[26.] A Young Country Fellow went a Wooing to a Country Lass, and he had on then a speck and Span new Suit with Silver Buttons also; and in all his Discourse with her, he used all the Art he could, to have her take notice of his Buttons; at last when he saw she would take no Notice of them at all: _Well_, says he, _these Silver Buttons keep me so warm_: _Yes_, says she, _you had best lie in them all night, lest you should take cold this frosty weather._ The poore man payes for all. This is but a dreame which here shall insue, But the Author wishes his words were not true. To the Tune of _In slumbring sleepe I lay_. [Illustration] As I lay musing all alone [56.] upon my resting bed, Full many a cogitation did come into my head: And waking from my sleepe, I my dreame to mind did call, Methought I saw before mine eyes, _how poore men payes for all_. I many objects did behold, in this my frightfull Dreame, A part of them I will unfold; and though my present Theame Is but a fancy you may say, yet many things doe fall Too true alas; for at this day _the poore man payes for all_. Methought I saw (which caused my care) what I wish were a fable, That poore men still inforced are to pay more than they are able; Me thought I heard them weeping say, their substance was but small, For rich men will beare all the sway, _and poore men pay for all_. Me thought I saw how wealthy men did grind the poore mens faces, And greedily did prey on them, not pittying their cases: They make them toyle and labour sore, for wages too too small: The rich men in the Tavernes rore, _but poore men pay for all_. Methought I saw an Usurer old walke in his Fox-fur'd gowne, Whose wealth and eminence control'd the most men in the Towne: His wealth he by extortion got, and rose by others fall, He had what his hands earned not, _but poor men pay for all_. Me thought I saw a Courtier proud, goe swaggering along, That unto any scarce allow'd the office of his tongue: Me thought wert not for bribery, his Peacocks plumes would fall, He ruffles out in bravery, _but poor men pay for all_. Me thought I met (sore discontent) some poore men on the way, I asked one whither he went, so fast, and could not stay? Quoth he, I must go take my Lease, or else another shall, My Landlords riches doe increase, _but poore men pay for all_. Me thought I saw most stately wives go jetting[F. 82] on the way, That live delightfull idle lives, and go in garments gay: That with the men their shapes doe change, or else they'l chide and brawle, Thus women goe like monsters strange, _but poore men pay for all_.