

George Gafcoigne^ in the commen- 



dation of the noble Arte 



of Venerie 



AS God himfelfe declares, the life of man was lent, (fpent. 

 jTjLBicaufe it fhould (with feare of him) in gladfome wife be 



And Salomon doth fay, that all the reft is vaine, 

 Vnlefle that myrth and merie cheere, may follow toile and paine. 



If that be fo in deede, what booteth then to buylde 

 High towers and halles of ftately port, to leaue an vnknown child ? 



Or wherefore hoord we heapes of coyne and worldly wealth. 

 Whiles therwithall that caytif care, comes creeping in by ftelth? 



The needie neighbors grudge to fee the rychman thryue. 

 Such malice worldly mucke doth breede in euery man alyue. 



Contention commes by coyne, and care doth contecke few, 

 And fodeine death by care is caught, all this you know is true. 



Since death is then the end, which all men fceke to flye, 

 And yet are all men well aware, that Man Is borne to dye^ 



Why leade not men fuch Hues, in quiet comely wife. 

 As might with honeft fport and game, their worldly minds fuffife ? 



Amongft the reft, that game, which in this booke is taught. 

 Doth feeme to yeld as much content, as may on earth be fought. 



And but my fimple Muze, both myrth and meane miftake. 

 It is a meane of as much mirth, as any fport can make. 



It occupies the mynde, which elfe might chaunce to mufe 

 On mifchiefe, malice, filth, and fraudes, that mortall men do vfe. 



And as for exercife, it feemes to beare the bell. 

 Since by the fame, mens bodies be, in health mainteyned well. 



It exercyfeth ftrength, it exercyfeth wit. 

 And all the poars and fprites of Man, are exercifde by it. 



It ftiaketh off all flouth, it prefTeth downe all pryde. 

 It cheres the hart, it glads the eye, and through the ears doth glyde. 



I might at large exprefle how earely huntfmen ryfe. 

 And leaue the fluggifti fleepe for fuch as leachers luft deuyfe. 



How true they tread their fteps, in exercifes traine, (ftaine. 

 Which frisking flings and lightbraind leaps, may feeme always to 



Howe 



