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

ESSAY. I.

FEare to resist good vertues common foe, And seare to loose some lucre, which doth grow By a continued practise; makes our fate Banish (with single combates) all the hate, Which broad abuses challenge of our spleene. For who in Vertues troope was euer seene, That did couragiously with mischiefes fight Without the publicke name of hipocrite?

Vaine-glorious, Malapert, Precise, Deuout, Be tearmes which threaten those that go about To stand in opposition of our times With true defiance, or Satyrickeri••es. Cowards they be, branded among the worst, Who (through contempt of Atheisme) neuer durst Crowd neere a great-Mans elbow, to suggest Smooth tales with glosse, or Enuy well addrest. These be the noted cowards of our age; Who be not able to instruct the Stage With matter of new shamelesse impudence: Who cannot almost laugh at innocence; And purchase high preferment by the waies, Which had bene horrible in Nero's dayes. They are the shamefull cowards, who contemne Vices of State, or cannot ••l••tter them; Who can refuse aduantage; or deny Villanous courses, if they can esp••e Some little purchase to inrich their ch••st, Though they become vncomfortably blest. Wee still account those Cowards, who forbeare (Being possess'd with a Religious feare) To slip occasion, when they might erect Hornes on a Trades-mans noddle, or neglect

The violation of a Virgins bed With promise to require her Maiden-head. Basely low-minded we esteeme that man, Who cannot swagger well, or (if he can) Who doth not with implacable desire, Follow reuenge with a consuming fire. Extortious Rascals, when they are alone, Bethinke how closely they haue pick'd each bone; Nay with a frolicke humour they will brag, How blancke they left their empty Clients bag. Which dealings if they did not giue delight; Or not refresh their meetings; in despight They would accounted be both weake, vnwise, And like a timorous coward too precise. Your handsome-bodied youth (whose comely face May challenge all the store of Natures grace) If, when a lustfull Lady doth inuite, By some lasciuious tricke•• his deere delight, If then he doth abhorre such wanton ioy; Whose is not almost ready to destroy, Ciuility with curses, when he heares The tale recited? blaming much his yeares, Or modest weaknesse, and with cheeks ful-blown Each man will wish the case had beene his own.

Graue holy men, whose habite will imply Nothing but honest zeale, or sanctity, Nay so vprighteous will their actions seeme, As you their thoughts Religion will esteeme. Yet these all-sacred men, who daily giue Such vowes, wold think themselues vnfit to liue, If they were Artlesse in the flattering vice, Euen as it were a daily sacrifice: Children deceiue their parents with expence: Charity layes aside her conscience, And lookes vpon the fraile commodity Of monstrous bargaines with a couetous eye: And now the name of Generosity, Of noble cariage, or braue dignity; Keepe such a common ••kirmish in our bloud; As we direct the measure of Things good, By that, which reputation of Estate, Glory of rumor, or the present rate Of Sauing Pollicy doth best admit. We do employ materials of wit, Knowledge, occasion, labour, dignity, Among our spirits of Audacity, Nor in our gainefull proiects do we care For what is pious, but for what we dare:

Good humble men, who haue sincerely layd Saluation for their hope, we call Afraid. But if you will vouchsafe a patient eare, You shall perceiue, men impious haue most feare.