Classic Poem

Mine high estate, power and auctority,
If ye ne know, ensearch and ye shall spy
That riches, worship, wealth and dignity,
Joy, rest, and peace, and all thing finally
That any pleasure or profit may come by
To man's comfort, aid and sustenance,
Is all at my device and ordinance.

Without my favour there is nothing won.
Many a matter have I brought at last
To good conclusion that fondly was begun,
And many a purpose, bounden sure and fast
With wise provision, I have overcast.
Without good hap there may no wit suffice;
Better is to be fortunate than wise.

And therefore hath there some men been or this
My deadly foes and written many a book
To my dispraise. And other cause there nis,
But for me list not friendly on them look.
Thus like the fox they fare that once forsook
The pleasant grapes and gan for to defy them,
Because he leapt and yet could not come by them.

But let them write, their labour is in vain,
For well ye wot, mirth, honour and richesse
Much better is than penury and pain.
The needy wretch that lingereth in distress
Without mine help is ever comfortless,
A weary burden odious and loth
To all the world and eke to himself both.

But he that by my favour may ascend
To mighty power and excellent degree,
A common weal to govern and defend,
O in how blest condition standeth he!
Himself in honour and felicity,
And over that, may further and increase
A region whole in joyful rest and peace.

Now in this point there is no more to say:
Each man hath of himself the governance.
Let every wight then follow his own way.
And he that out of poverty and mischance
List for to live, and will himself enhance
In wealth and riches, come forth and wait on me,
And he that will be a beggar, let him be.

Thomas More to them that trust in fortune

Thou that art proud of honour, shape, or kin,
That heapest up this wretched worldes treasure,
Thy fingers shrined with gold, thy tawny skin
With fresh apparel garnished out of measure,
And weenest to have fortune at thy pleasure,
Cast up thine eye and look how slipper chance
Illudeth her men with change and variance.

Sometime she looketh as lovely fair and bright
As goodly Venus mother of Cupide.
She becketh and she smileth on every wight.
But this cheer feigned, may not long abide.
There cometh a cloud, and farewell all our pride.
Like any serpent she beginneth to swell,
And looketh as fierce as any fury of hell.

Yet for all that we brotle men are fain
(So wretched is our nature and so blind),
As soon as Fortune list to laugh again,
With fair countenance and deceitful mind,
To crouch and kneel and gape after the wind,
Not one or twain but thousands in a rout,
Like swarming bees come flickering her about.

Then as a bait she bringeth forth her ware,
Silver, gold, rich pearl, and precious stone,
On which the mazed people gaze and stare,
And gape therefore, as dogs do for the bone.
Fortune at them laugheth, and in her throne
Amid her treasure and wavering richesse
Proudly she hoveth as lady and empress.

Fast by her side doth weary Labour stand,
Pale Fear also, and Sorrow all bewept;
Disdain and Hatred on that other hand,
Eke restless Watch fro sleep with travail kept,
His eyes drowsy and looking as he slept.
Before her standeth Danger and Envy,
Flattery, Deceit, Mischief and Tyranny.

About her cometh all the world to beg.
He asketh land, and he to pass would bring
This toy and that, and all not worth an egg;
He would in love prosper above all thing;
He kneeleth down and would be made a king;
He forceth not so he may money have,
Though all the world accompt him for a knave.

Lo thus ye see divers heads, divers wits.
Fortune alone as divers as they all
Unstable here and there among them flits,
And at aventure down her gifts fall;
Catch who so may she throweth great and small
Not to all men, as cometh sun or dew,
But for the most part all among a few.

And yet her brotle gifts long may not last.
He that she gave them looketh proud and high.
She whirl'th about and pluck'th away as fast,
And giveth them to another by and by.
And thus from man to man continually
She useth to give and take, and slily toss,
One man to winning of another's loss.

And when she robbeth one, down goeth his pride.
He weepeth and waileth and curseth her full sore.
But he that receiveth it, on that other side,
Is glad, and bless'th her often times therefore.
But in a while she loveth him no more,
She glideth from him, and her gifts too.
And he her curseth as other fools do.

Alas the foolish people can not cease,
Ne void her train, till they the harm do feel.
About her alway, busily they preace.
But Lord, how he doth think himself full well
That may set once his hand upon her wheel.
He holdeth fast; but upward as he flieth,
She whippeth her wheel about, and there he lieth.
Thus fell Julius from his mighty power.
Thus fell Darius the worthy king of Perse.
Thus fell Alexander the great conquerour.
Thus many mo than I may well rehearse.
Thus double Fortune, when she list reverse
Her slipper favour fro them that in her trust,
She fleeth her way and layeth them in the dust.

She suddenly enhanceth them a loft,
And suddenly mischieveth all the flock.
The head that late lay easily and full soft,
In stead of pillows lieth after on the block.
And yet alas the most cruel proud mock:
The dainty mouth that ladies kissed have,
She bringeth in the case to kiss a knave.

Thus when she changeth her uncertain course,
Up start'th a knave, and down there fall'th a knight.
The beggar rich, and the rich man poor is.
Hatred is turned to love, love to despite.
This is her sport, thus proveth she her might.
Great boast she maketh if one be by her power
Wealthy and wretched both within an hour.

Poverty that of her gifts will nothing take
With merry cheer looketh upon the press,
And seeth how Fortune's household goeth to wrake.
Fast by her standeth the wise Socrates,
Aristippus, Pythagoras, and many a less
Of old philosophers. And eke against the sun
Becketh him poor Diogenes in his tun.

With her is Byas, whose country lacked defence,
And whilom of their foes stood so in doubt
That each man hastily gan to carry thence
And asked him why he nought carried out.
" I bear," quod he, " all mine with me about".
Wisdom he meant, not Fortune's brotle fees;
For nought he counted his that he might lese.

Heraclitus eke list fellowship to keep
With glad poverty, Democritus also;
Of which the first can never cease but weep
To see how thick the blinded people go,
With labour great to purchase care and woe;
That other laugheth to see the foolish apes,
How earnestly they walk about their japes.

Of this poor sect it is common usage
Only to take that nature may sustain,
Banishing clean all other surplusage.
They be content, and of no thing complain.
No niggard eke is of his good so fain,
But they more pleasure have a thousand fold
The secret draughts of nature to behold.

Set Fortune's servants by them and ye wull,
That one is free, that other ever thrall,
That one content, that other never full,
That one in surety, that other like to fall.
Who list to advise them both, perceive he shall
As great difference between them as we see
Betwixt wretchedness and felicity.

Now have I showed you both: choose which ye list,
Stately Fortune, or humble Poverty.
That is to say, now lieth it in your fist
To take here bondage or free liberty.
But in this point, and ye do after me,
Draw you to Fortune, and labour her to please,
If that ye think your self too well at ease.

And first, upon thee lovely shall she smile,
And friendly on thee cast her wandering eyes,
Embrace thee in her arms, and for a while
Put thee and keep thee in a fool's paradise;
And forthwith all what thou so list devise
She will thee grant it liberally perhaps:
But for all that beware of after-claps.

Reckon you never of her favour sure:
Ye may in clouds as easily trace an hare,
Or in dry land cause fishes to endure,
And make the burning fire his heat to spare,
And all this world in compass to forfare,
As her to make by craft or engine stable,
That of her nature is ever variable.

Serve her day and night as reverently
Upon thy knees as any servant may,
And in conclusion, that thou shalt win thereby
Shall not be worth thy service I dare say.
And look yet what she giveth thee today
With labour won she shall haply tomorrow
Pluck it again out of thine hand with sorrow.

Wherefore if thou in surety list to stand,
Take Poverty's part and let proud Fortune go;
Receive no thing that cometh from her hand.
Love manner and virtue: they be only tho
Which double Fortune may not take thee fro.
Then mayst thou boldly defy her turning chance:
She can thee neither hinder nor avance.

But and thou wilt needs meddle with her treasure,
Trust not therein, and spend it liberally.
Bear thee not proud, nor take not out of measure.
Build not thine house on height up in the sky.
None falleth far but he that climbeth high.
Remember Nature sent thee hither bare.
The gifts of Fortune count them borrowed ware.

Thomas More to them that seek fortune

Whoso delighteth to proven and assay
Of wavering Fortune the uncertain lot,
If that the answer please you not alway,
Blame ye not me; for I command you not
Fortune to trust, and eke full well ye wot
I have of her no bridle in my fist;
She renneth loose, and turneth where she list.

The rolling dice in whom your luck doth stand,
With whose unhappy chance ye be so wroth,
Ye know your self came never in mine hand.
Lo in this pond be fish and frogs both.
Cast in your net; but be you lief or loth,
Hold you content as Fortune list assign:
For it is your own fishing and not mine.

And though in one chance Fortune you offend,
Grudge not thereat, but bear a merry face.
In many another she shall it amend.
There is no man so far out of her grace
But he sometime hath comfort and solace,
Ne none again so far forth in her favour
That is full satisfied with her behaviour.

Fortune is stately, solemn, proud, and high,
And riches giveth to have service therefore.
The needy beggar catcheth an halfpenny;
Some man a thousand pound, some less some more.
But for all that she keepeth ever in store
From every man some parcel of his will,
That he may pray therefore and serve her still.

Some man hath good, but children hath he none,
Some man hath both, but he can get none health.
Some hath all three, but up to honour's throne
Can he not creep, by no manner of stealth.
To some she sendeth children, riches, wealth,
Honour, worship, and reverence all his life;
But yet she pincheth him with a shrewd wife.

Then forasmuch as it is Fortune's guise
To grant no man all thing that he will axe,
But as her self list order and devise,
Doth every man his part divide and tax,
I counsel you each one truss up your packs
And take no thing at all, or be content
With such reward as Fortune hath you sent.

All things in this book that ye shall read,
Do as ye list, there shall no man you bind
Them to believe as surely as your creed.
But notwithstanding certes in my mind,
I durst well swear, as true ye shall them find
In every point each answer by and by
As are the judgments of astronomy.