If Gella's beauty be examinèd,
She hath a dull, dead eye, a saddle nose,
And[71] ill-shap't face, with morphew ouer-spread,
And rotten teeth, which she in laughing shows;
Briefly, she is the filthiest wench in towne,
Of all that doe the art of whoring use:
But when she hath put on her sattin gowne,
Her cut[72] lawne apron, and her velvet shooes,
Her greene silke stockins and her petticoat
Of taffaty, with golden fringe a-round,
And is withall perfumed with civet hot,[73]
Which doth her valiant stinking breath confound,—
Yet she with these additions is no more
Than a sweet, filthy, fine, ill-favoured[74] whore.
In Syllam. 27.
Sylla is often challenged to the field,
To answer as a gentleman, his foes:
But then he doth this[75] answer onely yeeld,—
That he hath livings and faire lands to lose.
Silla, if none but beggars valiant were,
The King of Spaine would put us all in feare.
In Sillam. 28.
Who dares affirme that Silla dares not fight?
When I dare sweare he dares adventure more
Than the most braue and all-daring[76] wight,[77]
That euer armes with resolution bore;
He that dares[78] touch the most unwholsome whore
That euer was retir'd into the Spittle[79]
And dares court wenches standing at a doore,
(The portion his wit being passing little);
He that dares give his dearest friends offences,
Which other valiant fooles doe feare to doe:
And when a feaver doth confound his sences,
Dare eate raw beefe, and drink strong wine thereto:
He that dares take tobacco on the stage,[80]
Dares man a whore at noone-day through the street:
Dares dance in Paul's and in this formall age,
Dares say and doe whateuer is unmeet;
Whom feare of shame could neuer yet affright,—
Who dares affirme that Sylla dares not fight?
In Haywodum.[81] 29.
Haywood, that did[82] in Epigrams excell,
Is now put downe since my light Muse arose;
As buckets are put downe into a well,
Or as a schoole-boy putteth downe his hose.[83]