A banqvet of daintie conceits :: :: University of Virginia Library

A banqvet of daintie conceits

Furnished with verie delicate and choyse inuentions, to delight their mindes, who take pleasure in Musique, and there-withall to sing sweete Ditties, either to the Lute, Bandora, Virginalles, or anie other Instrument. Published at the desire of both Honorable and Worshipfull personages, who haue had copies of diuers of the Ditties heerein contained. Written by A. M. [i.e. Anthony Munday]

Munday, Anthony (1553-1633)

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A Dyttie expressing a familiar controuersie between Wit and Will: wherein Wit mildlie rebuketh the follies of VVill, and sheweth him (as in a Glasse) the fall of wilfull heads.

A Dittie declaring the vncertaintie of our earthly honor, the certaine account that we must all make of death: and therefore that we should make our selues ready at all times, because we are ignoraunt of our latter howre.

In this Dittie is expressed, the sundry and daily mishaps that chaunce in Loue: deciphered by him that felt them, to his paine.

A Dittie, which sheweth by example of diuers worthy personages past in auncient time, that neither strength, wit, beautie, riches, or any transitory things (wherein worldlings put any confidence) can saue them from the stroke of Death.

A Dittie, deliuering a freendlye admonition to VVomen, to haue care of theyr own estates, to shunne such vaine occasions, as oftentimes call theyr good names in question: and after the example of Sara, to order themselues in all their actions.

A Dittie, wherein may be seene by many and sundry examples, that no man ought to giue ouer-much credite to this fraile and transitorie life: but as all other things soone vade and decay, so the life of man hath no greater assuraunce.

A Dittie, wherein is contained a very proper discourse, of a certaine welthy Merchaunt, who forgetting his profite, gaue his mind to pleasure.

In this Dittie, is set downe the morrall iudgment of the great and learned Philosopher Sendebar, on the storie before passed: which will be found, both worth the reading and regarding.

A Dittie, wherein is contained diuers good and necessary documents, which beeing embraced and followed earnestly, may cause a man to shunne manie euilles and mischaunces, that may otherwise fall vpon him, ere he can beware.

A pleasant Dittie, wherein is described, what falsehood oftentimes is found in felowship, verified by a couetous minded man, who laboured to deceiue his deere freende, but yet deceiued himselfe in the ende.

A Dittie, wherein the breuitie of mans life is described, how soone his pompe vanisheth away, and he brought to his latest home.

A Dittie, discoursing the communication betweene Christ and the woman of Samaria, that came to drawe water at Iacobs well, according as it is sette downe in the 4. chapter of Saint Iohn.

Of the three wise sentences, which three yong men of the Guarde of King Darius presented to him. The first said: VVine is strongest. The second said: The King is strongest. The third said: VVomen are strongest, but Truth ouercommeth all things. The first that spake of the strength of VVine, began to prooue his argument first as foloweth, according as it is written in the third and fourth Chap. of Esdras.

A Glasse for all men to behold themselues in, especially such proude and prodigall minded men, and such delicate and daintie women who building on the pride of their beautie, and amiable complexion, thinke scorne to become aged, and that their sweete faces should be wrinckled, or their youthfulnes brought into subiection by age.

A Ditty, wherin is expressed a notable example of a slothfull man, who wilfully suffered himselfe to be robbed and dyspoyled of his goods by slothfulnes, which otherwise he might very well haue saued.

A Dittie, wherein may be discerned the troublesome daungers, & vneasie passages in this world: exampled by a very proper discourse of a Trauailer in his iourney, howe many and sundry mischaunces happened vnto him.

In this Dittie, is reuealed the morrall iudgment of this notable and excellent History, sette downe by the famous and learned Philosopher Tyabonus: wherein may be seene the very full course and wretched race of man in this transitory life.

A Dittie, wherein is liuely and amply described, the Mansion or Castel of vaine exercises & delights, which being maintained by Pride, Prodigalitie, Lust, Ambition, Comtempt of Vertue, and such other, is the ouerthrow of many that resorte thither, rather then to vertuous studies and exercises.

A Dittie, wherein the Author giueth his farewell to Fancie, hauing learned the auncient Prouerbe: that it is good to take warning by other mens mis-fortunes.

A pleasant Dittie, of a familiar communication, that passed betweene certaine Ladies, as they walked abroade into the fields for their recreation: wherein is prooued, that Beautie is nothing worth, except it be coupled with vertue.

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A Dittie, wherein is contained diuers good and necessary documents, which beeing embraced and followed earnestly, may cause a man to shunne manie euilles and mischaunces, that may otherwise fall vpon him, ere he can beware.

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This Ditty may be sung to the high Allemaigne Measure, singing euery last straine twise with the Musicque.

Softe fire makes sweete Mault, they say:
Few words well plast, the wise will way.
Time idle spent, in trifles vaine:
Returnes no guerdon for thy paine.

But time well spent, doth profite bring:
And of good works will honour spring.
Bestow thy time then in such sort:
That vertue may thy deedes support.
The greater profite thou shalt see:
And better fame will goe of thee.

In talke be sober, wise and sadde,
Faire to thy Freend, kind to the badde.
And let thy words so placed bee:
As no man may finde fault with thee.
Nor meddle not in any case,
With matters which thy witte surpasse.
With things that not to thee pertaines,
It folly were to beate thy braines.
For suddaine blame may hap to thee:
In medling vnaduisedly.

Take heede in any wise, I say:
What things thou goest about to day.
That thou to morrow not repent,
And with thy selfe be discontent.
Speake not such words to others blame:
As afterward may turne thee shame.
To day thou speakest and doost not care:
But of to morrow still beware.
For then thou canst not call againe,
What lauishly did passe thy braine.

Keepe secrete closely in thy minde:
Things that thy state and credite binde.
Beware, if thou doo them disclose:
To whom and where, for feare of foes.

Especially of him take heede,
Whose trueth thou doost not know in deede.
For hard it is thy freend to know:
From him that is a flattering foe.
And many men in showe are kind,
Yet worse then Serpents in their mind.

Be not too hasty in thy deedes,
Of too must haste, oft harme proceedes.
Be sober, mute, take good aduise:
For things too much are full of vice.
With moderation rule thee so:
As thou aside no way maist goe.
For haste makes waste, as proofe dooth say:
And little said, soone mend ye may.
Forecast what after may befall:
So shalt thou not be rashe at all.

Haue mind still of thine owne offence:
Regard thy faults with good pretence.
Seeke not a moate in one to spie:
First pull the beame out of thine eye.
And find no fault with any man:
Except amend thy selfe thou can.
And when thy faults amended be:
The good that others see in thee.
Will learne them so their deedes to frame:
As they may likewise scape from blame.

Of no man giue thou bad report:
Backbite not any in thy sport.
For words doo wound as deepe as swords:
Which many vse in iesting boordes.

And slaunder is a hainous hate:
Which dooth nought els but stirre debate.
And twixt good freendes makes deadly strife:
To hazard one anothers life.
And all this may proceede of thee:
Except thou wilt aduised bee.

Beare freendly with thy neighbours fault,
Remember thou thy selfe maist halt.
If he hath ought offended thee:
Forgiue, as thou the like wouldest be.
And thinke if thou hast gone awrie:
Thou for forgiuenesse must apply.
So with thy neighbours faults doo beare:
And of thine owne stand still in feare.
Pardon as thou wouldest pardoned be:
So God will pardon him and thee.

Be gentle vnto euery wight:
Let courtesie be thy delight.
Familiar be with few, I say,
For sure it is the wisest waie.
Too much familiaritie,
May bring thy sorrowes suddainly.
Therefore keepe gentlenesse in mind,
To rich and poore be alwaies kind.
So pride shall neuer conquere thee:
Which is mans cheefest enemie.

FINIS.