To purchase prayse, and win the people’s zeale, Yea rather bent of kinde to do some good, I euer did vpholde the common weale, I had delight to saue the guiltles blood: Each suter’s cause, when that I vnderstode, I did prefer as it had bene mine owne, And help[1985] them vp, that might haue bene orethrowne. 40. My powre was prest to right the poore man’s wrong, My hands were free to geue where neede required: To watch for grace I neuer thought it long, To do men good I neede not bee desyred: Nor yet with gyfts my heart was neuer hyred: But when the ball was at my foote to guyde, I playde to those that fortune did abyde. 41. My want was wealth, my woe was ease at will, My robes were rich, and brauer then the sunne, My fortune then was far aboue my skill, My state was great, my glasse did euer runne: My fatall threede so happely was spunne, That then I sate in earthly pleasures clad, And for the tyme a goddesse’ place I had. 42. But I had not so soone this lyfe possest, But my good hap began to slyp asyde, And fortune then did mee so sore molest, That vnto playnts was tourned all my pryde: It booted not to rowe agaynst the tyde, Myne oares were weake, my heart and strength did fayle, The wynde was rough I durst not beare a sayle. 43. What steps of stryfe belong to high estate? The climing vp is doubtfull to endure, The seate it selfe doth purchase priuy hate, And honour’s fame is fickle and vnsure, And all shee brings is flowres that bee vnpure: Which fall as fast as they do sprout and spring, And cannot last they are so vayne a thing. 44. Wee count no care to catch that wee doe wishe, But what wee win is long to vs vnknowen, Tyll present payne bee serued in our dishe, Wee scarce perceiue wheron our greife hath growen: What grayne proues well that is so rashly sowen Yf that a meane did measure all our deedes, In steede of corne wee should not gather weedes. 45. The setled mynde is free from fortune’s power, They neede not feare who looke not vp aloft: But they that clyme are carefull euery hower, For when they fall they light not very softe: Examples hath the wisest warned oft, That where the trees the smalest braunches bere, The stormes do blowe and haue most rigoure there. 46.