The most elegant and witty epigrams of Sir Iohn Harrington, Knight digested into foure bookes: three vvhereof neuer before published.

70 Of the commodities that men haue by their Marriage.

A Fine yong Clerke, of kinne to Fryer Frappert, Prompt of his tongue, of person neat and dap∣pert▪ Not deepely read, yet were he put vnto it, One that could say his seruice, and would doe it. His markes & haire, show'd him of excellent carriage This man one day hap'ned to talke of marriage, And prou'd not onely, that 'tis honorable, But that the ioyes thereof are admirable. He told the tale to me, and other friends, And straight I learn'd it at my fingers ends. Which ioyes that you may better vnderstand, * 1.1I'le place on each finger of my hand. Foure ioyes, he said, on married Priests he casts, A wife, and friends, and coyne, and children last. And first the wife, see how at bed, at boord, What comfort, and what ioyes, she doth affoord. Then for her friends, what ioy can be more deare, Then louing friends, dwell they farre off or neare. A third ioy then it is, to haue the portion, Well got, and void of strife, fraud or extortion. And fourthly, those sweet Babes, that call on Dad, Oh, how they ioy the soule, and make it glad! But now, Sir, there remaines one obseruation, That well deserues your due consideration. Marke then againe, I say, for so 'twere meete, Which of these ioyes are firme, and which doe fleet

First, for the wife, sure no man can deny it, That for most part, she stickes most surely by it. But for thy friends, when they should most auaile you, By death, or fortunes change, oft times they faile you. Then for the portion, without more forecast, Whiles charge encreaseth, money failes as fast. And last the children, most of them out-liue you, But ill brought vp, they often liue to grieue you. Now marke vpon the fingers,* 1.2 who remaine, The Children and the Wife, onely these twaine.

Notes

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