Short Poems

Let us now take time, and play,
Love, and live here while we may;
Drink rich wine; and make good cheere,
While we have our being here:
For, once dead, and laid i'th grave,
No return from thence we have.

Hog has a place i'th'Kitchen, and his share
The flimsie Livers, and blew Gizzards are.

Women, although they ne're so goodly make it,
Their fashion is, but to say no, to take it.

Ralph pares his nayles, his warts, his cornes, and Raph
In sev'rall tills, and boxes keepes 'em safe;
Instead of Harts-horne (if he speakes the troth)
To make a lustie-gellie for his broth.

M. Elizabeth Finch

Hansome you are, and Proper you will be
Despight of all your infortunitie:
Live long and lovely, but yet grow no lesse
In that your owne prefixed comelinesse:
Spend on that stock: and when your life must fall,
Leave others Beauty, to set up withall.

This Axiom I have often heard,
Kings ought to be more lov'd, then fear'd.

In this misfortune Kings doe most excell,
To heare the worst from men, when they doe well.

Is Zelot pure? he is: ye see he weares
The signe of Circumcision in his eares.

Tis but a dog-like madnesse in bad Kings,
For to delight in wounds and murderings.
As some plants prosper best by cuts and blowes;
So Kings by killing doe encrease their foes.

Praise they that will Times past, I joy to see
My selfe now live: this age best pleaseth mee.