Preferment goes by letter and affection,
And not by old gradation, where each second
Stood heir to read more

Preferment goes by letter and affection,
And not by old gradation, where each second
Stood heir to th's first.

In a bondsman's key,
With bated breath and whispering humbleness.

In a bondsman's key,
With bated breath and whispering humbleness.

Great deservers grow Intolerable presumers.

Great deservers grow Intolerable presumers.

Wee know not who lives or dies.

Wee know not who lives or dies.

Rest strengthens the body, the mind too is thus supported; but
unremitting toil destroys both.

Rest strengthens the body, the mind too is thus supported; but
unremitting toil destroys both.

Alas! the fleeting years, how they roll on!

Alas! the fleeting years, how they roll on!

What you do for an ungrateful man is thrown away.

What you do for an ungrateful man is thrown away.

If you loose your time, you cannot get mony nor gaine.

If you loose your time, you cannot get mony nor gaine.

Building is a sweet impoverishing.

Building is a sweet impoverishing.