 | H. His Deuises |  |
Reply to the same.
[That longer tyme the Friend than Golde should trye]
That longer tyme the Friend than Golde should trye,I neuer yet denide nor would defende:
How fayned friends do fayle, if fate doe wrye,
Is totall summe wherto my tale doth tende.
For euery thing hath certaine tyme I knowe,
The full effect to worke of Natures charge,
The tender twig in tyme a tree doth growe,
And little Babes in tyme doe proue more large.
Some fruite scarce rype, when some doe drop away,
Some bloume, some beare according to their kinde,
Eche taketh the time that Nature hath assignde.
The Marble stone in time by watery drops
Is pierced deepe, and eke in time doth fall,
The stately towres with fine and curious tops,
For time in time, no doubt tryes all in all.
Which triall firste, occasion seekes to make,
As fyre by heate the Golde doth fine and pure,
In neede likewise occasion men shall take,
A friend to try, from such as stande vnsure.
But some a time will seeme to stay say you,
And after fayle, perceyuing further neede:
No doubt you here haue aymde the marke to true,
For suche is sure the fruite of subtile seede.
These friends are like to one that vndertakes,
To runne the race, whereby to gayne the prayse:
Who running well, at first, on sodaine slakes,
And in the midst his race leaues off and stayes.
Not aye doth proue the glorious morning showe
The fayrest day, ne all that shines is golde:
And therefore friends in deede are harde to knowe,
For some a storme or two, like friendship holde.
The flowres yet in tyme from weedes appeare,
Whose difference first in spring we scarce discerne,
The sunne orecast with clowde in time doth cleere,
And eke in time our friends from such we learne.
For as one tutch or two no perfite proofe
Doth make of friends, no more doth Golde one heate.
Yet tyme vs tels who links, who lyes aloofe,
Who byrds doth yeelde, and who the bushe doth beate.
Wherfore I ende, as Golde by fyre is tryde,
So friends by proofe at needefull tymes are spyde.
| H. His Deuises | |