| Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey (1517–47). The Poetical Works. 1880. | | | | Songs and Sonnets | | Praise of mean and constant Estate |
| | | OF thy life, Thomas, 1 this compass well mark: | |
| Not aye with full sails the high seas to beat; | |
| Ne by coward dread, in shunning storms dark, | |
| On shallow shores thy keel in peril freat. | |
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| Whoso gladly halseth 2 the golden mean, | 5 |
| Void of dangers advisedly hath his home; | |
| Not with loathsome muck as a den unclean, | |
| Nor palace like, whereat disdain may glome. 3 | |
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| The lofty pine the great wind often rives; | |
| With violenter sway fallen turrets steep; | 10 |
| Lightnings assault the high mountains and clives. 4 | |
| A heart well stay’d, in overthwartes 5 deep. | |
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| Hopeth amends; in sweet, doth fear the sour. | |
| God that sendeth, withdraweth winter sharp. | |
| Now ill, not aye thus; once Phœbus to low’r, | 15 |
| With bow unbent, shall cease; and frame to harp. | |
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| His voice in strait estate appear thou stout; | |
| And so wisely, when lucky gale of wind | |
| All thy puft sails shall fill, look well about; | |
| Take in a reef: haste is waste, proof doth find. | 20 |
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