Of The Flatterer Poem by John Andrewes

They that compare the fawning Parisite
vnto the Spaniel, do the curre much wrong;
for he will often heare his masters tongue,
When in the field he follows his delight:
Yet neuer quest; but th'ecchoing Sicophant
at euery word, by his weake fauourer spoken,
cries good, 'tis true, and this is held a token
Of much respect and loue; though from the haunt
Of worth and merit, his base nature range
as farre as falshood, from the strong built nest
of Truth and Goodnesse, which in euery brest
Should like two twinnes be nourisht; but tis strange
To see how this poore worthlesse humour liues,
euen in those bosomes where good bloud and parts,
haue their abiding, poisoning generous Arts
With that, to which no language spoken giues
An Epithete too bad: and to those men
(if I may tearme them so) whose only words
such sweetnesse to the flattered eare affoords,
To yeeld a fitting title by my pen:
I am as much vnable, as vnapt
to imitate their basenesse; which indeede
had I not chanc't t'haue heard, into my Creede
Could nere haue come, but it hath often happt
To sownde within the compasse of my hearing,
whereby mine eares as to the pillory,
seem'd to be nailde in such grosse flattery;
Yet in their checkes no signe of shame appearing.
It may seeme strange (yet I dare say't is true)
that I haue blusht to see their impudence,
while they (vn-man-like) seem'd to haue no sence
Of their owne basenes: of this thriuing crue.
I haue observ'd both Sexes to be free;
too free in some respect, though in some kinde
more bound then slaues, for our best part (the minde)
Was chiefly giuen diuinest things to see:
And not to be by ought that shares with vs,
in the short course of our mortalitie
so fetter'd, least vnhappily it be,
Depriv'd of its best good in being thus.
Haue I not heard one tell, the Crowe shee's white,
and Midas-like preferre the pipe of Pan
before Appollo's harpe? wherein this man
(Who thus from Art and Nature teares their right).
Thus from the Phrygian differs, Midas weares
(as thereward and badge of ignorance)
th'eares of an Asse; but 'tis the others chance
To thriue by clawing th'ignorant Asses eares.
Haue I not heard some tell the prodigall,
'tis for his honour to be bountifull:
and with applause commend the humorous Gull
In all his actions? I haue seene them fall
And kisse the feete of a great golden calfe;
whose very best of his admired worth
was by a Taylor to the world brought forth,
To whom his Honour ought his better halfe.
Let a man chafe (though no iust cause there be)
and then obsequious Apes will fret as fast,
as had they seene a verier slaue t'haue past
By, then themselues: or be your humour free
And Iouially dispos'd, they'le Ianus-like
straite shew a cleerer face, where you may see
the true proportion of hypocrisie
Drawne to the life; (which loues as others like)
Many yeeres since the famous Chaucer writ,
that, these same men which beare a double visage,
are as meere monsters in good Natures linage;
And for good mens societie vnfit.
Like your Camelions these will change their hew
as you your colour, be it good or ill,
change nere so oft, yet you shall finde them still,
(From what they were) transforme as fast as you.
Seeme to be most vnlike your selfe, or speake
what you least thinke they'le be, and speake like you;
tell them they're Knaues theyle smile and say so too;
Faine your selfe ill, they'le sweare they finde you weake.