 | Poems of Thomas, Lord Vaux |  |
IX. TRIE BEFORE YOU TRUST.
To counsell my estate, abandonde to the spoile
Of forgèd frends, whose grosest fraude is set with finest foile.
To verifie true dealyng wights, whose trust no treason dreads,
And all to deare th'acquaintance be, of such moste harmfull heads.
I am aduisèd thus who so doeth frende, frende so,
As though to morrowe nexte he feared, for to become a fo.
Of forgèd frends, whose grosest fraude is set with finest foile.
30
And all to deare th'acquaintance be, of such moste harmfull heads.
I am aduisèd thus who so doeth frende, frende so,
As though to morrowe nexte he feared, for to become a fo.
To haue a fainèd frend, no perill like I finde,
Oft fleryng face maie mantell best, a mischief in the minde:
A paire of angels eares oft tymes, doeth hide a serpent's harte,
Vnder whose gripes who so doeth come, to late complaines the smart.
Wherefore I doe adiuse, who doeth frende, frende so,
As though to morrowe nexte, he should become a mortall fo.
Oft fleryng face maie mantell best, a mischief in the minde:
A paire of angels eares oft tymes, doeth hide a serpent's harte,
Vnder whose gripes who so doeth come, to late complaines the smart.
Wherefore I doe adiuse, who doeth frende, frende so,
As though to morrowe nexte, he should become a mortall fo.
Refuse respectyng frends, that courtly knowe to faine,
For golde that winnes, for golde shall lose the self same frende again:
The Quaile needes neuer feare, in fouler's netts to fall,
If he would neuer bende his eare to listen to his call.
Therefore trust not to sone, but when you frende, frende so,
As though to morrowe nexte, ye feard for to become a fo.
For golde that winnes, for golde shall lose the self same frende again:
The Quaile needes neuer feare, in fouler's netts to fall,
If he would neuer bende his eare to listen to his call.
31
As though to morrowe nexte, ye feard for to become a fo.
| Poems of Thomas, Lord Vaux | |