Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, VIRGIDEMIAE: BOOK 3: SATIRE: 3, by JOSEPH HALL


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

VIRGIDEMIAE: BOOK 3: SATIRE: 3, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The courteous citizen bad me to his feast
Last Line: One dish shall serue, and welcomes make the rest.
Variant Title(s): Hollow Hospitality
Subject(s): Feasts; Greece; Greeks


The courteous Citizen bad me to his feast,
With hollow words, and ouerly request:
Come, will ye dine with me this Holy day?
I yeelded, tho he hop'd I would say Nay:
For had I mayden'd it, as many vse,
Loath for to grant, but loather to refuse.
Alacke sir, I were loath, Another day:
I should but trouble you: pardon me if you may.
No pardon should I neede, for to depart
He giues me leaue, and thanks too in his heart.
Two wordes for money Darbishirian wise:
(That's one too many) is a naughtie guise.
Who lookes for double biddings to a feast,
May dine at home for an importune guest.
I went, and saw, and found the great expence,
The fare and fashions of our Citizens.
O: Cleopatricall: what wanteth there
For curious cost, and wondrous choise of cheare?
Beefe, that earst Hercules held for finest fare:
Porke for the fat Boeotian, or the hare
For Martiall: fish for the Venetian,
Goose liuer for the likerous Romane,
Th' Athenians goate, Quaile, Iolaus cheere,
The Hen for Esculape, and the Parthian Deere,
Grapes for Arcesilas, figs for Platoes mouth.
And Chesnuts faire for Amarillis tooth.
Had'st thou such cheer? wer't thou euer ther before?
Neuer: I thought so: nor come there no more.
Come there no more, for so ment all that cost:
Neuer hence take me for thy second host.
For whom he meanes to make an often guest,
One dish shall serue, and welcomes make the rest.





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