Satyrical essayes characters and others. Or Accurate and quick descriptions, fitted to the life of their subiects. Iohn Stephens

A Friends Inuitation: no Flatterers Encomion.

WHen many are inuited to a Feast, Thogh the inuiter doth not know his guest And therefore cannot well provide in hast, One dish so curious, as may please each tast: Yet if this Host hath such a carefull minde, As that he will, for each mans stomacke, finde A seu••rall meat; and so provide with care, Good hous-roome, hearty welcom, & good fare: Shall we condemne his liberall act and loue, If thanklesse invitants the same disproue? Some (peraduenture) doth one dish there see, Which with his nature doth not well agree: Some other may perchance dislike the feast, Because it is not all what he likes best. And so with diuers censures they do take Due praise frō him who did the bāquet make:

Which may discourage him that doth intend Such careful cost another time to spend. Yet (worthy Author) let not this dismay Thee, to goe forward in that vertuous way Thou hast propounded; nor let that be lost Which is so rare. Thou art a noble Host, And 'cause thou knowest not the minds of those That shall receiue thy feast, thou dost dispose Of things so fitly, that all here may finde Diuers provisions for each readers minde. What if perchance some surfet at thy feast, Because they cannot easily disgest Some vicious quality, which reignes so rife In vicious minds (made known by their lewd So rife; as you the dāger haue exprest, (life) That knowing it, they might the vice detest? Pitty their weaknes then, seeing thou dost tel Nothing to poyson humor, but expell. What if some others will thy feast abuse, Because it is of seu'rall kindes? refuse The founders dignitie, because ti•• knowne Mens tastes and palates onely be their owne? Thou mad'st it not for onely one mans sake, But all the worlds, if all of it partake.

Take resolution therefore to thy mind; Adde wings vnto thy fainting courage; bind All thy due strength together; to provide So rare a Banquet; which may long abide To all mens profit, and the founders praise. He therefore doth invite the guests that sayes This is a Noble Feast; and wisheth this, That he, which of this feast doth iudge amisse May (if he wants what is in this combin'd) Seeke to atchieue the same, but never finde,

ANTHO. CROFTES.