Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher

Speak boldly, and speak truly, shame the devil.

Speak boldly, and speak truly, shame the devil.

Nothing is thought rare
Which is not new, and follow'd; yet we know
That what was worn read more

Nothing is thought rare
Which is not new, and follow'd; yet we know
That what was worn some twenty years ago
Comes into grace again.

But they that are above
Have ends in everything.

But they that are above
Have ends in everything.

That place that does contain
My books, the best companions, is to me
A glorious court, where read more

That place that does contain
My books, the best companions, is to me
A glorious court, where hourly I converse
With the old sages and philosophers;
And sometimes, for variety, I confer
With kings and emperors, and weigh their counsels;
Calling their victories, if unjustly got,
Unto a strict account, and, in my fancy,
Deface their ill-placed statues.

'Tis not a life,
'Tis but a piece of childhood thrown away.

'Tis not a life,
'Tis but a piece of childhood thrown away.