1All creatures than the dolphin are more slow
2Below fair Cynthia
– Neptune
this did know. 3When lovely Amphitrite
, whose splendent
fame 4Had kindled in his breast a quenchless flame,
5He was his spokesman
to this dainty doxy
, 6Who wooed and won and married her by proxy
. 7Into her wavy bed he flacked
his tail; 8The contract in no circumstance did fail,
9Yet would he not the royal virgin leave
10Lest some affront his sovereign should receive,
11Like Maximilian
, who did Britain
wed 12With putting one bare leg
into her bed. 13King Charles
too nimble was for this slow ––
; 14Himself did wed and bed this princely
lass. 15The dolphin wiser was than this great king
, 16For he the slippery
virgin home did bring. 17This active fish
with fishermen will join
18In catching mullets
; sops
and spritely
wine 19They have for pay
. No love
to man they lack, 20For musical Arion
on the back 21Of dolphins rode; so did two pretty boys
. 22Some that are rigid
count these virtues toys
. 23This fish is still in motion
till he dies, 24For though he sleeps, yet still he never lies,
25But sinks into the bottom of the main
, 26Then wakes and springs up to the top again
. 27He’s true to’s
king
, his int’rest
, and his end; 28True to ungrateful man
, himself his friend
. 29By all these circumstances you may see
30None but the active man
a friend can be. 31Those that have reason
and yet idle by 32Do, just like hogs
, no good until they die. 33Then think on Titus
, who would always say, 34When he had done none good, “I have lost this day
.” 35Remember Draco
, sure that law was good, 36For Mother Idleness
was writ in blood
. 37Should he
reform our villages and towns, 38We should have empty houses and large
grounds. 39That law
would take away (I fear) more lives 40Of country gentlemen and citizens’ wives
41Than of the natives’
blood the Spaniards spilled, 42Or in these times our seeking saints have killed
. 43Then do some good whilst light and life you have;
44The idle man anticipates the grave.