I Smell a Rat.
To the tune of, Vpon a Summer tide.
OR, The Seminary Priest.
I Traueld farre to finde
where honesty abides,
And found in England more
then all the world besides;
But where true vertue growes,
vice quickly ruines that:
A poore man must not speak,
although he
Smell a Rat.
When Iustice hath her sight,
shée's beautifull in show:
But when she Masks her face,
how vild she soone doth grow;
I doe perceiue the cause,
but dare not speake of that:
Ile not offend the Lawes,
but yet
I Smell a Rat.
When I sée welthy men,
by worldly causes rise:
I count them happy here,
and truely worldly wise;
But Folly oft makes leane,
what Wit hath long kept fat:
Who knowes how rich men fall?
in troth
I Smell a Rat.
Some gathers in their rents,
and hordes the coine with care:
Stretching their credits great,
for money or for ware:
When such great men do breake,
what is the cause of that?
In troth I dare not speake,
and yet
I Smell a Rat.
To see a Courtier kinde,
is common euery hower,
To Widdow, Wife, or Maide,
or any in his power:
The Husband's welcome to,
but whats the cause of that?
I doe not iustly know,
but yet
I smell a Rat.
When luber marries wealth,
how ioy full are the twaine,
On both sides wealths increase
comes in with ill got gaine:
This wealth cōmands their minds,
they liue like Dog and Cat;
What should the occasion be?
in faith
I Smell a Rat.
When rates of all things rise,
within a plentious yeare:
What should the occasion be,
that euery thing's so deare;
Some censure rich mens faults,
and some say this and that:
Let al say what they will,
for faith
I Smell a Rat.
When Age doth marry Youth,
how louingly they liue:
The want of youthfull bloud,
this tender Wife doth grieue:
The old man iealous growes,
occasion oft bids that:
When wealth and beauty méete,
in faith
I Smell a Rat.
The second Part,
To the same Tune.
VVHerefore doth women paint
or youngmen pruine their haire?
It may be tis to make,
this earthly carkase faire;
Yet there are causes great,
are ten times worse then that:
Tis beauty tempes the eye,
in faith
I Smell a Rat.
When Strumpets striue by Art,
and fond inticing straines,
To bring poore youth to spend
both substance, strength, & vaines:
What sicknes followes lust?
what pouerty brings that?
I haue no cause to know,
but yet
I Smell a Rat.
When guls and gooscaps find,
the vildnes of expence:
How penitent their minde,
will grow for that offence:
But folly to such men,
doth shew them what is what:
I speake not all I know,
but still
I Smell a Rat.
To sée a Whore fall sicke,
why tis a common thing:
A Hakney soone will tire,
doth too much burthen bring:
Beside, an inward griefe
may be the cause of that,
Let Surgions lend releefe:
for faith
I Smell a Rat.
When Seigneur Roman
T,
did goe vpright and straight:
He crumples in the hames,
so great's his bodies waight:
Nay stradles twice as wide,
what is the cause of that?
Theres something barres his stride
in troth
I Smell a Rat.
Why growes your Bawds so big,
when Panders proue so leane:
When they were young they sweld
and nere will fall againe:
The Panders swift on foote,
and so kéepes downe his fat,
By bringing some vnto't:
in troth
I Smell a Rat.
When Officers let slip
to punish such as these:
Pray where doth Iustice sit,
or railes she when she please:
It may be she is brib'd,
and so kept blind by that:
Else none of these could thriue,
in troth
I Smell a Rat.
When sinne striues to surcease,
and folly flies away:
Where loue and lasting peace,
will make a glorious day:
When England harboures none,
that beares the name of Whore,
The
Rat will run away,
and
I shall
Smell no more.
FINIS.
Printed at London for Henry Gossen