Classic Poem

Periander of Corinth, sometime prince,
A lawe ordainde ingratefull chuffes to paine,
Which was on proofe, who could a churle convince,
To reape rewardes, unrecompenst againe,
To levie mendes he should no longer live.
For why (quoth he) suche men deserves no grace,
As gladly take, and grudge againe to give;
A needefull lawe this shamelesse sect to chace,
For what may be a viler fault then this,
To be unkinde to father or to friend,
Or how may men amend their foule amisse,
Which scornes the wightes which dayly them defend?
A farmer once a frozen snake did finde,
With pitie mov'd who layd her by the fire;
The snake reviv'd did shewe her selfe unkinde,
But what ensu'd? he slue her for her hire.
A morall rule ingratefull wights to warne,
How thanklesse they do quite a friendly turne.
But out alas! those varlets be so stearne,
That viper like, they lawe and dutie spurne.
We dayly see the parents painfull toyle,
Their restlesse care their children well to traine:
We likewise see how thanklesse children spoyle
Their parents goods, or wish them dead for gaine.
The good man oft the friendlesse childe doth keepe,
And fosters him with many a friendly grote,
Who seekes his spoyle, when he is sound asleepe,
Or gives consent to cut his maisters throte.
We see some men advaunst to honours hye,
By helpe of such which once did beare a sway,
Which quite forget what feathers forst them flye:
If founders theirs by froward chaunce decay,
The traitrous mate, whose prince doth cal to grace,
Is subject straight to sowe seditious strife;
No marvell, then, to root out such a race,
If Corinth king ordained losse of life,
But if in ure we nowe should put his doome,
Ingratefull gnufes each gallowes so would cloy,
That scarcely theeves to hang shuld have a roome
To ease the just, whom dayly they annoy
Yet doubt I not some meanes would be preparde,
To cut them off, for both may well be sparde.