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 in declaration of a friend written at the request of P. W.
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 | The Castell of Courtesie |  |
Verses in declaration of a friend written at the request of P. W.
My
Muse did moue me my pen in hand to take,
In skillesse wise vnsteady to endyte,
But sith it is here written, for your sake:
Accept it well and construe it aright.
For of a friende, I do intende to treate,
What is a friende, right well I can repeate.
In skillesse wise vnsteady to endyte,
But sith it is here written, for your sake:
Accept it well and construe it aright.
For of a friende, I do intende to treate,
What is a friende, right well I can repeate.
For to declare by iust probation true,
What is a friend, and what a friend should be:
A friend standes firme in causes olde or new,
He flitteth not as fickle friendes we see,
He keepes his oth, he fosters eke no guyle,
He laugheth not with face of craftie wile.
What is a friend, and what a friend should be:
A friend standes firme in causes olde or new,
He flitteth not as fickle friendes we see,
He keepes his oth, he fosters eke no guyle,
He laugheth not with face of craftie wile.
[14]
A friend is fraught, with faith and fastened stay;
A friend kepes close, that is to him disclosed;
A friend heares not, that may his friend betraye,
But he declares, vnto his friend Deposed;
A friend in woe which fayleth not at need:
A friend so found, I call a friend in deede,
A friend kepes close, that is to him disclosed;
A friend heares not, that may his friend betraye,
But he declares, vnto his friend Deposed;
A friend in woe which fayleth not at need:
A friend so found, I call a friend in deede,
A friend doth mourne, and languish in his heart;
A friend lamentes, when as his friend doth fall;
A friend doth muse, to helpe his friende in smart.
A friend doth marke, and to his minde doth call,
How to Disnull the dolours of Disdaine,
Which he perceaues do put his friend to paine.
A friend lamentes, when as his friend doth fall;
A friend doth muse, to helpe his friende in smart.
A friend doth marke, and to his minde doth call,
How to Disnull the dolours of Disdaine,
Which he perceaues do put his friend to paine.
Loe, this my friende, if that thou finde by Tryall
That firme and fast is kept a vow once made:
Thou canst not then, procure a wronge Denyall,
But that he is a friend, of friendly trade.
If such you finde, keepe him and be not straunge:
For fickle friends, for euery folly chaunge.
That firme and fast is kept a vow once made:
Thou canst not then, procure a wronge Denyall,
But that he is a friend, of friendly trade.
If such you finde, keepe him and be not straunge:
For fickle friends, for euery folly chaunge.
I hope this shall suffise to satisfy,
This your request, I write it not for gaine,
But glad if that herein I do discry
Such wordes as do lay open verie plaine,
The friendly factes, of those whose friendly lore,
Doth winne them praise: and so of this no more.
This your request, I write it not for gaine,
But glad if that herein I do discry
Such wordes as do lay open verie plaine,
The friendly factes, of those whose friendly lore,
Doth winne them praise: and so of this no more.
| The Castell of Courtesie | |