(If you, for pleasure, had but tane the paine)
Each one ye met withall, a Knight in greene:
And so the world b'ing old, grew greene againe,
As if the same but in the Blade had beene;
For, each one did his Hanger on, sustaine:
Now, Time stood still, to sport himselfe in Maie;
For, all was Greene, and at that state did stay.

(52)

Some shuffled for some Office: some to gaine
Some Monopole, which then could not be got:
For, Fortune did those Monopoles restraine,
Because she thought t'was to hir Rule a Blot
To pleasure One by all her Subiects paine,
Thogh oft they made them seem, as they were not:
Some cried for warre, and othersome for peace,
But Fortune, thogh they cried, still held hir peace

(53)

Now, some for Coine their Offices did sell,
As if they had bin cloid with Fortunes grace;
And those that bought them, others did compell
To pay for them, when they were in their Place:
And some, in seeking somewhat, did rebell;
But Fortune broght them soone to wretched case:
Some strong, sent long men to Ierusalem ,
Out of the way, to make a way for them.

(54)

Now; for Truths Matters, there was much adoe;
Some this, some that, som none of both wold haue:
And yet all three did (restlesse) Fortune woe,
To yeeld to neither, that did either craue
In worlds behalfe, or fleshes fixt thereto;
But all in shew, did seeke but Trueth to saue:
For all seem'd to sollicitie Sions cause,
Which they would haue confirmed by the I awes

(55)

Some sed they lied that only Truth did teach,
Some enuied them that liu'd by teaching so:
And at their liues, and liuings sought to reach,
Which they forgaue, but would not so forgo:
Some's Tongues defended Truth, which they did preach,
Whose actions gaue hir many a bitter blo:
Some liu'd as dying, while they sought to liue
And some died liuing: yet did most reliue

(56)

Some, Liers called Carnall-libertie,
The glorious Libertie of Truths deere Sonnes;
And her they vrg'd to prooue that veritie;
But, Truths betraid, by such vntrustie Ones,
That Sacrilege doe gild with Sanctitie;
Yet, for that, looke for high promotions:
O tis a world of mischiefe when Pretence
Doth shrowd a world of Inconuenience.

(57)

When Truths sonnes play the Polititians,
Heau'n help thee Truth, in Earth thy case is hard:
Truth's hardly matcht with Machiauelians,
That her wil wound so they themselues may ward:
For, pious Polititians are blacke swans;
And, blest are Realmes that they do (ruling) gard:
But whereas Statesmen meere Earth meditate,
There Heauenly matters squar'd are by the State.

(58)

Some others followed her, by following others;
Vpon great men these greatly did depend,
All those, for likenes, might haue bin my brothers,
Who then began to liue, when life did end:
Or if before, they were blest in their mothers;
For, those they tended that themselues did tend:
It is absurd that Lords should tend their men,
Yet some Lords (Gods fooles) do it now and then

(59)

Some of these Seruants were so fortunate,
That they came forwards, while their Lords went backe:
For, Loue begining with our selues, we hate,
Our selues, if we by Seruice goe to wracke:
Their Lords they loued for their owne estate;
And loued to haue that which their lords did lack:
O they are carefull Seruants that will keepe
Their lords estate, while they, with Pleasure sleep.

(60)

And some of this sort thriu'd, not by their Lords
Yet by their Lords; for, by their leaue, they sell
Their fauours, nay their honors, deeds, and words,
And care not who do ill, so they do well:
Whose Clarkeship so much Art to them affords,
That for an Inch, alow'd they tooke an Ell:
So meere Cliffs made they of their Lords to clime
To some high note, by keeping Tune, and Time

(61)

These Climers in each Clime are high'st of all
In their conceit, for, they conceiue they can
The round world bandy like a Racket-Ball;
And made a meere foole of the wisest Man:
They ween the world without them were so small,
As Ladies well might weld in with their Fan;
O there's no measure in the pride of such,
That from too little rise to reach too much:

(62)

Some others thoght they Fortune gratious found,
Genus and Species throwing in their way;
Which they tooke vp and them together bound,
To stay with them to be to them a stay:
But in the binding do them so confound,
That they proou'd fooles in specie to betray
Genus and Species to such bitter Bands,
For which they lost both honor, goods, and lands.

(63)

Lord, how some cloisterd vp themselues like Friers,
To find out These, whom thus they did betray;
And lay in ambush for them many yeares,
Watching, by Candle-light, oft night and day;
Spending much money of their friends, or theirs,
And all God wot but to abuse their pray:
O Genus, Genus, Species, Species , yee
Be most accursed, that thus still coursed be!

(64)

Some others lookt for Euclids Elements,
Wherof they thought, the whole world did consist;
Which found, they found therin such sweet contents,
That Euclide carried them which way he list
They lookt for nothing lesse then Regiments,
But held themselues in Euclide onely blist:
Who blest them so, that if for lands they sought,
They got no land, but measur'd land for nought.

(65)

Others there were, that sought to find a Spell,
And needs would rise to Fortune by a Friend;
Whom they would raise, for that intent from hell;
These tended fiends too much, good Fate to tend:
Who whiles they soght the gods themselues t'excel,
They die, like damned Beggars, in the end:
So, they that needs would rise through diuels aide
Downe to the diuell were, at last conuai'd.

(66)

Some others lookt for Spirits; not Sprites of hell,
But spirits of sack, and liquors of that kinde;
Wherwith they thoght (if once they could excell)
They could the hands of Fortune loose or binde;
This made them (like poore Crickets) stil to dwel,
In, or about the fire till they were blinde:
And then, like Bats, that still doc loathe the light,
They keep the darke conuersing with that sprite.

(67)

Others there were that sought to finde the way,
T' annatomize the Corps of Reasoning
With Logicall Conclusions; these would play
As Iugglers play with Boxes, or a Ring:
Make men beleeue what ere they please to say;
And to a Non-plus Reas'n herselfe to bring:
On these, indeed, too oft would Fortune smile,
To see how they the fond world did beguile.

(68)

Some wordy-men, by words, sought worthinesse,
These raught at Rethorikes Rules to rule thereby:
And they that found the same, found little lesse
Then greatest Rule, for they rul'd wordily
These men, for need, could make some men confesse
They Teachers were, and yet themselues belie:
These still were Fortunes Minions, for they could
With wind of words orethrow wits strongest hold.

(69)

Others there were that still gaz'd on the Starres,
As if by Starres, they should the Sunne transcend:
These told of future weathers, woes, and warres,
Of the beginnings of them, and their end:
Of Prophets that should rise (to kindle Iarres)
And of I wot not what which they defend:
But while they blabb'd out Fortunes Secrets, she
Made them but poore, and liars held to be.

(70)

Some sought for Notes, so to be notable,
Not Notes to rule themselues, but Notes in Rule
To rule the Voice by those notes tunable,
Yet many did themselues the wise mis-rule:
Who while their Heads held points commendable,
In many points they err'd from Reasons Rule:
So, this Gift Fortune gaue their heads: they should
Still hold more Crochets, then their Purses Gold.

(71)

Some others sought for Tongues as if they would
Haue stopt their flight, as they from Babel fled,
By catching them in nettes, so them to hold,
For themselues onely, till themselues were dead:
These rich in Tongues, were not still so in gold;
For, their Tongues tasted of too much of Lead:
So, these wel-tong'd men tied were by the Tongs,
Oft to be authors of their proper wrongs.

(72)

As some sought Tongs, so other Hands did seeke
Italian, Romane, Spanish, French and Duch,
With Letter Freeze among, and Letter Creeke;
Those with their hands, did Fortune seldom touch;
For, they wold needs teach those hands in a week
So, sold for little, that they sold for much:
For it is much to giue a Crowne for nought
But onely to marre hands, too euill taught.

(73)

These pasted vp, in ech place where they came,
(And no place was ther where they did not come)
Bills (and those Hands they held were oft but lame)
That they would giue their Hands, for some small sum:
To those that would but trust them for the same,
So, in a weeke, they coson'd all and some:
For, in a weeke and some odde houres beside,
They promis'd that which they could not abide.

(74)

Their occupation brought thus to disgrace,
They, though they would with all aforehand be,
Yet ran behindhand still, from place to place:
So, with their Hands they caught but A B. C:
Which by interpretation of the place,
Is all base, Cheaters are that so doe flee:
I wish those Hand-men their hands well had vs'd,
For, I know Pen-men that are so abus'd.

(75)

But some of Fortunes followers were her foes,
And Deaths true friends (who for him swords vnsheath)
But shewd it not, lest she should them dispose
Wher, if thei wold, thei could not meet with deth:
These followed her for nothing but for blowes,
For they, with fencing, kept themselues in breath:
And, for they could but breath by that their trade,
They still were willing Fortune to inuade.

(76)

Some followed her by acting all mens parts:
These on a Stage she rais'd (in scorne) to fall,
And made them Mirrors, by their acting Arts,
Wherin men saw their faults, thogh ne'r so small:
Yet some she guerdond not, to their desarts;
But, othersome, were but ill-Action all:
Who while they acted ill, ill staide behinde,
(By custome of their maners) in their minde.

(78)

If maners make mens fortunes good, or bad,
According to those maners, bad, or good,
Then men, ill-manner'd, still are ill bestad;
Because, by Fortune, they are still withstood:
Ah, were it so, I muse how those men had
Among them some that swamme in Foizons flood;
Whose maners were but apish at the best,
But Fortune made their Fortunes but a Iest.

(79)

There were Knights-arrant, that in Fortunes spite,
(Because they could not king it as they would)
Did play the Kings, at least prowd kings in sight,
And oft were prowder then a Caesar should:
Yet Nature made them men by Fortunes might,
And Fortune made them Nature's Zanees bold:
So those, in nature, Fortune flowted so,
That though she made them Kings, she kept them low.

(80)

But some there were (too many such there are)
That follow'd Fortune in more abiect kinde;
These matches made between the Hound and Hare,
I would say whoore; for, men hunt such to finde:
These faithlesse beastly Brokers of crackt ware
Had too too often Fortune in the winde;
Who followed so the sent, that oft they did
Find her where she, from those they spoil'd, lay hid.

(81)

Some others followed her by badging Land,
Or beastly gazing (yet made men thereby)
For they that did those myst ries vnderstand
Caught hold of Fortune in obscuritie;
To whom she (strumpet-like) lay at command,
Who lusting for her, gript her greedily:
Till they grew great by her; O monstrous birth,
Where Shee the He makes great with Grasse and Earth.

(82)

The Lawyers went with these, with hands as full
Of Deedes and Manuscripts as they could hold;
But, Fortune from the same those Scripts did pull
And in exchange fill'd either fist with Gold:
For, while they had but Papers they were dull;
But being wel-mettl'd they were blithe and bold:
For Gold's a soueraigne Restoratiue,
And makes men more then dead, much more then liue.

(83)

Aurum potabile is of that powre
(If store thereof be powrde out of hand
Like Iupiters preuailing Golden Showre)
That it will make Death lie at lifes comand:
It is the Aqua-vitae which doth cure
All sore Consumptions that our weale withstand:
Nay tis the Aqua fortis which will eate
Through leaden Brests, Cares, fretting, thence to fret

(84)

O giue me Gold, and I will doe, what not?
And let but store of Angells waite on me,
Ile make my selfe a God, with Thunder-shot;
Nay, I will make the Earthly Gods to flee
To Heau'n, or Hell, where they shall be forgot,
Sith there no God but I will minded be:
But God, thou knowst, the Age is yron the while
That hammer can a God of thing so vile.

(85)

O! gold, the god which now the world doth serue,
(This Midas -world that would touch nought but gold
Gilding her body while hir soule doth sterue)
How glorious art thou (held fast) to behold?
Thou mak'st a Beast a Man, and man to swerue
More then a Beast; yet thou dost all vphold:
For, whom thou tak'st into thy Patronage,
It matters not what is his Title-Page

(86)

Men value men according to thy weight;
For, be their value ne'r so valorous
Its held but base and made by nature sleight;
Nor can it be nor good, nor glorious,
Without thy vertue doe it ouer-freight;
And so remaine they without Grace, or Vse:
But, if thou lift to lade a leaden Asse.
(While thou rid'st on him) he ore gods doth passe.

(87)

Come Gold: then come (deere Gold) and ride on me,
Ile be thine Asse, or Pack-horse, which thou wilt;
Although thou heauy art, Ile carry thee,
Albe't thou art much heauier through my guilt:
Lade me (good Gold) till my backe broken bee,
Sith, thou againe canst make me, being spilt:
For all men now may vse me like a Sot,
(That beares abuse) because I beare thee not.

(88)

Then foote it not whiles Copper rides on mee,
Base Copper dogs, be'ng made themselues to beare
But logs and faggots (for a staruing fee)
And in a Chimneis end away to weare:
Then vp (faire Gold) Ile so mount vnder thee,
As if no ground should hold me, when I reare:
For by how much the more thou mak'st me bend,
So much the more thou mak'st me to ascend.

(89)

Ride on me Gold, and I will ride on those
(If so I lust) of men, or women-kinde,
That shall be great, or faire, or friends, or foes,
Vntill I ridden haue them out of winde:
But Heau'n my Hart still otherwise dispose,
For, riding so, I blister should my minde:
Which still would runne with matter of annoy
And Soule, and Body so, perhaps, destroy.

(90)

Then gold, sith thou wouldst tempt me to this spoile
Farewell (deere Gold) Ile not buy thee so deere,
I am content, without thy help, to toile
For so much Siluer as will arme me heere
'Gainst wounding Wants, which there do keepe a coile
Where nothing is but care, and griefe, and feare:
My Backe and Belly kept, in rest Ile sleepe,
(Through coniuring Bookes) from gold, that diuels keepe

(91)

The Fox will eate no Grapes: well, be it so;
Ile eate no Grapes that set my teeth on edge,
To eate such bittes as bane where oft they go,
And Heart and Minde do all alike besiege:
Who gathers golden fruits in Hell that gro,
Do for the same oft put their Soules to pledge:
But in that state that stands with little cost,
Is found the golden life that Adam lost.

(92)

Touching this World (to my blame be it sed)
I thinke of nothing, but what nothing brings;
And yet no thing more musing then my head;
And yet my muse my head with nothing mings:
Both feed on Aire, wherewith is nothing fed
But dead, or dull, or else meere witlesse things:
For sure that wit ne'r came neere wisdoms schools
That weenes meere Aire fats any thing but fooles.

(93)

I would, and would not, haue, what I haue not:
I would not haue, that had, the Hart inflates:
Yet would I haue my Lucke light on that Lot
That mends the drouping Mind and Bodies staes:
In too much Nature oft is ouer shot,
And oft too little Arte disanimates:
Then in this life, that seeke I, for my part
That Nature keepes in life, and quickens Art

(94)

To bury Liuing thoughts among the dead,
(Dead earthly things) is, ere Death comes to die:
For, dead they are that lie in Gold, or Lead;
As they are buried that in Earth still lie:
The thoughts are most relieu'd when they are fed
With Angells foode, or sweete Philosophie:
But, some seeme on this Manna still to liue
Whom Quailes and Woodcoks most of al relieue.

(95)

Well, let these some out-liue as many yeares,
As they haue haires, they do but liuing die:
If so: their Soules must needs be full of feares,
Whose Hopes in this dead life alone do lie:
For, they weare euer double as Time weares;
In Soule and Body weare they double- die:
O then, how painefull is that pleasant life,
Wherein all ioy, with such annoy, is rife.

(96)

Beare with me Readers (thats the recompence
I aske for telling you this merry Tale)
For running out of my Circumferance,
Ile come in strait, before a merry gale:
But, yet a word or two, ere I goe hence,
And then haue with you ouer Hill and Dale:
Nothing shall let me to relate the rest,
For, commonly behind remaines the best

(97)

This world (me seemes) is like, I wot not what:
Thats hard; for, that is no comparison:
Why thats the cause I it compare to that,
For, who's he like to, that is like to none?
Tis not like God; for, tis too full of hate:
Nor like the Diu'l, for he feares God alone:
It is not like to Heau'n, Earth, nor Hell,
Nor aught therein, for, they in compasse dwell!

(98)

Then what is't like? if like to any thing,
Its like it selfe; and so it is indeede:
Or, if you will, like to the oldest Ling,
That limes their fingers that on it doe feede:
So that, all things they touch, to them do cling,
And let them so, from doing purest deede:
If so it be, how mad are men the while
To cleaue to that which do them so defile?

(99)

Now, this most noghtie thing, or thing of noght,
I cannot skill of; though but bad I am;
Therefore by me it least of all is sought,
Though oft I seeke for pleasure in the same;
Which yet (I hope) shall not be ouer-bought,
For I will giue but goodwill for my game:
And if good will will me no pleasure bring
Ile buy therewith (I hope) a better thing

(100)

Now from my selfe, I eft to Fortune flie,
(And yet I flie from Her, and She from me)
Who came thus followd with this Company,
That Iupiter did enuie it to see:
There she did muster them, in policie,
That Ioue of all might well informed be:
For when an heape confus'd are call'd by Poll,
The many parts do make the number whole.

(101)

Mongst whom Philosophers and Poets came,
(Last of the Crowde) and could not well appeare;
To whom blind Fortune gaue noght else but fame,
Wherof they fed; but lookt lean on their cheere.
So, they in Heau'n deifi'd this Dame,
Sith they (poore souls) could not come at her here:
And euer since a Goddesse call'd she is:
Poets thanke her for That, Shee you for this.

(102)

Who, though they be (perhaps) but passing poore,
Yet can they deifie whom ere they will;
Then Demy-gods should cherish them therefore,
That they may make them whol gods by their skil:
Twixt whom there shuld be interchange of store,
And make of Wit and Wealth a mixture still,
That may each others woefull wants supply;
For, men by one another liue, or die.

(103)

Vaine fooles, what do ye meane to giue hir heau'n,
That giues you nothing but an earthly hell?
Thats only aire which she to you hath giu'n,
To make ye pine, whilst ye on earth do dwell:
Ne'r speake of Wit, for ye are Wit-bereau'n
To lie for nought, and make Nought so excell:
For, now, who for him self's not wise alone
Is vainely wise though wise as Salomon .

(104)

By this time Death came with his Emperor,
Who followed Death, far off, which Ioue did see;
To whom Death said, Loe, vpright Iupiter ,
This Kesar (though a Caesar ) followes mee;
He doth indeed (said Ioue ) though somewhat farre
(But kept in off, to shew indiffrencie)
For though the Iudge do iudge aright (sometime
Before both Tales be heard) it is a crime.

(105)

How saist (quoth he) Lieutenant, didst thou come
With Death to vs of thy meere owne accord?
Whereat the Emprour was stroken dumbe,
For, he fear'd death, as slaues do feare their Lord:
Yet with desire of glorie ouercome,
At last he spake, yet spake he but a word,
Which was, saue I the shortest word of words,
For, No a letter more then I affords

(106)

Which he with submisse voice (scarse audible)
Vtterd as one that would not well be heard;
But Iupiter (although most sensible)
Tooke on him not to heare, and prest him hard
To speake (through feare) not so insensible;
For, my vice Ioues quoth he are ne'r afraid:
Therefore on thy allegeance vnto mee,
I charge thee speake, as thou from death wert free.

(107)

Then, with a princely death-out-daring looke
He said, Dread Ioue , I haue bin worse then mad,
Sith your Lieutenancie to me you tooke,
If I so great a grace neglected had,
Which so I had, if I so had forsooke
Without your notice that which made you glad:
Nor would I haue with Death come now to you,
But that he threatned me to bring me low.

(108)

Wherewith the Iudge (iust Ioue ) did sentence giue
On Fortunes side; which made Death rage so sore,
That at the Emperour he amaine did driue,
Whilst Ioue lookt on, and Fortune fled therefore:
Short tale to make, he did him liue depriue,
And euer since Death rageth more and more:
That now all men false Fortune doe preferre,
Before iust Death; nay iuster Iupiter .

(109)

And thus with Death (that All in fine doth end)
We end our Tale, and, if a lie it be,
Yet naked Truth dares such a lie defend;
Because such lies do lie in veritie:
But though loude lies do lie they will not bend
So lowe as most profound Moralitie:
Then, be it lie, or be it what it will,
It lies too high, and lowe for Death to kill.