Specimens of English literature from the 'Ploughmans crede' to the ...

Specimens of English literature from the 'Ploughmans crede' to the ... Specimens of English literature from the 'Ploughmans crede' to the ...

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:314 XXVI. GEORGE GASCOIGNE.(Al which his presence might haue pacified,Or else haue made offenders smel the smoke.)And now the youth which might haue serued himIn comely wise, with countrey clothes yclad,And yet thereby bin able to preferre 450Vnto the prince, and there to seke aduanceIs faine to sell his landes for courtly cloutes,Or else sits still, and liueth like a loute,(Yet of these two the last fault is the lesse :)And so those imps which might in time haue sprong 455Alofte (good lord) and servde to shielde the state.Are either nipt with such vntimely frosts,Or else growe crookt, bycause they be not proynd.These be the Knights which shold defend the \2.nd,And these be they which leaue the land at large. 460Yet here, percase, it wilbe thought I roueAnd runne astray, besides the kings high-way,Since by the Knights, of whom my text doth tell,(And such as shew most perfect in my glasse,)Is ment no more, but worthy Souldiours 465Whose skil in armes, and long experienceShould still vphold the pillers of the worlde.Yes, out of doubt, this noble name of Knight,May co7;^prehend both Duke, Erie, lorde, Knight, Squire,Yea, gentlemen, and euery gentle borne. 470Art thou a Gentle ? liue with gentle friendes,Which wil be glad thy companie to haue.If manhoode may with manners well agree. 630Art thou a seruing man ?then serue againe,And stint to steale as common souldiours do.

XXVI. THE STEEL GLAS, 3'5Art thou a craftsman ? take thee to thine arte,And cast of slouth, which loytreth in the Campes.Art thou a plowman pressed for a shift ?635Then learne to clout thine old cast cobled shoes,And rather bide at home with barly bread,Than learne to spoyle, as thou hast scene some do.Merchants.And master Merchant, he whose trauaile ought 750Commodiously to doe his countrie good,And by his toyle the same for to enriche.Can finde the meane to make MonopolyesOf euery ware that is accompted strange,And feeds the vaine of courtiers vaine desires 755Vntil the court haue courtiers cast at heele,Quia non habent vestes Nuptiales.O painted fooles, whose harebrainde heades must haueMore clothes attones than might become a king :For whom the rocks in forain Realmes must spin, 760For whom they carde, for whom they weaue their webbes,For whom no wool appeareth fine enough,(I speake not this by english courtiers,Since english wool was euer thought most worth)For whom al seas are tossed to and fro, 765For whom these purples come from Persia,The crimosine and liuely red from Inde :For whom soft silks do sayle from Se?'icane,And all queint costs do come from fardest coastsWhiles, in meane while, that worthy Emperour, 770Which rulde the world and had all welth at wil,Could be content to tire his wearie wife,

:314 XXVI. GEORGE GASCOIGNE.(Al which his presence might haue pacified,Or else haue made <strong>of</strong>fenders smel <strong>the</strong> smoke.)And now <strong>the</strong> youth which might haue serued himIn comely wise, with countrey clo<strong>the</strong>s yclad,And yet <strong>the</strong>reby bin able <strong>to</strong> preferre 450Vn<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> prince, and <strong>the</strong>re <strong>to</strong> seke aduanceIs faine <strong>to</strong> sell his landes for courtly cloutes,Or else sits still, and liueth like a loute,(Yet <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se two <strong>the</strong> last fault is <strong>the</strong> lesse :)And so those imps which might in time haue sprong 455Al<strong>of</strong>te (good lord) and servde <strong>to</strong> shielde <strong>the</strong> state.Are ei<strong>the</strong>r nipt with such vntimely frosts,Or else growe crookt, bycause <strong>the</strong>y be not proynd.These be <strong>the</strong> Knights which shold defend <strong>the</strong> \2.nd,And <strong>the</strong>se be <strong>the</strong>y which leaue <strong>the</strong> land at large. 460Yet here, percase, it wilbe thought I roueAnd runne astray, besides <strong>the</strong> kings high-way,Since by <strong>the</strong> Knights, <strong>of</strong> whom my text doth tell,(And such as shew most perfect in my glasse,)Is ment no more, but worthy Souldiours 465Whose skil in armes, and long experienceShould still vphold <strong>the</strong> pillers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> worlde.Yes, out <strong>of</strong> doubt, this noble name <strong>of</strong> Knight,May co7;^prehend both Duke, Erie, lorde, Knight, Squire,Yea, gentlemen, and euery gentle borne. 470Art thou a Gentle ? liue with gentle friendes,Which wil be glad thy companie <strong>to</strong> haue.If manhoode may with manners well agree. 630Art thou a seruing man ?<strong>the</strong>n serue againe,And stint <strong>to</strong> steale as common souldiours do.

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