University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The Poems of James VI. of Scotland

Edited by James Craigie

expand sectionI. 
collapse sectionII. 
expand section 
collapse section 
expand section 
collapse section 
 13. 
 14. 
 15. 
 16. 
  
 17. 
 18. 
  
  
 19. 
 20. 
 21. 
 22. 
 23. 
 24. 
collapse section25. 
  
  
 26. 
 27. 
 28. 
 30. 
 31. 
 32. 
 33. 
  
 34. 
 35. 
 36. 
expand section 
expand section 
expand section 

A faschious fight does force my freest minde
Betwixt two valliant champions I persaue
The one trewe courage rightlie is defin'd
The other wisedome temperat and graue
Thy selfe vndanted showe quoth courage braue
Bot wisedome wishes for a while to staye
Quoth courage rather die then liue a slaue
Quoth wisedome true, if so should be for aye
Bot wracke the not vpon thy selfe I praye
Since keeping wp thy selfe bot for a space
On others sine thy courage kithe thou may
Quoth courage, lingring is a great disgrace
Of all these straits the best is out of doubte
That courage wise, and wisedome should be stoute.