Page:Poems and ballads (IA poemsballads00swinrich).pdf/292



hath been seen and yet it shall be seen That out of tender mouths God's praise hath been Made perfect, and with wood and simple string He hath played music sweet as shawm-playing To please himself with softness of all sound; And no small thing but hath been sometime found Full sweet of use, and no such humbleness But God hath bruised withal the sentences And evidence of wise men witnessing; No leaf that is so soft a hidden thing It never shall get sight of the great sun; The strength of ten has been the strength of one, And lowliness has waxed imperious. There was in Rome a man Theophilus Of right great blood and gracious ways, that had All noble fashions to make people glad And a soft life of pleasurable days; He was a goodly man for one to praise, Flawless and whole upward from foot to head; His arms were a red hawk that alway fed