My householde stuffe, my wealth and siluer plate, Mighte well suffice a monarke at this day: I neuer fed but vnder cloth of state, Nor walkt abroade till ushars clearde the way: In house I had musitions for to play, In open streete my trompets lowde did sownde, Which pearst the skies and seemde to shake the grownde. 23. My men most braue, martcht two and two in ranke, Who helde in length, much more then halfe a mile: Not one of these, but gaue his maister thanke, For some good turne, or pleasure got some while: I did not feede my seruantes with a smile, Or glosing wordes, that neuer bring forth frute, But gaue them golde, or els preferde theyr sute. 24. In surety so, whiles God was pleasde, I stoode, I knewe I must leaue all my wealth behinde: I sawe they lou’d mee not for byrth or bloode, But serude a space to try my noble minde: The more men gieue the more in deede they finde Of loue, and troth, and seruice, euery way: The more they spare, the more doth loue decay. 25. I ioyde to see my seruantes thriue so well, And go so gay with little that they gote: For as I did in honour still excell, So would I oft the wante of seruantes note: Which made my men on maister so to dote, That when I sayde let such a thing bee donne, They woulde in deede through fyre and water ronne. 26. I had in house so many of’sars[2003] still, Which were obayde and honourde for their place, That carelesse I might sleepe or walke at will, Saue that sometyme I wayde a poore man’s case, And salude such sores whose griefe might breede disgrace: Thus men did wayte and wicked world did gaze On mee and them, that brought vs all in maze. 27. For worlde was whist, and durst not speake a woorde, Of that they sawe, my credite curbde them so: I waded far, and passed ore the foorde, And mynded not, for to returne I troe: The worlde was wise, yet scarce it selfe did knoe, When wonder made, of men that rose by hap: For fortune rare, falls not in each man’s lap. 28. I climde the clouds, by knowledge and good wit, My men sought chaunce by seruice or good lucke: The worlde walkte lowe when I aboue did sit, Or downe did come to trample on this mucke: And I did swim as dainty as a ducke, When water serues to keepe the body braue, And to enioy the gyftes that fortune gaue. 29.