A gorgious Gallery, of gallant Inuentions Garnished and decked with diuers dayntie deuises, right delicate and delightfull, to recreate eche modest minde withall. First framed and fashioned in sundrie formes, by diuers worthy workemen of late dayes: and now, ioyned together and builded up: By T. P. [i.e. Thomas Procter] |
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A worthy comparison of Vertue agaynst
all wordly pompe.
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 | A gorgious Gallery, of gallant Inuentions |  |
A worthy comparison of Vertue agaynst all wordly pompe.
When
that I way with wit, and eke consider now,
The tickle stay of her, that Fortunes wheele doth bow
And turne euen at her will, such luck, loe, as shee list,
No thread so surely sponne, but that shee may vntwist.
I can but aye lament, and wayle the lacke of them,
That in her holde doo trust, weighing they are but men.
For if I were a Lorde, and come of high degree,
And had all thing at will, as best contented mee:
My Prince therwith well pleased, that nothing might offend,
And all my deedes so done, that eche man might commend.
My parent of great state, and eke of worthy fame,
That worldy men did wish, the honor of his name:
My friends and mine allyes so worthy in eche presse,
That I neede beare no wrong, that I could not redresse.
Of courage and of strength, so doughty of my hand,
That Ladyes might mee loue, that dwell in forrayn land,
And enemyes might mee dread, for feare of ouerthrow,
And that all this were true, eche worldly wight did know.
Yet were I but a man, and mortall in this earth,
For death doth not accept, the worship of my byrth:
Since so I holde it best, that eche man shuld contend,
So to directe himselfe, that after this liues ende,
Yet vertue might remayne, that soundes a Trompet, loe,
A comfort to a freend, a wound vnto a foe.
The tickle stay of her, that Fortunes wheele doth bow
And turne euen at her will, such luck, loe, as shee list,
No thread so surely sponne, but that shee may vntwist.
I can but aye lament, and wayle the lacke of them,
That in her holde doo trust, weighing they are but men.
And had all thing at will, as best contented mee:
My Prince therwith well pleased, that nothing might offend,
And all my deedes so done, that eche man might commend.
My parent of great state, and eke of worthy fame,
That worldy men did wish, the honor of his name:
My friends and mine allyes so worthy in eche presse,
That I neede beare no wrong, that I could not redresse.
Of courage and of strength, so doughty of my hand,
That Ladyes might mee loue, that dwell in forrayn land,
And enemyes might mee dread, for feare of ouerthrow,
And that all this were true, eche worldly wight did know.
Yet were I but a man, and mortall in this earth,
For death doth not accept, the worship of my byrth:
Since so I holde it best, that eche man shuld contend,
So to directe himselfe, that after this liues ende,
Yet vertue might remayne, that soundes a Trompet, loe,
A comfort to a freend, a wound vnto a foe.
As some to simple turne from sage,
And ouerthrow with euery winde,
some eke correct with rigorous rage
Whom wealth could neuer foord good minde,
Hath wonne in prison such a feelde,
As liberty could neuer yeelde.
And ouerthrow with euery winde,
some eke correct with rigorous rage
Whom wealth could neuer foord good minde,
Hath wonne in prison such a feelde,
As liberty could neuer yeelde.
Virtute nulla possessio maior.
FINIS.
| A gorgious Gallery, of gallant Inuentions | |