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Home  »  library  »  Song  »  Richard Barnfield (1574–1627)

C.D. Warner, et al., comp.
The Library of the World’s Best Literature. An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.

Richard Barnfield (1574–1627)

Faithful Friends

WHILST as fickle fortune smiled

Thou and I were both beguiled.

Every one that flatters thee

Is no friend in misery.

Words are easy, like the wind:

Faithful friends are hard to find.

Every man will be thy friend

Whilst thou hast wherewith to spend;

But if store of crowns be scant,

No man will supply thy want.

If that one be prodigal,

Bountiful they will him call;

And with such-like flattering,

“Pity but he were a king!”

If he be addict to vice,

Quickly him they will entice;

If to woman he be bent,

They have him at commandment.

But if fortune once do frown,

Then farewell his great renown:

They have fawned on him before,

Use his company no more.

He that is thy friend indeed,

He will help thee in thy need:

If thou sorrow he will weep;

If thou wake he cannot sleep:

Thus of every grief in heart

He with thee doth bear a part.

These are certain signs to know

Faithful friend from flattering foe.