The Poetical Works of - OUDL Home

MOTHER HVBBERDS TALE 503
For he is practiz'd well in pohcie,
Ne other knowledge euer did attame,
And thereto doth his Courting most applie But with their gownes their grauitie maintaine
To learne the enterdeale of Princes strange, From them he would his impudent lewde speach
To marke th'mtent of Counsells, and the change Against Gods holie Ministers oft reach, 840
Of states, and eke of pnuate men somewhile, And mocke Diumes and their profession
Supplanted by fine falshood and faire guile, What else then did he by progression,
Of all the which he gathereth, what is fit But mocke high God himselfe, whom they pro
T'ennch the storehouse of his powerfull wit,
Which through wise speaches, and graue con
fesse ?
But what car'd he for God, or godlmesse ?
ference 791 All his care was himselfe how to aduaunce,
He daylie eekes, and brings to excellence And to vphold his courtly countenaunce
Such is the rightfull Courtier m his kmde By all the cunning meanes he could deuise,
But vnto such the Ape lent not his minde, Were it by honest wayes, or otherwise,
Such were for him no fit companions, He made small choyce yet sure his honestie
Such would descne his lewd conditions Got him small games, but shameles flattene,
But the yong lustie gallants he did chose And filthie brocage, and vnseemly shifts, 851
To follow, meete to whom he might disclose And borowe base, and some good Ladies gifts
His witlesse pleasance, and ill pleasing vaine But the best helpe, which chiefly him sustain'd,
A thousand wayes he them could entertame, Was his man Ray nolds purchase which he gam'd
With all the thnftles games, that may be found For he was school'd by kmde in all the skill
With mumming and with masking all around, Of close conueyance, and each practise ill
With dice, with cards, with billiards farre vnfit, Of coosinage and cleanly knauene,
With shuttelcocks, misseemmg manhe wit, Which oft maintain'd his masters brauene
With courtizans, and costly notize,
Besides he vsde another shpprie slight,
Whereof still somewhat to his share did nze ' In taking on himselfe in common sight, 860
Ne, them to pleasure, would he sometimes scorne j False personages, fit for euerie sted,
A Pandares coate (so basely was he borne), With which he thousands cleanly coosmed
Thereto he could fine louing verses frame, Now like a Merchant, Merchants to deceaue,
And play the Poet oft But ah, for shame With whom his credite he did often leaue
Let not sweete Poets praise, whose onely pride In gage, for his gay Masters hopelesse dett
Is vertue to aduaunce, and vice deride, 812 Now like a Lawyer, when he land would lett,
Be with the worke of losels wit defamed, Or sell fee simples in his Masters name,
Ne let such verses Poetrie be named Which he had neuer, nor ought like the same
Yet he the name on him would rashly take, Then would he be a Broker, and draw m 869
Ahugre the sacred Muses, and it make Both wares and money, by exchange to win
A seruant to the vile affection
Then would he seeme a Farmer, that would sell
Of such, as he depended most vpon, Bargaines of woods, which he did lately fell,
And with the sugne sweete thereof allure Or corne, or cattle, or such other ware,
(hast Ladies eares to fantasies impure 820 Thereby to coosm men not well aware,
To such delights the noble wits he led Of all the which there came a secret fee
Which hnn reheu'd, and their vaine humours To th'Ape, that he his countenaunce might bee
fed
Besides all this, he vsd' oft to beguile
With fruitles follies, and vnsound delights Poore suterb, that in Court did haunt some
But if perhaps into their noble spnghts while
Desire of honor, or braue thought of armes For he would learne their busmes secretly,
Did euer creepe, then with his wicked charmes And then informe his Master hastely, 880
And strong conceipts he would it dnue away, That he by meanes might cast them to preuent,
Ne suffer it to house there halfe a day And beg the sute, the which the other ment
And whenso loue of letters did inspire Or otherwise false Reynold would abuse
Their gentle wits, and kindly wise desire, 830 Hie simple Suter, and wish him to chuse
That chieflie doth each noble minde adorne, His Master, being one of great regard
Then he would scoffe at learning, and eke scorne In Court, to compas anie sute not hard,
The Sectaries thereof, as people base In case his paines were recompenst with reason
And simple men, which neuer came m place So would he worke the silly man by treason
Of worlds affaires, but in darke corners mewd, To buy his Masters friuolous good will,
Muttredof matters,as their bookes them shewd, That had not power to doo him good or ill