The melancholie knight. By S.R.

THE MELANCHOLY KNIGHT . LIke discontented Tymon in his Cell , My braines with melancholy humers swell , I crosse mine armes at crosses that arise , And scoffe blinde Fortune , with hat ore mine eyes : I bid the world take notice I abhorre it , Hauing great melancholy reason for it . I le put my case ( and if the world doe please ) To fowre mens censures , and they shall be these ; For my part I le haue Ryot ioin'd with Pride , Take Couetousnesse and Fraude , on th' other side , And all I haue shall thereupon be laid , Which is not much , if all my debts were paid : That when these honest men giue vp awarde , They will confesse the world doth vse me hard , When my agreeuances doe once appeare , Which I in briefe will only point at here . The cause from whence my melancholly growes , To the iudious will it selfe disclose : Oh wicked age , of wretched daies and times , Wherein I write these melancholy rimes ! Vngratefull world , false and vnconstant found To those braue mindes , to whom thou most art bound : I haue red ouer ( while youths glasse did run ) Sir Lancelot of the Lake , the Knight of th' Sun , Sir Triamour , Sir Beuis , and sir Guy , Fowre sonnes of Amon , hors'd so gallantly , And all the old worlds worthy men at armes , That did reuenge faire Ladies wrongs and harmes , The Monster slayers , and the Gyant killers , With all the rest of Mars his braue well-willers , Which to rehearse I neuer shall be able , The Worthis Arthur had at his round Table ; And how in Chronicles those dead ones liue , By breath that Fame doth from the Trumpet giue . But what an age is this my fellow Knights ? ( I meane all you whom melancholy bites ) As it doth me , the Iouiall sort I leaue That haue their hundreds yeerely to receiue ; For they and I , I know shall neuer meete In Golding lane , nor yet in Siluer streete ; My melancholy walkes finde spacious roome With pensiue pace , about Duke Humfreys Toome , Where many thoughts aboue the Steeple climbe , That humbly walke away their dinner time : Yet in despite of Fortunes turning wheele , In scorne of gold I weare it at my heele ; Euen in contempt of wealth my spurres are guilt , And siluer's common in my Rapiers hilt ; I hate the Idoll misers dote vpon , Being as bigge in heart as Prester Iohn , Disdaining Pezants , Rusticks , Boores and Clownes , My minde is full of Castles , Towers , and Townes , Woods , wildernesses , stately fields and groues , With cattell , most innumerable droue , Corne , precious odours , spice , heart cheering wine The Ocean full of ships me thinkes is mine , And who can haue a richer mind then this ? Only possession is a thing I misse , And want of that same powerfull point in Lawe , Makes me remember late a peece I sawe , An artificiall feast which rare did looke : But yet because the Painter plaid the Cooke , To make the gazer to his prayse a debter , The eye was pleas'd but stomacke nere the better . Euen so my minde , which is an empire to-me , Yeelds hautie swelling thoughts , and they vndoe me , Leauing me only an old song to sing The ballet of the Begger and the King ; But that I can abide no musicke now , My melancholy will no mirth alow , Therefore take warning resolute set downe , To all the fidling fellowes in the towne , That they approch not neere my tauerne roome , On paine of stabs to be their fatall doome . If but their sight my presence doe annoy , I le finish all their daies from man to boy , The like for th' Talor for his scrawling bill , I take his Items most distastfull ill : If he presn me to aske my worship chinke , With poniard point his doublet I le bepinke . The Mercers man that plyes me so of late , Before I crosse his booke I le crosse his pate . A Gallants minde beyond all reason frets , To pay for worne sutes , out of fashion debts , To come for money due in eightie nine , Will make a man that 's out of cashe repine : Yet there 's Hungarians that on tearmes doe stand , As if one still should haue his purse in 's hand . But letall such take notice what Isay ; My humor 's to receiue , not now to pay , It is an easie case to vnderstand ; Tenants will shrinke , when Land-lords sell their land : For 't is not now as in the dayes of old , When men were willing to depart with gold , Giue longer time , friend Creditor to debter , Angels grow proud because th' are twelue pence better And very scarce withall I will be sworne , When to keepe Knight-hood company they scorne , For I that know their absence may be bold , To cleere my hand from this corrupting gold , Looke to it Lawyers vnto you they flie , And you must answere for them more then I , You can transfor me their case from good to euill , Turning an angell oft into a Diuell ; But let the Deuill haue a golden clawe , You will defend him any sute in lawe . Physicians , likewise , must be offered too , Or else both pill and potion will not doe : He that into their purging hands doth fall , Must bring a sacrifice Angelicall , But both may sterue for what they get of me , If with my Creditors I once agree . I le leaue friend Lawyer to his Littleton , For little good with me there will be done , And so for Doctor-purge an's glister pipe , His dyet should be worse then sowce and tripe , If I his Pat●ents Physicke might perswade , We would vndoe him quite and spoyle his trade . Take the rare hearbe that growes on India ground , ( In Tauerne and in Alehouse so renown'd ) Smoke noses with the same from one to tother , As though your faces were all sea-cole smother , Make fogges and mistes ascend in hot degrees , Snuffe some into your nostrils till you neese , And spit and spawle vntill your throats be choking , But aboue all things keepe your noses smoking , For that 's most Blacke-amore and Inaian like , And fume the brauer in your braine will strike ; Then rhume it out , and doe no spitting spare , Fo● absolute Tobacchonist you are : This is braue physicke for braue Caueleers , This at both ends , vpward and downe ward cleeres : T will make one sober that was drunke before , Fill a pipe boye before I write line more ; So , heer 's a health vnto the good estates , Of all our Poets that haue smoking pates : The Muses blesse their braines with store of wit , I neere knew Vsurer amongst them yet , That puts out hundreds to ingender tennes , Their stocke consists of paper , inke , and pennes , And a sew bookes , their value prouing small , When sometime rated on a Brokers stall . But what haue I to doe with what they pawne , Or sell , or giue , or dedicate by fawne ; Let me suruay mine owne house well within , Where no excesse this many a day hath beene ; I scorne both siluer cups and guilded plate , Common with basest trades-men growne of late . Tinkers and Coblers and such vulgar asses , I loue to drinke Gentleman-like in glasses , The rare french fashion is preferr'd thereby Which graceth out good wine vnto the eye . Or be it our owne natiue English beere , A glasse presents it to you comely cleere If it be thicke , or thin in watry plight , The Brewers fault will that way come to light : Besides , you know by fire great losses growes , Which to preuent ( as all my neighbours knowes ) I seldome times haue any chimney smoke , Except great cold extreamely doe prouoke ; Yet often then , for feare of doing harme , I lie a bed till noone , and keepe me warme . Likewise , I doe not wastfull spend my store , In drawing idle Beggers to my doore : For if I should , the Country would come downe , And bring a charge of poore vpon the Towne ; No , there is none shall frame by me excuses And taxe or charge me with these great abuses : And as for gluttons feasting at my Table , Let them that are more willing or more able . For I protest , who surfets on my cheere , Within the compasse of these seauen yeere , I le pay for 's physicke on my knightly word , If he 'le be sworne he tooke it at my boord : I keepe a table hanging in my hall , The Poetry is my inuention all ; And though I say it , ( wanting others praise ) The Morals sit most rarely for our daies , A frugall house , it doth instruct to keepe Matter in this age to be weighed deepe , Although the lines are written but with inke , A man may call them golden Rules I thinke , Because this doth aduise to saue his purse , The empty plague whereof ther 's nothing worse . I le be no miser of them to my friends Because , good counsell , no wise man offends , Thus they begin , th' are plaine , but to good ends . Into my spacious Hall who enters here , Must not expect to meete with belly-cheere , No Diues dinings , nor yet Nabals feasts Our dyet doth distinguish men from beasts : In steede of fat beefe breake-fasts when we rise , Apipe of good Tobacco will suffice , Which both dischargeth all the rhume we haue , And doth the charge of other drinking saue . Bal't , roste , sod , at noone is vulgar feeding , But daintie sallets they are most exceeding . Strong drinke make strong dissentions this is sure , Your smallest beere , small quarrels doth procure ; At night , light suppers if you light vpon , Digestion easie will be quickly gone : An egge new laid is physicall rare roasted , And so is cheese of the welch fashion toasted ; Beefe , Mutton , Porke , Veale , Lambe , ( grose dyets folly ) Are breeders of expence and melancholly , Small birds , small fish , small reasons and small beere , May saue a knight , a hundred pound a yeere . Let such as will shun prodigall expence , Learne to obserue good wholsome rules from hence ; Those that are of another humour , so Each man his owne purse credit best doth know ; So I doe mine , for as before I said , The Golden-age and Siluer is decay'd : Oh now comes on a melancholy sit , To write of Golde and not possesse a whit ; Once more Tobacco boy , I le smother griefe , I tarry for it sirra , quicke be briefe . What sayes the knaue that keepes the smoaking shop ? Will he haue money ere I drinke a drop ? Doth he deny to trust me one pipe more ? Tell him , I le nere pay penny off my score Vnlesse he send me presently his best . And furthermore , thus much I doe protest , Choller doth stirre my furie vp so grim , If he deny to smoke me , I le smoke him : Shall I be held for such a younger brother , As not be trusted for a little smother ? Is ready-money so vpon the spurre That debts like Lawyers may not vse demurre , Why then the auncient speech most true doth chance Heers yours , ther 's mine , no longer pipe then daunce : Well , leaue that knaue because he deales so base , Fetch me Tobacco at another place , Bid him send good , and set it on the score , He shall haue all my custome for great store : If these same foolish knaues had any wit , My custome would afford much vse of it : For to all Guls that come why they might vowe , A Knight had of this very rowle but now , Who daily sends and likes it passing well : And thus my name their bad for good might sell , And vtterance thereby would not be small , So I deserue the best , and trust withall : But fooles there are cannot occasion see , A very Cobler shall as welcome be That payes his readie money at the stub , As I that come a trust to worships dub , This makes me melancholy as a Cat , And in mine eyes doth cause me pull my hat , To thinke how all men carefully prouide To ioine with money on the stronger side . Let it be foole ; or asse , or dolt , or gull , More sheepish then the Sheepe that weares the wooll , No language , but the Countries that did breed him , Taught by the parting Nurse which did spoon-feed him , Got vp to London with a stick in 's hand , And there seauen yeere at some stall talking stand ; His trauels , Islington , Hacney , or Hyegate . Yet this smoth fellow with his cunning sly pate , Will scrape , and scratch , and spare , and pinch and saue , Beyond my wealth for all the wit I haue : And note the spitefull case twixt him and I Let me on credite any where goe buye , And he in 's purse haue ready money plentie , Where I haue one Sir they le afford him twenty : Yes sir , and I sir , welcome sir , indeed sir , When I shall haue t is money that wee need sir , This Gentleman , ( then haue a hat he must ) Payes present quoyne , in truth we cannot trust . Heere be the fellowes with the nimble hammes , And they haue learn'd to liue without their dammes ; Such as haue skill to sell a peece of stuffe , And hauing wealth , why they haue wit enough . Admit a man should brauely vndertake , To trauell further then sir Francis Drake , And with more languages his tongue were cloy'd , Then there was vs'd when Babell was destroy'd : What of all this , when tryall shall be found , T' would neuer serue to take vp twentie pound : Let Scholler bring his Hebrew and his Greeke , And with the same a hundred pound goe seeke , The Vsurer in English will reply , Sir I must haue some good securitie : Come Traueler from Turkey , Roome , or Spaine , And take a sute of trust in Burchin-lane , Let him bring newes to furnish all th' Exchange , And make himselfe admired at most strange : Some Citizen must passe his bond or bill , Or else the Gallant rests non-suted still . Let Souldier come with scarre-becarued skinne , And talke of Newport battaile he was in : Seige of Ostend , and braue exploits in France , To golden credite twill him not aduance : Who 'le take his word for lodging , or for diet ? He might haue stay'd at home and kept him quiet : Perhaps will some say , and haue sau'd an arme , Or Musket shot had done his legs no harme ; And this hath made me neuer venter farre . I once was ouer-Sea to see the warre , Where souldiers spent both blood and life most free But I protest not one the lesse for me : No , killing men ? I euer did abhorre it ; Yet doe not hold me to be Coward for it : For if I were constrain'd to doe my best , My sword should be as naked as the rest , There 's certaine rules which I intend to vse ; First I le not fight vntill I cannot chuse : And all my Creditors , while I doe liue , Shall haue good words , though nothing else I giue ; Giue me the lye my patience milde receiues it , Knowing I often lye , when none perceiues it . And therefore that same tearme doth ne're perplexe me ; But if I vs'd not lying , sure t' would vexe me : Good company doth very much delight me , I ne're thinke scorne who euer doe inuite me ; The poorest man that keepes the meanest house , I 'le taste his pudding , or his peece of souce , His housh oldloafe , his butter and his cheese , Such curtisie by pride I will not leese , If it be offered me , I will not faile To take my neighbour Coblers pot of ale . With meane good-fellowes I can well agree , And leaue rich Kninghts as well as they leaue me : Yet shall my Lady haue her owne desire , To match their Ladies in their braue attire : For shee 's a Gentlewoman ( though I say-it ) That doth deserue to domineere and sway it , To Lady it , she seru'd a Lady taught her , Well bred and borne a good rich Graziers daughter ; One that if once he bid the world good night , His death would cure the Melancholy knight ; And make him mightie with excessiue wealth , But I am sicke to thinke vpon his health ; A lustie man and yet aboue three-score : If I should die and goe to heauen before , Which I thinke not ; but if I so were crost , All that estate were e'ry peny lost : With him I play the Polititian so , I haue his loue most absolute I know , Rundlets of Sacke , with suger-loaues and spice , I send as tokens that may loue intice , Which if I did not hope to finde at large , He should be hang'd ere I would bear the charge . For now adaies I hold he grosse doth erre , That spends his money for I thanke you sir , I am beholden to you for this kindnesse , Count me a bussard if I shew such blindnesse : No , I haue one gift proueth not amisse To take all comes , be whatsoere it is . As for example , when I let a lease , And raise my rent vnto the most increase ; When th' utmost peny I haue brought it to , Before I seale the same , why thus I doe , I adde a Capon , Turkie , Goose , or so , At quarter day my Tenants loue to show , And no man is so simple and absurde , That he will loose his bargaine for a birde : Thus doe I fetch my subtill hob-nailes in , More craftier growne by ods then they haue bin ; But let them growe as cunning as they may , There 's trickes to fetch them in and make them pay . 'T is not amisse to keepe such fellowes vnder , That they and riches may be held asunder : For if their wealth come to a little height , They thinke them selues their Landlords fellowes streight ; This is a thing that ought not be allow'd , But I le keepe mine for being ouer proud , They shall not boast of pen-worths at my hand , In any thing they hold of house or land : What charge haue they but homely country fare , Or what discredit if their clothes be bare , When I must maintaine shew of gallant life ; Especially vpon my Lady wife , Who ( I protest vnto my very friends ) More in apparell then my rent is , spends : My tent , poore rent , like to a garment rent , As that s past wearing that is almost spent , If one fat kinsman or another dye-not , And that vnlucky handed Death supply-not , Ere long the wandring Knight I will goe play , And put out venters at returne to pay : As , who will vndertake giue three for one , When I doe that which hath bin done by none , Namely , returne from Salsbury to London And number iust those stones ( to this hower vndone ) The Diuels bastard Merlin placed there , Which admirable doe each other beare : Or when I crosse the Ocion into Fraunce , And bring from thenceking Pippin's warlike launce , Mounsieur Malignants armour of gold plate , ( Which would proue very wholsome to my state ) And hundred proiects which I keepe obscure , Vntill the practise I doe put in vre . Another helpe I haue at a dead list , As I could turne Ascumist for a shift , Shift said I , that same word I will conuert , Least some conclude it for a shifting art : Yet for the rime sake , ( cause I am in haste ) I le let it passe , how euer it distaste , And such as make a question , let them trie-it , For on my credit there is profit by it , But how ? note that , not out of brasse and copper To turne that gold in qualitie iust propper , But turning off againe to the professor , That of a wealthy Nouice is possessor , 'T is a deepe Arte to try conclusions by , And may be called Craft , or Myst-er-y : There is no Science that a man can name , Makes all professors rich that vse the same . Some man hath gotten much by Alcumie , And many men haue lost , I le not deny : And on my credit I dare boldly say , I know the getting and the loosing way . Why then may some obiect vnto me sir : What is the cause your selfe you not preferre ? I le shew them reason for it by and by , And thus conceiue it in a Simily . An Angler goes to take himselfe some fish , Hauing baite , line , and hooke vnto his wish , He patient waiteth with a fixed sight ; Yet taketh none because they will not bite : Few words will serue to satisfie the wise , Picke English out of this , let that suffice . Tobacco boy , and a cleane pipe withall , Sirra a candell , t is in haste I call , I once kept men , ( whose liueries being worne ) For sauing charge , a boy now serues my turne : Amongst the rest I had a beetle-head , Of vulgar education Clownish bred , Whom I call'd to me as alone I sate , And tooke Tobacco , which he gazing at : Sirra ( quoth I ) vnto the staring owle , Giue a cleane pipe , and burne this same , t is fowle , So he supply'd my vse s●ill with a new , And those which I return'd away he threw , When none was left , hast burn'd those pipes I said ? ( Quoth he ) sir I as good a hand haue made , With them you bad me burne , our fire is small , And so to make short worke I broke them all : The Clownish villaine , thinking I did burne them , As out of vse , I did intend to turne them ; Quicke , drie Tobacco , fill a pipe compleate , And then my pen goes forward in a heate , There 's newes rare newes , new newes come to my hand , The like nere since the conquest in this land ; Call'd Trew and Wonderfull the story saies , A Serpent newly whelped in our daies : Nay more , a Dragon is title fitter , Because he is a verie poison spitter : Some he hath kill'd , but eate them he refuses , And neere to Horsham , worse then horse play vses ▪ For he hath slaine ( they say ) I know not who , Nay , is beside a Cony-catcher too , Suppos'd to liue by theeuing in the warren ; Which if he doe t' will make the burrowes barren : But if according to the Bookes direction , The Carrier tell vs of his strange infection , It shall be seene the Melancholy Knight Like valiant George will with the dragon fight . Let him wrap vp his body in a bundle , And with his poison vp to London Trundell , I le arme my selfe directly at all points , And on the Dragon venter limbes and ioynts , He or she Serpent , I will set vpon-her , To raise my worship to degrce of honour , I hope it is note qually so fierce , As that same Monster Chronicles rehearse , Which came out of the Irish seas a shore , The like whereof was neuer seene before , With whom the king Meruidius would go fight , Forbidding combate to each other Wight ; For which braue resolution which he held , He was past hope and helpe most cruell kill'd ; If he be such I will vnsay't againe , I long not to be desperately slaine , And set vpon a poyson-spitting thing : Hath teeth and clawes , and venome , taile and sting , That were foole-hardy to expose my life , And make a mourner of my Lady wife : And therefore for a time I will forbeare , Till of a second part in print I heare ; Which shall no sooner ( I protest ) come out , But I le take horse to Horsham for a bout , And so I leaue this filthy scuruie Dragon , That neuer yet did soyle a Knight to bragge on . I chaunc'd of late an ancient booke to view , As good as Beuis , and as strange and trew , Of Lyons Leopards . Tigers , Beares and Bores , And such ill faces as in Forests rores : Amongst the rest was one that had a den , Pil'd like a wood-wharfe with the bones of men , He had a head most fearefull to behold , Wherein , two eyes like globes of fire rol'd , Teeth terrible to bite through flesh and bone ; A forked tongue the like was neuer knowne , Clawes past compaire to scratch downe trees withall A sting in 's taile would enter through a wall , I doe protest , I was almost afraid To reade the strange discription that was made , Of this den-diuell , ( sure he was no lesse ) As by the story any man would ghesse : Yet by a valiant Knight , this same hot shot Was hew'd as small as flesh vnto the pot . Then in that booke a Dragon I doe finde The like is not among the Dragons kinde , Th' inchaunted Dragon of the darkesome shade , Of seauen mettals all compos'd and made : And that the world shall witnesse I am red ( Gainst melancholy vexings in my head ) In auncient stories courage to prouoke , Not spending all my time in taking smoke , Although my worship 's scandal'd now and then Amongst the ruder sort of vulgar men , But that I turne and ouerturne againe Old bookes , wherein the worm-holes doe remaine , Containing acts of auntient Knights and Squires , That fought with Dragons , spitting forth wilde fires The history vnto you shall appeare , Euen by my selfe verbatim set downe heere :

As thus , Sir Eglamour that worthy Knight He tooke his sword and went to fight , And as he rode both hill and dale Armed vpon his shirt of male . A Dragon came out of his den Had slaine , ( God knowes how many men : ) When he espied sir Eglamore , Oh if you had but heard him rore , And seene how all the trees did shake , The Knight did tremble , horse did quake ; The Birds betake them all to peeping , It would haue made you fall a weeping : But now it is in vaine to feare , Being come vnto , fight dogge fight beare . To it they goe , and fiercely fight A liue-long day from morne till night : The Dragon had a plaguy hide , And could the sharpest steele abide , No sword will enter him with cuts Which vext the Knight vnto the guts ; But as in choller he did burne He watch'd the Dragon a good turne , And as a yawningh did fall , He thrust his sword in hilts and all . Then like a Coward he to flie Vnto his den that was hard by , And there he lay all night and roar'd ; The Knight was sory for his sword : But riding thence sayd , I forsake it , He that will fetch it let him take it . And so I hope to the Iuditious wise , Thus much of this rare story shall suffice , To proue how I in worthy workes am read , How ere illitterate censures are misled : But as I will not vaunt of my deserts , So will I not in toome mine owne good parts , I haue a Muse hath beene at Helicon , And braine some-time that versed do th flow vpon The world shall know though Melancholy bite . The discontented Money-scorning Knight , I haue interiour excellence that shines Beyond your earthlings gold and siluer mines : Once more Tobbacco to perfume my braine , I le smoke amongst you in my Poets vaine .

Melancholie Conceits . RApier lie there , and there my hat and feather , Drawe my silke curtaine to obscure the light , Goose-quilland I must ioine a while together : Lady forbeare I pray , keepe out of sight , Call pearle away , let one remoue him hence , Your skreeking Parrot will distract my sence . Would I were neere the rogue that cryeth blacke , Buy a new Almanacke , doth vexe me to : Forbid the maid shee winde not vp the iacke , Take hence my watch it makes too much a doe , Let none come at me deerest friend or kin , Who ere it be , I am not now within .

To Fortune . THou pur-blinde puppet for a Trads-mans staule , Thou limping Ladie of the Hospitall ; Empresse of Epicures and belly-gods , With whom I vowe to liue and die at ods ; Thou mole-ey'd , owle-ey'd , Countess for a spittle , That giues to some too much , to mee too little , Thou whirly-gigge , and rats-bane of my life , Which by thy wheele dost seeme some wheel-wrights wife Thou make-bate to a discontented minde , Thou water-bubble , wastfull puffe of winde , Thou flying-feather of a wood-cocks wing , Thou Heathenish and very Pagan thing , Thou Misers friend , thou worthie Gallants foe , Thou scuruie Ballat of ▪ I wale in woe , Thou that all discontentment dost prouoke , Thou worse to me then this Tobacco smoke , Thou that sage , Fury , Enuy dost importune , I le tickle thee , thou scuruy minded Fortune .

To Ladie Pecunia . A Pin for them that care apoint for me , And that 's the loue betweene my selfe and thee , Proud Lady of the gold and siluer mine , Thou scorn'st my company , I banish thine : What stampe soeuer thou about dost beare , And causest many for to stampe and sweare ; Or runnest current quoine , from man to man , I am not currant thou hast made me wan . And therefore since thou giuest me vnrest , In being stranger to my purse and chest , Not looking on me with thy golden face , Nor yeelding me angelicall embrace : Expressing loue by pounds most kinde and willing , But comest to me by sixe-pence , and by shilling ; To be thy Treasurer I doe abhorre it , I le neither purse nor chest , nor bagge thee for it , But vse thee euen in all disgrace I may , To eate and drinke , and dice thee still away .

To Patience . LOng haue I waited at thy woefull gate , With expectation to augment my state , And sought for her which cannot yet be found , The Lady that makes crazie credits sound ; She that I thinke will nere be friends with me , Because a sunder we so often be : But Patience I protest thou art to blame , And I haue cause vpon thee to exclame , Thou dost neglect , deferre , protract , delay , And puts me emptie off from day to day ; When I expect to haue my wants supply'd , Sayes , helpelesse friends , Patience good sir prouide : Who can take vp an hundred pound , I pray , And pawne some patience till he come and pay : Or trade with Trades-man be for what it will , That will take Patience hand vnto his bill . No masters no , all gripe to get their owne , And I from Patience am impatient growne .

To Fame . THou art the Lady that I seeke to please , Before Pecunia , Fortune , Patience ; these Are all inferiour in renowned name , To this eternall honour-giuer Fame ; Say I had Fortunes gifts in large degree , Why fooles haue fortune we doe daily see . If moneyes Lady would for me prouide More quoine and plate , then is in all Cheape-side : Let Solons saying in this case suffice , There are more wealthy fooles then wealthy wise ; If I take Patience physicke for my sore , And wate with her at expectations dore , What 's the reward will follow ? euen this ; Patience and pouertie in th' end will kisse : Therefore I le set wit working like a watch , Some rare vnknowne inuention to dispatch That all the world could not haue brought about , If I had not beene borne to finde it out : And when I haue it ( being yet vnbegotten , I shall haue Fame aliue , and dead and rotten .

To Time . THou Register of old Antiquities , Obseruer of the worlds iniquities , Suruaying life from birth till Death in toombe , From Adam's making , to the day of doome : That in thy restlesse cunning dost admit Of actions lawfull , or of things vnfit , And hast thy head behind of purpose ball'd , Because thou neuer wilt be backe recall'd ; But wear'st a locke before I vnderstand , On which I neuer yet could lay my hand . I haue expected ( thou graue auntient father ) Thy helping hand , and I protest the rather , Because they say that Time by turnes doth goe , And hitherto I haue not found it so : Therefore for some good turne , one of these daies I challenge thee , or I le disprooue thy praise , And I write of thee according as I find , That thorow age thou art both ball'd and blind ; Finde out a time , good Time for to relieue me , For at this time , Time very bad doth grieue mee .

To all miserable Misers . YOu carelesse raking , greedy getting slaues , That neuer haue enough till in your graues , Vntill Death haue you prisners in his hold , As you in chests locke vp your bagges of golde , You that haue that excessiue wealth lyes by , Would furnish twentie such poore Knights as I , I doe detest you all as dunghill swaines , You dogged Nabals with your cursed gaines , That loue base lucre so entirely well , You'leventer soules , as Diues did to hell ; And heere I vowe , promise , and firme protest I scorne this hoording money in a chest , That golden sin on me shall neuer light , As cleere as is the childe was borne last night ; From keeping money lying on my hand , So much kinde gentle Reader vnderstand , With Bias I doe giue the world this flout , All that is mine I beare with mee about .

The Conclusion . THe Fryer that his braines did breake , To make a brazen head to speake , And spent his study seauen yeere , Ere that perfection would appeare ; Then fell a sleepe when he should watch , Trusting his man a foolish patch , That to it gaue no heed at all , But heard the voice and would not call : What was the gaine he got at last ? Three words , Time is , Time was , Times past , And those for this time I haue tooke To end my melancholy booke : Especially , last of the three , Which is Tim's past : farewell to thee : FINIS .