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Dwell there; but oh what refuge canst thou win, Parchd in the Court, and in the Country frozen? Shall cities built of both extreames bee chosen? Can dung, and Garlick, bee a Perfume? Or can A Scorpion and Torpedo cure a man? Cities are worst of all three, of all three (O knottie Ridle) each is worst equallie. Cities are Sepulchres, they who dwell there Are karkases, as if no such there were. And Courtes, Are Theaters, where som̅e men plaie Princes, some slaues; all to one end, and of one claie The Countrie is a Desart, where no good Gaind, as Habitts, not borne, is vnderstood. There Men become beasts, and prone to mere evills In Citties blocks, and in a lewd Court Deuills. As in the first Chaos confusedlie Each Elements Qualities, were in the other three; So pride, Lust, Couetise, being seuerall, To thes three places, yet all are in all; And mingled thus their Issue incestuous, Falshood is Denizend, Vertue barbarous. Lett no man saie there, Vertues flintie wall Shall lock Vice in mee: Ile doe none. But know all. Men are Spunges, whict to powre out receaue. Who know false plaie, rather then loose deceaue. For in best vnderstandinges Sin began̅; Angells sind first, then Deuells, and then Man. Only perchance Beasts sin nott; wretched wee Are Beasts in all, but white Integritie. I thinke, if men, which in those places liue, Durst looke for themselues, and themselues retriue They would like Strangers, greet them selues; seeinge than Vtopian youth growne old Italian. |
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