Is it not strange, that such can liue, whose foode
is dres'd by Enuie, and with poyson mixt,
Whose heart's the kitchin, and whose canker'd bloud
the meager Cooke carowseth; while betwixt,
His master and the diuell are begotten
prodigious Monsters, which appeare as barren
Of honestie as Hell, their ioints as rotten
through want of marrow, as a peece of carrion?
By these th'art malic'd; but be not dismaide
nor grieue thou at them, rather for them grieue
If so thou canst thy Charitie perswade,
(which as thou'rt flesh and bloud, I scarce belieue.)
When a fierce Dogge comes running at thee, stay
and thou shalt finde hee'l rather back retire,
Then offer to assault thee: if away
from him thou fly'st thou further'st his desire.
So these (farre worse then dogges) will fiercely bite,
when they perceiue their venome makes thee stirre:
For nothing giues such fulnesse of delight
to th'snarling spleene of a malitious Curre,
As to behold the mischiefe that he doth.
But where well-temper'd patience doth preserue
(As a safe Antidote to th'rankling tooth
of Enuies whelpes) they pine awaie, and starue.
This to thy Fare-well; if thy Vertues make thee
hatefull to th'bad, their enuie is thy glorie:
If loue to vice make good mens loue forsake thee,
resolue thy selfe they enuy not, they're sorrie.