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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Against ingratitude.
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 | The Rocke of Regard |  |
Against ingratitude.
Periander of Corinth sometime prince,A lawe ordainde, ingratefull chuffes to paine,
Which was on proofe, who could a churle conuince.
To reape rewardes vnrecompenst againe,
To leuie mendes, he should no longer liue,
For why (quoth he) suche men deserues no grace,
As gladly take, and grudge againe to giue,
A needefull lawe, this shamelesse sect to chace,
For what may be, a viler fault then this,
To be vnkinde, to father or to friend,
Or how may men amend their foule amisse.
Which scornes ye wights, which dayly them defend.
A Farmer once, a frozen snake did finde,
With pitie mou'd, who layd her by the fire,
The snake reuiu'd, did shewe her selfe vnkinde,
But what ensu'd, he siue her for her hire.
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How thanklesse they, do quite a friendly turne,
But out alas, those varlets be so stearne,
That viper like, they lawe and dutie spurne,
We dayly see, the parents painfull toyle,
Their restlesse care, their children well to traine.
We likewise see, how thanklesse children spoyle,
Their parents goods, or wish them dead for gaine.
The good man oft, the friendlesse childe doth keepe,
And fosters him, with many a friendly grote,
who seekes his spoyle, when he is sound asleepe,
Or gives consent, to cut his maisters throte,
We see some men, aduaunst to honours hye,
By helpe of such, which once did beare a sway,
Which quite forget, what feathers forst them flye,
If founders theirs, by froward chaunce decay,
The traitrous mate, whose prince doth cal to grace.
Is subiect straight, to sowe seditious strife,
No maruell then, to root out such a race.
If Corinth king, ordained losse of life,
But if in vre, we nowe should put his doome,
Ingratefull gnufes, each gallowes so would cloy,
That scarcely theeues, to hang shuld haue a roome.
To ease the iust, whom dayly they annoy,
Yet doubt I not, some meanes would be preparde,
To cut them off, for both may well be sparde.
| The Rocke of Regard | |