> > > > > Pastime with good company

> > > > > > Pastime with good company
> > > > > > I love and shall until I die.
> > > > > > Grudge who likes, but none deny,
> > > > > > So God be pleased, thus live will I.
> > > > > > For my pastance:
> > > > > > Hunt, sing, and dance.
> > > > > > My heart is set!
> > > > > > All goodly sport
> > > > > > For my comfort.
> > > > > > Who shall me let?

> > > > > > Youth must have some dalliance,
> > > > > > Of good or ill some pastance.
> > > > > > Company I think then best --
> > > > > > All thoughts and fantasies to digest.
> > > > > > For idleness
> > > > > > Is chief mistress
> > > > > > Of vices all.
> > > > > > Then who can say
> > > > > > But mirth and play
> > > > > > Is best of all?

> > > > > > Company with honesty
> > > > > > Is virtue -- vices to flee.
> > > > > > Company is good and ill,
> > > > > > But every man has his free will.
> > > > > > The best ensue.
> > > > > > The worst eschew.
> > > > > > My mind shall be.
> > > > > > Virtue to use.
> > > > > > Vice to refuse.
> > > > > > Thus shall I use me!

> > > Alas, what shall I do for love?

> > > Alas, what shall I do for love?
> > > For love, alas, what shall I do?
> > > Since now so kind
> > > I do you find
> > > To kepe you me unto.
> > > Alasse!

> > > > > > > Oh my heart

> > > > > > > Oh my heart, and oh my heart,
> > > > > > > My hart it is so sore.
> > > > > > > Since I must from my love depart,
> > > > > > > And know no cause wherefore.

> > > > > The time of youth is to be spent

> > > > > > The time of youth is to be spent,
> > > > > > But vice in it should be forfent.
> > > > > > Pastimes there be I note truly
> > > > > > Which one may use and vice deny.
> > > > > > And they be pleasant to God and man:
> > > > > > Those should we covet when we can.
> > > > > > As feats of arms, and such other
> > > > > > Wherby activeness one may utter.
> > > > > > Comparisons in them may lawfully be set,
> > > > > > For, thereby, courage is surely out fet.
> > > > > > Vertue it is, then, youth for to spend
> > > > > > In good disports which it does fend.

> > > Alac! Alac! What shall I do?

> > > > Alac! Alac! What shall I do?
> > > > For care is cast in to my heart,
> > > > And true love locked thereto.

> > > > > > Green grows the holly

> > > > > > Green grows the holly.
> > > > > > So does the ivy.
> > > > > > Though winter's blasts blow never so high,
> > > > > > Green grows the holly.

> > > > > > As the holly grows green
> > > > > > And never changes hue,
> > > > > > So I am -- ever have been --
> > > > > > unto my lady true.

> > > > > > As the holly grows green
> > > > > > With ivy all alone,
> > > > > > When flowers can not be seen
> > > > > > And greenwood leaves be gone.

> > > > > > Now unto my lady
> > > > > > Promise to her I make:
> > > > > > From all other, only
> > > > > > to her, I me betake.

> > > > > > Adieu, my own lady.
> > > > > > Adieu, my special
> > > > > > Who hath my heart truly,
> > > > > > Be sure, and ever shall.

> Who so that will all feats obtain

> > Who so that will all feats obtain
> > In love he must be without disdain.
> > For love enforces all noble kind,
> > And disdain discourages all gentle mind.
> > Wherefore, to love and be not loved
> > Is worse than death? Let it be proved!
> > Love encourages, and makes one bold;
> > Disdain abates and makes him cold.
> > Love is given to God and man;
> > To woman also, I think the same.
> > But disdain is vice, and should be refused,
> > Yet never the less it is too much used.
> > Great pity it were, love for to compel
> > With disdain, both false and subtle.

> > > > If love now reigned

> > > > If love now reigned as it has been
> > > > And were rewarded as it has seen,
> > > > Noble men then would surely ensearch
> > > > All ways whereby they might it reach.
> > > > But envy reigns with such disdain
> > > > And causes lovers outwardly to refrain,
> > > > Which puts them to more and more,
> > > > Inwardly, most grievous and sore:
> > > > The fault in whom I cannot set,
> > > > But let them tell who love does get.
> > > > To lovers I put now sure this case:
> > > > Which of their loves does get them grace?
> > > > And unto them which doth it know
> > > > Better than do I, I think it so.

> > > > > Whereto should I express

> > > > > > Whereto should I express
> > > > > > My inward heaviness?
> > > > > > No mirth can make me fain,
> > > > > > 'Till that we meet again.

> > > > > > Do way, dear heart, not so.
> > > > > > Let no thought you dismay.
> > > > > > Though you now part me from,
> > > > > > We shall meet when we may.

> > > > > > When I remember me
> > > > > > Of your most gentle mind,
> > > > > > It may in no wise agree
> > > > > > That I should be unkind.

> > > > > > The daisy delectable,
> > > > > > The violet waning and blue,
> > > > > > You are not variable --
> > > > > > I love you and no more.

> > > > > > I make you fast and sure;
> > > > > > It is to me great pain
> > > > > > Thus long to endure
> > > > > > 'Till that we meet again.

> > > Though that men do call it dotage

> > > > Though that men do call it dotage,
> > > > Who loves not wants courage.
> > > > And whosoever may love get
> > > > From Venus surely he must it fetch,
> > > > Or else from her which is her heir.
> > > > And she to him must seem most fair.
> > > > Where eye and mind do both agree;
> > > > There is no but -- there must it be!
> > > > The eye does look and represent,
> > > > But mind affirms with full consent.
> > > > Thus am I fixed without grudge:
> > > > My eye with heart does me so judge.
> > > > Love maintains all noble courage;
> > > > Who love disdains is all of the village.
> > > > Such lovers, though they take pain,
> > > > It were pity they should obtain.
> > > > For often times where they do sue
> > > > They hinder lovers that would be true.
> > > > For who so loves should love but one.
> > > > Change who so will, I will be none.

> > > Departure is my chief pain

> > > Departure is my chief pain
> > > I trust right well of return again.

> > > > > Without discord

> > > > > > Without discord
> > > > > > And both accord,
> > > > > > Now let us be.
> > > > > > Both harts alone
> > > > > > To set in one,
> > > > > > Best seems me.
> > > > > > For when one sole
> > > > > > Is in the dole
> > > > > > Of love's pain,
> > > > > > Then help must have
> > > > > > Himself to save
> > > > > > And love to obtain.

> > > > > > Where for now we
> > > > > > That lovers be,
> > > > > > Let us now pray:
> > > > > > Once love sure
> > > > > > For to procure
> > > > > > Without denial.
> > > > > > Where love so sues
> > > > > > There no heart rues,
> > > > > > But condescend.
> > > > > > If contrary,
> > > > > > What remedy?
> > > > > > God it amend.

> > > Though some say that youth rules me
> > > (possibly by King Henry VIII)

> > > > Though some say that youth rules me,
> > > > I trust in age to tarry.
> > > > God and my right, and my duty,
> > > > From them shall I never vary,
> > > > Though some say that youth rules me.

> > > > I pray you all that aged be
> > > > How well did you your youth carry?
> > > > I think some worse of each degree.
> > > > Therein a wager lay dare I,
> > > > Though some say that youth rules me.

> > > > Pastimes of youth some time among
> > > > None can say but necessary.
> > > > I hurt no man, I do no wrong,
> > > > I love true where I did marry,
> > > > Though some say that youth rules me.

> > > > Then soon discuss that hence we must
> > > > Pray we to God and Saint Mary
> > > > That all amend, and here an end.
> > > > Thus says the King, the eighth Harry,
> > > > Though some say that youth rules me.

> > > > > Who so that will for grace sue

> > > > > Who so that will for grace sue,
> > > > > His intent must needs be true,
> > > > > And love her in heart and deed,
> > > > > Else it were pity that he should speed.
> > > > > Many one says that love is ill,
> > > > > But those be they which know no skill.

> > > > > Or else, because they may not obtain,
> > > > > They would that others should it disdain.
> > > > > But love is a thing given by God:
> > > > > In that, therefore, can be none odd,
> > > > > But perfect in deed, and between two.
> > > > > Where fore, then, should we it eschew?

> > > > Lusty Youth should us ensue!

> > > > Lusty Youth should us ensue!
> > > > His merry heart shall sure all rue.
> > > > For whatsoever they do him tell
> > > > It is not for him, we know it well.

> > > > For they would have him his liberty refrain,
> > > > And all merry company for to disdain.
> > > > But I will not do whatsoever they say,
> > > > But follow his mind in all that we may.

> > > > How should youth himself best use
> > > > But all disdainers for to refuse?
> > > > Youth has as chief assurance
> > > > Honest mirth with virtue's pastance.

> > > > For in them consists great honour,
> > > > Though that disdainers would therein put error.
> > > > For they do sue to get them grace --
> > > > All only riches to purchase.

> > > > With good order, counsel, and equity,
> > > > Goode Lord grant us our mansion to be.
> > > > For without their good guidance
> > > > Youth should fall in great mischance.

> > > > For Youth is frail and prompt to do
> > > > As well vices as virtues to ensue.
> > > > Where fore by these he must be guided,
> > > > And virtues pastance must therein be used.

> > > > Now unto God this prayer we make,
> > > > That this rude play may well betake
> > > > And that we may our faults amend
> > > > And bliss obtain at our last end. Amen.

> > > Let not us that young men be
> > > (possibly by King Henry VIII)

> > > > Let not us that young men be
> > > > From Venus' ways banished to be, banished to be.
> > > > Though that Age with great disdain
> > > > Would have Youth love to refrain, love to refrain,
> > > > In their minds consider they must
> > > > How they did in their most lust.

> > > > For, if they were in like case
> > > > And would then have gotten grace,
> > > > They may not now than gainsay
> > > > That which then was most their joy.
> > > > Where for indeed, the truth to say,
> > > > It is for Youth the metest play.

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