The Castell of Courtesie Whereunto is adioyned The Holde of Humilitie: With the Chariot of Chastitie thereunto annexed. Also a Dialogue betweene Age and Youth, and other matters herein conteined. By Iames Yates |
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 | The Castell of Courtesie |  |
Verses vpon this Theame, Silence breaketh many Friendeshippes.
Written vnto his friende G. P.
If Silence friendship breake,then silent for to be:
Is euen the way to loose a friend,
as seemeth vnto me.
For when I call'd to minde
how longe my pen did rest,
From writing to him which deserues,
as well as doth the best:
Then saide I to my selfe,
I am too silent I,
That to my friend of all this time
nothing I doe discrie.
I doe consider thus,
he is of courteous kind:
Hee will haue no ill conceipt
I hope within his minde.
For I must needes confesse,
[22]
So much as I had heretofore,
to write each thing in rime.
I am inforced nowe,
to bend both wit and will:
For to discharge, that is my charge,
and rest in fauour still.
The which God graunt I may,
for that is my Desire:
The onely sore I seeke to salue,
the right I doe require.
The more of it I muse,
the more I haue good cause,
To try which way, and what to doe,
to ponder and to pause,
To print in priuate brest,
and secrets to conceale:
For why? it is a folly vaine,
each act on to reueale.
But whether doe I wend?
I run beyond my reach:
What doe I meane to write so much,
as though that I should teach?
O no, I not so minde,
but this is my intent:
Some verses to my very friend,
my thinkes I must present.
And thus I you commend
vnto the Lord of all,
Who readie is to heare and helpe,
those that on him doe call.
| The Castell of Courtesie | |