brest She was full wearie of her watch and greeued with her child She rocked it and rated it till that on her it smilde Then did she say now haue I found this prouerb true to proue The falling out of faithfull freends reliuing is of loue Then tooke I paper penne and ynke this prouerb for to write In regester for to remaine of such a worthy wight As she proceeded thus in song vnto her little bratt Much matter vttered she of waight in place whereas she satt And proued plaine there was no beast nor creature bearing life Could well be knowne to liue in loue without discord and strife Then kissed she her little babe and sware by God aboue The falling out of faithfull freendes renuing is of loue She sayd that neither king ne prince ne lord could liue aright Vntill their puissance they did proue their manhood and their might When manhood shall be matched so that feare can take no place Then weary workes make warriours eche other to embrace And leaued their force that failed them which did consume the rout That might before haue liued their time and nature out Then did she sing as one that thought no man could her reproue The falling out of faithfull freendes renuing is of loue She sayd she saw no fishe ne foule nor beast within her haunt That mett a straunger in their kind but could giue it a taunt Since fleshe might not endure but rest must wrath succeede And force the fight to fall to play in pasture where they feede So noble nature can well ende the worke she hath begone And bridle well that will not cease her tragedy in some Thus in song she oft reherst as dyd her well behoue The falling out of faithfull freendes is the renuing of loue I meruaile much pardy quoth she for to behold the route To see man woman boy beast to tosse the world about Some kneele sōe crouch sōe beck some chek some cā smothly smile And some embrace others in arme and there thinke many a wile Some stand aloufe at cap and knee some humble and some stoute Yet are they neuer freendes in deede vntill they once fall out Thus ended she her song and sayd before she did remoue The falling out of faithfull freendes is the renuing of loue FJNJS M. Edwards 51. Thinke to dye THe life is long which lothsomely doth last The dolefull dayes draw slowly to their date The present pangues and painfull plagues forepast Yeeldes griefe aye greene to stablish this estate So that I feele in this great storme and strife That death is sweete that shortneth such a life And by the stroke of this strange ouerthrowe All which conflict in thraldome I was thrust The Lord be praised I am well taught to know From whence man came and eke whereto he must And by the way vpon how feeble force His terme doth stand till death doth end his course The pleasant yeeres that seemes so sweetely ronne The merry dayes to ende so fast that fleete The ioyfull wightes of which dayes drawes so sone The happy howres which moe do misse then meete Do all consume as snowe against the Sunne And death makes end of all that life begunne Since death shall dure till all the world be wast What meaneth man to dreade death then so sore As man might make that life should alway last Without regard the Lord hath ledde before The daunce of death which all must runne on rowe The hower wherein onely himselfe doth knowe If man would minde what burdens life doth bring What greeuous crimes to God he doth commit What plagues what perill thereby spring With no sure hower in all his dayes to sit He would sure thinke as with great cause I doe The day of death is happier of the two Death is the doore whereby we draw to ioy Life is the lake that drowneth all in payne Death is so dole it seaseth all away Life is so leude that all it yeeldes is vayne And as by life in bondage man is brought Euen so by death is freedome likewise wrought Wherefore with Paule let all men wish and pray To be dissolued of this foule fleshly masse Or at the least be armd against the day That they be found good souldiers prest to passe From life to death from death to life againe And such a life as euer shall remaine FINIS D. S. 51. If thou desire to liue in quiet rest geue eare and see but say the best If thou delight in quietnes of life Desire to shunne from brales debate and strife To liue in loue with god with freend and foe In rest shalt sleepe when others cannot so Giue eare to all yet doo not all beleeue And see the end and then do sentence geeue But say for truth of happy liues assinde The best hath he that quiet is in minde FJNJS M. Hunnis 52. Being forsaken of his freend he complaineth VVHy should I linger long to liue In this disease of fantasie Since fortune doth not cease to giue Thinges to my minde most contrarie And at my ioyes doth lowre and frowne Till she hath turned them vpsidowne A freend I had to me most deere And of long time faithfull and iust There was no one my hart so neere Nor one in whom I had more trust Whom now of late without cause why Fortune hath made my enemy The grasse me thinkes should grow in skie The starres vnto the earth cleaue fast The water streame should passe awrie The windes should leaue their strength of blast The Sunne and Moone by one assent Should both forsake the firmament The fishe in ayre should slye with finne The foules in floud should bring forth fry All thinges methinkes should erst beginne To take their course vnnaturally Afore my freend should alter so Without a cause to be my foe But such is Fortunes hate I say Such is his will on me to wreake Such spite he hath at me alway And ceasseth not my hart to breake With such despite of crueltie Wherefore then longer liue should I. FINIS E. S. 54. Prudens The history of Damacles Dionise VVHo so is set in princely throne and craueth rule to beare Is still beset on euery side with perill and with feare High trees by stormy windes are shakt and rent vp from the ground And flashly flackes of lightning flames on turrets do rebound When little shrubs in safetie lurke in couert all alowe And freshly florish in their kind what euer wind doe blowe The cruel king of Scisili who fearing Barbars hands Was wont to sludge his beard himself with cole and fire brands Hath taught vs this the proofe whereof full plainly we may see Was neuer thing more liuely touched to shewe it so to bee This king did seeme to Damacles to be the happiest wight Because he thought none like to him in power or in might Who did alone so farre excell the rest in his degree As doth the Sunne in brightnes cleare the darkest starre
searche what thing is best that might your fancie please Auctour I sent thee forth to see but not so long to bide Though fancie went with thee thou wert my fancies guide Thy message beyng done thou mightst returne againe So Cupid Venus sonne no whit my hart should paine Eye Where fancie beareth swaye there Cupid will be bolde And reason flies away from Cupids shafte of golde If you finde cause thereby some deale of painefull smarte Alas blame not your eye but blame consent of harte Auctour My hart must I excuse and lay the fault on thee Because thy sight did chuse when hart from thought was free Thy sight thus brought consent consent hath bred my grief And grief bids be content with sorrow for relief FJNJS M. Hunnis 61. Finding no ioy he desireth death THe Connie in his caue the Feret doth annoy And fleing thence his life to saue himselfe he doth destroy His Berrie round about beset with Hunters snares So that when he to scape starts out is caught therein vnwares Like choise poore man haue I to bide and rest in Loue Or els from thence to flie as badde a death to proue I see in Loue to rest vnkindnesse doth pursure To rent the hart out of his breast which is a Louer true And if from Loue I start as one that Loue forsakes Then pensiue thoughts my hart doth pearce and so my life it takes Then thus to flie or bide hard is the choise to chuse Since death hath campd trenched eche side saith life now refuse Content I am therefore my life therein to spende And death I take a salue for sore my wearie dayes to ende And thus I you require that faithfull Loue professe When carcas cased is in cheste and body layed on hearse Your brinishe teares to saue such as my corse shall moue And therewith write vpon my graue beholde the force of Loue. FJNJS M. Hunnis Hope well and haue well JN hope the Shipman hoiseth saile in hope of passage good In hope of health the sicke man doth suffer losse of blood In hope the prisoner linckt in chaines hopes libertie to finde Thus hope breds health health breds ease to euery troubled minde In hope desire gets victorie in hope great comfort springs In hope the Louer liues in ioyes he feares no dreadfull stings In hope we liue and may abyde such stormes as are assignde Thus hope breds health health breds case to euery troubled minde In hope we easily suffer harme in hope of future time In hope of fruit the paine seemes sweete that to the tree doth clime In hope of Loue such glory growes as now by proofe I finde That hope breds health heath breds ease to euery troubled minde FJNJS M. Hunnis He requesteth some freendly comfort affirming his constancie THe mountaines hie whose loftie topps doth meete the hautie sky The craggie rocke that to the sea free passage doth deny The aged Oke that doth resist the force of blustring blast The pleasant hearbe that euery where a fragrant smell doth cast The Lions force whose courage stout declares a princelike might The Eagle that for worthinesse is borne of kings in fight The Serpent eke whose poisoned iawes doth belche out venime vile The lothsome Tode that shunneth light and liueth in exile These these I say and thousands more by trackt of time decay And like to time doe quite consume and vade from time to clay But my true hart and seruice vowed shall last time out of minde And still remaines as thine by dome as Cupid hath assignde My faith loe here I vowe to thee my troth thou knowest right well My goods my freends my life is thine what neede I more to tell I am not mine but thine I vowe thy hestes I will obey And serue thee as a seruaunt ought in pleasing if I may And sithe I haue no flying wings to see thee as I wishe Ne sinnes to cut the siluer streames as doth the gliding fishe Wherefore leaue now forgetfulnesse and send againe to me And straine thy azured vaines to write then I may greeting see And thus farewell more deare to me then chiefest friend I haue Whose Loue in hart I minde to shrine till death his fee doe craue FJNJS M. Edwards He complaineth his mishap SHall rigour raigne where ruth hath run shal fansie now forsake Shall fortune lose that fauour won shall not your anger slake Shall hatefull hart be had in you that friendly did pretende Shall slipper thought and faith vntrue that hart of yours defende Shall nature shewe your beautie faire that gentle seemes to bee Shall frowardnesse your fancies heire be of more force then shee Shall now disdaine the dragg of death direct and leade the way Shall all the imps vpon the earth reioyce at my decay Shall this the seruice of my youth haue such reward at last Shall I receiue rigour of ruthe and be from fauour tast Shall I therefore berent my heares with wights that wishe to dye Or shall I bathe my selfe with teares to feede your fickle eye No no I shall in paine lye still with turtle Doue most true And vowe my selfe to witt and will their counsels to ensue Good Ladies all that Louers be and that to be pretende Giue place to witt let reason seeme your enemie to defende Least that you thinke as I haue thought your selfe to striue in vaine And so to be in thraldome brought with me to suffer paine FINIS M. Hunnis No foe to a flatterer J Would it were not as I thinke I would it were not so I am not blinde although I winke I feele what winds doe blowe I know where craft with smiling cheere creps into boldned brest I heare how fained speache speakes faire where hatred is possest I see the Serpent lie and lurcke vnder the greene alowe I see him watch a time to worke his poyson to bestowe In freendly lookes such fraude is found as faith for feare is fled And freendship hath receiude such wound as he is almost ded And hatefull hart with malice great so boiles in cankred minde That flatterie flearing in the face had almost made me blinde But now I see all is not golde that glittereth in the eye Nor yet such freendes as they professe as now by proofe I trye Though secret spight by craft hath made a coate of Panter skin And thinkes to finde me in the shade by sleight to wrap me in Yet God be praised my eye is cleare and can beholde the Sunne When falshood dare not once appeare to ende that he begunne Thus time shall trie the thing amisse which God saue shortly sende And turne the hart that fained is to be a faithfull frende FINIS M. Hunnis His comparison of Loue. THe Spider with great skill doth trauell day by day His lymmes no time lie still to set his house in staie And when he hath it wrought thinking therein to raigne A blaste of winde vnthought doth driue it downe
MAY is gone of all the yeere the pleasant time is past MAY makes the cheerful hue MAY breedes brings new blood MAY marcheth throughout euery lim MAY makes the mery mood MAY pricketh tender harts their warbling notes to tune Ful strange it is yet some we see doe make their MAY in June Thus thinges are strangly wrought whiles ioyful MAY doth last Take MAY in time when MAY is gone the pleasant time is past All ye that liue on earth and haue your MAY at will Reioyce in MAY as I doe now vse your MAY with skill Vse MAY while that you may for MAY hath but his time When all the fruite is gone it is to late the tree to clime Your liking and your lust is freshe whyles MAY dooth last When MAY is gone of all the yeere the pleasant time is past FJNJS M. Edwardes 7. Faire wordes make fooles faine JN youthfull yeeres when first my young desyres began To pricke me forth to serue in Court a sclender tal young man My fathers blessing then I aske vpon my knee Who blessing me with trembling hand these words gan say to me My sonne God guide thy way and shield thee from mischaunce And make thy iust desartes in Court thy poore estate to aduaunce Yet when thou art become one of the Courtly trayne Thinke on this prouerbe old qd he that faire words make foles fain This counsell grauely giuen most straunge appeares to me Till tract of time with open eyes had made me plainely see What subtill sleightes are wrought by painted tales deuise When hollow harts with freendly shewes the simple do entise To thinke all golde that shynes to feede their fond desire Whose sheuering cold is warmd with smoke in steede of flaming fyre Sith talke of tickle trust doth breede a hope most vayne This prouerbe true by profe I find that faire words make fooles fain Faire speeche alway doth well where deedes insue fayre wordes Faire speech again alway doth euill that bushes giue for byrdes Who hopes to haue faire words to trie his luckie lot If I may councell let him strike it while the yron is hot But them that feede on cloddes in steede of pleasaunt grapes And after warning often giuen for better luck still gapes Full loth I am yet must I tell them in wordes playne This prouerbe olde proues true in them that faire words make fooles fayne Wo worth the time that wordes so slowly turne to deedes Wo worth the time that faire sweet flowers are grown to rotten weedes But thrise wo worth the time that truth away is fled Wherein I see how simple harts with wordes are vaynely fed Trust not faire wordes therefore where no deedes doe insue Trust words as skilfull Falkeners do trust Hawkes that neuer flewe Trust deedes let words be words which neuer wrought me gayne Let my experience make you wyse and let words make fooles fayne FJNJS M. Edwardes 8 Jn his extreame sicknesse WHat greeues my bones and makes my body fainte What prickes my flesh and teares my head in twayne Why doe I wake when rest should me attaint When others laugh why do I liue in payne I tosse I turne I chaunge from side to side And stretch me oft in sorrowes linkes betyde I tosse as one betost in waues of care I turne to flye the woes of lothsome lyfe I change to spie if death this corpes might spare I stretch to heauen to rid me of this strife Thus doe I stretch and chaunge and tosse and turne Whyle I in hope of heauen my lyfe do burne Then hold thee still let be thy heauinesse Abolish care forget thy pining woe For by this meanes soone shalt thou finde redresse When oft betost hence thou to heauen must goe Then tosse and turne and tumble franke and free O happy thryse when thou in heauen shalt be FINIS L. Vaux 9. For Christmas day Reioyce reioyce with heart and voyce Jn Christes birth this day reioyce FRom Virgins wombe this day did spring The precious seede that onely saued man This day let man reioyce and sweetely sing Since on this day saluation first began This day did Christ mans soule from death remdite With glorious sainctes to dwell in heauen aboue This day to man came pledge of perfect peace This day to man came loue and vnitie This day mans griefe began for to surcease This day did man receiue a remedie For each offence and euery deadly sinne With guiltie hart that erst he wandred in In Christes flocke let loue be surely plaste From Christes flocke let concord hate expel Of Christes flocke let loue be so embraste As we in Christ and Christ in vs may dwell Christ is the authour of all vnitie From whence proceedeth all felicitie O sing vnto this glittering glorious king O praise his name let euery liuing thing Let hart and voyce like Belles of siluer ring The comfort that this day did bring Let Lute let Shalme with sound of sweete delight The ioy of Christes birth this day resight FINIS F. Kindlemarsh 10 For Easter day ALl mortal men this day reioyce in Christ that you redeemed hath By death with deth sing we with voice to him that hath appesd gods wrath Due vnto man for sinfull path wherein before he went astray Giue thankes to him with perfect faith that for man kinde hath made this glorious day This day he rose frō tombe again wherin his precious corse was laid Whom cruelly the Iewes had slaine with bloody wounds ful il araid O man be now no more dismayd if thou henceforth from sin do stay Of death thou needest not be afraide Christ conquered death for this his glorious day His death preuailed had no whit as Paule the Apostle wel doth write Except he had vprisen yet from death to life by Godlike might With most triumphant glittering light This day his glory shined I say and made vs bright as sunne this glorious day O man arise with Christ therfore since he from sin hath made the fre Beware thou fall in sinne no more but rise as Christ did rise for thee So maist thou him in glory see when he at day of doome shall say Come thou my child and dwell with me God graunt vs all to see that glorious day FINIS quoth Jasper Haywood 11. For Whitsunday COme holy ghost eternall God and ease the wofull greefe That through the heapes of heauy sin can no where find releefe Doe thou O God redresse The great distresse Of sinfull heauinesse Come comfort the afflicted thoughtes of my consumed hart O ryd the pearcing pricking paines of my tormenting smart O holy ghost graunt me That I by thee From sinne may purged be Thou art my God to thee alone I will commend my cause Nor glittering gold nor precious stone shall make me leaue thy laws O teach me then the way Whereby I may Make thee my onely stay My lippes my tongue my hart and al shall spread thy mighty name My voyce shall neuer cease
to sound the prayses of the same Yea euery liuing thing Shall sweetely sing To thee O heauenly king FINIS F. K. 12. No pleasure without some payne SWeete were the ioyes that both might like and last Straunge were the state exempt from all distresse Happy the life that no mishap should tast Blessed the chaunce might neuer change successe Were such a life to leade or state to proue Who would not wish that such a life were loue But O the sowrie sauce of sweete vnsure When pleasures flye and flit with wast of wind The trustlesse traines that hoping harts allure When sweete delightes doe but allure the mind When care consumes and wastes the wretched wight Whyle fancy feedes and drawes of her delight What life were loue if loue were free from payne But O that paine with pleasure match should meete Why did the course of nature so ordayne That surged sowre must sauce the bitter sweete Which sowre from sweete might any meanes remoue What hap what heauen what life were like to loue FJNJS W. R. 13. Who mindes to bring his Shippe to happie shore Must care to know the lawes of wisedomes lore MY friend if thou wilt credite me in ought To whom the truth by tryall well appeares Nought worth is wit til it be dearely bought There is no wisedome but in hoary heares Yet if I may of wisedome oft deâ—â—ne As well as others haue of happinesse Then to my words my freend thy eare encline The thinges that make thee wise are these I gesse Feare God and know thy selfe in each degree Be friend to all familiar but to fewe To light of credite see thou neuer be For tryall ought in trust dooth treason shewe To others faultes cast not too much thy eye Accuse no man of guilt amend thy owne Of medling much doth mischiefe ought arise And oft debate by tickle tongue is sowne What thing thou wilt haue hyd to none declare In word or deede beware of had I wist So spend thy good that some thou euer spare For friendes like Haukes doo soare from emptie fist Cut out thy coate according to thy cloth Suspected persons see thou alwayes flee Beleeue not him that once hath broke his troth Nor yet of gift without desert be free Time quickly slips beware how thou it spend Of wanton youth repents a paynfull age Begin nothing without an eye to th end Nor bow thine eare from counsell of the sage If thou too farre let out thy fancie slip And witlesse will from reasons rule outstart Thy folly shall at length be made thy whip And sore the stripes of shame shall cause the smart To doe to much for old men is but lost Of friendship had to women comes like gayne Bestow not thou on Children to much cost For what thou doest for these is all in vayne The old man or he can requite he dies Vnconstant is the womans wauering minde Full soone the boy thy friendship will despise And him for loue thou shalt vngratefull finde The aged man is like the barraine ground The woman like the reede that wagges with winde There may no trust in tender yeares he found And of the three the boy is most vnkinde If thou haue found a faithfull friend in deede Beware thou lose not loue of such a one He shall sometime stand thee in better steede Then treasure great of gold or precious stone FJNJS Jasper Haywood 14. Of the vnconstant stay of Fortunes giftes JF Fortune be thy stay thy state is very tickle She beares a double face disguised false and fickle This day she seemes to smile to morow will she frowne What now she sets aloft anone she throweth downe Fly Fortunes slye deceytes let Vertue be thy guide If that you doo intend in happy state to abide Vpon the setled rocke thy building surest standes Away it quickly weares that resteth on the sandes Dame Vertue is the rocke that yeeldes assured stay Dame Fortune is the sand that skoureth soone away Choose that is certaine let thing vncertaine passe Preferre the precious gold before the brittle glasse Sly Fortune hath her slightes she playes vpon the packe Looke whoÌ„ she fauours most at length she turnes to wrack But Vertue simply deales she shuns deceitfull trayne Who is by Vertue raysed vp shall neuer fall agayne Sticke fast to Vertue then that giues assured trust And flye from Fortunes frekes that euer proue vniust FJNJS F. K. 15. Promise is debt JN my accompt the promise that is vowed Among the good is holden such a debt As he is thought no whit to be allowed That setteth light his promise to forget And for my part I will not linke in loue With fickle folke whose fancies ought remoue My happy gaine I do esteeme for such As fewe haue found in these our doubtfull dayes To finde a freend I thinke it be as much As to win a fort full fraught of noble prayse Of all the goods that there may be possest A faithfull freend I iudge to be the best O freendly league although to late begun Yet time shall trie our troth as well imployed And that we both shall see that we haue won Such fastned faith as can not be destroyed By enuious rage or slaunders bitter blowe That alwayes seekes the good to ouerthrowe FJNJS R. Hill 16. No wordes but deedes THE wrong is great the payne aboue my power That yeeldes such care in doubtfull dens to drowne Such hap is hard where Fortune doth so lower As freendly looke is turnd to froward frowne Is this the trust that faithfull freendes can finde With those that yet haue promise broke By deedes in doubt as though no wordes can binde A vowed freend to hold him to his yoke O faithlesse freend what can assure your mind That doubtes so soone before you haue cause why To what hard hap doth Fortune here me bind When words nor deedes can no where satisfye What can I write that hath not oft bine saide What haue I sayd that hath not bine affyrmed What not approued that ought to be assayed Or what is vowed that shall not be perfourmed Cast of mistrust in hast no credite giue To this or that that breedeth freendes vnrest No doubt at all but trust me if I liue My deedes shall proue that all is for the best And this beleeue the Sea shall cease to flowe The Sunne to shine within the fetled skye All thinges on earth shall leaue to spring and growe Yea euery Foule shall want his winges to flye Eare I in thought shall seeme once to retyre If you my freend remaine as I desyre Nowe lose no time but vse that while you may Forget not this a dogge shall haue a day FINIS R. D. 17. He desireth exchange of life THE day delayed of that I most do wishe Wherewith I feede and starue in one degree With wish and want still serued in one dishe Aliue as dead by proofe as you may see To whom of old this prouerbe wel
it serues While grasse dooth grow the selly horse he sterues Tweene these extreames thus doo I rome the race Of my poore life this certainely I know Tweene would and want vnwarely that do passe More swift then shot out of Archers bow As Spider drawes her line all day I watch the net and others haue the pray And as by proofe the greedy dogge doth gnawe The bared bone all onely for the taste So to and fro this lothsome life I draw With fancies forst and fed with vaine repast Narsissus brought vnto the water brinke So aye thirst I the more that I do drinke Loe thus I dye and yet I seeme not sicke With smart vnseene my selfe my selfe I weare With prone desire and power that is not quicke With hope aloft now drenched in dispayre Trained in trust for no reward assignd The more I hast the more I come behind With hurt to heale in frozen yse to frie With losse to laugh this is a wonderous case Fast fetred here is forst away to flie As hunted Hare that Hound hath in the chase With winges and spurres for all the hast I make As like to lose as for to draw the stake The dayes be long that hang vpon desert The life is irke of ioyes that be delayed The time is short for to requite the smart That dooth proceede of promise long vnpayed That to the last of this my fainting breath I wish exchange of life for happy death FJNJS L. Vaux 18. Of the instabilitie of youth WHEN I looke backe and in my selfe behold The wandring wayes that youth could not descry And markt the fearful course that youth did hold And mette in mind eache steppe youth strayed a wry My knees I bowe and from my hart I call O Lord forget these faultes and folies all For now I see how voyde youth is of skill I see also his prime time and his end I doe confesse my faultes and all my ill And sorow sore for that I did offend And with a mind repentant of all crimes Pardon I aske for youth ten thousand times The humble hart hath daunted the proud mind Eke wysedome hath giuen ignorance a fall And wit hath taught that folly could not find And age hath youth her subiect and her thrall Therfore I pray O Lord of life and truth Pardon the faultes committed in my youth Thou that diddest graunt the wise king his request Thou that in the Whale thy prophet didst preserue Thou that forgauest the wounding of thy brest Thou that didst saue the theefe in state to sterue Thou onely God the giuer of all grace Wipe out of mind the path of youthes vaine race Thou that by power to life didst raise the dead Thou that restorest the blind to sight Thou that for loue thy life and loue out bled Thou that of fauour madest the lame goe right Thou that canst heale and helpe in all assayes Forgiue the gilth that grewe in youthes vaine wayes And now since I with faith and doubtlesse mind Doo flye to thee by prayer to appease thy yre And since that thee I onely seeke to finde And hope by faith to attaine my iust desire Lord mind no more youthes error and vnskill And able age to doo thy holy will FJNJS L. Vaux 19. Most happy is that state alone Where words and deedes agree in one BY paynted words the silly simple man To trustlesse trap is trayned now and than And by conceyt of sweete alluring tale He bites the baits that breedes his bitter bale To beawties blaze cast not thy rouing eye In pleasant greeue doo stinging serpents lye The golden Pill hath but a bitter tast In glittering glasse a poyson ranckest plaste So pleasant wordes without performing deedes May well be deemed to spring of Darnel seedes The freendly deede is it that quickly tryes Where trustie faith and freendly meaning lyes That state therefore most happy seemes to be Where wordes and deedes most faithfully agree My freend if thou wilt keepe thy honest name Fly from the blot of barking slaunders blame Let not in word thy promise be more large Then thou in deede art willing to discharge Abhorred is that false dissembling broode That seemes to beare two faces in one hoode To say a thing and not to meane the same Wyll turne at length to losse of thy good name Wherefore my freend let double dealing goe In stead whereof let perfect playnenesse flowe Doo thou no more in idle wordes exceede Then thou intendes to doe in very deede So good report shall spread thy worthy prayse For being iust in word and deede alwayes You worldly wightes that worldly dooers are Before you let your word slip out to farre Consider well what inconuenience springes By breache of promise made in lawfull thinges First God mislikes where such deceit doth swarme Next it redoundeth vnto thy neighbours harme And last of all which is not least of all For such offence thy conscience suffer shall As barren groundes bringes forth but rotten weedes From barren words so fruitlesse chaffe proceedes As sauery flowres doo spring in fertil ground So trustie freendes by triall soone are found To shunne therefore the woorst that may ensue Let deedes alway approue thy sayings true FJNJS F. K. 20. Who will aspire to dignitie By learning must aduaunced be THe poore that liue in needy rate by learning doo great riches gaine The rich that liue in welthy state by learning do their welth maintaine Thus rich and poore are furthered still By sacred rules of learned skill All fond conceites of franticke youth the golden gift of learning stayes Of doubtfull things to search the truth learning sets forth the reddy wayes O happy him doo I repute Whose brest it fraught with learning fruite There growes no corne wtin the field the Oxe Plough did neuer tyll Right so the mind no fruite can yeeld that is not lead by learnings skill Of ignoraunce comes rotten weedes Of learning springes right noble deedes Like as the Captaine hath respect to traine his souldiours in aray So learning doth mās mind direct by Vertues staffe his life to stay Though Freendes and Fortune waxeth skant Yet learned men shall neuer want You Impes therfore in youth be sure to fraught your mindes with learned thinges For learning is the fountaine pure out frō the which al glory springes Who so therefore will glory win With learning first must needes begin FINIS F. K. 21. Mans flittyng life findes surest stay Where sacred Vertue bearteh sway THE sturdy Rocke for all his strength by raging Seas is rent in twaine The Marble stone is pearst at length with little drops of drisling raine The Oxe dooth yeeld vnto the yoke The Steele obeyeth the hammer stroke The stately Stagge that seemes so stout by yalping hoūds at bay is set The swiftest bird that flees aboue is caught at length in Fowlers net The greatest Fish in deepest Brooke Is soone deceiued with subtill hooke Yea man him selfe vnto whose will
all thinges are bounden to obey For all his witte and worthy skill doth fade at length and fal away There is nothing but time doth wast The Heauens the Earth consume at last But Vertue sittes triumphing still vpon the Trone of glorious Fame Though spitefull death mans body kill yet hurts he not his vertuous name By life or death what so betides The state of Vertue neuer slides FINIS M. T. 22. Nothing is comparable vnto a faithfull freend SIth this our time of Freendship is so skant Sith Freendship now in euery place doth want Sith euery man of Freendship is so hollowe As no man rightly knowes which way to followe Sease not my Muse sease not in these our dayes To ring loude peales of sacred Freendships prayse If men be now their owne peculier freendes And to their neighbours freendship none pertendes If men of Freendship shewe them selues so bare And of their brethren take no Freendly care Forbeare not then my muse nor feare not then To ring dispraise of these vnfreendly men Did man of Freendship know the mighty power How great effectes it worketh euery houre What store of hidden freendship it retaynes How still it powreth forth aboundant gaines Man would with thee my muse in these our dayes Ring out loude peales of sacred Freendships prayse Freendship releeueth mans necessitie Freendship comforteth mans aduersitie Freendship augmenteth mans prosperitie Freendship preferres man to felicitie Then ring my muse ring out in these our dayes Ring out loude peales of sacred freendships prayse Of Freendship growes loue and charitie By Freendship men are linked in amitie From Freendship springeth all commoditie The fruite of Freendship is fidelitie Oh ring my muse ring out in these our dayes Peale vpon peale of sacred Freendships praise That man with man true freendship may embrace That man to man may shew a freendly face That euery man may sowe such freendly seedes As freendship may be found in freendly deedes And ioyne with thee my Muse in these our dayes To ring loud peales of sacred Freendships prayse FJNJS F. K. 23. Remember thy ende TO be as wise as Cato was or rich as Cresus in his life To haue the strēgth of Hercules which did subdue by force or strife What helpeth it when Death doth call The happy ende exceedeth all The rich may wel the poore releeue the Rulers may redresse ech wrong The learned may good coūsel giue but marke the end of this my song Who doth these thinges happy they call Their happy ende exceedeth all The happiest end in these our dayes that al do seeke both small great Is either for Fame or else for praise or who may sit in highest seate But of these thinges hap what hap shall The happy ende exceedeth all A good beginning ought we see but seeldome standing at one stay For few do like the meane degree their praise at parting some men say The thinges wherto each wight is thrall The happy ende exceedeth all The meane estate that happy life which liueth vnder gouernance Who seekes no hate nor breedes no strife but takes in worth his happy chance If contentation him befall His happy ende exceedeth all The longer life that we desire the more offence doth dayly grow The greater paine it doth require except the Iudge some mercy shew Wherfore I thinke and euer shall The happy ende exceedeth all FJNJS D. S. 24. He perswadeth his freend from the fond Affectes of loue WHy art thou bound maist go fre shal reason yeld to raging will Is thraldom like to liberty wilt thou exchange thy good for ill Then shalt thou learne a childish play and of ech part to tash proue The lookers on shal iudge and say loe this is he that liues by loue Thy wits with thoughts shal stand at stay thy head shal haue but heauy rest Thy eies shal watch for wātō praies thy tōgue shal shew thy harts request Thy eares shal here a M. noise thy hād shal put thy pē to pain And in the end thou shalt dispraise thy life so spent for such smal gaine If loue list might euer cope or youth might run in reasons race Or if strōg sute might win sure hope I wold lesse blame a louers case For loue is hot with great desire sweete delight makes youth so fond That little sparks wil proue great fire bring free hartes to endlesse bond First coūt the care then the cost marke what fraude in faith is foūd Thē after come make thy bost shew some cause why thou art boūd For when the wine doth run ful low you shal be faine to drinke the lies And eate the flesh ful well I know that hath ben blowne with many flies We see where great deuotion is the people kneele kisse the crosse And though we find smal fault of this yet sōe wil gilld a bridles bosse A foole his bable will not change not for the septer of a king A louers life is nothing strange for youth delights none other thing FINIS Tho. Churchyard 25. Wanting his desire he complayneth THe sailing ships with ioy at length do touch their long desired port The hewing axe the Oke doth wast the battring Canō breaks the fort Hard hagard haukes stope to the lure wild colts in time the bridle tames There is nothing so out of vre but to his kind long time it frames Yet this I find in time no time can winne my sute Though oft the tree I climbe I can not catch the fruite And yet the pleasant branches oft in yeelding wise to me do bow Whē I would touch they spring aloft soone are they gone I wot not how Thus I present the sleeting floode like Tantalus in hel below Would God my case she vnderstoode which can full soone releeue my woe Which if to her were knowen the fruite were surely mine She would not let me grone and brouse vpon the rine But if my ship with tackle torne with rented sailes must needs retire And streame wind hath plainly sworn by force to hinder my desire Like one that strikes vpon the rocks my weary wracke I shoulde bewayle And learne to know false fortunes mookes who smiles on me to small auaile Yet sith she onely can my rented ship restore To helpe her wracked man but once I seeke no more FJNJS M. Edwards 26. Trye before you truste JN freendes are found a heape of doubts that double dealing vse A swarme of such I could find out whose craft I can accuse A face for loue a hart for hate these faigned freendes can beare A tongue for troth a head for wyles to hurt each simple eare In humble port is poyson pact that plainenesse can not spie Which credites all and can not see where stinging serpents lye Through hastie trust the harmelesse heart is easely hampred in And made beleeue it is good gold when it is lead and tin The first deceit that bleares myne eyes is faigned faith
stands at like stay Obscurely to consume away And last when humane force was none could part our loue wherin we liued My ladies life alas is gon most cruel death hath it bereued Whose vertues her to God hath wonne And left me here a man vndone FINIS F. G. 31. A worthy ditie song before the Queenes Maiestie at Bristowe MIstrust not troth that truely meanes for euery ielous freke Instead of wrōg cōdemne not right no hiddē wrath to wreke Looke on the light of fault lesse life how bright her vertues shine And measure out her steppes each one by leuel and by line Deeme eche desert by vpright gesse wherby your praise shall liue If malice would be match with might let hate no iudgement giue Enforce no feare with wresting wittes in quiet conscience brest Lend not your eares to busie tongues which breedeth much vnrest In doubtfull drifts wade not to farre it weries but the mind Seeke not to search the secret harts whose thoughts are hard to find Auoide from you those hateful heads that helpes to heape mishap Be slow to heare the flatterers voice that creepeth in your lap Embrace their loue that wills you good and sport not at their praise Trust not too much vnto your selfe for feeble are your stayes How can your seate be setled faste or stand on stedfast ground So propped vp with hollow harts whose surety is vnsound Giue faith to those that feare for loue and not that loue for feare Regard not them that force compels to please you euery where All this well waid and borne away shall stablish long your state Continually with perfect peace in spite of puffing hate FINIS D. S. 32. An Epitaph vpon the death of Sir Edward Saunders Knight Lord chiefe Baron of the Exchequer YOu Muses weare your mourning weeds strike on the fatal Drome Sound Triton out the trumpe of fame in spite of Parcas dome Distill Parnassus pleasant drops possesse Pierides place Apollo helpe with dolefull tune to waile this wofull case Wring hard your hands waile on your losse lament the fate that fell With sobs and sighes to Saunders say oh Saunders now farewell Whom Phaebus fed with Pallas pappe as one of Sibils seede Loe here where death did rest his corps the vermine foule to feede Whom Impes of Joue with Necter sweete long in Libethres noursht Behold how dreadful death him brought to that whence he came first Lycurgus he for learned lawes Rhadamanthus race that ranne An other Nestor for aduise Zalucus fame that wanne A Damon deare vnto his freend in faith like Phocion found A Cato that could counsell giue to prince a subiect found Not Athens for their Solon sage not Rome for Numa waile As we for Saunders death haue cause in fods of teares to saile Nor Sparta card for Chilos death ne proud Prienua prest To weepe for Bias as we wayle for Saunders late possest His learned pathes his talentes rare so now by death appeares As he that Salomon sought to serue in prime and youthfull yeeres His counsel sad his rules his lawes in country soyle so wrought As though in Cuma he had ben of sage Sibilla taught His vertuous life was such I say as Vertue did embrace By Vertue taught in Vertues schoole to grow in vertues race Might tender babes might orphāts weak might widows rere that cry The sound thereof should pearce the cloudes to skale the empire sky To bid the gods to battel bend and to dissend in sight Though farre vnfit and mates vnmeete with mortal men to fight Too late alas we wish his life to soone deceiued vs Death Too little wit we haue to seeke the dead agayne to breath What helplesse is must carelesse be as Natures course doth shewe For death shal reape what life hath sowen by nature this we know Where is that fierce Achilles sled where is king Turnus shroude What is become of Priamus state where is Periander proude Hector Hanno Hanibal dead Pompei Pirrhus spild Scipio Cirus Caesar slaine and Alexander kild So long there Fortune fast did floe and charged Fame to sound Till frowning Fortune foyld by face which fawning fortune found Shun Fortunes feates shake fortune of to none is fortune sound Sith none may say of Fortune so I Fortune faithfull found Beholde where Fortune flowed so fast and fauoured Saunders lure Tiliffckle Fortune false again did Saunders death procure Lo clothed could in cloddes of clay in drossy dust remaine By fate returnd frō whence he came to his mothers wombe againe Who welnigh thirtie yeeres was Iudge before a Iudge dyd fall And iudged by that mighty Iudge which Iudge shall iudge vs all The heauens may of right reioyce and earth may it bewayle Sith heauen wan and earth hath lost the guide and arke of vaile There gaine is much our losse is great their mirth our mone is such That they may laugh as cause doo yeeld we may weepe as much O happy he vnhappy we his hap doth aye encrease Happy he and haplesse we his hap shall neuer cease We liue to die he dyed to liue we want and he possest We bide in bands he bathes in blisse the Gods aboue him blest Being borne to liue he liued to dye and dyed to God so plaine That birth that life that death doo shew that he shall liue againe His youth to age his age to death his death to fame applied His fame to time his time to God thus Saunders liued and dyed O happy life O happier death O tenne times happy he Whose hap it was such hap to haue a Iudge this age to be Oh ioyfull time oh blessed soyle where Pallas rules with witte O noble state O sacred seate where Saba sage dooth sitte Like Susan sound like Sara sad with Hesters mace in hand With Judiths sword Bellona like to rule this noble land I had my will you haue your wish I laugh reioyce you may I wan now much you gaine no lesse to see this happy day Wherein I dyed wherein you liue Oh treble happy cost Wherein I ioyed in glory great wherein you triumph most Knele on your knes knock hard your brests soūd forth the ioyful drome Clap loude your handes sound Eccho say the golden world is come Reioyce you Iudges may of right your mirth may now be such As neuer earst you Iudges had in England mirth so much Here Cuma is here Sibill raignes on Delphos seate to sitte Here shee like Phaebus rules that can Gordius knot vnknitte I liued to nature long ynough I liued to honour much I liued at wish I died at will to see my country such As neither needes it Numas lawes nor yet Apollos sweard For Mauger Mars yet Mars shal be of this our Queene afeard O peerlesse pearle O Diamōd deer O Queene of Queenes farwell Your royall maiestie God preserue in England long to dwell Farwell the Phaenix of the world farwel my soueraigne Queene Farwel most noble vertuous prince Mineruas mate I weene No Iuel
mournyng colours bee The more I followe on the more she fled awaye As Daphne did full long agoe Apollos wishfull praye The more my plaintes resounde the lesse she pities me The more I sought the lesse I founde that mine she meant to be Melpomene alas with dolefull tunes helpe than And sing Bis woe worthe on me forsaken man Then Daphnes Baies shall that man weare that triumphes ouer me For blacke Taunie will I weare which mourning colours be Drowne me you trickling teares you wailefull wights of woe Come help these hāds to rent my heares my rufull hap to showe On whom the scorching flames of Loue doth feede you see Ah a lalalantida my deare Dame hath thus tormented mee Wherefore you Muses nine with dolefull tunes helpe than And sing Bis woe worthe on me forsaken man Then Daphnes Baies shall that man weare that triumphs ouer me For Blacke and Taunie wil I weare which mourning colours be An Ancres life to leade with nailes to scratche my graue Where yearthly wormes on me shall feede is all the ioyes I craue And hide my selfe from shame sith that mine eyes doe see Ah a lalalantida my deare dame hath thus tormented mee And all that present bee with dolefull tunes helpe than And sing Bis woe worthe on me forsaken man FJNJS E. O. Finding no reliefe he complaineth thus JN quest of my reliefe I finde distresse In recompence of Loue most deepe disdaine My laugour such as wordes may not expresse A shower of teares my watrishe eye doth raine I dreame of this and doe define of woe I wander in the thoughtes of my sweete foe I would no peace the cause of warre I flie I hope I feare I burne I chill in Froste I lye a lowe yet mountes my minde on hie Thus doubtfull stormes my troubled thoughtes haue toste And for my paine this pleasure doe I proue I hate my selfe and pine in others Loue. The worlde I graspe yet holde I nought at all At libertie I seeme in prison pent I taste the sweete more sower then bitter gall My shippe seemes sounde and yet her ribbs be rent And out alas on Fortune false I crie Looke what I craue that still shee doth denie Both life and death be equall vnto me I doe desire to die yet craue I life My wittes with sundry thoughtes doe disagree My felfe am with my selfe at mortall strife As warmth of Sunne doth melte the siluer Snowe The heate of Loue beholde consumes me so FJNJS R. Hill Written vpon the death of his especiall good friend Maister Iohn Barnabie who departed this life at Bensted in the countie of Southampton 25. Ianuary 1579. Aetatis 78. MIne owne good father thou art gone thine eares are stopt with clay Thy gost is fled thy body dead thou hearste not what I say Thy dearest friends may sigh sobb thy children cry and call Thy wife may waile and not preuaile nor doe thee good at all Though reason would we should reioyce trickling teares restraine Yet kindlynes and friendlynes enforce vs to complaine Thy life was good our losse the more thy presence cherd our hart Thy lacke and absence turnd therefore our solace into smart I found thee both a kindly friend and friendly father too Barnabie lacks breath O cruel death couldst thou part vs two But death derides my wofull words to my saying saith Thou foolish wight I did but right I force nor friend nor faith The Lord of life Lord of death my threatning hand did let Els when that he in cradell lay I might haue claimd my debt His corps is clad in cloddes of earth his soule doth soore on hie Before the throne of God aboue whose seruaunt he did die And thou his friend she his spouse and they his children shall Behold the father friend and mate whose absence greeues you all But he nor can nor will returne to thee to her or them For heauen is his he liues in blisse ye dwell with mortall men Ye dwell in darke dreadfull denne in prison pent are yee He liues in light and all delight from thraldome franke and free Wishe not that he should come to you for then you doe him wrong But wishe that ye may goe to him the blessed saintes among FJNJS H. D. Coelum non solum JF care or skill could conquere vayne desyre Or reasons raignes my strong affection stay Then should my sighes to quiet brest retyre And shunne such signes as secret thoughts bewray Vncomely Loue which now lurkes in my breast Should cease my griefe through wisdomes power opprest But who can leaue to looke on Venus face Or yeeldeth not to Iunos high estate What witte so wise as giues not Pallace place These vertues rare eche Gods did yeelde a mate Saue her alone who yet on earth doth raigne Whose bewties string no God can well destraine What worldly wight can hope for heauenly hyre When onely sighes must make his secret mone A silent sute doth seeld to grace aspyre My haplesse happ doth roule the restlesse stone Yet Phebe fayre disdaynde the heauens aboue To ioy on earth her poore Edimions loue Rare is reward where none can iustly craue For chaunce is choyse where reason makes no clayme Yet luck sometimes dispayring soules doth saue A happy Starre made Giges ioy attayne A slauishe Smith of rude and raskall race Found meanes in tyme to gayne a Goddes grace Then loftye loue thy sacred sayles aduaunce My sithing seas shall flow with streames of teares Amidst disdayne driue forth my dolefull chaunce A valyaunt mynde no deadly daunger feares Who loues aloft and sets his heart on hye Deserues no payne though he do pine and dye FJNIS E. O. A Louer reiected complaineth THe trickling teares that falles along my cheekes The secret sighes that showes my inward greefe The present paynes perforce that loue aye seekes Bids me renew my cares without releefe In wofull song in dole display my pensyue heart for to bewray Bewray thy greefe thy wofull hart with speede Resigne thy voyce to her that causde thy woe With yrkesome cries bewayle thy late done deede For she thou louest is sure thy mortall foe And helpe for thee there is none sure But still in payne thou must indure The stricken Deare hath helpe to heale his wounde The haggerd Hauke with toyle is made full tame The strongest tower the Canon layes on grounde The wisest witte that euer had the fame Was thrall to loue by Cupids sleightes Then waie my case with equall weights She is my ioy she is my care and wo She is my payne she is my ease therefore She is my death she is my life also She is my salue she is my wounded sore In fine she hath the hand and knyfe That may both saue and end my lyfe And shall I liue on earth to be her thrall And shall I sue and serue her all in vayne And kisse the steppes that she lets fall And shall I pray the Gods to
So must I flie of loue the vayne pursute Whereof the gaine is lesser then the fruite And I also must lothe those learing lookes Where loue doth lurke still with his subtle sleight With painted mocks and inward hidden hookes To trappe by trust that lieth not in wayte The end whereof assay it who so shall As sugred smart and inward bitter gall And I must flie such Cirian songs Wherewith thac Circes Vlisses did enchaunt These wilie Wattes I meane with filed tongues That hartes of steele haue power to daunt Who so as Hauke that stoopeth to their call For most desarte receiueth least of all But woe to me that firste behelde these eyes The trappe wherein I say that I was tane An outward salue which inward me destroyes Whereto I runne as Rat vnto her bane As to the fishe sometime it doth befall That with the bayte doth swallow hooke and all Within my brest wherewith I dayly fedde The vayne repast of amourous hote desyre With loytering lust so long that hath me fed Till he hath brought me to the flaming fyre In tyme as Phenix endes her care and carkes I make the fire and burne my selfe with sparkes FJNIS L. Vaux Bethincking himselfe of his end writeth thus WHen I behold the baier my last and posting Horse That bare shall to the graue my vile and carren corse Then say I seely wretche why doest thou put thy trust In things eithe made of clay that soone will turne to dust Doest thou not see the yong the hardy and the fayre That now are past and gone as though they neuer were Doest thou not see thy selfe draw howerly to thy last As shaftes which that is shotte at byrdes that flieth fast Doest thou not see how death through smyteth with his launce Some by warre some by plague and some by worldly chaunce What thing is there on earth for pleasure that was made But goeth more swift away then doth the Sommer shade Loe heare the Sommer flower that sprong this other day But Wynter weareth as fast and bloweth cleane away Euen so shalt thou consume feom youth to lothsome age For death he doth not spare the prince more then the page Thy house shal be of clay a clotte vnder thy head Vntill the latter day the graue shall be thy bed Vntill the blowing tromp doth say to all and some Rise vp out of your graue for now the Iudge is come FJNJS L. Vaux Being in loue he complayneth ENforst by loue and feare to please and not offende Within the wordes you would me write a message I must sende A wofull errand sure a wretched man must write A wretched tale a wofull head besemeth to indite For what can he but wayle that hath but all he would And yet that all is nought at all but lack of all he should But lack of all his minde what can be greater grefe That haue and lack that likes him best must needes be most mischief Now foole what makes thee wayle yet some might say full well That haste no harme but of thy self as thou thy self canst tell To whome I aunswere thus since all my harmes doe grow Vpon my self so of my selfe some happe may come I trow And since I see hoth hap and harme betides to me For present woe my after blisse will make me not forget thee Who hath a field of Golde and may not come therein Must liue in hope till he haue force his treasure well to winne Whose ioyes by hope of dread to conquere or to lose So great a wealth doth rise and for example doth disclose To winne the golden Fleese stoode Iason not in dread Till that Medeas hope of health did giue him hope to speede Yet sure his mynde was much and yet his feare the more That hath no happe but by your helpe may happe for to restore The raging Bulles he dread yet by his Ladies charme He knew it might be brought to passe they could doe little harm Vnto whose grace yeeld he as I doe offer me Into your handes to haue his happe not like him for to be But as King Priamus did yeeld him to the will Of Cressed false which him forsooke with Diomede to spill So I to you comend my fayth and eake my ioy I hope you will not be so false as Cressed was to Troy For if I be vntrue her Lazares death I wish And eake in thee if thou be false her clapper and her dish FINIS R. L. Being in trouble he writeth thus IN terrours trappe with thralldome thrust Their thornie thoughtes to taste and trie In conscience cleare from cause vniust With carping teares did call and crie And sayd O God yet thou art he That canne and will deliuer me Bis. Thus trembling there with teares I trod To totter tide in truthes defence With sighes and sobbes I sayd O God Let right not haue this recompence Least that my foes might laugh to se That thou wouldest not deliuer me Bis. My soule then to repentaunce ranne My ragged clothes all rent and torne And did bewayle the losse it wanne With lothsome life so long forlorne And sayd O God yet thou art he That can and will deliuer me Bis. Then comfort came with clothes of ioy Whose seames were faithfull steadfastnesse And did bedecke the naked boy That earst was full of wretchednesse And sayd be glad for God is hee That shortly will deliuer thee Biss FJNJS W. H. Being troubled in minde he writeth as followeth THe bitter sweate that straines my yeelded harte The carelesse count that doth the same imbrace The doubtfull hope to reape my due desarte The pensiue path that guides my restlesse race Are at such warre within my wounded brest As doeth bereaue my ioy and eake my rest My greedy will that seekes the golden gayne My luckelesse lotte doth alway take in wroth My mated minde that dreades my sutes in vayne My pittious playnt doth helpe to set it forth So that betweene two waues of raging Seas I driue my dayes in troubles and disease My wofull eyes doe take their cheefe delight To feede their fill vpon the pleasaunt maze My hidden harmes that grow in me by sight With pining paines doe driue me from the gaze And to my hope I reape no other hyre But burne my self and I doe blow the fire FINJS I. Haywood Looke or you leape IF thou in surety safe wile sit If thou delight at rest to dwell Spende no more wordes then shall seeme fitte Let tongue in silence talke expell In all thinges that thou seest men bent See all say nought hold thee content In worldly workes degrees are three Makers doers and lookers on The lookers on haue libertie Both the others to iudge vpon Wherefore in all as men are bent See all say naught hold thee content The makers oft are in fault found The doers doubt of praise or shame The lookers on finde surest ground They haue the fruite yet free from blame This doth perswade in all