Classic Poem

Farewell Youth, to your vntruth
When as thou badst farewell to myne vntrueth,
I hope thou spakest it but in iest deare Dame:
Or else, for that you thought that euery youth
Most commonly is touched with the same:
Such youthes there are, I must confesse, in deede
As with vntrueth their Ladies fancies feede.

But what of that: tush I am none of those,
Though youthly yeares, I cannot well denie:
For rather lyfe then trueth, I chuse to lose:
By trueth, I meane my true fidelitie:
Which who so breakes, to him, as to a youth,
Thou mayest well say: farewell to thine vntrueth.

But yet, good Lady say not so to mee,
Till thou dooest see, my trueth by falshood staynd:
Which when thou seest, then iustly spit-at mee
As at a slaue, whose trueth is all but faynd:
But till that time, say not to mine vntrueth
Farewell againe but onely to my youth.

For all vntruethes I vtterly denye,
And to my trusty trueth, I stoutly stand:
And who so list against the same replye,
Gainst him with speede, I goe, with sworde in hande:
Into the Feeld, the same for to defend:
For loe in this my credit dooth depend.

And though (perhaps) most commonly each youth
Is giuen in deede, to follow euery gaye:
And some of these are touched with vntruth
Yet some there be, that take a better waye:
And stande vpon their trueth and honesty
More then vppon their foolish brauerie.

Which two I count to be the cheefest poinctes
That ech man ought to builde his life vpon:
And these holde I my cheefe and strongest joynctes:
For what were I, when these two poinctes are gone?
Wherefore, deare Dame, as I begon I end:
My Youth I graunt and trueth I still defend.