Pastime with Good Company

Pastime with good company

I love and shall until I die;

Grudge who will, but none deny

So God be pleased thus live will I

For my pastance

Hunt, sing, and dance

My heart is set:

All goodly sport

For my comfort

Who shall me let?

Youth must have some dalliance

Of good or ill some pastance;

Company methinks then best

All thoughts and fancies to digest:

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

Thus shall I use me