An excellent epitaffe of syr Thomas wyat with two other compendious dytties, wherein are touchyd, and set furth the state of mannes lyfe.

¶ The myrroure or Glasse of Fortune.

WHan fortune fauoureth, and setteth a loft In hye estate man for to raigne Then all men cometh to him sull ofte And couey••s with him, for to remaine His company none will disdaine, Thus frendes he getteth, many a one But if he fall, I saye certaine. Of all his frendes then hath he none.

☞ Whan he doth rule him they obeye And serue him styll, at all assayes Attentifely, without delaye. Great paines they take both nightes and dayes With all their power him for to please Thus frendes he getteth many a one But if he fall they turne theyr wayes. Of all his frendes then hath he none:

¶ As longe as he, is in his welth Nothinge to him than shall be deare. In his estate, haue he his helth All honour to him than shall appeare Of most and lest, both farre and nere Thus frendes he getteth many one But if he fall, than euerye where, Of al his frendes, than hath he none.

¶ Man thus a loft, knoweth not his frende. For all men than, to him applye Shewynge them selues, to him moste kynde.

As though they wolde both lyue and dye At his byddynge alway readye, Thus frendes he getteth many a one But if he fall they hym denye Of all his frendes, than hath he none.

¶ In his estate they wyll ensewe To folowe him all that they may In right or wronge, false or trewe Hys wyll truely, none will gaynesaye Though by and by they hym bewraye Suche fayned frendes, be many one And if he fall they him denaye Of all his frendes, than hath he none.

¶ Whan fortune on the dothe laugh or smyle Geuynge the greate possessyon Belowly and gentle all the whyle Thinking on her progression Some she exalteth, some by suppression Falleth vnder fote, as doth manye one So turneth the whele, without intercession Some to good chaunce, and some to none.

¶ Whan thou art downe, farewell a dew No more seruyce, thou hast at all Whan broken is thy retinew On thy name than no man wyll call Disdaynfull wordes, on the go shall Foes thou shalt haue, many a one Which wyll reioyce, at thy great fall Of all thy frendes, than hast thou none.

¶ Thus vnder fote whan thou arte brought

Whom thou doost fauour moost of all By the truly wyll set right nought Scant a good worde gyue the he shall Unmyndfull how beneficiall Thou wast than to many a one And whan thy dignitie doth fall Of all thy frendes, than hast thou none.

¶ Thus fareth the worlde, both to and fro Whan man is in aduersitie Who is he than, that wyll him knowe Or helpe him in extremitie Whan he is stricke, without pitie With the foule darte, of cruell disdayne None than on him shall haue mercy Lye he in wo, pynynge in payne.

Finis.