Satire: Thou that hast euer bene a rouing

Thou that hast euer bene a rouing Theese,
A diuing Cutpurse, or a periurd Slaue,
And in all villany hast bene the Chiefe,
And with a brasen brow canst iustice braue,
That stealst thy pedegree from antient houses,
And in broaking Sattin euery day:
That takst delight in stabbing and Carowses,
Not caring how thou letst thy loose life stray.
Thou that hast bene a Traytor to thy Prince,
A great Arch-villaine to thy natiue soyle,
And wouldst by treachery exile from thence,
The blessed peace hath bene procurd with toyle.
Thou that hast bene a Machiuilian
For damned slights, conceits, and pollicy:
Thou that hast bene an Antichristian,
Or with blinded heresy.
If any of these vile iniquities,
Haue bene the Axioms of thy passed life;
Then view the Roles of old antiquities,
And see goods got with falshood, lost with strife.
There shalt thou see how Iustice euermore,
Hath poyz'd the Ballance, and vpheld the Sword,
How Grauitie inspirde with Wisdomes lore,
Hath Vertue honord, and foule Vice abhord.
How Treason hath bene seuerd lim from lim,
How Theft and Murder there haue paid their hire:
How those that erst in worldly pompe did swim,
Haue soyld their fortunes in disgraces mire.
How hath forfeited his eares,
How mounted on the Pillory,
How graceles , that nothing feares,
Doe end their dayes in loathed misery.
How Vsury is plagued with the Gowt,
How Auarice complayneth of the Stone:
How guilty Consciences are still in dout,
How Enuy gnawes on Honor to the bone.
How Letchery is laden with the pox,
How Prodigallity doth end with woe:
How Panderisme is headed like an Ox,
Because the destinies apoynt it so.
How drunkennes is with the dropsie fraught,
And made his visage like a fiery Commet,
Who being full must leaue the tother draught,
Till like a Swine he wallow in his vommet.
How dambd hipocrisie with faigned zeale,
And outward shew of painted holynes:
(Doth like a Canker eat the publike weale)
All scornefull pride, yet seemes all lowlynes.
To thee that readst this, therefore be it knowne,
If any of those vices are immurde
Within thy heart, not to the World yet showne:
If by this reading thou maist be allurde,
To turne thy tide of life another way,
And to amendment all thy thoughts incline:
And to thy rebell will no more obay,
But seeke by vertuous actions to combine
Fame to thy friends, and terror to thy foe,
And say twas friendly counsell told thee so.