Horace His arte of Poetrie, Epistles, and Satyrs Englished ::

Tybullus frend and gentle iudge
of all that I do clatter
What dost thou all this while abroade,
how might I learne the matter?
Dost thou inuent such worthy workes,
as Cassus poemes passe?
Or doste thou closelie creepinge lurcke,
Amid the wholsome grasse,
Addicted to Philosophie,
contemning not a whitte
Thats seemelie for an honest man,
and for a man of witte?
Not thou a bodie withoute breast,
the Goddes made the t'excell
In shape, the goddes haue lent the goodes,
and arte to vse them well.
What better thinge vnto her childe
can wishe the mother kinde,
Then wisedome, and in fyled frame
to vtter owte his minde,
To haue fayre fauoure, fame enoughe,
and perfect staye, and health,
Things trim at will, and not to feele
the emptie ebb of wealth?
Twixte hope to haue, and care to kepe,
twixte feare and wrathe, awaye
Consumes the time: eche daye that cummes
thinke it the latter daye,
The hower that cummes vnloked for
shall cum more welcum ay.
Thou shalt fynde me fat, and wel fed,
as pubble as may be,
And when thou wilt a merrie mate,
to laughe, and chat with the.

University of Virginia Library

To Albius, Tybullus a deuysor