Classic Poem

A comparison betweene a slippery stone and a trustlesse friend.
As he that treades on slippery stones
is like to catch a fall,
So he that trustes to trothlesse friends
shall ill be delt withall,
But he that lookes before he leapes
is likest sure to stande:
So he that tryes or ere he trust,
shall be on surer hand.
But once found out a good sure ground
keepe there thy footing fast:
So charyly keep a faithfull friend,
whose friendship tride thou hast
For as some grounds that seeme full sure
in time will much decay
So some false friends that seeme full true
at neede will shrinke away.
And as within some rotten groundes,
some hidden holes we see,
So in the hartes of faithfull friends
so many mischiefes bee.
Therefore, I breefely bidde my friends
for to beware in time,
For feare of further after clappes:
and so I end my rime.