Of Golds Kingdome, and This Vnhelping Age Described in sundry Poems intermixedly placed after certaine other Poems of more speciall respect: And before the same is an Oration or speech intended to haue bene deliuered by the Author hereof unto the Kings Maiesty [by Edward Hake] |
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The infortunate Courtier.
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 | Of Golds Kingdome, and This Vnhelping Age |  |
7
The infortunate Courtier.
Two
Courtiers liuing long at Court,
The one of good desert,
The other meanely meriting,
Yet (vt fortuna fert)
The one of good desert,
The other meanely meriting,
Yet (vt fortuna fert)
The meaner had the better lucke,
By th'emprour well aduanst,
Which to the other brought great griefe:
But marke ye how it chanst,
By th'emprour well aduanst,
Which to the other brought great griefe:
But marke ye how it chanst,
The noble Sigismundus he
(So was the Emperour nam'd)
Enformed of this matter, and
How he was onely blam'd,
(So was the Emperour nam'd)
Enformed of this matter, and
How he was onely blam'd,
As not to beare an equall hand
In giuing of reward,
Aduis'd himselfe thereof, and with
A Princely due regard
In giuing of reward,
Aduis'd himselfe thereof, and with
A Princely due regard
For answering of the matter, did
Resolue vpon this course:
Two chists he fild, the one with gold,
The other, stones or worse.
Resolue vpon this course:
Two chists he fild, the one with gold,
The other, stones or worse.
And calling for the Courtier which
Had found himselfe so grieu'd,
Declared vnto him that now
His case might be relieu'd.
Had found himselfe so grieu'd,
Declared vnto him that now
His case might be relieu'd.
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If Fortune were not in the fault:
Choose here (sayd he) of two,
A chist of gold, or one of stones,
And thinke well what to do,
Choose here (sayd he) of two,
A chist of gold, or one of stones,
And thinke well what to do,
For I'le be henceforth quite of blame,
(The fault thou sayst is mine)
And if thou choose the stones, then say
The fault is rather thine,
(The fault thou sayst is mine)
And if thou choose the stones, then say
The fault is rather thine,
Or if not thine, yet Fortunes fault:
And who can that redresse?
The Courtier chose, and chose the stones:
(Alas, vnluckinesse.)
And who can that redresse?
The Courtier chose, and chose the stones:
(Alas, vnluckinesse.)
But shall I say my mind herein?
Good Kings will haue respect,
Whom they aduance, whom they reward,
And whom they do reiect.
Good Kings will haue respect,
Whom they aduance, whom they reward,
And whom they do reiect.
For why? All's one to raise the ill,
And not to helpe the honest still.
And not to helpe the honest still.
| Of Golds Kingdome, and This Vnhelping Age | |