Works

Sin leads the way, but as it goes, it feels
The following plague still treading on his heels.

After true sorrow for our sins, our strife
Must last with Satan to the end of life.

Wash clean the vessel, lest ye sour
Whatever liquor in ye pour.

Suspicion, discontent, and strife
Come in for dowry with a wife.

Sinners confounded are a twofold way,
Either as when, the learned schoolmen say,
Men's sins destroyed are when they repent,
Or when, for sins, men suffer punishment.

When once the sin has fully acted been,
Then is the horror of the trespass seen.

God in His own day will be then severe
To punish great sins, who small faults whipt here.

Shame checks our first attempts; but then 'tis prov'd
Sins first dislik'd are after that belov'd.

'Tis liberty to serve one lord; but he
Who many serves, serves base servility.

Stripes, justly given, yerk us with their fall;
But causeless whipping smarts the most of all.

To seek of God more than we well can find,
Argues a strong distemper of the mind.

Two things do make society to stand:
The first commerce is, and the next command.

The mellow touch of music most doth wound
The soul, when it doth rather sigh, than sound.

To conquered men, some comfort 'tis to fall
By the hand of him who is the general.

Sorrows our portion are: ere hence we go,
Crosses we must have; or, hereafter woe.

When one is past, another care we have:
Thus woe succeeds a woe, as wave a wave.

When times are troubled, then forbear; but speak
When a clear day out of a cloud does break.

If meat the gods give, I the steam
High-towering will devote to them,
Whose easy natures like it well,
If we the roast have, they the smell.

At stool-ball, Lucia, let us play
For sugar-cakes and wine:
Or for a tansy let us pay,
The loss, or thine, or mine.

If thou, my dear, a winner be
At trundling of the ball,...

Let kings and rulers learn this line from me:
Where power is weak, unsafe is majesty.