Peace,[123] idle Muse, haue done! for it is time,
Since lousie Ponticus enuies my fame,
And sweares the better sort are much to blame
To make me so well knowne for my[124] ill rime:
Yet Bankes his horse,[125] is better knowne then he.
So are the Cammels and the westerne hogge,[126]
And so is Lepidus his printed Dog:[127]
Why doth not Ponticus their fames enuie?
Besides, this Muse of mine, and the blacke feather
Grew both together fresh[128] in estimation:
And both growne stale, were cast away together:
What fame is this that scarce lasts[129] out a fashion?
Onely this last in credit doth remaine,
That from henceforth, each bastard cast-forth rime,
Which doth but savour of a libell vaine,
Shall call me father, and be thought my crime;
So dull, and with so little sence endu'd,
Is my grose-headed Judge, the multitude.
[Footnote 123: Isham 'Pease.' G.]
[Footnote 124: Isham 'so.' G.]
[Footnote 125: See note on this under Epigram 30. G.]
[Footnote 126: Isham corrects 'Hay' here with 'hogge.' G.]
[Footnote 127: That is 'Lepidus's printed dog.' The following epigram
by Sir John Harington determines that he is the Lepidus of this
passage, and that his favourite dog Bungey is the "printed dog." In
a compartment of the engraved title-page to Harington's _Orlando
Furioso_, 1591, is a representation of Bungey (see too the Annotations
on Book xli. of that poem); and hence he is termed by Davies the
"printed dog."
"AGAINST MOMUS, IN PRAISE OF HIS DOG BUNGEY."
Because a witty writer of this time
Doth make some mention in a pleasant rime
Of Lepidus and of his famous dog,
Thou, Momus, that dost loue to scoffe and cog,
Prat'st amongst base companions, and giv'st out
That unto me herein is meant a flout.
Hate makes thee blind, Momus: I dare be sworn,
He meant to me his loue, to thee his scorn.
Put on thy envious spectacles, and see
Whom doth he scorn therein, the dog or me?
The dog is grac'd, comparèd with great Banks,
Both beasts right famous for their pretty pranks;
Although in this I grant the dog was worse,
He only fed my pleasure, not my purse:
Yet that same dog, I may say this and boast it,
He found my purse with gold when I haue [had] lost it.
Now for myself: some fooles (like thee) may judge
That at the name of Lepidus I grudge:
No sure; so far I think it from disgrace,
I wisht it cleare to me and to my race.
Lepus, or Lepos, I in both haue part;
That in my name I beare, this in mine heart.
But Momus, I perswade myself that no man
Will deigne thee such a name, English or Roman.
Ile wage a but of Sack, the best in Bristo,
Who cals me Lepid, I will call him Tristo."