Of the Authors linked verses departing from Court to the countrie.
1
Muse
not my friend, to finde me here,
Contented with this meane estate:
And seeme to doo, with willing cheere,
That courtier doth, so deadly hate.
For fortunes looke,
Hath changed hew:
And I my booke,
Must learne anew.
2
And yet of force, to learne anew,
Would much abash the dulled braine:
I craue to iudge, if this be trew,
The truant child, that knowth the paine.
But where a spight,
Of force must bee:
What is that wight,
May disagree?
3
No, no, God wot, to disagree,
Is ventring all to make or mar:
If fortune frowne, we dailie see,
It is not best, to striue too far.
For lordlie bent,
Must learne to spare:
And be content,
with countrie fare.
4
From daintie Court to countrie fare,
Too daintie fed, is diet strange:
From cities ioy, to countrie care,
To skillesse folke, is homelie change,
Where neede yet can,
None other skill:
Somtime poore man,
Must breake his will.
5
If courtlie change, so breaketh will,
That countrie life must serue the turne:
What profit then, in striuing still,
Against the prick to seeme to spurne?
If court with cart,
Must be content:
What ease to hart,
Though mind repent?
6
What gaine I, though I doo repent,
My crotches all are broke and gon:
My woonted friends, are careles bent,
They feare no chance, I chance vpon.
As neede doth make,
Old age to trot:
So must I take,
In woorth my lot.
7
Now if I take in woorth my lot,
That fatall chance doth force me to:
If ye be friends embraid me not,
But vse a friend as friends should do.
Behold the horse,
Must trudge for pelfe:
And yet of forse,
content it selfe.
