Of The Instability Of Fortune Poem by Humfrey Gifford

Who wisely waies false fortunes fickle change,
Which in short space turnes loue to mortal hate,
Shall find smal cause to deem it wondrous strange,
To fleete from happie life to worse estate.
For whie her sweete is alwaies mixt with sowre,
If now shee fawne, the frownes within an houre,


Her smiles are wyles to cause men hope for hap,
Her traynes breede paynes, though pleasant be the show,
Him whom shee now doth dandle in her lap,
Straightway sustaines a wretched ouerthrow.
And whom thou seest at foote of wheele downe cast,
Within short space, shee hoyseth vp as fast.


The raging Seas which dayly ebbes and flowes,
The wauering winds, which blow now here now there,
More constant are then fortunes flattering vowes,
Who in one hoode, a double face doth beare.
To trust her lookes, when shee doth fleere or laugh,
Is nothing els but trust a broken staffe.


Pollicrates (as auncient writers tell)
On Fortunes wheele most highly was aduaunste,
And many a yeere shee fauourd him so well,
That no ill hap long time vnto him chaunst.
Yet in the end, to shew her double wayes,
With hemping roape, shee causde him end his dayes.


If thou wilt shun all sorow and distresse,
By fortunes threates doe set but litle store,
If thine affayres haue euer good successe,
Yeeld hearty thankes to God thy Lorde therefore.
If great annoyes doe fall vpon thee fast,
Thinke them due plagues for some offences past.


By prayer then make leuell with the Lorde.
Repentant hearts haue mercie when they call:
Loue him with feare, delight to reade his worde,
So great good haps vnto thee will befall.
So shalt thou leade thy life without annoyes,
And after death possesse eternal ioyes.