To Mr. Thomas Woodward

Pregnant again with th’ old twins, Hope and Fear,
Oft have I asked for thee, both how and where
Thou wert; and what my hopes of letters were;

As in our streets sly beggars narrowly
Watch motions of the giver’s hand or eye,
And evermore conceive some hope thereby.

And now thy alms is given, thy letter’s read,
The body risen again, the which was dead,
And thy poor starveling bountifully fed.

After this banquet my soul doth say grace,
And praise thee for ’t, and zealously embrace
Thy love, though I think thy love in this case
To be as gluttons, which say ’midst their meat,
They love that best of which they most do eat.