| AS it fell upon a day |
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| In the merry month of May, |
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| Sitting in a pleasant shade |
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| Which a grove of myrtles made, |
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| Beasts did leap, and birds did sing, |
5 |
| Trees did grow, and plants did spring; |
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| Every thing did banish moan, |
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| Save the nightingale alone: |
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| She, poor bird, as all forlorn, |
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| Lean’d her breast up-till a thorn, |
10 |
| And there sung the dolefull’st ditty, |
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| That to hear it was great pity: |
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| ‘Fie, fie, fie!’ now would she cry; |
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| ‘Tereu, Tereu!’ by and by; |
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| That to hear her so complain, |
15 |
| Scarce I could from tears refrain; |
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| For her griefs, so lively shown, |
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| Made me think upon mine own. |
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| Ah! thought I, thou mourn’st in vain, |
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| None takes pity on thy pain: |
20 |
| Senseless trees they cannot hear thee, |
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| Ruthless beasts they will not cheer thee: |
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| King Pandion he is dead, |
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| All thy friends are lapp’d in lead, |
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| All thy fellow birds do sing |
25 |
| Careless of thy sorrowing. |
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| Even so, poor bird, like thee, |
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| None alive will pity me. |
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| Whilst as fickle Fortune smil’d, |
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| Thou and I were both beguil’d. |
30 |
| Every one that flatters thee |
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| Is no friend in misery. |
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| Words are easy, like the wind; |
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| Faithful friends are hard to find: |
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| Every man will be thy friend |
35 |
| Whilst thou hast wherewith to spend; |
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| But if store of crowns be scant, |
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| No man will supply thy want. |
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| If that one be prodigal, |
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| Bountiful they will him call, |
40 |
| And with such-like flattering, |
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| ‘Pity but he were a king.’ |
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| If he be addict to vice, |
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| Quickly him they will entice; |
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| If to women he be bent, |
45 |
| They have him at commandement: |
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| But if Fortune once do frown, |
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| Then farewell his great renown; |
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| They that fawn’d on him before |
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| Use his company no more. |
50 |
| He that is thy friend indeed, |
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| He will help thee in thy need: |
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| If thou sorrow, he will weep; |
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| If thou wake, he cannot sleep: |
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| Thus of every grief in heart |
55 |
| He with thee does bear a part. |
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| These are certain signs to know |
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| Faithful friend from flattering foe. |
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