The Castell of Courtesie Whereunto is adioyned The Holde of Humilitie: With the Chariot of Chastitie thereunto annexed. Also a Dialogue betweene Age and Youth, and other matters herein conteined. By Iames Yates |
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Verses vnto his Muse.
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 | The Castell of Courtesie |  |
Verses vnto his Muse.
Muse
not my minde of worldly thinges,
Thou see'st what care to some it bringes.
The merriest minde from folly free,
Sometimes conceaues discourtesie,
Which is the occasion oft of Ire,
Through frowarde will which kindles fire.
But if thou wilt liue well at ease
And worldly wights seeke for to please:
Then frame thy nature to this plight,
In each respect to deale vpright.
Thou see'st what care to some it bringes.
The merriest minde from folly free,
Sometimes conceaues discourtesie,
Which is the occasion oft of Ire,
Through frowarde will which kindles fire.
But if thou wilt liue well at ease
And worldly wights seeke for to please:
Then frame thy nature to this plight,
In each respect to deale vpright.
15
Thou seest my Muse, how Fancie feedes,
And what Desire in some it breedes;
Thou seest that those, which haue bene well,
Haue not the skill thereof to tell:
But thinke to get a better place
When as they worke their owne Disgrace
For why? from heauen, they chaunge to hell
In deepe despite fortune they dwell,
So is our fickle fancie fraught,
Whom can we blame but tickle Thought.
And what Desire in some it breedes;
Thou seest that those, which haue bene well,
Haue not the skill thereof to tell:
But thinke to get a better place
When as they worke their owne Disgrace
For why? from heauen, they chaunge to hell
In deepe despite fortune they dwell,
So is our fickle fancie fraught,
Whom can we blame but tickle Thought.
The sillie bird that dreedes no ill,
But singes with ioyfull notes sul shrill:
Is by the craft of birders arte
Ketcht to her paine, and carefull smart.
For why? the lime her winges doth charge,
Who erst to fore did fly at large,
And then she resteth as we see,
To try the birders Courtesie:
Euen so, if some do thee intrap,
Thou must needes stay to trye thy hap.
But singes with ioyfull notes sul shrill:
Is by the craft of birders arte
Ketcht to her paine, and carefull smart.
For why? the lime her winges doth charge,
Who erst to fore did fly at large,
And then she resteth as we see,
To try the birders Courtesie:
Euen so, if some do thee intrap,
Thou must needes stay to trye thy hap.
Wherefore who well can them content,
Haue seldome cause for to repent.
For if thou well doe feele thy selfe,
Chaunge not that life, for worldly pelfe,
You know the ease of quyet minde,
Is happiest gifte by Ioue assign'd.
Admit that riches do encrease
And then the quyet life surcease:
What if't the better for the gilt,
When fretting fumes, sweet rest haue spilt.
Haue seldome cause for to repent.
For if thou well doe feele thy selfe,
Chaunge not that life, for worldly pelfe,
You know the ease of quyet minde,
Is happiest gifte by Ioue assign'd.
Admit that riches do encrease
And then the quyet life surcease:
What if't the better for the gilt,
When fretting fumes, sweet rest haue spilt.
To haue both welth and quyet vaine,
Oh happie wightes that it attaine:
Oh golden dayes of quyet state,
When fortune giues no crabbed mate.
And on the other side I say,
O cursed life that euery day,
Doth not escape from furious fittes,
Which heates the hearte, & woundes the wites.
The merry meane I hould for best,
Oh happie wightes, that it inuest.
Oh happie wightes that it attaine:
Oh golden dayes of quyet state,
[15]
And on the other side I say,
O cursed life that euery day,
Doth not escape from furious fittes,
Which heates the hearte, & woundes the wites.
The merry meane I hould for best,
Oh happie wightes, that it inuest.
The labouring man, with breade and drinke,
Liues merrier in mind I thinke,
Then some which feede on dayntie fare,
Whose Corpes sufficed, yet haue greate care:
For sure that meate digestes not well,
Where merrie measure doth not dwell.
Oh Life most happie still I say,
That liues at rest and hath to pay,
And lyeth downe with quyet minde,
The rest to take that Ioue asign'd.
Liues merrier in mind I thinke,
Then some which feede on dayntie fare,
Whose Corpes sufficed, yet haue greate care:
For sure that meate digestes not well,
Where merrie measure doth not dwell.
Oh Life most happie still I say,
That liues at rest and hath to pay,
And lyeth downe with quyet minde,
The rest to take that Ioue asign'd.
| The Castell of Courtesie | |