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| … CHARITIE 1 is the only staffe and stay | |
| To all estates; for where she stoutly stands, | |
| She sets all free, and breaketh bondage-bands: | |
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| Forgiues great sinnes, and suffers many a wrong; | |
| She giues a badge that euery Christian weares; | 5 |
| And in all worlds hir liurey lasteth long: | |
| It garded is all round about with teares, | |
| And she hirselfe a branch of oliue beares, | |
| In signe of peace, and mercie mixt with grace, | |
| That pitie takes of eurie rufull case. | 10 |
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| This charitie giues as much as men may craue, | |
| And soone forgets the bounties she bestowes; | |
| Takes great delight the life of man to saue | |
| By vertue of good turnes that from hir floes, | |
| Whose sent is like the white and sweet red rose: | 15 |
| For all hir giftes and graces beares such flowres, | |
| That makes poor men to laugh when fortune lowres. | |
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| On charitie the hungrie dailie feeds, | |
| As lambes and sheepe in fruitfull pastures liue: | |
| She giues few words where she bestoes good deeds; | 20 |
| The more we neede, the sooner will she giue: | |
| As corn from chaffe is sifted through the siue, | |
| So shee tries out from dust and drosse the gold, | |
| As wisdome doth the woorth of men vnfold. | |
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| This charitie is first that fauour findes, | 25 |
| And shall be last, that wins our world’s good-will, | |
| Begot by grace, and nurst in noble mindes, | |
| That staies and stands vpon their honor still: | |
| ’Tis seen far off, as torch is on an hill; | |
| Felt near at hand, and found out by the light | 30 |
| Which in darke daies doth glad ech good man’s sight. | |
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| When fortune’s wrath hath wounded many a wight, | |
| She brings a boxe of balm to heal ech sore, | |
| That makes sad mind and heauie hart so light, | |
| It neuer thinks on wretched chance no more. | 35 |
| If charitie like victor goes before, | |
| Come after hir, proud world, with all thy braues! | |
| Like conqueror she triumphs on hir slaues. | |
