A Song made of Nothing.
Yet he that doth read, or heare it shall find,
Something of nothing to pleasure his mind.
To a dainty New tune.
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SOme men of nothing doe matters endite.
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& some men of small things large volumes doe write,
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But if you wilt give me leave I will recite
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A song made of nothing.
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He that has nothing may soonest spend all,
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And he thats exalted may have a downe-fall,
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And he that is weakest may goe to the wall,
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But I will say nothing.
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He that presumeth a Gallant to be,
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And spends more in one yeare then he gets in three,
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Shall beg having wasted his Patrimony,
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But I will say nothing.
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He that has nothing, no credit shall have,
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Although he be vertuous, hes counted a knave,
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Among roaring Gallants that goe fine and brave,
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Cause he can spend nothing.
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He that delights in Cards and in Dice,
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And spends his revenues in such idle vice,
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Shall meet with lewd company him to intice,
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Till he be worth nothing.
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He that hath nothing, with troubles beset,
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Will steale or doe something a living to get.
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But if he be caught in the hangmans net,
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His life is worth nothing.
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He that hath nothing, can nothing possesse,
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And he that hath little may looke to have lesse,
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But much want and sorrow doth daily oppresse
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the man that hath nothing.
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He that will be a good husband indeed,
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That unto his businesse doth goe with good heed,
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Shall still have sufficient to serve him at need,
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And alwayes want nothing.
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He that is maried unto a good wife,
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Shall live in content all dayes of his life,But if man and woman be given to strife,
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Theyll fall out for nothing.
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He that is idle and will not take paines.
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But honest industry and labour disdaines,
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When others true labours are quitted with gaines,
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Then he shall have nothing.
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The second part. To the same tune.
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HE that in Drunkennes takes his delight.
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To drinke and to swagger, to brabble and fight
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He taketh the wrong, and leaveth the right,
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But I wil say nothing.
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He that in basenesse his time doth here spend,
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That never regards himselfe nor his friend,
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He standeth in danger to have a bad end,
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But I wil say nothing.
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He that takes pleasure to curse, ban and sweare,
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With vaine execrations his Maker to teare,
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The Lord in his wrath, if he doe not forbeare,
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wil bring him to nothing.
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He that doth ruffle it out in vaine pride
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That weareth gay clothes a foule carcasse to hide,
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And beares more ons backe then hes worth beside,
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Ile trust him for nothing.
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He that delighteth to goe to the Law,
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To sue for a trifle thats scarce worth a straw,
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May sue for a Woodcocke. and catch a Jack-Daw
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For all comes to nothing.
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He that his time stil carelesly spends,
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And hopes to be rich by the death of his friends,
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The piller whereon all his hope still depends,
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Perhaps comes to nothing.
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He that deferreth amendment to th last,
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And seekes not to thrive till al remedies past,
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If he through his folly behind hand be cast,
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His hopes are worth no[thi]ng.
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He that lives uprightly in his vocation,
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And on the distressed hath commiseration,
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That man rightly merits a good commendation
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Hes guilty in nothing.
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He that with usury doth money beget,
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And loves that young spend-thrifts should be in his debt
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The Devill at last wil drag him ins net
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But I wil say nothing.
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He that can craftily cozen and cheat,
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To get a base living by fraud and deceit,
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Shal stand on the Pillory to coole his heate,
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But I wil say nothing.
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He that is often enclined to quarrell,
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Wil bring both himselfe & his friend in great perill
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But that man is blest that can wisely forbeare ill,
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And learne to say nothing.
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Here you see something of nothing is made.
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For of the word nothing, something is said,
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That man who hath neither wealth, wit, nor trade,
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Alas he gets nothing.
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So free me being tedious, I now wil refraine,
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And pray for King Charles that long he many raigne:
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His foes and all traytors that wish Englands bane.
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Good Lord bring to nothing
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