The Arbor of Amitie wherin is comprised pleasant Pohems and pretie Poesies, set foorth by Thomas Howell |
 |
|
Alution.
|
 | The Arbor of Amitie |  |
Alution.
O be not white through enuious wrath,against the captiues wise:
Nor be thou sharpe to sorrow them,
least black as pitch thou rise.
Nor be thou hard vnto the poore.
nor light to credit lies:
Nor heauie be to presse downe wyt,
till truth the matter tries.
Go not to soft in slothfull sort,
to men of antique store:
And leaue the wyttes that grosser be,
which are but leane in lore.
Pluck downe no house, nor pen things false,
nor grease thy booke with glose:
Seeke no mans death by enuious sting,
for witlesse men be those.
Flee doctrine false which makes thee black,
to lurck in lothsome hell:
Seeke not to farre that God hath hid,
fooles braines be neuer well.
23
direct a christian sheepe,
No Pastor light Christs flock must haue,
but men most graue them keepe:
Depaire no Church, nor auncient acte,
in building be not sloe.
Conuey you not to other realmes,
the fruites that heere doe groe.
Flee foolishe guides that roue at large,
which truthlesse tongue doe straine:
As potled tales they prate aloft,
so thende will proue but vaine.
To fast and pray, to help the poore,
to profite all with good:
This is a healthfull phisick note,
to stop the lustie blood.
| The Arbor of Amitie | |