Page:Complete Poems of Richard Barnfield.djvu/284

192 An Ode. If that one be prodigall,

Bountifull, they will him call:

And with such-like flattering,

Pitty but hee were a King.

If he bee adict to vice,

Quickly him, they will intice.

If to Woemen hee be bent,

They haue at Commaundement.

But if Fortune once doe frowne,

Then farewell his great renowne:

They that fawnd on him before,

Vse his company no more.

Hee that is thy friend indeed,

Hee will helpe thee in thy neede:

If thou sorrowe, hee will weepe;

If thou wake, hee cannot sleepe:

Thus of euerie griefe, in hart

Hee, with thee, doeth beare a Part.

These are certaine signes, to knowe

Faithfull friend, from flatt'ring foe.

Even as Apelles could not paint Campaspes face aright.

Because Campaspes Sun-bright eyes did dimme Apelles sight:

Euen so, amazed at her sight, her sight, all sights excelling,

Like Nyobe the Painter stoode, her sight his sight expelling:

Thus Art and Nature did contend, who should the Victor bee.

Till Art by Nature was supprest, as all the worlde may see.