They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
Ver. 5. They that did feed delicately.] Such uncertainty there is of outward affluence. Our Richard II was famished to death. a Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter, grandchild to John of Gaunt, was seen to run on foot bare legged after the Duke of Burgundy's train, begging his bread for God's sake. This I saw, saith Philip de Comines. This Henry was brother-in-law to King Edward IV, from whom he fled.
They that were brought up in scarlet.] Qui nutriebantur in croceis seu cocceis, that were gorgeously arrayed, or, that rolling on their rich beds, wrapped themselves in costly quilts.
Embrace dunghills.] b There take up their lodgings, and there also are glad to find anything to feed on, though never so coarse and homely. The lapwing is made a hieroglyphic of infelicity, because he hath as a coronet upon the head, and yet feedeth upon the worst of excrements. It is pity that any child of God, washed in Christ's blood, should bedabble his scarlet robe in the stinking guzzle of the world's dunghill; that anyone who hath heretofore soared as an eagle should now creep on the ground as a beetle, or wallow as a swine in the mire of sensuality.
a Speed, lib. iii. cap. 4.
b In fimetis victum quaeritant prae inopia. - Jun.