The snow is white, and yet the pepper's blacke, The one is bought, the other is contemned: Pibbles we haue, but store of Ieat we lacke; So white comparde to blacke is much condemned: We doo not praise the Swanne because shees white, But for she doth in Musique much delite. And yet the siluer-noted Nightingale, Though she be not so white is more esteemed; Sturgion is dun of hew, white is the Whale, Yet for the daintier Dish the first is deemed; What thing is whiter than the milke-bred Lilly? Thou knowes it not for naught, what man so silly? Yea what more noysomer vnto the smell Than Lillies are? what's sweeter than the Sage? Yet for pure white the Lilly beares the Bell Till it be faded through decaying Age; House-Doues are white, and Oozels Blacke-birds bee; Yet what a difference in the taste, we see. Compare the Cow and Calfe, with Ewe and Lambe; Rough hayrie Hydes, with softest downy Fell; Hecfar and Bull, with Weather and with Ramme, And you shall see how far they doo excell; White Kine with blacke, blacke Coney-skins with gray, Kine, nesh and strong; skin, deare and cheape alway. The whitest siluer is not alwaies best, Lead, Tynne, and Pewter are of base esteeme; The yellow burnisht gold, that comes from th'East, And West (of late inuented), may beseeme The worlds ritch Treasury, or _Mydas_ eye; (The Ritch mans God, poore mans felicitie.) Bugle and Ieat, with snow and Alablaster I will compare: White Dammasin with blacke; Bullas and wheaton Plumbs, (to a good Taster,) The ripe red Cherries haue the sweetest smacke; When they be greene and young, th'are sowre and naught; But being ripe, with eagerness th'are baught. Compare the Wyld-cat to the brownish Beauer, Running for life, with hounds pursued sore; When Hunts-men of her pretious Stones bereaue her (Which with her teeth sh'had bitten off before): Restoratiues, and costly curious Felts Are made of them, and rich imbroydred Belts. To what vse serues a peece of crimbling Chalke? The Agget stone is white, yet good for nothing: Fie, fie, I am asham'd to heare thee talke; Be not so much of thine owne Image doating: So faire _Narcissus_ lost his loue and life. (Beautie is often with itselfe at strife). Right Diamonds are of a russet hieu, The brightsome Carbuncles are red to see too, The Saphyre stone is of a watchet blue, (To this thou canst not chuse but soone agree too): Pearles are not white but gray, Rubies are red: In praise of Blacke, what can be better sed?