 | The Poems of James VI. of Scotland |  |
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.
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.
| The Poems of James VI. of Scotland | |