Fond Man, that suck'st the pleasing poyson in
(which from the Syrens vnsuspected tongue
Is kindly offer'd to thine eare) wherein
are all the drugges and dregges of vildnesse wrung:
Assure thy selfe; if in thy bosome liue
ought that deserues the name of worth, 'tis knowne
More then thy selfe, nor shalt thou neede to giue
Fame a reward to haue thy mercy blowne:
For't is her care, the more she findes thee slow,
or carelesse, whether thy desert shall be
Knowne vnto any, but thy selfe, or no;
to sownd the louder: (so to honour thee)
Thorough her golden Trumpet, (good mens throats):
Or if thine eare shall loue, and itch to heare
Thine owne praise sung in smooth and pleasing notes,
(which makes true worth vnlike it selfe appeare)
She hath an other Trumpet blowne by those,
whose mercenary tongues shall sownd thy praise;
But with a breath which blasteth as it blowes,
and ruines that which it pretends to raise.
For do but note, you shall perceiue their plots,
are (being once assur'd of you as friends)
To thrust their blankes amongst your high priz'd lots,
so by your losse to compasse their owne ends.
But selfe-conceipt so much corrupts your sence,
that to your iudgement, onely that same man
Seemes wise, and honest, and giues no offence
that by this Art, can make a Goose a Swanne.
If by the breath of these, you striue to raise
your Reputation, your Ambition's weake;
You must resolue of such to buy your praise,
not for the Trueth, but for reward they speake.
If on the former (who for Vertues sake
honour that good is in you) you relie,
Their approbation shall haue power to make
your glorie liue to all Posteritie.
Doe not you thinke that man deserues much blame
who findes his owne infirmitie, yet feedes
Daily on that which nourisheth the same,
And dangerously the braines corruption breeds?
Such is your case (weake men and women) for
you like the meate because the sauce is sweete;
What bitter is (though wholsome) you abhorre,
disabling that which iudgement holdeth meete.
But Iudgement, is no iudgement, if it seeme
to contradict your humour; but the longer
Y'are constant to this poorenesse, (which you deeme
worth in your selues) your weaknes proues the stroger.
Though to the palat pills distastfull be
they to the health more beneficiall proue,
Then things more pleasing to the sence; we see
cutting doth oft in curing much behoue:
But you like Herod thinke, that he most loues you
who cries, you speake more like a God then man,
Beheading him that honestly reproues you,
not caring though it be baptizing Iohn:
Let a man seeme but cheerefully to sing
Placebo to your words and actions, then
You quite forget, neere honie lies a sting;
and that the diuell (clarke-like) sayth Amen:
Where flatterers (his Chaplaines) reade the Masse
whose superstition (making you their Saint)
You doe allow as currantly to passe,
for Truth, as Gospell (which no tongue can taint.)