Life scums the cream of beauty with time’s spoon,
And draws the claret wine of blushes soon.
Then[note]Then] There 1653 [/note] boils it in a skillet clean of youth,
And[note]And] Then 1653 [/note] thicks it well with crumbled bread of truth,
And sets it on[note]And sets it on] Sets it upon 1664, 1668 [/note] the fire of life, which does[note]does] growes 1653 [/note] 5
Burn clearer much when health her bellows[note]Burn clearer much when health her bellows] The clearer, if the Bellowes of Health 1653 [/note] blows.
Then takes the eggs of fair and bashful eyes,
And puts them in a countenance that’s wise,
And cuts a lemon in of[note]And cuts a lemon in of] Cuts in a Lemmon of the 1664, 1668 [/note] sharpest wit;
Discretion, as a knife, is used for it.[note]Discretion, as a knife, is used for it.] By Discretions Knife, as he thinkes fit. 1653 [/note] 10
A handful of chaste thoughts double refined,
Six spoonfuls of a nobl’and[note]nobl’and] Noble, and 1653 [/note] gentle mind,
A grain of mirth, to give’t a little taste,
Then takes it off, for fear the substance waste,
And puts it in a basin of good health,[note]good health,] Rich Wealth, 1653 [/note] 15
And with[note]with] in 1653 [/note] this meat doth Nature please herself.