When choler overflows, then dreams are bred 150
  Of flames, and all the family of red;
  Red dragons, and red beasts, in sleep we view,
  For humours are distinguish’d by their hue. 
  From hence we dream of wars and warlike things,
  And wasps and hornets with their double wings. 
  Choler adust congeals our blood with fear,
  Then black bulls toss us, and black devils tear. 
  In sanguine airy dreams, aloft we bound;
  With rheums oppress’d, we sink in rivers drown’d. 
  More I could say, but thus conclude my theme, 160
  The dominating humour makes the dream. 
  Cato was in his time accounted wise,
  And he condemns them all for empty lies. 
  Take my advice, and when we fly to ground,
  With laxatives preserve your body sound,
  And purge the peccant humours that abound. 
  I should be loath to lay you on a bier;
  And though there lives no pothecary near,
  I dare for once prescribe for your disease,
  And save long bills, and a damn’d doctor’s fees. 170
  Two sovereign herbs, which I by practice know,
  And both at hand (for in our yard they grow),
  On peril of my soul shall rid you wholly
  Of yellow choler, and of melancholy: 
  You must both purge, and vomit; but obey,
  And for the love of heaven make no delay. 
  Since hot and dry in your complexion join,
  Beware the sun when in a vernal sign;
  For when he mounts exalted in the Ram,
  If then he finds your body in a flame, 180
  Replete with choler, I dare lay a groat,
  A tertian ague is at least your lot. 
  Perhaps a fever (which the gods forefend!)
  May bring your youth to some untimely end: 
  And therefore, sir, as you desire to live,
  A day or two before your laxative,
  Take just three worms, nor under nor above,
  Because the gods unequal numbers love,
  These digestives prepare you for your purge;
  Of fumetory, centaury, and spurge, 190
  And of ground ivy add a leaf or two,—­
  All which within our yard or garden grow. 
  Eat these, and be, my lord, of better cheer;
  Your father’s son was never born to fear.

    Madam, quoth he, gramercy for your care,
  But Cato, whom you quoted, you may spare: 
  ’Tis true, a wise and worthy man he seems,
  And (as you say) gave no belief to dreams: 
  But other men of more authority,
  And, by the immortal powers! as wise as he, 200
  Maintain, with sounder sense, that dreams forebode;
  For Homer plainly says they come from God. 
  Nor Cato said it:  but some modern fool
  Imposed in Cato’s name on boys at school. 
  Believe me, madam, morning dreams foreshow
  The events of things, and future weal or woe: 
  Some truths are not by reason to be tried,
  But we have sure experience for our guide. 
  An ancient author, equal with the best,
  Relates this tale of dreams among the rest. 210