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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Of a happie exchaunge.
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 | The Castell of Courtesie |  |
Of a happie exchaunge.
Leaue of to muse my friendes,for to beholde my state:
I liued once in deepe Disdaine,
my hearte did burne in hate.
The Tediouse toyling time,
of my tormoyling dayes:
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whose fittes a thousand wayes,
Molested so my minde,
bereaued so my rest:
As often times I did accounte,
my selfe to be vnblest.
And pondering with my selfe,
how vsuall constraint:
Inforced me to seeke some meane,
my greeues for to depaint.
Then see how fortune fond,
for me did put in vre:
A {f}aling out not by Desert,
for me she did procure.
Whereby I had iust cause,
each thing considered right,
To shake off belles whose sounde was greefe,
and proue another flight.
And see if that I could,
prouide so for my ill:
As that contempte of my conceipte,
did not offend me still.
Not like the mounting Dorre,
which buzzeth vp on hy:
And falleth Downe (an homely tale)
and all to be, doth lye.
For some do chaunge in hope,
of better happe and place:
Yet finde it workes such is ill lucke,
a lamentable case.
But I may vaunte and say,
more then I could before:
I haue my pleasure but too much,
and what doth youth wish more,
Some profit eke withall,
is matched for her mate:
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me thinkes doth blesse by state.
The quyetnesse of minde,
the fearefull feare excluded:
The fond surmyses of my heade,
with odiouse othes deluded.
So much doth me reioyce,
that all thinges past and donne:
As to my selfe oft times I say,
me thinkes I heauen haue wonne.
For those which alwayes haue,
beene pent in priuate paine:
When as they haue release thereof,
they double thinke their gaine.
Lo thus I do conclude,
in this my skillesse stile:
And thanke the Lord whose goodnesse greate,
hath holpen my exile.
| The Castell of Courtesie | |