A fig for Momus containing pleasant varietie, included in satyres, eclogues, and epistles, by T.L. of Lincolnes Inne Gent.

Ad Momum. Epistle. 1. (Book 1)

SIr, laugh no more at Plinie, and the rest, Who in their publique writings doe protest

That birds, and beastes, (by naturall respects And motions) iudge of subsequent effects: For I will proue, that creatures being dombe, Haue some foreknowledge of euents to come. How proue you that I heare some Momus crie? Thus (gentle sir) by good Philosophie. First brutish beastes, who are possest of nought But fantasie, to ordinate their thought. And wanting reasons light, (which men alone Pertake to helpe imagination) It followeth that their fantasies doe moue, And imitate Impressions from aboue: And therefore often by the motion Of birds and beasts, some certaine things are knowne: Hereon the Stragerite (with Iudgment deepe) Discourseth in his booke of watch and sleepe; That some imprudent, are most prouident, He meaneth beastes, in reason indigent, Where naitheles their intellectiue parts (Nothing affected with care-killing harts, But desert as it were and void of all) Seeme with their maners halfe conaturall. For proofe, the bitter stinges of fleas, and flies, The slime-bred frogges, their harsh reports and cries Foresignifie and proue a following raine:

How proue you that cries Momus once againe? Why thus dull dunce: The moyst and stormie time Fitting the frogges that dwell in wette and slime, Makes them by naturall instinct to croke, Because 〈…〉〈…〉suing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the spleene prouoke: And so the fleas, and flies in their degree, By their attracted moyst humiditie, Drawne from a certaine vertue elatiue, Whence raine his generation doth deriue: Seeke more than their accustom'd nutriment. So cocks in season inconuenient That often crowe, and asses that doe rub And chafe their hanging eares against a shrub; A following raine doe truelie prophecie, And this the reason in Philosophie: The cocke whose dri••nes by the heate was fed, By moysture feeles the same extinguished: The asse with vapours caused by the raine, The humors then abounding in his braine: Ingendereth an it thing in his head: What neede I more, he that hath Virgil read, (Were he as ••to, crooked and precise) Would graut that birds, and beasts were wether wise: But if some misbeleeuing lad there bee

That scornes here into iudge, and ioyne with mee: This paine I doe inioyne him for his sinnes: When porpose, beate the sea with eger sinnes, And beastes, more greedily doe chaw their cud, And cormotants, seeke shore, and flie the floud; And birds doe bowse them in the pleasant springs, And crowes doe ceaslesse crie, and beate their wings: That cloakles, in a champion he were set Till to the skinne he thorowlie be wet.