[When Flatterie falles to play the fleeryng knaue]
Not many dayes after, hee sawe a Gentlewoman
in the house, whom he accounted
his deere Mistresse, beginne to
shew her euill countenaunce without
cause, and to make very much of another,
whom he thought very vnworthy
of such good happe: and being not a
little agreeued, to see himselfe cause-lesse
to grow dayly so much out of
countenaunce, and his adversary so vnworthy,
esteemed: wrote one day among
other, halfe a sheete of Paper in verse:
wherein he priuily shewed his aduersaries
unworthinesse, his Mistresses inconstancy,
and his owne euill happe:
and finding a fit time, deliuered the
writing to his sayde Mistresse: which,
how she tooke in worth, that restes: the
verses were these.
When Flatterie falles to play the fleeryng knaue,
And tried trust is put out of conceight:
And cogging craft by subtyll shiftes can haue
The gaynes, for which doth faythfull seruice waight;
Then deepe deceight must needes possesse the parte
That doth in deede belong to due desarte.
When fond suspect, shall cause a faythfull frende
To deeme amisse of friend, without desart:
And coy conceight, shall cause a finall ende
Of friendshyp there, where friendes were linckt in hart:
Then double dealyng, must of force preuaile
To winne reward, and faythfull friendship faile.
When men are scornde, and shadowes are esteemde,
And shels are sau'd, and kernels cast away:
And deedes be done, and woords for deedes be deemde,
And outward brauery beares the bell away:
Then honest meaning may go chaunge his minde,
Or else is sure a colde rewarde to finde.
But when, in deede, vile flatterie false is found,
And tryed Trust dooth reape his due rewarde:
And deepe deceite is digged vnder ground,
And cogging craft can get no tale be harde:
Then right may haue that reason dooth require,
And due desarte may haue his deepe desire.
Lo thus, deare Dame, this for my selfe I write:
My troth, I trow, your selfe haue tryed well:
For which (alas) I reape nought but despight,
The iust cause why, God knowes, I cannot tell:
Except, by stealth, some fleering flattering knaue
Hath got the gaines, which I deserue to haue.
Or else, perhaps, some false suspect hath bread,
Misliking some, of me, without desarte:
Or coye conceyte hath entred in your head
To hate the man who honoures you in harte:
Or double dealing seekes some secreate meane,
Betwixt true friendes, true loue to banish cleane.
Or else, I doubt, some shadow of a man,
In my despight, some gallant wordes hath usde:
On whome I vow to doe the best I can
To seeke reuenge, where I am so abusde:
Wherefore, good Lady, if such any bee:
I humbly craue, hide not his name from mee.
That I, with speede, may giue him his desarte,
Or else receaue my iust and due reward:
For then, when you shall see my honest harte,
I doe not doubt your harte will be so harde,
But you at last, although fyrst somewhat long,
Will make amends to me for euery wrong.
And thus, in hope no false and fonde suspect
Of liking yours, shall cause such sodaine chaunge:
And that you will such coye conceyts reiect,
As to your friend, doo make you seeme so straunge:
I rest the time that reason dooth require,
When my desarte may haue his deepe desyre.
