The Poetical Works of - OUDL Home

496 COMPLAINTS
Neighbour Ape, and my Gossip eke beside, Each did prepare, in readmes to bee
(Both two sure bands in friendship to be tide,) The morrow next, so soone as one might see
To whom may I more trustely complame Light out of heauens wmdowes forth to lookc,
The euill plight, that doth me sore constraine, Both their habiliments vnto them tooke, no
And hope thereof to finde due remedie ? And put themselues (a Gods name) on their way
Heare then my pame and inward agonie Whenas the Ape beginning well to wey
TTius manie yeares I now haue spent and worne, This hard aduenture, thus began t'aduise ,
In meane regard, and basest fortunes scorne, Now read Sir Reynold, as ye be right wise,
Dooing my Countrey seruice as I might, 61 What course ye weene is best for vs to take,
No lesse I dare saie than the prowdest wight, That for our selues we may a humg make
And still I hoped to be vp aduaunced, Whether shall we professe some trade or skill ?
For my good parts, but still it hath mis Or shall we vane our deuice at will,
chaunced
Euen as new occasion appeares ?
Now therefore that no lenger hope I see, Or shall we tie our selues for certame yeares
But froward fortune still to follow mee, I To anie seruice, or to anie place ? 121
And losels lifted high, where I did looke, For it behoues ere that into the race
I meane to turne the next leafe of the booke We enter, to resolue first herevpon
Yet ere that anie way I doo betake,
Now surely brother (said the Foxe anon)
I meane my Gossip prime first to make 70 Ye haue this matter motioned in season
Ah my deare Gossip, (answer'd then the Ape,) For euene thing that is begun with reason
Deeply doo your sad words my wits awhape, Will come by readie meanes vnto his end ,
Both for because your griefe doth great But things miscounselled must needs miswend
appeare,
Thus therefore I aduize vpon the case,
And eke because my selfe am touched neare That lot to anie certame trade or place, 130
For I likewise haue wasted much good time, Nor anie man we should our selues apphe
Still wayting to preferment vp to clime, For why should he that is at libertie
Whilest others alwayes haue before me stept, Make himselfe bond ? sith then we are free
And from my beard the fat away haue swept, borne,
That now vnto despaire I gin to growe, Let vs all seruile base subiection scorne ,
And meane for better wmde about to throwe And as we bee sonnes of the world so wide,
Therefore to me, my trustie friend, aread 81 Let vs our fathers heritage diuide,
Thy councell two is better than one head And chalenge to our selues our portions dtw
Certes (said he) I meane me to disguize Of all the patnmonie, uhich a few
In some straunge habit, after vncouth wize, Now hold in hugger mugger in their hand,
Or like a Pilgrime, or a Lymiter,
And all the rest doo rob of good and land 140
Or like a Gipsen, or a Iuggekr,
For now a few haue all and all haue nought,
And so to wander to the worlds ende,
Yet all be brethren ylike dearly bought
To seeke my fortune, where I may it mend There is no right in this partition,
For worse than that I haue, I cannot meete Ne was it so by institution
Wide is the world I wote and euene streete 90 Ordained first, ne by the law of Nature,
Is full of fortunes, and aduentures straunge But that she gaue like blessing to each creture
Continualhe subiect vnto chaunge
As well of worldly huelode as of life,
Say my faire brother now, if this deuice That there might be no difference nor strife,
Doth like you, or may you to like entice Nor ought cald mine or thine thrice happie
Surely (said th'Ape) it likes me wondrous well, then
And would ye not poore fellowship expell, Was the condition of mortall men 50
My selfe would offer you t'accompanie That was the golden age of Saturne old,
In this aduentures chauncefull leopardie But this might better be the world of gold
For to wexe olde at home in ldlenesse, For without golde now nothing wilbe got
Is disaduentrous, and quite fortunelesse 100 Therefore (if please you) this shalbe our plot
Abroad where change is, good may gotten bee We will not be of anie occupation,
The Foxe was glad, and quickly did agree Let such vile vassalls borne to base vocation
So both resolu'd, the morrow next ensuing, Drudge in the world, and for their huing droyle
So soone as day appeard to peoples vewing, Which haue no wit to hue withouten toyle
On their intended lourney to proceede, But we will walke about the world at pleasure
And ouer night, whatso theretoo did neede, Like two free men,and make our ease a treasure