English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700; Knights and knighthood -- Poetry; Virtues -- Poetry
What franticke fit (quoth he) hath thus distraught
2 Thee, foolish man, so rash a doome to giue?
What iustice euer other iudgement taught,
4 But he should die, who merites not to liue?
None else to death this man despayring driue,
6 But his owne guiltie mind deseruing death.
Is then vniust to each his due to giue?
8 Or let him die, that loatheth +liuing+ breath?
Or let him die at ease, that liueth here vneath?
8 liuing > liniug _1596_
1 "What frantic fit," quoth he, "has thus distracted
frantic > deliriously mad, frenzied
2 You, foolish man, so rash a doom to give?
doom > judgement, sentence
3 What justice ever other judgement taught,
justice > [system of justice]
4 But he should die, who merits not to live?
But > [But that]
5 None else to death this man despairing drive,
drive > drives; drove
6 But his own guilty mind, deserving death.
7 Is then unjust to each his due to give,
Is > [Is it]
8 Or let him die, that loathes living breath,
9 Or let him die at ease, that lives here uneath?
uneath > uneasily
109.39
Who trauels by the wearie wandring way,
2 To come vnto his wished home in haste,
And meetes a flood, that doth his passage stay,
4 Is not great grace to helpe him ouer past,
Or free his feet, that in the myre sticke fast?
6 Most enuious man, that grieues at neighbours good,
And fond, that ioyest in the woe thou hast,
8 Why wilt not let him passe, that long hath stood
Vpon the banke, yet wilt thy selfe not passe the flood?
1 "Who travels by the weary wandering way,
Who > [Whoever, He who]
2 To come to his wished home in haste,
3 And meets a flood that does his passage stay,
stay > obstruct
4 Is not great grace to help him over past,
Is > [Is it]
over past > ?over and past; ?over-pass
5 Or free his feet, that in the mire stick fast?
fast > firmly
6 Most envious man, that grieves at neighbour's good,
7 And fond, that joys in the woe you have!
fond > foolish, foolishly tender
8 Why will not let him pass, that long has stood
will > [will you]
9 Upon the bank, yet will yourself not pass the flood?
109.40
He there does now enioy eternall rest
2 And happie ease, which thou doest want and craue,
And further from it daily wanderest:
4 What if some litle paine the passage haue,
That makes fraile flesh to feare the bitter waue?
6 Is not short paine well borne, that brings long ease,
And layes the soule to sleepe in quiet graue?
8 Sleepe after toyle, port after stormie seas,
Ease after warre, death after life does greatly please.
1 "He there does now enjoy eternal rest
He there > [Sir Terwin]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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