XXXVI.

All opposite, though he his brother were,

Was Chaunus*, that too high himself esteem'd:
All things he undertook, nor could he fear

His power too weak, or boasted strength misdeem'd ;
With his own praise, like windy bladder blown :
His eyes too little, or too much his own;

For known to all men weak, was to himself unknown†.
XXXVII.

Fondly himself with praising he disprais'd,

Vaunting his deeds and worth with idle breath ;
So raz'd himself, what he himself had rais'd
On's shield a boy threatens high Phoebus' death,
Aiming his arrows at his purest light :

But soon the thin reed, fir'd with lightning bright. Fell idly on the strand: his word, Yet high, and right.' XXXVIII.

Next brave Philotimus‡ in post did ride?

Like rising ladders was his climbing mind;
His high-flown thoughts had wings of courtly pride,
Which by foul rise to greatest height inclin'd;
His heart aspiring swell'd until it burst:

But when he gain'd the top, with spite accurst,
Down would he fling the steps by which he clambered first.
XXXIX.

His head's a shop furnish'd with looms of state :

His brain's the weaver, thoughts are shuttles light, With which in spite of Heav'n he weaves his fate; Honour his web: thus works he day and night, Till Fate cuts off his thread; so heapeth sins

And plagues, nor once enjoys the place he wins; But where his old race ends, there his new race begins.

*Arrogancy. The arrogant are more stupid. Arist. Eth. 4. Ambition.

XL.

Ah, silly man, who dream'st that honour stands
In ruling others, not thyself!-thy slaves
Serve thee, and thou thy slaves :-in iron bands
Thy servile spirit prest with wild passions raves.
Wouldst thou live honour'd, clip ambition's wing;
To reason's yoke thy furious passions bring.
Thrice noble is the man, who of himself is king.'
XLI.

Upon his shield was fram'd that vent'rous lad,
That durst assay the Sun's bright flaming team;
Spite of his feeble hands, the horses mad

Fling down on burning Earth the scorching beam;
So made the flame in which himself was fir'd;
The world the bonfire was, where he expir'd :
His motto written thus, Yet had what he desir'd."
XLII.

But Atimus*, a careless, idle swain,

Tho' Glory offer'd him her sweet embrace, And fair Occasion, with little pain

Reach'd him her ivory hand; but (Ïozel base !) Rather his way, and her fair self declin'd; Well did he thence prove his degen'ous mind : Base were his resty thoughts; base was his dunghill kind. XLIII.

And now by force dragg'd from the monkish cell, Where teeth he only us'd, nor hands, nor brains, But in smooth streams, swam down thro' ease to Hell; His work to eat, drink, sleep, and purge his reins. He left his heart behind him with his feast:

His target with a flying dart was dress'd, Posting unto his mark; the word, I move to rest."

* Baseness of mind.

XLIV.

Next Colax*, all his words with sugar spices;

His servile tongue, base slave to greatness' name,
Runs nimble descant on the plainest vices;

He lets his tongue to sin, takes rent of shame;
He temp'ring lies, porter to th' ear resides;

Like Indian apple, which with painted sides,
More dangerous within its lurking poison hides.
XLV.

So Echo, to the voice her voice conforming,
From hollow breast for one will two repay;
So like the rock it holds, itself transforming,
That subtle fish hunts for her headless prey :
So crafty fowlers with their fair deceits

Allure the hungry bird; so fisher waits,

To bait himself with fish, his hook and fish with baits.
XLVI.

His art is but to hide, not heal a sore;

To nourish pride, to strangle conscience ;
To drain the rich his own dry pits to store;
To spoil the precious soul, to please vile sense :

A carrion-crow he is, a gaping grave,

The rich coat's moth, the court's bane, trencher's slave, Sin's and hell's winning bawd, the Devil's fact'ring knave. XLVII.

A mist he casts before his patron's sight,

That blackest vices never once appear; But greater than it is seems virtue's light; His lord's displeasure is his only fear :

His clawing lies, tickling the senses frail

To death, make open way where force would fail.
Less hurts the lion's paw, than fox's softest tail.'

* Flattery.

XLVIII.

His arms with hundred tongues were powder'd gay,
(The mint of lies) gilt, fil'd, the sense to please;
His sword which in his mouth close sheathed lay,
Sharper than death, and fram'd to kill with ease.
Ah, cursed weapon, life with pleasure spilling!
The Sardoin herb, with many branches filling
His shield, was his device: the word, 'I please in killing."

LXIX.

.

Base slave! how crawl'st thou from thy dunghill nest,
Where thou wast hatch'd by shame and beggary,
And perchest in the learn'd and noble breast?
Nobles of thee their courtship learn; of thee
Arts learn new art their learning to adorn :

(Ah, wretched minds!) he is not nobly born,
Nor learn'd, that doth not thy ignoble learning scorn,
L.

Close to him Pleasing went, with painted face,
And Honour by some hidden cunning made;
Not Honour's self, but Honour's semblance base,
For soon it vanish'd like an empty shade :
Behind, his parents duly him attend ;
With them he forced is his age to spend ;

Shame his beginning was, and shame must be his end.
LI.

Next follow'd Dyscolus*, a froward wight;

His lips all swoll'n, and eye-brows ever bent;
With sooty locks, swart looks, and scowling sight;
His face a tell-tale to his foul intent :

He nothing lik'd, or prais'd; but reprehended
What every one beside himself commended.

Humours of tongues imposthum'd, purg'd with shame, are mended.'

* Moroseness.

LII.

His mouth a pois'nous quiver, where he hides
Sharp venom'd arrows, which his bitter tongue,
With squibs, carps, jests, unto their objects guides;
Nor fears he gods on Earth, or Heav'n to wrong :
Upon his shield was fairly drawn to sight,

A raging dog foaming out wrath and spite :
The word to his device, 'Impartial all I bite.'
LIII.

Geloios* next ensu'd, a merry Greek,

Whose life was laughter vain, and mirth misplac'd;
His speeches broad, to shame the modest cheek ;
Ne car'd he whom, or when, or how disgrac'd;
Salt†, round about he flung upon the sand;
If in his way his friend or father stand,

His father and his friend he spreads with careless hand.
LIV.

His foul jests, steep'd and drown'd in laughter vain
And rotten speech, (ah !) was not mirth, but madness :
His armour crackling thorns all flaming stain

With golden fires (emblem of foppish gladness) :
Upon his shield two laughing fools you see,
(In number he the third, first in degree)

At which himself would laugh, and fleer his word, We

LV.

And after Agrios ‡, a sullen swain,

All mirth that in himself and others hated;

Dull, dead, and leaden, was his cheerless vein,
His weary sense he never recreated ;

And now he march'd as if he somewhat dream'd;
All honest joy, but madness he esteem'd ;
Refreshing's idleness; but sport, he folly deem'd.
* Mad laughter, Eccles, ii. 2. + Wit.

[three.'

Rusticity, or savageness.