Of Hym that Togyder wyll Serve Two Maysters

Sebastian Brant (1457–1521)

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;

For whether that he be lefe or lothe,

The one he shall displease, or els bothe.

A fole also he is withouten doute,

And in his porpose sothly blyndyd sore,

Which doth entende labour or go aboute

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.

For be that with one hounde wol take also

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 in one bowe

At one marke shall shote to[o] high or to[o] lowe.

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

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

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.