Mine own John Poins, since ye delight to know
The cause why that homeward I me draw,
And fly the press of courts whereso they go,
Rather than to live thrall, under the awe
Of lordly looks, wrapped within my cloak,
To will and lust learning to set a law;
It is not for because I scorn and mock
The powerof them, to whom fortune hath lent
Charge over us, of right, to strike the stroke.
But true it is that I have always meant
Less to esteem them than the common sort,
Of outward things that judge in their intent,
Without regard what doth inward resort.
I grant some time that of glory the fire
Doth touch my heart; me list not to report
Blame by honour, and honour to desire.
But how may I this honour now attain,
That cannot dye the colour black a liar?
My Poins, I cannot frame my tune to feign,
To cloak the truth for praise without desert
Of them that list all vice for to retain.
I cannot honour them that sets their part
With Venus and Bacchus all their life long,
Nor hold my peace of them although I smart.
I cannot crouch nor kneel to do so great a wrong,
To worship them, like God on earth alone,
That are as wolves these silly lambs among.
I cannot with wordés complain and moan,
Nor suffer nought, nor smart without complaint,
Nor turn the word that from my mouth is gone.
I cannot speak and look like as a saint;
Use wiles for wit, or make deceit a pleasure;
And call craft counsel, for profit still to paint.
I cannot wrest the law to fill the coffer
With innocent blood to feed myself fat,
And do most hurt where that most help I offer.
I am not he that can allow the state
Of high Caesar, and damn Cato to die,
That with his death did ’scape out of the gate
From Caesar’s hands (if Livy do not lie),
And would not live when liberty was lost;
So did his heart the common weal apply.
I am not he such eloquence to boast
To make the crow in singing as the swan;
Nor call the lion of coward beasts the most,
That cannot take a mouse as the cat can;
And he that dieth for hunger of the gold
Call him Alexander; and say that Pan
Passeth Apollo in music manifold;
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