abused Lord graunt we may conuert and that with speede For well we know we neuer had more neede Let vs not linger and driue from day to day We haue beene warned sufficiently we know The Lord is angry and not without good cause And though he do but signes vnto vs shew Well let vs thinke if we do thus exceede In sinne so ryfe we shall it feele in deede Amend your liues for the kingdome of God is at hand Mat. 3. None good but God Verses written vnto his friend W. C. of not and nor NOt boyst crouse winds of Aeolus force caÌ„stir the hardy reckâ—s Nor wooden wedges can preuaile to cleane the knotty block Not absence he to frendly heartes can any breach procure Nor spiteful spite can do much hurte where frieÌ„dship doth assure Not frowning lookes of frowarde Mars that can my peâ— restraine Nor doubtfull speach can me reuoke in verse to shew my vaine Not want of good will ready prest shall be one let or cause Nor yet the feare of any man shall make me for to pause Not Time to tarry to deuise some pleasant thing to write Nor yet to proue for to be sine my verse for to indite Not that I thinke my friend he will for rashnesse laugh at me Nor that I stand in doubt if that this thing he take in grâ—â— Not that I am a Poet braue for to declare my minde Nor that I haue a curiouse head some pleasant thing to finde Not that my friend is scrupulousse but friendly be will take Nor that he is of Momus sect to mocks that I do make Not that I know my friend will now accept my ragged verse Nor I thinke he will reiect that which I do rehearse Not that the Time doth let me now some farder wordes to vse Nor that I meane in any thing my friend for to abuse In steade of giftes to thanke thee for Yake Yates his gifte of not and nor Verses written vpon the captiouse coniecture of one who not offended THe state of worldly wightes is straunge And mutall mindes do passe my skill The good haue bad for their exchaunge By cogitations wrong to will The iniury hath small repay Where maiestie doth beare the sway The supreame rule supporteth much Me thinkes it saith why I am hee Men know my nature to be such As scant my like is knowne to be For where I may I croppe I loppe I make them stoupe and bowe their toppe But Iustice sittes with sword in hand And Equity with ballance right The cause and truth to vnderstand To deale by equall Doome vpright For sure the Gods they will not see That worngfull iudgement geuen be Then preace in place thou guyltlesse minde Whose modest moode deserues no blame God will all misbeliues vnbinde And try thy truth with worthie fame And like as Laurell kepes the hue So truth the falshood shall subbue Conceyne no cause of ponstue thought In Nature good each small is greate The wise themselues haue wisely taught More then my pen can here repeat Wherefore I cease I stay to tell Hoping in end all shall be well Verses written vpon a Question I Being once occasioned Comparisons to vse A friend of mine a question put to aunswere or refuse The which was this VVhat thing vvas that vvhich longest doth remaine In happie blisse but at the last it tasteth of some paine Where with I grewe astonied an aunswere streight to make For why quoth I deliberation in this I had neede take Yet as my simple head a simple reason can render I hope you will accept it well though it be small and slender Then Sir I thus confesse as reason would I should To tell my minde I am content to speake the best I could The happiest thing quoth I is Gods eternall grace For that is that which doth remaine and stayes in happie case For els I knowe no thing that happie can be counted No worldly wealth no Towre high that to the skye is mounted No faith of any friend for why it shall decay We see it is like fortunes wheele which turneth euery way In faith my friend quoth he you haue me full resolued It seemes you trust not much the world from it you are dissolued The fragrant florishing feates and gallant glosing glee Is like a blast or puffe of wind which blowes the leafe from tree Esteeme it as it is and weigh and ponder thus That mindes of men change euery houre as fancie doth discusse But ah the changlesse state that euer shall endure Is Gods eternall blisse on hye of this we may be sure Verses written vpon Desire to vnload the minde THe Bird that buildes her nest doth order due obserue And therein takes her rest her younglings to preserue As nature doth ordaine each thing by course of kind So she doth them maintane till seekers do them find Like so where worldly woes doe dayly still increase And lucklesse chaunces shewe that sorrowes will not cease Till happy hap doth hit and course doth turnâ— and change And good lucke come to those to whome she hath bin strange Where want doth weaue the web there skâ—nt doth pleasure growe Wherâ— good 〈◊〉 doth 〈◊〉 there ill successe doth slowe Where Patience perforce in spight must vsed be Vnhappy is that course such haplesse hap to sec. As pleasantnesse doth vade and dieth like the flowre So ioyfulnesse consumes within one silly houre Or what doth boote it nowe in myrth for to abound When as we bend and bow to sorrowes sollemne sound The head opprest with dumpes the heart doth heauie make And wayward chances come our ioyes away to take And as the Impe that 's greene is tender for the knife So mirth is seldome seene whereas such cares be rife Verses vvhich signifie the ease Hovv medling least doth not displease THe busie heads whose harebraine wits With causelesse cause will haue to deale Doe often shewe but foolish fittes For nothing they can close conceale All you that meane to liue at ease To meddle least doth not displease The Royster and the quarreling foole That standes vpon his garde of strength May meete with one that shall him coole And ouercome his pride at length All you that meane to liue at ease To meddle least doth not displease The pratler he cannot abstaine No yet keepe in his tongue from prate O blame him not for t is his vaine He takes a glory in that rate All you that meane to liue at case To meddle least doth not displease T is vaine to put our hand in fire Or in a fray to take a parte When as no cause doth so require Perchance he comes vnto his smart All you that meane to liue at ease To meddle least doth not displease The prouerbe often thus doth shew Which warneth vs in this respect Heere much but little seeke to know That any tumult may erect All you that meane to liue at ease To meddle least doth not displease By busie pates strife
wight whom Fortune so doth please But for to tell for truth now which be they My wit is small and cunning it is lesse I cease to speake my sense serues not to say For if per chaunce I should not name aright They would me deeme some mome or doltish wight But this to say the wight that most doth spend His Time in ioy hath some time care among The world is such the best for to offend To reaue their rest that would be free from wrong So some do spend the Wicked World in feares Which for one ioy doth bring a M. cares Verses in declaration of a friend written at the request of P. W. MY Muse did moue me my pen in hand to take In skilleâ—â—e wise vnsteady to endyte But sith it is here written for your sake Accept it well and construe it aright For of a friende I do intende to treate What is a friende right well I can repeate For to declare by iust probation true What is a friend and what a friend should be A friend standes firme in causes olde or new He flitteth not as fickle friendes we see He keepes his oth he fost ers eke no guyle He laugheth not with face of craftie wile A friend is fraught with faith and fastened stay A friend kepes close that is to him disclosed A friend heares not that may his friend betraye But he declares vnto his friend Deposed A friend in woe which fayleth not at need A friend so found I call a friend in deede A friend doth mourne and languish in his heart A friend lamentes when as his friend doth fall A friend doth muse to helpe his friende in smart A friend doth marke and to his minde doth call How to Disnull the dolours of Disdaine Which he perceaues do put his friend to paine Loe this my friende if that thou finde by Tryall That firme and fast is kept a vow once made Thou canst not then procure a wronge Denyall But that he is a friend of friendly trade If such you finde keepe him and be not straunge For fickle friends for euery folly chaunge I hope this shall suffise to satisfy This your request I write it not for gaine But glad if that herein I do discry Such wordes as do lay open verie plaine The friendly factes of those whose friendly lore Doth winne them praise and so of this no morâ— Verses vpon Hope declared by Motion and Answere Motion My hope is helpe which lendes my minde reliefe Though care be cause Some times to force my griefe Aunswere As griefe doth gripe and moues the heart to moans So hope is help'd by priuie thoughts alone Motion By thought alone is that soone help'd indeede Ten thousand thoughtes shall then my fancy feede Aunswere Well if thou thinke with fastened minde and stay Thy thought will helpe in thinking what there may Motion With time comes thinges vnlike at first to proue So hope of Time when dolours doe thee moue Aunswere Such counsells good I take in friendly part And yeeld you thankes with willing minde and hart Verses written at the Departure of his friende W. â— When hee went to Dwell at London THe absence of a friend is griefe vnto the hart The presence of him worketh ioy and putteth backe the smart So will my onely Will the absence now of thee Doth make me waile in woful wise to thinke that it should bee But when thy friendly Corpes shall present be to view Then shal I ioy as now I mourne that absence makes me rue But well I must content my dolefull minde with this We subiect are to fortunes lore as certaine true it is Yet this I doe persuade that absence hath no force A faithfull friend to make vnkinde that were without remorce I doe not thinke that Will will so his friend forget But will remaine in former will and be not ouer set By any light conceipte which doth procure vnrest To bring disdaine whereas delight should build within the brest No no I am disposed to speake this by the way But Trust me Will beleeue me now I doubt not as I say For I am firmely fixt thy friendship will not faile Although that absence might procure the same for to preuaile Well for a vauntlesse vow accept this at my hand As I haue beene so will I be good Will so vnderstand Verses sent vnto Master P. W. to Cambridge IF gratulations Sir from secret faithfull heart May at your handes accepted be and taken in good part Or if a barren verse wherein doth rest no skill May yeeld vnto you such delight as Motions mou'd by Will Then Sir as Time outweares the length of euery life Which bringeth some in happy blisse and some in dole and strife So Time oft takes in hand a matter of erection And though at first it seeme vnlike in fine it hath perfection When this considered is me thinkes it hath a grace Which oft delightes the dolefull minde and yeeldes it some solace And though Sir I presume to take in hand the penne I knowe full well to whom I writes and what conceaue I then I straight persuade my selfe as Triall hath me tolde That there doth rest in Courteous brest receypts tenne thousand fold Which waied who would not then inforce his doltish braine To wryte his verse to such a one who neuer will disdaine The basenesse of the same though found it doe of paine Whose Oaten pipes doe ioy such mates as handle Flayle and Sawe Your friendes are all in health your foes God graunt them foyle And figge for those that wish you ill let grumbling snudge goe moyle A letter I you sent wherein I did discharge To write effect of your request and fathers speech at large Concerning Master B. who nowe in Cambridge Towne By fauours letter there receiued God graunt he so sit downe As when he ryseth vp all wildenesse by exilde Which is the grounde of gracelesse greene where mischiefe seemes to buylde Thus Sir I rest your owne with true and faithfull hart Crauing of God that you may liue a life deuoyde of smart Other verses written vnto him vvhen hee was at Ipsvvich With a Caueat vvhich was in Printe sente at the same Time IF will doe with not want can holde me backe Although I finde my cunning is but small Or if I should Discourse what I doe lacke As I haue cause if well to minde I call Then might I cease and be content to stay The skillesse verses which I ofte displaye I faine would frame some cunning in my â—â—ile And Poet like to notefie my minde I haue desire such matter to compile As may content although in Trueth I finde I want Dame learning which is the chiefest thinge Praiâ—e to procure and credit for to bringe But what meane I to be obedient Unto obliuion so vyle a thinge Why do I cease so longe for to present That to withold which I of right should bring Belike it is because the chaunged state Hath
chaung'd my Muse and put in feare of rate Some other matter Differing from the first Auoyding sadnesse workes a sudden feare A sudden chaunge from that which was the worst Doth suddenly discharge the minde of care And on the sudden seemeth such delight As moueth mirth more then I can resite But Sir if I should breake my inwarde hearte In secrete sort as I do it inuest I must haue Time for that I would imparte But I do hope that this among the rest Shall simply serue as Toaken which I sende My Truth and troth to you for to commend With vowes to vaunte the loyall loue I beare To you and all that is Sir of your name It were but vaine for I Dare iustly sweare You do I hopâ— so conâ—â—rue of the same My duetie donne to you and all the rest I you commend to him which is the best Prouyder for all men who alwayes prosper your proceedings A caueat conuenient for younkers to see How fickle Dame Fancie doth chaung her degree DRaw neere you Impes of youthfull race respect my wordes a while Beware in Time turne from that place where Fancie most doth smile Let not the shew of smyling lookes encourage â—â—ee to lust Least thou be tooke with poysoned hookes where most thou put'st thy Trust. Dost thou not see it is not race to vse deceiptfull wayes For if thou rightly wilt compare and marke well the delayes Then shalt thou finde such craftie vaine such soothing voyd of truth As puts each honest heart to paine and turnes their mirth to ruth The modest mind which markes the lore and state of this our time Doth inwardly in hearte deplore to construe of each crune Committed thorow follie fond The mother of Debate Which makes no acompt to keepe the bond of Truth or trustie state Yet marke how foolish wanton Will by Fancie brought a sleepe Will seeme to playe the noddey still in daunger more to creepe When as by proofe sufficient it plainely doth appeare How Lewdenesle leanes to theire intent and it some will not heare Though in their eares it sounded be eke each day in their sight They blynded are they can not see and why then shall I write For sooth because they senslesse seeme being lulled so in lust And yet they Prudently esteeme the factes of some vniust And in theire heart do sacrifice profoundly and deuout As though in deede that might suffise to bring their fetch about Alas a lack I mourne I waile I sigh I sob to see That foolish fancie should preuaile to winne the chiefe degree In mortall mindes which are but clay and flesh the wormes to feede And like a shadow doth decay most true it is in deede Then ere thy breath be spent and past reuoke thy childish toyes And giue thou ouer yet at last that most was once thy ioyes For why fond Will thou canst not haue that solely to thy selfe When others may in time it craue as gayned with their pelse Thou art of yeares to knew this well The Hauke whose gorge is full Takes more delight to shake her bell then on the lure to pull Euen so conceyue this in thy thought for why thou maiest it see The newest things are soonest bought and are still woâ—â— to be Then thus consider in thy minde Where thou thy fancie frames Giue leaue let Nature showe hee kinde but publish out no names For Nature she can not digresse I speake not this to faine But euen the truth for to expresse to those who to that vaine Doe seeme so much for to apply their studie in their hearte God graunte in fine such do not trie a close vnhidden smart And thus adue I leaue this verse to scanned be of some Which often times do wordes rehearse when as they might be name Verses vvritten vpon this vvord vvho doth refaine to faine declared vnto him priuatly by his friende vvhome he ansvvereth thus WHo can refraine where flatterie beareth sway Who doth not Sir Dissemble for sooth yâ— vpright mind Who hath the harmles heart not verteouse meÌ„ I say Who mindeth most mistrust the lewd and truthles kind Who fauours friendlesse fraud the fickl flearring friend Who most rebuketh vice those that wish godly ende A lothsome life it were if idlenesse were maintained A brutish kinde of trade to fauour a flithie fact A mischieuous meaning man for most part is disdayned An innocent to slay were but a cowardes acte A pratler much to be declares but simple sense A drunkardes draught to drinke you grauÌ„t to be offence Well Sir as for offence offenders we are all Aswell the riche as poore the wise as is the foole God graunt we may haue grace for mercy stil to call And with repentant hearts to set a godly dole In place where we may see and willing to amend As we by nature ready are Gods goodnesse to offend Verses vvritten vpon a dreame which was dreamed on Sundaie night the x. of April and written vnto Mistresse F. W. WHen darkesome night approched was and Phoebus ceast to shine Then went I to my easing bed to rest this corps of mine Wherein laide downe before I slept according to my vse I craued pardon for my faultes abounding in abuse Thus when I had bequeath'd my selfe vnto high loue to keepe My heauy eyes inforced me streight waies to fall asleepe Then Morpheus he was courteous bent to merry make my minde And vnto me this Sundayes night a pleasant parte assignde For so beholde one of my friendes my thought thus tolde to me That modest mistresse F. W. should most welthie married be Unto a proper Gentleman whose Parentes are of fame And he himselfe by due deserte doth merrite euen the same Whose vertuous life from infancie hath wonne him such renowme As Trust me friend I want the skill in order to set downe Well friende quoth I a thousand thankes for this thy happy tale This may preuent the peruers pangues of bitter boyling bale With that I wak'd from slothfull sleepe and to my selfe did say I craue of God with all my heart that Iames may see that day And as this dreame of my delight did friendlesse feare reiect So I doe wish if you so please that it may take effect And thus I end my duety done your selfe I doe commend Unto the heauenly Lord of hostes who alwayes you defend Verses vpon feare and Fury FEare is a foe as fury is a friend And selfe coÌ„ceipt is worker of much harme Disdainefull doubts doe bring a man to end And careful cold doth neuer keepe maÌ„ warme Mistrustfull mindes haue euery houre care As much as they can well vprightly beare The quiet minde is neuer trobled much But tries to take each thing in sober sorte When frowaâ—d fancy fretteth and doth grutch To see her selfe contemned in her sporte Well vaine it is heere much for to reueale In close coÌ„ceipt I will the rest conceale Till Time doth serue according to my minde And opportunitie to open my intent
I see yet seeme as though that I were blind I ioy likewise when as I might lament I frame my selfe to vse such play and sporte As others doe which to the place resorte Sighing is signe of sadnesse As myrth is shevve of gladnesse Verses vpon this Theame Silence breaketh many Friendeshippes Written vnto his friende G. P. IF Silence friendship breake then silent for to be Is euen the way to loose a friend as seemeth vnto me For when I call'd to minde how longe my pen did rest From writing to him which deserues as well as doth the best Then saide I to my selfe I am too silent I That to my friend of all this time nothing I doe discrie I doe consider thus he is of courteous kind Hee will haue no ill conceipt I hope within his minde for I must needes confesse I haue not idle Time So much as I had heeretofore to write each thing in rune I am inforced nowe to bend both wit and will For to discharge that is my charge and rest in fauour still The which God graunt I may for that is my Desire The onely sore I seeke to salue the right I doe require The more of it I muse the more I haue good cause To try which way and what to doe to ponder and to pause To print in priuate brest and secrets to conceale For why it is a folly vaine each actâ—on to reueale But whether doe I wend I run beyond my reach What doe I meane to write so much as though that I should teach O no I not so minde but this is my intent Some verses to my very friend my thinkes I must present And thus I you commend vnto the Lord of all Who readie is to heare and helpe those that on him doe call Verses written in a solitary suppose of a doubtfull Dumpe I Sadly sitting in a Dumpe deuysing what to write My Muse could not aforde me that which should yeelde me delight Because she saw I was dispos'd in solitarie sorte With matter voyd of pleasant glee to make a plaine reporte Of priuate passions which procure the inward wo and paine The secret causes of contempt the dolour and disdaine The lingring hope that faintly feâ—des the mindes of many wightes That passe their time in place where grow but few delightes And yet we see it happens so that in the mid'st of smart They finde some causes of conceipte which doe reioyce their heart And trust me true that is the way to mittigate the ill Which other wise might be the cause of wounding of their will To be disposed from delight is meane to moue or mone To constiue of each crosse conceipte is guyder vnto grene Wherefore to vse indifferently the causes of ill lucke Is meane to moue no inwarde hate vpon our thought to sucke We see by due examples shewed the chaunges of our time We see ther 's none so warely liues that alwayes voydeth cryme We see who most doth frame him selfe to sober sorte of life Is forced though against his will to try and tast of strife The most of all that we do finde as hinderers of good happe Are crooked causes which do come our state for to intrappe The daintie dayes of due delight whereon some trust repose Incertaine are nothing so sure as life and them to lose The featured face which florisheth in beawtie blasing braue Shall wrimpled be when hoary Age commaundes it vnto graue The golden hayre which glittereth and showes so by in hewe Shall lodged be in cloddes of clay and kept from worldly view The listening eares which do delight in tales reporting pleasures Shall become deafe and brought to ground when death doth find his leasure The truthlesse tongue which doth agree to flatter and to faine Shall feede the wormes as it hath fed a number with disdaine The pleasant nose which takes repast to smell each pleasant sent Shall lose the profit of the same and vnto death relent The fingers that can finely frame to strike the ioyfull Lute Shall cease from pleasure of the same when Death doth Life confute The feete which wonted were to goe and vnto mirth resorte Must be content to rest at home and leaue off former sporte The wanton wight which takes delight to cut it with his blade By tract of Time growes from that vse whem Age doth him inuade The Preacher he which feedes his flocke with ghostly counsell pure Must yeelde to death and be content his pangues for to endure The wise and worthiest wighte of all that euer liued here Must be content to yeelde to Death as plainely doth appeare Thus to conclude we may be bold each one of natures frame Shall taste of Death when mightie Ioue assigned hath the same Verses sent vnto his friend B. M. IN all thy deedes be circumspect Thy secretes not disclose But vnto such in whom thou dost a faithfull trust repose And if thou hast a faithfull friend be loth him to offend Accounte thou not of flattering friendes thy eares to such not bend Serue God with faithfull fixed faith and frame thy life so iust As that thy carnall motions do not moue thee vnto lust Conceaue and way well thine estate take not too much in hand Frame thy expences as thou mais liue free from others band In doing this with iust regarde thou shalt auoyd much blame And euery one that markes thy vse will praise thee for the same Verses written for one who espyinge his friends fauour and countenance to be altered from the former fashion to satisfie his request he wrote as followeth I See and dayly spy by open viewe too plaine That those which once estem'd of me begin me to disdaine And much I muse thereat but my ill lucke is cause I stand in doubt and dumpish dreed and somtime in a pause I sigh I sobbe I waile I knocke vpon my brest I tosse me here I tosse me there as one that takes no rest I looke like sillie soule with ruthfull running eye And cast my head oft times abacke good countenance to espy But Lord how coy it seemes and squaimish to the showe I neuer thought yâ— courteouse kind such malice once would owe. Oh Fortune fickle Dame in whom remains no trust Whose wauering chaunces are no stay to grouÌ„d vpoÌ„ for iust growes As thou procurest friendes so thou procurest foes As thou makes â—â—ch so thou makes poore eueÌ„ as thy pleasure As now to day to laugh to morrow for to weepe And those yâ— wake in pleasure sweet at length in dauÌ„ger sléepe Thus vpside down thou roulest yâ— whirâ—â—lig wheele of chauÌ„ce And I accompt them happilesse that most thou dost aduauÌ„ce As for my onely state I blame thee â—h of right For sure none the causer was but thou of this my spite Thou broughst my liking first and I was well esteemed And had a contenaunce voyd of hate â—â—lely I was déem'd To be in presâ—nce more then euer since I was But now a chaunce against
putting leade in Tin And he that writes may place A. H. where as A. G. should serue But Truth to tell A. F. were best for some doe it deserue And vnder fresh and fragrant Rose may lye a lothsome Toad For to infect that flowre braue by hauing there aboad Wherefore I count them happy sure that doe not trust the vse Of Tickle flattering flearing friendes in them doth rest abuse Let these examples put before suffice to shewe the kinde Of Truthlesse troth which readie is in each deceiptfull mind No Foe to a Flatterer When as occasion moueth To answere it behoueth WHen vrgent cause doth moue who can withhold his hand The Worme when she is troden on doth seeme for to withstand The Owle of vgly hue doth thinke her virâ—es are best The miser pincheth at his feast although he bids his ghâ—st The windes that rise in skyes doe threaten surges sore And tatling tales doe moue Debate where none was ment before The valiant Champion Stoute which hath a Victors minde Doth thinke ther 's none so good as he vntill by proofe he find The fop and fauning foole doth like his bable so As for the Tower of great price he will not let it goe The Scholler younge in schoole may proue a learned Clarke The whelpe by Natures kinde we see is giuen for to barke The Scholler though but young hath wrote this verse to those Which pleaseth for to answere him in Meeter or in prose But trueth for to vnfold some loue to prattle much And finde three faultes yet mend not one yea Minstrelles oft be such At euery dog which barkes if one should throw a stone Perchance in end he would haue wisht to let such Curs alone Hard hap causeth sorrowe and breedeth disrest Where griefe is not absent notes solemne are best LIke as the Carren Crowe doth crie against the raine So I which doe foresee my griefe begin for to complaine Or as the snared Hare lyes tumbling in the net So I lye tumbling in my woe which I cannot forget For why no neysome newes doth glad the heart of man But doth reuoke his pleasures all on sorrowes for to skan I see how spitefull Care doth looke out of her bowre And Fortune with her smiling face beginneth for to lowre The mistie cloudes of griefe doe dimme my cleerest sight And haplesse hap doth take the place to worke my deepe despight The sweete and pleasant sentes which I was wont to taste Be cleane dismist and put away my pleasures all do wast The fine and flagrant smels which did me recreate Be noysome sauours vnto me and worke me much Debate Sir Phebus glistering hue seemes nothing in my eyes For why I weepe and spend the day with sorrowing sobbes and cryes No maruaile though I write with pensiue pen in hand No maruaile though I waile in deede when things be rightly skand And marke now which be they that do oppresse me most Deride me not though plaine I tell you heades of finest cost Lo thus I do beginne they are in number three The first of them is losse of friendes the next discurtesie The thirde is not beléeue the spitfullest of all Which griues me more then former two and bitter seemes as gall But well what remedie Plaine patience is the best For why by her we dayly see is got most quyet rest What doth it boote the shippe to saile against the winde She must abide for Time and Tide els tarrie still behinde Or els perchaunce she drinkes for enterprise so bolde And layes her ribbes in foaming seaâ—â— of waters wanne and cold What doth it eft preuaile to striue to reach the skye In my conceipte it were but vaine least some for it do crye What though that smyling wordes hath led me on the bit Some froward speech shall loose the bond if luckie chaunce so hit A Prouerbe long â— go tels Faire wordes makes fooles faine Which Sentence tries it selfe in me the morâ— hath beene my paine I stand to trye my Chaunce as Fortune will aloâ—te To see if that she white thee rede or dimme it with a blot And if she be so kinde to take the blot away Then will I sing some ioyfull songe in praise of that good day But if that it be so the blot do still remaine What remedie but Patience she must medicine bee for paine But if that spite will spitte her spite in furiouse wise Let all the spites do what they will or what they can surmise For by my Troth I am as the condemned wight Which thinkes his life is past release and voyde is of delight So I am voyde of ioy yet laugh I with the best And smile it out in pleasant huâ— as well as do the rest But what of that I know ther 's many a smiling face Beares heauie heart in Carefull Corpes which causeth their disgrace Some laugh outwardly Yet sorow inwardly A Glasse for Amorouse Maydens to looke in friendly framed as a caueat for a light beleeuing Mayden which she may take as a requisite rebuke if she modestly meditate the matter FY Mayden fy that Cupids flames within you so abounde To trust the tatling tales of some whose wordes proue oft vnsounde Should euery knaue intice you so to talke with you at will What be your wittes so simple now and of such litle skill As you can not discerne in minde who leades you on the bit Fy fy for shame now leaue it off it is a thing vnfit I promise you it griues me sure because I am your friend That euery Iacke should talke with you and it is to no end But for to feele and grope your minde and then they laugh in sleeue And say it is a gentle maide how she will men beleeue Thus do the knaues so cogge and foyst and count you as a foole And say your wittes they be so base as you may go to schoole Wherefore loue no such steering Iackes and giue to them no eare And thinke this lesson to be true which I haue written here For well in Time you shall it finde to breede in you vnrest Wherefore to leaue it of at first I thinke it were the best Giue not your mind to be intic'd to heare each tatling tale Where constant heades do not abide what Hope doth there auaile You will not warned be I see vntill you haue a nippe You know â—he horse which drawes in cart is euer nye the whippe But when too late you do repent repentance will not serue Wherefore foresee in time I warne from faâ—lie fond to swerue Take heede I say in time therefore so shall your state be blest And I shall cease to write so much my pen shall take his rest A praise of friendshippe OF all the Iuels vnder heauen firme friendâ—hipe is the best Oh happie man that findes the same yea twâ—se and double blest A trustie friend is harde to finde as Sages old doe tell But flattering friendes attend at hand