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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Iames Yates Seruingman, to the Courteous and Friendlie Reader.
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 | The Castell of Courtesie |  |
Iames Yates Seruingman, to the Courteous and Friendlie Reader.
If my request may stande in steade,to craue this at thy hande:
Then let (I pray) with courtesie,
this simple worke be skande
My paine is for to pleasure thee,
ingratefull doe not seeme:
Least that thou doe discourage me,
if skoffingly thou deeme.
This skillesse worke which I commit
vnto the open view
of those, whose vpright meaning is
inclyned to be true:
I boldly venture to present
as one that hath good will.
To gratifie those that deserue,
though simple be my skill.
Presuming that all Zoilus sect,
are sunke, and vnder ground,
And that there are no Sicophantes,
(I hope) for to be founde:
But such as rather will amende,
fiue faultes ere they finde one.
O Lord it were a golden world,
if Sicophantes were gone.
I cannot couer nor conceale,
the fruites that I doe gaine:
But publikely must them display,
though they be base and plaine.
And as by tracte of time we see,
rare matters worke effecte:
So I in time may chance on choise,
some better to selecte.
In meane time my request is thus,
accept these as they be:
And you perchance ere it be long,
shall haue some more of me.
Which better shall content conceite,
receiue these as the first:
Good wordes (they say) as soone are sayde,
as are the vile and worst.
Farewell.
| The Castell of Courtesie | |