The Arbor of Amitie wherin is comprised pleasant Pohems and pretie Poesies, set foorth by Thomas Howell |
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That men ought to be promoted to dignitie, onely by worthie deedes.
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 | The Arbor of Amitie |  |
That men ought to be promoted to dignitie, onely by worthie deedes.
Not long discent and name,doth make a noble king:
But noble hart and factes of fame,
his royall state shall bring.
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when deedes can get no grace:
To boast and bragge of auncestors,
it is a witlesse case.
For noble deedes of them,
account not for thy factes:
For thy owne deeds shall thee commend,
and not an others actes.
Nor men deserue the crowne,
and doubtie diademe.
By birth or welth, lesse skill redowne,
by vertues great in them.
For Fortune may as then,
make kings as pleaseth her:
Since she the riche and noble men,
to scarlets can prefer.
But greatest golde giue place,
to vertue left so frashe:
For golde wise men that knowe the case,
doe count but trifling trashe.
In hartes be princes bolde,
and not in golden chestes:
For that man rules, and is not rulde,
when this man ruled is.
Nor bewtie faire can blase,
a kingly honour hie:
For that doth vade as flowres doe fall,
and sone that grace will die.
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and valiant hartes inflame:
By puissance aduentures trie,
thy famous factes to frame.
Now sacked Troy is brent,
by proofe of pollicies:
He is not meete of kings discent,
that like a cowarde flies.
Therefore he is a king,
that like a king doth guide:
And though no kingdome be for him,
yet he is king in deede.
| The Arbor of Amitie | |