Tryall brings truth to light:
OR,
The proofe of a pudding is all in the eating.
A dainty new ditty of many things treating,
To the tune of the Begger-boy.
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THe world hath allurements and flattering showes,
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to purchase her Lovers good estimation,
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Her tricks and devices hees wise that well knowes,
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the learnd in this science are taught by probation:
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this truth when I finde,
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it puts me in minde,
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Among many matters which I am conceiting,
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of one homely adage,
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thats usd in this mad age,
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The proofe of a pudding is all in the eating.
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Although this my subject seeme homely and meane,
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yet you that with judgement wil construe the matter,
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Some eares of good documents from it may gleane,
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Which I from this sheafe of invention will scatter:
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now cunning and fraud
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winnes greatest applaude,
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And under wits cloake many shelter their cheating,
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but try and then trust,
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for the world is unjust,
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And the proofe of a pudding is all in the eating.
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The knave and the honest man both are compleat,
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in gesture, in words, and in company keeping,
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Nay commonly they who doe meane most deceit,
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more easily into mens bosomes are creeping:
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with counterfeit tales,
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which too much prevailes,
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And proffers of courtesie often repeating,
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but speake as you finde,
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and still beare in minde,
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That the proofe of a pudding is all in the eating.
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Mens promises may be compared to snow,
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or ice at the best, by cold weather congealed,
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Theyre hard in the morning, at noone nothing so,
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though with protestations their minds are revealed:
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yet when the hot beames,
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of disasterous streames,
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Doth melt their intentions, then theyl be fleeting,
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their words differ cleane,
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from what they doe meane,
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But the proofe of a pudding is all in the eating.
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There be of both sexes that have faire outsides,
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like Jayes with the feathers of Peacocks adorned,
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A faire sute of Scarlet, or Plush, often hides
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a carkasse infirme, with diseases deformed:
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and now in these times,
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men cover their crimes,
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With shadowes of vertue, their braines still beating,
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which way to doe naught,
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and yet hide their fault,
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But the proofe of a pudding is all in the eating.
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Theres many thrasonicall pratling Jacks,
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that upon their Ale-bench will tell brave discourses,
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Were Ajax alive they would not turne their backs,
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their tongues shall supply the defect of their purses:
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But take them at their words,
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theyl scant draw their swords,
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Instead of bravadoes they fall to intreating:
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but give me that blade,
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that does more than he said,
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For the proofe of a pudding is all in the eating
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The second part To the same tune.
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WHen I doe want nothing I have store of friends,
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I mean friends in shadow but nothing substan-tiall:
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If I will beleeve every one that pretends,
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I shal have more courtesie than any man shall:
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But when I have need
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to use them indeed,
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Like cowardly souldiers they fall to retreating,
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but he is my friend,
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that helps me ith end,
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For the proofe of a pudding is all in the eating.
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Theres many in company boast of their skill,
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in wonderfull misteries secret and hidden,
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You may give beleefe to their words if you will,
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upon winged Pegasus oft they have ridden:
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if any in place
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will unto their face
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Oppose them with boldnesse, their projects defeating,
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their courage will quaile,
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and theyl tel a new tale
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For the proofe of a pudding, etc.
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I have seene a Gallant attyrd like a Lord,
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yet often through want hees inforct to be spareing:
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Hees daily a guest at Duke Humphryes bord,
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and sometimes he filleth his belly with swearing:
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I have seene likewise,
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a plaine man in frize,
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Or good mutton-velvet that glisters with sweating,
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hee cals and he payes,
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and he meanes as he sayes,
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Thus the proofe of a pudding is all in the eating.
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Theres many that when they affliction doe feele,
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as poverty, sicknesse, and other disasters,
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Then unto their friends they will humbly kneele,
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and say, under heaven they are their best masters:
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but when through those frends
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their misery ends,
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Ingratefully all former kindnesse forgetting,
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they them doe disdaine,
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who did them maintaine,
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Thus the proofe of a pudding, etc.
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There are many men when they first come a wooing
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to Widowes or Maidens with great protestations,
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Such wonderfull courtesies theyl then be showing,
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and they silly creatures beleeve their relations:
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their loves very hot,
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until they have got
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The thing that they wish by their subtile intreating,
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then they prove unkinde,
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and poore women doe finde
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That the proofe of a pudding is all in the eating.
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Thus briefely and plainely I have here expressed,
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my mind and conceit of this proverbe so homely,
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Wherein at the truth very neere I have guessed,
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and deckt it in ornaments decent and comely:
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I hope it will sell
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abroad very well,
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With those who love truth, and abhor all cheating,
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till tryall be made,
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no more can be said,
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For the proofe of a pudding is all in the eating.
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