The Forrest of Fancy Wherein is conteined very prety Apothegmes, and pleasaunt histories, both in meeter and prose, Songes, Sonets, Epigrams and Epistles, of diuerse matter and in diuerse manner. With sundry other deuices, no lesse pithye then pleasaunt and profytable [by H. C.] |
 |
The Aucthour wrighting to a friend of his, that was
toward mariage, exhorteth her to make choyse of a wyse and verteous person.
|
 | The Forrest of Fancy |  |
The Aucthour wrighting to a friend of his, that was toward mariage, exhorteth her to make choyse of a wyse and verteous person.
There
is nothing wherin we ought to take,
So great aduise, as sayeth Aurelius wise,
As when we mind a mariage for to make,
Wherein we must be carefull and presise,
Or else thereby great perrill may aryse
Because the knot once knit in order due,
May not be broke, whateuer chaunce insue.
So great aduise, as sayeth Aurelius wise,
As when we mind a mariage for to make,
Wherein we must be carefull and presise,
Or else thereby great perrill may aryse
Because the knot once knit in order due,
May not be broke, whateuer chaunce insue.
But some there are, that will without respect
Of future harmes that may to them befall,
The councell of their aged friendes reiect,
As frantick wightes, to folish fancy thrall
And harkening to the Sirens subtle call,
Procure thereby, their ruine and decay,
Where else they might haue livde in lasting ioy.
Of future harmes that may to them befall,
The councell of their aged friendes reiect,
As frantick wightes, to folish fancy thrall
And harkening to the Sirens subtle call,
Procure thereby, their ruine and decay,
Where else they might haue livde in lasting ioy.
Yet would I not that women so attend,
To friendes aduice, or so by them be led,
That fancy fixt vppon some faythfull friend,
They should forsake the same for feare or dread.
For so they may soone bring a foole to bed,
And being linckt, to one they cannot leeke,
be moude amisse reuengement due to seeke.
To friendes aduice, or so by them be led,
That fancy fixt vppon some faythfull friend,
They should forsake the same for feare or dread.
For so they may soone bring a foole to bed,
And being linckt, to one they cannot leeke,
be moude amisse reuengement due to seeke.
Some sortes there are that well by husbandes chuse,
Because they should maintaine them fine and braue,
Some sortes there are, that others all refuse,
A comely wight desyring most to haue,
A vallyaunt venterous youth some foly craue,
Some like of those that be most franke and free,
And some of those that harde and sparing be.
Because they should maintaine them fine and braue,
Some sortes there are, that others all refuse,
A comely wight desyring most to haue,
A vallyaunt venterous youth some foly craue,
Some like of those that be most franke and free,
The gallant gay some chiefely doe esteeme,
In one that curteous is, some moste delight,
A cunning craftes man, some for best do deeme,
But few or none esteeme the vertuous wight,
By wise and prudent men they set but light.
Few linke for loue, but all for greedy gaine,
Though in the ende it tourne them most to paine.
In one that curteous is, some moste delight,
A cunning craftes man, some for best do deeme,
But few or none esteeme the vertuous wight,
By wise and prudent men they set but light.
Few linke for loue, but all for greedy gaine,
Though in the ende it tourne them most to paine.
Bewty doth fade, when crooked age creepes in,
And like a Flower the sommer season past,
Nipt with the cold when winter doth begin,
Doth wither soone, and weare a way at last,
And sicknesse makes the mighty man agast,
And takes from him all strength and courage quighte,
But vertue still abides in perfect plight.
And like a Flower the sommer season past,
Nipt with the cold when winter doth begin,
Doth wither soone, and weare a way at last,
And sicknesse makes the mighty man agast,
And takes from him all strength and courage quighte,
But vertue still abides in perfect plight.
In welth or wo in paine or pleasure still,
Uertue remaines without reprofe at all,
Not dreadfull death that doth the Carcas kill,
The power of vertue may in ought appall.
It liues with praise, and neuer perrish shall,
For after death his glory resteth rife.
That whilst he liude, did leade a vertuous life.
Uertue remaines without reprofe at all,
Not dreadfull death that doth the Carcas kill,
The power of vertue may in ought appall.
It liues with praise, and neuer perrish shall,
For after death his glory resteth rife.
That whilst he liude, did leade a vertuous life.
Therefore my friend I friendly thee aduise,
To match with one that is to vertue bent,
For bewty brittle is and of no prise,
Money but muck, and quickly will be spent,
Strength soone destroyde, if sicknesse so consent,
But vertue still in perfect state doth stand,
It keepes his course as well by Sea as land.
To match with one that is to vertue bent,
For bewty brittle is and of no prise,
Money but muck, and quickly will be spent,
Strength soone destroyde, if sicknesse so consent,
But vertue still in perfect state doth stand,
It keepes his course as well by Sea as land.
Moreouer I would wish thee for to make,
Thy choyse thy selfe whereas thou likest best,
And though thy friendes perswade thee for to take,
Some other wight with greater wealth possest.
Yet if thy mind and fancy be not prest,
To like of him, then would I thee aduise,
To leaue that loathsome lot if thou be wise.
Thy choyse thy selfe whereas thou likest best,
Some other wight with greater wealth possest.
Yet if thy mind and fancy be not prest,
To like of him, then would I thee aduise,
To leaue that loathsome lot if thou be wise.
For whereas loue doth lack, twixt man and wife,
There hatred needes must harbour in their hart.
Where hatred hath his holde, is endlesse strife,
where stryfe is styrde, there pleasure hath no part,
where pleasure is displaste, care keepes the marte,
where care doth keepe, lyfe cannot long indure,
Then eare thou linke let loue be setled sure.
There hatred needes must harbour in their hart.
Where hatred hath his holde, is endlesse strife,
where stryfe is styrde, there pleasure hath no part,
where pleasure is displaste, care keepes the marte,
where care doth keepe, lyfe cannot long indure,
Then eare thou linke let loue be setled sure.
Finis.
| The Forrest of Fancy | |