University of Virginia Library

Wth that I start from slepe, the Slomber left my Eyes,
fforiudging what I erst forthought, wth hevy moude I ryse,
And what prefixt I see apparant in my dreame,
and howe, to answer all my hope, I hard the Quene complaine;
I dowbted then my pace, thryse did my trowbled thought
Revolt wth woo the Loukles lott that in this world is sought.
I did forecast eche cares that Kyngdomes do resygne,
And eke the Sliperie estate of those for fame that clyme;
I reckened the rule that peres and princes hold
to be a seat that sonest sinckes when fortune waxeth cold;
I demed it daungerous in court to beare a sway,
for that my yeres forespent might Judge howe some was worne away,
whose change and sodaine fall wth ruthe recordethe this,
that shewe by prouffe a paterne prest howe bryttle honor is;
And eke what stepes of stryffe belonge to highe estate,
for that oftyme the seate it selffe do purchaise prevye hate;
The leaves whereof do fall as fast as sprowtes do springe
that cannot last but worne wth such, It is so vayne a thinge.
And howe the clymmynge vpe is dowbtfull to endure,
and that the hope of honors hold is fyckle and vnsure.
I did foriudge the dread that dothe vnlad eche blame,
for eke from hye discendes the bolt, the fulgent flashe of flame.
I weighed warelie to shune the shiftes that schrowdes no shame
of suche as robes the meanest sort engrossinge but for gayne,
And howe in Judgement syttes Rigor wth feaned face,
Suppressinge some, advansinge those where right nor reason was.
And where Envye doth regne and beares the chefest price,
where greater poyson is not founde wthin the cokatryce;
And howe deceyte doth forge and feanethe eke his woo,
and gives the cupe of bitter swete to pledge his mortall ffoo.
And this I thought most strange, howe nature doth forsake
the bloode that in her wombe was wrought as doth the lothed snake,
And howe a feaned frende do powder so his termes,
wth false effect, that truth can try no trades to trust his meanes,
And howe that slipper trust dothe lett no losse to lend,
and eke the rarenes to Imbrace th'affyance of a frende;
And howe fansye abides no longer then she lust,
But as the wynde dothe often chang and is not for to trust.
And when all this I thus had weighed wth many moo,
and of suche accidentes as theis through eche degree that goo,
And howe everye estate is Subyect to Rewyn,
and sowner sinckes the highest sort than they that live in meane.
And howe or tyme dothe Rone, as sand owt of the glasse,
even as ech howre apoincted is from tyme and tide to passe,
And that my yeres forespent wth sporte of youthfull plaies
do nowe abridge my losse of gayne wthin my horye herres;
And howe the ffeble threede of Lief vertewe dothe spyne,
and shewes the end of everie worke before It dothe begwyne.
I then said to my selffe: me thinkes this may assure
all those that clyme to honors seate, there state may not endure.
The hills of highest hight are sonest perskt with sone;
The Silver streames wth somers drowght are letten oft to Rone;
The loftiest trees and groves are Ryfest rent wth winde;
the brushe and breres that thikest growe the flame will sonest find;
The loftie Rewynge towres there falls the ffeller bee;
most ferse dothe fulgent Lightnyng light where furthest we may see;
The Gorgyous pallace deckt and reard vp to the skye
are souner shokt wth wynter Stormes than meaner bwildinges bee;
Such hape have loftie myndes that syttes in highest seate,
when hatefull hartes disdeane thereat, and envy therat threat.
Vpon the highest mountes The stormy wyndes do blowe;
The sewer seate and Quyet lief is in the vale belowe;
By reason I regawrde the meane estate most sure,
that wayteth on the golden meane and harmles may endure.
The man that wyselie workes in welthe doth feare no tides,
when fortune failes dispeareth not, but stedfastlie abides.
ffor he that sendeth stormes wth windes and wynter blastes
and steanes wth hale the wynter face & fils each soile wth frostes,
he slakes the force of cold, he sendes the somer hott,
he causethe bayle to stormy hartes, of Joy the spring & Roote.
Reader, regawrde this well, as I of force nowe must
appoinct thie mewse to merke my verse, thus ruffled vp in rust;
And Lerne this last of me: Imbrace thie porpose prest,
and lett no storme to blowe thie blastes, to lose thie port of rest.
And tho thie gale be great & frowarde fortune fayle,
againe when wynde do serve at will hoist not to hye the saile.
ffor prowffe may toche the stone to prove this firme and plaine,
that no estate may countervale the gyld or golden meane.