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 written in a solitary suppose of a doubtfull Dumpe.
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 | The Castell of Courtesie |  |
Verses written in a solitary suppose of a doubtfull Dumpe.
I sadly sitting in a Dumpe,23
My Muse could not, aforde me that,
which should yeelde me delight:
Because she saw I was disposd,
in solitarie sorte,
With matter voyd of pleasant glee,
to make a plaine reporte,
Of priuate passions which procure,
the inward wo and paine,
The secret causes of contempt,
the dolour and disdaine,
The lingring hope that faintly feedes
the mindes of many wightes,
That passe their time in place,
where grow but few delightes.
And yet we see, it happens so,
that in the mid'st of smart:
They finde some causes of conceipte,
which doe reioyce their heart.
And trust me true that is the way,
to mittigate the ill:
Which other wise, might be the cause,
of wounding of their will.
To vs disposed from delight,
is meane to moue or mone;
To construe of each crosse conceipte,
is guyden vnto grone:
Wherefore to vse indifferently,
the causes of ill lucke,
Is meane to moue no inwarde hate,
vpon our thought to sucke.
We see by due examples shewed
the chaunges of our time;
We see ther's none so warely liues,
that alwayes voydeth cryme;
We see who then doth frame himselfe
[23]
Is forced though against his will,
to try and tast of strife.
The most of all that we do finde,
as hinderers of good happe:
Are crooked causes which do come,
our state for to intrappe.
The daintie dayes of due delight,
whereon some trust repose:
Incertaine are, nothing so sure,
as life and them to lose.
The featured face which florisheth,
in beawtie blasing braue:
Shall wrimpled be when hoary Age,
commaundes it vnto graue:
The golden hayre which glittereth
and shower so by in hewe:
Shall lodged be in cloddes of clay,
and kept from worldly view.
The listening eares which do delight,
in tales reporting pleasures:
Shall become deafe, and brought to ground,
when death doth find his leasure.
The truthlesse tongue which doth agree,
to flatter and to faine:
Shall feede the wormes as it hath fed,
a number with disdaine.
The pleasant nose which takes repast,
to smell each pleasant sent:
Shall lose the profit of the same,
and vnto death relent.
The fingers that can finely frame,
to strike the ioyfull Lute:
Shall cease from pleasure of the same,
when Death doth Life confute.
The frete which wonted were to goe,
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Must be content to rest at home,
and leaue off former sporte.
The wanton wight which takes delight,
to cut it with his blade:
By tract of Time growes from that vse,
whem Age doth him inuade.
The Preacher (he) which feedes his flocke,
with ghostly counsell pure:
Must yeelde to death and be content,
his pangues for to endure.
The wise and worthiest wighte of all
that euer liued here:
Must be content to yeelde to Death,
as plainely doth appeare.
Thus to conclude, we may be bold
each one of natures frame:
Shall taste of Death, when mightie Ioue
assigned hath the same.
| The Castell of Courtesie | |