| Pastime with good company,
|
| I love, and shall until I die.
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| Grudge who will, but none deny,
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| So God be pleased, thus live will I.
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| For my pastance:
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| Hunt, sing, and dance,
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| My heart is set!
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| All goodly sport,
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| For my comfort.
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| Who shall me let?
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| Youth must have some dalliance,
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| Of good or ill some pastance.
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| Company methinks them best
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| All thoughts and fancies to digest.
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| For idleness
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| Is chief mistress
|
| Of vices all.
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| Then who can say
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| But mirth and play
|
| Is best of all?
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| Company with honesty
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| Is virtue, vice to flee.
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| Company is good and ill
|
| But every man hath his free will.
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| The best ensue,
|
| The worst eschew,
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| My mind shall be.
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| Virtue to use,
|
| Vice to refuse,
|
| I shall use me. |