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The Rocke of Regard

diuided into foure parts. The first, the Castle of delight: Wherein is reported, the wretched end of wanton and dissolute liuing. The second, the Garden of Vnthriftinesse: Wherein are many sweete flowers, (or rather fancies) of honest loue. The thirde, the Arbour of Vertue: Wherein slaunder is highly punished, and vertuous Ladies and Gentlewomen, worthily commended. The fourth, the Ortchard of Repentance: Wherein are discoursed, the miseries that followe dicing, the mischiefes of quareling, the fall of prodigalitie: and the souden ouerthrowe of foure notable cousners, with diuers other morall, natural, & tragical discourses: documents and admonitions being all the inuention, collection and translation of George Whetstons
 

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The reporters conclusion, as touching the report of Paulus Plasmos aduentures, and Lyros, Frenos, Caphos, and Pimos falles.
 

The reporters conclusion, as touching the report of Paulus Plasmos aduentures, and Lyros, Frenos, Caphos, and Pimos falles.

Who telles a tale at large, of others smart,
In his report, some errour needes must shape,
Some blamed are, some praisde, beyond desart,
In this discourse (such slaunder to escape)
It seemd me best, to vse but netes of heede,
And leaue at full, for to report the deede.
Yet some will say, I wrong poore Plasmos here,
To make his youth, the cause of his mishaps,

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When he good soule (who fraude did little feare)
Was slily snarld, in sneaking couseners traps,
In deede, my heart did bleede, his plaints to showe,
And much I blamde, the workers of his woe.
And yet forsooth, what so of him is sayde,
In my conceit, is nothing sayde but truth,
For sure his woes, if they be wisely wayde,
Some wayes may be, imputed to his youth,
For first of all, his brauerie was the bayte,
These couseners mindes, that egged with deceite.
Then sith him selfe, was guiltie of his thrall,
His fortunes wrayd, may wanton gallants warne,
From rash clyming, for feare they catch a fall,
And by his woes, vnwayed youthes may learne,
To trust them selues, fewe others out of sight,
For timelesse trust, wrought Plasmos much despight.
And for their falles, by fraude that sought to mount,
Although that they, not halfe their faults report,
Yet in their plaints are notes of good account,
Forewarninge faire, and words of mylde exhort,
And for the rest (how so they liu'd awry,
Let it suffice, they did repentant dye.