Obseruations in the art of English poesie. By Thomas Campion. Wherein it is demonstratiuely prooued, and by example confirmed, that the English toong will receiue eight seuerall kinds of numbers, proper to it selfe, which are all in this booke set forth, and were neuer before this time by any man attempted

The sixt Chapter, of the English Trochaick verse.

NExt in course to be intreated of is the English Trochaick, being a verse simple, and of it selfe ••epending. It consists, as the Latine Trochaick of ••••ue feete, the first where of may be a Trochy, a Spon∣••ee, or an Iambick, the other foure of necessity all ••rochyes, still holding this rule authenticall, that ••••e last sillable of a verse is alwayes common. The ••••irit of this verse most of all delights in Epigrams, ••ut it may be diuersly vsed, as shall hereafter be de∣••••ared. I haue written diuers light Poems in this ••••nde, which for the better satisfaction of the rea∣••er, I thought conuenient here in way of example 〈◊〉〈◊〉 publish. In which though sometimes vnder a

knowne name I haue shadowed a fain'd conceit▪ yet is it done without reference, or offence to any person, and only to make the stile appeare the more English.

The first Epigramme.

Lockly spits apace, the rhewme he cals it, But no drop (though often vrgd) he straineth From his thirstie iawes, yet all the morning, And all day he spits, in eu'ry corner, At his meales he spits, at eu'ry meeting, At the barre he spits before the Fathers, In the Court he spits before the Graces, In the Church he spits, thus all prophaning With that rude disease, that empty spitting: Yet no cost he spares, he fees the Doctors, Keepes a strickt diet, precisely vseth Drinks and bathes drying, yet all preuailes not. 'Tis not China (Lockly) Salsa Guacum, Nor dry Sassafras can helpe, or ease thee; 'Tis no humor hurts, it is thy humor.

The second Epigramme.

Cease fond wretch to loue so oft deluded,

Still made ritch with hopes, still vnrelieued, Now fly her delaies; she that debateth Feeles not true desire, he that deferred Others times attends, his owne betrayeth: Learne t'affect thy selfe, thy cheekes deformed With pale care reuiue by timely pleasure, Or with skarlet heate them, or by paintings Make thee louely, for such arte she vseth Whome in vayne so long thy folly loued.

The third Epigramme.

Kate can fancy only berdles husbands, Thats the cause she shakes off eu'ry suter, Thats the cause she liues so stale a virgin, For before her heart can heate her answer, Her smooth youths she finds all hugely berded.

The fourth Epigramme.

All in sattin Oteny will be suted, Beaten sattin (as by chaunce he cals it) Oteny sure will haue the bastinado.

The fift Epigramme.

Tosts as snakes or as the mortall Henbane

Hunks detests when huffcap ale he tipples, Yet the bread he graunts the fumes abateth: Therefore apt in ale, true, and he graunts it, But it drinks vp ale, that Hunks detesteth.

The sixt Epigramme.

What though Harry braggs, let him be noble. Noble Harry hath not halfe a noble.

The seauenth Epigramme.

Phaebe all the rights Elisa claymeth, Mighty riuall, in this only diff'ring That shees only true, thou only fayned.

The eight Epigramme.

Barnzy stiffly vowes that hees no Cuckold, Yet the vulgar eu'ry where salutes him With strange signes of hornes, from eu'ry corner, Wheresoere he commes a sundry Cucco Still frequents his eares, yet hees no Cuccold. But this Barnzy knowes that his Matilda Skorning him with Haruy playes the wanton;

Knowes it? nay desires it, and by prayers Dayly begs of heau'n, that it for euer May stand firme for him, yet hees no Cuccold: And tis true, for Haruy keeps Matilda, Fosters Barnzy, and relieues his houshold, Buyes the Cradle, and begets the children, Payes the Nurces eu'ry charge defraying, And thus truly playes Matildas husband: So that Barnzy now becoms a cypher, And himselfe th'adultrer of Matilda. Mock not him with hornes, the case is alterd, Haruy beares the wrong, he proues the Cuccold.

The ninth Epigramme.

Buffe loues fat vians, fat ale, fat all things, Keepes fat whores, fat offices, yet all men Him fat only wish to feast the gallous.

The tenth Epigramme.

Smith by sute diuorst, the knowne adultres Freshly weds againe; what ayles the mad-cap By this fury? euen so theeues by frailty Of their hempe reseru'd, againe the dismall Tree embrace, againe the fatall halter.

The eleuenth Epigramme.

His late losse the Wiuelesse Higs in order Eu'rywhere bewailes to friends, to strangers; Tels them how by night a yongster armed Saught his Wife (as hand in hand he held her) With drawne sword to force, she cryed, he mainely Roring ran for ayde, but (ah) returning Fled was with the prize the beawty-forcer, Whome in vaine he seeks, he threats, he followes. Chang'd is Hellen, Hellen hugs the stranger Safe as Paris in the Greeke triumphing. Therewith his reports to teares he turneth, Peirst through with the louely Dames remembrance; Straight he sighes, he raues, his haire he teareth, Forcing pitty still by fresh lamenting. Cease vnworthy, worthy of thy fortunes, Thou that couldst so faire a prize deliuer, For feare vnregarded, vndefended, Hadst no heart I thinke, I know no liuer.

The twelfth Epigramme.

Why droopst thou Trefeild? will Hurst the Banker Make dice of thy bones? by heau'n he can not;

Can not? whats the reason? ile declare it, Th'ar all growne so pockie, and so rotten.