The grounds of mine art; here’s a gentleman’s hand,
I’ll kiss it for luck sake; you should, by this line,[[312]]
Love a horse and a hound, but no part of a swine;[[313]]
To hunt the brave stag, not so much for the food
As the weal of your body and wealth of your blood.
In this fashion did Buckingham flatter the tastes of James, who, priding himself on his prowess in the chase, which he followed in a ruff and trowsers,[[314]] was charmed with any allusion to his favourite diversion.
As the Captain of the Gipsies further pursued the telling of the King’s fortune, his verse changed its metre, and touched on more serious themes:—
Could any doubt that saw this hand,
Or who you are, or what command
You have upon the state of things?