Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, OF HYM THAT TOGYDER WYLL SERVE TWO MAYSTERS, by SEBASTIAN BRANT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

OF HYM THAT TOGYDER WYLL SERVE TWO MAYSTERS, by                    
First Line: A fole he is and voyde of reason
Last Line: And than after gyve the, the joyes of paradyse.
Alternate Author Name(s): Brandt, Sebastian+(1)
Subject(s): Worship


A fole he is and voyde of reason
Whiche with one hounde tendyth to take
Two harys in one instant and season;
Rightso is he that wolde undertake
Hym to two lordes a servaunt to make;
For whether that he be lefe or lothe,
The one he shall displease, or els bothe.
A fole also he is withouten doute,
And in his porpose sothly blyndyd sore,
Which doth entende labour or go aboute,
To serve god, and also his wretchyd store
Of worldly ryches: for as I sayde before,
He that togyder will two maysters serve
Shall one displease and nat his love deserve.
For he that with one hounde wol take also
Two harys togyther in one instant
For the moste parte doth the both two forgo,
And if he one have: harde it is and skant
And that blynd fole mad and ignorant
That draweth thre boltis atons in one bowe
At one marke shall shote to high or to lowe.
He that his mynde settyth god truly to serve
And his sayntes: this worlde settynge at nought
Shall for rewarde everlastynge joy deserve,
But in this worlde he that settyth his thought
All men to please, and in favour to be brought,
Must lout and lurke, flater, lande, and lye:
And cloke in knavys counseyll, though it fals be.
Wherfore I May prove by these examples playne
That it is better more godly and plesant
To leve this mondayne casualte and payne
And to thy maker one god to be servaunt.
Which whyle thou lyvest shall nat let the want
That thou desyrest justly, for thy syrvyce,
And than after gyve the, the joyes of Paradyse.




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