Page:An English Garner Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (Volume 1 1877).pdf/164

 Or walk the streets in nice and strange array, Or with coy phrases court his mistress' fan; A poor delight with toil and painful watch With loss of time a sill fish to catch!"

"What pleasure can it be to walk about The fields and meads in heat or pinching cold; And stand all day to catch a silly trout That is not worth a tester to be sold? And peradventure sometimes go without, Besides the toils and troubles manifold? And to be washt with many a shower of rain  Before he can return from thence again?"

"More ease it were, and more delight I trow In some sweet house to pass the time away Among the best, with brave and gallant show; And with fair dames to dance, to sport and play; And on the board, the nimble dice to throw That brings in gain, and helps the shot to pay; And with good wine and store of dainty fare  To feed at will and take but little care."

The Answer.

I mean not here men's errors to reprove, Nor do envy their seeming happy state; But rather marvel why they do not love An honest sport that is without debate; Since their abusèd pastimes often move Their minds to anger and to mortal hate; And as in bad delights their time they spend, So oft it brings them to no better end.