361

Suspicion. What ready tongue Suspicion hath. 19-i. 1. 362

Goodness often misinterpreted.

To some kind of men,
Their graces serve them but as enemies.-
0, what a world is this, when what is comely
Envenoms him that bears it!

10-ii. 2. 363 Man and Woman, comparative view of.

Men have marble, women waxen, minds, And therefore are they form’d as marble will ; The weak oppress'd, the impression of strange kinds Is form'd in them by force, by fraud, or skill: Then call them not the authors of their ill, No more than wax shall be accounted evil, Wherein is stamp'd the semblance of a devil. Their smoothness, like a goodly champaign plain, Lays open all the little worms that creep; In men, as in a rough-grown grove, remain Cave-keeping evils that obscurely sleep: Through chrystal walls each little mote will peep: Though men can cover crimes with bold stern looks, Poor women's faces are their own faults' books. No man inveigh against the wither'd flower, But chide rough Winter that the flower hath kill'd! Not that devour'd, but that which doth devour, Is worthy blame. O, let it not be hild Poor women's faults, that they are so fulfill’d With men's abuses: those proud lords, to blame, Make weak-made women tenants to their shame.

Poems.

365

364

Appearances often deceitful.
It is the bright day that brings forth the adder;
And that craves wary walking.

29–ii. l.
Prodigality of pirates.
Pirates may make cheap pennyworths of their pillage,
And purchase friends, and give to courtezans,
Still revelling, like lords, till all be gone:
While as the silly owner of the goods
Weeps over them, and wrings his hapless hands,

And shakes his head, and trembling stands aloof,
While all is shared, and all is borne away ;
Ready to starve, and dare not touch his own.

22-i. 1. 366

Treason. Treason is but trusted like the fox; Who, ne'er so tame, so cherish’d, and lock'd up, Will have a wild trick of his ancestors. 18-y. 2.

367

Marriage, Marriage is a matter of more worth Than to be dealt in by attorneyship.

i

For what is wedlock forced, but a hell,
An age of discord and continual strife ?
Whereas the contrary bringeth forth bliss,
And is a pattern of celestial peace.

21--v. 5. 368

Female anger.
A woman moved, is like a fountain troubled,
Muddy, ill-seeming, thick, bereft of beauty;
And while it is so, none so dry or thirsty
Will deign to sip, or touch one drop of it. 12—v. 2.
369

Female ascendency.
Do not curst wives hold that self-sovereignty
Only for praise sake, when they strive to be
Lords o'er their lords ?

8-iv. 1. 370

Pleasure, more pursued than enjoyed. Who riseth from a feast, With that keen appetite that he sits down? Where is the horse that doth untread again His tedious measures with the unbated fire That he did pace them first? All things that are, Are with more spirit chased than enjoy’d. How, like a younker, or a prodigal, The scarfedk bark puts from her native bay, Hugg'd and embraced by the strumpet wind ! How like the prodigal doth she return,

í By the discretionary agency of another.
k Decorated with flags.

F

With over-weather'd ribs, and ragged sails,
Lean, rent, and beggar'd, by the strumpet wind !

9ii. 6. 371

The effects of a disordered mind.
Who can be wise, amazed, temperate, and furious,
Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man.

15-ii. 3. 372

Knowledge gained by experience. Our courtiers say, all's savage but at court : Experience, O, thou disprov'st report! The imperious' seas breed monsters; for the dish, Poor tributary rivers as sweet fish. 31-iv. 2. 373

Revenge, not valorous. You cannot make gross sins look clear; To revenge is no valour, but to bear. 27-iii. 5. 374

Jealousy.

Trifles, light as air, Are, to the jealous, confirmations strong As proofs of holy writ.

37-iii. 3.

375

The power of imagination.

Conceit may rob The treasury of life, when life itself Yields to the theft.m

34-iv. 6. 376

Drunkenness. What's a drunken man like? Like a drown'd man, a fool, and a madman : one draught above heat” makes him a fool; the second mads him, and a third drowns him.

4-i. 5.

377

Pride and poverty.
O world, how apt the poor are to be proud !

4-iii. i. 378

Universal order.
There's nothing, situate under heaven's eye,
But hath his bound, in earth, in sea, in sky.

14—ii. 1.

Counsel may stop awhile, what will not stay ;
For when we rage, advice is often seen
By blunting us to make our wits more keen.
Nor gives it satisfaction to our blood,
That we must curb it upon others' proof;
To be forbid the sweets that seem so good,
For fear of harms that preach in our behoof.
O appetite, from judgment stand aloof!
The one a palate hath that needs will taste,
Though reason weep and cry—it is thy last.

Poems.

380

Occupation.
What pleasure find we in life, to lock it
From action and adventure ?

31-iv. 4.

Every lane's end, every shop, church, session, hanging, yields a careful man work. 13-iv. 3.

382

Drunkenness. O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee-devil!

O, that men should put an enemy in their mouths, to steal away their brains! that we should, with joy, revel, pleasure, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts !

37-ii. 3.

*

*

383

Misery.
The miserable have no other medicine,
But only hope.

5-iii. 1.

384

Complaints unavailing.
None can cure their harms by wailing them.

24-ii. 2.

385

Time's progress. Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore, So do our minutes hasten to their end; Each changing place with that which goes before , In sequent toil all forwards do con nd.

Nativity once in the main of light,
Crawls to maturity, wherewith being crown’d,
Crooked eclipses 'gainst his glory fight,
And time that gave, doth now his gift confound.
Time doth transfix the flourish set on youth,
And delves the parallels in beauty's brow!
Feeds on the rarities of nature's truth,
And nothing stands but for his scythe to mow.

Poems.

386

The want of self-knowledge.
Defect of manners, want of government,
Pride, haughtiness, opinion, and disdain:
The least of which,
Loseth men's hearts; and leaves behind a stain
Upon the beauty of all parts besides,
Beguiling them of commendation.

18-iii. 1.

387

Comparison. When the moon shone, we did not see the candle.. So doth the greater glory dim the less; A substitute shines brightly as a king, Until a king bė by; and then his state Empties itself, as doth an inland brook Into the main of waters.

9-y.l.

388

Reason subdued by passion.

O strange excuse ! When Reason is the bawd to Lust's abuse.

Poems.

389

The judgment corrupted by gold. O thou sweet king-killer, and dear divorce 'Twixt natural son and sire ! thou bright defiler Of Hymen's purest bed! thou valiant Mars ! Thou ever young, fresh, loved, and delicate wooer, Whose blush doth thaw the consecrated snow That lies on Dian's lap! thou visible god, That solder'st close impossibilities, And mak’st them kiss! that speak’st with every

tongue, To every purpose! O thou touch of hearts ! Think, thy slave man rebels; and by thy virtue

P For touchstone.