Pastime with Good Company

Pastime with good company

I love and shall unto I die;

Grudge who list, but none deny,

So God be pleased thus live will I.

For my pastance

Hunt, song, and dance.

My heart is set:

All goodly sport

For my comfort,

Who shall me let?

Youth must have some dalliance,

Of good or illé some pastance;

Company methinks then best

All thoughts and fancies to dejest:

For idleness

Is chief mistress

Of vices all.

Then who can say

But mirth and play

Is best of all?

Company with honesty

Is virtue vices to flee:

Company is good and ill

But every man hath his free will.

The best ensue,

The worst eschew,

My mind shall be:

Virtue to use,

Vice to refuse,

Shall I use me.