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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In the Prayse of a vertuous Gentlewoman.
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 | The Castell of Courtesie |  |
In the Prayse of a vertuous Gentlewoman.
If
Vertue praise gaine by desert:
Or constant stay, or faithfull minde:
Good Ladies let me in this part
Some thing Declare for faithfull kinde,
Let not my pen rebuked be,
Though simple skill doe rest in me.
Or constant stay, or faithfull minde:
Good Ladies let me in this part
Some thing Declare for faithfull kinde,
Let not my pen rebuked be,
Though simple skill doe rest in me.
But giue me leaue for to declare
And speake my minde without offence.
Such duetie I vnto her beare,
As trust me this is my petence:
To write some thing although I see,
Unablenesse which rests in mee.
And speake my minde without offence.
Such duetie I vnto her beare,
As trust me this is my petence:
To write some thing although I see,
Unablenesse which rests in mee.
A Lady I obey and serue
With heart and minde and onelie will:
Who hath done more then I deserue,
For which I am her seruant still,
To wish her well since wealth is small,
And wishing is the most of all.
With heart and minde and onelie will:
Who hath done more then I deserue,
For which I am her seruant still,
To wish her well since wealth is small,
And wishing is the most of all.
[46]
But if that wishing could aduaunce,
My wishing should not come behind:
But wishing is a fickle chaunce,
Although we wish yet want we find,
Wherfore to wish it is but vaine,
When as we wish and not attaine.
My wishing should not come behind:
But wishing is a fickle chaunce,
Although we wish yet want we find,
Wherfore to wish it is but vaine,
When as we wish and not attaine.
If Courteous nature be on ground
It is in her I dare depose:
Whose grafted Impes of grace are sounde,
As vertuous buddes at large disclose.
Whose fragrant life, like Woodbine flower
May seeme to decke a Matrons bower.
It is in her I dare depose:
Whose grafted Impes of grace are sounde,
As vertuous buddes at large disclose.
Whose fragrant life, like Woodbine flower
May seeme to decke a Matrons bower.
I shall not neede to name her name:
But priuately in fostering brest:
I meane for to obserue the same
With former minde, and so I rest.
Whose life I wish, whose ioy I craue,
Till breath from corpes death doth depraue.
But priuately in fostering brest:
I meane for to obserue the same
With former minde, and so I rest.
Whose life I wish, whose ioy I craue,
Till breath from corpes death doth depraue.
| The Castell of Courtesie | |