Good nevves and bad nevves. By S.R.

Epigram.

ARuin'd gallant, in's declining age, Calling his life in question, in a rage Did vow, and sweare, and to himselfe protest, He was a villaine, slaue, a bruitish beast: Such Sun-shine fortunes as his daies had knowne, And might haue free inioy'd them as his owne, To let them passe with Time, and glide away, And no sure hold vpon good hap to lay, I might haue had a widow once (quoth he) That would haue made at least a Knight of me, And like a gull, a whorson coxcome asse, Vnto another foole I let her passe: I might haue had an office, that would cleere Haue brought me in two hundred pound a yeare▪ And liu'd at ease, gone vp and downe to braue it; But like a goose, I let another haue it: I might haue had good land to liue vpon, But like a Woodcocke all is sold, and gone: I might haue beene a scholler, learn'd my Grammar, But I haue lost all like a Ninnie-hammer.