warding many blows we've pass'd,
_That stroke most fear'd is which is struck the last_.

689. FORTUNE.

Fortune's a blind profuser of her own,
Too much she gives to some, enough to none.

690. STOOL-BALL.

At stool-ball, Lucia, let us play
For sugar-cakes and wine:
Or for a tansy let us pay,
The loss, or thine, or mine.

If thou, my dear, a winner be
At trundling of the ball,
The wager thou shall have, and me,
And my misfortunes all.

But if, my sweetest, I shall get,
Then I desire but this:
That likewise I may pay the bet
And have for all a kiss.

_Stool-ball_, a game of ball played by girls.
_Tansy_, a cake made of eggs, cream, and herbs.

691. TO SAPPHO.

Let us now take time and play,
Love, and live here while we may;
Drink rich wine, and make good cheer,
While we have our being here;
For once dead and laid i' th' grave,
No return from thence we have.

692. ON POET PRAT. EPIG.

Prat he writes satires, but herein's the fault,
In no one satire there's a mite of salt.

693. UPON TUCK. EPIG.

At post and pair, or slam, Tom Tuck would play
This Christmas, but his want wherewith says nay.

_Post and pair, or slam_, old games of cards. Ben Jonson calls the
former a "thrifty and right worshipful game".

694. BITING OF BEGGARS.

Who, railing, drives the lazar from his door,
Instead of alms, sets dogs upon the poor.

695. THE MAY-POLE.

The May-pole is up!
Now give me the cup,
I'll drink to the garlands around it;
But first unto those
Whose hands did compose
The glory of flowers that crown'd it.

A health to my girls,
Whose husbands may earls
Or lords be, granting my wishes,
And when that ye wed
To the bridal bed,
Then multiply all like to fishes.

696. MEN MIND NO STATE IN SICKNESS.

That flow of gallants which approach
To kiss thy hand from out the coach;
That fleet of lackeys which do run
Before thy swift postillion;
Those strong-hoof'd mules which we behold
Rein'd in with purple, pearl, and gold,
And shod with silver, prove to be
The drawers of the axletree.
Thy wife, thy children, and the state
Of Persian looms and antique plate;
All these, and more, shall then afford
No joy to thee, their sickly lord.