THE CONTENTS OF THE SCHEDULE

WHICH

SIR JOHN OF BORDEUX GAVE HIS SONS.

From the same.

My sons, behold what portion I do give!
I leave you goods, but they are quickly lost;
I leave advice to school you how to live;
I leave you wit, but won with little cost:

But keep it well, for counsel still is one,
When father, friends, and worldly goods are gone.

In choice of thrift, let honour be your gain;

Win it by virtue and by manly might:

In doing good esteem thy trouble no pain;
Protect the fatherless and widow's right:

Fight for thy faith, thy country, and thy king;
For why? this thrift will prove a blessed thing.

In choice of wife prefer the modest, chaste!
Lillies are fair in shew, but foul in smell;
The sweetest looks by age are soon defac'd:
Then choose thy wife by wit, and living well.

Who brings thee wealth, and many faults withall,
Presents thee honey mix'd with bitter gall!

In choice of friends, beware of light belief;
A painted tongue may shroud a subtle heart:
The syren's tears do threaten mickle grief:
Foresee my sons, for fear of sudden smart;

Choose in your wants, and he that loves you then,
When richer grown befriend you him again.

Learn with the ant in summer to provide ;
Drive with the bee the drone from out the hive;
Build like the swallow, in the summer tide:
Spare not too much, my sons, but sparing thrive.
Be poor in folly, rich in all but sin;

So by your death your glory shall begin.

MENAPHON'S ROUNDELAY.

From "Robert Greene's Arcadia.”

WHEN tender ewes, brought home with evening sun, Wend to their folds,

And to their holds

The shepherds trudge, when light of day is done:

Upon a tree,

The eagle, Jove's fair bird, did perch,

There resteth he:

A little fly his harbour then did search:

And did presume, (though others laugh'd thereat) To perch whereas the princely eagle sat.

The eagle frown'd and shook his royal wings,
And charg'd the fly

From thence to hie.

Afraid, in haste the little creature flings,
Yet seeks again,

Fearful to perk him by the eagle's side.
With moody vein

The speedy post of Ganimede replied:

"Vassel avaunt, or with my wings you die; Is't fit an eagle seat him with a fly?"

The fly crav'd pity; still the eagle frown'd:

The silly fly,

Ready to die,

Disgrac'd, displac'd, fell groveling to the ground.

The eagle saw,

And with a royal mind said to the fly,

"Be not in awe,

I scorn by me the meanest creature die!

Then scale thee here:" the joyful fly up-flings, And sate safe shadow'd with the eagle's wings.

DORON'S DESCRIPTION OF HIS FAIR

SHEPHERDESS SAMELA.

From the same.

LIKE to Diana in her summer weed,

Girt with a crimson robe of brightest dye,
Goes fair Samela.

Whiter than be the flocks that straggling feed,

When wash'd by Arethusa, faint they lie,

Is fair Samela.

As fair Aurora in her morning grey,

Deck'd with the ruddy glister of her Love,
Is fair Samela.

Like lovely Thetis on a calmed day,

When as her brightness Neptune's fancies move, Shines fair Samela.

Her tresses gold, her eyes like glassy streams;

Her teeth are pearl; the breasts are ivory

Of fair Samela.

Her cheeks like rose and lilly yield forth gleams,

Her brows bright arches fram'd of ebony,

Thus fair Samela