Pastime with Good Company

Henry VIII

1     Pastime with good company
2     I love and shall unto I die.
3     Grudge whoso will (who list), but none deny,
4     So God be pleased, thus live will I.
5     For my pastance
6     Hunt, sing, and dance.
7     My heart is set
8     All goodly sport
9     For my comfort.
10   Who shall me let?

11   Youth must have some dalliance,
12   Of good or ill some pastance.
13   Company me thinketh then best
14   All thoftes and fantasies (fancies) to digest.
15   For idleness
16   Is chief mistress
17   Of vices all.
18   Then who can say
19   But "pass the day" (But mirth and play)
20   Is best of all?

21   Company with honesty
22   Is virtue, and vice to flee.
23   Company is good or ill
24   But every man hath his free will.
25   The best ensue,
26   The worst eschew,
27   My mind shall be.
28   Virtue to use,
29   Vice to refuse,
30   I shall use me.

Items in italics are alternate wording.

Form: aabbccdeed

3. grudge: begrudge

10. let: forbid.

14.thoftes: thoughts; digest: incorporate or personify

25. ensure: follow (virtue).

30. use: employ.

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