Thomas More

“ Onely to take, that nature maye sustayne
Banyshynge clene, all other surplusage
They be content, and of nothynge complayne
No nigarde eke, is of his golde so fayne
But they more pleasure haue, a thousande folde
The secrete draughtes of nature and to beholde. ”

“ Good folke thou stroyest, and louest reprouable
Thou mayst not waraunt thy gyftes for one houre
Fortune vnworthy men setteth in honoure
Thorowe fortuneth inocent i wo & sorow [illeg.] heth
The iust man she spoyleth, & the vniust enrycheth.
Yonge men she kylleth, & letteth olde men lyue
Vnryghtuously deuydynge, tyme and season
That good men leseth, to wycked doth she gyue
She hath no differece, but iudgeth all good reason
Inconstaunce, slypper, frayle, and full of treason
Neyther ther for euer cherysshynge, whom she taketh
Nor for euer oppressynge, whom she forsaketh. ”

“ The Boke of the fayre Gentywoman, that no man shulde put his trust, or confydence in: that is to say, Lady Fortune: flaterynge euery man that coueyteth to haue all, and specyally, them that truste in her, she deceyueth them at laste
Prologue
As often as I cosydre, these olde noble clerkes
Poetis, Oratours, & Phylosophers sectes thre,
Howe wanderfull they were, in all theyr werkes
Howe eloquent, howe inuentyue in euery degre
Halfe amased I am, and as a deed tre
Stonde styll, ouer rude for to brynge forth
Any fruyte or sentence, that is ought worth. ”