Prodigo nummi nauci. Munda et sordida. Debitum deplora tum. Latro sesquipedalis. * with a great belly. Com. de that Cherry-stones are with some boyes, and so throwne away. A woman, the more curious she is about her face, is commonly the more carelesse about her house. Of this Spilt water, there is little to bee gathered up: it is a desperate debt. The Theife* that had a longing at the Gallowes to commit one Robbery more, before hee was hang'd. And like the German-Lord, when hee went out of New-gate into the Cart, tooke order to have his Armes set up in his last Herborough: Said he was schorten- taken, and committed upon suspition of Treason: no witnesse appearing against him: But the Judges intertain'd him most civilly, discours'd with him, offer'd him the court'sie of the racke; but he confessed, &c. hien Calumniæ fructus Imperti nens. I am beholden to Calumny, that shee hath so endeavor'd, and taken paines to bely mee. It shall make mee set a surer Guard on my selfe, and keepe a better watch upon my Actions. A tedious person is one a man would leape a steeple from: gallop down any steepe Hill to avoid him; forsake his meat, sleepe, nature it selfe, with all her benefits to shun him. A meere Impertinent: one that touch'd neither heaven nor earth in his discourse. Hee open'd an entry into a faire roome; but shut it againe presently. I spake to him of Garlicke, hee answered Asparagus: consulted him of marriage, hee tels mee of hanging; as if they went by one, and the same Destiny. What a sight it is, to see Writers committed um. together by the eares, for Ceremonies, Syllables, Bellum Points, Colons, Comma's, Hyphens, and the like? scribentifighting, as for their fires, and their Altars; and angry that none are frighted at their noyses, and loud brayings under their asses skins? There is hope of getting a fortune without Differendigging in these quarries. Sed meliore (in omne) tia inter ingenio, animog, quàm fortunâ, sum usus. Pinque solum lassat : sed juvat ipse labor. Wits made out their severall expeditions then, for Doctos et the discovery of Truth, to find out great and profit- Sciolos. able Knowledges, had their severall instruments for the disquisition of Arts. Now there are certaine Scioli, or smatterers, that are busie in the skirts, and out-sides of Learning, (90) and have scarce any thing of solide literature to commend them. They may have some edging, or trimming of a Scholler, a welt, or so: but it is no more. Imposture is a specious thing; yet never worse, Impostorthen when it faines to be best, and to none discover'd um fucus. sooner, then the simplest. For Truth and Goodnesse are plaine, and open; but Imposture is ever asham'd of the light. A Puppet-play must be shadow'd, and seene in the Icunculadarke: For draw the Curtaine, Et sordet gesticulatio. motio. rum There is a great difference in the understanding of Principes, some Princes, as in the quality of their Ministers et Adminabout them. Some would dresse their Masters in istri. gold, pearle, and all true Jewels of Majesty: Others furnish them with feathers, bels, and ribbands; and Scitum icum. are therefore esteemed the fitter servants. But they are ever good men, that must make good the times: if the men be naught, the times will be such. Finis expectandus est in unoquoq hominum; animali, ad mutationem promptissimo. It is a quick saying with the Spaniards: Artes Hispan inter hæredes non dividi. Yet these have inherited their fathers lying, and they brag of it. Hee is an narrow-minded man, that affects a Triumph in any glorious study: but to triumph in a lye, and a lye themselves have forg'd, is frontlesse. Folly often goes beyond her bounds; but Impudence knowes none. Non nova res livor. Nit gratius Envy is no new thing, nor was it borne onely in our times. The Ages past have brought it forth, and the comming Ages will. So long as there are men fit for it, quorum odium virtute relictâ placet, it will never be wanting. It is a barbarous envy, to take from those mens vertues, which because thou canst not arrive at, thou impotently despaires to imitate. Is it a crime in me that I know that, which others had not yet knowne, but from me? or that I am the Author of many things, which never would have come in thy thought, but that I taught them? It is a new, but a foolish way you have found out, that whom you cannot equall, or come neere in doing, you would destroy, or ruine with evill speaking: As if you had bound both your wits, and natures prentises to slander, and then came forth the best Artificers, when you could forme the foulest calumnies. Indeed, nothing is of more credit, or request now, lib. \ then a petulant paper, or scoffing verses; and it is but protervo convenient to the times and manners wee live with; to have then the worst writings, and studies flourish, when the best begin to be despis'd. Ill Arts begin, where good end. sordent. ✓✓ Pastus The time was, when men would learne, and study Iam good things; not envie those that had them. Then litteræ men were had in price for learning: now, letters onely make men vile. Hee is upbraydingly call'd a Poet, as if it were a most contemptible Nick-name. But the Professors (indeed) have made the learning cheape. Rayling, and tinckling Rimers, whose Writings the vulgar more greedily reade; as being taken with the scurrility, and petulancie of such wits. Hee shall not have a Reader now, unlesse hee jeere unlesse hee jeere hodier. and lye. It is the food of mens natures: the diet of the Ingen. times! Gallants cannot sleepe else. The Writer must lye, and the gentle Reader rests happy, to heare the worthiest workes mis-interpreted; the clearest actions obscured: the innocent'st life traduc'd; And in such a licence of lying, a field so fruitfull of slanders, how can there be matter wanting to his laughter? Hence comes the Epidemicall Infection. For (91) how can they escape the contagion of the Writings, whom the virulency of the calumnies hath not stav'd off from reading. Nothing doth more invite a greedy Reader, then Sed seculi an unlook'd for subject. And what more unlook'd morbus. 1 morbus. for, then to see a person of an unblam'd life, made V ridiculous, or odious, by the Artifice of lying? but it is the disease of the Age: and no wonder if the world, growing old, begin to be infirme: Old age it selfe is Alastoris malitia. Mali choragi fuere. Heare say newes. a disease. It is long since the sick world began to doate, and talke idly: Would she had but doated still; but her dotage is now broke forth into a madnesse, and become a meere phrency. This Alastor, who hath left nothing unsearch'd, or unassayl'd, by his impudent, and licentious lying in his aguish writings (for he was in his cold quaking fit all the while:) what hath he done more, then a troublesome base curre? bark'd, and made a noyse a farre off: had a foole, or two to spit in his mouth, and cherish him with a musty bone? But they are rather enemies of my fame, then me, these Barkers. It is an Art to have so much judgement, as to apparrell a Lye well, to give it a good dressing; that though the nakednesse would shew deform'd and odious, the suiting of it might draw their Readers. Some love any Strumpet (be shee never so shop-like, or meritorious) in good clothes. But these nature could not have form'd them better, to destroy their owne, testimony; and over-throw their calumny. That an Elephant, 630. came hither Ambassadour from the great Mogull, (who could both write and reade) and was every day allow'd twelve cast of bread, twenty Quarts of Canary Sack; besides Nuts and Almonds the Citizens wives sent him. That hee had a Spanish Boy to his Interpreter, and his chiefe negotiation was, to conferre or practise with Archy, the principall foole of State, about stealing hence Windsor Castle, and carrying it away on his back if he can. |