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Satyre V. |
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Thou shalt not laugh in this leafe, Muse, nor they |
Whom any pitty warmes. He which did lay |
Rules to make Courtiers, (hee being understood |
May make good courtiers, but who courtiers good?) |
Frees from the sting of jests all who in extreme |
Are wretched or wicked: of these two a Theame |
Charitie and libertie give me. What is he |
Who Officers rage, and Suitors misery |
Can write, and jest? If all things be in all, |
As I thinke, since all, which were, are, and shall |
Bee, be made of the same elements: |
Each thing, each thing implyes or represents. |
Then man is a world; in which, Officers, |
Are the vast ravishing seas; and Suters, |
Springs; now full, now shallow, now drie; which, to |
That which drownes them, run: These selfe reasons doe |
Prove the world a man, in which, officers |
Are the devouring stomacke, and Suitors |
The excrements which they void; all men are dust, |
How much worse are Suitors, who to mens lust |
Are made preys. O worse than dust, or worms meat, |
For they do eate you now, whose selves worms shall eat. |
They are the mils which grind you, yet you are |
The winde which drives them; and a wastfull warre |
Is fought against you, and you fight it; they |
Adulterate law, and you prepare the way,
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