Faire fall all good Tokens. OR, A pleasant new Song not common to be had, Which will teach you to know good tokens from bad. To a pleasant new tune.
TO you that haue bad tokens,
this matter I indight,
Yet nothing shall be spoken,
that shall your minds afright:
Be silent therefore and stand still,
marke what procéedeth from my Quill:
I speake of tokens good and ill,
and such as are not right.
But first Ile haue you understand,
before that I doe passe,
That there are many tokens
which are not made of brasse,
It is a token of my loue,
that I to you this matter moue;
For many tokens bad doe prooue,
we see in euery place.
Yet by all signes and tokens,
as I may iudge or thinke,
The man that hath lost both his eyes,
he cannot chuse but winke;
But some will winke when they may sée,
but that is nothing vnto me:
Some shut their eyes to haue a fée,
which are in loue with chinke.
He that hath gain'd much siluer,
and doth possesse much gold,
It's a token that he shall be rich,
if he his substance hold:
But he that hath but little store,
and spendeth all and something more,
It's a token that he shall dye poore,
to say't you may be bold.
He that is a very foole,
and wisedome doth despise,
It's a token that he shall be old
if he liue till he be wise:
And he that hath great store of wit,
and maketh no right vse of it,
It's a token that he is unfit
in honour to arise.
But this is a bad token,
marke well what I shall say:
When a young man hath a handsome wife
and lets her run astray,
It is a token she will be naught,
and quickly vnto lewdnesse brought,
If that she be no better taught,
shee'll bring him to decay.
The second part, To the same tune.
HEe that hath a fiery nose,
which lookes like Claret red;
It's a token then he doth consume
in drinke more then in bread:
For if his nose be fiery hot,
it's a token that he loues the pot:
He hates small drinke and loues it not,
he hath not so béene fed.
Then faire fall all good tokens,
now it comes into mind:
Marke which way sits the Wether-cocke,
and that way blowes the wind:
Marke which w [...]y rowles a Wantons eye,
and something you may see thereby;
Or if you please then you may trie,
and so the trut [...] [...]y finde.
He that hath liu'd in wickednesse,
and doth in vice, remaine,
It is a token he hath no care
to free his soule from paine:
When Conscience doth on Crutches créepe
its a token Truth is lulld asleepe,
Which makes poore men in dangers déepe
to call and cry in vaine.
But this is a token of a truth,
which doth betoken ill:
An angry wife will worke much woe,
but shee will haue her will:
For if she chance to bend her browe,
or seeme to looke I know not how
It's a token she will scold I vow,
her tongue will not lye still.
But this is a true token,
then marke my word aright:
When Sol is setting in the West
the world will lose her light.
So when an old mans head growes gray,
he may thinke on his dying day:
For to the graue he must away
and bid the world good night.
He that hath a wandring eye,
and loues lewd women deare,
It's a token that héele proue a knaue:
Bust Ile tell you in your eare
For sure you neuer saw the like
a Souldier loues to tosse a pike:
The Capster drawes but dares not striks
which doth betoken feare.
Then faire fall all good tokens
and well fare a good heart:
For by all signes and tokens
tis time for to depart:
And now it's time to end my song
I hope I haue done no man wrong:
For he that cannot rule his tongue
shall feele a greater smart.
FINIS.
Printed at London for Henry Gosson.