University of Virginia Library

171. A Balade by Squire Halsham

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MS. Fairfax 16 (Sum. Catal. No. 3896)

The worlde so wide, th'aire so remuable,
The sely man so litel of stature,
The grove and grounde and clothinge so mutable,
The fire so hoote and subtil of nature,

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The water neuer in oon—what creature
That made is of these foure, thus flyttyng,
May stedfast be as here in his lyving?
The more I goo the ferther I am behinde,
The ferther behinde the ner my wayes ende,
The more I seche þe worse kan I fynde,
The lighter leve the lother for to wende,
The bet y serve the more al out of mynde.
Is thys fortune, not I, or infortune?
Though I go lowse, tyed am I with a Lune.