| Sir Walter Raleigh (1554?–1618). Poems. 1892. | | | | IX. | | The Advice |
| | | MANY desire, but few or none deserve | |
| To win the fort of thy most constant will; | |
| Therefore take heed; let fancy never swerve | |
| But unto him that will defend thee still: | |
| For this be sure, the fort of fame once won, | 5 |
| Farewell the rest, thy happy days are done! | |
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| Many desire, but few or none deserve | |
| To pluck the flowers, and let the leaves to fall; | |
| Therefore take heed; let fancy never swerve | |
| But unto him that will take leaves and all: | 10 |
| For this be sure, the flower once plucked away, | |
| Farewell the rest, thy happy days decay! | |
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| Many desire, but few or none deserve | |
| To cut the corn, not subject to the sickle; | |
| Therefore take heed; let fancy never swerve, | 15 |
| But constant stand, for mowers’ minds are fickle; | |
| For this be sure, the crop being once obtained, | |
| Farewell the rest, the soil will be disdained. | | | | |
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