COURTIER

¶O so my heart is filled with doubt, Which way I may work, my worship to win: Shall I leave of Courtiers, so jolly a rout, And eke of Ladies a company so trim. And shall I home to my cottage rude, There to live Like a country clown: Truly I know not which way to conclude, To get my self worship and renown. To win worship I would be right glad, Therefore (willing to win worship) is my name: In the country there is none such to be had, And the Court does ask, great cost for the same. So that what I shall do, I know not yet, I consider it is towards a good time: Wherein triumphing is used, as is most fit, And where Courtiers must show themselves, brave and sine. But this I conclude, as forced I am, The Court for to leave, and homeward to pack: For where is the money? here is the man. If man he may be, that money does lack. ¶But the wheels of Fortune, as Socrates does say, Are Like the snares, wherewith men take fish. And in and other place, Plautus does show, A saying in Latin, and that is this: Festo die si quid prodigeris, Profesto egere liceat nisi pepereris. If on the Holiday, wasting thou do use, On the work day thou mayest beg, unless well thou get: So in triumphing, Like effect ensues, That next after, waste, indigence is set. ¶Those words to be true, I must needs confess, For honour in deed, is and immortal fame: And now is the time the same to possess, But I have not wherewith to achieve the same. For money is he that the man must deck, And though I have attire both Cos lie and gay, Yet unless it be new, I shall have but a ge k, Therefore much better for me be away. ¶Even I a Gentleman whom money do lack, And therein your friendship would gladly crave. ¶A pawn sufficient I will therefore lay, And also your pains I will recompense well. But I must needs have it out of the way, Although my Lands therefore I do fell. ¶In deed as you say, help me he can, I doubt not but his friendship I shall find. Doubt you not sir, but in pleasuring me, I will recompense your pains with the most. ¶Well then it is time that hence we were packing For fain and end thereof I would know. ¶Why then that we go I think it were best, Think you your master is now at home? ¶Then sir adieu for I will lead the way. ¶As with the poison, which is most delectable, The heart of man, is soonest infected: So the foe most hurteth, who seemeth most amiable, And of all wise men, is to be detected. At this time this saying I have elected, For that they which friendship, to me professed, In stead thereof, my hurt have addressed. They promised me, my friends for to stand, And to help me to that which I did crave: Until that I had obligated my land, And then was I subject to every knave. Each man then a portion would have, The Merchant for lone, the Broker for his pain, And the scribe for writing, each man had a gain. Ninubula pluvia imbrem parit, A mizeling shower engendereth great wet, Which saying officium proverbia non tarit, Many a little makes a great. So every of them, by me wrought his feat, And every of these bribes, being cast to account, To a good portion I feel do amount. But what villainy is there in such, Who knowing a man, of their help to have need Will encroach upon him, so unreasonable much, Their own greedy desires to feed. Ju enall I remember, does teach them in deed, Whose words are these, both open and plain, The vicious man only, seeketh his own gain: Yea twice vicious, may they be nam, Who do avarice so much embrace: But what is their answer, when they are blamed Say they, we have here but a little space. Therefore we have need to be getting a pace, Wherefore should we gaining lay away, The Tide tarrieth no Man, this is all they can say. ¶Why friend, art thou not well in thy wit, Wherefore smitest thou me in such sort? ¶Thy company is so good, I will get me hence, Therefore cursed Courage adue. ¶In thy company I have tarried to long, For I perceive thou art full of guile. Exiunt. ¶Yea but how it is had, I partly do know, And what excessive interest is paid, Therefore you may say the more I my woe, Would God that I had it never assay e, ¶Truly this talk does encourage me so much, That to see the Court again, I do pretend, But I pray Thee dost thou know any such, As use upon gages money to lend?