The vvorkes of a young wyt trust vp with a Fardell of pretie fancies, profitable to young Poetes, preiudicial to no man, and pleasaunt to euery man to passe away idle tyme withall. Whereunto is ioyned an odde kynde of wooing, with a Banquet of Comfettes, to make an ende withall. Done by N. B. Gentleman |
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[VVhat must I doo? write nothing? no, not so] |
 | The vvorkes of a young wyt |  |
[VVhat must I doo? write nothing? no, not so]
[_]
This discourse ended, and perused, my Lord was somwhat earnest with me, ere I should depart from him, to write in lyke manner some discourse vppon Nihil, and let Aliquid alone: which though it seemed vnto me heard (at the first) yer minding to do my Lord any seruice I could, I tooke in hand, with the helpe of my Muse, to write these verses following.
VVhat
must I doo? write nothing? no, not so,
of nothing, I must somewhat seeke to wryte
Of nothing? Why? What can I write, I trowe
nothing yeeldes nothing, whereon to endite:
But there are choise of nothings now I see,
of which I knowe not, which is giuen to me.
of nothing, I must somewhat seeke to wryte
Of nothing? Why? What can I write, I trowe
nothing yeeldes nothing, whereon to endite:
But there are choise of nothings now I see,
of which I knowe not, which is giuen to me.
But let me see, what these new nothings be,
what matter too, they giue to write vppon:
One nothing is, as I remember me,
a new nothing, which many a day agen,
Children were woont to hang vpon their sleeues:
now let me see what this new nothing giues.
what matter too, they giue to write vppon:
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a new nothing, which many a day agen,
Children were woont to hang vpon their sleeues:
now let me see what this new nothing giues.
Ah, now I find it showes a prety iest,
when children cry, be it or Gyrle or boy:
To still them strayght, and make them be at rest,
new nothing is a pleasant prety toy:
So, new nothing I see, when children cry,
is a fit member in the nursery.
when children cry, be it or Gyrle or boy:
To still them strayght, and make them be at rest,
new nothing is a pleasant prety toy:
So, new nothing I see, when children cry,
is a fit member in the nursery.
No more of new nothings, but now againe,
an old nothing there is, and what is that?
That men doo vse, and some vnto their payne,
doo learne to know the meaning of that what:
Twixt creditours it is as some men say,
a few fayre woordes, where is no coyne to pay.
an old nothing there is, and what is that?
That men doo vse, and some vnto their payne,
doo learne to know the meaning of that what:
Twixt creditours it is as some men say,
a few fayre woordes, where is no coyne to pay.
Besydes these nothings now, a thyrd there is,
which some doo nothing to the purpose call,
That nothing to the purpose now is this,
when wisemen fall in talke, among them all
If some odde foole doo seeme to prate and clatter,
and all his talke tend nothing to the matter.
which some doo nothing to the purpose call,
That nothing to the purpose now is this,
when wisemen fall in talke, among them all
If some odde foole doo seeme to prate and clatter,
and all his talke tend nothing to the matter.
Now a fourth nothing I doo call to mynd,
and that is, nothing in comparison:
The meaning of which nothing, this I find,
an entrance, nothing to that which is done:
A penny to a pound, will seeme so smal,
as in manner seemeth naught at all.
and that is, nothing in comparison:
The meaning of which nothing, this I find,
an entrance, nothing to that which is done:
A penny to a pound, will seeme so smal,
as in manner seemeth naught at all.
Another nothing now, is nothing thought,
as when a man that hath a thing to doo,
Dooth thinke it easie, as a thing of nought,
and yet, when that he sets himselfe thereto,
He findes his nothing such a some, in deede,
as more then he can well dispatch with speede.
as when a man that hath a thing to doo,
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and yet, when that he sets himselfe thereto,
He findes his nothing such a some, in deede,
as more then he can well dispatch with speede.
One nothing more, that nothing is in deede,
where credit, coyne, nor wit, nor wisedome is:
New nothing, old nothing, nothing to stand in steede,
nor nothing in comparison, Iwis.
These nothings now, my selfe, I thinke possesse,
and I beleeue, fewe men that can haue lesse.
where credit, coyne, nor wit, nor wisedome is:
New nothing, old nothing, nothing to stand in steede,
nor nothing in comparison, Iwis.
These nothings now, my selfe, I thinke possesse,
and I beleeue, fewe men that can haue lesse.
Now nothing thought, is this my fond discourse,
of all these nothings clapt together so:
Then which I thinke, there can be nothing worse,
and may therefore for nothing iustly goe.
Yet who the like dooth set himselfe vnto,
shall finde a foolishe peece of woorke to doe.
of all these nothings clapt together so:
Then which I thinke, there can be nothing worse,
and may therefore for nothing iustly goe.
Yet who the like dooth set himselfe vnto,
shall finde a foolishe peece of woorke to doe.
And thus my Lorde, I must confesse in deede,
I showe my nought or no capacitie:
To giue your Lordship such a toye to reede,
as dooth coutanei nothing but vanitie.
Yet since to write of nothing I was wild,
your Lordshippes hest (I hope) I haue fulfild.
I showe my nought or no capacitie:
To giue your Lordship such a toye to reede,
as dooth coutanei nothing but vanitie.
Yet since to write of nothing I was wild,
your Lordshippes hest (I hope) I haue fulfild.
If not so well, as dooth in deede content,
I pardon craue, my will did wishe the best:
If I had knowne, what had your lordship ment
To haue had done, I should haue soone been prest
To beate my braines, according to my skill,
for to haue writ, according to your will.
I pardon craue, my will did wishe the best:
If I had knowne, what had your lordship ment
To haue had done, I should haue soone been prest
To beate my braines, according to my skill,
for to haue writ, according to your will.
But since my theame, was nothing els but this,
a bare nothing for to endite vpon:
If I by chaunce haue wrote somewhat amisse,
And haue besides the rules of reason gon,
I stande in hope, your Lordshippes noble minde,
will pardon all, which nothing worth you finde.
a bare nothing for to endite vpon:
If I by chaunce haue wrote somewhat amisse,
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I stande in hope, your Lordshippes noble minde,
will pardon all, which nothing worth you finde.
Finis.
| The vvorkes of a young wyt | |