[241 the _1633-69:_ their _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _HN_, _JC_, _O'F_, _Q_, _S_, _W:_ these _L74_, _N_, _TCD_ Although] though _1633 and MSS._] [242 the knowne merit _1633-69_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _Q_, _TCD:_ known _om. B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _HN_, _L74_, _P_, _S_, _W_] [243 wise man] wise men _1650-69_, _B_, _HN_, _L74_, _P_, _TCD_, _W_] _Satyre V._ Thou shalt not laugh in this leafe, Muse, nor they Whom any pitty warmes; He which did lay Rules to make Courtiers, (hee being understood May make good Courtiers, but who Courtiers good?) Frees from the sting of jests all who in extreme 5 Are wreched or wicked: of these two a theame Charity and liberty give me. What is hee Who Officers rage, and Suiters misery Can write, and jest? If all things be in all, As I thinke, since all, which were, are, and shall 10 Bee, be made of the same elements: Each thing, each thing implyes or represents. Then man is a world; in which, Officers Are the vast ravishing seas; and Suiters, Springs; now full, now shallow, now drye; which, to 15 That which drownes them, run: These selfe reasons do Prove the world a man, in which, officers Are the devouring stomacke, and Suiters The excrements, which they voyd. All men are dust; How much worse are Suiters, who to mens lust 20 Are made preyes? O worse then dust, or wormes meat, For they do eate you now, whose selves wormes shall eate. They are the mills which grinde you, yet you are The winde which drives them; and a wastfull warre Is fought against you, and you fight it; they 25 Adulterate lawe, and you prepare their way Like wittals; th'issue your owne ruine is. Greatest and fairest Empresse, know you this? Alas, no more then Thames calme head doth know Whose meades her armes drowne, or whose corne o'rflow: 30 You Sir, whose righteousnes she loves, whom I By having leave to serve, am most richly For service paid, authoriz'd, now beginne To know and weed out this enormous sinne. O Age of rusty iron! Some better wit 35 Call it some worse name, if ought equall it; The iron Age _that_ was, when justice was sold; now Injustice is sold dearer farre. Allow All demands, fees, and duties, gamsters, anon The mony which you sweat, and sweare for, is gon 40 Into other hands: So controverted lands Scape, like Angelica, the strivers hands. If Law be in the Judges heart, and hee Have no heart to resist letter, or fee, Where wilt thou appeale? powre of the Courts below 45 Flow from the first maine head, and these can throw Thee, if they sucke thee in, to misery, To fetters, halters; But if the injury Steele thee to dare complaine, Alas, thou go'st Against the stream, when upwards: when thou art most 50