The praise of Nothing:
Though some doe wonder why I write in praise
Of Nothing, in these lamentable daies,
When they have read, and will my counsell take,
I hope of Nothing something they may make.
To the tune of, Though I have but a marke a yeare, etc.
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THe praise of wisedome some doe write,
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and some the praise of money:
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And every one like Bees to th hive,
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from something gather hony.
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But if my Genius doe not faile,
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To promp me ere I end my tale,
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Youl finde that nothing will prevaile,
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for all must turne to nothing.
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Nothing was first, and shall be last,
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for nothing holds for ever,
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And nothing ever yet scapt death,
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so cant the longest liver:
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Nothings Immortall, nothing can,
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From crosses ever keepe a man,
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Nothing can live, when the world is gone,
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for all shall come to nothing.
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Nothing in all the world we finde,
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with sorrow more perplexed,
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Then he that with a scolding wife,
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eternally is vexed.
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Whose tongue by nothing can be queld,
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Although with red hot spincers held
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For shee will to no reason yeeld,
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but scold and brawle for nothing.
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Nothing is swifter then the winde,
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or lighter then a feather,
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Yet I another thing have found,
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which quite excelleth either:
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A harlots love, that every day,
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Is changd and swiftly blowne away,
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But whats more light then her, I pray,
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the wise man answeres nothing.
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Nothing shall therefore please me more,
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than women to abandon,
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For if that I should fall in love,
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or joyne with such a wanton:
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Sheed breake my very heart-strings sure,
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Or I must Vulcans lot indure,
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And patiently abide the cure,
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or else be helpd by nothing.
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Take you heed then unmarried Lads,
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before you grow a lover,
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And ere too soone you chuse a wife,
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with honest patience prove her:
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For nothing can againe unwed,
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Nor cure a Cuckolds aking head,
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Besides once lost a Maiden-head,
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can be recald by nothing.
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The second part, To the same tune.
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IN heat of war nothing is safe,
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in peace nothing respected,
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But ill got wealth, which to procure,
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no vice at alls neglected:
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The sonne doth wish his fathers end,
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That he may have his wealth to spend,
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But let such Lads their manners mend,
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or all will come to nothing.
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Nothing is safe by Sea or Land,
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nor alwaies free from danger,
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Which is committed to the trust,
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of either friend or stranger.
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For nothing in the world remaines
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But for their private ends or gaines,
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Theil havt although they break their brains
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or bring themselves to nothing.
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Nothing regarded more then gold,
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but vertues quite decayd,
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For gold the Usurer sels his soule,
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which must at last be paid,
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When nothing from the grave can call
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Such mizers who their soules inthrall,
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To gripe and hoord the Devill and all,
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but better they had nothing.
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Nothing can from the sight of God,
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conceale the faults of any,
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For his cleare eye can search into,
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the smallest chinke or cranny.
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He can within thy heart espy,
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The secretst sinnes which there doe lye,
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But if you to repentance hie,
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they shall appeare as nothing.
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Nothing therefore hereafter seeke
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but vertue, vice detesting,
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With purest robs of sanctity,
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your humble soule investing:
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And seeke you after no such thing,
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Which may your soule to sorrow bring,
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Or while thou livst thy conscience sting,
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or else desire nothing.
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For though but little thou art worth,
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yet nothing dost desire,
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Nor covetest thy neighbours goods,
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nor bove thy selfe aspire.
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But restest honestly content,
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With that poore little God hath sent,
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Thou mayst disperse in merriment,
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and say thou wants for nothing.
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When earth-wormes spend their dayes in care,
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and nere can rest in quiet.
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Nor with the feare to lose their gold,
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have time to sleepe or dyet:
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But with a sad and pensive minde
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Still studying how the poore to grinde,
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Untill at last with sorrow pinde,
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themselves are turnd to nothing.
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And thus you now have heard the praise,
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of nothing, worth a penny:
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Which as I stand to sing heare now,
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I hope will yeeld me many.
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But if that price be held to deare,
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Or any dislike this counsell here,
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He may depart with a flea ins eare,
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for I will give him nothing.
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