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From the German by Alexander Barclay
A FOLE he is and voyde of reason | |
| Whiche with one hounde tendyth to take | |
| Two harys in one instant and season; | |
| Rightso is he that wolde undertake | |
| Hym to two lordes a servaunt to make; | 5 |
| For whether that he be lefe or lothe, | |
| The one he shall displease, or els bothe. | |
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| A fole also he is withouten doute, | |
| And in his porpose sothly blyndyd sore, | |
| Which doth entende labour or go aboute | 10 |
| To serve god, and also his wretchyd store | |
| Of worldly ryches: for as I sayde before, | |
| He that togyder will two maysters serve | |
| Shall one displease and nat his love deserve. | |
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| For be that with one hounde wol take also | 15 |
| Two harys togyther in one instant | |
| For the moste parte doth the both two forgo, | |
| And if he one have: harde it is and skant | |
| And that blynd fole mad and ignorant | |
| That draweth thre boltis atons 1 in one bowe | 20 |
| At one marke shall shote to[o] high or to[o] lowe. | |
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| He that his mynde settyth god truly to serve | |
| And his sayntes: this worlde settynge at nought | |
| Shall for rewarde everlastynge joy deserve, | |
| But in this worlde he that settyth his thought | 25 |
| All men to please, and in favour to be brought, | |
| Must lout and lurke, flater, laude, and lye: | |
| And cloke in knavys counseyll, though it fals be. * * * * * | |
| Wherfore I may prove by these examples playne | |
| That it is better more godly and plesant | 30 |
| To leve this mondayne casualte and payne | |
| And to thy maker one god to be servaunt. | |
| Which whyle thou lyvest shall nat let the want | |
| That thou desyrest justly, for thy syrvyce, | |
| And than after gyve the, the joyes of Paradyse. | 35 |
