Three morall Treatises no lesse pleasaunt than necessary for all men to reade, whereof the one is called the Learned Prince, the other the Fruites of Foes, the thyrde the Porte of rest [by Thomas Blundeville] |
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To the true louers of Wisedome Iohn Asteley, mayster of the
Queenes Maiestyes Iewell house, and Iohn Harington Esquier Thomas Blundeuille, greeting. |
 | Three morall Treatises |  |
To the true louers of Wisedome Iohn Asteley, mayster of the Queenes Maiestyes Iewell house, and Iohn Harington Esquier Thomas Blundeuille, greeting.
UUhilst
plutarks works, I gaue my self to rede
So pleasant fruit me thought, I could none fīd
As is in yt which rightly shewes in dede
The waie tappease, and still thunquiete minde.
So pleasant fruit me thought, I could none fīd
As is in yt which rightly shewes in dede
The waie tappease, and still thunquiete minde.
For wheras since false flattring hope with whō
I trauelde had, long tyme full painfully,
Of comforte voide, alone me leaft to rome
The barrein coste of wretched miserye:
I trauelde had, long tyme full painfully,
Of comforte voide, alone me leaft to rome
The barrein coste of wretched miserye:
In stead of helping me the seas to passe
Of worldly ioyes, amongst the happy sorte,
In ship full fraught with fortunes giftes: as was
Her vowe when first to me she did resorte:
Of worldly ioyes, amongst the happy sorte,
In ship full fraught with fortunes giftes: as was
Her vowe when first to me she did resorte:
The restles muse had made my feble brayn
The forge of care, and therein daily wroughte
Such dulfull domps & dreadful dreames as cleane
From mirth my mind vnto despaire had brought.
The forge of care, and therein daily wroughte
Such dulfull domps & dreadful dreames as cleane
From mirth my mind vnto despaire had brought.
That boke did yeld such glistring beames I say,
Of comfort great and ioyfull quietnes:
As draue those dumpes and sorowes all away
My heauy heart which helde in great destres.
Of comfort great and ioyfull quietnes:
As draue those dumpes and sorowes all away
My heauy heart which helde in great destres.
So as in dede from that time foorth me thought
I coulde not chuse but nedes contented rest
And though before vaine hope much griefe hadde wrought
Yet now to think yt al was for the best.
I coulde not chuse but nedes contented rest
And though before vaine hope much griefe hadde wrought
Yet now to think yt al was for the best.
UUhich comfort though it grateful was to me
In my conceyt yet did it not suffise:
Onlesse that you my faithfull frendes might be
Eke partners of the same some kinde of wise.
In my conceyt yet did it not suffise:
Onlesse that you my faithfull frendes might be
Eke partners of the same some kinde of wise.
For as the grief of one frende dothe decreace
His other frendes, when they therof partake
His ioye euen so he shall the more encreace
If of the same, he doth them partners make.
His other frendes, when they therof partake
His ioye euen so he shall the more encreace
If of the same, he doth them partners make.
Into our tunge therfore this litle quaire
I turned haue, and termd the port of rest
And wishe eche wight, therto for to repaire
with troubled sprite that feeles himself opprest.
I turned haue, and termd the port of rest
And wishe eche wight, therto for to repaire
with troubled sprite that feeles himself opprest.
For as the mariner, in sea whose bote
UUith cruel stormes and tempests hath been beat
And drieuē twixt whaues & feareful rocks to flote
Though al that while dispaire his mind did freat:
UUith cruel stormes and tempests hath been beat
And drieuē twixt whaues & feareful rocks to flote
Though al that while dispaire his mind did freat:
Yet whē ye winds their boistrous blowing ceace
And he to hauen is safely come at last
He than reioyceth with himself in peace
And cleane forgeates al those his daungers past:
And he to hauen is safely come at last
He than reioyceth with himself in peace
And cleane forgeates al those his daungers past:
Euen so eche man within this litle port
That shall vouchesafe at times more ydley spente
To harborough a while: himselfe to sport
UUhen he perceiues his minde to sorow bent:
That shall vouchesafe at times more ydley spente
To harborough a while: himselfe to sport
UUhen he perceiues his minde to sorow bent:
To warrant him I dare be bolde I saie
That though he be in passing heauines
Yet he thereby shall quickly learne the waie
To rid his minde of all vnquietnes.
That though he be in passing heauines
Yet he thereby shall quickly learne the waie
To rid his minde of all vnquietnes.
Ne shall he feare the losse in time to come
Of frendes, of goodes, of lyfe, or lyke distres
But lyue and dye, by helpe of reasons dome
In suche assured holde of quietnes:
Of frendes, of goodes, of lyfe, or lyke distres
But lyue and dye, by helpe of reasons dome
In suche assured holde of quietnes:
As neyther frowarde fortunes sharpe assaultes,
Nor death himself, for all his dreadfull name
Ne malice eke with all her forged faultes
Shall be of power to ouerthrowe the same.
Nor death himself, for all his dreadfull name
Ne malice eke with all her forged faultes
Shall be of power to ouerthrowe the same.
To you therefore to whom I am muche bounde
And tall the rest, lo here nowe for your sake
Of this my paine suche fruite as hath redounde
In frendly wise I doe a present make.
And tall the rest, lo here nowe for your sake
Of this my paine suche fruite as hath redounde
In frendly wise I doe a present make.
UUhose relles though it be not halfe so swete
Ne hath suche sappe of eloquence in dede
As those thinges haue whereon (as meates most mete
For deintie mouthes) you wonted are to fede.
Ne hath suche sappe of eloquence in dede
As those thinges haue whereon (as meates most mete
For deintie mouthes) you wonted are to fede.
Yet doubt I not but that vouchesafe you wyll,
To take it well in woorth, and speciallye,
Sithe Budes woordes in all this treatise styll
I folowd haue in deede moste faithfullye,
To take it well in woorth, and speciallye,
Sithe Budes woordes in all this treatise styll
I folowd haue in deede moste faithfullye,
UUhose stile I founde to be more graue then gaye
And harde to turne into our vulguer speche,
Yet as it is refuse not when you maye
To taste thereof I humbly you beseche.
For though it hap not deintye mouthes to please
UUeak stomakes yet thereby may find much ease.
And harde to turne into our vulguer speche,
Yet as it is refuse not when you maye
To taste thereof I humbly you beseche.
For though it hap not deintye mouthes to please
UUeak stomakes yet thereby may find much ease.
| Three morall Treatises | |