526. TO HIS HONOURED FRIEND, SIR JOHN MINCE.
For civil, clean, and circumcised wit,
And for the comely carriage of it,
Thou art the man, the only man best known,
Mark'd for the true wit of a million:
From whom we'll reckon. Wit came in but since
The calculation of thy birth, brave Mince.
527. UPON HIS GREY HAIRS.
Fly me not, though I be grey:
Lady, this I know you'll say;
Better look the roses red
When with white commingled.
Black your hairs are, mine are white;
This begets the more delight,
When things meet most opposite:
As in pictures we descry
Venus standing Vulcan by.
528. ACCUSATION.
If accusation only can draw blood,
None shall be guiltless, be he ne'er so good.
529. PRIDE ALLOWABLE IN POETS.
As thou deserv'st, be proud; then gladly let
The Muse give thee the Delphic coronet.
