Cardanus comforte translated into Englishe. And published by commaundement of the right honourable the Earle of Oxenford
Cardano, Girolamo, 1501-1576., Bedingfield, Thomas, d. 1613.
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The Earle of Oxenforde to the Reader.
THe labouring man, that tilles the fertile soyle,
And reapes the haruest fruite, hath not in deede
The gaine but payne, and if for all hys toyle
He gets the strawe, the Lord wyll haue the seede.
The Manchet fyne, falles not vnto his share
On coursest cheat, his hungrye stomacke feedes
The Landlord doth, possesse the fynest fare
He pulles the flowers, the other pluckes but weedes.
The Mason poore that buildes the Lordlye halles
Dwelles not in them, they are for hye degree
His Cotage is, compact in paper walles
And not with bricke, or stone as others bee.
The idle Drone, that labours not at all
Suckes vp the sweete, of honnye from the Bee
Who worketh most, to their share least doth fall,
Wyth due desert, reward will neuer bee.
The swiftest Hare, vnto the Mastiue slowe
Oft times doth fall, to him as for a praye:
The Greyhounde thereby, doth misse his game we know
For which he made, such speedy hast awaye.
So hee that takes, the payne to penne the booke
Reapes not the giftes, of goodlye golden Muse
But those gayne that, who on the worke shal looke
And from the soure, the sweete by skill doth chuse.
For hee that beates the bushe the byrde not gets.
But who sittes still, and holdeth fast the nets.
